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The photograph above is at the park where local elementary school children will shortly have their annual Easter Egg Hunt!  I displayed photos of it last year and will have photographs of this year’s hunt also.

The photographs of these little critters are so precious I just had to share them. These are newborn lambs which  I photographed when I visited the local university farm with a friend just yesterday.  Awwww….

Enjoy this very special time of year and as always I joyfully wish to each of you…

“Keep Clicking!”

~creative designs~

YOUR DAILY SURVIVAL KIT:

Toothpick-to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone,
including yourself.

Rubber band-to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always
go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid-to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or
someone else’s.

Eraser-to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That’s okay, we
learn by our errors.

Candy Kiss-to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment
everyday.

Mint-to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family me.

Bubble Gum-to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish
anything.

Pencil-to remind you to list your blessings every day.

Tea Bag-to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that
list of blessings.

This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day.

I received this as an e-mail message.  Thank-you to the anonymous author.

Wishing you love, gratitude, friends to cherish, caring, sharing,
laughter, music, warm feelings and God’s grace  in your heart.

This was a very positive experience for me.  Although I was hesitant to be ” The Featured Artist of the Month”  at The Grind Coffeehouse and Cafe in Cedar City, Utah, I am glad that I took the initial step into sharing with others what I have found beautiful and unique.

Nature offers us so many opportunities to experience the awe inspiring feelings that we feel-and often want to capture.  My mantra, “Keep Clicking”, urges us all to photograph and share the beauty that encompasses us in the great outdoors.

Although the theme for this exhibition was “Nature’s Beauty”,   I have not decided upon a theme for the next exhibition.    There is so much we see each day that we store in our hearts and minds that is  interesting to photograph.  The changing seasons,  children’s curiosity, their playfulness, and expressions of frustration-and delight!-their intense concentration on new objects in their worlds,                                                    pets and other animals, macro shots, and everyday living are all images that are interesting to a camera’s eye.

My list could go on and on so I will conclude with a request for idea favorites from all.

As always I joyfully wish for each of you to

“Keep Clicking”

~creative designs~

IHOP again held its National Pancake Day on February 28, 2012. Since 2006, IHOP has raised over ten million dollars to support charities in the communities they serve.

Guests throughout the country were invited to celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP by enjoying a free short stack of three buttermilk pancakes.  In return for the free pancakes, guests were asked  to consider a donation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals© and other designated local charities.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, helping local kids.

Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care. The Children’s Miracle Network’s mission is to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

IHOP is again celebrating its National Pancake Day, which began in 2006.  Since then, IHOP has raised nearly eight  million dollars to support charities in the communities they serve.

On February 28, 2012, guests throughout the country are invited to celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP by enjoying a free short stack of three buttermilk pancakes.  In return for the free pancakes, it is suggested that guests consider a donation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals© and other designated local charities.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than four billion dollars, most of it one dollar at a time.

These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care. Children’s Miracle Network’s mission is to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

This last Dec. I wrote a page entitled, “As We Journey Together” to the visitors of this web site.  The thoughts in that article were obviously uppermost in my mind, but for no particular reason.  I remember thinking at the time that I hoped each and every one of you read and absorbed the article.

I did not, however, realize that I would reread that article several months later and know that I had lived through some personal challenges of my own because I had listened to my own advice!  Often  I feel something on my heart and share it with you.  When I did so that time, it was an assurance to all of us.

“As we journey together”, there will be times when we hear a message that seems unrelated to our lives at that time.  However, I just experienced my own words coming back to help me when I needed them most.  At that time, I believe we hear more clearly.  We hear-we are listening-with our hearts.

Blessings,

~Judy~

The very, very special position of being a Grandma should feel old hat for me by now I suppose.  An “old hat feeling” indicates that you no longer have that tingly feeling of anticipation to see loved ones-in this case our beloved grandchildren.

My dear husband can testify to seeing excited tears flow as we approached our son’s home where our son, his wife, and our two grandchildren waited our arrival.  We are blessed to have both a grandson and granddaughter. Grandma “old hat” feelings?

I think not.

 There will be more times of loving, hugging, crying, reading, playing and laughing together.

So, I ask myself, “Will I ever lose that tingly feeling of anticipation when I get to be with our grandchildren, will I ever feel differently about being a grandma?”

Again, I think not!

To all of you~enjoy every single moment with your loved ones and

as always~

Keep Clicking!

~creative designs~

May we all possess grace, humility, and loving acceptance of Our Father’s divine plan for our lives. May we always acknowledge that His love will sustain us as we walk closer to Our Heavenly Father each day.

Sincere Wishes for New Year 2012,

~Judy~

It’s a great title-or should I say a “grand” title?

In order to truly share, I want you to imagine yourself sitting in front of a blazing fireplace as you enjoy these photographs.

Your hands are cupping a hot chocolate, steam floats above the cup rim, and you snuggle down inside a throw, you call a loved one to join you and your “pictorial winter” begins.

Isn’t Nature beautiful?  As we enjoy these photographs, let us remember that Our Heavenly Father has given us this beauty and thank Him eternally.  Bring beauty into your life with Him.

As always,

“Keep Clicking”

~creativedesigns~

Singing the joys of the holiday season, the bonds of everlasting friendships, and the blessings given to us by Our Heavenly Father.

To You & Yours from

~creativedesigns~

Some may wonder why, after such a great day of culinary delights, Our Day of Thanksgiving,  so recently, we enjoyed  yet another indulgent meal.

Well, it actually came about as we talked about “traditional” holiday recipes and started checking various web sites as well as good ole’ cookbooks.

First, we present the menu:  duck, yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, a yam pudding and English trifle for dessert.

Nothing fancy, but oh, so delicious! Every dish was prepared with a “twist”-a new way(to us) of preparing these foods.  That was the whole idea-to try foods prepared in a traditional manner- not just the same way we  always fix them.

To our surprise we found brussel sprouts mentioned as a  staple for all traditional English holiday meals on every web site.  However, these were not just the same old vegetables we eat for our health.  With new recipe  in hand, I added the twist that made this vegetable special.  Yam pudding anyone?  Something new again and there were no leftovers, to be sure.

When I told a friend we were thinking about roasting a duck, she e-mailed me the following recipe:

Quick, easy and tasty, this roast duck recipe is British cooking at its best.  A traditional British recipe, this roast duck is so easy to make.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 90 minutes
Serves: 4

Use 1 free-range whole duck, around 4 1/2 to 5 lb.
Directions:
1 Pierce the skin of the duck all over with a skewer. Place on a rack in the kitchen sink, and pour 2 large saucepans of boiling water over it. Pat it dry with kitchen towel and leave it to dry on a plate in the fridge for an hour. You do this to release the subcutaneous fat layer under the skin to give crispy, not fatty, duck.

2 Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the duck on a rack or trivet over a deep roasting pan because it will release around 10 oz. of fat into the pan.

3 Add plenty of sea salt and roast for 90 minutes. Strain off the fat.

4 Don’t try to carve a duck; joint it.

Remove the legs just as you would a chicken.
Now take the whole breasts off the bone, which will make the duck go much further. Ease your knife along the breast bone then slice the breast. This will provide four good servings of tender meat without any fattiness.

Per serving: 445cals, 21g fat, 6.5g saturated fat, 0g carbohydrates

This gives you perfect roast duck every time. Once you are confident with the method, compliment your roast duck with delicious sauces. Orange sauce is a classic.

Orange Sauce Directions:
First cook shallots in butter, add flour to thicken, then whisk in chicken stock and fresh orange juice. Simmer until thick, then add Cointreau and orange segments. For 4 servings, you’ll need 4 small oranges, 2tbsp Cointreau and 9fl oz chicken stock.

You can also make a quick and easy sauce with dried and bottled cherries. Sauté an onion, then add some port and cherries, and simmer until reduced. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Brussel Sprouts with Walnuts

One of the most important parts of the traditional English Christmas dinner is brussel sprouts. Though in England they’re often served with chestnuts, this recipe calls for walnuts. Even people who groan at the very mention of brussel sprouts will like these-probably. Plus, they’re healthy! Serves 3-4.

Ingredients: 1 lb. smallish brussel sprouts

1 1/2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 C. chopped walnuts salt (optional)

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and bring a pot of water to a boil. 2. Wash and trim brussel sprouts. Trim off bottoms, remove outside leaves, and slice an X across the stem. (This will help the sprouts to cook evenly.) 3. Dump sprouts in the boiling water. Simmer for 5 minutes, then drain well. 4. Return sprouts to the pot, then stir in oil, vinegar, black pepper, and salt, if desired. 5. Place brussel sprouts into a greased shallow roasting pan and bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking. 6. Remove sprouts from oven and stir in chopped walnuts. Bake 5 minutes. Serve hot. 

These are just a few of the recipes we used.  Part of the fun of this holiday meal is investigating the history of the ” traditional English holiday meal” and choosing the recipes.

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season 

 ~Rich & Judy~

Although we all celebrated our ” Day of Thanksgiving” yesterday,  that should only be “the tip of the iceberg.”

Think about it, most of us overindulged ourselves at the dinner table.  Yes, we gave thanks for everything on that table as well as our friends and family.  

Did we “overindulge” in  our time of prayer and thanks? 

                                      Have a Blessed Day

                                        ~Rich and Judy~

PHOTOGRAPHER:

1. REMEMBER, USE NURSERY RHYMES, ETC. W/CHILDREN
2. The Rule of Thirds is a rule that can be effective to break –
placing your subject in the center can sometimes create a wow! type of image or even creative placement with your subject right on the edge of a shot can sometimes create interesting images.(The looking off-camera rather longingly pose
can be shot with the subject on the far opposite edge from where the subject is looking.)
3. Flash – When shooting in low light with a flash in auto mode
your camera will choose a faster shutter speed than normally, of course. This means your subject will be well lit and if the subject is moving it will be frozen. The result will be a sharp image.
a. The problem with this is that it can also leave your subject
lit up too brightly and can leave the background dark as there is not enough time for the camera to get any ambient light.

Photography Poses
Family Poses:
*1. Mom sits in chair, holding infant in lap. Child/children kneel on the side of the chair holding chair arms. Dad stands behind the chair, leaning in somewhat.
*2. Mom & Dad hugging.
a. Alternately, one child standing on each side, looking on.
b. Alternately, same pose, but children are rolling their eyes.
*3. Mom & Dad, or 2 children or combination thereof sit on floor, back to back, knees bent, feet flat on floor.
*a. Alternately, same pose, but subjects rest folded arms on
knees and rest head on arms, with faces forward, of course.
*b. Alternately, same pose except two sets of people sitting
several feet apart, mom with one child and dad with one child, each set looking sweetly at the other set. Mom holds baby if there is an infant.
*4. Mom & Dad hold infant horizontally(each with long arms extended where child lays), looking down at child.
*a. Alternately, same pose, with other child or children standing beside parents-looking on.
*aa. This also helps create ‘story’ within the image.
*5. Have the subject be looking off camera-longingly, with mystery, or laughingly.
*a. Alternately, same pose but subject is half-grinning. Also,
especially in an outdoor setting, the subject may be pointing to something off- camera. A friend of mine did this in a candid photo and it was an interesting shot.
*6. Get up high and shoot down on your subject or lay on  the ground and shoot up. Either way you’ll be seeing your subject from an angle that will add interest rather than a normal face-forward shot.

*7. Individually, the mother and father hold the infant close to their own face/chest as they look down at infant as infant’s head is held by the parent and positioned face forward to the camera. The parent’s head/face will be 1/2 to 3/4 view and infant’s face is 3/4 to full view.

Child/children Poses:
*1. Sitting or standing, wearing different kinds of hats
*2. Sitting, wearing hats and reading books.
* a. Alternately, one child sits in chair or on cube, the other on the floor, reading from a book together that is held by either child.
*3. Smaller child sits on cube with toy or book in lap, taller child stands or sits on floor and interacts with other child.
*4. Child or children playing with Christmas toys or props.
*5. Anytime, or especially when children are active, set the camera to take multiple shots in quick succession.

Note:  All poses are for suggested use.  The poses specially marked are those I am using in a family photo session tomorrow.

                                                                   As Always,

                                                               ”Keep Clicking”

                                                             ~creative designs~

Formal Portrait Photography
A formal portrait is a portrait that is shot when the subject is posing, as opposed to a candid shot, when the subject is being natural and most often unaware. However, the photographer provides a controlled environment with appropriate lighting, of course.

The subjects in formal portraits shouldn’t look “stiff” and “posed”.  Try to get them to look and behave naturally(pretending is good!).

For any pose in portrait photography to be successful, you need to try to relax your subject and get them to be themselves. I have a few little joking quips in mind to ease nervousness and tension. With children, there is often the “turning the head at the wrong time” behavior. To combat this, I sometimes say a few nursery rhymes to little ones and bring out my “inner actress” to capture their attention. Build a rapport with both adults and children before the shoot so they can feel at ease with you.

The classic formal headshot is of the head and shoulders. The subject is cropped across the shoulders just below the collar line. This is a clean-cut look.

Try not to shoot your subject straight-on as this usually gives you very flat, static-looking portraits. It also exaggerates the width of the shoulders. A good tip is to get your subject to sit on a chair at a 45 degree angle to the camera. If the subject is standing, the body should still be angled the same
way. This also helps us to “lose five pounds” on camera.

You needn’t use this method all of the time though. Try full body shots. This gives you the opportunity to show your subject’s clothing, as well as any props you may be using. Props are
used in seasonal photography especially. Remember to have the subject use the 45 degree angling of the body technique.

Multi-colored ribbons of autumnal colors grace our hills and mountains.

We have so many reasons to be thankful.    When I decided to write this article it was to emphasize that we should all stop and count our blessings.

I am blessed by our glorious Heavenly Father.  However,  I realize that  ” I want”  too much.  I’m not talking about material things.  I am able to share those things because I have everything I need and more.

I want to be closer to my children and grandchildren.  I do not want to have to pray constantly for our country to be what it once was.  I am afraid about what our children and grandchildren will have to handle because of the state of our union. I want everyone to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  I want safety for those serving our country at home and overseas.  I want young children to be healthy and to become educated.  I want world peace.

Pretty lofty desires, aren’t they?

Praise the Lord each day, hug and kiss your loved ones, and join me in a prayer of thankfulness.

~creative designs~