Kansas Country

A few weeks ago my family and I made the long drive up to Kansas to visit family.

...and I actually remembered to bring my camera!

It's amazing how much one appreciates the quiet calm of the country when you've been immersed in the bustle of suburban-city life for a while.

I didn't capture anywhere close to all the beautiful views....but that's just because I was soaking it all in rather than documenting the details. ;)

Here are the few photos I did manage to take...

Harvest

Last week I saw Marla's gorgeous shot of a combine and wheat field during harvest and immediately fell in love. As it happens, over the weekend we went back to my husband's family's farm where his dad had saved back about 15 acres of wheat so our kids could ride in the combine to harvest it.
I couldn't not recreate her shot, right?!

I ran PTM's Joy action on all of these shots...

Country Living

I have so many things to share with y'all!!!

* First, be sure you visit Mountain Mama to enter her giveaway for any 8x10 print from my Etsy shop!

* Second, if you have any desire to get to know me a little better go to Yours Truly to read the interview I had with Jess!

* Third, if you haven't yet participated in the June Quarterly Top 5 link-up you have only one day left to do so...and then you'll have a chance of winning an 11x14 print from my shop or one of two other fab prizes!

* Fourth, did you notice my new watermark?! It took me a while to get around to it, but I'm pretty happy with the look.

*And fifth, if you participate in Sweet Shot Tuesday and read what Darcy writes did you notice anything really super cool last week? Like, I totally won the awesome shop credit to Paint the Moon?!?!?! I'm still a bit giddy. I got the Moxie Set and you can rest assured that you will get to see all 26 gorgeous actions in...well, action.

Oh, and I have to tell you this funny story...so, while I was looking through the before/after gallery trying to pick out which set I'd get, my husband came over, looked over my shoulder and asked why I'd want to win pictures of other people...oh yes, he was serious. Anything photography related is completely lost on him...I'm sure he feels the same way about me and sports.

...there's also one more totally exciting thing going on, but I'll wait to share that info until it's done...

*****

We spent the holiday weekend with my husband's family. His parents live in a small town and his brother and family live on the farm. We spent a good part of Saturday at the farm: harvesting several acres of wheat that Grandpa set aside especially for the kids (shots to come), swimming, cooking out, shooting off some fireworks and once the kids had gone home with grandma and grandpa, my husband, BIL, SIL and I played Rock Band! Talk about unexpected fun...we had a blast! It's weekends like this that make me wish we still lived close to them. God certainly blessed me with amazing in-laws and I am so grateful for that...I know too many people who can not boast this same thing.

This is about the extent of the fireworks shots that I got. We didn't watch any 'real' fireworks shows....next year, by golly, I am going to a big show...by myself or not! 

We did watch the huge and amazing fireworks spectacular that was aired from NYC. Talk about breath taking! While we were watching, my son told me that I should go get my camera. LOL!

(for the record, I almost did.)

 



And here's one for Touch Up Tuesday.
I love country views and old red barns!


Before:



After:


My edit reminds me a bit of The Wizard of Oz...but, I am in Kansas after all!




Step 1. Splice in a blue sky photo - the original sky wasn't doing it for me.
Step 2. Run Paint the Moon's Tilt action.
Step 3. Run Paint the Moon's Heart and Soul action.
Step 4. Add a rainbow using this tutorial.
Step 5. Straighten image.

Scavenger Hunt - Bits of Childhood

1. Emotion

joy

[joi]   


–noun   the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

...such as an attack on your sister with the squirt gun...

2. Flower's Point of View

3. Natural Frame
Just past this soy bean field lies my old high school in the super tiny town of Alleman, Iowa.
It can be easily identified from miles away thanks to the disturbingly high quantity of very large radio and television towers...one of five is seen here!

4. Letters

5. Bliss
One homemade Rice Krispies treat + ten newly painted fingernails = a blissfully happy little girl!

Scavenger Hunt & SOOC Sunday

Holiday Colors
The other day I 'splurged' and bought myself some cranberry juice.
Not only do I love the tart taste, I love it's vibrant red...almost like a Christmas red!
It doesn't even need editing, as this is sooc.









Winter/Holiday Icon
Nothing says winter like snow! This shot is actually from last year, although we did get our first snow last night, so there was a similar sight this morning as Seth shoveled our drive.




A Tree
This is one of my favorite ornaments. It holds no sentimentality... it's just pretty and sparkly!
I got it from Pier 1 right after Seth and I were married. I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket and they were having their after-Christmas clearances!




Quiet
One evening we hadn't heard our youngest for a while, so we went to see what she was up to and found her sleeping next to our Christmas tree!
(yes, the clicks of my camera did wake her up.)





Your Favorite Color
This is one from the archives. It's from our trip to Cancun last year.
My favorite color is blue, but specifically the hues of those which you find in the ocean.

All in a Row

This is actually sooc.

We were driving when I saw these giant power lines coming up, so I scrambled to get my camera out and had just enough time to click. 

My settings weren't correct for this shot, so I accidentally overexposed it. But I really like how it turned out. 

I did crop and straighten it a tad, but that's it.

 

One Sunrise Three Looks

Who doesn't love landscapes?
They are ever changing and always beautiful!

These shots were actually taken in this order within about an hours time. 

I'm always fascinated with the variety of colors each sunrise and sunset brings.

(these are all sooc, too)

Midwest Sunrise

The only times I'm thankful for our 2 year old waking up before the sun is when we are at my parents' farm.

Their breakfast room has sliding glass doors that face due east.

And the sunrises never disappoint!

(these are all sooc, btw!)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday, et al.

I can't believe I've missed so many Scavenger Hunt Sundays! 
...it's nice to be participating again this week. 




Black and White 

This is my husband's grandpa's old film slr camera.
I'll have more shots and a story to go with this camera on Friday.

I Ate This... 
This is taco soup and it's from the archives. I was busy talking and eating over Thanksgiving and didn't get any shots of food.

Historic
This is an old part of downtown Kansas City that we pass through on our way to Iowa.
I have no idea what it is or what it's used for, other than a railroad beneath the wires, but I'm sure there's some kind of history to it!

Off-Center 

The End 
...end of the day, that is.

I love visiting my family's farm just for the landscapes and skies that are visible, unobstructed by other houses or city lights, just nature in all it's bold and unique beauty.This is sooc - and there are many more sooc sunrise shots yet to come this week!