Eyeing B & W

Last week I was tagged in a black and white photography challenge on facebook.  For five days I posted a black and white photo and tagged another photography friend to do the same each day.  I really enjoyed the exercise and how my wall filled with amazing photos taken by friends.  I have always enjoyed black and white photography, but amid trying to capture all of the brilliant fall colors, I had not thought about it recently. As I have spent the last several days eyeing the world around me through a black and white lens, I was reminded of how striking the light and depth of field are in b & w.  I realized that I need a challenge once in a while, a tangible reason to get out of the daily routine and re-invigorate my eye, such fun!

September in Focus

September came and went in a gust. New schools and sports seasons started and routines have been established. The fall is upon us with crisp mornings and colors only just beginning to bloom in their vibrant displays. My favorite time of year has arrived and I look forward to what photos I will capture over the next few months as we take advantage of every outdoor opportunity, eat warming foods, and prepare to cocoon ourselves into the warmth of home as we roll into the holiday season. Here is what our exhilarating September looked like.
1. 9/1/12 Sunrise on Fall, 2. 9/2/12 Susans & Tomatoes II, 3. 9/3/12 After Shrub Removal, 4. 9/4/12 Tomato canning season is underway!, 5. 9/5/12 Anyone else see the tree of life in this bowl of vinegar?, 6. 9/6/12 Garlic, 7. 9/7/12 Three Babes, 8. 9/8/12 Money Plant, 9. 9/9/12 Field, 10. 9/10/12 Tomatillos ready!, 11. 9/11/12 Silvery Leaves Blowing, 12. 9/12/12 Fall is here, 13. 9/13/12 Cones, 14. 9/14/12 Gorgeous carrots, 15. 9/15/12 Freshen, 16. 9/16/12 Harvesting Honey, 17. 9/17/12 Shimmer, 18. 9/18/12 Fall Sunsets #whoneedsafilter, 19. 9/19/12 Among the cool weather Kale Starts, 20. 9/20/12 Liquid Sunlight, 21. 9/21/12 Beeswax, 22. 9/22/12 Not every day that Air Force One flies directly over the farm, pretty low too!, 23. 9/23/12 Fried plantains, 24. 9/24/12 A little light frost, 25. 9/25/12 Watched Pot, 26. 9/26/12 Eating Schedules, 27. 9/27/12 Barn Glowing, 28. 9/28/12 Bower, 29. 9/29/12 Athletic, 30. 9/30/12 I love Fall in Wisconsin Created with fd's Flickr Toys

July In Review

July was a busy month and it went by in a flash. We traveled, experienced new things, hosted our fifth annual chili cook-off, delivered two great farm bags, and had an amazing fair week and that was just in our spare time! I found myself reaching for my iPhone more this month than usual for picture taking. In all of the busyness, I at least always had it at the ready. As we move into August, I plan to capture the month more predominantly with the 'big camera.'  I found there to be a lot of repetition in my photographs, those that I chose for the PAD and the others that I took.  You may notice that four of the days here involved berries.  If it gives you an inclination of our berry harvest this year, I think that I have berry shots from every day!  I had grand intentions of jam making, which I did about two dozen jars of, but they have come so fast that I am flash freezing everything so that I can more thoughtfully process them after the fervor of summer harvest ends.  Here are a few glimpses of our July.

1. 7/1/12 Faning, 2. 7/2/12 Gooseberry Pie Filling, 3. 7/3/12 Meet Lion, 4. 7/4/12 Stumped Grandma, 5. 7/5/12 Climbing, 6. 7/6/12 Tasty, 7. 7/7/12 Sand dollar headed home, 8. 7/8/12 Surfin', 9. 7/9/12 Reel, 10. 7/10/12 Randomness, 11. 7/11/12 Boysenberries, 12. flickr.com/photos/41148767@N07/7558844416/, 13. 7/13/12 What's that falling from the sky?, 14. 7/14/12 Boys, 15. 7/15/12 Under the Carpet, 16. 7/16/12 Pie to Be, 17. 7/17/12 An errant lilac re-blooming despite drought and heat, what could be more auspicious than that?, 18. 7/18/12 Beautiful basil, a sampling in this weeks farm bags!, 19. 7/19/12 Mini Rex, 20. 7/20/12 Sick boy happy to be home (holding on to Sids foot), 21. 7/21/12 Rabbit barn set up--Boys!, 22. 7/22/12 Natural Pectin, 23. 7/23/12 Herb Tea, 24. 7/24/12 Dot on a hot day at the fair, 25. 7/25/12 ~Photography Judging, 26. 7/26/12 Veggie Judging, 27. 7/27/12 Winning Rabbits, 28. 7/28/12 Bull Ride-er, 29. 7/29/12 Funnel Goodness, 30. 7/30/12 Did it! First ride down!, 31. 7/31/12 Gourd Peek

June In Review

What a difference a month makes! I glanced back at last month to try to get some perspective on how things had progressed and I was stunned. Garden-wise, we have been ahead all year as I indicated in last months summary, but a long and early spring is no match for true summer weather and produce. Small lovely flowering plants that were the focus last month have suddenly begun to produce and with increasing volumes that have allowed us to get two sizable farm bags out! To understand how incredible this is, the last two years our first farm bag was right on the fourth of July! The kids finished school and begun the wonderful days of summer. They have been busy with activities and friends. We head next week to California for vacation, and then when we return they have an assortment of day camps lined up and of course fair. I am excited to see what July's review brings!


1. 6/1/12 Homemade Target for Archery Practice, 2. 6/2/12 Lavender, 3. 6/3/12 1st Strawberries, 4. 6/4/12 Leaves, 5. 6/5/12 Strawberry Crumble, 6. 6/6/12 Dining For Women, 7. 6/7/12 Beet Forest, 8. 6/8/12 Girl Talk, 9. 6/9/12 Thirst quenching, 10. 6/10/12 Brushing Cheek, 11. 6/11/12 Rhubarb Gin, 12. 6/12/12 Silk Trail, 13. 6/13/12 Pile 'O Pea Pods, 14. 6/15/12 Painted, Peppered Sunlight, 15. 6/16/12 Wisconsin Eve, 16. 6/14/12 Baby Bird, 17. 6/17/12 Farm Bag 1, 18. 6/18/12 Kiddo Summer Reads, 19. 6/19/12 Where did you come from little leopard frog?, 20. 6/20/12 Lavender Harvest, 21. 6/21/12 Summer Sky, 22. Sourdough Jam Cake Cooling, 23. 6/23/12 Simple Pleasures, 24. 6/24/12 Root River, 25. 6/27/12 Hello little black eyed Susan, 26. 6/29/12 We go together like peas & carrots, 27. 6/25/12 Allium, 28. 6/26/12 Raspberry Cordial Starts, 29. 6/28/12 Elderflower Soda, 30. 6/30/12 Elderflower Cordial Created with fd's Flickr Toys

May In Review

Typically May is the start of the growing season on the farm. This year, when May arrived, the season was well under way. It is hard to believe that today is June first! One week left of school for the kids and though the cool weather the last two days is seasonal, it is very foreign to our experience this year. We have been so spoiled with 68-85 degree weather, really off and on since March, as you can see from May's shots. Today, the cool weather and damp ground affords us some quality weeding time and an opportunity to transplant some fennel. Our Postcards To Blogcamp PAD group has now reached the half way point of our 366 project. Here is a glimpse of farm life through my lens in May. Happy Weekend!

  1. 118:366 Perspectives, 2. 119:366 Flowering Trees, 3. 120:366 In Estes Park, 4. 121:366 The Falls, 5. 122:366 Flower Mountain, 6. 123:366 Panarama, 7. 147:366 Happy Birthday from Grandma & Papa, 8. 124:366 Lilac Shower, 9. 125:366 Busy Bees, 10. 127:366 Found our first morrel while clearing wood!, 11. 128:366 Gotta Love Bumper Cars, 12. 126:366 Love, 13. Honey Bee II, 14. 130:366 Rhubarb Compote, 15. 131:366 Arugula & Radish, 16. 132:366 Collecting Eggs, 17. 133:366 The Boys, 18. 135:366 Almost Time For Chive Flower Vinegar, 19. 134:366 Tournament, 20. 136:366 Does anyone else think this is funny!?, 21. 137:366 Mammoth Asparagus, 22. 141:366 Almost!, 23. 135:366 Sous Chef, 24. 138:366 Willow Light, 25. 139:366 Evening Approaching, 26. 140:366 Chive Flowers, 27. 142:366 Rhubarb Cordial, 28. 143:366 Sunny Rain, 29. 144:366 Concentration, 30. 145:366 Rose Explosion, 31. 146:366 Peony Raindrops32. Not available33. Not available34. Not available35. Not available36. Not available

April In Review

I cannot believe that it is May already! It seems that New Years was yesterday, yet when I start to look at the year, I realize how much has already gone on and how quickly the kids are growing! Here are the shots for my Post Cards To Blog Camp project and I am proud to say that I have not let a day pass by without taking a shot. I have almost made it to the half way mark! April was cold compared to March, yet as I look back through my lens I see that the cold has not hampered growth.

 1. 90:366 A falafel kind of breakfast, 2. 93:366 Embroidery Floss Eggs, 3. 94:366 Cookie Dough, 4. 95:366 Spring Grapes, 5. 96:366 Lilacs Opening, 6. 97:366 Twiggy Moon, 7. 98:366 Third Generation Ray Family Farm Hatchlings, 8. 98:366 Time to Color Eggs!, 9. 99:366 Egg Hunt, 10. 100:366 Balance, 11. 101:366 Good Morning Wisconsin!, 12. 102:266 Hosta Glow, 13. 104:366 Umami, 14. 105:366 Toe Touchin', 15. 106:366 Drink~2 1/4 " of Rain, 16. 103:366 Cauliflower Pizza, 17. 109:366 Soccer Field Sunset, 18. 110:366 Ready For Bees, Arriving Saturday!, 19. 111:366 Hippie Day at School, 20. 107:366 Barn Sunset, 21. 108:366 Flight, 22. 109:366 Bees Are Here!, 23. 110:366 Pollen, 24. 111:366 Crab Apple, 25. 112:366 Tired Boy, 26. 113:366 Ramp Love, 27. 114:366 Comb starts on the feed bag, 28. 115:366 Dandelion Seeds, 29. 116:366 Wings, 30. 117:366 Fried Rice Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Off And Running

It has been an super busy invigorating start to the new year!  I am looking forward to the weekend.  B has Saturdays off this month, woohoo!  After meetings this week, we are into our fair poultry project planning for 4h and this year it looks like we are going to get a breeding set of D'auccle chicks.  Check them out they are gorgeous birds.  Norwex is getting fast and furious start and research for another venture is advancing.  We have had amazingly mild weather, today making it to 50 degrees!  Speaking of 50 degrees, check out my latest post on A Sustainable life.

I was happy to see that my Post Cards To Blog Camp group is set to do a 365 project this year and I jumped in whole-heartedly, missing the inner challenge of a 365 last year.  I posted my first several pictures labeled that way.  Then at lunch today (a great three hour lunch) with a group of wonderful friends I realized that there is 366 days in this leap year!  Oops, I need to get those labels changed!

All this and I am managing to channel the serenity of my fair feathered friend above.
 I hope your year is off and running!  Happy Weekend!

Color My World

 This month's challenge over at Jillsy Girl Studio is all about color.  Something that our eyes, here in the North, are in desperate need of!  I'm sliding in at the last photo for a green row.  Our stonecrops are just poking up and this foggy morning covered in silvery dew droplets.

Wishing you a day full of color!