Day 120

Day 120, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

I didn't do my picture spring assignment today, but here is some eye candy for you :)

Day 119

Day 119, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for Tracey Clark's pictures spring class is: gatherings, "Today, celebrate your Picture Spring journey with a bouquet."

We don't have many flowers in bloom at the moment (and I am too cheap to buy some) but we have PLENTY of dandelions :)

Day 118

Day 118, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's assignment from Tracey Clark's picture spring class is: Charmed, I'm sure, "Today, commemorate your favorite charm, necklace, or keepsake in a photo. This could be a token of love or remembering, of hope or faith, family or friends."

When I was younger I LOVED precious moments, and all things small and fragile. My husband remembered and surprised me with this in the hospital after I had my son :)

Day 117

Day 117, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's assignment for Tracey Clark's picture spring is: The shape of things, "Allow yourself to discover a shape of delight, a surprise of spring, the most mundane thing turned magic right before your eyes."

It is sure funny watching my baby try and pick up the slippery bananas :)

Day 116

Day 116, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for Tracey Clark's picture spring class is Make A Wish "t's dandelion season! A bounty of wishes awaits you"

Surprisingly it was hard to find the white dandelions that have gone to seed, my lawn is still bountiful with yellow!

In other random news, about an hour after I took this shot my 50mm f/1.8 broke! It had a little spill on the couch :( But it's okay because my dear sweet husband let me splurge and get the 50mm f/1.4! I am so excited, happy early Mother's Day to me!!!

Day 115

The theme for today's assignment for Tracey Clark's picture spring class is Spring board (an ode to inspiration)

One of the people I am inspired by is Nancy
Not only is she an amazing photographer, she is such a nice flickr friend!  I love all her photographs of flowers, they inspire me everyday :)  xoxo

Other people who inspire me is Holly Aprecio I love her family photographs, they always look so real and natural.

And my friend Jessica, who is an amazing maternity and newborn photographer.  Seeing her pictures almost make me want another baby... Almost!  And just for fun here are some pictures she took of my baby, here, here and here.

There are so many more people I love, but it is bed time!  Thanks for the wonderful inspiration and kind words of encouragement :)

Day 114

Day 114, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for Tracey Clark's picture spring class is "love is in the air" and to find a pair of something to show that relationship.

Well all I remember after reading the email this morning was to find two of something... so here is my son holding "one, two rocks!"

Not quite what the assignment was... oh well. At least he LOVES rocks!

Day 113

Day 113, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for Tracey Clark's picture spring class is project minded.

This is material that I am going to make into baby blankets for my Aunt who is having a little boy in June. I like to make big, light, stretchy blankets that are great for swaddling. The receive blankets you get at the store are only good for burp cloths!

Day 112

Day 112, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's picture spring theme is bursting with color!

My son kept saying "take picture of the bees mom" so cute :)

Day 111

Day 111, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's assignment for Tracey Clark's picture spring class was to find circles, "Digging a little deeper, we discover that circles are the symbols of unity, wholeness, infinity and female power."

These little buds are from the same tree as yesterdays shot :)

Day 110

Day 110, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's assignment for Tracey Clarks's picture spring class was to find flare.

I had a hard time, and I am not totally pleased with the flare... why is it when I try to get flare, I can't find it :(

On another note I am happy that the pink blossoms are coming out, yay!

Day 109

Day 109, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for Tracey Clarks's picture spring class is hidden messages, "Today, find a word or words that offer you encouragement, kindness or the gentle reminder you just might need today."

I am one year older and wiser too :) It has been a wonderful day!!! Hope you had a great one too :)

Day 108

Day 108, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

An exercise in gratitude: from Tracey Clark's pictures spring class "Take a long and literal look at the grass at your feet and capture its perfection, just as it is. Remember, you do live on the sunny side of the street."

Little dandelions spot our yard all over. Those little weeds making my happy with their splashes of color :)

Day 107

Day 107, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Punchy Patterns: Today's assignment for Tracey Clark's picture spring class is to "discover a fabric that sings of spring"

This is a beautiful embroidered dress that my mom gave to my daughter from Mexico. It is big so she won't be able to wear it for a few years :)

Day 106

Day 106, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme for the picture spring class was "out of the shadows." Well it was rainy and overcast all day, I tried to play with shadows in the house and I hated all of them. So here is a picture I took to document my garden growing (2 weeks today) I will come back to shadows another day :)

Day 105

Day 105, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Here is a larger view :)

Day 105

For today's assignment we were supposed to dig into the archives from last spring and see how our creativity has blossomed from last year.

Well first of all I realized I hardly took any pictures of the beautiful spring last year (probably from being VERY pregnant)

And second I am amazed how much a couple weeks difference can make! So here is a picture of the little buds waiting to bloom :)

Day 104

Day 104, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme from Tracey Clark's picture spring class is Picture a Canvas,

"Take a painterly approach to capturing a spring scene today by shooting out of focus (on purpose)."

This was a little tricky for me, and my eyes hurt from looking at blurry pictures :) But I really like the way this one turned out!

Day 103

Day 103, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

I. am. tired.... this about sums it up :)

Day 102

Day 102, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme: awakening.

This is broccoli from my garden, planted a little over a week ago :)

I heart you :)

Here is the picture I took today but I like the other one better :)

I heart you :), originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's assignment was to find (or create) a heart shaped something! Feeling the love :) Well I am cheating, I took this a couple of days ago... I love her little feet and cute new sandals.

Day 100

Day 100, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today's theme is catch lights, "Today look for the light in the eyes of a loved one and capture a little bit of their spirit." Tracey Clark from picture spring.

And today is my 100th picture! YAY :)

Day 99

Day 99, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Everyday beauty :)

"Seek out a little magic today as you go about your daily chores, whatever they may be. Enchantment awaits those who look." - Tracey Clark (from the picture spring class)

This is Buddy, a friends dog, that we have been babysitting this last week. He is a puppy so he can be kinda crazy and he was a little sick at night so he woke me up to go out... but he is a cute dog so I am seeking my everyday beauty in him :)

Some more sparkles of spring :)

I took these a couple of days ago after a real rain storm.  I think I like them better than my picture today, but I didn't want to cheat :)

Day 98

Day 98, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

A sparkle of spring was the theme for today :)

Surprisingly there has been no rain in NY for the last couple of days, so my son and I made our own!

Day 97

Day 97, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today theme for the picture spring class shuttersisters.com/picturespring/ was a pastel pallet.

I took a gazillion pictures trying to find something I liked. Then I remembered the tulips I bought for Easter. When you look down on the them they are not pastel at all, it is a bright orange color. But the flower butts :) were nice and pale yellow. And no joke my son sprayed them with water while we were outside!

This was one of those days while scrolling through the pictures I knew this was the one, I got all warm and fuzzy inside. And this is sooc (straight out of camera) which makes me happy too!

Day 96

Day 96, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

A fresh face was the theme for online photography class I am taking: shuttersisters.com/picturespring/

Self portraits are hard for me, not that I mind pictures of me (mostly!) I have a hard time with the self timer and setting up... probably has something to do with the chicklets running around me :)


Here is another one just for fun :)

Day 95

Day 95, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Getting grounded was the theme for today's picture spring class, you can visit here:
shuttersisters.com/picturespring/

And every time I would lay on the ground, my son would come and jump on my back, which isn't too comfy on cement :)

I have 2 favorites for today and I am not choosing, this and the one below :)

Day 95

Day 95, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Day 94

Day 94, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

The sky is the limit! This is day for of the pictures spring class given by Tracy Clark. You can visit here:
shuttersisters.com/picturespring/

And yes this is another throwing picture :) I have a feeling there will be many more of these in the rest of my 231 days!

Day 93

Day 93, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

30 steps from my camera led me to dewy grass :)

This month I am participating in picture spring and online class given by Tracy Clark. You can visit here:
shuttersisters.com/picturespring/

And my picture from yesterday was featured which is so exciting and fun :)

some more magical dewy grass :)

Day 92

Day 92, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Good Morning sunshine! My morning consist of: milking, diapering, crying laughing, whining and finally "bekfast" Craziness about sums it up with 2 small children :)

From the class I am taking this month Tracy Clark says "When you begin to collect these moments in photographs you can better bare witness to the fact that even the mundane moments can be used to your advantage, to pause and reflect and to savor your life."

I wouldn't necessarily call my morning routine mundane, but I truly savor my life taking care of these two chick-lets. And even if this picture isn't "technically" perfect, it is perfect to me :)

I am so happy I am taking this class, I probably wouldn't have thought to take this picture otherwise!

Day 91

Day 91, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

This month I am participating in online photography class, taught by Tracy Clark, celebrating spring :)

This picture is the beginning of green, a sign of hope and assurance that spring has arrived!