Life’s Sweet Ordinary — through my lens

Yesterday I received a beautiful photocard from another photographer. It was a delightful black and white of her smiling and joyful daughters. Lyn had added the lyrics to Jingle Bells on her photo creating a truly spirit-lifting greeting. My desire is to wish you a season that lifts your spirits.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, my greeting for you remains the same:

Warm wishes for the very best the holidays can offer: time for reflection, relaxation, family, friends, creativity, and tasty food too. Thank you to each of you who visits and leaves your comments. A special thank you to each of my new clients and your families. May you and yours enjoy a very happy new year.

Here’s to the past, the present, and your successful & joyful future.

Warm thoughts and joy from our home to yours,

Diane

(continuing to capture life’s sweet ordinary into the coming year … “see”  you in 2009)

We have favourites for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s the aesthetic, sometimes it touches us in a significant way, perhaps a sentimental reason or perhaps it simply gives us joy. The reason this is one of my favourite decorative items each Christmas is because it was something my Mom bought for me. She knew I enjoyed Santa images and, like her, this chubby, jolly fellow simply induces a natural smile from all those who see him.

His happy, jolly presence gives joy simply by being. Here’s another Santa that is one of my other favourites.

Usually the reason something has meaning to us, is far more important than the item itself. It bounds reverberating like a belly laugh from the heart.

“It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart.” 
~ Marjorie Holmes, American writer.

“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” 
~ Oren Arnold

Still struggling with what to get that hard-to-buy-for person? Don’t settle for another tie, box of chocolates, pair of slippers, or a duplicate CD. Struggle no more.

So how do you get a cool reaction and genuine smile on Christmas morning? Have a glistening little fabric bag with a Gift Certificate tucked inside towards an exclusive photo session by Diane Schuller. Gift certificates are redeemable for any lifestyle photography session for individuals, families or pets!

Make it easy and make it one of the most memorable presents that you give. Gift certificates can be for any amount towards a session and come wrapped, ready to place under the tree.

Photo sessions focus on capturing yours or your pet’s personality, creating a visual story of the family or the  bond that exists between you and your four-legged friend. Contact Diane at dianeschuller @ gmail . com to order yours today!

Diane is available in or around Grande Prairie and the Peace River region of Alberta, as well as the North Peace Region of Dawson Creek BC and surrounding areas, but is pleased to travel anywhere in Alberta to capture your precious moments.

Be a hit with the best gift under the tree this year!

Have you always thought baking bread was a long, laborious task? Well it’s time to shake that notion right out of your mind. First, I have a confession to make: I do make homemade pizza dough nearly every Friday night. I do it the long way by dissolving yeast in warm water, adding it to the flour, mixing and kneading, letting rise for an hour or so, then more kneading. A person needs to plan and have time for THAT! But, here’s the great news! Twice in the last month I have come across two different people who are making beautiful artisan bread but without all that time and without all that kneading.

Crusty aromatic bread that looks like this loaf I baked yesterday. I replaced 1/3 of the flour with rye flour even though this is the first time I’ve ever made this particular recipe and it was delicious. We enjoyed it still slightly warm married with a variety of cheeses and homemade chicken vegetable soup. You’re still wondering how this is possible. I let time do the ‘kneading’ and rising.

I used the recipe and instructions for the No-Knead Bread out of The New York Times (print it while it’s still online) adapted from Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery. Your patience will be rewarded if you let time do the work. It’s also called an 18 hour bread because that is how long you leave it (and that’s with no major mixing, no mess, no kneading) overnight to rise and proof. But since all bread needs that second rise for that excellent artisan texture, I’d suggest building in about 20-24 hours from the time you add the ingredients to your bowl to when it comes out of the oven.

I added my ingredients in a bowl right after clearing the supper table and let it do its thing overnight. The next day at lunch I punched it down, shaped it and let it rise (yes, no kneading) for a couple more hours. When I was ready for it a few hours later, I put it in the oven.

Give it a try. You won’t believe how easy peasy it is and how absolutely fabulous it is as well. I’m thinking I may make two next time and give one as a gift. The smell when it comes out of the oven is divine but the flavour will knock your December socks off!

PS: As you’ve likely noticed I’m swamped and haven’t had much time for blogging. This will likely be the case until after Christmas though I’ll try to post once or twice before then, if possible. Enjoy your bread and let me know how yours turns out!!

Drumroll please.

The winner of my People’s Choice 8 x 10 photo print is:

Cis of Cicero Sings. She wins her choice of one mounted (but not framed) 8 x 10 from my “possibles” gallery. For her people’s choice she choose 6331 (brilliant spider web with bokeh) and 3339 (red boat hull on still water).

As I mentioned in my original post, I made a second draw and the winner of the second place draw is:

gnubee (and I don’t believe she has a blog or Flickr account)

For second place in this draw I am making a pair of handmade photo cards using the 2 photos gnubee selected as her people’s choice, 6331 and 3339 (the brilliant spider web with bokeh and the hull of the red boat on still water).

Congratulations to both winners! Thank you to everyone who entered — your feedback was so very helpful.

The purpose of the draw was so I could get an idea which photos might have wide appeal when I open my Etsy shop. I have an account all set up but now I’ll get some prints professionally produced to add to the shop. Watch my blog for the grand opening!

As you can see, both the winners chose the exact same photos. That’s not surprising as the trend right from the beginning indicated both those photos as favourites. As I had guessed, the poppies were the next popular images so those may be added to the shop prior to spring.

My watermark will not appear on the winning prints and notecards, nor on any prints purchased at Etsy.

Thank you everyone for your valuable feedback!

If wishes came true, I would want to be photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

You know how people are creating lists of things they want to do before they die. Well, I haven’t done one of those lists and this wish of being photographed by Annie Leibovitz is simply a wish or a dream. It’s not something I’d try to make happen because she would never consider some nobody like me. She photographs famous people, politicians, and celebrities. But a gal can always make wishes.

dreamin

Annie Leibovitz has another book out, Annie Leibovitz at Work. I was reading a description of the book and now I’m wishing for her book! At least that is something that can come true.

 
Ever wonder what Annie Leibovitz’s favourite photography books are? Wonder no more, she tells us all right here!

What are you wishing for, or dreaming of?