Category Archives: Photography

Monday, Monday

Today, I’m supposed to post a picture of my favorite place to eat for the 30 Day Meme. Well, I don’t have a picture and it’s located a full hour away. But I do have a picture of the next best thing:

A picture of a giant hunk of meat from my favorite place to eat. Hey, yeah.

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I usually eat prime rib. Medium please. (For some reason, this chunk of meat is actually a t-bone.)

Prime Rib has this wonderful crispy, pepper edge and the most juicy center. Delicious.

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There are actually so major benefits from waking up at 5:30 AM.

One, I get to say, “I get up at 5:30 every morning.”

Two, there is little traffic that time of day. Let’s ignore the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere without traffic anyway.

Three, I see things like this:

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Views that absolutely take my breath away and remind me that God really is the best artist.

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Corn harvest makes us oh so sleepy.

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I think sunsets are still my favorite though. I mean, they are located at the end of the day when I’m actually alert and awake. And happy.

I am so much happier at sunset than sunrise.

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I hope you all have a glorious and magnificent week. Which do you prefer a sunrise or a sunset?

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Filed under Marla's Ramblings, Photography

Think Pink

Two weeks ago, I took this pretty girl’s Senior pictures. Tiffany appears to have it all; she’s beautiful, a cheerleader, active in her school, and has a bright future ahead of her.

Tiffany is missing something very important in a young women’s life.

Her mother died about ten years ago have a long hard battle with breast cancer. She’s lost so much, yet she continues to strive to make the most out of life.

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This week, i heart faces, theme is “Pink” in honor of breast cancer awareness.

Here are some facts about this terrible disease:

An estimated 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2000.

Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.

One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.

Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.

Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.

The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman’s mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.

Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.

Head over to i heart faces for more great pictures (and stories).

 

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Words of Wisdom (Part III)

I’ve decided that these “Words of Wisdom” posts are my favorite. Why? Because I get to share pretty pictures and knowledge with my fine readers. Plus, my brain is pretty much fried right now and I really doubt I could think of anything much to say otherwise.

But oh, do I have pictures. Last Saturday, I had an awesome session with beautiful Tiffany. Have I mentioned lately how much I love Senior Sessions?! Because I absolutely love them.

And I absolutely love that I can tell my pictures are improving. With each session, my skill is blossoming and I am growing more confident.

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Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. ~Francesca Reigler

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Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. ~Doug Larson

 

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The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them. ~Stephen King

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Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. ~Dave Barry

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More later, I promise. These just keep getting better and better.

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Don’t worry about me; I thrive on stress

I’ve been crazy busy, ‘yall.

And I’m so tired, but my devotion to you guys will continue forever.

Plus, I really wanted to make sure you were all still around. I’m alive, I promise.

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Albert, who was featured in Sunday’s entry, was not eaten.

Albert

He was actually only visiting at the farm. We had a bunch of extra grass, so he and about fifteen other bulls hung out for a couple weeks grazing it down.

Plus, he’s an intact male so he won’t be made into beef anytime soon. Instead, he has another, very important and rather enjoyable job.

Can you guess what that job is?

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I’ve been trying to convince Colby that we need to get a few pigs to raise. I love bacon and truly believe that homegrown pork is much better than the stuff in stores.

He things pigs are dumb.

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Taylor, otherwise known as The Lumberjack’s Wife, tagged me in a fun little meme this weekend.

1.) What is one food you detest?

Spinach.

Oh and Ranch Dressing. Ranching Dressing yucks me out, every single time.

And the smell? Dis-gust-ing.

2.) What is your perfect day?

Well, right now I’m exhausted and sick of running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

So… I wish that I could sleep for twelve hours straight without the dog barking, the cat attacking my face, or Colby’s phone ringing. Then I would awake to the smell of bacon cooking on the stove.

Colby and I would spend the day doing nothing. There would be no stress, nowhere we needed to do, no work that was screaming our name. We would just spend the day talking, because honestly folks, it’s been quite a while since we’ve done that.

Justice and Cricket would exist in harmony. The weather would be a warm 65 degrees with no wind. The food would magically appear without me having to cook and the house would stay clean.

And I would rest. I just want to rest.

3.) If you could take vacation next week, where would you go?

Have I told you guys that Colby and I are going to Hawaii for my honeymoon in January? Well, we are.

And I am so stinkin’ excited.

We are staying at an all inclusive resort on the Big Island. I wish that it was January and we were already there.

4.) What are five of your favorite blogs?

Other than the Lumberjack’s Wife?

1.) Marriage Confessions

2.) Our Front Door

3.) Life with Kaison

4.) i heart faces

5.) The Amazing Trips

5.) What are your thoughts on The Facebook?

I was on facebook before facebook was cool. Really, I have been on connected since the beginning of time. I mean, 2005. Either way, me and The Facebook go back a long, long time.

I think facebook is a great resource when used properly. I love being able to keep up with my extended family and look at everyone’s pictures.

Plus, I pretty much run my photography business off facebook. It’s AMAZING how quickly world and pictures spread when you start tagging people.

But I also think that facebook has the potential to create big problems. I had a acquaintance post a picture of her smoking a joint for the world to see last week. I’ve had to delete numerous people because they started posting mean and rude things all the time. Like everything, facebook can defiantly be misused.

But I mostly like facebook.

6.) Are your parents technological goobers, like mine?

My parents are fairly good at the internet. They both have facebook accounts, know how to send an email, and can find their way around google.

But my mother one time called me early in the morning, freaking out. She said, “I’ve got an emergency!” I, of course, got really scared, because hello it was like six AM. She then continued, “My iPod is broken.” In reality, the lock button was on.

7.) If you had to choose between losing 15 pounds forever, but never wearing makeup again OR having perfect skin but putting on 15 pounds permanently… what would it be?

Can I phone a friend?

Really, this is the hardest question ever. If I was fifteen pounds lighter, I would be pretty much happy with my body… but I need makeup. Really, I’ve had terrible skin my entire life.

But there is no way that I’m putting on fifteen pounds forever. No was. I’ll take yucky skin please.

8.) What is your best recipe?

I love this recipe from Apple Crisp. I follow the directions, except I double the crust recipe.

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I drove the grain cart yesterday.

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And by drove, I really mean dominated. I am the best grain cart driver, ever.

(By the way, the above picture is actually a combine, which is different than a grain cart.)

I plan on posting a full, detailed recap of the first day on the job, but my eyes are growing heavy and I must submit to sleep. Just know that I didn’t run over anyone and successfully “squirted the dirt,” three times without being spotted by the inlaws.

How are you guys?

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Filed under Farm Pets, Marla's Ramblings, Photography, The Farm

I really <3 beef

I’m live in the country far away from civilization. I drive a big Ford pickup. Country music makes me happy and I will be wearing boots at my wedding.

I am a real life, honest to goodness future-farm wife.

Don’t expect to eat any fancy food around here. We crave simple, comfort foods. Steak and potatoes, lasagna, chili, chicken fried steak (which is actually beef), beef burritos, and BBQ are just a few of my favorites.

Needless to say, I love beef.

Meet, Albert. He spent several weeks at the farm in August.

Albert

And for some reason, I cannot get the button to work. I’ve even started over with a new post. *sigh*

Head over to i heart faces for more awesome beef pictures.

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Just by being you

Let’s run away
Where nothing stands between me and you
Let’s find a place
Somewhere a little closer to a dream
And call it a home
Where there’s no right and wrong
And we can be all alone

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And I’ll take off my halo
If you take off your wings.
You don’t have to be invincible
Cause I sure ain’t no saint
You’ll always be my angel
No matter what you do,
Cause you take me to heaven just by being you

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Tell me a secret
Tell me things no one else should know
Even in your weakness
Baby drop your guard just let it go
Until everything’s exposed
And you don’t have to feel ashamed
Baby just say my name

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When I see you standing there
You know it all becomes so clear
The way you look
The way you touch
I need the way you lift me up
This will never feel complete
Until there’s nothing in between
And we have brought down every wall
And baby, baby, baby lets just fall

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Oh
You take me to heaven
Just by being you

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Let’s run away
Let’s run away

“Just By Being You” Steel Magnolia

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Filed under Family, Marla's Ramblings, Photography

My terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Well, I haven’t drowned in my own snot yet. It’s all about the small victories around here, folks.

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But I did go to the doctor where I found out I have a respiratory infection and double ear infections.

(Yes, I promise. I am an adult, but I seem to get ear infections all. the. time.)

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Anyway, I got a shot in the backside and sent home with some antibiotics. I should live.

But I started feeling bad for myself. I mean, I’ve got about a million things going on this week and it really isn’t convenient to be sick.

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And then I went to the grocery store and that always puts me in a bad mood. I love to cook, but absolutely hate picking things up at the store. It’s just no fun.

And then I looked at my schedule for the week and fainted. Well, maybe not fainted, but it definitely sent me into a tizzy. I’ve got two tests on Thursday, a photo shoot on Friday, my first dress fitting (two hours away) and a birthday party on Saturday, and another test on Sunday. I’m sleepy thinking about it.

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Oh, I’m always sleepy nowdays. I’m pretty much used to that.

Corn harvest is in full swing and things are about to get even crazier around here. Colby is working late tonight and probably tomorrow night and the night after that…

But really, it’s all about perceptive. If I choose to play the woe-is-me game, I will be unhappy. Instead, I’m going to play the I’m-really-blessed-and-super lucky game. Because you know what, I am. Truly.

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Life is good today. I’m not really that sick. I’m not dying. Today, when I went to the grocery store, I had plenty of money to buy groceries. I have the opportunity to go to a great college and better myself. I am very blessed.

And so are you.

These pictures may seem random, but really there is a connection. They all make me smile.

What makes you smile today?

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Filed under Marla's Ramblings, Photography

Words of Wisdom… part II

I’m sick. Sometime last night, the contents of my nasal cavity decided to move into my throat. Needless to say, I’m uncomfortable. And then there is a huge pile of homework, a ton of pictures to edit, and I’m so tired. (And cranky.)

To celebrate, I’m going to do a words of wisdom post. Because I like quotes. And I like wisdom.

The world could always use a little more wisdom, right?

Advice

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(The above picture is 95/365, by the way.)

“In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.” ~Solon

Smiles

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“A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.” ~Charles Gordy

Childhood

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“Childhood is the most beautiful of all life’s seasons.” ~Author Unknown

Beauty

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“That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.” ~Ninon de L’Enclos

Football

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“The reason women don’t play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public.” ~Phyllis Diller

Food

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The belly rules the mind. ~Spanish Proverb

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We are headed to the mountains tomorrow for a quick little getaway.

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Them

My favorite thing about photography is the ability to capture a person’s personality.

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Maybe it’s the goofy relationship between three brothers. They share so much, yet they are each unique in their own way.

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I love catching the smile of a friend, a moment in time, a memory that will last forever.

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There is something so special about life stages… The slow transformation of a girl into a women. The smile of a little baby boy. The relationships between family members.

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Every time I pick up my camera, I feel blessed. Not only did God give me this talent, but he has also provided me with wonderful tools and some beautiful models.

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I love getting the chance to capture them.

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My wedding shoes

I am wearing a huge, elegant wedding dress… I went all out and got as fancy as possible.

But I can’t forget that I’m still a country girl at heart.

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They won’t show unless I pull up my dress and they will keep my feet warm if it snows.

They are absolutely beautiful and fit like a glove. And, my favorite part of all, they are so comfortable.

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What did you guys wear under your wedding dresses?

(P.S.- The top picture is 94/365.)

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