I Love This!

I took this New Year's Eve evening.
And I haven't played with it at all...really.
Oklahoma sunsets are unique, addictive, and inspirational...and....
I'm so glad I've got them right out my back door!
Blessings, Julie

First Frost!

I woke up this morning and noticed God had dressed the pasture with jewels.
What was just green yesterday, now sparkled and radiated with trillions of fractured light.
I had to get out there!
It was cold but I suited up appropriately, grabbed the camera, and rushed out with a, "Please don't let the cows out until I've come back!"
I'm afraid of them, the big mommas, that is. There are five of them now and they wouldn't blink an eye at mowin' me down. In fact I think it would make them happy, give them some sort of satisfaction in knowing they were able to fight back against the establishment! Their cloven hooves can't hold a protest sign so they'll take whatever victories they can get.
And of course my imagination is getting away with me.



So once I'm out and surrounded by an abundance of frost laden flora, I click away!



It's at times like these that the wonderment of childhood returns.
And where does that go anyway???



Sad. Sad, that as we grow older we desire so much of the unlovely.
Hmmm,...in Heaven, I believe the wonder of childhood and awe in seeing things with new eyes will return.



Until then, I'll be looking for those sweet glimpses of wonder here and know that so much more awaits!

Seeing Him and His loveliness in the simple,
Julie

The Trailer

I took this photo one evening while the sun was setting.
The side of the trailer you see was facing the setting sun on the western horizon and the sky was aglow with brilliant color.
We had just had a thunderstorm and my husband and I were back at the edge of the property discussing a multitude of things.
I couldn't resist the photographic opportunity and ran back to the house for my camera. I'm glad I did.

Blessings, Julie

Sharing a Few Photos

My favorite time to take pictures is either early morning or in the evening.



The three pictures that I've posted here were all taken just a little after sunrise when the sunlight is still soft and the backlighting seems to cause a bit of a glow around the subject.



Our county fair is this week. Last night the girls rode their ponies in the 4H Junior Horse Show. They both did very well.

All three children will be showing their calves on Friday. It will be the first time that they've all shown in the same event. And it will be the first time our youngest will show.

I entered several photos.
But the competition is stiff.
We shall see.



This last photo was taken after a thunderstorm we had recently. Did you notice the lightning in the background? That was neat to capture.

I didn't enter any of these and will find out how I did tomorrow regarding the entered photos.

As a family we all look forward to this week but are so glad when it's behind us!

Blessings, Julie

God's Love Knows No Limits

Brrrr! This Post Is Not About The Weather

This past Sunday, I left my kids, Tim, and the bucolic farm life to drive down to Southwest Oklahoma.

On my way, I sashayed through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to see how the wildlife were faring.

"You guys faring okay?"
"Huh, what?! Faring...what's that supposed to mean?


Then I made my way further South and onto my husband's parent's house...where I spent the night.
The next morning, I was up dark and early at 3:50 AM.
I drove the forty miles on slick, icy (this is not a post about the weather) roads to Frederick to pick up my mom as she had knee replacement surgery scheduled thirty-five miles away at Altus at 7:00AM.
We arrived at the hospital in Altus at 6:30.



A nurse came in to take her vitals and start prepping her for surgery. She glanced at Mom's ankles and lower legs and noticed a considerable amount of swelling.
The surgeon was in Mom's room within fifteen minutes examining her ankles and legs.



Tests were ordered and to make a long story short, the surgery was canceled.
I drove Mom back to Frederick and then proceeded home encountering snow three fourths of the way home.
A wasted trip? No, I don't think so.
We're taking all of this one day at a time and trusting the Lord in it.

Gonna throw a fact out there. This AM it was 9 degrees with a windchill of -5.
Just a fact, a seriously cold hard fact.
Thanks for clickin' over,
In The Deep Freeze, Julie 

Schmorgasbord

A post of this-n-that and a little something weighing heavy on my mind sums up my silly title.
So let's get down to business as I know there are facebook pages to be viewed, Craig's List to be summarized, and for you PW fans...checking to see if you've won a mixer, knives, or a Nikon camera!
Of course I'm drawing from my own behavior there so don't be offended.

First, for Christmas my dear husband gave me a new lens. A macro lens that I hope to finally get those tiniest of details that have eluded me for too long. Yes, I'm thankful and hoping to pay off our mortgage with the winnings from that particular picture that will thrust me into photography stardom...attention National Geographic.







But for now this amateur plays at Picnik, a picture editing site that is free. Being the frugal and freaky person that I am, money will not be spent on any photo editing in this household...not in the near future anyway.

Also, I have a question for some of you that have raised boys. When in public places and your little guy must go to the bathroom, do you take him into the Womens bathroom or let him go into the Mens bathroom? And at what age did you stop taking him into the Womens bathroom? My seven-year-old is still escorted by me or his sisters into the Womens bathroom, but he is getting a bit big. Any advice here?

The rest of this particular post has been deleted as the situation has been resolved, thankfully.
I appreciated all of the comments and advice, but felt that I probably shouldn't have aired the situation publicly.
Blessings to you and yours as we embark upon a new year!
Julie

Merry Christmas!


Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and redeemed his people.
~Luke 1:68~


Blessings and Love!
Julie

A Trio of Tree Pics

I took several pictures of the tree yesterday and enjoyed playing with these three:







I hope everything is peace-filled your way!
Blessings, Julie

Thanks!

I just wanted to get a quick post out to say, "Thanks," to all of you that have been so encouraging and complimentary regarding the photos that I post. Isn't it amazing how we will stumble upon something and find that we truly are able to express ourselves and creativity through that particular medium!

Photography has been that "creative" outlet for me these past couple of years and I'm finding that I want to get so much more involved in it. But priorities for now will keep me reined in...and that's okay!
But really, I wanted to just let my friends know that I appreciate their kind words,...you guys are the best!
Love, Julie

My Kind of Phototherapy

I enjoy taking pictures.
And many times when I'm trying not to think about the ridiculous amount of things I need to be doing and should be doing,...I pick up my camera and head outdoors.
It's called denial and sometimes, forgive me, but it keeps me sane.
Living way out in the country like we do and staying at home with my kids to educate them can cause me to seek outlets that help me to express my creativity in my own personal way. Photography happens to be an outlet that I take great satisfaction in.
Admittedly, I have much to learn. The camera I use is up for the challenge, I just don't have the time to invest into it right now. So for now many of my pictures are raw or SOOC (straight out of the camera) if you will.
Within the last two weeks, I've taken some photos around the farm.



This is looking through the oak trees at the back of the house and across the pasture toward the woods, then lake.
After walking through the trees, this is a picture of the pasture, a spring, and the woods and lake on the horizon.



The wildflowers in the pasture always catch my attention and cause me stop and take pictures of their pretty faces.



It's always wonderful to see the wide variety and we have studied about some of them in school as there are many that were used by the Native Americans and pioneering families for food and medicinal purposes.



I'll never tire of these extraordinary beauties that continue to remind me of our Creator's generous use of color, texture, and scent.
Once we're out of the pasture and into the woods, a trip into the ravine is a must. You see, a picture of the Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly is something that I've been anticipating for quite some time.



In case I haven't told you, it's work to get down here. The pasture, woods, and ravine are inhabited with ticks, snakes, and more than our fair share of poison ivy. I literally get "suited up" before making my way down here. On my feet are rubber mud boots that come up to my knees and my jeans are tucked into them. I liberally spray insect repellent on myself.
There are always surprises awaiting me on these nature walks.



They vary from observing a juvenile bobcat closeup without it being privy to my presence, finding a coyote skeleton perfectly cleaned of all flesh and hair, to happening upon tall, scarlet red cardinal flower growing along the banks of the stream that runs through the ravine.



For me, this is all I need for entertainment and it recharges my battery so that I can carry on doing what so many of us homeschooling mothers do. Please don't hear me wrong here. I love being with my kids full-time but I also need moments that I can fill that creative well that exists in me.
Next time I'll share pictures of the yard, garden, and some of our critters.
Thanks for dropping by, Julie