Once There Was A Snowman . . .

On the eve of December 1st it snowed.  After shoveling the sidewalk I rolled this little snowman for the front yard, carefully placing him slightly off center (not to cover up the door wreath).  I put a knit scarf and hat on him overnight but decided he's perfect without.  On December 2, it was 34℉ and i noticed the snowman would soon be toppling over...how could he still be standing...physically?Little did I know that I'd be watching quite a show all week long!

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 8

This made my day, week!

Louie is 6 months old now and boy or boy does he have a cute giggle and disposition!  I have the treat of a daily photo - always something cute - but yesterday I got this little video.  I'm sure to watch this one over and over!

New Arrival

I chose to opt-out of Osh Kosh Airshow this past summer.  Taking a year off will allow me to rediscover my favorites next year at Osh Kosh, but Tim went to Osh with friends.  It is my belief that is when our beautiful Cessna 172 was traded in. (in his mind)  The time for the upgrade had finally come.  Please meet our new Cessna 182.

I really must blog!

When the year started I had this personal goal to blog at least weekly. However mundane the post would be it will be satisfying for me to look back and enjoy what ever it is going on in my life. Well there is a lot going on. Babies, beautiful busy grandgirls, new drop dead gorgeous airplane and home improvements. Pictures to come. 

And they grow so dang fast...

Baby 1 month at a time

Louie in July

Louie in August

Babies and Photography

My experience with photography & babies is limited.  I have some very cute pictures of babies, but they are not posed and squished into a special sack.  Last Sunday I tried VERY hard to do just that with my grandson Louie.  The room was set with five layers of blankets on a bed (used as our poser),with a nice wedge in the middle for baby posing and a portable heater to keep the room warm.

 The wedge is there!  How exactly does the baby lay in it again?  Not happening.  Oooops no diaper..three layers of blankets suddenly wet.  So now what to do?

Baby Photography Today

The experience I have photographing babies is minimal.  The baby portrait today is very different from the baby portraits from 10 years ago.

Here is an example of today:

The goal is to swaddle the baby to resemble what they looked like in the womb?  This is a challenge!
There are classes for photographers that teach you how to do this not to mention all over YouTube!

I was a sucker and I bought a class so I too could learn this new art.
Here is what I learned:

1. Swaddling a baby for photography is an art and will take tremendous practice.
2. It takes a ton of blankets and little pillows to create that soft foundation of angles that prop the baby in the perfect bundle.
3. The lighting is soft and low.  The aperture is low to add to the softness.  
4. My 50mm lens is a bit tricky - I need to focus on the eyes...literally.
5. The actions for photoshop that you can buy ARE WORTH IT!

My first attempt with King Louis:

The before shot:

He is hardly swaddled.  That is yet to come....I'm practicing.  But this is an example of what the photoshop actions help you achieve.  I see today that I need to warm the photo back up, just a little to "blue".   Notice the soft creamy skin...this will take a little time to perfect too.  Even though Lou was in a nice pocket, clearly I have to work with the little pillows to mold his little body into the perfect angles.  

Perfect Baby Boy!

Perfect baby boy!

June 8, 2018 

Louis Michael Gartmann

8.4lbs  20 inches

Fifty Nifty United States

I always associate lilac time around the birthdays of both our mothers.
Today the back yard is filled with the romantic fragrance of lilacs.  Sweet fragrance of lilacs reminds me of a grade school program.  "Fifty Nifty United States".  I was Miss New Hampshire and I had to wear something that represented the state.  Lilac is their state flower so we pinned lilacs in my hair. I'm in the back row with pony tails, always a head taller than my classmates. And to this day I can sing and name every state of our Union in alphabetical order!

To Imagine Is Everything

The simplicity of the one room school was my decorating inspiration. 

 Enter my craft room with schoolhouse charm!

 Love this so much - waiting for my next message.

 Urklegrew and Frederick sitting at the top of my shadow box display.

Framed school house photographs aside a 1960's rollup Minnesota Map.

 One of a kind Raggedy made by me several years ago.

 The kids grew up with this farm table.  If you look close yo can see their artwork and names pressed into the wood top.  It's been refinished but the engravings remain.

 Henry's new spot.

 Closet decoupaged with 12x12 scrapbook paper = sewing hutch.  Jelly cupboard rescued from the curb. Annie Slone paint with crystal knobs.

 Some of my photography equipment.

 This was such a great curb rescue!

The teacher's boot.

 Swiss dot cafe curtain with my childhood gum chain.  More handmade Raggedy Ann and Andy.

 Stripes is Tim's stuffed bear from childhood.

 A schoolroom is not complete without Sally, Dick and Jane.

 Bought the desk paint on a whim at Menards.  Love it.

 Craft storage is under control and well labeled.

 My version of the schoolhouse light.

 This clock chimes on the half hour.  Classic red cross stitch from the hands of my darling Amadeline : )   

 Schoolhouse charm.

 Beautiful braided rug.

My number 2 school house bell = best Christmas gift ever!!!

Look up and let the snowflakes dance on your nose!

An Angel, a Puddle and a Dog

Look for the angels in your life, they are everywhere!
A delightful walk in the woods with one of my angels, Lily.  The sky was ominous blue to the northwest and the sun was peaking through in the southeast.  Ice crystals fell from the sky in chunks and clinked and danced on the path around us.  The air was fresh and smelled damp, like the Spring melt. 

Angel

Puddle

Lily and Oscar

Vintage Valentine

Vintage 3D Valentines from the 1920's and 1930's