Arles the ugly duckling

One of the colors from the Annie Sloan Paint collection that I got on my last trip was called Arles.  It's a mustard type yellow and mustard color is right up my alley so why not buy her.

Well her and I did not get along, she was not the girl that I thought she would be, she just didn't show her real color when I opened her can, she had a blah pale orange peachy yellow to her.  One color I do not like is peach, I'm afraid of peach.  I'm afraid of painting something tan and it has a peach hue to it.  I think my nightmare with peach was many, many years ago we had a peach and mint bathroom.  Remember when those colors were in style...... YUCK is all I can say now.  I hate peach and Arles was showing me signs of peach.  So her and I backed off and...... I tried to sell her.  

It didn't work the gal that paints AS with me didn't like her either.  I was stuck with her so last weekend I decided that I needed to give Arles a fair amount of time on the playground with me to really let her show herself.   So I was doing a few chalkboards and gave her one of them.  Oh let me tell you she was ugly and I told her so with every coat that I put on.  She was peachy yellowish orange.  I didn't stress about it because I'm selling the chalkboard anyway, someone will love her.  

Then I distressed her a bit, waxed the heck out of her and did some antiqueing to give her some depth.  She came through and I love her, I love her so much I'm going to paint MY dresser in the living room with her.  She's not peachy, she's a mustardy dark distressed beauty.  Now I might have to keep her to hang above my Arles painted dresser.  

Don't worry I apologized to her and told her how pretty she was. 

Full Moon

I really stink at moon shots and I don't really like the moon BUT Sunday night as it's coming up in the blue dark sky we are texting Mallory because she IS a moon person.  Her and Grandpa love to call each other when they catch the first glimpse of the moon and this night was no different for them.  But it's was below zero and I did not want to try to shoot the moon so I whimped out and took this through the window.  

Miss Melanie Mae - 6 months

Yes Miss Melanie Mae is half way to 1 year already.  She is growing so fast and we hardly know that she's around.  She's the best baby ever and usually entertains herself as the older kids take Grandma's attention.  She rarely cries and will smile with just paying a little attention to her...... UNLESS there is a camera pointed at her, then she becomes a little fussy beast and will not cooperate at all.   Fussy beast is a challenge but Lynn has a bit of an advantage..... she comes over and we hang out all day long and we only need a few photos between the fussy beast stage and we can wait as long as she needs.  

This time she might not have liked it but we did get a few totally adorable photos.... in record time.

She hates to have her clothes changed so we didn't even think about it.  Instead I put a furry scarf on her and she's a picture you want to snuggle.  

Oh no....... fussy beast is coming out.

We tried a few more...... 

 and that's exactly what we got.....  grumpy Hemmer eyebrows

We wanted all three of them but outside so we bundled them up and tried it..... fussy beast is happening here too.

She might not be happy but she's a momma's girl so if my momma is loving me I might not have to fuss.

Since Lynn doesn't get a lot of pictures with her kids we decided to take a family one even if Jesse wasn't with.  It's totally adorable.

Jesse came after his snowmobiling at the cottage and I told him to take a ride with me I was going to photoshop him in......... (I'm laughing and not serious)

Lynn says "why are you two laughing I want that"

No I didn't take his picture, I'm not a fan of photoshopping someone in when they weren't there.  Lynn can have a picture of just her, there are tons of pictures with just daddy's and the kids.....

Mally and Maxwell are done and heading for the warm van.  

Very fun day hanging with the Frey kids and yep Miss Fussy Beast became Miss Happy Pants as soon as we were done..... she's my challenge but I Love Her.

Bennett 2 years

Mister is TWO.  He's a wanna be cowboy and wishes his name was Jack...... heavy on the CK.  He came with a brown cowboy hat and a black one.  He loves his black hat better than the brown one which I think might make mommy a little sad.  

Jaccccckkkkk didn't want to cooperate with photos today so I'm very luck to have gotten what I got.... or I'm just GOOD.  Let's go with the Good :)

Mister is all cowboy and he even knows how to adjust the hat.  He watches cowboy shows and loves his cowboy boots and his cowboy name Jacccckkk. 

A quick family photo since Jack isn't loving the sit still request.

His smile is pretty darn cute.

Getting one without his hat was a challenge and by the loo on his face he's not happy about it.

Big Sister Madelyn loves my camera and I love her.  She is a natural and tried so hard to get her brother to pose but he wanted nothing to do with it.  

We really did get some nice photos of Bennett but we wanted a few outdoor photo with the pretty snow.  

Bennett liked kicking the snow and of course had troubles paying attention to me..... so a little head swap and we got a keeper.  

 Helping the kids walk in the deep snow was a bit of a challenge.  Poor Bennett was having to move a lot of snow with his little feet.

But all the cold and snow was so worth it from this one photo.  I love this family and so happy to have them be my first session on the year. 

Happy Birthday little Mister.... you will make a great cowboy.

2015

2015 was started by taking down the tree.  I might be the only one that has to make the decorations look as pretty coming down as they do hung on the tree.  I pile them all up on the table and look at them being all coordinated and fun..... and then I have to get the camera so I can remember them before they go back in their boxes.  

New Years Eve was spent with our good neighbors who take such good care of us....  We had a couple drinks, they bought us down steak and shrimp ( complete with a Santa hat) and then we joined them for a few more drinks at their home in front of the fireplace and in time for the NY ball to drop.  Home before midnight and felt good the next day...... perfect for us.  

New Years Day is all about reflecting on the past and making plans for the future.  Mine alway reflects around photography and how I can become better at blogging and sharing my everyday.  I know my dad reads my blog and loves to read how my life is happening and lately I really have been laking so in 2015 I hope to be better at sharing my everyday and keeping my dad entertained by my crazy stories.  

Last night as we were at the local tavern a great person who used to babysit for our girls was there and as I was leaving she says to me.  "Connie I love your stories and can't wait to see you again to hear what else has happened in your life, you amaze me"........ really my stupid crazy life amuses others....... I guess I must be my mother, she always had a story to tell that made others laugh.  Last night my story to this girl was something I haven't shared with many..... at the time it was traumatic and could have ended up hurting myself and others but thankfully someone was watching from above to keep me safe.... but now it makes others smile and laugh.  And my new sunroof is something I enjoy everyday.  

THE FIRST 2015 SUNSET - Enjoy your everyday moments and the beauty that is put in front of you.

Did you think I wouldn't tell you the story??????  Remember it's all about my dad and I don't think I told him this story.

So back this fall we needed to make a decision on a truck for John.  His '88 Ford was failing, it ran good, it had new tires but the truck was worn out.  He had a special place in his heart for this truck since it was our neighbor Jerry's that he bought after he died of a heart attack in 2000.  Jerry was pretty special to us and our children that I think this truck was John's way of keeping that memory within his heart......but the floor was rusted away and the only thing keeping his feet off the highway was the floor mat.  We made a trip to the car place and tried to "like" something other than a truck.  (not practical for both of us to drive trucks) We test drove a Edge Limited and loved it. We drove a SEL Edge and it didn't measure up to the Limited at all.  The sales guy asked what I wanted in a Edge and I said "if I can't drive a truck I want a sunroof"   So they sales guy told us the price of the sunroof and I said "I don't need that".  We walked away with them looking for a Edge with no sunroof and no commitment from us.

Fast forward a few days......  We have a annual 4-wheeling day at work to PR some important customers and usually John takes the day off to work to come with me.  This year he decided he didn't want to waste the vacation day so he hooked up the trailer with the 2 4-wheelers and I was prepared to haul them by myself.  It's not the first time hauling a trailer behind my truck for me so it was no big deal.   That morning I went outside to where my truck and trailer was all hooked up and ready for me to start my "fun" day at work.  I wiped off the frost and headed out.  As I rolled down the road I turned east and knew that I'd have a few guys to turn this truck around and help me unload the 4-wheelers when I got to our destination.  NO PROBLEM.  I got 1 mile down the road and need to slow down for the corner, I took my foot off the gas and "wham" from the back of the truck.  I'm not sure what I did or how I reacted since it's all a blur yet...... but I remember seeing the trailer in my right mirror, then left, then right, then left..... I seen two 4-wheelers in my mirror, than left than right...... and a car coming towards me and I had all I could do to keep me, the truck and trailer on myside of the road.  I did it!!!  I slowed down and took the corner dragging the trailer behind me.  I get out and the hitch is under the truck, connected only by chains.  

After may people stopped to help I called Ed to help me.  Thank goodness for retired brother-in-law.   One amish man tried to hook the trailer back up with no luck and told me to unload the 4-wheelers.  I decided to wait for Ed.  Then 6 Mennonite boys stopped to help and I told them I would be fine.  They pulled over anyway and picked that trailer up like nothing was on it.  (oh boy hold me back, John says my voice chances at this point of the story).  All this time I thought it was me that did something wrong with hauling the trailer but these boys assured me that the trailer was not hooked up properly and I would be fine now.  I could continue to my 4-wheeling trip with no worries..... I decided to wait for Ed and he also assured me that the trailer was hooked up correctly now.  But after this time I had Ed drive it back to the house and I thought it was safer for me to finish the day at my desk in my office.  

Yes the trailer was not hooked up correctly, I was lucky and someone up there was helping me to be safe.  The only damage I did to the truck was a scratch in the plastic about 1/2".  How I managed to not have the hitch bore through the end gate is beyond me.  The day was traumatic for me but even worse for John that felt so bad for me having to go through that.  It happens but not usually when your wife is driving it....... Thank goodness for safety chains.  

Okay so new Edge............ has a sunroof.......... thanks John........... I LOVE IT ......... end of story. 

Winter Wonderland Overload

This last weekend we headed up north to check on the cottage and maybe get some R&R.

We certainly have more snow up there and it hangs on the trees making everything look like your standing inside a snow globe..... including the patio door when we walked in and the snow was hanging over the roof.

I so wanted to poke at the overhanging snow so John and I headed up to the deck with shovel in hand..... once up there I got nervous about the snow falling on me as John shoveled the deck and I stood under it.  I quickly got out of there but I think he was purposely taking his time shoveling.    When he hit the overhang it came down fast and buried the shoveled deck once again.  Okay I was done with that and took a walk with my camera.

That night Adam, Monica and Little A came up.  We sat in the sitting room watching it snow with huge flakes we could almost hear them fall.  But then the morning it was time to shovel the deck and get more snow off the roof and John took advantage of Adam being there.

Good thing there is lots of snow to break their fall if they lose their footing.

It snowed a LOT.

So that means more pictures.

It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed time outside.  Little A is so good about being outside, he tried to follow me to the fire pit so I had to shovel him a path.  

Of course we are known as "the smoke people" and winter is no exception.   The river is still open and if I could have figured out how to get the kayak in the water and out again without getting wet I might have tried it.  John tells me to stick with the snowshoes for winter......

After 2 sets of mittens and now Little A's bare hands it must be time to go in and warm up.  Adam did go sledding but making a path with the deep snow was a bit difficult.  

Weather was great and it was so fun to be up north with new snow making memories for Little A.