tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74172653461084429222024-03-13T15:31:30.817-07:00The Twisty Lenswords and picturesStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-63108793190164541342015-06-22T22:13:00.001-07:002015-06-22T22:19:19.303-07:00late june<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The rain and the clouds and the cool have melted away, and at last late June has come, as late June is meant to come, a time of rolling days and enveloping nights, a time of evenings, evenings with skies of a soft taffy beauty like no other time in the year, each like no other before and no other again. Warm. Comfortable. Immortal. Fleeting.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">I walked down streets this evening whose trees, houses, and lamp-posts raised me. I walked past human beings who I had never seen before and would probably never see again, whose houses I had passed hundreds, maybe thousands of times. I saw familiar cracks in the pavement.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Tangibly, luxuriously, the tight rigidity of Michigan ice and office AC and books and plans and fears and concentration softened, melted, and fell like warm sweat out of every pore, vanishing into the close atmosphere. Jungle sounds, cinematic, out-of-place, emerged from the darkening edges of my path.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Liturgy, ritual, is a framework for humanity, a coming-back in order to see ourselves and our lives in perspective. It connects us to one another and to our own past. It humanizes us. The trees were a little taller, really they were. The perfect little house on the corner with its lovely swimming pool still made me sad somehow, as it stood serene in the sinking light. I felt the changes of my past year, at last, in a calmer way. I saw them, as if I had discovered a photograph of a statue before I had chipped away at it, and could at last compare what had been to what was. More than seeing clearly what changes had been made, I saw all that was still the same. I breathed. The air was sweet with flowers.</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-32663252721751598542012-11-23T19:49:00.000-08:002012-11-23T19:49:04.906-08:00november morning fogThe other night when I got off work a thin fog had spread through the darkness. Saucers of light grew downwards from the street lamps, the thick air illuminated. For a second I thought it was snowing.<br />
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I got up late the next morning, but even so when I climbed the stairs and looked out the kitchen window the world was still hazy and white.<br />
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Fog is gorgeous.<br />
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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was wonderful, I have so much to be thankful for and this weekend reminded me of that in so many ways.<br />
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Enjoy the rest of your weekend and leftover-turkey sandwiches.<br />
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Stacey<br />
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-39208492694187934262012-08-25T17:41:00.000-07:002012-08-25T17:41:09.691-07:00activities for rainy days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you never have before, at least once in your life you need to go for a walk in the rain. And I don't mean a sprinkle. And I don't mean with an umbrella. I mean when it starts pouring down rain and everyone runs for their houses or their cars and you just look around and say, "Know what? This is fun." And there you stay.<br />
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It's kind of a different world all of a sudden when it starts to really rain. Because, even if it's the middle of the day, there is <i>no one </i>to be seen. Because no one likes the feeling of getting poured on, right? Well, yeah. Unless you want to. If you just decide "I'm getting totally wet, and I'm okay with that," then it becomes really wonderful really quickly.<br />
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I was on a walk today when it started to pour. I started the dash for home, but as the rain poured down and soaked my hair and my clothes and sent streams of water down my nose, I changed my mind. I got over the judgmental looks of the people sitting in their cars in the parking lot, got over the fact that I was destroying my new boots, and just walked. And ran. And climbed a tree. And got thoroughly drenched.<br />
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And I would recommend this Saturday afternoon activity to anyone.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-1728103980036576272012-08-18T19:27:00.000-07:002012-08-18T19:27:35.274-07:00when it's still quiet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Only a handful of days left until school started up again, slipping away at an outrageous pace. I woke up before the sun and slipped outside, blanket and book in hand.<br />
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I walked for awhile, and when the sun came over the horizon i spread out a blanket, flopped down on it, and watched the sun through the rosebushes. It was chilly, and I pulled another blanket over me and read for a little while. I was tired, but it was such a nice morning.<br />
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When I opened my eyes, I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep. But my fingers and toes were very cold, and the sun now peeked through the branches of the trees, and cast golden lines across the grass.<br />
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I will miss the summer.<br />
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-54350342691724690772012-08-14T10:03:00.000-07:002016-01-05T21:59:26.241-08:00the windy city <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week was college visits. We went to several midwestern colleges on the stretch between here and Michigan (Wheaton, Northwestern, Concordia University Mequon, and Hillsdale.)</div>
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It was the absolute perfect week. The weather finally got a little cooler, and it was sunny most days. Northwestern's campus was amazing. It was really interesting to visit the colleges we did in such rapid succession, because the differences really stood out. </div>
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And, Chicago...<br />
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It should be noted that as we were walking out of one of the buildings, the "PEARE" part of this sign was blocked by an awning, and I thought it said "SHAKES". It should also be noted how crushingly disappointed I was when the whole sign came into view.<br />
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Bye kids.<br />
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StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-20253756034066933012012-07-26T12:42:00.000-07:002012-07-26T12:42:03.058-07:00this city<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi9HwvJ7w7zBq8ZKqsvEQqk3-c8uub7tzGLqs5rcZ6is9rUgL1XeSK14W7jiVmH27WkyHyr-Ohpujikg7RGy2HqVyg0WlKwpSiDdjAKYQPTGyN3WExLO_GgHESJqtBXAlaq9ifGEa7jM/s1600/DSC_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi9HwvJ7w7zBq8ZKqsvEQqk3-c8uub7tzGLqs5rcZ6is9rUgL1XeSK14W7jiVmH27WkyHyr-Ohpujikg7RGy2HqVyg0WlKwpSiDdjAKYQPTGyN3WExLO_GgHESJqtBXAlaq9ifGEa7jM/s1600/DSC_1848.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week I went on an hour-long "riverboat cruise" with my friend <a href="http://ninjaseatoranges.blogspot.com/">Grace</a>. It was really overcast, but the clouds provided a little break from the scalding heat.</div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This place is down by the river, and I guess it's been there for a long time, but I've never really noticed it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdKTD73y6zD6CSZasWHlVATxuS_CdgkZB9AKL4ImYsU88Y2NT1CLuE3gOx6WGtR5WwBORLj60rcPUZRpfx_Dr35gsTiIRBwukVssLedXGFlCqSI02_HpyyGv2stQaSy_RUXZunVg15YQ/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdKTD73y6zD6CSZasWHlVATxuS_CdgkZB9AKL4ImYsU88Y2NT1CLuE3gOx6WGtR5WwBORLj60rcPUZRpfx_Dr35gsTiIRBwukVssLedXGFlCqSI02_HpyyGv2stQaSy_RUXZunVg15YQ/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" /></a></div> The boat chugged slowly up river, taking us north along the outside of the city, and then turned and went back down, taking us to the bottom. It was definitely a different view of St. Louis than I have ever experienced before.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been in boats before of course, but never anything like this. As we sat stationary in the dock waiting to pull out, it seemed like the boat was moving as the Mississippi drifted slowly past. As the boat pulled itself up-river, the water seemed to rush past. When we went down river just a hair faster than the water itself, it appeared to be standing still.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHJBsj_DKHcxefTKrOPtIpNJH91KVmkbf5psQQL_eI4RQoXOd8reLUIc4YI-FnueVW6dzmb26CnJFFaPJzMIg-2KN9hyxDktmtpInmO0dt7rnVq5f7ZyxoBmMp8KB0jyQxHwy3uM2ax0/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHJBsj_DKHcxefTKrOPtIpNJH91KVmkbf5psQQL_eI4RQoXOd8reLUIc4YI-FnueVW6dzmb26CnJFFaPJzMIg-2KN9hyxDktmtpInmO0dt7rnVq5f7ZyxoBmMp8KB0jyQxHwy3uM2ax0/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stone walls lined much of the river, shielding the rocky banks from the city's view. From time to time I glimpsed people on both banks, sitting among the rocks, some fishing, some picnicking, some alone and gazing aimlessly into the water as it flowed along...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvbu1RzVOH5Rn37e2DruwJ5SHfq0k9blqAtickRvDVe6dDoPg0ExEM9cJEVLSQW5tpsPdudNJKhpAFnrRQpTc6VVa6iopoPbQm2gQCL3wwAgiYreKnfZ27E4wJg8kGl-BFLBqx24cEzY/s1600/DSC_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvbu1RzVOH5Rn37e2DruwJ5SHfq0k9blqAtickRvDVe6dDoPg0ExEM9cJEVLSQW5tpsPdudNJKhpAFnrRQpTc6VVa6iopoPbQm2gQCL3wwAgiYreKnfZ27E4wJg8kGl-BFLBqx24cEzY/s1600/DSC_1842.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We sat on the flat platform in our little chairs with our cameras and touristy hats, snapping pictures of Missouri and Illinois and listening to the fun facts the captain fed us through the speakers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IOu7ugox2kQwhnkyUou1Jij5mp7zxz6FygSc_-x7vvgbkkGTVvgHMeG4DlhM20uh7S4tVDYMtT4-INeerZKTEb07xH44zrzOPIdZCKDB5R0N5Wn6d6zgpgplwh189reMzdC3PC8YdBQ/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IOu7ugox2kQwhnkyUou1Jij5mp7zxz6FygSc_-x7vvgbkkGTVvgHMeG4DlhM20uh7S4tVDYMtT4-INeerZKTEb07xH44zrzOPIdZCKDB5R0N5Wn6d6zgpgplwh189reMzdC3PC8YdBQ/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> In fact, I think Grace and I may have been some of the only people on that boat who were locals. It was very tourist-themed, as you could tell both from the people there and from the things the captain said.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iXdbZzJuPrLGWVFQHFWXkEn2Ofnug_1KfFOC6zveFKDOWDy8POJfV89RCu3TWnDGS9BE0sfJIhYSfhPK4HO9zYVBu9oeS9Y1BIHKsNeMP0-wOTaS1wdNuH29GES52w1yViJ05hasvb4/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iXdbZzJuPrLGWVFQHFWXkEn2Ofnug_1KfFOC6zveFKDOWDy8POJfV89RCu3TWnDGS9BE0sfJIhYSfhPK4HO9zYVBu9oeS9Y1BIHKsNeMP0-wOTaS1wdNuH29GES52w1yViJ05hasvb4/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" /></a></div><br />
It was cool to see my city through the eyes of a tourist. I must admit I felt a little proud of us. My conclusion? Saint Louis is a cool place to live. But then, I already knew that.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-84447587534564127592012-01-21T19:13:00.000-08:002012-01-21T19:13:49.200-08:00i'm a slacker: days 12-21It's been one of those weeks. One of those crazy-ridiculous weeks where I also happened to have both camera and computer difficulties at the same time.<br />
<br />
So, I believe I owe you 10 pictures.<br />
<br />
Here they are!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_u4zmd-SJhDSeyfyGfUvHyxART-V5HbP8bxACXqHhrJ1Ragvaz56QSCn8gUZe7vD2CLDfWthUuRb4O-4QIhUIc4oxWuAlIawryddxgUbVcyaAq-_yme9I0SAxY3KGbPCmJJg6Q1qE5o/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_u4zmd-SJhDSeyfyGfUvHyxART-V5HbP8bxACXqHhrJ1Ragvaz56QSCn8gUZe7vD2CLDfWthUuRb4O-4QIhUIc4oxWuAlIawryddxgUbVcyaAq-_yme9I0SAxY3KGbPCmJJg6Q1qE5o/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMXaI9TzvZbB8_JQXljlvsMiXMVu_UGlXZDdcwZCWW1BUenuX248tXguiZ1b8rmlP-OdCoCc_21AQaBZeLkBvMLcoHLA2p0zYr1bGLOfvuK9ksGueJ31Z6MDxpx-3C9WV0SXTmhhyphenhyphenjS8/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMXaI9TzvZbB8_JQXljlvsMiXMVu_UGlXZDdcwZCWW1BUenuX248tXguiZ1b8rmlP-OdCoCc_21AQaBZeLkBvMLcoHLA2p0zYr1bGLOfvuK9ksGueJ31Z6MDxpx-3C9WV0SXTmhhyphenhyphenjS8/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had two "extra" little girls who stayed with us for a few days. It was a little crazy, but it was fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5ZBdG0dZpkDffVQGyngF-E4fFpRjWmHS2HjrgEw6_XAClwI7dT0dUeNLFrTMmvFR1KiF9un4WTiE9H5HQ-Lu5LK_NpTJf2j4vZi5LdYkT41wB2SGkIOI2nDkVKdz_fEINfO3B0_eXF8/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5ZBdG0dZpkDffVQGyngF-E4fFpRjWmHS2HjrgEw6_XAClwI7dT0dUeNLFrTMmvFR1KiF9un4WTiE9H5HQ-Lu5LK_NpTJf2j4vZi5LdYkT41wB2SGkIOI2nDkVKdz_fEINfO3B0_eXF8/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bird feet in the snow. <3 </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX-GRt-f2d5hocu-dHi8vgkxpR90zVz7J72OnCANUtRC1QOdaox_pSLYms2E2A4nfFPUmhMrw6FvDeRMDZvKTLXc3lp-Z0Y3_26-3vW6Ch7RDhz4buAuKC0iD-0585igN0SBp5IGao5g/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX-GRt-f2d5hocu-dHi8vgkxpR90zVz7J72OnCANUtRC1QOdaox_pSLYms2E2A4nfFPUmhMrw6FvDeRMDZvKTLXc3lp-Z0Y3_26-3vW6Ch7RDhz4buAuKC0iD-0585igN0SBp5IGao5g/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nutella on homemade bread. I could live off of this stuff. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNk2LuS4LMA1g3-dR1aREra0vZ99wO7IVDbB3OtJdZJCLpt-T4zTcb0wjdoUYpeobpTlpYW74qvpjNN8RmRmZ81CCvhEpJPZ7LX-YxDn9kIe0_I3gooxV-YxX7fc09OQ-aXI-9UC-KIw/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNk2LuS4LMA1g3-dR1aREra0vZ99wO7IVDbB3OtJdZJCLpt-T4zTcb0wjdoUYpeobpTlpYW74qvpjNN8RmRmZ81CCvhEpJPZ7LX-YxDn9kIe0_I3gooxV-YxX7fc09OQ-aXI-9UC-KIw/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaPkxQFL4eiLLBbw9Nx4XZ6o6KceU1uQbmdakKHxwrmI18PeV3MxBmW-zDfZzTv3bZleRhyphenhyphentS-JnCjMI3TkvS6TlIzrN8uBHl5IRFYFyoW7FUJMvM7McAy7_uHi9C7JHHyLWnWLzIQO4/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaPkxQFL4eiLLBbw9Nx4XZ6o6KceU1uQbmdakKHxwrmI18PeV3MxBmW-zDfZzTv3bZleRhyphenhyphentS-JnCjMI3TkvS6TlIzrN8uBHl5IRFYFyoW7FUJMvM7McAy7_uHi9C7JHHyLWnWLzIQO4/s1600/6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvCN6qtfnh_ne__hPhnW9Q1WUEEamgV8mJXLBK57ncebdoFGeOP5KK0j7uV4g2qhFckqJ1gI8_G9g32fbc0EPhUyT9gl3Xjb0uWiWM7_Pt02F0VXmt2cpK-i1kw0BSGIBzymDfrUPjEM/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvCN6qtfnh_ne__hPhnW9Q1WUEEamgV8mJXLBK57ncebdoFGeOP5KK0j7uV4g2qhFckqJ1gI8_G9g32fbc0EPhUyT9gl3Xjb0uWiWM7_Pt02F0VXmt2cpK-i1kw0BSGIBzymDfrUPjEM/s1600/7.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xFwG3EWwSzl6BhlV4AIdt-wsYqubMOiErM5yG148dEzcLc1kKd99V9vs3HBY9Ih2p2y1l1MYmRVZxTx_d2_uLCaRTYugbf2KDsVCn3l15Cxhnu3IGGIS43O26QCsrbApuiNkLXUn7vM/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xFwG3EWwSzl6BhlV4AIdt-wsYqubMOiErM5yG148dEzcLc1kKd99V9vs3HBY9Ih2p2y1l1MYmRVZxTx_d2_uLCaRTYugbf2KDsVCn3l15Cxhnu3IGGIS43O26QCsrbApuiNkLXUn7vM/s1600/8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got a fishy, a fishy, fishy fishy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fSWf0AgUu62VAJqAHl46AYGR_ncDlhoc2crxyqxtmCsib3rOaSiq9rhiXN5jDNs7B_bNxwxa7CNwamgYMCtvqGQ_M4Kzyvfp1Xqstu-LJnFxqNlvkRgnCPgUCfbjA_pu6LzwGnOE2NY/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fSWf0AgUu62VAJqAHl46AYGR_ncDlhoc2crxyqxtmCsib3rOaSiq9rhiXN5jDNs7B_bNxwxa7CNwamgYMCtvqGQ_M4Kzyvfp1Xqstu-LJnFxqNlvkRgnCPgUCfbjA_pu6LzwGnOE2NY/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why, yes it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhzWnJ3Yoc0Z7kOR9AA6P0cYuEJt093jnwR7nkKNNYNTm5snoYl1ZeLk8GgiQwHfHyZ_cFpq4le_hrLniixmg-WTMiAfI5D32i4XvPsWvvH-B2JSvwwQsfGfP2T0kmTTRVYWCMGw794s/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhzWnJ3Yoc0Z7kOR9AA6P0cYuEJt093jnwR7nkKNNYNTm5snoYl1ZeLk8GgiQwHfHyZ_cFpq4le_hrLniixmg-WTMiAfI5D32i4XvPsWvvH-B2JSvwwQsfGfP2T0kmTTRVYWCMGw794s/s1600/10.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And there they are.<br />
<br />
Yup.<br />
<br />
It snowed last week, but it's all gone now. And we never even got a snow day out of the deal.<br />
<br />
And now I'm just really, really ready for it to be summer. Last weekend (yes, the day after the snow) it was absolutely beautiful weather. Like, shorts and tank top weather. And now we're back to freezing temperatures. That's Saint Louis for ya...<br />
<br />
Well, see y'all later!<br />
<br />
Love, Stacey.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-63178475263629686582012-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:04:57.617-08:00days nine, ten, and eleven.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello. It's late, and I need to go to bed. So I'm not going to write much...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the last few nights I've been going out to the middle school behind my house to take pictures. It's nice because the baseball field is behind my house and open and flat, and so it's one of probably 3 places in all of South County where you can see a sunset... (Okay, maybe that's a bit of hyperbole. Maybe.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>monday (9)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPa9MsnXx4oDR5NllyaIkUfzbv8y-QcWUzi6m5N15x2d5CrBVSySoVQyEO-4PFQDIhtePY18pnYhIxlJp5lBqIgnjGBU00jLiJB4Abu7yovG5LMPjlP0SW3JbPnWWIxupVgTl8M30WGs/s1600/monday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPa9MsnXx4oDR5NllyaIkUfzbv8y-QcWUzi6m5N15x2d5CrBVSySoVQyEO-4PFQDIhtePY18pnYhIxlJp5lBqIgnjGBU00jLiJB4Abu7yovG5LMPjlP0SW3JbPnWWIxupVgTl8M30WGs/s1600/monday.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>tuesday (10)</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOpsqiDM4zvj6q2PBxcDg_nYTPwFykxVJRBOYTKw0Ga1Xmgtf6DVRuJE6EljIEcXtMiUMHhCr_Nvkh1fndVwLPeCam1hyphenhyphennnkRMANDqBEQBQenbrnR2etiSOhilffKDIwTUUz1AFERLik/s1600/wednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOpsqiDM4zvj6q2PBxcDg_nYTPwFykxVJRBOYTKw0Ga1Xmgtf6DVRuJE6EljIEcXtMiUMHhCr_Nvkh1fndVwLPeCam1hyphenhyphennnkRMANDqBEQBQenbrnR2etiSOhilffKDIwTUUz1AFERLik/s1600/wednesday.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>wednesday (11)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxhx0tE_8XZFGUOgDNLEgco0-k3Wn0IT-SQax98Y21XxA5KYvJn41hJmoFQZfpsb3h5-gT6He9FtBUMo7QsaDQx5XnyvFSCPrAd5_kakJpLVPFFX0zM7vz20SRZVvpF4qIlX_qZ6sYtg/s1600/tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxhx0tE_8XZFGUOgDNLEgco0-k3Wn0IT-SQax98Y21XxA5KYvJn41hJmoFQZfpsb3h5-gT6He9FtBUMo7QsaDQx5XnyvFSCPrAd5_kakJpLVPFFX0zM7vz20SRZVvpF4qIlX_qZ6sYtg/s1600/tuesday.jpg" /></a></div><br />
'Nite!<br />
<br />
-StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-87445822707310312632012-01-08T11:50:00.000-08:002012-01-08T11:50:04.858-08:00days six, seven and eight.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, the play's over. The cast party was last night at my house. It was awesome, but I'm really sad that it's all over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And tomorrow, real school starts. And I think I'm ready to go back, as much as I might like break to go on forever... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>day 6 (friday)</i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMoHVb9tf5_U1HzAQKmfS4NIKqMcUQOYUZKoJiQxa2pRbOrEO0nwCxtSzKGwYy6pG0YqStaFCn_j1dAWHeqJV2F2SC4PDu0cTVNvv_6kHlJSurTOr6aGp-d3hOaHgOfLOKBkajuyXz3U/s1600/TARDOLANTERN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMoHVb9tf5_U1HzAQKmfS4NIKqMcUQOYUZKoJiQxa2pRbOrEO0nwCxtSzKGwYy6pG0YqStaFCn_j1dAWHeqJV2F2SC4PDu0cTVNvv_6kHlJSurTOr6aGp-d3hOaHgOfLOKBkajuyXz3U/s1600/TARDOLANTERN.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually took no pictures on Friday... not even one. So this is actually from a few minutes ago. But it will do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><i> </i> <i>day 7 (saturday) </i> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg583XyPPkLMG51871tXQpOKLZ-Rcznoz5ygrWXsB1dcWjiE1UZ3e9VmiExagN9Iwki-NJr_b5erLkeloNcVGDFIDgpdWkmenhfdy5fJKmZeLHtmqffMxu-TQU0qIWf9LQJmz0o4hvVFxk/s1600/fiya%2521+%2528sat%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg583XyPPkLMG51871tXQpOKLZ-Rcznoz5ygrWXsB1dcWjiE1UZ3e9VmiExagN9Iwki-NJr_b5erLkeloNcVGDFIDgpdWkmenhfdy5fJKmZeLHtmqffMxu-TQU0qIWf9LQJmz0o4hvVFxk/s1600/fiya%2521+%2528sat%2529.jpg" /></a><i><br />
</i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay for bonfires.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>day 8 (sunday)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmYBIuaPj8JYQgfLO1dGrixy856LWLxpmWYtmB_jbUMedJH_YfHVcAC1gdF4HocdZ4f13nz4IBCmo1OyZoZ53uQqVj3CSGcuMO5r22fTKLo5JYuI-molOYpYVED7thZejyJNQR4yn3-w/s1600/yooo..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmYBIuaPj8JYQgfLO1dGrixy856LWLxpmWYtmB_jbUMedJH_YfHVcAC1gdF4HocdZ4f13nz4IBCmo1OyZoZ53uQqVj3CSGcuMO5r22fTKLo5JYuI-molOYpYVED7thZejyJNQR4yn3-w/s1600/yooo..jpg" /></a></div><br />
See ya :).<br />
<br />
-StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-49761063729577498842012-01-05T18:55:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:55:53.448-08:00day five.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMXQwBhKVYw/TwZgWDOYR8I/AAAAAAAAA5k/dgJwr8GGPuA/s1600/y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMXQwBhKVYw/TwZgWDOYR8I/AAAAAAAAA5k/dgJwr8GGPuA/s640/y.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Well, I am utterly exhausted. Once a year my school puts on a Shakespeare<a href="http://twistylens.blogspot.com/2011/01/memories.html"> play in a week</a>, and that's this week. We're doing As You Like It. (Which is awesome, by the way.)<br />
So, as I can hardly keep my eyes open, I just took a picture of my lasagna. Or, what used to be my lasagna. No big photo shoots today.<br />
Hope that's okay.<br />
<br />
Performance tomorrow, woohoo!<br />
<br />
I think I might go collapse now.<br />
<br />
Love, Stacey.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-74288427105596892852012-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:002012-01-04T14:10:51.091-08:00day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday, everyone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, I remembered about taking my picture while it was still light outside! Yaaay! Now, my jeans have very wet and muddy knees, and I have a lot of pictures of moss :). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo6Mfk5stKY/TwTMSJN2w6I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/lj02wzEotv8/s1600/333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo6Mfk5stKY/TwTMSJN2w6I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/lj02wzEotv8/s1600/333.jpg" /></a></div><br />
-StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-68383618452764227812012-01-03T18:20:00.000-08:002012-01-03T18:22:21.438-08:00day three.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CdlrfV8PbkA/TwO3yCLKYiI/AAAAAAAAA5M/160y228Hcuk/s1600/yooo..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CdlrfV8PbkA/TwO3yCLKYiI/AAAAAAAAA5M/160y228Hcuk/s1600/yooo..jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
I love old things... Just, in general. And when I stumble across a rusted old, green pickup truck with a wooden bed and the paint all chipping off? Ohh, yeah.<br />
<br />
...I have a lot of pictures of this truck...Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-23388842616397805582012-01-02T16:51:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:51:15.874-08:00days one&two.Hello, 2012!<br />
<br />
On New Year's Eve I thought about my blog... It was time to make New Year's Resolutions, right? I've posted, what, 3 times this school year? I decided that with all that I have going on a daily, or even weekly post just wasn't going to happen.<br />
<br />
So I decided to try Project 365 again. Just one picture, every day. Sometimes I'm sure they'll just turn into full posts, which is the reason I stopped the Project 365 I started in 2010. But it's a minimum, and one I can hopefully meet.<br />
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Not off to a very good start, I suppose, considering I missed the first day... Ha. But here are days 1 and 2.<br />
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Here it goes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYKOfzROIVk/TwJQm6at7BI/AAAAAAAAA4s/fbK9Q7B6sA0/s1600/DSC_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYKOfzROIVk/TwJQm6at7BI/AAAAAAAAA4s/fbK9Q7B6sA0/s1600/DSC_0319.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4fu5hpdYgQ/TwJQoG3o8PI/AAAAAAAAA40/e5WxYs376bU/s1600/covershot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4fu5hpdYgQ/TwJQoG3o8PI/AAAAAAAAA40/e5WxYs376bU/s1600/covershot2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
See you all tomorrow. (Yeah!)<br />
<br />
Love, Stacey.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-1319661188139289052011-11-02T19:38:00.000-07:002011-11-02T19:38:09.969-07:00sunrise, sunsetThis evening, for the first time in what feels like forever, I had the strange experience of having nothing to do. I finished the little homework I had right when I got home from school, and I had nothing else going on all afternoon. <br />
<br />
I watched some TV, and then read for a couple of hours. It was great. <em>Free time</em>. I totally forgot that even existed. This first quarter of school has been hectic, to say the least. And so now, with a few moments to spare before I have to go to bed, I have remembered my poor neglected little blog. <br />
<br />
I have a lot of pictures I could post from the last month, and hopefully I will get a chance to post more soon, but for tonight I am just going to share a few shots from a beautiful Illinois sunrise and an amazing Tennessee sunset, taken on a perfect Friday a couple of weekends ago. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm08MY9xxFYvAy8xvtCAK7FlFzXASejbLH5eK9ZUf_u2oGowfOk7c9Gm-cFBDh3ZGN49uUEL5RFkbJ0yln3F8v5HuUM5smC6naoCSRnso7Yr_YiD4Rd0fqdprVcqyRT_QfAgFMh4ZuAk/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm08MY9xxFYvAy8xvtCAK7FlFzXASejbLH5eK9ZUf_u2oGowfOk7c9Gm-cFBDh3ZGN49uUEL5RFkbJ0yln3F8v5HuUM5smC6naoCSRnso7Yr_YiD4Rd0fqdprVcqyRT_QfAgFMh4ZuAk/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I absolutely *love* taking early morning car trips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVwZWrMkLV5Ojij1BqiFio90HZw3RMLbwed6_l7u7MbU62JOzC_rgVg_PWjZeeXo7UCllQD4jUKBgUkBxLdrIjlmb9cR38gLzcdWXC2SqQIfj8BZErMtID9lZ_Tikj6Bn67E2VC46Y4Y/s1600/DSC_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVwZWrMkLV5Ojij1BqiFio90HZw3RMLbwed6_l7u7MbU62JOzC_rgVg_PWjZeeXo7UCllQD4jUKBgUkBxLdrIjlmb9cR38gLzcdWXC2SqQIfj8BZErMtID9lZ_Tikj6Bn67E2VC46Y4Y/s1600/DSC_0140.jpg" /></a></div> I adore watching the sky light up more and more, and the world slowly shifting from black to grey to cool pastels, until finally the sun comes up and everything becomes a blaze of color. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FSPjbEhgmr4hb3PbVtPxGwY_YDuS6HEV8SsQGCDM0SAebc24z34Wn0UU1P3gZyi81J4wgH5tGimbErtvrAad2ysBzWRVylJ0c6ApeQn1gaMJw4M8GsPCHzBIggwJmqQiM2iM1KM7ik8/s1600/DSC_0183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FSPjbEhgmr4hb3PbVtPxGwY_YDuS6HEV8SsQGCDM0SAebc24z34Wn0UU1P3gZyi81J4wgH5tGimbErtvrAad2ysBzWRVylJ0c6ApeQn1gaMJw4M8GsPCHzBIggwJmqQiM2iM1KM7ik8/s1600/DSC_0183.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And then there was the sunset. This was totally my lucky day, I got to see a sunrise spreading over absolutely flat Illinois and then a sunset sinking under the mountains of Tennessee. It was great. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GPxmrvk6zi31M1qzoZQ0mwDEOi9y1gJN6XPaVlnWUVzWQ15BpNw6dvrIGxsxu214NVw8w-mZdPngC4c0FHDjDSkK-RysJN4VJf_bQjn2CqzEo3lKZcf3u-bYxoPGC53rVs-JIb7OJNs/s1600/DSC_0326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GPxmrvk6zi31M1qzoZQ0mwDEOi9y1gJN6XPaVlnWUVzWQ15BpNw6dvrIGxsxu214NVw8w-mZdPngC4c0FHDjDSkK-RysJN4VJf_bQjn2CqzEo3lKZcf3u-bYxoPGC53rVs-JIb7OJNs/s1600/DSC_0326.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lEOKaMfXUcXsiOJUKa_k7GoPY1KvtPqk-2wgoAwOdaxhr1WCakcgeS-9d9opqyevB02mR0gqtJMkzCpIKzoeyNuAXxs0EZ0RkzSyUDK1YPuN4vDDFeIQNsxotLHR9xhQzlG9AKXhIEo/s1600/DSC_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lEOKaMfXUcXsiOJUKa_k7GoPY1KvtPqk-2wgoAwOdaxhr1WCakcgeS-9d9opqyevB02mR0gqtJMkzCpIKzoeyNuAXxs0EZ0RkzSyUDK1YPuN4vDDFeIQNsxotLHR9xhQzlG9AKXhIEo/s1600/DSC_0339.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciW4IFBhXf76sh_pr0mrXHbPTEk6VX9TgdpLftu1Nvye1vbN3UE8s3nGVoJLAcRf7GbN40ZFkjbt7bVSsGhAu5KGQl82yz1rNV1tljV8tl9OU9ChsrjikGcEdb9oiOxjSJ3MrKhgteoI/s1600/DSC_0349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciW4IFBhXf76sh_pr0mrXHbPTEk6VX9TgdpLftu1Nvye1vbN3UE8s3nGVoJLAcRf7GbN40ZFkjbt7bVSsGhAu5KGQl82yz1rNV1tljV8tl9OU9ChsrjikGcEdb9oiOxjSJ3MrKhgteoI/s1600/DSC_0349.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is something so captivating about the sun, especially in photography. For one thing, it pretty much turns out looking gorgeous no matter what you do. (Which is probably why I like taking pictures of it. Hmmm...). Anyway, Tennesse is beautiful and I hope to post more pictures soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great week! (It's half over!!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Stacey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-23578682374725907702011-09-24T21:19:00.000-07:002011-09-24T21:24:29.118-07:00back to summer: vacation<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hey, everyone. School and life in general are crazy busy, and I am really sorry that my posting continues to be so sporatic. This is the second part of a group of posts looking back on summer. (Because I did so little blogging when it actually... ahem... was summer.) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJRls-4QDLQ/Tn6nXRwuFtI/AAAAAAAAA3M/PBKWjFSQAzU/s1600/DSC_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJRls-4QDLQ/Tn6nXRwuFtI/AAAAAAAAA3M/PBKWjFSQAzU/s1600/DSC_0917.JPG" /></a></div><br />
It was nearing the end of summer break when we went on vacation. We first stayed in Branson, MO for a few days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHx3UzJRgZY/Tn6nV7kQnhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/alCAHz8gy8I/s1600/DSC_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHx3UzJRgZY/Tn6nV7kQnhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/alCAHz8gy8I/s1600/DSC_0932.JPG" /></a></div>Branson is an interesting town. It is by no stretch of the imagination peaceful or picturesque. It is, in fact, touristy to the extreme, and in many cases rather kitschy.<br />
 <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jokfdc73hQA/Tn6nPxCZ5GI/AAAAAAAAA2s/eUQ6bYPymio/s1600/collage+night+pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jokfdc73hQA/Tn6nPxCZ5GI/AAAAAAAAA2s/eUQ6bYPymio/s1600/collage+night+pics.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>...And it is a blast. We went to a couple of shows (which were very fun) and to Silver Dollar City (which was <em>awesome</em>), but we also had lots of fun just hanging around together. Playing cards, mini golfing, ordering pizza in, swimming in the hotel pool. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUgs_nAlkWg/Tn6nQ_pQ_-I/AAAAAAAAA2w/vNtCpS2Ybis/s1600/DSC_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUgs_nAlkWg/Tn6nQ_pQ_-I/AAAAAAAAA2w/vNtCpS2Ybis/s1600/DSC_0980.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are just so healthy. (Not pictured: the Oreos and Swiss Cake Rolls)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HU0pwWxZV5g/Tn6nSG5MMdI/AAAAAAAAA24/1P00u2sBuB4/s1600/DSC_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HU0pwWxZV5g/Tn6nSG5MMdI/AAAAAAAAA24/1P00u2sBuB4/s1600/DSC_0961.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Edbc9oMKCM/Tn6nRvSeAnI/AAAAAAAAA20/REAKckQjisA/s1600/DSC_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Edbc9oMKCM/Tn6nRvSeAnI/AAAAAAAAA20/REAKckQjisA/s1600/DSC_0962.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_dz3ZXBlGg/Tn6nS2DLToI/AAAAAAAAA28/GuNmJLTxdNM/s1600/DSC_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_dz3ZXBlGg/Tn6nS2DLToI/AAAAAAAAA28/GuNmJLTxdNM/s1600/DSC_0946.JPG" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiDoVYVPoQ/Tn6nT0lci8I/AAAAAAAAA3A/e9nQj35UcQg/s1600/DSC_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiDoVYVPoQ/Tn6nT0lci8I/AAAAAAAAA3A/e9nQj35UcQg/s1600/DSC_0943.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am running short on words this late at night, but pictures say what words can't. The trip was fun. It was very fun. I hope to post more pictures from the second part soon.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh, and if you ever go to Branson, <a href="http://www.yakov.com/branson/">Yakov Smirnoff</a> comes highly recommended. :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Happy Saturday!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">-Stacey</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-76798890771198041292011-09-06T18:39:00.000-07:002011-09-06T18:39:22.110-07:00back to summer: water and lightHello, everyone! In case you didn't catch the last post, this is going to be the first of (probably) a series of posts looking back on the summer through photography.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2it6unqW-A/Tma-sqduWkI/AAAAAAAAA2o/eGGi6YsQTME/s1600/16224420789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2it6unqW-A/Tma-sqduWkI/AAAAAAAAA2o/eGGi6YsQTME/s640/16224420789.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">About a month ago, my mom took my sisters and I to a place called Citygarden, a public water, art, and sculpture park downtown. (I posted pictures of it during the winter <a href="http://twistylens.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-is-home.html">here</a>.) Where those glowing balls are during the winter, there are lighted fountains during the summer. They are beautiful, both during the day and at night.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNfADyhcCY8/Tma-rYGeNmI/AAAAAAAAA2k/q5FRtA46_Gk/s1600/16224398569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNfADyhcCY8/Tma-rYGeNmI/AAAAAAAAA2k/q5FRtA46_Gk/s640/16224398569.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can imagine, it was an absolutely brilliant opportunity to capture the effects of water and lighting. I had a blast experimenting with different shutter speeds and light levels. The aspect of photography that I am the most interested in is capturing things that cannot be experienced by the human eye. This is one of the reasons that I have a slight obsession with macro photography, and also why I like freezing things in motion, such as water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ab6nFQTRE/Tma-lwRSi5I/AAAAAAAAA2g/YnWIrcgMEnk/s1600/16224371994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ab6nFQTRE/Tma-lwRSi5I/AAAAAAAAA2g/YnWIrcgMEnk/s640/16224371994.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ellen and Mary splashed around to their hearts' content, while I stood and snapped away. They were having the time of their lives, but I would be willing to say that I was having just as much, if not more, fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyTFa9QF774/Tma-fCgktpI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Z0QFhBxRn3Q/s1600/16224330149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyTFa9QF774/Tma-fCgktpI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Z0QFhBxRn3Q/s640/16224330149.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Mary was a little nervous at first, but eventually she warmed up to the whole idea. She was adorable. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJUmcOuFoI/Tma-dOWz1SI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3XvzQkWRl_U/s1600/16224228507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJUmcOuFoI/Tma-dOWz1SI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3XvzQkWRl_U/s640/16224228507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> And of course I had to lower my exposure and capture a few "fake" silhouettes, just for kicks. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fW4xs5vMjQ/Tma-bBQtL2I/AAAAAAAAA2U/3bQhQFCZB-8/s1600/16224133785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fW4xs5vMjQ/Tma-bBQtL2I/AAAAAAAAA2U/3bQhQFCZB-8/s640/16224133785.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> I didn't bring a tripod, so once it got darker my photos didn't turn out very well. But once it was dark these lights (which, by the way, changed color constantly) lit up the water. It was beautiful- sparkling and vibrantly colorful. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVCcX77uBQw/Tma-Z3ll_NI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/EB9wOHzuitA/s1600/16224087856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVCcX77uBQw/Tma-Z3ll_NI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/EB9wOHzuitA/s640/16224087856.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a beautiful day, and a great experience photographically. There are some cool things in this city.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unless anything important comes up to blog about, I will most likely be carrying on with these "back to summer" posts for a few days. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now off to <em>start</em> my homework! At almost 9 o'clock! I love my life. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am really glad to be getting back into the routine of blogging. It gives me something to think about and look forward to during the day. :) Adios, amigos.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love, Stacey</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-47792367695666107022011-09-05T20:27:00.000-07:002011-09-05T20:29:54.024-07:00Remember me?Well. It has certainly been a while. I haven't posted in almost two months. My summer was quite busy and our computer was going haywire and, well, it was just so incredibly oppresively hot outside that picture-taking was hard, and blogging just kind of went by the wayside.<br />
<br />
But with this sudden beautiful wave of fall weather, I'm back!<br />
<br />
I seriously considered giving up on blogging for a while. I have so much going on that dropping something out of my hectic schedule actually sounded rather nice... But this is what I love doing. Photography and writing. And when I think about some of the stupid things I spend time on in my evenings, I realize how much more worthwhile blogging is. <br />
<br />
Although I hardly blogged this summer, I didn't stop taking pictures. And so, now that school is getting into swing, and fall is just around the corner, I am going to launch a series of posts looking back on the summer. Hopefully by the time I finish with these, fall will be in full swing, with all of the wonderful photographic opportunities that it brings. <br />
<br />
And so that this post isn't entirely boring, I will leave you with some pictures I took on a photo shoot with my friend yesterday.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xq0a_t4nY7FTROkXcSMwlffUgw5O39OGJ0_3ZnrNibG_Cpj-MuM4QSmnK7PQIlrOU7kSJEpHxLNrOqa488xS8suPJ7Z_C5og8tdYwsj8Bb7J1W1XW4lrk_Ma_qKDp7w0HLD3IFdAai0/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xq0a_t4nY7FTROkXcSMwlffUgw5O39OGJ0_3ZnrNibG_Cpj-MuM4QSmnK7PQIlrOU7kSJEpHxLNrOqa488xS8suPJ7Z_C5og8tdYwsj8Bb7J1W1XW4lrk_Ma_qKDp7w0HLD3IFdAai0/s640/DSC_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCczdj-W39gUb8R-p0kBOzhUTOdQ7F-NScX9M42cvwYN45iRoXlbQw8Ijjwdft2wfyHkY9hePpUCg6d8yBDNCuLlQS814opLmWU3GLKysmMcP5iKNN0r8EECRQho__XKhBDzg7JBBEOA/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCczdj-W39gUb8R-p0kBOzhUTOdQ7F-NScX9M42cvwYN45iRoXlbQw8Ijjwdft2wfyHkY9hePpUCg6d8yBDNCuLlQS814opLmWU3GLKysmMcP5iKNN0r8EECRQho__XKhBDzg7JBBEOA/s640/DSC_0231.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My enthusiasm about returning to blogging is evidenced by how overboard I went on the editing of this picture. At least I had fun with it :). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vUrTTuVGFcI0Tet_x7wMqsr40JVRCNjCnewsTLglMV0MJ1iJUBxGcpOe_kNV0qrtobXnSg0OXyY-guZljV7oNHhcX8rsDWEZiLpm8wZYt_5KHo_LjIPUUE36dpxZ9QtXnRBeT0uYJhg/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vUrTTuVGFcI0Tet_x7wMqsr40JVRCNjCnewsTLglMV0MJ1iJUBxGcpOe_kNV0qrtobXnSg0OXyY-guZljV7oNHhcX8rsDWEZiLpm8wZYt_5KHo_LjIPUUE36dpxZ9QtXnRBeT0uYJhg/s640/DSC_0221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nature closeups have got to be my favorite type of photography. Swoon. If anyone happened to want to buy me a macro lens, you would forever be my hero. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwja7BLOcXKhU4JNOOvpDObQnVe23o6jqov92Xl8OWaCPeK_eCNLl0MuPjch_OjvZ1Voo37yHXbCrVAhIT2prS1R1Ph8q0d5mgJRlckuFUbl3lQjiuOKb8TTK2Z8qz9a1qZd9Ds0u72fQ/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwja7BLOcXKhU4JNOOvpDObQnVe23o6jqov92Xl8OWaCPeK_eCNLl0MuPjch_OjvZ1Voo37yHXbCrVAhIT2prS1R1Ph8q0d5mgJRlckuFUbl3lQjiuOKb8TTK2Z8qz9a1qZd9Ds0u72fQ/s640/DSC_0238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Well, I am absolutely thrilled to be back, and am looking forward to the things I am getting ready for in the future. I missed you all so much!<br />
<br />
StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-10548025500153103962011-07-04T21:17:00.000-07:002011-07-04T21:17:21.144-07:00untitled [i am NOT going to quote a certain katy perry song here!]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love fireworks. I don't think I need to describe why this is, as you've probably seen them before... but they are breathtaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm56BfyqLWPWdv1hR1fxNhbvp0-oPJCnhYwjF05Lp8aExFJ7C5CSfY5f69MOIB9YdXsWItMvMECN__FNwdXMTZ-V4LKDTu4jM_eu3wRQ8Y8Wn0JZiqIGIKjs7Nc89WmJ4LF33BwN2uF4/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm56BfyqLWPWdv1hR1fxNhbvp0-oPJCnhYwjF05Lp8aExFJ7C5CSfY5f69MOIB9YdXsWItMvMECN__FNwdXMTZ-V4LKDTu4jM_eu3wRQ8Y8Wn0JZiqIGIKjs7Nc89WmJ4LF33BwN2uF4/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCJz4QcvGcqo8fwPQQXca7yK6-kRUkCreUbjAr0YfSAs4jtSWfZlrJT1sQ_wwIXob72grVIkXqSuaJrcXlFsb8AgosDiPhYCnb83CoyMSu7CXHpSZK0VlwkCpdYWVTWOpUDO_wz861co/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCJz4QcvGcqo8fwPQQXca7yK6-kRUkCreUbjAr0YfSAs4jtSWfZlrJT1sQ_wwIXob72grVIkXqSuaJrcXlFsb8AgosDiPhYCnb83CoyMSu7CXHpSZK0VlwkCpdYWVTWOpUDO_wz861co/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I wonder how the tradition of fireworks on Independence Day started... I'll have to look that up.<br />
I hope everyone had a wonderful day and had an opportunity to see some gorgeous fireworks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzlhMTuP0-qYheyVN2moxnM3_inuqmyiKKRf9wDH4QLumFtUmV5q55nZG9vONWdiOGL21dsGEcgtrpo-PPa9B7pxWbuGTURHWoqmHL3NTgMw14ppmOzyw9YlVEtD-SNRKYuxwWuGP1dg/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzlhMTuP0-qYheyVN2moxnM3_inuqmyiKKRf9wDH4QLumFtUmV5q55nZG9vONWdiOGL21dsGEcgtrpo-PPa9B7pxWbuGTURHWoqmHL3NTgMw14ppmOzyw9YlVEtD-SNRKYuxwWuGP1dg/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" /></a></div><br />
So, our fourth of July was pretty fun. We also went to a parade this morning, but I only took pictures of that on the iPod, and there isn't time to add them now... It poured down rain (per usual) for the first 10 minutes or so, but after that it was great.<br />
Also, my sisters are adorable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeBMGlifwcd0Br8hFk3do8ejlQx5HvSr0fCMzptwFk3XZqGnIyPyQdx0j8_mZ6XNRD2cIpmb4a9Yxgrvy2CyGq0paXv92KpICvnfSsmUe1hz3gjnOa_CLp5I1cCbuGcxzMlglft_YEpY/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeBMGlifwcd0Br8hFk3do8ejlQx5HvSr0fCMzptwFk3XZqGnIyPyQdx0j8_mZ6XNRD2cIpmb4a9Yxgrvy2CyGq0paXv92KpICvnfSsmUe1hz3gjnOa_CLp5I1cCbuGcxzMlglft_YEpY/s1600/collage.jpg" /></a></div>And no, Ellen's tongue is not naturally that color.<br />
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Happy Fourth of July!<br />
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♥, StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-14317125096859571952011-06-28T22:23:00.000-07:002011-06-28T22:23:49.904-07:00camping: a love story?In the last two weeks I have been camping twice. "Camping?", you may gasp in horror, "You mean the thing with the tents and the bugs and the dirt and no cell phone reception?".<br />
<br />
Yep. Exactly. But although those parts of camping aren't exactly the highlights (especially the bugs), there is something about camping that I just love. These were the first camping trips I have been on with a DSLR in my possession. And something about my lovely little Nikon somehow makes everything seem more special- every scene more beautiful, every second more meaningful.<br />
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From the smallest bug on a mossy rock to the most expansive sunrise over a sweeping valley: each moment is priceless, delicate, perfect. With my camera in my hand, a profound sense of calm steals over me. Something about capturing that beauty, that fading perfection, while it sill lasts, is incredible, and makes everything seem so much more real, alive, vivid.<br />
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We pulled into our campsite in the late morning. It was beautiful, green and secluded. There were literally no other campers in sight. The trees opened up in the front to reveal a pasture dotted with horses and cows, framed by tall hills; in the back, to the sparkling, crystal clear creek.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKorOs0rbrpYVFKetPqCwPANehylrYzwPXH8t-BV2qinXxY-jqjvW-PDelXFjdBwOqCbp_MH96dn0XLPNTGMupzt_ORmmcXOjBVa5rkE4EsRCkVXzho6f2tLDv0Eltr8CRiAbShyj9NA/s1600/DSC_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKorOs0rbrpYVFKetPqCwPANehylrYzwPXH8t-BV2qinXxY-jqjvW-PDelXFjdBwOqCbp_MH96dn0XLPNTGMupzt_ORmmcXOjBVa5rkE4EsRCkVXzho6f2tLDv0Eltr8CRiAbShyj9NA/s1600/DSC_0574.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Almost the first thing I did after getting settled in at the campsite was to wade out into the cold, glimmering water (it was about 1 in the afternoon), put my lens almost to the surface, and snap away. The water had an enchanting gold tint from the rocks on the bottom, and sparkled with rainbows from the high sun. <br />
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As I've said before, close-ups are my passion. This is not limited to flowers and grass; I also like capturing the subtle details of living things. This colorful crayfish asked me to take its picture on my blog, so I complied. You're welcome, buddy.<br />
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The first morning of camping I woke up to the sound of birds chirping softly, and the sight of soft light filtering dimly through the mesh of the tent. I rolled over, feeling instantly awake, and saw that it was 6 AM. 15 minutes later, adorned in neon orange flip flops, worn-out sweatpants, a bright yellow T-shirt, and a blue knit sweater, I headed out in the frigid morning air, across the cold dewy grass, camera around my neck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIuL_rx4G-Ia7gjUBZHemLK7VHr6MKvJUPYKeU_Dw3HOgbU1YDXNvybFZdvOoVHxIjtG37qBhP5AWOmpERxPKa49siFXm5h-kHGsi3msl-5hQSw6QBUWbW0u-XLkC0xjaqZxoWLJbknk/s1600/DSC_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIuL_rx4G-Ia7gjUBZHemLK7VHr6MKvJUPYKeU_Dw3HOgbU1YDXNvybFZdvOoVHxIjtG37qBhP5AWOmpERxPKa49siFXm5h-kHGsi3msl-5hQSw6QBUWbW0u-XLkC0xjaqZxoWLJbknk/s1600/DSC_0769.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Soft light rose from behind the hills, and fell dreamily over the frosty pasture where the horses and cows were already grazing. <br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn6jGe24Og7xeVQfCZGKdECyGkXEfFVj9vYVkcqxeiLqHR2w908JCyEn66yA3QuMEQp3XvQVW4UKSA9mk5VZB_t59AlRbbNcvSPmdTa6vV841eyUQrqLZG2EZhlC7KWU5-wCxJ0mfDWc/s1600/DSC_0765-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn6jGe24Og7xeVQfCZGKdECyGkXEfFVj9vYVkcqxeiLqHR2w908JCyEn66yA3QuMEQp3XvQVW4UKSA9mk5VZB_t59AlRbbNcvSPmdTa6vV841eyUQrqLZG2EZhlC7KWU5-wCxJ0mfDWc/s1600/DSC_0765-1.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I watched, the sun broke over the hills, transforming the scene from tranquil to majestic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSGRNnfH80UXeRGkETavJ7SBcCsuB1nQE-5fwc1DlzYqECSkBoUUIy3Fg-OT38a1OCpO8-vpID6qmxzkGF7CuOqxKmY8yS4pkGse5O4M7AvgIULBzVtsdDBF4l9IqNbOW0nMjJuEFBnQ/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg009TtOMH_XW_u9He7Y6Dt5i2dJMLdalumsrpdreoiTseJQ1j-cWEgJ5HBSVvi11N0U3VcfE3UaqI9rTGtVyhV3GoigUc-JsHmuIJo0p09l6T-bHYcbVFhjp_j2eVJlDGOr_RpMxTyCE0/s1600/DSC_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg009TtOMH_XW_u9He7Y6Dt5i2dJMLdalumsrpdreoiTseJQ1j-cWEgJ5HBSVvi11N0U3VcfE3UaqI9rTGtVyhV3GoigUc-JsHmuIJo0p09l6T-bHYcbVFhjp_j2eVJlDGOr_RpMxTyCE0/s1600/DSC_0816.JPG" /></a></div> The beads of dew on the plants were hit by beams of light, illuminating them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fGa8yUr4_JlQOamOI0_xB_jnCpPbHoAoXiivsvvKFrDxlBk1dBQKn9l3NcHSHDSNmU-iCTfyviqpoky-rzKi9K_kez6YtWDvVGeefa3q1tUO8QzRy1WTDI4Egda190knIAnv_0MAz4A/s1600/DSC_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fGa8yUr4_JlQOamOI0_xB_jnCpPbHoAoXiivsvvKFrDxlBk1dBQKn9l3NcHSHDSNmU-iCTfyviqpoky-rzKi9K_kez6YtWDvVGeefa3q1tUO8QzRy1WTDI4Egda190knIAnv_0MAz4A/s1600/DSC_0846.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Later that day we visited a graveyard from the civil war era. It was worth the frighteningly steep uphill climb to see the old graves. They intrigued me- under each one lay what had once been a person, with a life and a story that I knew nothing about, but just as real as mine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeScCGoj4OgbdshggkcGykaeERN5P013_swmaFZZJlffvpEStyFkz3lTQAMJw8tPBv0TZ9z83-UtulRf1NtFtxMRVlcXoCn4E1E95Ey5LrNQeH05jlB7qE0CDytrw3rqNuLNUJfspg8v4/s1600/DSC_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeScCGoj4OgbdshggkcGykaeERN5P013_swmaFZZJlffvpEStyFkz3lTQAMJw8tPBv0TZ9z83-UtulRf1NtFtxMRVlcXoCn4E1E95Ey5LrNQeH05jlB7qE0CDytrw3rqNuLNUJfspg8v4/s1600/DSC_0949.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Remember friends as you pass by / As you are now, so once was I ./ As I am now, soon you may be;/Prepare for death and follow me." On the grave of Mary A. Carr, who died September 8, 1876. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Also, I spotted this little guy on a rock, framed perfectly against the green trees behind him. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUB-TqDoPhpVebNTZQgVohUp5BAv8x9IXru5UyxR8POKXleFN8FmZK49aHYJAeuO98FddmUmom0EJ7Dy5fjWfvLzPehqT1fV3FQGh27gtJaf4Zhj-RvFRldQVrHKU6sxZ3QZMCD9KenA/s1600/DSC_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUB-TqDoPhpVebNTZQgVohUp5BAv8x9IXru5UyxR8POKXleFN8FmZK49aHYJAeuO98FddmUmom0EJ7Dy5fjWfvLzPehqT1fV3FQGh27gtJaf4Zhj-RvFRldQVrHKU6sxZ3QZMCD9KenA/s1600/DSC_0948.JPG" /></a></div><br />
One of the highlights of this camping trip was catching these little tadpoles, keeping them in a bucket, and then letting them go. We probably caught each tadpole in that creek at least twice before we left. They were adorable little guys. <br />
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And then, last week, I went on yet another camping trip with a group of girls. All three of these following pictures were taken by my friend <a href="http://ninjaseatoranges.blogspot.com/">Grace</a>. <br />
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I love this water picture, especially seeing the difference between its subtle, reflective lighting in the evening and the intense, rainbow lighting of the creek in the pictures I shared above, taken closer to noon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGzSAOY31AcQ4Pp4d5SMCcXs9uzJUKIqIW8oonLT_drHg9Zy1Pf9VFXw745Y9YztPAwlCVJNo0tOuicIPowLzVblSRMX0333jjJ1Pe2F-rTH9MfHClPowLTEjfMiHrFweP1lZ444fR7I/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGzSAOY31AcQ4Pp4d5SMCcXs9uzJUKIqIW8oonLT_drHg9Zy1Pf9VFXw745Y9YztPAwlCVJNo0tOuicIPowLzVblSRMX0333jjJ1Pe2F-rTH9MfHClPowLTEjfMiHrFweP1lZ444fR7I/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" /></a></div> <br />
This is a great picture too. Almost SOOC, with just a tad of brightening and contrast. Grace is getting her own DSLR soon, and I am really excited to see her pictures. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSqwu-12YKlLYZ_1zv6NaRaoXjsWj_QIJI04hkhphUT8vp9zct-kEU6pgAgymHDK9hbtWPy42ySx1GFtpPU1ZwXbmfsab6l8LNcMozqlNjjDvTSekyPfOS0u1v3rDSblDBTt_pA9s8Ro/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSqwu-12YKlLYZ_1zv6NaRaoXjsWj_QIJI04hkhphUT8vp9zct-kEU6pgAgymHDK9hbtWPy42ySx1GFtpPU1ZwXbmfsab6l8LNcMozqlNjjDvTSekyPfOS0u1v3rDSblDBTt_pA9s8Ro/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXwyhktyXp1HwBAUsDzZU8xXE-GImn8KjIdZvAB2_PqfoJG-CkEdILBNpYAYin3_bba2yoVow4BBKUDLW_cGDDGsCGbD-xQc7cHidnsLgEoTuWjBsuL-N11zFwlnf2kbl6K2wsOM5Qd0/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXwyhktyXp1HwBAUsDzZU8xXE-GImn8KjIdZvAB2_PqfoJG-CkEdILBNpYAYin3_bba2yoVow4BBKUDLW_cGDDGsCGbD-xQc7cHidnsLgEoTuWjBsuL-N11zFwlnf2kbl6K2wsOM5Qd0/s640/DSC_0101.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br />
So, although camping has downsides... mostly having to do with bugs and bathrooms... there are many, many upsides; and undeniable beauty, just as there is anytime you go outside. Camping gives me a feeling of being immersed in natural beauty, and some of life's frivolities start to seem just that, frivolous. <br />
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So, although I may deny it some other time, I really do love camping.<br />
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There, I said it. :)<br />
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Have you ever been camping? If so, do you enjoy it? <br />
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If you made it through that entire post, I congratulate you, stalwart reader.<br />
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Goodbye, and goodnight.<br />
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♥ StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-79967222149540007092011-06-27T11:57:00.000-07:002011-06-28T06:02:53.328-07:00all the secrets of all the oceansHi! Remember me? Yeah, it's been a while. My summer has been busy, but fun. I have been camping twice in the past two weeks. I'll post pictures soon, I hope. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But this morning I noticed my camera sitting forlornly on the bench where I had set it when I returned from the camping trip a few days back. It has been raining a lot here, and the outdoors is lush and green, clustered with small shimmering drops of water, with large mirror-like pools dotting the ground. And so I slipped on a pair of flip flops, and stepped outside, still in the mismatched red paint-splotched gym shorts and bright blue tank top I had slept in. Luckily none of my neighbors felt the urge for a nice backyard stroll at that moment. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBy1flegRu50PP3iMo3UuMg_EM-iXTFewK9GGdSxHSnk_sDP2SRM02n0qArbhpqiuEJHX1AniR7Oo3J4nj43ZPuNX7ygfzrVo_dPth_qipvMoMlvvMWIU_ROXpdkKzDPzZWc5idn2fc/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBy1flegRu50PP3iMo3UuMg_EM-iXTFewK9GGdSxHSnk_sDP2SRM02n0qArbhpqiuEJHX1AniR7Oo3J4nj43ZPuNX7ygfzrVo_dPth_qipvMoMlvvMWIU_ROXpdkKzDPzZWc5idn2fc/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yesterday we got a new green adirondack chair for our back deck. This morning it was covered with small jewels of water from the rain- they pooled together on top of the arms and seat, clung to the sides, and drooped precariously from the bottom. It made for some really interesting, colorful shots. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5kvW9qG_jL_zwQRD5agn-lCUjHHyLLljeHMoAUXRH8bBbV0zse2xzZLtbvtwf-AANHfjVqg9kKpE5jcHP0Y2Tphcnab6dH7y38tewfqWfDcbH3XWDBtORtiyXPGDTLQWa-2RCjaTeeI/s1600/BLACknWHITE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5kvW9qG_jL_zwQRD5agn-lCUjHHyLLljeHMoAUXRH8bBbV0zse2xzZLtbvtwf-AANHfjVqg9kKpE5jcHP0Y2Tphcnab6dH7y38tewfqWfDcbH3XWDBtORtiyXPGDTLQWa-2RCjaTeeI/s1600/BLACknWHITE.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think that I love shooting close-ups more than any other kind of shot. It's like looking into another world- a tiny, delicate world that we usually don't even see. Unfortunately, I don't yet have a macro lens. However, I got some macro filters for Christmas, and I love experimenting with them. They have a quite unique look- their focal area is very, very small, especially in the 10x filter (the biggest magnification, and pretty much the only one I use). It gives the picture an interesting "through-a-lens" look that I kind of like. This morning I experimented with my breakfast cereal. The good part was that I got some shots that I like. The bad part was that my cereal got kind of soggy. </div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The days are flying by so fast. I'm going to try to post more, but we'll see what happens. Wish me luck! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">-Stacey</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-13299730880204905382011-06-06T14:32:00.000-07:002011-06-06T14:32:48.790-07:00glimpses of summer<i>Summer</i>. When I think of the word, I imagine 3 months of total relaxation and carelessness. Lying on a couch watching hours of The Office and Doctor Who, sucking on a frozen piece of cheesecake, or 2, or 3. Sitting on a back porch, sipping a cool glass of lemonade. Going to the Muny. Sleeping in until 3 in the afternoon. Eating ice cream. Playing frisbee.<br />
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This has always been my experience with summer. It's been a few months with nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one expecting much of me. But as I get older, that is seeming to become less and less of the case. There are these new funny things popping up and interrupting my usual absolute laziness. Unpleasant things like <i>Alarm clocks.</i> <i>Work. Exercising. Chores. </i><br />
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There has never before been a summer that I've been so busy. Today I picked up my camera for the first time in over a week. And as for my goal of blogging every day this summer? Ha. Funny joke.<br />
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But although it's been busy, and tiring, and I have trouble recalling most of the last few weeks due, probably, to sleep deprivation, it's still been summer. And it's still been beautiful. And in those rare moments when I've had time to pull out my camera and snap a few pictures.... well, the pictures speak for themselves. And they say "summer".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother and I went to Cold Stone today and bought the biggest sized carton that they sell (Everybody's) of Sweet Creem ice cream. Every time I've ever been to Cold Stone before (and that is A LOT), I've always gotten Cake Batter with chocolate shavings. I've never tried getting another flavor. Oh my goodness... cake batter is delicious, but I had no idea what I was missing out on. I almost cry every time I take a bite of this ice cream. In fact, I'm tearing up just writing this. (Just kidding. Maybe.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JoAcj6iv10MFj-A8kyAJhJAX1BSnJEEmdWZeBsPK6k5q27gKt8VDeLeW-UDbNRkDOlbZst01dihctSbQmlZdubkEQ_xN31iu4MMbdtvTY7x0Ra9Yru_KYlWX6Jj8Ac-hxQPyQIdyAA4/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JoAcj6iv10MFj-A8kyAJhJAX1BSnJEEmdWZeBsPK6k5q27gKt8VDeLeW-UDbNRkDOlbZst01dihctSbQmlZdubkEQ_xN31iu4MMbdtvTY7x0Ra9Yru_KYlWX6Jj8Ac-hxQPyQIdyAA4/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a fairly long hike on a hot day with my friends, I was hungry and didn't want to make the last little trek up to these bluffs. But, despite the mosquitos that assailed us when we got up there, this view was absolutely worth it. It was one of those moments where I wished my camera had a panorama setting, so I could have captured the whole thing. It was breathtaking. (And so green!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEint_OoQQ-fw8fjyuBjdxaFPBldxEgz3ldPTm_Bsc0xzXqytx-76KqfDUnAd-nTqwHrimRuLIyIiCePzO5I9KAV7DDPtrtYQVyjRrlHHMszLUzu8ZmDmzuOfMya2lGpvSggZQZgmeka-QE/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEint_OoQQ-fw8fjyuBjdxaFPBldxEgz3ldPTm_Bsc0xzXqytx-76KqfDUnAd-nTqwHrimRuLIyIiCePzO5I9KAV7DDPtrtYQVyjRrlHHMszLUzu8ZmDmzuOfMya2lGpvSggZQZgmeka-QE/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I really hope this isn't a Japanese swear word or anything...)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWbKwinCaAywYwt-WZ05YlsCGDF_txMC05H87wG6fCnrwObS1dnlxdQSPhEqfVFO78l4wDzLONMEVc3ME_Aix6It0rrn3b7gO1dw4jwu9XbU24L6dxah6_l1DnhMehSD7AFukFD5B9cA/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWbKwinCaAywYwt-WZ05YlsCGDF_txMC05H87wG6fCnrwObS1dnlxdQSPhEqfVFO78l4wDzLONMEVc3ME_Aix6It0rrn3b7gO1dw4jwu9XbU24L6dxah6_l1DnhMehSD7AFukFD5B9cA/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn0ZnNcRhm_NO5aiCWVb4bOops7t0Y0v5FRgXGIjcfbk7pzLd4mO2Nx4rExk3BadcNXZN0b8X0UmzbJiSPnaLK_8nRADkAi7RrIyJP9N_dd_dJ_XZCN32K4a74JjNvDYMcmM43nntzg0/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn0ZnNcRhm_NO5aiCWVb4bOops7t0Y0v5FRgXGIjcfbk7pzLd4mO2Nx4rExk3BadcNXZN0b8X0UmzbJiSPnaLK_8nRADkAi7RrIyJP9N_dd_dJ_XZCN32K4a74JjNvDYMcmM43nntzg0/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsHhNtOMN2JS1-vZ0OTujms4UoqZHTMszdnoRCw878mIk8xrpEc6HMoCAwdAQJ-i076859-yjrdcwzh1ArAOerbJv8DzmT-TJK16f1BoBt2K94ShE8k-lhzcfzgeQNafUM2NLWE64Gm4/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsHhNtOMN2JS1-vZ0OTujms4UoqZHTMszdnoRCw878mIk8xrpEc6HMoCAwdAQJ-i076859-yjrdcwzh1ArAOerbJv8DzmT-TJK16f1BoBt2K94ShE8k-lhzcfzgeQNafUM2NLWE64Gm4/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another day, another farm. This one belonged to a pastor friend of my dad's and his family. They had a few sheep and chickens, and a beagle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-iUzou1_6chZA_sC0UFj-XNS9PScATXuGAxMJTgIjYhcpdUtgiFrUxfad9DtXJ8ttCpSxlmitsKxiLRxXaaQlTlVdEyYWNdLZgUJc5zuekdwIUumBjZHPqI-DC9EvkpLrRj0N-XTejM/s1600/DSC_0632.JPG" /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKKRapprsiu6q0NyoEofGCeCBR2N8bDB0_74iIXB6msODlM1Va-NTaOb3hd6iP9QP_FxdD-oKgt-zu_zHZ3wba8d4xbDGSVwoZTCeJLu6GA5vOuvhTrqwNmEzo_Yx-kaFkexHnXKdi3w/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKKRapprsiu6q0NyoEofGCeCBR2N8bDB0_74iIXB6msODlM1Va-NTaOb3hd6iP9QP_FxdD-oKgt-zu_zHZ3wba8d4xbDGSVwoZTCeJLu6GA5vOuvhTrqwNmEzo_Yx-kaFkexHnXKdi3w/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark chocolate bokeh. Is dark chocolate a "summery" food? Please. Dark chocolate is the food summer, fall, winter, <em>and</em> spring. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR6_XZRWX5vAOJYulfMYSyTGv19dUN-aZ2WaZ1xkCnc8so6yePxGdLtJN450Siyt9ysmHAWEZ_eA-wAgtWL0tkU8LQhywXKBqotpiyyAYp35pXMxrfF1OF7i3QtKTa-02IC8lDxNVzx8/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR6_XZRWX5vAOJYulfMYSyTGv19dUN-aZ2WaZ1xkCnc8so6yePxGdLtJN450Siyt9ysmHAWEZ_eA-wAgtWL0tkU8LQhywXKBqotpiyyAYp35pXMxrfF1OF7i3QtKTa-02IC8lDxNVzx8/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QgqBoDV57gX36s0XNzSRxHmDyS6ThyphenhyphenZNG-UhnsNYW2xuS2hqIIaJky-n91i25EUblJAkukDnc8pPNe0k6Eh4CMjsREIXezqw5lhDdJ-XvZr1-HS-mAEKjFUJoOrQZlnDDwn8C9qryS4/s1600/DSC_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QgqBoDV57gX36s0XNzSRxHmDyS6ThyphenhyphenZNG-UhnsNYW2xuS2hqIIaJky-n91i25EUblJAkukDnc8pPNe0k6Eh4CMjsREIXezqw5lhDdJ-XvZr1-HS-mAEKjFUJoOrQZlnDDwn8C9qryS4/s1600/DSC_0717.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Anna took this picture. Love!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">How is your summer going?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">-Stacey</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-58504330141771562612011-05-26T14:04:00.000-07:002011-05-26T14:04:01.295-07:00here's a llama, there's a llama.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few weeks ago, my little sister went on a Kindergarten field trip to a llama and alpaca farm near our house. Today, my mom took my siblings and I back there for their "Shearing Day." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkvGGUeWVvVPnKE1h10KbKSW-JbfWQm7H26TvW2Pv16prZ2sK3TZGen7DgbkR-3PN-v4vxcC-LmRZWSGSYsRbFHLZsQvBJ0kO_hjASZtL2Caq0geC0Z7QnhtihMCWqwFLCWtNphZkbhM/s1600/DSC_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkvGGUeWVvVPnKE1h10KbKSW-JbfWQm7H26TvW2Pv16prZ2sK3TZGen7DgbkR-3PN-v4vxcC-LmRZWSGSYsRbFHLZsQvBJ0kO_hjASZtL2Caq0geC0Z7QnhtihMCWqwFLCWtNphZkbhM/s1600/DSC_0730.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a really cold, rainy day, especially for late May. I was freezing even in my sweater and jeans. But it was really fun nonetheless.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIvSeUZ4jMScUY-h3A7D_OhefhnfNb2LabzsaKZsMd9hAHOKCPOzLeNRAy4-jO2oRper_O1nZmMnDoFE6W3CNiQR9H0XNPcp3SntdW3C2Jjw07ZSl95yaSIjEIZKIIcHaNvv8t76E0N4/s1600/DSC_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIvSeUZ4jMScUY-h3A7D_OhefhnfNb2LabzsaKZsMd9hAHOKCPOzLeNRAy4-jO2oRper_O1nZmMnDoFE6W3CNiQR9H0XNPcp3SntdW3C2Jjw07ZSl95yaSIjEIZKIIcHaNvv8t76E0N4/s1600/DSC_1158.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the rain on my lens. I'm such a horrible camera owner. I even had a clear filter in my camera bag...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkvGGUeWVvVPnKE1h10KbKSW-JbfWQm7H26TvW2Pv16prZ2sK3TZGen7DgbkR-3PN-v4vxcC-LmRZWSGSYsRbFHLZsQvBJ0kO_hjASZtL2Caq0geC0Z7QnhtihMCWqwFLCWtNphZkbhM/s1600/DSC_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD8zTuPfRSpSJ4wOCaMb5IrRQkSK_5VYHQu2A9QytLkKVeGfmL5xKo9aEHT9U31CiplkwhLO6kDk2NCGcLDSyqSUrAZKRPsyle4LLftz4C8wWXQxKM-8mDvP5atEkIdpL411aGT6S8MU/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD8zTuPfRSpSJ4wOCaMb5IrRQkSK_5VYHQu2A9QytLkKVeGfmL5xKo9aEHT9U31CiplkwhLO6kDk2NCGcLDSyqSUrAZKRPsyle4LLftz4C8wWXQxKM-8mDvP5atEkIdpL411aGT6S8MU/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG" /></a></div> The barn was sort of dim for my camera, and I discovered for the first time the true beauty of Exposure Compensation. Also Shutter Priority mode. I started off in Manual (I've been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003">Understanding Exposure</a> by Bryan Peterson and I feel guilty every time I shoot in Auto now), but since I was going around snapping a bajillion photos of llamas, I soon switched off to SP. Which made me feel less guilty than Auto, but still helped me to get the shots I wanted, even in the dim light.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WOvSoemi0C1ok4_mmOfc58YwoQpW6tRUf7kedUoJLnIJwLniYX_Ur6gAcjb_u_1qCbkoENeweDqxopl2oZjiXyEiNFNw7mfoJeFmJh4bLYDYcxaKdPp6adMu0dCA8TsUqFzLsec0k40/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WOvSoemi0C1ok4_mmOfc58YwoQpW6tRUf7kedUoJLnIJwLniYX_Ur6gAcjb_u_1qCbkoENeweDqxopl2oZjiXyEiNFNw7mfoJeFmJh4bLYDYcxaKdPp6adMu0dCA8TsUqFzLsec0k40/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHq4JcgN46cfzjUzXgLi8Dyg-A0DJhL7jVw0QSpBlL7PmYsG-EUNA0knTbCgRq7R7sdNfbHtwvJVslVlfDP8UqwYbHLHKh-PmibVzTsjN1bHqTwq3ZS4a5IwjdtJM5UIRY-JBGIsjn0M/s1600/DSC_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHq4JcgN46cfzjUzXgLi8Dyg-A0DJhL7jVw0QSpBlL7PmYsG-EUNA0knTbCgRq7R7sdNfbHtwvJVslVlfDP8UqwYbHLHKh-PmibVzTsjN1bHqTwq3ZS4a5IwjdtJM5UIRY-JBGIsjn0M/s1600/DSC_0851.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary found a new friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohoee-GODEeHK5PItgFAPjVn_qAyCndR4UYbHwK07YIiGsmVoagjAplkmYbr7kDelT8aHRcRUSwhJGKQ6JTC6U8R7-n5BPrNvtFOIe-uLu-vcEZ1BirXmdtwSk6TdUzF0LlYGsCmHgYc/s1600/DSC_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohoee-GODEeHK5PItgFAPjVn_qAyCndR4UYbHwK07YIiGsmVoagjAplkmYbr7kDelT8aHRcRUSwhJGKQ6JTC6U8R7-n5BPrNvtFOIe-uLu-vcEZ1BirXmdtwSk6TdUzF0LlYGsCmHgYc/s1600/DSC_0863.JPG" /></a></div> The people who own the farm and the workers were all really nice. We even ate lunch at their house!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN37QDLyAJeyQLzyDUnLKnVnU3sygXxeO8kuSUycyJq2OMYPHRHAxIKQRU3BlDgPwVBF1UBy39VFEWKdSqjrrhF0uwXgOOlT_41AOpdIgTAP8M6GnqCyPinchwpqEYCsQa0DFURDjnOI/s1600/DSC_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN37QDLyAJeyQLzyDUnLKnVnU3sygXxeO8kuSUycyJq2OMYPHRHAxIKQRU3BlDgPwVBF1UBy39VFEWKdSqjrrhF0uwXgOOlT_41AOpdIgTAP8M6GnqCyPinchwpqEYCsQa0DFURDjnOI/s1600/DSC_0872.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHMODj-JabIv8vOUkOdE9UVJfGNmD2ywBLa1FSSo1hlNBoWGxgKvCoswEbnmsF9OIQGN4-FIx3XjqPceHO3l3-l389ALSIVWooAAUhe5uUrOe-Qxwf5bqpaIZTwwrQWa6zpeay4zrYIA/s1600/DSC_0969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHMODj-JabIv8vOUkOdE9UVJfGNmD2ywBLa1FSSo1hlNBoWGxgKvCoswEbnmsF9OIQGN4-FIx3XjqPceHO3l3-l389ALSIVWooAAUhe5uUrOe-Qxwf5bqpaIZTwwrQWa6zpeay4zrYIA/s1600/DSC_0969.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alpaca fur is the softest thing ever. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHj_Lv7DGv7Axz6BunUs6-M5HKAV02f4lWFax5MMs6QWs13ZR_Hzf6a-cOiqwMjuuFtNnSp48pwbquwJuA4gkvKOKyh8Sw2UaBqNWZPxBmi0Vv5ES7nEEsqepAiOrTfU3uIbFl8ytVh0/s1600/DSC_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHj_Lv7DGv7Axz6BunUs6-M5HKAV02f4lWFax5MMs6QWs13ZR_Hzf6a-cOiqwMjuuFtNnSp48pwbquwJuA4gkvKOKyh8Sw2UaBqNWZPxBmi0Vv5ES7nEEsqepAiOrTfU3uIbFl8ytVh0/s1600/DSC_0996.JPG" /></a></div> This lady has about 100 llamas and alpacas, and she knows them all by name. That takes talent.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAUnpUedbx0BPmX8mjV4n9dePI-FH-lM3mqXFBLtttsTejl8pUQRboS_ox5SR9OZNg8qwq3hAInCyRbgbF_H2BTxZnUBmSTqqfNruwNXh1jnb-2ca_gGEFAUj12uMuQRMi1DWW02auDE/s1600/DSC_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAUnpUedbx0BPmX8mjV4n9dePI-FH-lM3mqXFBLtttsTejl8pUQRboS_ox5SR9OZNg8qwq3hAInCyRbgbF_H2BTxZnUBmSTqqfNruwNXh1jnb-2ca_gGEFAUj12uMuQRMi1DWW02auDE/s1600/DSC_1006.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOxFb3-rrE92ZUL-WLT8tcLP4fD66p4Mti3liIvqNfwTODROqQDo21D52H5G-wD7i7yEPZl7bJDuRwvLiQig-7zUULLl659NFtvXuBo_24cqPSVogy4lSiZni3ZRj4n3iMfL74rGL-eU/s1600/DSC_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOxFb3-rrE92ZUL-WLT8tcLP4fD66p4Mti3liIvqNfwTODROqQDo21D52H5G-wD7i7yEPZl7bJDuRwvLiQig-7zUULLl659NFtvXuBo_24cqPSVogy4lSiZni3ZRj4n3iMfL74rGL-eU/s1600/DSC_1035.JPG" /></a></div> Aww :). This picture would have been sooo cute if my brother hadn't stuck his shoulder in there right then....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwFjDzWkymuNUQw9mx8xsgdBsgsmN8_4Ok4cD7_IMNQx4Du1AkOPXZ2QUjO6SIemeLdgRCHa6CuKPPDpUlSuUN4-9vOagMZnC8csf7JbR22HvLbd0O0o65DvcH-au1-fzxTjqIv9Uq8o/s1600/DSC_1074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwFjDzWkymuNUQw9mx8xsgdBsgsmN8_4Ok4cD7_IMNQx4Du1AkOPXZ2QUjO6SIemeLdgRCHa6CuKPPDpUlSuUN4-9vOagMZnC8csf7JbR22HvLbd0O0o65DvcH-au1-fzxTjqIv9Uq8o/s1600/DSC_1074.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aDf6MTznUkrMeStOLH742EAx69L1jBL6uFbah05gl_w73HFUeKgzqBIyym2FLBSdFGfi2cQDb02RBnPnJUvclciocbUgYnAABot3ojw_lN-zXKrJPCq6AQZqoeO3rgNtPiZM3UppPzE/s1600/DSC_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aDf6MTznUkrMeStOLH742EAx69L1jBL6uFbah05gl_w73HFUeKgzqBIyym2FLBSdFGfi2cQDb02RBnPnJUvclciocbUgYnAABot3ojw_lN-zXKrJPCq6AQZqoeO3rgNtPiZM3UppPzE/s1600/DSC_1101.JPG" /></a></div> I love how skinny the alpaca's necks were after they were shorn (sheared?).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV5efJQ39etso_bl-lLIM_OwfIpht7jk_56e7dGOrwsQL40MAqWI-rnGgozmlAiKb7n5mZJ_W3TsXMx7R0O8BeYoRa3HfUvZKlqQZ6V00cCQS_VetG4EE9kbYbHbbFVKhmjnAWKGkgu4/s1600/DSC_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV5efJQ39etso_bl-lLIM_OwfIpht7jk_56e7dGOrwsQL40MAqWI-rnGgozmlAiKb7n5mZJ_W3TsXMx7R0O8BeYoRa3HfUvZKlqQZ6V00cCQS_VetG4EE9kbYbHbbFVKhmjnAWKGkgu4/s1600/DSC_1138.JPG" /></a></div> About right here my camera battery died, and so I missed a bunch of great photo ops. It was killing me. I was literally jumping up and down in pain. And saying things like, "<i>Man, </i>I need my camera.", and "Oh my gosh, why did it have to run out of battery?", and "WHY didn't I charge it last night?." Over. and over. I probably annoyed the people in my general vicinity to no end.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_VW-FA9W5a5Ga-6cuYY2-SkwwCH3_KTSseNgRfcY669XuIEWUNrdVIJjLUJBoMnIIrrWYy1ndQ8-prIOqBcaPgt1VmYURnrDQbIaqGtTCrjazRf6qsZnsyISVrPtEaklY_lXP8IYc-E/s1600/DSC_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_VW-FA9W5a5Ga-6cuYY2-SkwwCH3_KTSseNgRfcY669XuIEWUNrdVIJjLUJBoMnIIrrWYy1ndQ8-prIOqBcaPgt1VmYURnrDQbIaqGtTCrjazRf6qsZnsyISVrPtEaklY_lXP8IYc-E/s1600/DSC_1149.JPG" /></a></div> I went on a walk around the farm with Ellen, and I just about died, I wanted to take pictures so badly. So eventually I went to the car, got out my camera, did the whole "shake the battery" trick, and managed to get a few more shots out of my camera.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaKHg717sxnHpb7EalnhojFKwQ4-2G-sLQj9sEFglj13907BoqNJiqce_snCJ-nzUauiouAIWyTdnu8XELFbLZYaeIFZgKXO-0jOOfYdE0KP65g07PIaBl7ho-iAXIMSDrZWlM1MPO_k/s1600/DSC_1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaKHg717sxnHpb7EalnhojFKwQ4-2G-sLQj9sEFglj13907BoqNJiqce_snCJ-nzUauiouAIWyTdnu8XELFbLZYaeIFZgKXO-0jOOfYdE0KP65g07PIaBl7ho-iAXIMSDrZWlM1MPO_k/s1600/DSC_1152.JPG" /></a></div> Oh yeah, and I also managed to hurl the battery into a mud puddle with all my force while I was trying to shake it. Hehe.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybpl58d7vXO6EhuA9MTw-g4cMEZyH11o1ia46Uu4nj_VcguqZ6QqkIjpvlSFXYjrgdZunZOcGdV6iXmnUCskaCIFAdi2HMfdwgtMd2HVeSGr73UQS9vDzg7C8Wabxt2M71JgKVYM3Aao/s1600/DSC_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybpl58d7vXO6EhuA9MTw-g4cMEZyH11o1ia46Uu4nj_VcguqZ6QqkIjpvlSFXYjrgdZunZOcGdV6iXmnUCskaCIFAdi2HMfdwgtMd2HVeSGr73UQS9vDzg7C8Wabxt2M71JgKVYM3Aao/s1600/DSC_1156.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I almost died when I saw this and didn't have my camera. Almost fell over dead. Right there in the gravel and mud. I'm so glad shaking the battery worked...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSlo7CVy_hbf1JPB299lzYmlDb7AXHxASVEx3D9rTdcDYpAniQ8h6C46fukdVXMHWXDGQ5B4TAtE-_Bw4iLz9P63Lpj-AC-QrZgXLOc0rwZ_Mjb8HVFNucqejE6GBb9ocPGs1pDiuN4E/s1600/DSC_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSlo7CVy_hbf1JPB299lzYmlDb7AXHxASVEx3D9rTdcDYpAniQ8h6C46fukdVXMHWXDGQ5B4TAtE-_Bw4iLz9P63Lpj-AC-QrZgXLOc0rwZ_Mjb8HVFNucqejE6GBb9ocPGs1pDiuN4E/s1600/DSC_1157.JPG" /></a></div> But the most important thing that happened today: I decided once and for all that<i> </i>I am going to marry a cowboy. :) And live on a farm. I've always sort of thought of myself as a city kid, and I do adore the city (and don't really know for sure if I could survive too far away from it) but I did spend a lot of my childhood living in the country, and I've got a little bit of country girl living somewhere inside me.<br />
<br />
Oh, and there's bonus points if this cowboy happens to be Australian.<br />
<br />
Which do you prefer, the city or the country?<br />
<br />
-StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-39448342233270197562011-05-20T20:55:00.000-07:002011-05-20T20:55:35.793-07:00sun, sun, sun, here it comes.We finished our last final on Wednesday. Biology, in case you wondered. The last question was a painfully long essay on ecology. (Why do they always save the longest and most arm-cramping and brain-trying for the end, when you're desperate to just finish the final and get out of there???). Actually, technically the last question was a bonus question on the differences between ... what was it?....the lifestyles of multicellular heterotrophs versus unicellular heterotrophs? Something like that. Um, anyway. It was summer. And even though I was inexplicably coming down with some sort of weird cold, I liked it.<br />
<br />
Even thought I wasn't hungry, but I got a GIANT ice cream and was only able to eat half of it, and still felt sick, I liked it. <br />
<br />
But after I went to The King's Speech with some of my favorite people, and then went to a bonfire at one of those favorite people's houses,<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NUt_6SMzZld9wEKAvxwRlfR9I-Wr34hgnxADv3JpXdFpj_zchC9-U1dDfyfl7jg6QIfzwK6mIvdibtz4Qf_Uodv0gb2Z5liFZjbOhyphenhyphen2gyR7HVWEc930vl4WENptYBh8RXn8JjOF1TR4/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NUt_6SMzZld9wEKAvxwRlfR9I-Wr34hgnxADv3JpXdFpj_zchC9-U1dDfyfl7jg6QIfzwK6mIvdibtz4Qf_Uodv0gb2Z5liFZjbOhyphenhyphen2gyR7HVWEc930vl4WENptYBh8RXn8JjOF1TR4/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people burned some of their schoolwork. Not namin' names, though. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_-JO48aNk_ceBpvJ2CheXDsL35jUil71zCjC8FOjQFsuFSItz7QuRtlmdJWC_Q-AS1-68fZIASTHn6yqLHhobOGkk66qqVaHGfGihha3oVjsL4M2YoW8QbglcLTQnvh3V9yCndkD-xk/s1600/DSC_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_-JO48aNk_ceBpvJ2CheXDsL35jUil71zCjC8FOjQFsuFSItz7QuRtlmdJWC_Q-AS1-68fZIASTHn6yqLHhobOGkk66qqVaHGfGihha3oVjsL4M2YoW8QbglcLTQnvh3V9yCndkD-xk/s1600/DSC_0496.JPG" /></a></div>and then went home and watched way too many episodes of Psych and Drop Dead Diva (yes, I'm ashamed. but it's addicting.) until the wee hours of the morning, and finally went down and fell into bed, and then slept in until noon the next day, and was cured almost completely from my sickness, and played a bit of my good old Nancy Drew computer game that I started a long time ago, before school started getting so crazy (yes, I play nancy drew pc games. and I'm proud of it.), and ate nothing all day but fruit in my mom's scrumptious fruit dip and a couple of fondue marshmallows and 2 pieces of store-bought chocolate cake (at two different school ceremonies, my little sister's kg graduation and the awards ceremony)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNuupB8NB20GaFP3_9PwwBqcXEH6W_6o9a3f7xTGSCGGxH_9v9p6n85ZrE4BzZGLENtaTQ6TpguTb6gmssNYE_CyAs4xUNi6DheUf0_cDWIRfUgBEcRxhx-lEbPwogIVxRnVgyjAv8wc/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNuupB8NB20GaFP3_9PwwBqcXEH6W_6o9a3f7xTGSCGGxH_9v9p6n85ZrE4BzZGLENtaTQ6TpguTb6gmssNYE_CyAs4xUNi6DheUf0_cDWIRfUgBEcRxhx-lEbPwogIVxRnVgyjAv8wc/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellen graduated from kindergarten on Thursday. [insert sentimental rant about how OLD she's getting.]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>and got pretty good grades on my finals and the weather started getting warmer at long last... I started <i>loving </i>it. And wasn't that just a great sentence?<br />
<br />
I love summer. I LOVE summer. I love SUMMER. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVLcf6cPNa2aXMhKnC-TUzf73UtjhYF87w9gqrj7cdpTvzpD5z8As3t9aCW9VBdcBcxgSlpitts85B5CdpahfY_YQtpnQjuNu01OjPkptIC5v3-fVZMh1a4Rpuqp2zpdMO9i1aJqW-nE/s1600/DSC_0380.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have to admit I don't really like hot dogs. Especially not when they run out of ketchup, and you have to just use mustard. Especially when you don't really like mustard. But a nice summery picture nonetheless, don't you think?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutLunyf_fCglEH-vFSSZFuOMeU5Qk6itk2i-VbAhjyfbjEenLvZc8dq2Y9XtlO92eVtyl7mcvQkRV2qZIXvvkhPSbKSG0F19Px_bcuPW3GkVaoo1b4aekGT7DeAjpq77r8JiuvsdZX-M/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That settles it. When I marry an Australian cowboy, we will have lots of baby ducks on our ranch. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutLunyf_fCglEH-vFSSZFuOMeU5Qk6itk2i-VbAhjyfbjEenLvZc8dq2Y9XtlO92eVtyl7mcvQkRV2qZIXvvkhPSbKSG0F19Px_bcuPW3GkVaoo1b4aekGT7DeAjpq77r8JiuvsdZX-M/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Z1lQOBGJTDfqghWUlDPod5aTzG_h7A-P5l8r-E5ecclMoI1D__EXDnH1cEn66B5mAkDDGBNZqRpLeg0cyqcqLe6v9RLp5rKZjENLShWbBWT3Hv5phwVeGB9GyGW0QC-J2RdyIA9oto/s1600/DSC_0514.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer evening bokeh. Mmm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Z1lQOBGJTDfqghWUlDPod5aTzG_h7A-P5l8r-E5ecclMoI1D__EXDnH1cEn66B5mAkDDGBNZqRpLeg0cyqcqLe6v9RLp5rKZjENLShWbBWT3Hv5phwVeGB9GyGW0QC-J2RdyIA9oto/s1600/DSC_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4SRPg8Oo5g8101ZmRc0TabbkNzH8je-IORx7IBzAJt-l8d9xn-PPZFrjLCvOLG2moHD9qM_HTdrb-HhAtj5ZjPpaMB_Ye7ndLhiHRWZ4YdfCkcH-NAREbqPuoPIgh-lQ5l2AL7xCkNM/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4SRPg8Oo5g8101ZmRc0TabbkNzH8je-IORx7IBzAJt-l8d9xn-PPZFrjLCvOLG2moHD9qM_HTdrb-HhAtj5ZjPpaMB_Ye7ndLhiHRWZ4YdfCkcH-NAREbqPuoPIgh-lQ5l2AL7xCkNM/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is from last summer, actually. Don't tell anyone. </td></tr>
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</div> How are you guys enjoying your summer? And for those of you still in school (poor souls)... I hope you're enjoying that too.<br />
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Hey, you never know.<br />
<br />
Well, have a great weekend!<br />
<br />
Love, Stacey.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-7796632931142251362011-05-17T05:24:00.000-07:002011-05-17T05:24:49.355-07:00these things should be illegal.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDXuZjYaXel8utS7wtrR161TZCqRcCcbzuQwzMghyphenhyphenjFgw_VNU1JrIRrR7uhaOrF6vyKqXdQerVDAwVHszrkQtG6jdxoP2AnocUVFDGY1ERZVwpOnvIEbC3VHEZNbyiUV2cnYWGOw7eiQ/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDXuZjYaXel8utS7wtrR161TZCqRcCcbzuQwzMghyphenhyphenjFgw_VNU1JrIRrR7uhaOrF6vyKqXdQerVDAwVHszrkQtG6jdxoP2AnocUVFDGY1ERZVwpOnvIEbC3VHEZNbyiUV2cnYWGOw7eiQ/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG" /></a></div> Finals.<br />
The very word brings with it feelings of hatred, dread, and foreboding. (I love being melodramatic!) But seriously, my first two finals- Latin and Geometry- are today, and I'm not sure I'll survive (OK, maybe not quite serious on that last part). I've been studying for the last week, and I'm sick of it. Sick of review sheets, practice tests, stacks of textbooks and binders and handouts and previous test, sick of lack of sleep and eating only Milk Duds and frozen Oreos. A <i>lot </i>of Milk Duds and frozen Oreos. I'm going to be so happy when finals are just over with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICjArXkAfxCb9J6ciEnm6-ugXoDLnemUaObOdovfeOCoXxbFDddWbVgrwT7hdJpAWNDh1X8xcUf7oLr_c1zWxmK7xjBV-WOAKw76AvJz5GdojCXlfm7pQh5jXioOSVXFgU23oCiqVVqY/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICjArXkAfxCb9J6ciEnm6-ugXoDLnemUaObOdovfeOCoXxbFDddWbVgrwT7hdJpAWNDh1X8xcUf7oLr_c1zWxmK7xjBV-WOAKw76AvJz5GdojCXlfm7pQh5jXioOSVXFgU23oCiqVVqY/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> (But I will never, ever get sick of my fuzzy socks.)<br />
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Four finals. Four hour-and-fifteen-minute periods of agony (with a whole lot of studying and a limited amount of sleep in between), and then I' m done. It's been a long, draining school year, and I am so excited for summer! It's going to be great.<br />
<br />
I have to go get ready for school. (Wish me luck! On finals, not on getting ready for school. I'm sure I can handle that part fine.)<br />
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I can't foresee another post until finals are completely done with, but I had an amazing weekend at my school's Spring Formal, and I can't wait to post the pictures. <br />
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Have a great week, and good luck to those of you who are preparing for finals!<br />
<br />
Love, Stacey.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417265346108442922.post-10083087499210924242011-05-08T16:48:00.000-07:002011-05-08T16:48:13.414-07:00fifteen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday, I turned fifteen. For the first time EVER. Seriously. </div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">In the morning my mom took my sisters and me to a local farmer's market. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn7sJYbzYO7ZbOwVBFBwk5L59OLL5zr7fhExIJF1WOQrSmdbgI6Kb6fB8eOA0t18ksMWlLZTHvbfdyZjVQN3C0XUWEIuh6KmpFNUPDfDKhOWxWN4DZ_XcCUQ5c0SojzJkM9PVQutY7jo/s1600/DSC_6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn7sJYbzYO7ZbOwVBFBwk5L59OLL5zr7fhExIJF1WOQrSmdbgI6Kb6fB8eOA0t18ksMWlLZTHvbfdyZjVQN3C0XUWEIuh6KmpFNUPDfDKhOWxWN4DZ_XcCUQ5c0SojzJkM9PVQutY7jo/s640/DSC_6068.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was brilliantly sunny and warm, which was especially great after the long rainy period we've been having here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici6VaRPpMfMWqkK1hcl0s9YHqkAfYFms951C6ro96oZP9c-C4VmFeiGopvUt-mdaLjUfzRhoGZ_cqhE2kUOyp2Hkb8i5cLwEAW2Qjc6NPN7znUGXq00AxwT6eCxDF6wNUpG-0zQ2AVOA/s1600/DSC_6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici6VaRPpMfMWqkK1hcl0s9YHqkAfYFms951C6ro96oZP9c-C4VmFeiGopvUt-mdaLjUfzRhoGZ_cqhE2kUOyp2Hkb8i5cLwEAW2Qjc6NPN7znUGXq00AxwT6eCxDF6wNUpG-0zQ2AVOA/s640/DSC_6129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was tons of fun, and there were oh so many photo ops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici6VaRPpMfMWqkK1hcl0s9YHqkAfYFms951C6ro96oZP9c-C4VmFeiGopvUt-mdaLjUfzRhoGZ_cqhE2kUOyp2Hkb8i5cLwEAW2Qjc6NPN7znUGXq00AxwT6eCxDF6wNUpG-0zQ2AVOA/s1600/DSC_6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvRbOQTzFCrDLDUZrNtkkfsQGEhHyMOa2ouQQVLH6UEyeGjVFRyM4gw7VAmUr2QnS_Lv57nbLUfc-T2e7vd7seTR8IA6vpNWLxm3G1gTDRCJzNwAN1Yn449bB_Fwc86QuRHClwhE4TGA/s1600/DSC_6091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvRbOQTzFCrDLDUZrNtkkfsQGEhHyMOa2ouQQVLH6UEyeGjVFRyM4gw7VAmUr2QnS_Lv57nbLUfc-T2e7vd7seTR8IA6vpNWLxm3G1gTDRCJzNwAN1Yn449bB_Fwc86QuRHClwhE4TGA/s640/DSC_6091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Yes, they sell live ducks. And chickens. And dogs. And cats. And gerbils. And fish. And... you get the idea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-QjVsKSsBAM5ivPv6F2Ogo809d5zWx0FBKvlrax4-qI6EKvHt0z6_qsj29VdEZRQp0vnszvnfOAyjobH5h_u26_CVgML52ZuRKEbpX0gNRXG9KDjEVCUHC9LPJcuJM3tvDKdSuVfFlA/s1600/DSC_6138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-QjVsKSsBAM5ivPv6F2Ogo809d5zWx0FBKvlrax4-qI6EKvHt0z6_qsj29VdEZRQp0vnszvnfOAyjobH5h_u26_CVgML52ZuRKEbpX0gNRXG9KDjEVCUHC9LPJcuJM3tvDKdSuVfFlA/s640/DSC_6138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9deI8wIOT3DVsLRUopW2vVpTwS1K4stp32keD8A_8OJj-Bkgjx3duKUiH3-ITr54jYAQnGvmSp7JQmjgCBlESbtG0ssiI_x1ydIntKS4VjoYMDifCvoMugSs68OwN2wuhwLrXSnSlDs/s1600/DSC_6140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9deI8wIOT3DVsLRUopW2vVpTwS1K4stp32keD8A_8OJj-Bkgjx3duKUiH3-ITr54jYAQnGvmSp7JQmjgCBlESbtG0ssiI_x1ydIntKS4VjoYMDifCvoMugSs68OwN2wuhwLrXSnSlDs/s640/DSC_6140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB03dB8BRH-sXCnATIZhvsMjfvkBQ1zPkKyCZr5hhTmV3X_FBrMIQdD4GRG7W-iOdsicELStMT0vjtgKgi8mfZNNQuqTTYKe5O5MZWYzejMJq4PF_jjivoGmL5t-5v9dUdr37iBkEHb9M/s1600/DSC_6144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB03dB8BRH-sXCnATIZhvsMjfvkBQ1zPkKyCZr5hhTmV3X_FBrMIQdD4GRG7W-iOdsicELStMT0vjtgKgi8mfZNNQuqTTYKe5O5MZWYzejMJq4PF_jjivoGmL5t-5v9dUdr37iBkEHb9M/s640/DSC_6144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>My mom bought a ton of herbs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-wQQrwwyIFKGgCO9B-b95_zNoPgcyt5ldePbkXutvKkFZx507CRZqkwq7rU2i8DM0fUQjbrgGxpy4uhwJh8KQQyynQxADiS_NwDm7sfCRxPzNk_ZaokzAg_sDKRi5ONpHZ3Hzzjy7d0/s1600/DSC_6175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-wQQrwwyIFKGgCO9B-b95_zNoPgcyt5ldePbkXutvKkFZx507CRZqkwq7rU2i8DM0fUQjbrgGxpy4uhwJh8KQQyynQxADiS_NwDm7sfCRxPzNk_ZaokzAg_sDKRi5ONpHZ3Hzzjy7d0/s640/DSC_6175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDXJOASAtzmq2golcfO2ineu8QwXyVESx9Oz0pd9xPcE3LLREPr9pTBTEzu7xFvSgP7eXqkFdexk4HzlYY_pIXVi0caDdOktRFmfkCFPHAOA8homPyTZ4g1LHpeahgHeBGsICPf1JGmQ/s1600/DSC_6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDXJOASAtzmq2golcfO2ineu8QwXyVESx9Oz0pd9xPcE3LLREPr9pTBTEzu7xFvSgP7eXqkFdexk4HzlYY_pIXVi0caDdOktRFmfkCFPHAOA8homPyTZ4g1LHpeahgHeBGsICPf1JGmQ/s640/DSC_6203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Birthday gelato! YUM!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbhW_Emcym1gHuJFAMZ9e_PrS-4GBUaQZzw9D6zFTs-vHPyDSZh15a8Lf6VCemmB3USZGgW49x9cqP25F8v62221_4Vr8ho0rtnlFOT5Cu14OYKCLecuSJ0-3-yAGpbCGZznn3Y_scUk/s1600/DSC_6220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbhW_Emcym1gHuJFAMZ9e_PrS-4GBUaQZzw9D6zFTs-vHPyDSZh15a8Lf6VCemmB3USZGgW49x9cqP25F8v62221_4Vr8ho0rtnlFOT5Cu14OYKCLecuSJ0-3-yAGpbCGZznn3Y_scUk/s640/DSC_6220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr0xyU-ckQbwdRlQ4T3jwrC8qKJeOBJwGo2a3lsIVEceZ9rNyc_4wm_VvARgxxJPBqjVcm4INLuqhjn3_f0yXgCdBDc1MIMyXsocfu9Lrm-UWvJv9mHa9nDLVvMjniebSmH7YZzxmS_c/s1600/DSC_6224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr0xyU-ckQbwdRlQ4T3jwrC8qKJeOBJwGo2a3lsIVEceZ9rNyc_4wm_VvARgxxJPBqjVcm4INLuqhjn3_f0yXgCdBDc1MIMyXsocfu9Lrm-UWvJv9mHa9nDLVvMjniebSmH7YZzxmS_c/s640/DSC_6224.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I got salted chocolate. To. die. for. There were little pieces of chocolate filled with tiny chunks of salt. So good.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyrG-1kGXnKl_rRKRJ2F7H69Fbi8QlVK7lHr3qRvtMK6NB4GKshTDTyYm3Kz4GiqzmsoCspSFXEduOHba0SSC4EpujmvCWE46UsLyU3EO4Aq4nEy2N3l8j66N6cIyo4aZqZOLaTtNkrs/s1600/DSC_6236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyrG-1kGXnKl_rRKRJ2F7H69Fbi8QlVK7lHr3qRvtMK6NB4GKshTDTyYm3Kz4GiqzmsoCspSFXEduOHba0SSC4EpujmvCWE46UsLyU3EO4Aq4nEy2N3l8j66N6cIyo4aZqZOLaTtNkrs/s640/DSC_6236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDsCns0ZPgDN4dXjFserODCuN5vnVf9YDNzMRXHlYwcaPGpR4YzJ0mbpMhaAa2UIm-V2nc7ob7xt5CezicTdONy4UY0-Ig6lP_hhhfDYsenJMpf_xGezv_AkFVOh0aGNLt7Nuqc-N0dA/s1600/DSC_6435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDsCns0ZPgDN4dXjFserODCuN5vnVf9YDNzMRXHlYwcaPGpR4YzJ0mbpMhaAa2UIm-V2nc7ob7xt5CezicTdONy4UY0-Ig6lP_hhhfDYsenJMpf_xGezv_AkFVOh0aGNLt7Nuqc-N0dA/s640/DSC_6435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After Soulard, we went out for pizza!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9K6cnx6joaywbKqD7VmVkkkr68jqDI-spNw3txLjs7H-cACC4XUdZC2XHdBhP8Np6lRYHFyy7rmdp0JWFLOiBObuXBrfRmFQafLEtG-QHYBh7xbGYwss-zKmCdgJcfvFlMry-yrTHGM/s1600/DSC_6321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9K6cnx6joaywbKqD7VmVkkkr68jqDI-spNw3txLjs7H-cACC4XUdZC2XHdBhP8Np6lRYHFyy7rmdp0JWFLOiBObuXBrfRmFQafLEtG-QHYBh7xbGYwss-zKmCdgJcfvFlMry-yrTHGM/s640/DSC_6321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldM5wuiZm838IdfVlu_FZCgotkgyobZM-s8d_dNuCRyGfSsVgn9dMlxGTGHAcsfJB_3Xn7an1yFi8h9tt966dFZIIIfixgYwxJvdq37iKSmRiOVb7Izw55tnSL27NSWyBo_Zj-C0bRCU/s1600/DSC_6352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldM5wuiZm838IdfVlu_FZCgotkgyobZM-s8d_dNuCRyGfSsVgn9dMlxGTGHAcsfJB_3Xn7an1yFi8h9tt966dFZIIIfixgYwxJvdq37iKSmRiOVb7Izw55tnSL27NSWyBo_Zj-C0bRCU/s640/DSC_6352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>(And mozzarella sticks.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_aJ1ll48ysLVpVnjQw0QdzXzICzDrK71mYsuNoaNCHLuF1cft-eZchFXhQw53xQMKnBsiKMXsRs5Tozpq1dgZMjRDoawG-410X7w4VHKOQP4gwizylQswL6wu74aT-NcmHNmm4oqOP8/s1600/DSC_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_aJ1ll48ysLVpVnjQw0QdzXzICzDrK71mYsuNoaNCHLuF1cft-eZchFXhQw53xQMKnBsiKMXsRs5Tozpq1dgZMjRDoawG-410X7w4VHKOQP4gwizylQswL6wu74aT-NcmHNmm4oqOP8/s640/DSC_6371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I want some of these lights in my backyard.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwaDEq1JWuWHEjNiIkBFYOZX08B-lOYG7761Ifx17IXziVRXwjxpmWUFsWnVSqYn_leGWMGJGU5zQVaj3RT3w70ZkurvBQ8BZ5l4GwNjREhLdyCPkEb3K8rco2DwrWXqXWmQb1ZXgh7Q/s1600/DSC_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwaDEq1JWuWHEjNiIkBFYOZX08B-lOYG7761Ifx17IXziVRXwjxpmWUFsWnVSqYn_leGWMGJGU5zQVaj3RT3w70ZkurvBQ8BZ5l4GwNjREhLdyCPkEb3K8rco2DwrWXqXWmQb1ZXgh7Q/s640/DSC_6407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>It was as tasty as it looks.<br />
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That evening, we went to an art fair at a local sculpture park.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbkQWhOUndPA1Ml_AX5DO3IZ8cBr8uqoJ4z7bKKdJk7Tqi5lF29RdKfszwoV5MNquLUpTEBfnb6EHU1AqIdIae0foy2fVcbYkLCTXHm_f70DOY6h3Y3hdswkgC6q-5qwVEqo41_rJnlw/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbkQWhOUndPA1Ml_AX5DO3IZ8cBr8uqoJ4z7bKKdJk7Tqi5lF29RdKfszwoV5MNquLUpTEBfnb6EHU1AqIdIae0foy2fVcbYkLCTXHm_f70DOY6h3Y3hdswkgC6q-5qwVEqo41_rJnlw/s640/DSC_0023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There were 800 or so entrants, and about 150 were selected to set up booths for the show. There was everything- paintings, jewelry, sculptures, pottery, clothing, furniture, weird horse/bird statues, some sort of crocheted cat... things, photography (can you guess where I spent most of the time?), and so much more. The paintings above were really cute :P.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNoxWUoG9-mT1x-f7xpyYFiQg_7rB4AZeaD2V0ADfj2On49hbEU4sV2tjgHSKy9D07A59C1AQwEKY1NBfPLukTaOZX15YvZFHt5cpBCsyG_7D6z5Dl1Dn0IjXyRUmst31S52sLuCpvuM/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNoxWUoG9-mT1x-f7xpyYFiQg_7rB4AZeaD2V0ADfj2On49hbEU4sV2tjgHSKy9D07A59C1AQwEKY1NBfPLukTaOZX15YvZFHt5cpBCsyG_7D6z5Dl1Dn0IjXyRUmst31S52sLuCpvuM/s640/DSC_0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There was even a little place to make your own crafts!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilKsoITFOcCL6G2hXXWFneTLWjie5Jr4yinJuchBuU-asT75mGeJCNf6yheQhXu6snMssH27Fa8pbPTg9e9p00bueFRfeUC_oNji4AoZxppnVkCV7QsRA_VasTsUD_5GXxEAwI29uXM0/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilKsoITFOcCL6G2hXXWFneTLWjie5Jr4yinJuchBuU-asT75mGeJCNf6yheQhXu6snMssH27Fa8pbPTg9e9p00bueFRfeUC_oNji4AoZxppnVkCV7QsRA_VasTsUD_5GXxEAwI29uXM0/s640/DSC_0031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ3y64t6QuuT6a5Zx9cedrKBqsgbI2JlE3ajTlCmNkWUIwHLGTIS_58ZcyfX1qo76BvF1c4uAor7ntvykkkffw_viMRqbauM8Eo6H2bhCbyx6ixCtwGKfs1stpiSOwXxa8JicZ_kR1N8/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ3y64t6QuuT6a5Zx9cedrKBqsgbI2JlE3ajTlCmNkWUIwHLGTIS_58ZcyfX1qo76BvF1c4uAor7ntvykkkffw_viMRqbauM8Eo6H2bhCbyx6ixCtwGKfs1stpiSOwXxa8JicZ_kR1N8/s640/DSC_0034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Oh yeah, and Erin Bode was singing. She is awesome.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgWIPW04hEufZUvsIn_7HD63J92u6OlX2ErpfA2pKUpNgJcdt_hyceezIVKBo1RM4zaJ1tQGeyMLx8_EYm84TXF49PhgRZDIbFqM0Es4c5XYkZLebTMCc7BI9sp4yJF2rCbGmTKeb5NY/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgWIPW04hEufZUvsIn_7HD63J92u6OlX2ErpfA2pKUpNgJcdt_hyceezIVKBo1RM4zaJ1tQGeyMLx8_EYm84TXF49PhgRZDIbFqM0Es4c5XYkZLebTMCc7BI9sp4yJF2rCbGmTKeb5NY/s640/DSC_0043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>AAANND we brought my cake and ate it on paper plates in the park. It was tasty! (Thanks, mom.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNHBPvAe1uuMeaHJIRW3s1yIwsgbACUu1a1NV4sh7Q3veoar-RuyKGOvLHJhNvGq534mVm2twih9gFcx8Ok9KnY-hR4mNw4uF5OtIEAMwmYoDfs6K73BtY5hIXfInhx9CORvIFE9mQ60/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNHBPvAe1uuMeaHJIRW3s1yIwsgbACUu1a1NV4sh7Q3veoar-RuyKGOvLHJhNvGq534mVm2twih9gFcx8Ok9KnY-hR4mNw4uF5OtIEAMwmYoDfs6K73BtY5hIXfInhx9CORvIFE9mQ60/s640/DSC_0049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKdeKRhT_a9f6gNzjopkoye4t9Gv-Gg0ht19TZc4nvvn2052cBJxY8DnyfegVqyI6AubkXO6kfHzzJ7C6yNJW8Ol8JWTmEl6v4P28z_NbSd1k2nU1Fwu1i2mACqO88ZLWGLO7eCWpP4s/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKdeKRhT_a9f6gNzjopkoye4t9Gv-Gg0ht19TZc4nvvn2052cBJxY8DnyfegVqyI6AubkXO6kfHzzJ7C6yNJW8Ol8JWTmEl6v4P28z_NbSd1k2nU1Fwu1i2mACqO88ZLWGLO7eCWpP4s/s640/DSC_0055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After all of this, we got home, and I started picking out pictures for a blog post. Then, my dad called me into the living room and asked if I wanted to go see the Adjustment Bureau with him. (Which is why I'm not posting this until today, sorry.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, basically, it was an amazing day. An intensely amazing day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so thankful for my wonderful family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And fifteen feels... exactly the same. Hmm. Can't wait to get my permit, though! Now I just need to start studying...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, see ya! Have a great Sunday, and Happy Mother's Day to you mothers :). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love, Stacey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11907418647088142657noreply@blogger.com5