Autumn Self-Portraits

Thursday was a beautiful day – in the morning the sun was out, but in the afternoon the clouds rolled in.  There was a brisk breeze and it was just a bit nippy.  The weather plainly said “Autumn.”

It was the perfect day for some self-portraits.  I headed out with my camera and got a few shots.  I only spent about 45 minutes out there, which, although it sounds like a lot, isn’t that long.  My first self-portrait shoot took about, oh, an hour, maybe a bit less.  My second self-portrait shoot took probably 2+ hours.  Which was very, very fun.

Anyways, there are not all that many different shots, so this post won’t be too terribly long (although I don’t need to tell you that, since you will find that out in a few seconds).

So, without further ado, here they are.

(Breaking news alert:  I just went and selected all my photos, and there will be more than I originally thought.  Many more.  Just thought you would like a heads up.)

 

This spot is right in the front yard, and I could see it from the window.  It called my name all day, “Come.  You need to take some self-portraits right here.”  So I listened.

Throwing leaves.  Yay!

 

 

 

1…2…3…

…Throw!

 

I love this fence!  You may remember it from this picture.  This lovely tree has a few branches that bend over the fence.  This was another spot that was calling my name.

 

 

Bare feet!

At the edge of our property, standing on the road, looking up – the lovely orange and red of the maple and oak trees, respectively.

See the leaves flying?  The wind was blowing quite briskly.

I really like how these turned out.  I underexposed them some by accident, but I am quite happy with the resulting effect.

 

 

I found this tree out in the woods behind our property.  Just a perfect place!

 

 

I thought that it would be fun to jump.  I ended up only proving to myself that I can’t jump gracefully.  This is the only one that turned out.  All the others look extremely ridiculous.

Just to prove the last point, here is an example of how the rest of my jumping shots turned out.  *Sigh*  Rather pathetic, and ridiculous.  But they made me giggle.  🙂

To Catch Up

Time for some catch-up!

We have been so busy that I haven’t been able to post as much as I’ve wanted to.  We’ve had company staying with us since late September, which has been very fun, but has filled our time.

So here is a pictorial synopsis of what we’ve been up to.  Don’t worry, there will be plenty of words, too.

 

On Friday we went to our first Winton’s concert of the week.  We’ve seen them twice before, so this isn’t our first Winton concert.  This is just our first one for the week.  (Now that I’ve just completely restated what was said in the first sentence, I think it is time to move on).  We attended two over the weekend, and will go to one more this weekend.  We are turning into groupies!

Trying to get a little more creative with my photos. I really love this one.  A lot.

Meiling enjoying the concert.

[Don’t ask.]

Daddy and Meiling enjoying the music.

 

The trees in our area are turning all sorts of lovely shades right now!  It is amazing that in these photos I posted a few weeks ago the same trees where still bright green.  Now they are vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds.  I saved a mirror from the trash a few weeks ago, so I could take it out and take pictures with it.  Since Mom wanted me to take pictures of the trees this past Saturday and Dad was cleaning out the garage, it seemed like a good time to use my mirror before getting rid of it.

 

Bare feet.  Colored leaves.  Jean skirts.  Autumn.

Sometimes trying to find the perfect white balance and exposure result in WAY to many pictures. 🙂

 

 

 I really like the effect of lying the mirror down on the ground.  Isn’t it neat how the ground is all out of focus, while the reflection isn’t?

Now there are no more green leaves out there.  Just lovely deep reds, vibrant golds, and a wonderful orange.

 

This was even harder than doing regular self portraits.  This is the best shot I got.  😛

Looking straight up

 

There are even more leaves on the ground now!

On Sunday – looking out from our front porch to the left front corner of our yard – actually, the same place where I was taking pictures the previous day.  Now the oak that is in the left part of this photo is a deep red.  I’ll have to get a photo of it now.

When the sun peeped out from behind the clouds, it lit the trees in a much more interesting way.

Doesn’t God make the most beautiful colors for Autumn?

 

Yesterday I went over to a friends’ home to a talk about health.  Quite a few ladies came, and we all just sat around the table, and shared about our health journeys, asked questions, and told what we have been learning.  It was so wonderful to sit there with all these women, all in different places, who are all seeking health, while seeking God’s will.  It was an amazing time and such a wonderful opportunity.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have been able to attend, and to know all these ladies.  Thank you so much, A. family, for hosting and organizing it!

 

Until the next time post,

~Allison

For the First Time in 2 Years? 3 Years?

I used to crochet all the time when I was 10 until I was 12.  I loved to crochet.  I made my sister a load of crocheted food for her play kitchen.  I made a bunch of dishcloths.  But when I was 12, I started having wrist pain.  I had tendonitis.

Crocheting was one of the first things to go, followed by piano.  There was a time when I was able to do a bit of crocheting, but I had to stop again.  I have not been able to crochet for several years.

Well, I tried again yesterday.

It went fairly well.  I did some more today, and my wrists are sore.  But I am so excited to be crocheting again!  I hope if I take it slowly I can crochet more often. 

I started a dishcloth.  It is now about two thirds of the way finished.

I am so excited that God gave me the ability to do this again!

What it looked like last night

This morning