A Classic Housewife in a Modern World » Photography

Playing With Trees

Amber — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 04:00:33 +0000

Do you sometimes look at a photo and it just says to you, “PLAY WITH ME.” NO? Oh. ; )

Photo Credit: This picture was taken by my mom, I just played around with it!

To Notice a Butterfly. Or 12.

Amber — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:47:24 +0000

Do you KNOW how hard it is to to take a picture of a butterfly?

The fields around our house are flitting with dozens of butterflies this time of year.. oranges, yellows, whites..

Of course there are Monarchs, too. My favorite are the black butterflies, the Pipevine Swallowtails.

Yesterday, I was moved by the number of butterflies in our yard so I tried to follow the biggest one around and capture a few shots — I didn’t know how many pictures I was going to have to try to take to finally “catch” him! I finally did, the two below turned out the best:

I believe these are Variegated Fritillary butterflies, or Euptoieta Claudia. Even it’s scientific name sounds beautiful! These pretty little butterflies can be found all over nearly the entire state of Texas. You should check out the pictures on that link (the ones taken by people who actually know what they are doing..) it’s a very beautiful little creature.

Recently the kids and I have been learning a bit about butterflies, and we found a ton of videos on YouTube showing caterpillars making their chrysalis and the butterfly emerging from it. AMAZING.

These two were my favorite, because they were so short!! The kids enjoyed it, but we learned a lot, too. (Like butterfly caterpillars make a chrysalis and moth caterpillars spin a cocoon. I did not know that!) We noticed it while we were watching videos so we looked it up and yup, it’s true.

One thing that struck me as I walked among the butterflies yesterday, is how often I overlook them. I’m sure there weren’t any more in the yard yesterday than there were the day before! I’m just too busy to stop and pay attention. I am…too busy.

As you’re out and about today, I wonder if you’ll see any butterflies?

This post has been happily submitted to Sweet Shot Tuesday at Life With My 3 Boybarians. Life is sweet – go take a taste.

Spring Iris; Spring-Itus

Amber — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:01:10 +0000

Wordless Wednesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom. Hop over and browse for more fun photography moments. While you’re here, enjoy this week’s Wordless Wednesday moment:

Spring-Itus

Popinjay: Angry

Amber — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:34:47 +0000

This week’s Popinjay word is “angry.”

I am not proud that this week’s challenge was NOT very hard for me. Anger and I have a bad past.

Case in point: The full length mirror on the back of my bathroom door, which is now a bottom half length mirror, since I cracked it straight across the middle when I slammed it. I’m fortunate that it didn’t shatter right then. The top half managed to stay in place and later slipped neatly to the floor without further damage.

Cracking that mirror really brought me to my senses, made an impact on me. I still haven’t completely conquered my anger, I still sometimes react inappropriately under stress. But I’m working on it. That incident was a long time ago, but we haven’t replaced that mirror. Every time I look at it, it reminds me. I’ve lost my temper a few times (or a few dozen) but I haven’t slammed any doors since then.

It’s a step.

Visit Michelle’s for more Popinjay participants.

Popinjay: Clue-Less

Amber — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:20:54 +0000

No, I’m not cheating again…but I AM taking a different interpretation of this week’s Popinjay word, “Clueless” than what Michelle probably expected.

No, I am not clueless, but I am… Clue-Less.

Behold, all that remains of the Clue Master Detective board game that I got when I was a kid, over 20 years ago, and kept all this time. It had been well used and well played with, the box was in terrible shape, but I still had many of the score sheets and ALL of the pieces.

It was. Until a couple of weeks ago when the girls got it down, didn’t put it back like they were told to, and the 4 year old got into it and tore it up. The pieces were probably all still there, just scattered in his room. The board was probably intact. But the box was ripped apart (it was barely together to begin with), the rule book was trampled and the score sheets were scattered and stepped on. I was so frustrated, disappointed (and in one of those dangerous moods where I purge with abandon and without a look back) that I just started shoving it all in the trash can.

As I sit here and write this I am tearing up and regretting that decision for the 1st time.

Especially after looking on line for a link and seeing how much vintage sets of this version are worth. OH MY GOSH I CAN NOT BELIEVE I JUST STUFFED IT IN THE TRASH CAN. The above pieces were found today under the tv stand in his room – and now they’re probably going to go in the garbage, too. They are worth NOTHING by themselves.

I guess I was clueless after all…

And now, I am also.. Clue-Less. *sniff*

For more Popinjay, visit Michelle.