With only 1 1/2 days until the entry deadline, I’ve decided that I should submit some work to Terrain Spokane. I’ve been trying to decide on what photographs to enter, though, and Peter points out that one can only make estimations on what would be considered “art” — but it’s truly in the eye of the viewer. So, I beg for the help of you! I’m allowed up to 10 submissions — so you’re allowed up to 10 votes! Click each photo to see a large version. If you see something in my Flickr Stream you think should be here, let me know.

Bubbles

Succulent

Frosty Mullen

Pineapple 3

Baby Poppy

Ceremonial Bonfire

Haugan, MT

Heater

Chocolate Stack

Champagne

Cages

April Showers

Carrots

Tiny Tomatoes

Old Forest

Sage

Rusted Out

Birdfeeder 2

Yes, I will do a life update soon. We got married, there’s several projects we’re working on, and heading down to the second reception in Blackfoot soon. I’m sure a mega-post is coming one of these days.

Today, though, I wanted to show off some of what I’m currently working on. Last week, I spent some time with the Stewart family, taking family photographs. I did the same thing about two years ago, and it was a blast. This year, we went somewhere entirely different, but had just as much fun. While I don’t do nearly as much photography as I would like most days, I always look forward to group pictures like this. Between shy toddlers, cranky toddlers who just wanted to play, and a camera battery that was on the verge of dying (long story) we managed to get some great photos.

I tend to troll lots of photography blogs, and there is a debate between many photographers about post-processing. Some frame it as a film vs. digital question, others frame it as a quality of work issue. I have met amazing photographers, like my uncle Tom, who manage to take amazing photographs right out of the camera, be it digital or film. There are times I wish I had that talent, but it’s not how it works for me.

Instead, I tend to put a lot of time and effort into post-processing. Sometimes it is as simple as correcting levels, other times the editing is more extensive. I have worried in the past about trying to get the perfect photo out of the camera, but I find I end up with a much better finished product when I am more willing to just snap a photo and worry about editing it later. This picture of the ever-cute Ivy is a great example — I wasn’t trying to compose the photograph or get the settings perfect. She was smiling, and I snapped a set of photos. There were actually 3 photos after this one of the exact same position, but she had been distracted by the rock she was sitting on.

There are about 100,000 things I think I could still do to make this photograph perfect. In the end, though, even 20 minutes spent on this photo made it several times better. I also am very very glad that in college I took a photography and film development class. I feel like I have a better understanding of the principles of how photos would have been edited. Either way, though, I think post-processing can really turn an OK photo into a great photo. There are photographers who can do without it, but I admit I fall firmly into the category that thinks, in the end, the finished photograph is what is important. For me, that means a little less time composing a photo and a little more time in Photoshop.

We had people over in our backyard again tonight. As usual, it was awesome. There were friends, good food, and even lots of laughter. The birdfeeders that we put up a few days ago have seen a lot of action too, which is great. More and more photos of birds to come, I am sure. If you have any ideas as to what these birds might be, please let me know!

For now, though, here’s some of my favorites from the evening!

There is nothing that tops off an interesting day at work and a wonderful evening at Knit Night like coming home and playing in the garden. I spent a good 45 minutes on the phone today with a lovely person in Chicago who has an awesome idea for can-collecting… and it felt like I was actually able to make a difference. It’s now dark, and I’m curled up on the couch with two cats purring on my lap and Pete working on sewing behind me. In other words, it’s a good night. Happy, comfortable, and content — a good way to end the day.

I’ve been told that with just barely over 2 weeks until the wedding, I am a low-stress bride. To be honest, there are lots of little things that need to be organized, but I don’t feel like it is any challenge bigger than a press junket, a new job, or starting a business. There are so many fewer “unknowns” in the wedding than there is in the rest of life. In the end, we’ll get married, and that’s what is important. I just can’t wait for friends and family to start arriving in town. Then it will be food, friends, family, fun, and pure awesomeness.

On that lovely and exciting note, it’s time to curl up and dream until tomorrow. Sleep sweet!

It’s all in the details. Any event, any project, any arrangement. It is all in the details.

Details have not always been my strong suit. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love all the little details, but I have a tendency to get distracted before it gets completely done. It’s days like that I like to blame the fact that I was born on a cusp – half Sagittarius (a fire sign) and half Scorpio (a water sign). Sure, the combination makes steam, which can be incredibly powerful, but only if you can keep it harnessed long enough.

While we’ve made a decision that the wedding is going to be as low-stress as possible, there are lots of little details that we’re having fun putting together. Pete’s hair, the corset I’m going to be wearing, the color of the tablecloths, the multiple sorbets I’m making for the rehearsal dinner. Luckily, the details are all proving fun to figure out instead of stressful.

The other facet of the wedding — all of the details of Wedding Cans — are proving all kinds of fun. Honestly, mostly fun. All of the media interviews, the scheduling, the pictures that need to be sent to twelve different places. Emails to return, requests to respond to, and stories to tell. Honestly, I love it. It’s a lot of details, but every detail is slightly different. I can’t get bored with it nearly as easily because so much of it is unique.

The Wedding Cans project has gone so far above and beyond everything that we ever expected. We thought, when we started the project, it might receive some local or regional news attention. Instead, the story absolutely took off. We’ve been covered by the Associated Press and NPR’s Morning Edition twice. ABC and NBC channels have both run our stories. We’ve been covered in every U.S. state, every Canadian province, and several international news sources. Near as we can figure, we’ve also been covered in South Africa, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Columbia, and several other countries. In other words, it’s been insane. And insanely fun. And insanely wonderful.

The details are also the wonderful glue that brings together family. I have always been blessed with a close-knit family, but I truly feel like the details are what makes my friend-family in Spokane as close and loved as any of my blood family.

In short, the details can be frustrating. But the details are also a part of what makes life wonderful and worth living. It’s all in the details. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We bought a case of champagne mangoes from Bountiful Baskets last week – and after eating plenty and drying a few, I decided to put our new (ish) ice cream maker to use for mango sorbet. YUM! It turned out really really well. It’s very possible that this may be starting a new obsession.

This is a general recipe… as usual, I didn’t actually measure what went in, but it’s an approximation.

• 6 cups sliced champagne mangoes
• 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup agave nectar

Puree with a food processor, and pour into an ice-cream maker. Voila!

“Nobody ever said that leveling up was easy.”

That’s what my amazing husband-to-be said to me tonight as I was doubled over my bike, gasping for breath, asking myself why the heck I do this to myself. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, that one.

Most days, I really do enjoy my bike ride to work or home. Really, I do. Sure, I have the inner monologue that changes its mind about once every thirty seconds, and I usually keep a healthy debate going with it pretty often. Especially right before the top of a few of the bigger hills. Tonight, though… well, it wasn’t easy. After two months of watching very carefully what I eat, recording everything that goes into my mouth, cycling at least three (if not seven) days a week… I’ve managed to gain weight. Not the “oh, you’re adding muscle mass” type of weight either – because I’ve added inches as well.

Let me stop here and say that usually, 99 percent of the time, I really couldn’t care less what the scale says that particular day. I could have lost or gained or stayed the same… as long as I feel like I’m being healthy, it’s all good. But really? I feel like I’ve been cheated or something. I’m doing everything (mostly) “right,” so why are the numbers heading the wrong direction?

Like Pete said, though, nobody said leveling up is easy. Unfortunately, there’s no little progress meter at the bottom of the screen for life. Like the poppies in our garden, though, I just have to remind myself that things don’t always go according to plan, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting or less beautiful. Just different — which, most of the time, is even better.

I go through a lot of salad. Usually about 1 pound every 3-5 days or so. I try to eat salad for lunch at work most days, and at least once over the weekend. I’ve got a salad dressing that I adore (and that people at work seem to like too) and that, all things considered, isn’t too bad for me either.

The end result of all this salad eating, though, is that we have lots and lots of those one-pound plastic boxes that salad comes in. We can’t grow salad all year in this climate, so I had just kind of assumed that for part of the year, I’d be spending $8-$10 a week on leafy greens.

Pete, however, had a much better idea. We took the salad boxes, added soil and water and seed, and put them under our seed-starting light. We’re just starting the cycle, but thus far it seems to be working. It’s cut-your-own salad, and thus far it is very tasty. We aren’t up too the production level of keeping up with my salad habit yet, but we’re making progress.

On a similar note, one of our garden beds appears to have been taken over by broccoli. Some of our crop went to seed last year, and I guess we didn’t get the seeds all picked up, because it’s overgrowing half of our garden space. I’m going to rip up a bunch of the greens to give what we actually planted a chance, but I am curious what to do with the broccoli greens. They’re still young and relatively tender, but kind of bitter. That is my challenge this weekend.