June 10, 2016

The View from Here


I find myself reaching for my real camera more and more these days. I have been learning to shoot in manual and to be honest, it feels like a pretty big deal to me. It only took me close to 5 years to just do it already and while it's not quite second nature to me yet, it is at least third or fourth nature!


The thing I love about photography is that it really helps you see the beauty in every day life. This is part of my view as I sit at our dining room table. I find myself drawn to this spot more and more. I get lost in the serenity.


Until I am finally pulled outside to sit at that bistro table. It has become a favorite place for breakfast, coffee and tea.


This morning I was lucky enough to have company for my morning tea since my guy is just back from a trip to Boston and working from home.  We sat in this spot talking about the future and our excitement about what's ahead for us as the wind blew and the birds chirped. That's good stuff right there. Those are the moments I want to remember at the end. Our hearts were full. I love that he calls our backyard a sanctuary. I can't imagine any better feeling about the place I live.


His and hers. Lest you think he's a gun nut, there is a story behind this cup and in reality he's really more of a bow and arrow nut. Fanatic. Lunatic. Don't even get me started and please don't get him started! ;)


The week has been full of all of the regular kinds of things: errands, cleaning, weeding, painting and baking.


But then it has also been full of yoga, walks, bike rides, lovely lunches and creating. This week I did the unimaginable. I often go the entire summer without carving out studio time but I decided I need it to be different this year. Plus my youngest is now 15 and not in much of a Mommy mood these days soI finally got around to doing a project I have been meaning to get to for years. Many, many years. An embarrassing number of years. But I did it!


I've decided I need to spend less time planning, dreaming and pinning and more time doing. So simple, yet so difficult. I needed to get back to my happy place because truly there is no better view in our home than the view from my work table.

11 comments:

  1. I'm happy for you to have found time in your workroom. It seems I spend an awful lot of time thinking about and pinning projects, too. Sometimes I have to just throw caution to the wind and START something! And it makes me happy as a clam to be in the middle of a project.

    I always enjoy your blog:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Manual is a HUGE deal, JJ! Took forever for it to click with my brain. Your pics are so gorgeous. That last one makes my heart go pitter pat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So peaceful...
    The dishes in your dish rack...❤️
    I find I use my phone camera more now than my real camera but when I do pull it out is am always so happy. You have inspired me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful views inside and out! My son is a professional photographer. I had his first DSLR camera and I vowed that I'd learn how to shoot in manual mode. I even bought a recommended book to teach me to do so. Never got around to it, and then my son's room at school was broken into and his beautiful, expensive camera, lenses, and other photography equipment were stolen. He had to borrow "my" camera in the meantime. So now I'm even further behind!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You so inspire me, Jen---your pictures (and your photography is nothing to sneeze at. I, too, am trying to get back to using my two good cameras), and what you photograph. The deck and your cozy tables and mugs. so serene. It looks like life is good. Do I sense a change coming on?

    It's very liberating to get back to something we love. I'm doing a bit more reading and less fussing over the house and keeping it perfect. Is that a good thing? I feel pretty good!

    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree with you... we need to "do" more and pin and plan less! I get caught up in watching YouTube and Pinterest, planning what I want to make, when I usually end up just sitting down and doing something on the spur of the moment... and that is the best way to create. Your yard and deck are so lovely and peaceful looking... how wonderful to sit outside at the little table and make plans and dream together!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love your little spot in the backyard. : ) I would be out there all day if allowed to. I also need to work on "one day" projects so I don't one day say I wish I would have. Have a great weekend Jen!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can definitely relate to that "more doing" thing. I feel like it takes forever for me to get started and then it's time to get my daughter from school. I don't know if it's the fact that I'm almost 50 but I feel like my mind is on overload all the time. I thought it would get quieter as I got older. Then again, I never thought I'd have a six year old and have my mother living with us at this age. UGGHH!!! : ) xoxo

    ~ Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your home ... you view ... your photos - especially that last one in your studio.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your yard--so much beauty and I love how many sweet "landing" spots there are. I have found that while my iPhone allows me to capture SO much everyday life (which I'm so thankful for), anytime I pull out my big camera, I fall in love with it all over again. And yay for creating this summer. I need to work on that too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. gorgeous picutures!

    good for you using your "real camera"! shooting in manual is the best way to really learn to "see" what you are photographing, the different areas of light, the composition, etc. in addition to learning to think on the fly.

    i worked with a very manual (as in having to hand forward the film after every pic) medium format camera for twenty some odd years. i sometimes still find myself trying to adjust the (non-existant) lens on my iphone :). that said, i do love the easiness and instant gratification of the iphone camera!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave me a note. It's always so appreciated.