365/365 Our Girls

Well, I think I will end the 365 of 2018 with the highlight of our year - these precious girls. And while the year brought us many challenges and the loss of two dear loved ones, He continues to bless us beyond measure every day. We are eternally thankful.
Wishing you all His wonderful blessing in 2019.

364/365 Shortbread

Well, Harold just made another batch of creamy, fluffy, melt in your mouth (use a whole pound of butter) shortbread. I need that like a hole in the head!
They just came out of the oven.
He left me one on the counter and took the rest to his room. Thank you!

363/365 Orchid

Oh my! Only two days left in this years 365 project. It feels like I only started a few weeks ago. Another year has flown by.

I have been photographing large families for the past three days. It has been fun but there is limited 365 material. As I sat here at my computer after 8 hrs of straight editing, I realized I didn't have a 365 for the day.  Then I noticed my orchid. The last time I looked a couple of days ago, it had 6 buds, but this evening one of the buds has opened. I bought this for the master bath when we moved into the new house. It bloomed beautifully and then nothing for 17 months.

362/265 Rotary Phone

Teaching our grands how to use a rotary phone. :)

361/365 Joy!

I love photographing children. They are so full of emotion and joy!
I have several large family shoots over the Christmas break. It is the season when families gather and I applaud families that take the time and effort to record these special times. The best part for me though is capturing these special candid moments of the little ones. :)

360/365 Crackers!!

359/365 Merry Christmas

Feeling very blessed to share our Christmas meal with family. Mark's family to arrive shortly...and we will do it all over again. :)..but not turkey.

358/365 Grandparent Granddaughter Date.

We spent a fun morning with these two. Norah won. Eva came a close second.

357/365 Bath Bombs

The absolutely delicious looking mermaid and unicorn bath bombs were delivered this morning and I know a few little girls that are going to be thrilled to get them in their stockings!
And they are made by a local artisan... https://www.facebook.com/HippieMomma18/

356/365 Sweet Girl

Chillaxin' on Grandmas bed.

355/365 Celebrations

Celebrating Momma's Birthday tonight.

354/365 Cinnamon Toast and Hot Chocolate

The perfect winter after school snack is hot chocolate and cinnamon toast. Even better when you dip the cinnamon toast in the hot chocolate. This is a treat I remember from my childhood.

353/365 Gingerbread House

The girls had a great time decorating their gingerbread houses their Mom made them.

352/365 New Lens

Picked this beauty up today and I am anxious to get using it. :)
70-200 F 2.4 L Version 3! :)
Merry Christmas to me.

351/365 Living on the Wild Side

Some days you just want to say to heck with cholesterol levels and bite into a greasy grilled cheese sandwich...with ketchup on the side for dipping!

And that is what I did today!

350/365 Cookies

As if shortbread cookies needed anymore sweetening...we iced them and added a smartie .... because decorating cookies is part of Christmas.

349/365 Breakfast

They came for french toast and sausages this morning .Only this time I soaked the bread in Egg Nog and it was a hit. A dash of cinnamon and whipped cream on top and, well, they gobbled it up. Then we decorated shortbread cookies and set to getting some special crafts done for a special someone.
It was a very busy morning!!

348/365 Sweet Miss Norah

Norah was so excited to go to school today. She jumped in the car this morning and said "let's go Grandma!! "  Today she was "Helper" AND they were going to the Western Development Museum. What a day! There were grins from ear to ear.
And yesterday was the school concert where she too sung her heart out. "Singin' in the Snow"

347/365

Eva sang her heart out at her Christmas performance at school this morning. These moments make me thankful. She saw me with my camera and her face just lit up. My heart is happy. Norah too - I will post her photo tomorrow.

346/365 Blocks

Isla was helping Grandpa build a block tower this evening. Loving those curls post bath.

345/365 Chocolate Chip Cookies

Picked the girls up from school and we came home and made chocolate chip cookies. In my defence I did give them each half a baked potato (okay it was a twice baked with cream cheese & sour cream) first, before we got into the cookies and chocolate milk. Not sure they will eat supper tonight. Sent them home with a bucket full of cookies.

344/365 Sisters

343/365 Blueberry Sauce

Someone likes Grandma's blueberry sauce...... just don't tell her there is spinach in it... a lot of spinach. :)

342/365 Beautiful Families.

Another beautiful family I get to call friends!
Loving all these Christmas photos. :)

341/365 Beautiful Momma and her Twins

I photographed my friend Jessica's engagement, wedding, her newborn twins and now the twins are almost three. How did that happen? I feel so blessed to be able to be part of archiving little snippets of their lives.  They are so utterly adorable!

340/365 Christmas Kids

The girls came over after school to help me with a first run of the set up for Christmas Kids. Still tweaking. This more rustic feel is a big change for me, but fun. I am happy with the lighting. Isla nailed the expression.

339/365 Gingerbread

My gingerbread men were a hit with the girls. Isla was the first to try them - the decorated side is facing her.

338/365 Lil' Star

Look who came for a visit and supper this evening.
We had such a fun time!

337/365 Thankful for Todays Blessings!

It has been a wonderful day. A day of receiving four deliveries, smelling cloves, oranges and cinnamon simmering on the stove, listening to classic Christmas hymns playing all day and leisurely wrapping all my Christmas gifts (packaging up those that are to be sent). So thankful for retirement. This is probably my first Christmas in so very many years, if ever, that I am really enjoying the season and not rushed. Still busy with photography clients and getting ready for the Kids Christmas shoot this week but it is such enjoyable busyness. My backdrop arrived so the woodsy, cosy cabin theme in the studio is coming together. Tomorrow I have gingerbread men to ice - haven't done that in very many years as well.
And tonight we gather with the Saints here in our home to lift our prayers of thanksgiving  to him. He is so good to us!
I hope you too are blessed today.

336/365 Hoar Frost

Winter in the NE Swale. 

335/365 Eyelashes

There are 30 days left in 2018.
This photo is from 3 weeks ago and I have loads of photos just taken with the hoar frost, but for posterity I want to record this one of my dear Eva for todays 365. I love her long eye lashes and rosebud lips. She is such a sweet, loving big sister to Norah and Isla.