Hidden Beauty

Posted on February 2, 2013 by MaryALivingston

Camera shy people never cease to amaze me. The lengths they go through to avoid the lens are impressive. As is the case with our daughter-in-law, Amanda. Most attempts to capture her on film end like these two shots.
However, if we are sneaky and distract her with finger painting or puppies, we can catch her in a moment.

The finger paints were for our grand-daughter. Much to our surprise and delight…Amanda and Stephen enjoyed them the most. photo MLivingston

Puppies serve as a perfect distraction to capture her beautiful smile. Along with our grand-daughter, she enjoys the pups. The one she is petting will grow up to be the sire to her dog. – photo MLivingston

If an official shot is required and she will gladly be in the frame with someone she loves. She is all smiles.

This is perhaps one of my favorites. I was so surprise how easy it was to take her picture for their wedding invitation.

This is perhaps one of my favorites. I was so surprised how easy it was to take her picture for their wedding invitation. – photo by MLivingston

The most interesting thing about camera shy people is they are often the ones behind the lens. I think Amanda’s awareness of the discomfort the lens brings to others gives her sensitivity when she shoots portraits. Amanda is a gifted photographer. No, it is not her day job, but a visit to her Lightly Spiced Photography by A Adams Facebook page reveals her eye for composition, lighting and attention to a shot’s emotion. I hope you visit and see what she is up to.

I enjoy the portraits she takes. My favorites, of course, are the ones of our GrandThings.

Keep smiling and keep shooting –

Happy Birthday, Amanda
We Love You!

In Search of Dirt

Posted on January 28, 2013 by MaryALivingston

GrandThing 3 sets out to find dirt.

There are defining moments that burn themselves onto our internal processors. I remember vividly four years ago, today, the moment he popped into this world all wet and shiny new. But in my mind’s eye, he will forever be the little boy in search of dirt.

When he visits, he inevitably is drawn to his daddy’s old Tonka toys. So it was, one spring day. With a lot of rain, the wild grasses and weeds had taken over the fields. What this little boy really needed was dirt.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Just dirt.
He spent the better part of the afternoon dragging the backhoe and tractor around, looking for a proper place to put them to work. Alas, he spies a pile of decomposed granite.

Bliss.

Happy Birthday GrandThing Three!

Bliss! perfect dirt for play.

Fishing with Grandpa – The Forester Artist

Showing off his catch. This one went back after the photo.

GrandThing 3 tells Grandma all about his painting. “He caught grasshoppers with Grandpa and they caught a fish.”

Frosted Buttercups

Posted on January 10, 2013 by MaryALivingston

Good-bye Tom-dog

Posted on January 6, 2013 by MaryALivingston

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“Our animals shepherd us through certain eras of our lives. When we are ready to turn the corner and make it our own…they let us go.” Author Unknown

Tom dog came home to a young 11 year old boy. Now 26, Tom’s “boy” misses him the most.

We knew this day was coming. The average lifespan of a retriever is 10 years. Tom-dog was 14 years, 8 months when we said good-bye today.

He came home to our youngest son many years ago and was the grand-pup of our first retriever. In the learning hands of a growing boy he was trained into an outstanding hunter and companion.

Stephen and Tom with Tim and Blaze following successful Senior Hunter Qualifiers.

When his boy grew to manhood, left for college, got married and started his family, Tom stayed with us. In the years that have followed, this magnificent family member has been greeted by 3 rowdy grandkids that he loved dearly.
Tom-dog always loved kids. It is only fitting that Tom-dog’s grand-pup, Jake, now resides with Tom-dog’s first person and family.

Tom dog (R) walks with GrandThing 3 and Jake (L) Jake is Tom dog’s grand-pup.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by MaryALivingston

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 10,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 17 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Posted on December 13, 2012 by MaryALivingston

Thought you might like Tim’s side of our morning photo shoot. His inclusion of a “backside” might deserve its own post response.

THE FORESTER ARTIST

Ever wonder what is going on behind the scenes with other blogs? This is a little snippet in the life of The Backdoor Artist. If you are a follower of my blog, you probably already know that I am married to The Backdoor Artist, Mary Livingston.

Mary has a front row seat to our backyard with a large window facing out from her work space. It is a wonderful view. A view which often provides for visual treats. Yesterday she spotted a large buck across the pond. She posted this adventure complete with beautiful pictures here at, http://thebackdoorartist.com/2012/12/11/animal-attraction/.

Spotting this big old buck prompted frantic camera grabbing and stealthful sneaking out into the yard to photograph the buck. When he didn’t run away, we plotted to stalk our subject for more and better shots. More frantic activity ensued with changing of clothes and getting shoes on. We came…

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Animal Attraction

Posted on December 11, 2012 by MaryALivingston

A buck in rut in the lower field.

As I sat down to paint this morning, movement in the field on the other side of the pond caught my attention. The distance, about 250 yards, from the window was a bit far for a nice shot. Tim and I quietly slipped around the south side of the dam, then belly crawled to get within 100 yards. This nice black-tailed buck in rut was watching a doe by one of the lower ponds.

The doe he was fixated on. She is pretty, can you blame him?

The buck stares longingly at the doe. He did not notice us at all.

We must have been a sight, laying on our bellies, in the rain soaked grass, stalking the deer for a photo. The buck did not notice us at all. He was captivated by her scent. She was nervous, people crawling through the grass and taking aim her way was more than she could stand. She bolted up the hill and over the ridge with him in hot pursuit.

Gotta sneak bliss when you can, even when people are watching.

When she fled to higher ground, he pranced after her.

They paused for a moment.

I predict twins in the spring.

Granddaughter Gift – part 1

Posted on December 7, 2012 by MaryALivingston

Work in Progress…girl on horse for T1. She loves horses. This is a start to a Christmas painting for her. What do you think so far?

The Duckel’ing

Posted on December 2, 2012 by MaryALivingston

One soppy morning, on our way to the hen house to gather chicken eggs, my oldest granddaughter was just the right height to spot movement in the tall stasis near the duck pen.

“Grandma, what’s that? Something moved.”

It caught my attention about the time she finished speaking. A newly hatched duckling was attempting to get back into the duck pen. On the other side, floating lifeless in the water was another newly hatched duckling. The pen was not a safe place for the hatchlings. I quickly rescued the living duckling and wrapped it in my top against my belly to keep it warm.

“Is it okay? Is the duckel’ing okay?” GrandThing1 was very worried.

We hurried back to the house where we gathered a storage bin, some rags and a heat lamp. When the makeshift brood box was ready, I slipped the little bird from under my top. My granddaughter’s eyes widened as she raised her delicate little hands in an open cup to receive the tiny baby.

“Oh, Grandma, it’s so cute. Hello, baby duckel’ing.” Reassured by her soft little voice, the duckling settled in. She cuddled it close.

“What will it eat?” She leaned over and whispered into her hands, “Are you hungry? Grandma, the duckel’ing is hungry.”

I dialed Grandpa’s cell and held the phone to her so she could leave a message.

“Grandpa, we need food for the baby duckel’ing.”

We placed the feathered baby into its brood box. GrandThing1 announced, “The duckel’ing needs a nap.” Off she rushed to where she napped during her visits.
I heard rustling, a little bit of grumbling, then, “Here it is!” Back she came with her favorite nap time storybook. She seated herself so the duckling could hear. Her little voice did not miss a beat retelling her memorized tale.

“Brown bear, brown bear…”

The Duckel'ing as she remembers. Of course now she says "duckling" it has been many birthdays since this event. We will always remember the "duckel'ing."

The Duckel’ing by GrandThing1. Of course now she says “duckling” it has been many birthdays since this event. We will always remember the “duckel’ing.”

Happy Birthday GrandThing1
Love,

Grandma

GrandThing1 and Grandma draw pictures together in a hangout.

PiBoIdMo 2012 – I did it!

Posted on December 1, 2012 by MaryALivingston

Picture Book Idea Month 2012 – 30 picture book ideas in 30 days – whew! It was a lot of fun. I almost didn’t do it. Time is short and the “one more thing” gloomy bug started to creep in. Shooed that little naysayer away and signed up. I am so glad I did.
It never fails, ideas come popping in like unannounced company. Backs of envelopes, trimmed paper, post its, receipts and the like were commandeered to stand in until I made it to wherever the notebook was hiding.
I just kept entering without keeping track. I counted the last week to see if I made it. Thirty-six, really? Recount, yep, thirty-six! Funny thing, those little scraps keep appearing.
Perhaps next year, they’ll go straight to the notebook. Nah, probably not! I think my ideas like to free range a bit.