.:thankful:.

each day i think of five things i am thankful for prior to getting out of my bed.

it is a good practice for me to remember how much i have. what i need to keep close to my heart and to be present in all the great aspects of my life.

similar ideas come to mind each week. which makes me believe that i am pretty lucky to have... a solid relationship with my husband, a wonderful roof over my head, a loving family, close friends that i consider family, good {and still improving} health, a job i enjoy...

i am very thankful each and every day.

i hope you find time to count a few of your most precious + loved joys over the next few days.

Photography Archives

Taking photos has been a hobby of mine for many years. I love photographing beautiful scenery or fun family events.


Family Ties

Cheering for our Favorite Cheerleader

Bowling with my Buddies

Fall 2014 Photos


Birthday Babies

Samantha is 2!

Blake is One!


For the Love of Outside

Lake Michigan Visit

Leaves in the Yard (October 5th Challenge)

Finding Bits of Fall (October 12th Challenge) 


Orange & Fall (October 19th Challenge)

Red Foliage, No Foliage (October 26th Challenge)

Winter Photography: Black (February 1 Challenge)

Winter Photography: White (February 8 Challenge)

Check out some fun shots on my instagram!

::Fall Photography 2014::

What a beautiful fall Ohio had this year! 

The trees were vivid. The colors that arrived were beyond gorgeous! 

Such a lovely fall to take a few photographs for some friends + family.

As well as a mini self-timer shoot of me and my favorite fella on the family farm...

It is currently white, icy, crunchy + snowy type weather 'round here. I'm already missing those warm fall-colored days... but also so happy for scarf wearing months.

Happy Wednesday!

A Simply Lovely Sunday Thought {Back Behind the Lens}

This morning I got out the camera for one of those more "posed" types of photo sessions. And you know what, it felt incredibly nice.

Today I was especially excited, because these portraits were in celebration of our friends' baby boy turning one year old!

Which would of course also feature his proud big sister!

I loved spending today with those two little blondes and their very kind parents. {And my husband, the man with all the tricks to keep a three year old girl busy during brother's portion of the photo session... thank you J!} Thanks guys for the little push to put my camera to use :)

Spring Photo Fun {Yellow/Easter}

That's right. Back with a Nurture Photo Challenge! This time for spring. 

FOR SPRING! Which makes me smile so big that I can hardly see clearly enough to focus my lens and snap a photo! {I just love spring!}

Thank goodness for springy-yellow days! And thanks to Rebecca, Kristi, and Alicia for putting on the Spring Photo Challenge!

Winter Nurture Photography {Finale}

March is here. February has passed with its dark and light filled moments. The snow is gone and back again.

Winter's colors and icy treasures are melting away. Hopefully growing into bright and beautiful hues that we can enjoy during the upcoming months of spring.

However, we all know that weather is never so predictable. Snow... we haven't seen the last of you yet. 

I'm linking up for the final prompt of the winter photography challenge. As always, thanks Rebecca and Kristi! I've really enjoyed the Nurture Photography Winter Challenge and continued inspiration!

A Bit of Blue in February

February can be the month that just drags on. Never knowing if it will be a cold and snowy type of day or a muddy and sunny kind of day. Sometimes to know what to do with yourself in the month of February you just have to go out there.

Get involved in that questionable weather. 

Take a deep breath. Breathe it all in. 

Last week, I had a few days of that stale, not going anywhere kind of feeling. It seems to crop up this time of year. But this weekend- after a muddy hike, some garden planning, and a blue-filled morning walk- I was able to clear my head.

Thanks February. I guess you were exactly what I needed. 

I'm linking up this post with lots of others who are thinking about the most recent topic for the Nurture Photography Challenge: Blue/Breathe {check out those posts here}. Kristi and Rebecca are the hosts of this seasonal challenge!

Nurture Photo {Silver/Treasure}

I find that saved summer's bounty is one of my favorite indoor treasures of the winter season!

Whether stored in a jar or the freezer it makes me smile cooking with such tasty goodies from our most recent growing season.

I'm starting to run low on my go-to items. No more frozen tomatoes, peas and I'm at the last of my sweet golden corn. Good thing I'm planning this year's garden... I even received an email from our local CSA this week! 
Can't wait for those spring and summer veggies!

This week's photo prompt is "silver" or treasure". Check out other photos considering these ideas here. Thanks Kristi and Rebecca for hosting the challenge!

10 on 10: February 2013

February 10th 2013... a day for family. 
An out and about day {which meant good use of my phone's camera for the day too}.

We had brunching and shopping around town all morning and afternoon.

Our loved ones claimed to come visit us for shopping and lunch. 

But honest to goodness... they came to snuggle my pup!

After the family left we left town to hit up a few shops that aren't on our beaten path.

Across town for a thrift shop, and a large health food store.

After all our running around we hung out at home doing a few things we just plain enjoy.

I spent time making a few cards.

I'm linking up with many others, sharing bits and pieces of the day {check it out here}. Ten photos to represent the way February 10th, 2013 went down in history. Thanks Rebekah for hosting!

Nurture Photography Winter Challenge Begins {Black}

This winter has been a back and forth, rainy, snowy, sunny, blustery kind of season. The only thing consistent is something warm in my mug. Lately, it has been a bit of black coffee.

I'm linking up with Rebecca and Kristi for the first week of the Winter Nurture Photography Challenge! I joined in for several weeks during the fall challenge and had such a great time! Thanks ladies for hosting and providing the interesting photo prompts! Check out the links from this week here!

Glimpses: January's 10 on 10

January 10th, 2013... I can't believe you've come.

Sharing 10 glimpses from my coffee {and wine} drinking, music listening, friendly gabbing while fabric shopping, new contacts wearing, finishing little to-do lists kind of day.

 Thank you for being a great Thursday.

I'm linking up with others sharing bits of their 1/10/2013... thanks Rebekah for hosting again this year!

Ten on Ten: glimpses of a day

10 on 10... ten photos to represent bits of life, to find beauty in the everyday...

After a full weekend of celebrating my husband's birthday it was a busy day of settling things back to 'normal' around our home.

I'm linking up with Rebekah {at a bit of sunshine} for the 10 on 10 monthly photo project (read more about it here). Check out the photos from the final 10 on 10 project of 2012 here. This has been a fun way to capture a bit of daily life. {Thanks Rebekah for being a hostess with the most-est!} 

Happy 11th!