circadianreflections

Pumpkin Pie

I am sharing a post from my archives this year, I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving re-post from my archived posts. But first…here’s the latest in my life.

Big Baby Boy is coming home for the Holiday long week-end, and Baby Girl and the Handsome Surveyor are hosting Thanksgiving Dinner this year in their house. We were really excited about that, but dinner may be a bit late. I’m going to share something very private. Baby Girl is a woman who is a High Risk for disaster when it comes to having babies. I begged and pleaded, cried, and pleaded for her to get fixed after #1 Grandson because she was in such a terrible, a terribly sick place that I feared I, He-Man, Big Baby Boy, #1, Grandson, and his father would lose her. Thankfully, she had wonderful Doctors and they pulled her through, but she felt there was another baby in her life so she did not get fixed. Well, she was right #2 is in the oven and she’s 27 weeks 3 days pregnant. Today the fear of her past history of Preeclampsia reared its ugly head. Tonight she’s spending the night in the hospital as a precaution. Her labs are good, but they don’t want to risk it and let her go too early, so we’re praying for her morning labs to come out good, and she’s able to come home, and #2 Grandson our soon to be littlest who is fine continues to grow in the womb until the planned 37-week delivery.

Because of her history, they’re going to induce him at 37 weeks: I don’t think I shared it’s a boy did I? It’s a BOY! 37 weeks is thankfully today a full term baby. That’s 10 weeks away! I will be praying every day she stays healthy and can deliver him at 37 weeks.

While I was with her in the hospital tonight they had a premie baby specialist come in to tell her what would happen to the baby if she had to deliver him tonight or tomorrow and what medicines she needs now to help him survive. It was scary, and we hope, and pray with all our hearts and beings it doesn’t come to that!

As you can imagine my heart is full tonight with fear, and gratitude, and Thanksgiving for all the blessings I have in my life. With all that is going on right now in my life, I want you to know that you Dear Readers, you enrich my life and bring me joy, teach me, distract me when needed most, and bring me strength almost every day. Thank you so much for your conversations, and friendships I appreciate you dearly. You help prop me up when I’m feeling low, and life is punching me far too hard. Thank you! ❤

I wish all those celebrating in the US a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a lovely week. Be thankful for your family, and count your blessings. At the end of the day it’s all about your family, and the God you believe in to see you through this life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Circadianreflections Blog

I hope all those celebrating Thanksgiving had a lovely day, and are recovering from the “food coma”. We have lots of left-overs and enjoyed turkey sandwiches today, and there’s still pie! Life is good! 🙂

I’m staying away from all stores this week-end. I’m shopping after this week-end and online. I don’t want to deal with parking, traffic, or the crowds. Did you brave the traffic, parking hassles, and crowds today? Did you score any really great bargains? I never have. I guess that’s why I don’t miss going.

Tomorrow I hope to put away the Thanksgiving decorations, and get our tree up. I think Big Baby Boy is going to put up the Christmas lights for us this year. What a blessing he is!

I wish you all a great week-end!

Nikon Df| AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8g| Hand-held| Natural light

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Wild Wednesday 46/52 Tule Elk

The smokey morning air from the Northern California Camp Fire diffused the morning sun giving the look of Golden Hour on the Tule Elk in the field.

Tule Elk Herd

The largest male with that beautiful rack is the Alpha Male with part of his herd and a couple of young bachelors in Central Valley at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm @500mm| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Wild Weds. 45/52 The Spanish Knight

Hail, and well met Lords, and Ladies! A few weeks ago I went to the NORCAL Renaissance Faire which is always a bawdy good time.

By my faith, one of the most spirited shows and one of me favorite shows is the Tournament of Champions where the Knights from 4 different countries compete. They were: Sir William of England of course, France’s Knight, Spain’s Knight, and Scotland Knight.

I will showest thee a few likenesses of the Spanish Knight demonstrating his sword and javelin skills that I made with me Nikon Venetian box.

A strapping peacock aye?

The Spanish Knight_DMZ6481

Huzzah!

The Spanish Knight

HUZZAH!

The Spanish Knight_DMZ6511

He didst compete very well!

I have more likenesses to share with ye soon, but now I bid thee farewell, and a good week, I must away! 😜

Nikon D810| Nikkor 300mm f/4| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2018

more to come…

Wild Weds. 44/52 Halloween!

#1 Grandson doesn’t think our patio/entry is Ultimate Spooky. He’s right, but I really like the scarecrow we assembled together. He named him Charles.

Happy Halloween!

…and here are a few of the Ghosts, and Ghoulies that I’ve seen from walks around the neighborhood this month.

Enter if You Dare!

Ghosts

Skeleton

Wishing you all a SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN! ( she said in Count Dracula’s voice) 🧛‍♀️ 😜

Top image: Nikon D810| Nikkor 24-120mm f/4| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2019

Bottom images: iPhone 7 Plus| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Wild Wednesday 43/52 The Circle of Life

I’m behind reading and responding to blogs again, but this is my normal for most the year as I’d much rather be out and about with my camera than at home doing laundry, mopping, and scrubbing doing housework. Mind you, I like a clean and tidy house I just wish I wasn’t the one always responsible for doing it. Just sayin. Why I set myself up for that is probably what Psychology majors study. I don’t want to go there I just wish He-Man and I worked out something very early on that he would do laundry, dishes, and house cleaning when I was away from home. Funny, early on he didn’t see that coming in the future even though I love to travel and adventure.

Musings and rant over; I have been busy finishing the Maternity images for my friends with a pretty quick turn around time: Just two weeks! If I were a busy Portrait/ Event Photographer it might be a month or more before receiving your images from your event or session. Just so you know. Retouching and editing aren’t as easy as one might think it is. Hair and skin tone are a major time suck! En mon avis. Highlights, and Shadows…Oh vey! Landscapes, birds, and the night sky are ever so much easier to develop than people! For me anyway!

With the parents to be permission, here are a few images that I made during the session.

Working titles-

I love you with my whole heart

Harness_5908_07

Family Order

The Kiss

Harness_DMZ5945_05

Not knowing how to do Maternity Portraits as a professional knowing this park and a few poses really helped to make the session I hope a success for all of us. For me, it was challenging, and so much fun to shoot!

I put in my request to photograph their baby as a newborn. I hope that works out. I think that would be so much fun! I have props!

Next up I have Baby Girl’s “Save the Date/ Wedding Announcement images to develop, and she’s picking her wedding dress, and I am going to be there along with her best friends to see which dress she chooses this week-end. Although she’s warned me I’m not to make one. Not one remark about the price of the dress or her tattoos. I’ll hate both and be biting my tongue, but I will b/c it’s her life she’s over 18 and she has a dream dress in mind. I won’t say a word. I won’t say a word. That’s going to be my mantra all week! A and H will be there to hold my hand and keep my tongue in my mouth in case I start to. 😉 Baby Girl is so clever!

My Mom and Step-Father were visiting and stayed with us for several days, but they are flying home to FL as I type this. It was lovely and too short seeing them. They were busy visiting both sides of the family in two weeks. Their visit was especially nice on the heels of visiting them in FL. Now for me, it’s time to develop Baby Girl’s images, and I went to the Renaissance Faire one day this past week-end and have those images to go through and develop too.

It’s been a wild week of Family, Fun, and Adventure. I hope this post finds you well, and living the best life you can this week.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D| Hoodman Digital Film| Natural Light| PS CC 2018

more to come…

Wild Weds. 42/52 Withered and Tattered

Normally we see gorgeous, perfect Monarch butterflies being shown on blogs, and photo sharing sites, but there’s another side of their lives that shows us just how amazing and remarkable these insects are in addition to beautiful.

This Adult Male Monarch Butterfly has survived the wind, rain, and maybe snow. It probably avoided predators along its arduous migration, and perhaps it lost some of its wings being snagged on thorns.

Monarch Butterfly-Male

The average lifecycle of a Monarch Butterfly is 6-8 weeks. From the egg stage, then the catepillar stage, to the chrysalis stage is only 27-28 days. At 28 days the Monarch Butterfly emerges from its cocoon a fully grown monarch and lives 2-6 weeks. That’s remarkable! From that point its whole raison d’être is to mate so there will be eggs to lay so there will be the next generation of monarch butterflies.

I love how clever he is by landing here on this withered and tattered Showy Daisy-like flowers. He’s trying to blend in I believe.

I made this image in May in Santa Clara County. It’s back to my archives this week because I have been outside my box, and doing a bit of portraiture the last two week-ends. Two weeks ago a girl-friend and I teamed up to do a Maternity Session for some dear friends, and I’ve been working on those images, and this past Sunday afternoon I did a Wedding Invitation/Save the Date session for Baby Girl, and the Handsome Surveyor.

I can’t show any images from the Maternity Session as the couple hasn’t seen them, and I don’t have their permission to share yet, but Baby Girl and The Handsome Surveyor said it would be alright to share one image; one that won’t be used on the invitation.

People photography really isn’t my thing, and retouching even less so, but I do like this image. Of course, I am just a wee bit biased. 😃 I will probably go back and tweak this image after I get the Maternity Set done for my friends, and Baby Girl’s wedding invitation image done. I’m not used to working on the clock so to speak, so I’m feeling the pressure!

Haakma Zajac Session 04

I hope your week is going well, and you all have a lovely week-end!

Nikon D810| top image shot w/ Nikkor 200-500mm| bottom image shot w/ Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D lens at f/5.6| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2018

more to come…

Wild Wednesday 41/52 The Big Dipper and Bodie Chapel

The Big Dipper over the Chapel in Bodie State Park

I made this image back in August when several friends and I went over to the Eastern Sierras for a long week-end. Bodie State Park stays open at night several times throughout the summer so folks can enjoy the old Ghost Town at night.

Someone had put a light in the doorway to the Chapel and lots of photographers fanned out to photograph this iconic building in Bodie myself included, but seeing The Big Dipper above the Chapel is what caught my eye. The clouds were moving in fast so I acted fast hoping to get the whole constellation in my photograph.

The red light cast you see is a light spill from someone’s red headlamp behind me. They forgot to shut it off. This is the only shot of the Constellation I got over the chapel due to the cloud cover.

For the History Buffs:

Bodie was a mining town in the 1800’s. It was booming for several years after Gold was discovered there. What started with 20 people grew to 10,000 in just over 20 years!

It’s said there were once 65 saloons in Bodie. The town teamed with families, miners, farmers, robbers, prostitutes, and of course gaming halls, and opium dens.

In 1898 the mill burned down, and in June of 1932, the second of two major fires destroyed more of the town leaving what we see today.

There are more than 100 buildings in a state of “arrested decay” one can see while in Bodie. Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods.

In 1962 Bodie became a Register National Historic Landmark, and a State Historic Park.

For a timeline of Bodie’s History and more click the link below.

~https://www.bodie.com/

Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2018

more to come…

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