Day 366 - The actual end of my year

The End...

...actually, I think it's more of a beginning.

As I posted yesterday's photo, I realized something. I DON'T WANT THIS TO END! Now don't get too excited, I was serious about needing a break, and I'm going to take one. But what ever you do, don't write me off. I will keep this blog going! The only difference will be that I'm not going to stress out. If I miss a day here and there, well, that's just the way it is.


If you want to check out my Aminus3 site, you can find it here. There will be a post there daily, not necessarily new stuff, but different stuff. I will be back here soon!


NOW, I have a request. I know there are ALOT of people out there who lurk on this site...meaning you are loyal "readers" and while you may not check every day, you check me out a lot. This means that you know all about me, but I know nothing about you.


So, think of this post as a GUESTBOOK. Old friends, new friends, family, and SILENT friends (even if you are a frequent commenter), PLEASE, PLEASE, leave me a comment! You don't have to give out any personal information, I'd just like some small remembrance of you.


Thanks again everyone!

Day 365

The Love...

It's amazing what you can learn in a year. 365 short days...okay in this year's case, 366.

I've learned that:

• I love people.
• Nature fascinates and frustrates me.
• I'm easily irritated.
• The city I live in is beautiful and alive.
• Kids grow up too fast.
• Patience is not my strong point.
• Even when I feel stagnant, I'm moving forward.
• If I'm not looking, I might miss something very important.
• God exists and he's everywhere...okay, I already knew that one.
• Every moment, every millisecond counts.
• If you go back tomorrow it might not be there.
• Friends don't go away.
• I can ALWAYS count on my family.
• There is beauty in every face.
• If you're bored, look at it from a new angle.

I could probably go on for pages and pages.


There aren't really words to express what this year has taught me and how much I've grown. This project hasn't been just a "photography" project, it's been a life project. I started this year looking for my photographic style and ended up finding myself. Living life through the lens of a camera has taught me to open my eyes and truly see my world. And it's a pretty incredible place.


So thank you friends who have stuck with me from the beginning. Thank you family who have loved every picture...even the not so good ones. Thank you old friends who have reminded me that you are always there and always supportive. Thank you new friends who have opened my eyes to the beauty and joy of the world. Thank you silent friends who, while I may not be able to see or hear you, you've been a rock to build on.


Mostly, thank you LARA! You have been my constant, my partner in crime, and one of the best friends I could and would ever ask for.


This year will be one for the history books...even if it is only my own.


p.s. Don't forget that this is a leap year and we still have one more day. :-)
________

NEWS Flash...

Once upon a time, afraid that I was running out of space on Blogger, I thought about shutting down this blog and switching to a different site. So I set up a whole new blog, with all the same pictures and dates, at a place called Aminus3. As it turned out, I figured out the space issue and left this blog running, but left the other running as well. Aminus3 turned out to be an amazing community of photographers from all over the world who helped me tremendously.

Okay, the point of this story is, I was looking around on the website and found my little 365 blog highlighted on the homepage. This is a good day! :-)

Day 364

The Setting Sun

I can't believe I just typed the number 364.  Can you?  I had a different plan for tonight, and just as I decided to save it for tomorrow I looked and saw the beautiful color of the sunset.  I realized just how perfect it is for today.

See you tomorrow!

Day 363

Theater Lights

After Camera Club tonight, I was thinking that I needed to find a pic.  I remembered that earlier tonight my cousin Dani called looking for directions and said she was going to a show at the Egyptian.  So, ignoring the fact that Dani was going to be in Ogden and not planning on seeing me, I thought I'd stop by on my way home and take some shots.  I just love this theatre all lit up for a show.

...Okay, in Dani's defense I used to work there and she thought I still did.  Love you D! ;-)

Day 362

Freckles

My sister-in-law and nieces took me to their neighbor's house tonight and introduced me to Freckles.  Beautiful!  This is one of those cases where the photo just doesn't do it justice. 

Day 361

Just Me

Several people have said that I should make my last day a picture of me.  I thought about it and decided that it just wasn't going to happen, and settled on one of the last days.  So here I am...again.  Does it seem a little vain to anyone else?

Day 360

The End of the Day

Day 359

Sam's Smile

...makes my heart happy!

Day 358

Just Waiting...

I love Un-portraits, so I thought I'd post just one more. :-)  ...One week from tomorrow folks!  

Day 357

"I've Got a Secret"

Oh yes, she does! :-)
_______
I love that my friends and family have responded to the call for models! Aren't they great? And so far, none of them have charged me!

Day 356

Graffiti Under the Viaduct

Yes, "Semi Anonymous Dude" I took a "Body Guard."  ...thanks for the great idea by the way!

Day 355

The Twelve Year Old

I asked my niece Taylor what I should take a picture of today and without blinking an eye, she answered "Me!"  How do you say no to that?  Better yet, why would you say no to that?  So, here's another picture of Taylor. :-)

Day 354

Em-Cat & J-Dawg

...the early years.

Day 353

It's True Love!

Day 352

Katie

Lara and Katie let me crash their picture party!  Thanks girls for helping me have fun again. :-)

Day 351

Apathy

I've come to a sad realization.  I'm apathetic. I have exactly 2 weeks to go on this project, and I feel like I could quit today and be just fine.  In fact, I took a picture of the inside of my lens cap tonight and came really close to posting it.  But before you panic and start lecturing me, know this, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL THIS WAY!!!  So, I'm asking you, dear readers (can I call you readers?  Do you read pictures?) for help.  Tell me how you motivate yourself!  How do you go from apathy to enthusiasm?  

AND

I NEED MODELS!  I'll take anyone or anything.  I'll give you prints for your Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Second Cousins twice removed...  I'll sing you a song, I'll even pay YOU...it may be $5, but it's $5 you didn't have before...

Day 350

Ogden High School

Not long ago, my friend Sarah requested some photos. This was one on her list, as well as one I had been wanting to photograph for a while. Ogden High is one of 3 Art Deco Buildings in Ogden built during the depression (the Municipal Building and the Forest Service Building are the other two). They are said to be "exceptionally important as the most significant Art Deco structures in Ogden and the State of Utah." And was in fact a New Deal, WPA Building.

So, there you go Sarah, the first from your list. And no, it's not tacky to request art. :-)

Day 349

Shadows on Rust

Day 348

Zinnia's

I know, I know...more flowers!  Well, it's that or cough medicine.  Zinnia's are prettier.

Day 347

Leaves of Grass

Day 346

A Blanket for J-Dawg

My sister is having a baby that she affectionately calls J-Dawg.    This is his blanket...or at least it will be.

Day 345

Dutch Oven Goodness

There was a Dutch Oven dinner "down to the Ward" (that's Utahan for at a Neighborhood Party) tonight.  This one had Cobbler in it...um, yum.

Day 344

Baylee's Haunted House

My niece Baylee has been wanting me to photograph this house for most of the year, and we finally went today.  Baylee was very brave even when she saw a creepy statue in the window.  :-) 

AND she brought a camera and got some pretty great shots.  It was a very proud moment for me! 

Day 343

It's a Sign!

My friend Sarah called me today and asked me if I had a picture of the Ogden Sign.  I said sure and I'd send her a copy (it's Day 20 if you are wondering).  Well, the more I looked at it, the more I thought..."I can do better than that!"  

So, here's the attempt.  I don't know if it's better, but it's different.  :-)

Day 342

Union Pacific 833

Day 341

Karma Thistle

Today Lara and I were talking about what we are going to shoot in our last month.  Lara said that she wanted to shoot horses (well...not shoot...you know what I mean) and we decided to take some field trips.  Well, I found a very pretty horse on my photo hunt tonight and thought I'd take a few pics.  Needless to say, that horse would NOT cooperate.  Every time I set up a great shot it would move just as I was pressing the shutter.  KARMA!  I'm telling you!

Day 340

Rotini alla Mozzarella

It's actually called Fusilli alla Caprese, but my Dad thought Rotini alla Mozzarella sounded funnier.  Whatever it's called, combined with garden fresh tomatoes and basil, it was delicious!

p.s. Yesterday's bread was really yummy with this pasta!

______

Okay, friends (Michelle, Naomi, Leanne, Emily...) I hear you.  I've been thinking a whole lot about what is going to happen at the end of this project and the answer to that question is...I don't know.  I'm pretty sure I will ALWAYS have a photo blog, but I just don't know what it's going to be.  I do know 2 things.  First - I need a break!  Second - I'm not going to leave you hanging.  I promise!  

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has been so loyal and supportive from the beginning AND those of you who "came late to this party."  There is no way I could have done this without you!!!

Day 339

Bread at the Farmer's Market

I love the Farmer's Market!

Day 338

Where I Work

While I was walking in to my office this morning it struck me how lovely the courtyard at my office is.  The Eccles Community Arts Center is really a beautiful place, and while I've shot many, many things close up in this courtyard, I haven't taken a lot of pictures of it as a whole.

p.s. This is the opposite view of Day 1.

Day 337

Tiny Tomato

Matt and Johnny came to play tonight.  I like playing with Johnny!

Day 336

Happy Thoughts

I spent some time looking for a photo today and just wasn't feeling it.  BUT when I sat down to dinner with Zenobia & Connie, all I had to do was snap one shot and I was done.  These two girls just make me smile!

______

Guess what folks?  As of today, we have ONE month to go!  And while this project hasn't been particularly easy, it has definitely been rewarding and extremely eye opening.  Now though, it's getting hard.  So send along your happy thoughts and good juju, I'm going to need them!!!

Day 335

Dude Looks Like a Lady

We took Zenobia and Connie to a baseball game tonight and I've come to the conclusion that baseball fans are just ... odd.  This made no sense to me at all, dragging the infield in a dress ... I guess I'm just too artsy fartsy for baseball. :-)

p.s. They played "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" while they were making fools of themselves ... hence the title. 

Day 334

After the Blossom

Wanna see the before?  Here it is!

When I was growing up we called these Choke Cherries, but I'm pretty sure they aren't.  Whatever they are, they come from beautiful blossoms.  

Day 333

Connie

This is my very cute new friend Connie.  

Day 332

Such a Sad Saturday

I actually went photo hunting and found something pretty cool, the only problem was that I didn't have my camera with me.  It was just one of those days.  *Sigh*

Day 331

A little bit of Green

Day 330

Welcome Home, now Get to Work!

We had our Summer Party tonight, it's our mini fund raiser (thank heaven it's not the big one!).  It was a good night, great music, good food, it hardly felt like work...um, yeah. ;-)

Day 329

Fresh Flowers

The best part of living with a gorgeous garden?  Fresh flowers!

____

Whew!  All caught up.  It's good to be home.

Day 328

Home Again

...and I think it is just as beautiful.  After traveling in a car for 2000 miles, it's a pretty nice view.  

Day 327

Vacation Day 10 - Norris Geyser Basin

Once again, I have about a million pictures to choose from... this time, I pretty much just had to flip a coin.  ...Hello, Gorgeous, Wish you were here... again, doesn't even come close to doing it justice.  

Day 326

Vacation Day 9 - Yellowstone Park, Lower Falls

My question coming in to the Park today was "Where is the yellow stone?"  The answer, at the Lower Falls.  I have about 250 pictures of the park, and let's just say...Yellowstone is rather photogenic.  But this was my favorite spot, and this picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice.  

Day 325

Vacation Day 8 - Time to Go

This is my favorite view of Deer Lake, mostly because it is usually my first view, but today it's my last.  *Sigh*  

Now it's off to Yellowstone...

Day 324

Vacation Day 7 - Some of my Favorite Women

These women may not be happy with me posting this picture, but I think they are amazing and beautiful women.  So there.  I love the camp fires at the lake, there is just something about sitting around a fire with the people you love the most in the world.  Don't ask me why, but I think it is heaven.  

p.s. They are (left to right) My sister Emily, my Aunt Carol, my Mom, my sister-in-law Meg, and my sister-in-law Nicki.

Day 323

Vacation Day 6 - Nick

This is my cousin Cari's son Nick.  This kid has no fear.  Cari asked me if I'd take some pictures of him doing his thing, my answer?  Um...yeah!  I have another shot of him on his dirt bike, very cool...I'll post it in the "graveyard" another day.  

Day 322

Vacation Day 5 - Waving at Emma

No real story, just Emma (my cousin's daughter) waving from the boat.  It was a good day.

Day 321

Vacation Day 4 - A 15 Year First

I have a pretty intense fear of water.  I never learned how to swim and over the years have become increasingly frightened of even being near a large body of water.  How then, you ask, is it that my favorite place on earth is a lake?  Well, I usually keep my distance.  This year however I decided I would change that.  So when my cousin Cari asked if I was going to go out on the boat this year, I said yes.  Besides, I wasn't about to miss out on some great photo op's.  

So yes, this is a first, me (not pictured) on a boat for the first time in 15 years...oh, and my brother skiing.

Day 320

Vacation Day 3 - Chloe's Blanky

The Wednesday before I left I got a phone call.  It was my sister-in-law Stephanie and she was a bit panicked.  You see, a little over 2 years ago my niece Chloe was born, and being the good auntie, I knitted her a blanket.  Well, she fell in love with the blanket and hasn't let it out of her sight...that is until Wednesday the 23rd of July.  They were shopping and she dropped her precious blanky.  Needless to say, she was a bit distraught.  

Several months ago, Stephanie had asked me if I could knit her a scarf or a mini blanket just in case the blanket Chloe was attached to unraveled  (which it was in imminent danger of doing), and I started one for her.  Well, now it was necessary.  I told Steph to hold her off as long as she could and I would knit my fingers to the bone...which is just what I did.  We told Chloe that I had found her blanky and was fixing it for her.  Believe it or not, she bought it.  The blanket is much smaller and a whole lot pinker, but she loves it just the same.  Success!

Day 319

Vacation Day 2 - Deer Lake

This, my friends, is my favorite spot in the world.  Yes, it is beautiful, but my favorite part of this place is my family.  My Aunt & Uncle (Carol & Lew) own a cabin on this lake and every other year (sometimes more often) we spend a week playing and getting to know each other.  Because of this, my cousins are some of my best friends in the world.

Day 318

Vacation Day 1 - The Rook Family

Day 1 of my Vacation was a bit of a work day, but not the yucky kind of work.  My aunt (Naomi) and her family live about an hour away from the Lake, so we stopped there on the way to take their family photos and Garret's senior photos (Garret is the one on the far right).  It was a lot of fun and I think we got some great pictures.

Vacation Baby!

Hi Everyone!  

In about 3 hours I'm supposed to be waking up, so it's rather unfortunate that I'm not asleep yet.  Anyway, I'm headed out of town for the next 11 days.  I might be able to access the internet once or twice while I'm gone, but for the most part I'm going on Internet Silence.  Have a great week and a half and I'll post those 11 days as soon as I get back.

I'll miss you!

Day 317

Welcome Home

As most of you know, I moved back to my home town at the beginning of the month and as you also know, this weekend is my 20 year high school reunion.  So tonight as I was coming home from work I passed the drive-in that has been a beacon of news since I was a little girl, and saw this sign.  As much as I've gone on about how I didn't like high school and how it was ridiculous for me to revisit a past that I was not a fan of, I've been in touch with several of my old friends and it's been great.  I've loved hearing about their lives and their families.  This sign touched me.  So to all you "Class of 88" friends reading this, it's good to be in touch again, you've always been in my thoughts.