Happy Valentines Day!

valentine bounty

candy sales, OVER

candy sales are over, what an awesome experience. even the moms who were so worried about selling were amazed at how fun this was. the girls really embraced the cause and sold like crazy. i was happy to see the positive response in the community. camp fire really is a small operation compared to girl scouts and everyone was genuinely interested in what we were all about. our council is pretty small and our day camp is directly behind the main council lodge. it is so important to keep those acres green so our girls have a place to go for cookouts, camp outs and daycamp. keeping it green with camp fire!

bluebird in training.

a great gift

these bookplates are so cute and make great gifts, i have so much fun putting these in new books for the girls. when we first got a computer, way back when, i made bookplates for the boys from a label maker program. once in awhile i stumble on a book with one and it really brings back memories.

ode to my father

this is what you find left at your doorstep when you have a garage sale loving, thrift store working dad.

and did i mention trash digger and dumpster diver?

no need to rub genie lamps with a dad like mine! wishes come true on a daily basis around him.

perspective, seen two ways

way back in the old days, i was one of those kids who wanted to be a photographer (just like everyone else). a friend's older sister took these amazing close ups of her dog and i copied with my dog(i was about 8 years old), with mixed results. i still remember those pictures and how fun it was to experiment. i noticed from an early age that really close up shots or pictures taken when the person wasn't looking were more flattering or had more interest. the only thing i got out of my first marriage of any value (besides a lot of life lessons, ha ha) was a canon eos with three different lenses and a nice carrying case. that camera takes the best pictures and i have taken millions over the years.

having kids resparked an interest in photography after a period of time when i felt i would rather be "in the moment completely" rather than constantly documenting everything for later. my husband would ask if i took photos from an event and i would blankly stare back, realizing i had forgotten. it was like a phase (which sometimes lingers today) where i just didnt care about documenting events, i just wanted to relax and enjoy it.

with my new digital camera, the pendulum is swinging back toward excessive picture taking. it is so easy to download and enjoy instantly, no waiting to see results. it has really stirred me up to take better photos although i must admit i have zero idea how to do the amazing detailed shots seen on flickr and many blogs i visit. i think what i learned in a high school photography class needs an upgrade!

the owls are up and running

although bananaberry the store is closing, my owls will be on her website and eventually to an etsy store, when i get the time to get it together. this is so exciting! several owls are on their way to cousins on the east coast (one has lost half a dozen teeth without a proper pillow and the other is still a wee one....)

lynne cox

hoping to get this wonderful author to come speak to my camp fire group, maybe even host an event in which she speaks to our whole council of camp fire girls. i just finished her book swimming to antarctica, it was surprisingly light and easy to read. she describes how she started swimming, her training and then the details behind her amazing long distance swims all over the world. she stresses goal setting and hard work to reach personal goals, really pushing herself to extremes to reach hers. i also liked that she speaks openly about different body shapes and sizes, with the emphasis on health and athleticism. just as i was motivated to start running again while reading ultramarathon man (he runs 100 miles at a time, i just need to get around the block!), i started dreaming of summer swimming and i can't wait for my surfing lessons to start (you hear that kathleen?)



keep your fingers crossed we can get her.