Josh Downs barbequed for us last night. Chicken, corn on the cobb and hand-cut fries. So good.
And then we walked to the park and played 'Fish Out of Water.'
I have no idea if this is an actual game or if it's just something our family made up, but the basic gist of the game is that one person is 'It' and everyone else is trying to avoid being tagged while running around on the playground structure. The caveat is that whoever is 'It' has to keep their eyes closed as long as they're on the structure, and can only open them when thy're not on the structure. And if (when they're eyes are open) they happen to see someone who is not on the play structure, they yell 'Fish Out of Water!' and that person is automatically it.
Now that I wrote down all the rules, I'm quite certain that it is not an actual game and that it is indeed something that my family made up (and that it is eventually going to result in a trip to the Emergency Room.)
Brought my camera and my 24-70mm lens with me, but quickly realized that when Josh was carrying it a few weeks back and the strap accidentally came unfastened, sending the camera and lens plummeting to the ground, that yes, indeed, it did cause a problem. Focus is off and that means an (expensive) trip to the Nikon Factory Service Center for my lens.
Ugh.
Did manage to get this one though and I love it, even if the focus is a bit off. (It's sharper on his shirt than it is on his face, which was the case with every shot I took, so I'm thinking the lens is back-focusing.)
The light was so pretty though - I could hardly stand it.
And some other random stuff...
1. I keep meaning to post this NFL Bad Lip Reading video. (My kids love it and anytime anyone in our house says, "An orange peanut for me? I accept you." we all crack up.)
2. My current Photographers' Workshop ended yesterday and I got this email from a student that just made my day/week/month:
Karen, I'm sure you get a lot of these long, sentimental emails after the classes are over, but hey, I guess I'll join the club. As I found myself not wanting to listen to the last lesson, I just kept telling myself, "Come on Taylor, it's only a photography class." And yes, it is only a photography class, but to me it was more than that. Before I started I could definitely take the occasional "good picture", but you have brought me so far! Not only have I learned the technical side of photography, I now see the beauty of it. Every time I pick up my camera, its because I want to capture a moment that I never want to forget, a moment I know that I want to share with someone someday. I have done more in the past 10 weeks than ever before. Yes, I'm only 18, so my photography career has been short, but I look forward to many more years to come. (Thanks to you.) I just want to thank you for the time and effort that you put into this class. Anyways, sorry for basically writing you a novel when I could have simply said: "You have truly taught me to shoot from the heart." Taylor.
3. Ok, this one is a favorite in our house too. (The "Night-tiiiiime, Day-tiiiiiiime." part is the best.)
4. Just finishing up this book that talks about how God wants us to take care of our hearts because they are the treasure of His kingdom. And that we need to fill them up the way a reservoir fills up with water and then is able to share its water because it is overflowing.
He says, "No wonder we are so short on grace and mercy. Life drains us dry and we just accept it as the normal way to live."
And...
"What will you bring to others if your heart is empty, dried up, pinned down?
And...
"You can't love well unless your heart is well."
It just has me thinking a lot about what I need to do to make sure that my own heart is well. (I've got a list going: Keep my nose in the Bible. Run. Get time outside of the house with my husband. Keep my workspace clean. Talk about things that really matter with my kids. Go to coffee with Coral. Hold my thoughts captive and align them with truth. Volunteer. Sit on Coral's back porch and drink Hard Pear Cider.)
5. Making some huge strides in my editing workflow in Lightroom and feeling really excited about it. (Thanks again Marilou for forcing me out of Photoshop and into Lightroom - it has been excruciatingly painful for an old dog like me, but worth it.)
6. Speaking of editing, Erin Cobb has all of her Clean Color tutorials on sale. (Some of her tutorials are being retired, so you'll want to get them before June 14th.)
5. Wishing I could have a re-do of last night because I would have played Fish Out of Water for longer.
Gosh...so much information in this post...and the first thing I thought of when I saw the photo was...LIGHT.....how very beautiful it was. I often wish that I could have a re-do, because I look back and realize how special the time was. Hooray for you in LR. I still struggle...but am taking baby steps I guess. Now to go check out the lip-reading vids......You are that special star in the sky for me....as well as your family.....you always shine!
Posted by: janel | June 03, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Those two videos are mainstays at our house too! In fact we say the Orange Peanut/I accept you all the time!
Posted by: Hannah | June 03, 2013 at 11:47 AM
I'm considering the Clean Color Tutorial for PSE. Can you tell me more from your experience? Clean and simple is my preferred look for editing my photos, and PSE is the tool I choose to use for now. Thanks for any insight you can provide beyond the website description of the tutorial.
Thanks,
Sherry
Posted by: Sherry G | June 03, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Love the light in the picture. We played fish out of water in the pool growing up but I think it was an add on to marco polo. The other weekend I was taking pictures and was disappointed they weren't as good as I had hoped/what I saw with my eyes. I was starting to get really frustrated and upset with myself and I remembered the blog post you wrote a bit ago and it reminded me everyone struggles. Thanks for being so real. :)
Posted by: martha | June 03, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Omgoodness the kids introduced us to the videos. I love the peanut part too.The other thing they like is the honey badger but it's got a lot of swear words.
Posted by: Kelli | June 03, 2013 at 03:02 PM
Oh no! sucks that the camera needs to go to Nikon :( BUT loving the rest of this post! Those quotes are beautiful and speak volumes.... And the email from your student - brings back so many memories of that last week (so many years ago)!!! Your classes are so special. I agree with every word she said!
Posted by: Jennifer S | June 03, 2013 at 03:02 PM
Here in MN my kids call that game "Magic." I always fear the same thing though when they play it...someone could get hurt. They sure do have fun playing it. I have two lens that don't seem to be focusing right. Don't like the expensive part of your comment about getting them fixed. Although it's something I need to do before I come to your workshop in Sept.
Love the shot of Cole!
Posted by: Sara Mangan | June 03, 2013 at 04:04 PM
I can't remember how I found your blog...it was back when you ended with Josh Downs etc. etc. You are inspiring to me although our youngest are our great grandchildren.
Posted by: Rebya Falk | June 03, 2013 at 05:09 PM
When we play fish out of water it's usually in the pool LOL. It has to swim around with their eyes closed and if they think someone is out of the water they Yell fish out of water. If they are wrong then they have to swim a set amount of laps and start the game again :)
Posted by: Deneen | June 03, 2013 at 06:10 PM
As I read the rules to fish out of water, I was thinking, at least, one of my kids would end up with an injury-and laughed when i read your er mention. Love that light (bummer about your lens though). And I love that you had a young student grasp the awesomeness of the class-you are a great teacher! I've been in a photographic funk lately, distracted by life and intimidated (shooting raw, fumbling my way through lightroom) by new things. I made myself pick the camera up last week to capture some candid sweetness happening, I felt the "intentional" moments being captured, and was excited and feeling more like "me" again (if that makes sense). The clean color sale couldn't be timed better!
Posted by: Sarah | June 03, 2013 at 07:04 PM
LOVE the eldridges and their writing.
Posted by: mandy friend | June 03, 2013 at 07:24 PM
In CO the game is called Groundies.
Posted by: Kate | June 03, 2013 at 08:15 PM
Yet another golden picture. In Seattle we call it Groundies, or Gravel. Fun stuff. And that animal video had me laughing until I cried. Thanks for that :)
Posted by: Kirsten J | June 04, 2013 at 06:22 AM
Up here it's called Grounders and the person that is 'it' has to keep their eyes closed the whole time.
(my first time commenting on your blog!)
Posted by: KarinaS | June 04, 2013 at 08:53 AM
Oh, and loving Taylor's letter. :)
Posted by: KarinaS | June 04, 2013 at 08:55 AM
We have played Fish Out Of The Water since I was little. The only difference is we play it in the pool
Posted by: Carol Stoler | June 05, 2013 at 01:29 PM