watching the sky change

i love when the sun starts to sink in the horizon and bathes the earth in liquid gold for a few minutes at twilight. the whole world glistens like a jewel, and I wish it could last forever instead of just a few moments. I think I could spend hours staring at the constant changing sky, especially at sundown. i've always thought that sunsets are a beautiful love note straight from God. they certainly display and magnify His creativity and beauty!

"That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides mee. I am the Lord, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:6

xx,

Lydia // smiles and manicures

I think this child becomes cuter every day. She's the most serious baby I've ever seen. Most of the time she stares around her, just observing life, so smiles and giggles are a big thing. ;) 

okay, I totally get to be the awesome big sister who does cool things like manicures on the baby. (I've been painting her toenails since she was just a couple months old.  It's harder than it sounds because, 1. her toenails are unbelievably tiny, and 2. she doesn't understand the concept of holding still. Nevertheless, the results are adorbs.)

This morning Mom propped Lydia up in the middle of her bed and started sorting though a bunch of stuff. I came into the room whilst mom's back was turned, and found Lydia destroying a pile, (and working on eating it! :) with her headband around her chin. She was convinced that she was helping. :)

eagle creek // hiking

yesterday i went hiking with my brothers and and bunch of people at Eagle creek, Oregon. The total hike was roughly anywhere from 13 to 16 miles. The two people who tracked it on their smartphones via GPS had conflicting mileage, but despite the total distance, it was rather fun. I've hiked this one before, but it's so beautiful that it is totally worth doing over and over. 

     in all honesty, I shouldn't have gone. I was sick all week, and felt pretty bad yesterday with a horrible headache. (the kind behind your eyes where if feels like someone is literally squeezing your brain in their hands.) but I knew my bros wanted to go, and I've been wanting to do that hike again for a while. I am glad I went, although I was extremely quiet and non talkative because of the headache. 

     I carried my camera the whole way, and proceeded to take only ten or twelve photographs. :) I think I'll just have to do the hike again when I feel good simply for photography sake. I think it would be cool to do a photoshoot with people (and pretty dresses?!) at some of these waterfalls. (Although it would probably be too difficult and strenuous to hike in with props and dresses...) 

     and ftr, I really want to stand under this ^ waterfall someday. (probably when it's warm, and I am wearing a swimsuit. :) It was gorgeous, and looked sooo fun.

     After hiking, (from 9:30 or so, until 4:00. That means we were walking roughly 26-30 minute miles... o.O.) we went to Red Robins for burgers. I felt terrible for our waiter... He had to take care of a group of 21 people entirely by himself. He did great though! We did a ton of visiting and didn't actually make it home until 9:30. I took a really long, very hot bath to relax my muscles, and read part of October Baby by Erik Wilson. I've read it several times but it's pretty cute. I should have gone to bed right away, but instead, I didn't go to bed until really late. But my family let me sleep in until 11:00, which was super nice of them, because i've missed sleeping in until noon on Saturdays for probably the past month. 

     the rest of today will be spent doing laundry, and avoiding getting dressed. (we'll see if mom protests. I am all for staying in pjs if you aren't going anywhere. I mean, they're SO comfy!!) I shall probably finish October Baby today, and then read some more of The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I may make cookies too. I feel like eating snickerdoodles or peanut butter cookies. I also need to do some studying on John 7 for the girls bible study tomorrow. I also plan to walk at least three miles on the treadmill. I think it would help my muscles unkink. I am actually anywhere near as sore as I thought I would be. Which makes me incredibly happy, because I am supposed to walk a half marathon with my incredible, beautiful bestie on the 28th. :)

     (Mom sat down in the living room, where I am working on this post on my latop, and three seconds ago, she told me to get dressed... haha)

credit: Ben Elliot

In case you're wondering what is so great about this hike. ^ this is Tunnel Falls, where we turned around. It is somewhere around 6 miles into the hike, which is a 25+ mile loop. 

     do you like to hike? if so, do you prefer to hike hard, and feel accomplished according to miles and time, or do you prefer to mosey along and take in the sights and experiences? Personally I think I am in the middle of the two. I have a competitive streak, so I like to push myself and go as hard as my body will allow (usually not competing with others, just against myself and pervious timings or goals.), and then I get carried away with the beauty of the landscape and stop to enjoy it frequently. :)

xx,

It's a Girl Thing // Cozy and bright {and photograph personalities}

despite the multiple warnings yesterday afternoon that i wanted to take a picture of him and  that i would be posting whatever results i got wether they were attractive or not, these pictures are the result of twenty minuets of negotiating. I rather like them, as candid and "non-posed" as they are. They capture his personality, and that's the entire purpose of photography to me. 

 that's a homemade dirty chai. you should be insanely jealous. it was delish and only a fraction of the $5.50+ that i've payed various places for them. (in case you are uncultured and haven't lived properly, :) a dirty chai is imply a Chai Latte (and a Chai Latte is spices and strong black tea mixed with a sweetener and frothed milk,) with several shots of espresso added. Talk about caffeine. Only get them when 1. you are extremely tired, and 2. you plan on being awake for a very long time.)

it's raining. it's cold. and it's very gloomy. But I got a stack of books from the library a few days ago, and am able to drink gallons of tea without anyone asking any questions, so it's all good. and i'm a happy girl because I FOUND MY CAMERA BATTERY CHARGER!!!!! it was in the "hole" (front part thing that has the cup holder and is always insanely full of junk,) in the van. Heaven knows what it was doing there, but that's unimportant because the only thing that matters is that I found it! :)

My cozy outfit from yesterday:

Skirt: Gift

Denim Leggings: Walmart (12.99)

Brown tee: Goodwill (5.99)

Tied Cardigan: Goodwill (6.95)

Obnoxious but extremely warm Orange Socks: Gift

the joys (or struggles) of photographing

 mountains are  one of my favorite things to photograph, because 1) they're stunning, breathtaking and absolutely awe-inspiring. And after climbing one, I have come to realize how humongous they really are. 2) They hold still. You can sit there for twenty minutes changing the settings and working through lighting issues and moving to different angles and there is absolutely no hurry. I'm serious, it's beautiful. There is no complaining during the shoot, no wiggling, no awful faces, no blinking. That's why I like photographing mountains, (and trees. Although if it's windy they don't hold quite as still.)

children, on the other hand, can be the most difficult subjects to photograph on the planet. The shoot starts out with good intentions; Just a quick photograph to send to the big brothers, just put them in a line, and have the taller ones lean down and squat down so that they're faces are framed on the same level. Take a couple tester photos to check the lighting. And then suddenly everything goes south really fast. You find yourself repeating things over and over, "hold still... don't move... can I have a real smile... Stand up... squat down... look at me not the goats..." And finally you think/say something along the lines of, "just stand there and try not to look like you're killing each other.

then again, they are pretty cute. no i'm not biased. why would you ask something like that? ;)

I think we were pretending to be some sort of lion or tiger or bear here. His poor little face is all banged up from a tumble down the stairs a couple days ago. I think I'm rubbing off on him. ;)

what's your favorite subject to photograph? Any tips on bribing kiddos to hold still and smile pretty? 

l i s t s

*loving right now*

-cold brewed coffee

-wearing my maxi as a dress

-moby dick

-chocolate milkshakes

-sleep (it's not overrated)

-sense and sensibility

- rainymood.com and my yiruma pandora station playing at the same time.

~ ~ ~

Don't you know? Haven't you heard? Don't you understand the foundations of the earth?

God is enthroned above the earth, and those who live on it are like grasshoppers. 

He stretches out the sky like a canopy

and spreads it out like a tent to live in.

He makes rulers unimportant,

and makes earthly judges worth nothing.

Have have hardly been planted,

They have hardly been sown.

They have hardly taken root in the ground

Then he blows on them and they wither 

and a windstorm sweeps them away like straw.

"To whom, then, can you compare me? Who is my qual?" asks the Holy One

Look at the sky and see.

Who created these things?

Who brings out the stars one by one?

He calls them all by name.

Because of the greatness of his might and the strength of his power, 

not one of them is missing...

Don't you know? Haven't you heard? 

The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,

does not grow tired or become weary.

His understanding is beyond reach.

He gives strength to those who are weak.

Even young people grow tired and become weary,

and young men will stumble and fall.

Yet the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed.

They will soar on wings like eagles

they will run and won't become weary

they will walk and won't grow tired.

Isaiah 40:21-26, 28-31

~ ~ ~

favorite quotes right now:

if the shoe fits... buy it in every color.

Unknown

If you live to be one hundred, I hope I live to be a hundred minus one day so I don't have to live without you.

Winne the Pooh

Adventure is OUT THERE!

Up.

Distance means so little when someone means so much.

Unknown

~ ~ ~

to do:
* finish the laundry
* 3 lessons of algebra
* clean my room... again.
* clean the girls bathroom
* get this post finished and up
* straighten my hair and apply make-up so I look presentable when my brother arrives later tonight. :)
*  finish the email that's been sitting in my drafts for days.
* SMILE MORE!!

/ / / \ \ \

     i.my brother is coming to visit tonight, and I'm excited. I haven't seen him in three months, and although this trip will be super short, it will be wonderful!! :)

ii. I've started making bouquets out of the various flowers and weeds around our yard. Some of them turn out better than others, but they are all colorful and brighten up our dining room table.

iii. it's been hot. i'm a cool weather girl, so it's been interesting trying to survive. lots of iced tea and iced coffee! and ice-cubes and ice-cubes in lemonade. and ice. :)

iv. this girl is one of my favorite peoples. so go check her out. she's pretty amazing.

xx,

happiness is mocha flavored

this morning an elderly neighbor called and woke me up at 7:20, announcing that a semi had crashed last night, and the gleaners group had cleaned it up, getting somewhere around 30,000 pounds of lettuce/fruit. She asked if we wanted some. i think i said yes... my brain wasn't awake yet. ;) and five minutes after i had gotten off the phone with her, another neighbor called, with the same announcement and question. she announced that she was dropping it off sometime this morning. i figured she'd be over around 10-11:00.  nope. she was over here at eight-fifteen. i was in a ridiculous pajama outfit, (picked out specifically for warmth and comfort last night while watching War Horse. ;) still laying in bed and highly unpresentable. it was wonderful though, because i didn't have a clue what I was going to fix for the kiddo's breakfast... i hadn't thought ahead that far yet. ;) (mama's always good about figuring out what she's going to make for breakfast ahead of time, but since she has been out of town for a couple days, it was left up to me.)  there were five huge platters of fruit, with a yogurt dip and already cut up and everything. so we ate gobs of fruit and leftover biscuits from last night and the most heavenly apricot jam my mama made last spring.  I fixed mocha's for my ten-year-old sister and I. the whole breakfast felt decidedly British. {I suppose mocha's aren't extremely British. ;)} It was wonderful. ;)

j e s s

This is Jessa, my adorable chocolate lab. She's almsot seven weeks old, and is a lab/border collie. She's a future therapy dog, and also happens to be one of the cutest things on the planet. She sleeps so much, but honestly, it's okay, 'cause she's just a baby. 

Jess is super playful, when awake, though, and has razor sharp teeth. I've only had her for a little less than two weeks, but we're already working on not biting every single thing in sight. :) Sunny,.our seven-year-old yellow lab, tolerates her, and I have high hopes for their relationship, once Jess has grown up a bit and settled down. Sunny isn't entirely sure what to think of her. Sometimes Jess growls at Sunny, and it's the cutest thing you ever saw. 

I cannot wait to begin training her. Training a dog to sit, stay, lie down, come, heel, etc, is one of the most rewarding things. Having a dog's loyalty ranks higher though. I'm excited about my little girl. :) 

bookish

In the hushed hours after dusk, when the world is slowly settling down, preparing to rest and dream for a little while before rushing off again, in a hectic race against time, I find myself reaching out to the world of words, plots, and dreams turned into beautiful (and flawed) characters. All day long I look forward, with much anticipation to my hour or two with a book to read, a steaming mug of tea, and words that must be journaled  I love the gentle lull of a pen or pencil carefully marking dreams and ideas across a blank page.  I know I've said it once or twice before, {or maybe three or four times.}, but there is such magic in words.

          When I stop to think about the fact that some 50,000+ words can hold a person completely spellbound, captivated, (both emotionally and physically,) and sitting on the edge of their seat for hours on end, it completely blows my mind. 
          I have started writing again. (After my Les Mis experience,), and it feels so good to be hard at work crafting sentences, characters and plots again. I missed writing, and I think that is a good sign. :)

         And as always, I have been reading up a storm. My current reads are Uncle Toms Cabin, (almost done!! It's taken me a while  For some reason it has been extremely difficult to get into the story.) and Rainbow Valley. I decided it was high time I finished my adventures with Anne Shirley  But that does sound depressing. I don't want to finish having adventures with Anne-girl, no matter how old I am or how many times I read the books/watch the movies. :)

It is such a wonderful thing to be bookish! 

photography confessions // winter is here to stay

~~ This post was supposed to go 'live' about two weeks ago, dears, but unfortunately I have been having a bunch of issues with uploading photos, but I have gotten it up and running again somehow(at least for now) so I will hopefully be up and posting again! ~~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going to make a huge confession today. I am quite sure that it will surprise my photography friends a lot, but I'm gonna say it. :)

     I shot in Manual mode for the very  first time today. And it was amazing.

There. I said it. Are you shocked? You have a very good reason to be, that's for sure! I've had DSLR's for over two years and I've just shot in Manual mode!?!

I felt  in control of the camera , (the kind of control that they portray in the cartoons, where some guy is in front of a TV and he just has to have the remote. Like, he'd be completely lost without it. yah...),  and it was very exciting to get a good shot, because I put way more effort into getting it, than just pointing the camera and clicking a photo. And I found out that I can make a picture turn out the way I want it to, not just the way it does when I set the camera to Automatic mode.

 

 

These are my first Manuel shots. And I'm happy. (and since that day, I haven't set my mode to anywhere else, and I don't plan on doing again!!)

 

xo,

Becca Anne

More Pictures!!

I am totally loving this high-speed!!! It makes posting so much easier. and I have decided to post some more pictures. These are in no particular order, just photos that I haven't had the time to post before.

So this is my adorable littlest brother, Caleb. He is 2,  talks so well and cute and is well, just absolutely cute!!!! :)

This is at Newport Oregon, where we went in July.

Thomas and Caleb, waiting for another wave. :D

This is at the beach as well. We were all sitting around the campfire in the rain with a bunch of umbrellas. Seasonded campers I guess.  We've gotten used to the idea that if we are camping, its gonna rain!! lol

Had to show this one. It is a firework. I didn't do anything to it, this is just the way my camera took it. Weird. :)

Well, we went to the ice caves yesterday. I didn't do a whole lot of exploring. After falling 3 times in one minute  and being caught every time by a stranger guy, I decided that it was enough. I didn't end up feeling that embarrassed, the guy fell right after I steadied myself. :) 

Anyway, I should go, my brother is on the phone. (Thomas is at Army Basic, and he's calling home for the second time today. He hasn't gotten to the actual  basic yet, he's at what they call Reception. So he still has his phone until tomorrow. He is really bored. :))

Love ya,

Becca