All posts by Molly

Bison, Elk and a Castle

January 4, 2015 Molly Leave a comment

Yes, that’s right– two blog posts in one day! I’ve been meaning to blog about our adventures from last weekend, but now I’m getting my first chance. I’m still going to try to post my 365 photo tonight as well.

Last week, we went to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. You might remember that we took our hosting chaperone there last year, but we arrived later in the day. This time, we signed up for a tour and came in the morning.

A tour involves going out into a little tram with a tour guide who tells you about the bison, elk and Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in general.

A friend said “how much of that is zoom and how much of that is being REALLY close to them?”

For photographer friends, this was shot at 200mm, and cropped just slightly.

So, we’re pretty close. They have a feed truck that they drive up and around the tram during the tour, so all of the animals come running to get their food. Bison are apparently quite dangerous, so you are not allowed to touch them or get down with them. However, they told us that if they had been able to separate the bison from the elk better that day, we would have been able to get out and walk among the elk.

Another photo for perspective.

A mom and her baby.

And, the elk. They were more shy, because the bison were scaring them off.

What is a moose in America is an elk in Europe. Did you know that? Moose = Eurasian Elk. We don’t have moose here on the Great Plains, just what we call elk.

The only child who wanted to cooperate for this next picture is the little girl hugging the elk. The boys were cold and whiny and the big girl was giving me that “I’m too old for cheesey family pictures” look. No, kid, you’re not.

We grabbed lunch and over lunch, Aaron and I discussed what we’d do with our afternoon. Go see an atomic cannon or go to a WPA-built castle? Both, Aaron said.

Castle first. This was my third time here.

I wish we lived closer. It’s such a fun place for children to explore. Imagination can’t help but run wild here.

There are gorgeous views from the top.

But, I really love the lighting inside. The way the light streams in from the small windows is incredible.

We hadn’t planned on coming here, so I hadn’t really dressed my kids for photos in a castle. (Is there a proper attire for that? Of course there is.) And, no one really wanted to model for me.

Gus was having a moment and decided that he wanted to hide between this table and bench. All I could think was dirt/bugs/who knows what! But, he’d yell at anyone who tried to remove him.

Example:

Some little “brothers” were feeling a bit more loving.

I cannot wait to come back here again, a bit more prepared for photos.

Aaron and the older kids finished off the day with a geocache, while I took Grumpypants Gus back to the car for some music and rest time.

If you think he’s holding a snake, look at his right hand. It was a geocache, taped to a fake snake.

We never did make it to the atomic cannon. I can’t say that I was too disappointed.

Everyday Life

3/365: Snow

January 4, 2015 Molly Leave a comment

We’re getting a bit of snow tonight. Not a whole lot, but since we’ve only had one other little snow so far this year, it’s exciting. It’s also the first snow since Big L has been here.

Both Big L and Gus currently call snow/snowing “snowman”. “Mama, is it snowman outside?” It’s pretty cute and I love that they both do it.

We have a streetlight right in front of our house, and the snow looks so beautiful coming down in front of it.

I asked Big L if she wanted to come out with me, because 1. she likes snow and 2. I’ve barely taken any photos of her this time.

I used a flash, which is why the sudden drop-off from her black clothing into the darkness behind her. The flash reflects off of the snow, which I kind of love.

Big L can’t just be out in the snow or anywhere without writing me a sweet note.

She is such a sweet kid. Also, notice that she’s wearing Aaron’s shoes. 🙂

Everyday Life

2/365: One Hundred

January 3, 2015 Molly 1 Comment

Today would have been my grandmother’s 100th birthday. Yesterday, I shared a bit about my dad’s mother, but this time I am talking about my mom’s mother. She would have turned 100 today.

However, she passed away back before I was born, or even my sisters were born.

(left: My grandmother. Right: Me, at a grave in the family cemetery where she was buried.)

We never had the chance to meet her, but everyone who did speaks very highly of her. One aunt says that she married into the family not for my uncle, but for my grandmother.

Happy 100th birthday, Grandma Ary.

Everyday Life

1/365: New Year, New Project

January 2, 2015 Molly 4 Comments

My mom makes a big meal for every holiday, including New Year’s Day. I remember little about New Years Day growing up, except for the food. Pork and black eyed peas. Always.

I also associate black eyed peas with my grandmother, my dad’s mom. She always came to visit us for two weeks each winter, which included Christmas and New Years. My grandmother grew up in Oklahoma in the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. She knew hunger and poverty like I can’t imagine and even 60 years later, it showed. It was ingrained deeply in her.

Black eyed peas, a southern tradition, make me think of her. I was exceptionally picky child, something that my grandmother could not understand. Black eyed peas are supposed to bring luck to you, and I remember my mom telling me each year just to eat one. Just one. I’m sure I choked it down with drama. Lots and lots of drama.

Well, this year, I made them for myself for the first time. Although I’ll eat them now, I still can’t say that I like them. But, for one day a year, it’s a little reminder of roots. I can tell the kids about my grandmother and about the superstition that eating them brings you luck.

Today, I am also starting a new project 365, one photo a day for a year. After finishing mine in October, I knew I wanted to do it again, but I needed a little break first.

This year, I have two goals:

Develop a consistent style
Focus on story telling: with a single image, with a set of images and combining images with text

I’m hoping to keep growing in photography, being able to express myself, and also document memories.

I don’t set resolutions. I’m not the type of person who would keep them, unless I am very, very motivated. I still have my goal to run a 5K, but it’s fallen by the wayside as the days have gotten shorter and it’s gotten colder out. I haven’t changed my mind, just biding my time until spring. Or at least until my husband is home before dark.

But, I am still reminded of a great Doctor Who quote, “We’re all stories in the end. Make it a good one.” (Thanks to my friend Amanda for reminding me of that awesome quote.) Yes, we’re all stories in the end. So, in 2015, I hope to leave behind some good stories. Both in photos and writing, but also in the memories of my children.

So that’s my hope for this year: Keep improving. Make memories. A photo a day.

Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2015? Who else is doing a Project 365 this year?

Everyday Life

Looking Back at 2014

December 31, 2014 Molly 2 Comments

I think I just wrapped my brain around it being 2014, and now it’s almost 2015. This is the third year that I’ve picked a photo for each month, one that is a favorite of mine or represents the month well or tells a story of something that happened that month.

2012
2013

2014 was a busy year. Here are my photos that sum it up…

January: Reed’s birthday is in January, so I wanted to pick a photo from his birthday, but this is actually a favorite of mine. Reed really enjoyed sledding. He’s grown so much in the past year!

February: Gus’s 3rd birthday. Cars, trains and anything with wheels are still a favorite of his.

March: March was a big month of spending time with my extended family. First, we went to Pennsylvania over spring break, then my mom came here to visit us.

April: This is one of my favorite photos from April and the year as whole. It was a big seller from Moose Prints, which I also started in April.

May: Another nighttime photo, before definitely one of my favorite photos of the year. I love camping and being out with my camera under the stars. It is also representative of where I’d like to see my photography work go– clean, colorful and bright, even with the night sky as the main feature.

June: June was the month when we welcomed Big L here. It’s hard to believe it’s just been 6 months since we met her for the first time.

July: This is just one of my favorite photos from July because it shows our 4th of July fun and Big L wearing her “super loved” shirt. Truth.

August: August was when we said goodbye to Big L. Here she is, waiting to check in for her flight, my mom’s hand on her shoulder.

September: September was a rocky month. The other photo I considered showing was Gus starting his first day of school. But, i picked the sunflowers. We spent a lot of time outside in September and my photos reflect. I could spend forever out in sunflower fields.

October: Halloween with our friend Adrian. We had a ninja, Dorothy, Adrian was Buzz Lightyear and Gus was a lion.

November: I love that she reads now, and that she reads to him. I’m not sure this really sums up the mouth, but it’s definitely a bit happy moment for the year.