Portraits

My friend Martha Millerhttp://marthamillerart.blogspot.com has asked on her blog for people to send digital portraits for her to post. She has received some wonderful offerings. I decided to see what I could come up with. I have a digital camera, have used it a fair amount yet I still feel as though I have so much to learn about its capabilities. And though my arms seem always to be too long for any blouse, dress or shirt I wear, they never seem long enough to get the camera to be as far away as I would like to have it be. But I am the holder. Ah, a new skill to learn.

In 2000, Martha made a charcoal portrait of me. In the background she included a labyrinth and a sailboat, both represent important parts of my life. For a digital portrait to send for Martha's blog, I stood cozy'd up to the charcoal portrait and took a bazillion shots to get something that captured the appropriate amounts of charcoal, flesh and flash. I've discovered it isn't easy to take "kind" photos of one's self while holding the camera and not being able to see the display. Practice has to help, even if it is frustrating.

Here is what I managed to create, by standing with Martha's creation. I've called it Portrait with a Portrait.

the Mouse

It is a very long way from High School Senior Class photos to Halloween 2009. I just saw photos of my grand daughter Petra dressed as a mouse for Halloween. Every home should have a House Mouse as cute as this. I would guess that the cat doesn't give her too much trouble, at least not most of the time. I would also guess that The Mouse doesn't give the humans too much mouse type trouble very often.

Preston and Megan went along on Halloween as Mouse Mom and Mouse Dad, though I don't see the affect of much Mouse type genes in them. No tails, large pink ears, or brown fur. The facial features are similar, though.

Sometimes I think Petra and I look somewhat alike, though I don't seem to have any Mouse genes either. I also see a faint resemblance between Preston and I. Seems funny to me, sometimes, though it makes all kinds of sense.

More on HS graduation.

After thinking about high school graduations, I thought I could post my senior picture. The man who took the photo kept trying to talk me into airbrushing the braces out of the photo. My reply was, "the braces are part of who I am right now". Looking at the photo now, I'd forgotten how much I really needed orthodontic work.

The photos for yearbooks today are so different than those from "my day" (Oh please, Jo-an! Listen to yourself!) No "leaning against a tree" photos. All the photos were male or female versions of mine. Guys in jacket and tie; girls in sweater or dress. Period. But then we weren't allowed to wear pants to school either. Like we couldn't learn if our knees were covered! What was THAT about?

As soon as I hit college, the jeans came out of the closet and have been daily companions in my life.

Graduation day.

I spent the morning and afternoon with dear friends, a family of three. The occasion? The graduation from high school of youngest of my friends. Wow! Already?! Before she headed off with her classmates on the bus for a white water rafting adventure, she shone. She shimmered with an inner light. It seemed to be the light of excitement of feeling so grown, of watching the opening of the world right before her, ready for her to reach out and watch it fall into her hand.

As I watched today's ceremony, I thought about what I felt during my high school graduation. I remember feeling very grown-up, excited about going off to college. At the same time, I remember feeling that there were so many questions I thought I was supposed to be able to answer and I didn't even know what the questions were. I wonder if the people who watched me thought I shimmered, too.

It was delightful to see this large group of young people, so excited about what they have achieved, so ready to continue into the next part of their lives. They were so full of energy, so ready to get going. The speakers spoke from their hearts, with humor, kindness and intelligence.

The morning's brunch with my friends and their other friends was a time of laughter, tale telling, of taking of photos. It was time for trying on the cap and gown--again--twirling and looking beautiful.

What a lovely day. Spending time with friends, and with friends of friends, is also lovely. Thank you, Universe.

One more time, with feeling....

Well. I certainly wouldn't want to rush into anything here. Good grief. Folks I've spoken with about doing this made it sound easy to put together a blog. I guess I wish I knew more about how all this works. I'm going to find (fumble) my way through, even if it is slowly done.

I want to add photos, change the template. Whew. I can barely add a post. I WILL MAKE THIS WORK and I can enjoy it. I know it can be fun. Here I go.... again....

Have to start somewhere...

Dinnertime on a Thursday evening is as good a time as any to begin a new venture. The gold finches and mourning doves are busy outside my window, stocking up on food to tide them over for the night. Lazarus had been trying to sit in my lap, as he usually does when I'm at the computer. But he's given up now and curled himself into the low chair. It's the easiest for him to get into these days.
I'm hoping to get a walk in today though I can't avoid noticing that the day is fast disappearing. Even if I only go a shorter distance than I'd thought earlier it's better than not going at all. Before dinner is better (and more likely) than after. All right. Here I go....