What Will Become

taken:
day two
06.21.12

Right now this early Echinacea's tiny petals are just beginning. They're pale green and reaching for the sky. Soon they'll evolve into pinkish petals that will become somewhat shy and droop to the ground. The center will become domed, spiky and rusty orange, and will be a tasty favorite to butterflies and bees.

A Rainy Start

taken:
day one
06.20.2012

Well here we go again, summer is in full swing and I've decided it's time for another summer photo project. I couldn't resist. Last years 94 Days of Summer project was so fulfilling. I stepped out of my comfort zone, started a blog and set a goal. It was a glorious feeling! Exactly why I couldn't resist a repeat this year.

The first day of summer had a rainy and cloudy start. In fact some areas in MN have had devastating flooding. It's so sad to watch the news and see the destruction that the large amounts of rain have caused. My heart goes out to all those affected by the floods.

The sun only made a minimum appearance on this first day of summer. I wanted to capture brightness in spite of the clouds. I finally found it, who needs the sun when you have glowing honeysuckle blossoms. Nothing screams summer louder than shades of vibrant coral. This volume of color is what summer is all about.

Welcome summer, I'm so happy you're officially here!

Week 20: Mothers

{ Project 52 Week 20: Mothers }

I made cupcakes for Mother's Day. 

My husband brought a batch out to his mom and I brought a batch out to my mom. 

They were inspired by recipes and a decorating tutorial that I found on Pinterest. 

Unbelievable Chocolate Cake, The Best Frosting Ever and Rose Swirl Tutorial. 

They were yummy and fun to make!

{ Linking up with Kent Weakley for Project 52 }

Week 19: Still Life

{ Project 52 Week 19: Still Life } 

Setting up this still life shot was fun. I picked up this neat little vintage-looking oil can recently at a second hand store. I'm almost certain it's just a replica and not the real thing but I still find it incredibly charming. I thought I'd contrast the rustic-ness of the oil can with the danty-ness of some Lily of the Valley, which are in full bloom now. Unfortunately these tiny soft blooms last only a short time and are so hidden in my garden it's sometimes easy to miss them. I have to make a conscious effort to go out and search for them every spring. It would be a shame to miss these sweet scented blooms!

Week 18: Fiesta or Siesta

Last Friday my youngest son and I went to my parents house to help my mom with some garden work. While we were there my son found 2 caterpillars. One long and creamy yellow, one short and grayish. My mom put them in a small jar for him and we brought them home. The next morning I brought out a large canister glass jar and in the rain we went outside to fill it with sand from our sandbox and various leaves and branches from around the yard. It turned out to be a fancy looking habitat for 2 caterpillars!

Finally came the exciting moment, to introduce the caterpillars to their new home. 

When my son opened the little jar and pulled out the leaves we discovered that the small grayish caterpillar had morphed into a shiny brown-reddish cocoon overnight. The shiny new cocoon twitched and wiggled when we moved it. It was a bit creepy! The yellow caterpillar didn't appear well and healthy. The sluggish little guy seemed to be fading away.

{ Project 52 Week 18 Fiesta or Siesta }

We placed the caterpillars in the jar side by side and kept peeking in on them all day. The yellow one never moved again. My son thought it must be "napping" because "maybe he didn't feel good". By the next day it was clear that the yellow caterpillar was taking an eternal siesta. Too bad. Maybe we didn't move it to it's bigger home soon enough and it got cramped in that small jar? Or maybe we didn't have the right kind of leaves in there for him to munch on? And the other guy, in the cocoon, well, hopefully his siesta is only temporary. I'm not sure what it'll turn into if it pops out of it's cocoon, a butterfly, a moth or something else? But we're keeping an eye on it and excited to see what happens. We're also keeping an eye out for more caterpillars to add to this fancy new caterpillar home.

Week 17: Green

{ Project 52 Week 17: Green }

This weeks theme for Project 52 is: Green. My favorite color! And lately I've been in love the shade of chartreuse. With it's golden green color, it has a warm and bright and lively feel. Everything chartreuse catches my eye these days. This wispy dandelion definitely caught my attention the other day as it basked among the sunny chartreuse backdrop of flourishing spring grass.

Week 16: Things That Grow

{ Project 52 Week 16: Things That Grow }

Well this was an easy theme for me since my true love is definitely...things that grow! Spring is bursting forth with new life and growth all around. We had frost on the ground the other morning but by 8:30 a.m. it had warmed up enough to turn the frost into dewdrops. I love the way the grass sparkles in the morning sun as it's draped in shiny droplets. Catch the light just right and tiny rainbows appear too. It's like a magical springtime dreamland!

Week 15: Sacrifice

{ Project 52 Week 15: Sacrifice }

"Awake, thou wintry earth - 

Fling off thy sadness! 

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth  

Your ancient gladness!"

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

Winter is a bit like sacrifice. We surrender to the bitter cold. We forgo lush green life. We give up long sunny days. Knowing that spring will be the reward. Spring will resurrect and renew. Spring will revive the world and the days around us. This pretty daffodil is a welcome sign of spring. It was blooming on Eater Sunday in my mom's garden.

Week 14: Foolin' Around

{ Project 52 Week 14: Foolin' Around }

I'm a little late on Project 52. I'm still in that slump, I guess! The theme this week is: Foolin' Around. This was another difficult theme for me but then I spotted these emerging on one of our maple trees and thought...did you ever fool around with these when you were a kid? We called them 'helicopters'. They are actually the "fruit" of a maple tree. Right now they are just babies in shades of pinks, corals and reds. When mature they will turn light brown. These playful little cuties twirl down like a helicopter when gently dropped to the ground. As a little girl I remember my mom pointing these out to me. I can thank her for teaching me the whimsy of nature and the importance to observe all things, even the small and simple. And now I'm passing on those teachings to my sons. My youngest son still gets excited every time he comes across a 'helicopter'!

Week 13: Details

{ Project 52 Week 13: Details }

With this weeks theme: {details} I had many photos to choose from but found it difficult to take the time to pick one and decide how I wanted to interpret it. I'm feeling a creative slump or block lately. I sure hope I can shake it off! Finally it occurred to me, though, that I'm really enjoying the vast details that spring is displaying lately. For the first time I've noticed how brief certain phases of spring truly are. Baby tree buds change daily and if you don't take the time to look close everyday, you just might miss something special.

The branches above belong to what I think is a maple tree. It's growing at my mother and father in-laws home. Soon the frilly buds will fade and turn into lovely leaves that will fill up the branches and provide shade until fall. Enjoy the buds while they last, they won't be around long!

Week 12: Hunger

{ Project 52 Week 12: Hunger }

This weeks theme is: Hunger. 

I've been hungry for spring all winter. 

I've been hungry for the fresh scent of damp soil sprinkled with spring rain. 

I've been hungry for the vivid green of new life. 

I've been hungry for tender buds and sprouts just beginning to form. 

Thanks to our mild winter, I've been feasting on spring all week. 

Within the week, the ground has thawed, 

dull browns have greened and 

spring showers have bathed young foliage. 

I'm full, overflowing and so happy that spring is here!

Week 11: The 'Eyes' of March

{ Project 52 Week 11: The 'Eyes' of March }

It's already Week 11 of Project 52 and the theme is: The 'Eyes' of March. And these are some of the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. These sweet little pale green eyes are the beginning of new life. They are the start of what will become the bright green foliage of a potato plant. They'll grow taller and taller throughout the summer, reaching for the sky and the warmth of the sun. They'll sprout yummy new baby potatoes below the soil surface. These eyes are wide open and ready for a fresh spring day to set root in the garden.

Week 10: Be Still

{ Project 52 Week 10: Be Still }

It's Week 10 and I'm linking up with Life With My Three Boybarians for Project 52. This weeks theme is: Be Still.

Spring seems to have sprung abruptly here in MN, with record shattering high temps. The snow that piled on us a couple of weeks ago is nearly gone and puddles are forming everywhere. In that case, it's literally IMPOSSIBLE to be still when there are perfectly good puddles to jump into...at least for this little preschooler of mine. He's drawn to puddles like a moth to a flame. He did stand still though, if only for a moment, briefly filled with anticipation before the first big SPLASH. Hello spring, we are so happy you are here early!

Week 9: A Great Leap

{ Project 52 Week 9: A Great Leap }

It's Week 9 and I'm linking up with Life With My 3 Boybarians for Project 52. I had no idea what I was going to photograph for this weeks theme: A Great Leap, but then it happened, our first big snow storm of the year. So on leap day, the day of the snow storm, my elementary schooler had his first ever snow day…NO SCHOOL! We spent a lot of time out in the fresh snow. Later in the day, after the snow plows had been through the neighborhood, big piles were left behind, irresistible to this little stunt guy. He leapt and leapt and leapt, doing twists, turns and kicks to his hearts content. Many GREAT LEAPS on leap day!