lime green

I don't know if it's her favorite.

I don't know if she knows it's my favorite on her.

I love how it feels against my neck when she hugs me.

I love how the neck of it crinkles when she reaches up to her face to hold her cheek when she laughs out loud.

I love how it wraps her upper arm when she reaches to hold his hand.

I love how it looks against the pink blanket we lay on when we go on family picnics.

I love how when she comes to help me cook, she wears it and doesn't cover it up with an apron.

I love how it covers her soft belly when she puts her feet up on the arm of the couch to cheer for the Lakers.

I love how it welcomes me as I lay my head on her shoulder when my heart is heavy.

I love how it holds my tears as I lean into her for comfort.

I love her, my mother-in-love and her lime green polo.

Share with us your love of lime green today for #sscolormonth.

weekending by sarah swanson-dexel

Sarah Swandon-Dexel shoots images like this with her Nikon or iPhone and spends her weekends seeking, seeing & savoring. Sarah can be found online at urban prairie forest and via Instagram as wilburandfern.

Share with us what you'll be savoring on this extended holiday weekend? Take lots of pictures and share them with us for our weekending series.

sweetness

Some people seek adventure and prefer constant activity in their lives. And while I fully admire these personality types, I am not naturally that way. It's not that I don't enjoy new and exciting experiences. But my pace to life is slow and steady. And while this fact often makes me feel guilty or lazy, I am finally starting to come to terms with it.

My idea of a perfect day includes a bright Sunday morning spent drinking coffee and sharing cinnamon rolls with my family. Throw in a walk to the park and I'm a happy camper. Simple and sweet.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

My Medicine

Last weekend, my son had and allergic reaction and went into anaphlyaxis.  I rushed him to the hospital where I was quickly pushed aside while an ER team immediately began working on him and ultimately, putting him on a ventilator. Once it was done and I could see even the doctor give a sigh of relief, my husband and I then awaited the arrival of the critical care team from our local children's hospital to transport him.  It was then that I began to document what was happening in photos.  I needed to.  I've said many times that my camera has been my saving grace. I couldn't do anything else at that time and it was the only thing I felt I had any control over. 

Fortunately, my son made a quick and complete recovery and once we were home, I uploaded my photos into a set on Flickr.  I wanted to share them and I was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure how people would respond to the rawness of the photos, but I wanted, needed, for others to see, to understand.   I then shared them on a Facebook allergy page that I follow regularly.  The owner of the page contacted me and asked if she could share them with others because she thought it was important to do so.  I said yes and didn't give it another thought. 

Immediately my inbox began filling up with messages from people all over the country that I did not know.  Some shared their similar stories with me, others just wanted to tell me that they were glad everything had turned out okay, but all of them thanked me for sharing my photos with them.  It was at that moment that I knew I did the right thing.  As of this writing, those 10 photos have been viewed over 4500 times. 

How many times have you taken a photo that really didn't mean much to you but to someone else it meant so much more?  How many times have you heard, Oh my gosh, I love that photo!  Can I have it?!  I've said many times that I believe everyone brings their own medicine to this world.  Next time one of your photos touches someone, take a moment and realize that perhaps your photography is your medicine, too. 

Today, share those photos that have may have been your medicine...to you or to someone else.

two of our best

It's probably no secret that I use my iPhone about 99% of the time. I'm the first to admit that it's become my most favorite muse since I got it. And Instragram is my favorite way to use my iPhone. I've only recently begun to try different apps but I keep going back the the quick, easy and ever-effective Instragram.

I'm not the only one around here that is smitten. My teenage daughter also has been stung by the iBug (and she doesn't even have an iPhone). So, we spend our time passing my phone back and forth. Logging each other in and out and in again into our Instagram accounts. We shoot and share and show each other our handiwork. We oooo and aaaah at our work. We get excited about how we each see the world, compare secrets of each shot, we encourage each other.

Although it can be challenging sometimes, the trading back and forth, the logging in and logging out, I actually really enjoy it. I like getting to be a part of my daughter's photography process like this. I get to watch and witness her as she creates her art. It's a gift. At least until she gets her own iPhone.

I chose to share these two shots today as our Best Shot Monday. The image on the left is her best from this week. The right image is mine. I think we make a pretty good creative team.

Won't you share your Best Shot from the past week on this fine Monday?