“It always amazes me to look at the little, wrinkled brown seeds and think of the rainbows in ’em,” said Captain Jim. “When I ponder on them seeds I don’t find it nowise hard to believe that we’ve got souls that’ll live in other worlds. You couldn’t hardly believe there was life in them tiny things, some no bigger than grains of dust, let alone colour and scent, if you hadn’t seen the miracle, could you?”
— L.M. Montgomery, Anne’s House of Dreams
My husband, who is always amazingly supportive of all of my hobbies & whims, got me a new camera lens for my birthday — the Nikkor 105mm 2.8d — and it is wicked cool (pardon my New Hampshire-speak). Can I just say that I am so grateful to be married to someone who not only knows what I want, but knows what I want even before I know that I want it?
I’ve never used a macro lens before, and this one is manual focus on my camera body, so I’m anticipating a bit of a learning curve. Numerous wise people have noted that it’s not just how much you practice, but how far you push yourself outside of your comfort zone, that makes the real difference when it comes to getting better at something.
I give you my inception — withering tulips.
“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”
Lillia: This week you are on vacation from school. I have to admit that I have really missed our lazy mornings. Now that you’re back in school, it seems like we are always rushing. On Sunday the Easter Bunny gave you a book about drawing animals and you have been spending a lot of time looking at it and trying out the different techniques. We have other “learn to draw” books, but they are really too simple for you. This new guide is for more advanced artists…which is what you are now!
Zane: Your egg obsession continues! The Easter Bunny gave you a mother hen with baby chicks that “patch” (your word for “hatch”) from eggs, and also a book all about how robins build their nests and take care of their eggs and babies. I am so touched that you want to be a mother bird. I guess it means I’m doing something worth imitating, which is not only a huge responsibility but also a great honor.
“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”
Lillia: We had a great conversation yesterday about how school can be like a prison. When I offered that you could still be homeschooling and NOT be in a prison, you said you’d rather be with your friends in prison than without them. My little homeschooling heart felt a twinge of sorrow, but I am really happy that YOU are happy at school, and that you have such good friends.
Zane: Haircut time! You are a charmer extraordinaire wherever we go, but particularly when we go to see Joanne. For such a wild man, you are an absolute saint when getting your hair trimmed. It’s a big relief not to have to fight over at least a few things my beautiful, willful, little boy.