live, love, laugh, create

Links to share

I've been blog surfing this morning! Check out what I came across today.

Lydia has a great project she created using Elmer's products...and no, not the white glue we grew up with!

Beau has some really great cards up on his blog.

Lisa created 2 great layouts with her Studio Calico kit....and her girls are adorable!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer has a free class on her blog on September 27. Its a really cool acrylic album. She is the ultimate mixed media artist!

Jen Davis...she does such beautiful work. Check out the "hair stuff" container she made for her daughter from an empty oatmeal container. Too cute!

Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman...I spend entirely too much time here between her daily confessions, the Tasty Food blog and the photography forum. I'm addicted.

My Mind's Eye blog....lots of great stuff to look at for creative inspiration.

The Stamps of Life....Stephanie Barnard's company. An affordable monthly club that gives gives you a versatile set of stamps for creating. Check out the gallery!

Kelle Hampton...blogging about life, her beautiful girls and she takes awesome photos too.

Ali Edwards she's in Mykonos and I wish I was too!

Erin Cobb....someday my photos will be as awesome as hers....

Thanks for stopping by!

Road Trip

I have been on vacation since last Friday and other than a wedding that was out of town on Saturday, I haven't done a whole heck of a lot except sleep late and read. I got an inpromptu call this morning from one of my friends who invited me on a road trip. We ended up going to Mystic,Ct; somewhere I had never been before but passed on I-95 many times while traveling to The Vineyard.

There is a huge restoration of a whaling ship that is taking place right on the property. We were able to go up onto the deck and then down below to the sleeping quarters. We could also look down into the bilge, but were not allowed down there because of construction.

There is a waterproof cover on the top that will be removed when the restoration is finished.

Here is a view of the deck

Here is a view of the crew's quarters. It was cramped down there. I couldn't stand up straight without hitting my head on a beam, and I am 5'8"!

 
It is really a massive ship. There is info on the restoration project here.   

We also walked through the village that has some displays and demonstrations about crafts like barrel making and blacksmithing. The best part of this visit was that we went in the afternoon and it is also off season so there were no crowds.

We made a trip to the famous Mystic Pizza shop for some dinner. There was a movie made that featured the shop and it was filmed in Mystic and some surrounding towns.

It is a popular spot. The ambiance is really nice and it is decorated with all kinds of movie posters and pictures.

We topped off the night with a stop at an icecream parlor for turtle sundaes and got to see the drawbridge in operation.

 
This is something I have never seen before....up close....

We got home late, but it was a good day.

Thanks for stopping by!   

  

A Cool Project

I came across this cool project on Betsy Sammarco's blog yesterday. It is a small origamy book made from 1 sheet of paper. It is a perfect project for a rainy day, a scout project or a make n take. Stop by her blog and check it out. You should make it a habit to stop by Betsy's blog often! She is really talented! Thanks for the great project Betsy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Because she loves us.....

Why else would one of your best friends make sure she saves some Boston Cream Cupcakes for you and your family? This is a new recipe from my friend Suzanne. It is not up on her blog yet, but I'm sure it will be soon! There is all kinds of incredible eats there with easy step by step recipes. Stop over and visit her when you get a chance! 

The summer went by so quickly. It was like we blinked and it was already September. I am absolutely a summer person, but I do like the early fall too. Fall brings apple picking, pumpkin patches, hay rides and Halloween. I am looking forward to all kinds of photo ops that are coming up in the next few months.

I found a great photo blog through Karen Russell. Karen claims not to be a pro, but just look at her work and tell me otherwise....she is good...really good. Anyway, I found another blogger/photographer through Karen's blog. Her name is Erin Cobb and she is totally awesome. Stop by her blog and sign up for her newsletter too!

While I was signing up on line for my next class at the college I noticed that it is possible to get an applied arts certificate...I am aiming to get it in photography, so I have a meeting with the dept chair on Thursday evening this week. I am leaning more and more towards changing careers. Its not that I don't love nursing, but it really is getting physically harder. The volume and complexity of the cases is astounding. My only problem is that I am not so sure I could make a living taking pictures.First, I have to have consistanly good tack sharp photos every time I shoot. Also, to me it seems like so many wannabe's have jumped onto the "Photographer" bandwagon and before I know it, the field will be supersaturated and overly competitive. Ah, what to do? I'll probably know better after Thursday's meeting.

For now, I will continue to take some classes. This semester is Lighting for Photography. Next semester will be Documentary Photography. The lighting class has a lot of portrait and still life assignments in it, and I have to admit, neither one are my favs. But I need it so I'll do it. Next semester will be more my style. I love photo journalism. I am looking forward to the spring!

Thanks for stopping by!