Photo #365: Graphic Design

Today's photo is a picture of my Christmas gift from my sister. This piece of art is from Jacci and by Jacci. She is an art history major, and two years ago she took a graphic design class. Each and every week of the class, she created a paneled design, using a sharpie marker. When I saw her work, I told her that I would like to have one of them when her class was complete. She had a print of my favorite one framed for me for Christmas. I love it!

I have met the challenge! I have actually posted a photo for every day in 2010. It is an idea that I got from other people in my PLN (Personal Learning Network) on Twitter. When I saw what some others had done in previous years, I decided to give it a try. Even at the outset, I didn't believe that I would follow through for an entire year.

I decided that my goal would be to use the photos and the blog posts to be a journal of my year. It has actually turned out to be much more than that. It has changed my life. I feel that I definitely have improved as a photographer, but it also served as an outlet for my writing. Instead of living a passive life, I found myself getting up and doing things, because I needed a photo for the day. More than that, I have taken the time to notice and appreciate things around me. And, of course, it has been a wonderful record of the year 2010. Check out the Animoto below to see some of my favorite photos for the year.



This project has been such an important part of my life. I will definitely continue with the photo challenge for 2011. This next year, however, I will post on a weekly rather than daily schedule. I am hoping that I will then have more time to devote to writing some of my other blogs. So that is my last post for 2010. Happy New Year! Now it's time to begin thinking about my first photo for 2011.

Photo #364: Abandoned Trailer

This old trailer was abandoned in the field behind Nancy's house. I like the way the red trailer contrasts with the yellowed grasses and white snow.

I don't know if Nancy has any snow left at her house, but it's totally gone here in Des Moines. We had a high of 57 degrees today. The ice on my driveway has melted away, as has the snow in the yard. What a gift on December 30th! Freezing rain is forecast for tomorrow, lest we forget that this is winter in Iowa.

Photo #363: Country Life

I am not a very good traveler. No matter how far ahead I plan a trip, I become increasingly stressed about it as the time approaches. I worry about driving, I worry about my car, I worry about the weather, I worry about leaving my house, and I worry about my dog. Then once I actually go, I have a great time, and I find myself wondering why I don't go more often.

Such was the case this week, with my trip to visit my friend, Nancy. Nancy used to be our school counselor. About a year and a half ago she moved back to the area where she grew up in southeastern Iowa. It's only 119 miles from Des Moines, but I am definitely a city girl, and this is such a different lifestyle. She lives on a farm, and on a clear summer evening sitting by the fire ring, you can see the lights of the farm where she grew up, her sister's farm, and her brother's farm. Nancy is still a school counselor in a neighboring county. She is the counselor at both the middle and elementary schools, which are located in different towns. This means miles of travel between home and each school.



The house used to be an old two story farm house. With the help of the local Amish workmen, they had the upper story removed, and the entire house remodeled and renovated, saving the original wood floors, where they could. This transformation has taken a long time, and originally it was planned as a weekend retreat, not her full time home. Perched on a hill, the house has a beautiful view, and I love the peace and quiet of the place. This morning there were four wild turkeys in the field behind the house, but by the time I got out there with my camera they were running across the field.

Yesterday we went to lunch in Keosauqua, and Nancy gave me a tour past the high school and middle school. Mostly we stayed at her house and talked for hours. I miss having her here in Des Moines, but it is amazing that even though I haven't seen her in months, we pick right up where we left off. That is the sign of a true friendship.

I love the old barn. Today was foggy and overcast. I wish I had taken some photos yesterday when it was bright and sunshiny.



One thing that made this trip less stressful was that I took Bailey with me, and thankfully, he was a well behaved canine. Here he is sniffing things out.

Photo #362: Smokey Row Mug

As an after Christmas treat, I brought myself this great mug from the Smokey Row Coffee Shop. First of all, I am a lover of all things red, and second I love the shape and substantial feel of this mug. It feels solid in my hand. I spent time hanging out at Smokey Row on Sunday and Monday. I like the roominess of the place, as well as the historical atmosphere of the building.

Photo #361: Hoarfrost

I woke up this morning to a fairy frosted world. It was foggy last night and this morning and it left every twig, every branch, and every pine needle coated in a thick layer of frost, making the trees look as if they'd been flocked. It is truly beautiful, but it doesn't last long.

Photo #360: Christmas Night

My sister always prepares a wonderful dinner on Christmas night. Besides the fact that she is a fantastic cook, the centerpiece of this meal is the prime rib. Donner carves beautiful slabs of the tender beef as we are about to sit down.

Jacci and I set the table earlier, carefully arranging the napkins in their ornament rings, and the traditional crackers, but somehow neither of us noticed that we neglected to put out any silverware. I guess we were talking instead of thinking.



We had a much smaller gathering this year compared to previous years. My kids were not with us on Christmas day. Lisa was with Colin's family in Minneapolis, and Michael was working. My nephew Dylan and his fiance, Suzanne were driving from Toronto, and were not due to arrive until Sunday. Summer and Jill also arrived later than usual, because they spent Christmas Eve with Jill's family in St. Louis. And of course, Mom is already in Arizona for the winter. Thankfully we had Torin, who is home from college, and Kendrick, and Summer and Jill arrived early in the afternoon.



We had a very nice Christmas, but I confess that I miss the days when the kids were small and we were all together.

Photo #359: The Nativity

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you are enjoying this Christmas Day.

Many years ago, my mom gave me the figurines for this nativity set. She picked them up for me in an after Christmas sale. During the first eleven months of the year, they reside in my china closet, and then during the month of December, they move into this stable.

The great thing about after Christmas sales is you can get things you might not otherwise be able to afford. The downside to after Christmas sales is that you can't always get everything you need. Apparently all the "Josephs" were sold out, so we have a shepherd standing in for our Joseph. You probably wouldn't have even noticed if I hadn't brought the whole thing up.

Whether it's Joseph or a shepherd, I enjoy looking at the creche in the soft blue light, and remembering what Christmas is all about - - LOVE!