Carnival Rides

Be sure to check out my guest post on My Reflection of Something!

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I think these are the last of the Fair photos...

Surviving the Heat

This summer...specifically the past three weeks...has been a scorcher.
{I know many of you are in this same heat-wave-that-doesn't-seem-to-be-going-anywhere boat.}
So, we've done what any family with fair-skinned children and a budget do: we've stayed inside.
Thanks to our local library we're maintaining a modicum of entertainment...primarily by checking out video games.
We've also checked out lots and lots of books, but during these last few weeks leading up to school, I don't mind letting my kids veg-out.

 




Of course, household chores must still be done amid the fun.
And Rowan is all too happy to help water the plants.

 




Even if it does end with mopping the floors.

  

Friday Abstractions & A Planner Download

Last week I told you that I'd have a handy little download available today.
And here it is!
I debated on the format in which to offer it, but ultimately decided that everyone would be able to use it in a simple .jpg format.

Print it out. Fill it out. Done.

I personally put mine in a 3-ring binder.
But you can scale it to fit your needs.

Go HERE to download this Weekly Photo Challenge Planner.




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Yesterday I finally got around to taking some oil and water shots.
Our session did not last long as the best light was outside and it was approximately 200 degrees in the sun.
{umm...some of these oil spots could very well be sweat spots}
But as short a time as I spent on it, I still ended up with a few favorites...



I am really loving oil and how it can create a dividing line as well as such clearly defined orbs.
I'm also totally diggin' the texture towards the top....and the bokeh to the right.

   





The left half of this shot seriously reminds me of the movie "Look Who's Talking"...or at least the very beginning with the sperm and egg. And the right side reminds me of "Finding Nemo"...or at least the very beginning with all the eggs.


     





That streak right through the shot was completely unexpected, but I love it.
In fact, I think it makes the shot.

{PS. go HERE for an easy tut on how to get water and oil shots}

 

I Pledge Allegiance...

My son learned the Pledge of Allegiance during his first year of preschool. From the time he was able to remember the whole thing, whenever we came across an American flag he would stop, put his little hand to his heart and recite the pledge.

In this photo he's teaching his little sister how to say it!


  

Carousel Dreaming

Y'all have no idea how long I've been waiting to get this shot!!!
Carousels aren't exactly a commonplace thing around here...well, they will be this weekend I'm sure...but anywho, there's one at Kaufmann Stadium where the Royals play. It's part of a pretty cool kid's zone where they have a splash park, mini golf and batting cages in addition to the standard playground equipment.
(and you have to pay through the nose for each and every one, but at least walking around is free!)

The whole kid's zone area closes down sometime around the end of the 7th inning, so I headed over shortly after the 7th inning stretch. I'm glad I waited because the sun was already setting and the crowd was pretty light around the carousel. ...I got there just as they closed the line, which was perfect timing if you ask me.




As a side note, I'm sponsoring several prizes/giveaways this summer.

The one that is currently underway is:
June's Quarterly Top 5 - get more details and link up at Amber's Articles, Click It Up A Notch, or NapTime MomTog - the prize sponsored by me is any one 11x14 print from my shop! But there are two other fabulous prizes as well!

Plus one more is starting next Tuesday and there are two more coming up in August!
Be sure to Like me on Facebook to keep up with all the action. ;)