SOOC: Lanscapes & Sunset

On our way home from our little golf driving range outing, I had Steve, my husband pull over on the side of the road in a couple spots that we drive almost every day.... it is on the way to the malls in Hadley, MA. Hadley has always been a farm town.... with the colleges in the area (5) Hadley is now developed and has a ton of stores, a mall and the "strip" is very commercial for a farm town in Western, Mass - although it is truly nice to have all those conveniences close by. Hadley still has that farm "feel" with the smell of cow manure when you park at the Walmart and of course with the beautiful scenery of the still existing farms all around. As I have said in earlier posts this is the organic farm meca and you can see wide open fields for miles upon miles as you drive on the roads in this area. It is home to the Seven Sisters.... A mountain range that includes Mt Holyoke and Mt. Hitchcock...


These photos show a piece of the Seven Sisters in the sunset. I really love the beauty of the lone tree in the field. I have wanted to stop and take some photos of this area for a long time and really glad I finally did. Hope you like these photos as much as I do..... :) Please leave a note if you stop by! :)

This is for the SOOC - straight out of the camera, no editing --- original photos --- hopefully freshly shot this week. Join in on the fun and view some other great photos at the link below.

This is Who i Am (4) - {For the Love of Photo Prints}

I have been participating in this free online workshop combining writing and photography to discover yourself and do some great reflection.  This is #4 in the series, but you can join in at anytime.  I have linked to Divas & Dreams below. 

From Divas & dreams:  This weeks´s assignment is about celebrating prints...a bit strange perhaps, but at the moment I´m so much in love with photo prints - new and old, and I put them every where in my house because they really makes me happy and gives me inspiration. I know that many digital photogs hardly never get their work on paper, my self included, at that´s a real shame. There are some special feelings connected to holding your printed work in your hand...or at least that´s what I think... I guess it´s the memories connected to it that´s the trigger, or maybe the memories of the creative process you went throug to make it?

Here are my photos of my prints.  I have prints all over the house, on our shelves and on the walls, on the piano and then some digital frames to show more recent and faves of my digital photography of family and memories.  I love to be surrounded by those who I love so they are all important to me.  We have big family photos that I have framed in 8x10 and a super big one of Schuyler ski racing.  We love photos of the 2 of us (we look so great together), so we have those in the bedroom with the kids latest school photos too.  I cherish all the photos "worthy" enough to put into frames.  Dogs, kids, family and I looked downstairs to find some of my Ironman competitions that I truly treasure! 


Here are my photos: 

This one is of all the old photos I have framed (Mom & Dad's wedding 1950's, one of them together and one with their parents, my grandparents) and this beautiful one of my Grandfather Harry A Hosley who I really think is an incredibly handsome man.  They sit on my grandmother's antique buffet --- which is a family heirloom I am proud to own.  :)

The bookshelf downstairs is a true celebration of memories I have been carrying with me through life.  Top shelf is me as a ski patroller at Killington with Chester (my first Yellow lab --- an amazing dog)  Photo of Schuyler & I and then Schuyler's shelf at the bottom.  All the other "treats on the shelf have great meaning of their own -- from the doll, to the tractor & Breyer horses....  

This is a close up of Schuyler's shelf --- he has grown up so much!  Love the bobble head doll we got at a Fisher Cat game.  Schuyler was so photogenic as a boy --- I remember taking all of the photos displayed.

My last Ironman triathlon I completed but best performance (Personal Record Ironman) print from 1998 --- I finished in 11:52:04 -- you can see the time on the plaque --- something I am so very proud of.  Surrounded by Mickey Mouse from Disney and part of our Breyer Horse collection.  

The last photo is one of Schuyler and I when he was 4 years old in the woods..  Winter is my favorite seasonI love this frame too!


I think about the photos I take now in digital and really want to frame them --- I think it would be a real celebration of my work to frame as I think they are worthy.....just doesn't seem to be enough room in the house to display them all -- so I really like the digital frames. :)

 

Give Me your Best Shot Friday! GOLF

WE went to the driving range in Hadley yesterday.  Steve is an amazing golfer.  Since we have been together he hasn't focused on his golf game as much because we go to running races on the weekends, and waterskiing on the boat seems to keep us so busy golf has taken a back seat.  But we have been a few times, I played at the Phoenician when we were in Arizona, and we played with Alex in Clifton Park, NY.  Steve has played a few times with friends, but that is about it.  It is one thing that we have on the list and really want to try and fit into our lives at some point.  Until then, we try to get out to the driving range.  I bought some beautiful Callaway Clubs for myself and a set of clubs for Schuyler, hoping he would get into playing as well.  My golf bag and golf shoes are just adorable!  It is funny, but that was really fun to pick out --- they have such great stuff for women.

I love to SMASH the ball.  Steve was pretty amazed, but then again my athletic talent and strength -- along with my stick and ball skills translated well when I held a golf club.  It is truly a joy to get all lined up, understand the mechanics and hit the "sweet spot" and watch that little ball sail into the sky!  Steve is an amazing coach.  As an engineer he sees the mechanics of the swing and replicates it in himself, he studies the top golfers like Ben Hogan --- and has truly become an amazing golfer.  His skill in hitting the ball is a beauty to watch.  :)  And I love to take his photo so he can see each part of the golf swing and analyze back at the house later.  :)

Here are my favorite shots from yesterday.  I saw this Sweet Shot Friday challenge and thought this golf outing was perfect for entry.  Hope you do too!  Enjoy the photos and please leave me a note if you stop by!

I love my clubs! 

My gorgeous husband --- he is so amazing!  This is my #1 choice for BEST SHOT!

I thought this would be a great macro shot - or a great ad for LUXE balls from Wilson -- love the pink!

Love my SIGG!  I got Steve a black one so we can be "bride & groom" - Always.

And me - for in the photo Friday --- I really like this one of me and my golf clubs.  :)  

To see more "best shots" go to:

Also sharing my golf photo for in the photo Fridays - a great blog hop to meet new bloggers - 

go here to join in on the fun!

And another linky to see other blogs ---- always fun to connect on Fridays.  

You never know what you might find!

Link to Friendly Friday

Macro Friday: Bumblebee

On my "photo walk" with Sasha this week I found myself chasing "critters" to see if I could get some goodies...  It takes luck and patience and a good eye, that is all I can say!  I was chasing this cardinal, the red was so beautiful, but then I downloaded, and NO luck.  :(  I chased a chipmunk too ---- I have one of those to share in the Scavenger Hunt on Friday that came out pretty good.  It was cute because Sasha would clue me into these critters and help me track them around the Episcopal Church in Northampton.  Fun!  :)

So here is my Macro Friday entry.  I love these photos!  I think I caught this bumblebee busy at work and the yellow flower was just beautiful making a great shot!  Hope you agree!

Please leave a note if you stop by -- I love that people are checking out my photos and love to link around and look at what others are doing too.  I have seen such fantastic photography and got some great ideas to try as I hone in on my photo taking skills!  This has been such great fun for me -- re-energizing me in life and in this special hobby of mine.  :)

Thanks for your "visit" --- if you haven't joined in on the fun - link below and check out my Photography Fun page for more challenges that I enjoy participating in!

For more macro shots, go to:

And just to share my blog with others and link into the virtual world here is another link to connect with others! 

You Capture: Play --- Schuyler's Birthday Party

OK - so I shared some of my fun pics from Schuyler's 8th birthday party this past year an earlier post this week, the theme with You Capture today is Play -- so --  I am totally breaking the rules and going into my archives on this one (photos are from his 7th birthday- 2008).... sorry.  But I totally love these photos from his party and wanted to share them!

Promise to get out more this week and take photos --- but you will all love this one of Schuyler's friends from Kindergarten - twins Marin & Eliza and then this one of Marin (she looks so good in front of the camera) and then this one of Schuyler and Veronica - - his buddy / friend that comes over all the time to play!  I love these kids and love catching them in action (and in costume because of his party!)  The twins really loved playing with Schuyler, they are moving because their dad is now out of grad school and we are sad about that...  I remember when Schuyler went to their party when they turned 7 -- they were thrilled and the dad commented to me "We never thought anyone would replace Diego --- until the twins met Schuyler...."  so very cute!  :)

:)

Hope you like these photos as much as I do!  Please leave a note if you stop by!

In a Yellow House Photo Challenge: Urban - Northampton, MA

Another photo challenge for the week - "In a Yellow House" guest host this month is my new photog friend Ashley Sisk who has been so encouraging and just by following her blog I have linked up with these new challenges to test and grow my photographic skills.

The theme this month is URBAN.  And as you all know I am a country girl at heart, never lived in a city (unless you can call Boulder, CO a city - which I actually lived in Louisville, so even that doesn't count!).  :)  I love the country and all the photos that come from the country, but this urban theme had me thinking creatively and I took my friend Sasha on a "Photo Walk" in Northampton, home of Smith College where there is so much diversity and character in the streets.  It is the closest thing to a city in my neighborhood.  SO here is my interpretation with scenes from Northampton.  Enjoy!


Link here to Nancy E Photography for the entire collection of 70 plus photos!

VIVA - Fresh Pasta Company
The best food in town - actually the whole area, as we recently have been visiting here for lunch - my favorite new lunch spot.  They make their own fresh home made pasta and the Portabello mushroom ravioli is to die for! Thanks to Lynn Lenker for the recommendation -- if you are in town - stop at VIVA!  Yummy.

Wish I had this shot for the "Chair" on last week's scavenger hunt!  :)  I Love this street scene.

It is odd to take photos of people in the streets, like it is an invasion of privacy.  This photo shows the street performer playing his guitar, very peaceful and expressive.  Reminds me of Boulder where this was the scene every day on Pearl Street (designed by the same people that designed Church Street in Burlington, VT)  There are so many performers in the streets and it was reported that they make VERY good money. :)

Taking clock photos a lot on this walk --- just something about time standing still....  The angles of this old clock on the top of the church in the center of town was my favorite.  Hope you like the photos - please leave a comment if you stop by!

Black & White Wednesday - I love animals!

My best subjects are animals.  You can usually entice them with a treat or a blade of grass.  If you make clicking sounds with your voice the horses ears perk up and they come over to say hi.  Owners don't like you to feed their horses without them being there as they could accidentally nip you and some owners have even been taken to court because of that and now post signs on their fences.  Our neighborhood has a horse farm on every corner and they are such beautiful animals to photograph - I try to get out there and get them at their best!  I had a horse as a young girl in Junior High and High School.  His name was Rabz Galaxy, a half registered Arabian Quarter horse that we rescued from being sent to the glue factory.  He was very rambunctious and threw me many times, but I loved that horse with all my heart.  My friend Joanne and I would ride for houses playing Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys ---- adventures in the fields in Vermont.  I remember them well.  

Here below is a nice photo of our beautiful 9 year old registered AKC yellow lab Toryfield's Master Oakley

He is used to his picture taken and a few chosen words will get his beautiful boxy head to appear. I just love that dog -- my faithful running partner EVERY morning!

Lakota you have seen me photograph before in posts, she is a young horse and lives at the bottom of our driveway.  She is the baby - her sister Shadow is all black with white "boots" -- Lakota is more apt to pose for me and come to the fence.  I love the one of her running around in her small pen --- she has so much energy and strength.  I truly love these horses!

Schuyler's 8th birthday - - Raw-E : Sweet Children for 2(6)

The challenge this week from Sailor and Company? Go into your 2nd folder of photos (I went into my iPhoto collection) and select the 6th photo in that folder. I love this photo of Evan from Schuyler's birthday party --- although this challenge got me thinking I should really clean up my hard drive and only keep the better photos..... this one is great - I guess I got lucky.

This was a great birthday bash for Schuyler.  I have put a party on for him every year with the goodie bags, the games, the cake and then presents.  Our Mom's group we called the "Birthday Bunch"  and it seemed that we were always having birthday parties for our kids, especially the summer.  So fun.  I love getting to know the moms and having all the kids over at the same time.  We are lucky that Schuyler's birthday is around Halloween so we add the costume effect and ask all the kids to come in costume.  Last year we had 12 plus kids.  I am also including the group shot of the kids on the CedarWorks playset.  I sent it to them to show them how we still use it and that it really looks great for landscaping in the backyard.  :)

Games we played that day included donuts on the string (who can eat it the fastest), tug of war and we made an obstacle course around the yard.  We hoped to get a zip line up --- maybe next year!

Such fun photos - and always great memories ---- can't wait for October to roll around and plan another!

 

I can't believe he is almost nine.  Time flies SO fast....

This truly qualifies as something that makes me wildly happy.  :)

Photo Challenges Tuesday: Flowers & Ski Racing! :)

Sweet Shot Tuesday: 

This morning I took this photo of the white roses I bought as a treat for myself.  I love flowers in the dining room - there is a sense of strength they give.  Each color rose has a meaning -- I love this post from Hugs & Kisses. shows all the meanings for the different colors.

 White roses have several meanings: 

 “You’re heavenly,” reverence and humility, innocence and purity, 

“I’m worthy of you,” and secrecy and silence. 

For more Sweet Shots, go to:

Trendy Treehouse: Shutter Love Tuesdays 

Action photography I can truly say is my specialty.  Once you understand the sport and the games you can get the right kind of action at the right time for the prime photo.  Ski racing has helped me get in tune to what is the best photo that someone would want to buy.  It is with such pride that I watch these children on the race course in the winter.  I have a lot of other sports photos - water skiing and soccer and some baseball ones that I love, but the ski racing photos I think are my best!   I know these photos will cool you down on these hot summer days.....  we think about skiing all the time in our house, so here ya go!

Hope you like this one for this week's sports theme on Trendy Treehouse

This J3 boy is from the Killington Mountain School at the top of the race course this past March 2010  - I love the blue sky background and the focused look on his face.  I have so many great ski photos, this one may not be the best, but the Bermuda Open photos each year are just always the greatest and this is a good one to share.

And just one more from that same album as it shows this excitement of the dual ski race.  

Here is a link to the video I created with all my favorites highlighting the J5's from their 2009-10 season.

For more "sports" photos, go to:

Relay For Life: I Heart Faces

Relay For Life of Quabog Valley 

Cancer Survivors wear purple shirts with sashes, carry flowers, and are our Heros 

Purple shirts, with empowering statements on the back. 

The back of this shirt says "I Want to Celebrate More BIrthdays"

By participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life we are making a differnce

This is a photo of the honorary chair - a local media spokesperson who is a cancer survivor

I love this photo of her as she gets ready to tell her story of strength and HOPE to the crowd. 

Her smile looking up and out to the crowd just eludes strength 

It is leaders, survivors like her that raise HOPE to so many and leadership that helps to find a cure for cancer and help more people celebrate MORE BIRTHDAYS! 

 The Birthday campaign this year was so much fun for photos -

 I really wish I got out more and got more photos, but it was so rewarding to be a part of our local Relay with the Cub Scout Team.  "Pack 57 ROCKS! Against Cancer!  

Link on the photo to more of my Relay For Life photos from Belchertown.  

It was such a great time and our team can't wait to go back again next year!

Next year this will be me wearing purple.

Yes - I am currently going through my own journey chronicled here.

It is a different place for me to be - a cancer survivor, newly diagnosed, fighting my own battle. 

Join the fight - find a Relay near you.

Get involved in your local Relay today!