weekend recap and perception collection, april 14

1. lunch these days | 2. new toy | 3. happy place | 4. someone's happy again | 5. also, happy place | 6. test shot

My friend Christine and I emailed a lot this weekend (you'll see why in a minute), and by the end I had to tell her that our weekend was pretty lame. Sometimes lame is the best, right?  Errands, yard work, lunch out. It takes up all the time. It was gloriously beautiful here, finally spring like, and Neel's garden is in full spring flower. We have this path of phlox that is just to die for. Like walking through a wonderland. But it's so hard to figure out how to photograph. I'm working on it. I'll report back.

And of course I'm dying to talk to you about my new toy up in photo #2 there. I have a lot to say. Because of that, I'll save that conversation for another day. In the meantime it's enough now that Neel and I took a walk in a pretty neighborhood by the beach and put our toes in the sand.

In the meantime, I have some exciting news to share!

As you guys know, photography is much on my mind, and as I've said before, Instagram is often where it's at for me. I get asked regularly for prompts and challenges, and when I went scouting around for some collaborations to challenge me, the idea of working with my good (but too far-away) friend Christine from The Plumed Nest came to mind. Christine is a stunningly talented artist and a stellar photographer. Just emailing back and forth with her to brainstorm this little project has me excited and inspired.

So Christine and I are joining forces on a wee photo-a-day challenge, and we'd love you to play along with us! This is a no-pressure proposition, simply let yourself be inspired by the prompts as we've laid them out and have some fun. We're starting this Friday, April 18, and we'll hang together for the next two weeks at the hashtag #perception_collection. Join us for the whole smash, or drop in and out whenever a prompt strikes your fancy. The prompts are designed to be wide ranging, and the goal is to focus your eye and have some fun. You can follow me on Instagram here and Christine here, and at the end of the two weeks she and I'll feature some of our favorite photos on our blogs.

I love using the challenge and structure that daily prompts can give you, and I hope you'll consider playing along for at least some of our suggestions. Added side bonus? You might stumble upon some inspiring photographer and make some friends. That's always my favorite part! Hope to see you on the 'gram over the next few weeks!
 

five things, april 11

1. I think, when I've actually been here on a Friday, that I've been showing up lately with flowers. I've been so drawn to them these days, and I've felt such joy photographing them in the studio. I've been casting about for some flower arranging classes (seriously, I'm lousy at this), and I have some possibilities out there, and I remain hopeful. What bright possibilities in these vivid petals.

2. I think this was one of the best, most fascinating blog posts I've read in ages. My friend and cook book author Jeanne linked to it on Facebook, and I was mesmerized. I've you've read David Lebovitz's work about living (and eating) in Paris, this is great fun. I'll be buying his cook book, for sure.

3. I think I'm curious. How many of you have had a bad customer service experience? Rooth, you can count your insurance company, if you want! I had a really lousy customer service experience this week, one of those things that felt like to took all of my energy, all my attention and all of my time. And this from a company that has treated me well in the past. Very little makes you feel more impotent than being at the mercy of customer service, I think. I was not happy. It's resolved now, although I should hold my breath until I sign for the package, but I've been left with a bad taste in my mouth. When I see their logo, I feel yucky.

4. I think sometimes it's hard to be the only woman in a houseful of boys. And perhaps I shouldn't make Great Northern Beans for dinner again.

5. I think for the first time in weeks I can hear my kid's happy noises from the other room as he (gently) tosses himself a baseball. Maybe things are starting to look up.