Pink blossoms

I've been so busy lately that when I get a few minutes to just breathe, I like to step outside (when it isn't freezing) and enjoy the beauty of new life.  Spring might just be my new favorite season.

Little things, like these pink blossoms we found the other evening, just make me happy.  They remind me to slow down and "smell the roses" even in the midst of busyness.  The to-do list can sometimes wait.

      

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Blossoming Trees

It has been a busy, exhausting week.  I won't bore you with the details but suffice it to say that I need a good night's sleep and some down time.  I opted out of several opportunities to go out with friends this evening and instead stayed home with my boys.  We wandered around out in the yard and in our neighbor's woods admiring God's beauty.  The newness of life that is all around us this spring.  There is so much to be thankful for.  And getting outside in the fresh air is a great way to be reminded of that.

These are just a few of the beautiful things we found.

The fresh air did my body, mind, and soul some good.  And the boys and I created some memories together.  I hope they will always remember walks in the woods with me.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

If you would like to check out the giveaway I am hosting for an adorable children's book about the story of Jonah from the whale's point of view, here's the link ... Hey God, I've got some guy named Jonah in my stomach and I think I'm going to throw up!  The last day to enter is Sunday and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Monday.  Thanks!

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Phipps Conservatory

On Monday my mom and I spent a few hours together - just the two of us - at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  Their annual Butterfly Forest opened recently, and you know how much I love butterflies.  So I just had to go see what it was all about.  We had a lovely day.  She was very patient with me while I took my gazillion photos.  There was just so much to see!  Here are just a few ...

I don't remember what most of these are called except this last one, I believe, was labeled as a Moth Orchid.

We came across these White Peacock's making baby butterflies on what was labeled as a shrimp plant.  They didn't seem bothered by me photographing them in action.  :)

There weren't a lot of butterflies in the Butterfly Forest yet.  Many were still in chrysalis.  But as we were making our way through, one of the workers had just taken a newly-emerged Monarch out of the hatchery (for lack of a better term).  I was so excited to see it and told her how we raise Monarchs every summer, God willing.  So she immediately held the Monarch out for me to hold (even though the sign says not to handle them).  I showed her and my mom how to tell the gender.  That particular Monarch was a female.  Then I walked around in that oh-so-familiar position of a Monarch butterfly hanging from my left index finger.  I was telling my mom how I am pretty good at doing things one-handed when raising butterflies since Monarchs can hang for hours waiting for their wings to dry.

My mom and I had such a lovely time together.  However, we didn't make it through the entire tour.  Once home I discussed with my husband the idea of getting a membership so I can go back as often as I am able.  He agreed and we are now members.  I plan to take the kids once school is out.  I know Keira would love it.  I'm not so sure about the boys though. There might be some bribing going on if they come along.  :)

     

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Nurture Photography ~ Turquoise/Splash

Turquoise is a color that isn't really in my spectrum.  I searched and searched for turquoise this week and all I could find was some card stock that is hidden in my paper drawer.  And who really wants to see a picture of that?  :)  So I opted for splash.  Loosely interpreted, of course.

Alex had a dentist appointment earlier this week for a filling and sealants.  Since he was so brave and did really well, he got a prize when he was done.  He chose a pirate rubber ducky.  So, of course, when shower time came along that evening, he asked if he could take a bath instead.  With bubbles, because you can't take a bath without bubbles, right?

Being the youngest and "too old for baths", I was a little excited that he wanted to take a bath instead of a shower.  I love the independence of my kids as they get older, but some days I just want them to be little again.  This gave me a small taste of that.

Since I got an expodisc recently, I wanted to test it out and see how well it worked.  Our bathroom is one room where the color is never good in photos, which is why I never take photos in there.  Or if I do, they almost always get converted to B&W.  (Hoping that when we remodel our bathroom this year, I will no longer have this issue.)

I have to say I am impressed with the expodisc.  The white balance in these photos is exactly as I would see it with my eyes.  In Adobe Camera RAW I did tweak exposure and blacks slightly, but that was it.  No adjustments at all to white balance.

The expodisc gets two thumbs up from me!  :)

Some day I will have to take before/after pictures with the expodisc so you can see the difference.  Maybe in my kitchen since that is another room where the color seems off in my photos.  :)

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Nurture Photography ~ Yellow/Easter

The boys and I had fun coloring eggs for Easter this year.

Nick is such a goofball sometimes.  :)

Showing off two of his masterpieces.

Alex too.  I think he's trying to look cool here.  :)

See what I mean?  :)  He's a hoot!

We didn't plan to make any speckled ones, but the violet coloring that I used didn't mix well.  So any eggs that we dipped in it came out speckled.  The boys thought that was pretty cool.  Me, too.  :)

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