Photo 365 #329: The books edition

July 2, 20154 Comments

Yep, today is all about books. My books, friends’ books, ALL THE BOOKS! 😀

Today is launch day for A.F.E. Smith’s fantastic book, Darkhaven. She’s having a heck of a great party over on Facebook, where she’s been interviewing authors (including me!) and giving away books all day. The fun continues tomorrow, so be sure to check it out.

Books!

In other news, my books arrived today! After running some errands this morning, we arrived home to a big ol’ box o’ books waiting for us on the front porch. Since I wasn’t expecting them for another whole week, this was a great surprise. I’ve already donated a couple to my local library, and I have one place lined up to sell books locally. It’s been a pretty exciting day. 🙂

And if you want to win an e-copy for your very own, check out my giveaway over on Facebook! There’s still time to enter, and there are a bunch of other great giveaways so sign up for there as well.

Have a fantastic Thursday, everybody!

Photo 365 #328

July 1, 20152 Comments

2015-06-26 18.59.53 I’ve got nothing today.

I had a hard time even choosing today’s photo – I’ve been hard at work revising The Lokana Chronicles, and my brain is full of plot bunnies.

Perhaps you all can answer this question for Thumper, though:

Where is the candy?

Photo 365 #327

June 30, 2015June 29, 20154 Comments

Socks was not impressed with my photographic ambitions last week. She wanted me to ignore the flowers in the ditch and pay attention to her, darn it.

Don’t believe me?

Put down the camera and pet me dammit!

Serious Socks is serious (and much more social than before we left on vacation). That look means business, yo.

Photo 365 #326

June 29, 2015Leave a comment

We had a big weekend. Saturday I did some garage saling while the older kids worked at a 5k and the younger ones had a play date, then we prepped for Cricket’s birthday party. We prepped more yesterday morning and had a heck of a good time at the party yesterday afternoon. Cricket’s godparents (and their spouses and new babies) both came, as did my aunt and uncle, my step-grandma, and my mother-in-law. It was a houseful, but it was fun. 🙂

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Of course, all that fun can make for some tired little boys (okay, it makes for a tired mommy, too), and as five o’clock approached, Thumper finally lost the will to stay awake. After announcing that he was going to get a book, he made a beeline for his room, returned with said book, then passed out on the couch (on top of said book).

I love that I’m raising readers. Falling asleep with a book is a not-uncommon occurrence in my house, and it makes me smile every time I stumble upon a scene like this one. 🙂

Do your kids love to read? What are some of their favorite books?

Photo 365 #325

June 28, 2015June 27, 20157 Comments

More fun with my macro lens.

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I just love the way this turned out. I had a little more luck this time since the wind wasn’t blowing. 🙂

Photo 365 #324

June 27, 2015Leave a comment

Last night was the Corn Carnival parade, which is always a lot of fun. We took the kids and had a great time, although hopefully the boys acquire some patience in time for next weekend’s Fourth of July parade.

In this picture, Cricket was unhappy that they weren’t throwing candy to him. He spent a good couple of minutes telling me how if he waved to the people in the parade, then they would throw candy at him. He made sure that he waved at every single float, but not all of them were giving out candy, and he finally got upset about it.

In the end, both boys came home with sacks full of candy. Now to make sure they don’t eat it all in one sitting… 😀

Photo 365 #323

June 26, 201510 Comments

Yesterday was Cricket’s fifth birthday. I can’t believe he’s five years old already! I swear he was just born a week ago.

I posted a picture of him with his last-minute gift (he gets the real ones at his party on Sunday) on Facebook last night, but he wouldn’t hold still, so it came out kind of blurry. I took a couple of the two of us snuggled up on the couch after that, but he wouldn’t sit still for those, either.

Happy Thumper is happy. 🙂

Thumper, on the other hand, sat still and smiled for his. It was an odd reversal of personalities.

Still, it’s nice to have a picture of Thumper that isn’t blurry. Usually I can’t get him to sit still for anything without holding him in place, and even that doesn’t usually work. Maybe tonight, though, he’ll sit still long enough to catch some candy at the Corn Carnival parade, assuming it stops raining long enough for the parade to go on…

Photo 365 #322

June 25, 2015Leave a comment

One of the many things we did on vacation was cruise the Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park. We saw a bunch of neat animals (buffalo!) and just generally had a great time.

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This is one of my favorite pictures from that part of our trip. I just love the way the road curves into the distance. I could have stayed here and stared at this scene all day. 🙂

Unfortunately, the boys needed a nap after drinking in all this glorious nature, so I had to content myself with this picture.

Photo 365 #321

June 24, 2015Leave a comment

Even on vacation, I found gorgeous flowers to photograph:

This beauty lives at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD, and has many pretty friends there. I love the way this image turned out, don’t you?

Photo 365 #320

June 23, 2015Leave a comment

I spent a little time this morning shooting various things in my yard. I started with the thistles near the mouth of my driveway before moving on to the daisies and clover further back. The daisies have seen better days, it’s true, but I was messing about with my macro lens again, so it didn’t really matter.

And then I found a surprise.

This little guy blended in so well that I didn’t even see him till I got the flower focused. Naturally, I had a heck of a time catching him – the little guy wouldn’t sit still for longer than a second. I’m good, but I’m not that good.

At least, not yet. 🙂