
believe
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

And then it was December: the third snowiest on record for the area. Beautiful, but a little wearying.
Thanks for humouring me!

Harvest time. I was able to observe it and photograph it this year. And I was able to find another witness to it.

So much to learn. This is second attempt at a scarecrow. Also, the two little pumpkins are my volunteers. I tossed them back into the area from where they came: will history repeat itself?

The gladiola just make me smile! And a new retirement business plan is devised.

Big family event of the year . . . Mom turns 80!

The flowers are coming in. These are the hollyhocks, tied to pitchforks.

Storms and tornadoes roar through mid-Michigan. The barn door does not fare well.

I had become a member at Perspective2 Studio to learn about lighting in December. In February I did my first shoot with live models. Those nieces sure come in handy.
I'm reviewing my flickr pics, in case you're wondering. Picking one from each month that tells me something.

January of 2008. I had turned 56. Fifty-six is an age that is fraught in our family. So I went to Lake Michigan to find myself.
You Remember 90% of 2008 |
![]() You were paying attention during 2008. And you remember what happened really well. You'll be able to talk about 2008 for years to come... Even when most people have forgotten what went down. |

I'm blessed to share Christmas with family, and family has grown to include two babies. This is CJ#1, who will be two in January. I think he had a great Christmas, and I know he made Christmas perfect for so many of his elders.

I did it!! The tree is up, most of the packages are wrapped!
Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas |
![]() Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents. |

Trying to get Christmas all through the house. This is the front porch. I'm not sure of the provenance of the ornaments, but I like that they have long green string ties on them.

Voila! I broke my big saw (something about coming at an angle and not sticking with a back and forth motion), but my little hack saw completed the task!

I've become spoiled on getting my Christmas trees. Eighteen years ago, my mother had us plant spruces and pines on the back border of the farm lawn. They've grown without any pruning, and for the most part are way too tall to be a Christmas tree, but one can lop off a top here and there and come up with a most unique Christmas tree.
I also like to put red bows on the tree line for the holiday season.
You Should Have a Blue Christmas Tree |
![]() For you, the holidays represent a time of calm, understanding, and peace. You avoid family fights, and you don't get too stressed out - even when things are crazy! You like to make Christmas about making everyone's life a little bit better. You don't get caught up in greed or commercialism. You're too sincere for that. Your blue tree would look great with: Lots of silver tinsel You should spend Christmas Eve watching: It's a Wonderful Life What you should bake for Santa: Chocolate chip cookies |

Pink glass, angels, Great-Grandma Alty's buttons, and water from the Atlantic Ocean.
What are a few of your favorite things?
You Are 50% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression |
![]() Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst. You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic. You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills. You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression. |

Yesterday's event: The Dickens Village in Old Town. Last year I photographed the Dickens characters from A Christmas Carol as they wandered through town. This time I photographed the decorations at the Turner-Dodge mansion.

Brrr! so cold today that the squirrels are already digging things up.

I was there.
I didn't start out with our group (they left at 3:30 a.m. in the morning), but I did catch up with them by 7:30.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.
Tonight is the annual lighting of the State of Michigan holiday tree. We'll be there!

My brother's family, the Washington 5, are my favorite group to photograph.
I totally screwed up the shoot on Saturday. Yikes! I'm going to be editing like crazy this weekend to get decent photos to folks.
Fortunately, it was all for fun, so I don't have to return any money. And it is fun to play at the studio.
Well, that was MY weekend!

You can see why the deer are running now. Their lunchrooms are being sliced down before their very eyes!

the barn guy cleared out the south side of the barn bridge, leaving me another garden plot. Uncle H and Aunt M gave me a bunch of tulip bulbs and iris . . . guess where they're going? My friend Carla also has hostas and sedum that are coming out to the farm.
The rock border is handy . . . the cornfield is just to the right of this bed and I pluck stones out of it.

Canning jar, some beads, some copper wire, and voila! Personalized vase.

Some of you have met my friend trykemom on flickr. She's not only a great photographer, she creates wonderful Christmas ornaments!

I was in Amish country on Saturday. I had a flash: I doubt if these folks are worrying much about the economic crisis.
Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."
Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.
Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

I'm amazed at all the different types of pumpkins and gourds there are at the market this time of year.

Why . . . we make scarecrows!
I have a lot to learn about scarecrow making, but it sure has been fun playing!

I LOVE having the chicken coop as a kind of workshop. Projects can stay put until I have the time to finish them, instead of being swept into a closet. (Of course, it was the apartment that had closets. The farm only has one. Pre-closet days of building.)
The chair was an unfinished one from Michaels. I first painted it a dark green. I wanted it to look old, so before I painted it light green, I put vaseline on areas that I wanted to look worn. After the coat of light green, I wiped the areas of vaseline with baby wipes, leaving the dark green showing under.
My brothers, 43 and 52, are scared of this doll. What's up with that?