30 July 2010: Girl Power

So the sisters were back together again. My middle niece had been home with her parents because she had a softball tournament while the other two were here staying with us or their grandparents. I finally got the three of them together and have decided they were like the Spice Girls - Posh Spice, Sporty Spice and Baby Spice and if Angelee was still her she could have been Ginger Spice!

I also got to do some photos of "Sporty Spice" by herself. Did I mention my brother in law better be nervous as these girls enter their teen years and beyond! We also went to fashion show of the oldest's Fashion Design Camp she'd been attending all week. She made that pink polka dot dress!!! Beauty and talent in everone one of these girls!

29 July 2010: An Unwilling Subject

Bill found this little white caterpillar that wasn't very keen on getting his photo taken but here he is anyway!

28 July 2010: The Party's Over

My niece came to stay with us for a few days and today was the day I had to drive her home. She did great and only cried one night for her daddy. We had a full 3 days with photo shoots, playing at the beach, going to the playground, walking through the sunflower maze, painting, games, books...I was exhausted. However, my favorite part was when she would come downstairs in the morning (because she was an "early riser") and give me hugs and kisses! She is such a great kid and has been through so much in her short 6 years. She is growing up soooo fast and I can't stand it.

We left before 8am to start our trek back to Springfield. She was up at 6:45AM and hung out for a bit and look one final picture (taken with the iphone) because we realized she didn't take any pictures with Mona. She loves Mona and Mona loved all the attention, extra treats and belly rubs. We weren't in the car an hour and she said, I am going to take a little nap so my last picture of her visit was her sleeping in the car cruising on the NY Thruway! I think I have a similar picture from last year's trek home. I had to listen to Flo rida all by myself - it is much more fun singing "apple bottom jeans...boots with the fur" with my little munchkin!

27 July 2010: Tween Photo Shoot

My oldest niece is getting braces next week so we took some photos before the hardware goes on. She is absolutely beautiful and is growing up so fast. It took a bit of coaxing but I finally got her to take her glasses off for a few shots. My brother in law should be nervous as she gets older!

We went out to the sunflower maze to do the photo shoot and of course had to get a coupe of the little ones in there too. We also had fun making faces out of the sunflowers...shhhh, don't tell anyone!

26 July 2010: Divas In Training

I brought the girls to get their photos done at my friend Kim's studio. She does these Dress Up Parties and has a wardrobe closet with dresses and jewels and high heels! The girls were in Heaven. I took a few pictures but had to be the DIVA Assistant - helping the girls get changed and find the right jewelry and handbags. So a couple of the pictures are Kim's masterpieces!

Kim commented that she was very impressed by the girls' modeling poses. She also said she was always trying to get her models to pose with "awkward legs" - the girls were naturals at that. Check out Kim's website - she is an AWESOME photgrapher! http://www.bigpawphoto.com/

25 July 2010: Strike A Pose

My nieces are here visiting this week and everyone was ready to practice their posing for America's Next Top Junior Model. They had such a great time in the yard and when I tried to stop taking pictures (after about 120 photos) they said "HEY, I don't hear the camera clicking, you aren't really taking pictures!" So I think I ended up with about 160 pictures of my little models! I think the Charlie's Angel pose is my fave!

24 July 2010: Going To The Birds

Pretty berries from our honeysuckle! They look yummy, but I don't think you are supposed to eat them so I guess I will just leave them for the birds!

23 July 2010: Keuka Lake

Bill and I went out to see Kelly and Chris at Keuka Lake where Chris' parent own a house. It was a picture perfect day - lunch by the lake, a boat ride, cute puppy and fun friends (oh and Bill got some good Weyerbacher beer with lunch - thanks Chris).

22 July 2010: Kaylee at Kellish Hill Farm

Kellish Hill Farm is a totally cool place! They have a music barn where they have musicians come to play. It is a totally idyllic location complete with mini horses (I LOVE mini horses). Kellish Hill Farm has bluegrass/folk music all the time so if you are in the Pompey, NY area - check it out sometime. http://rhbamericana.com/

The night I went, a photo friend's daugther was playing for the open mic night. She was AWESOME and has an AMAZING voice! Her name is Kaylee Hale and you can hear her here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkuMkjWAvN0 Keep you ear open for this young woman!

21 July 2010: Bouncing Around B'ville

I went to lunch in Baldwinsville with a friend I met through the photo group. B'ville is a nothern suburb of Syracuse and not someplace I get to much so it was fun to explore a new place!

20 July 2010: Playing With Colors

I took this picture of weed in my yard and then played with the colors...pretty cool, huh?

19 July 2010: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

I am sick of this humidity...even the rain is not cooling it off!

18 July 2010: Fire Lilies

I know I have taken photos of these lilies before but I love them and I think they look like fire, particularly in HDR!

17 July 2010: Music In The Square

As we were driving home from the movies, I wanted to drive through downtown to see if there were any cool pictures that jumped out at me. To our surprise, we found some music being played in Armory Square. Syracuse can be a gritty city but tonight Bill commented that this made it feel like a small town seeing all the people hanging out in the square listening to some jazz.

We also found one of the old cars that are in town for the Syracuse Nationals at the Fair Grounds. There are thousands of antique cars wandering about this weekend as they show off their "babies" that they lovingly restored.

16 July 2010: Tiger Showing His True Spots

Here is a real tiger lily as opposed to what I thought were tiger lilies in my yard. Really we just have common orange daylilies as opposed to the old fashioned lilies with spots (like tigers). This one is from my neighbors garden.

15 July 2010: Stop Buggin' Me

The next generation of our little bug friend from last summer seems to have returned. We'll see if we can find him again when he gets bigger.

14 July 2010: Reach For The Sky

Just another perspective of the black (or is it brown) eyed susans.

13 July 2010: Going Rogue

I caught this little flower trying to escape from the planter.

12 July 2010: Gecko

Another gecko...just hangin' around.

11 July 2010: Dino-Myte

It seems like the only time we go to Dinosaur BBQ is when there are friends or family visiting!

10 July 2010: The Rockets Red Glare

So we were a little late in playing with our fireworks this year! Here are some cool sparkler pictures - they were my favorite as a kid and still are a lot of fun!

9 July 2010: Rain Rain Come This Way...

It finally rained and the humidity is not quite as bad as it was. Thank Mother Nature because one more day of this and I was going to melt!

8 July 2010: How Does Your Garden Grow

The heat and humidity is wilting the garden but here is one of the blossoms before it withers!

7 July 2010: Star Lite Star Brite

First star I see tonight!

6 July 2010: Just Another Brick In The Wall

I had a fun evening with some of the members of the Syracuse Photographers Association. After hanging out in the bar of Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, we hit the street for some photo opportunities. I spent most of my time in this little alley which had several interesting things to photograph!