Project 365/Day 6 Structure and Chaos

STRUCTURE AND CHAOS

My boss is a politico through and through. If you ever come to Jefferson City and want to see the Capitol and take a tour....ask for her.  She's  the best at it.  Plus, she tells you this really great story on your tour about how a bill really becomes a law.  I hate to tell you kids but Schoolhouse Rock may have left a few steps out.   

My photos today are just a reflection of my thoughts on the structure and the chaos that exist within my government and the world.   In one photo you have what looks like I made a postcard of the Capitol; in the others you have the church which sits right across the street, and you also have the branches of the tree going every which way and behind that the structure of the Missouri River bridge.  The stories that bridge could tell.   The secrets, the hopes, the fears...and the terrible traffic lanes filled with people who don't know how to merge.  

I think it's pretty amazing how anything ever gets done in politics, in this state, this country or any other.  In the end you have imperfect people representing imperfect people, whose lives are really chaotic and they're just hoping that the people they send here for 6 months of the year, will somehow bring a little structure to all of the madness.

My entire job is based on helping people navigate their way through a really chaotic system, but that chaotic system too is filled with people who are working their butts off every day doing the best they can for the kids and families they serve.  Nobody is perfect, but we're all in it together.  

"In the end I'm not as interested in what you have tell or sell, but how you choose to live and give" 

Project 365/Day 5

Creative Space

The shots tonight were taken in our office/craft/art space at home. 

These were all done without edits.  Time to start taking this camera out for a spin and seeing what it and I can do. 

Project 365 Day 4

AROUND THE HOUSE

These are some shots taken around our house tonight.  One of the things I've always loved about photography is taking something ordinary and seeing it in a new light, or highlighting something about an object that tells a story.  Some of the things I photographed are just everyday things, some are extraordinarily meaningful to me.  

It shouldn't be a secret that once I take the pictures, I do edit them.  I use the fantastic Lightroom software which I've found very intuitive to use.  It might seem like editing is cheating.  Shouldn't you be able to just take great pictures and let them speak for themselves?  Maybe.  But few photos come out looking just as you want them.  Sometimes you have increase the light to make them shine.  

This is the new workbench that my super talented M made this weekend.  I guess we are both on a new journey of taking a risk to create.

This is a sign that I absolutely love.  It was a gift and I really love highlighting it.  I look at this sign and it always reminds me to be grateful.  I have a wonderful life and I try not to take it for granted.   I also spent many years thinking happiness is something that happens later, when this, that, or the other comes to be.  Well it's not.  Happiness is a choice that happens every day and really every moment.  It seems like such a simple word, but this sign has really helped me move in a whole new, more focused yet more relaxed way of being.  

Nothing profound to say about our wine rack, other than I loved the colors in the photo...oh yeah and I need to dust.  

This is a flower from an arrangement that was featured at our wedding.  This arrangement had a number of flowers in it, each symbolizing a person that was lost and couldn't be there to share in our day.  It was important for M and I to acknowledge the people, experiences, and losses that brought us to such a joyous day.  This now sits on our dining room table as a beautiful reminder of life.  

This is a picture of one of several quilts that I have which were made by my Grandmother.  She is 102.  Up until a couple of years ago, she quilted every day.  She is an amazing person.  She made quilts for nearly every significant event in the lives of her children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.  I know that all of us cherish these pieces of art.  One day when she's gone we will all have these as an everlasting reminder of her love, strength and courage.  

xoxo- Kat

The fur kids

The Pups

Anyone who knows us well knows the Hubs and I have 4 beautiful, amazing dogs. They bring such joy and laughter to our home.  Below are some pics I've taken of them with the new camera.  I don't have one of Porthos yet because he just had a surgery on his ear this week and his vanity will not allow him to be photographed.  Don't worry, the regular readers of this blog will get more than their fill of these cuties.  We don't have human kids, so these will be the most photographed animals in CoMo.  

Project 365/Day 3

SNOW DAY! 

These photos are after our snowfall of about 5 inches last night.  The dogs have thoroughly enjoyed playing outside in it.  Thanks to our wonderful neighbor, we also got our driveway plowed.  We live in a really beautiful area, made more beautiful by a layer of snow.  Enjoy!

Project 365 Day 2- Reality sets in

So yesterday when I started all of this and I had edited a bunch of pictures from my trip to Texas last weekend (which turned out great for my first weekend with the camera), I was SUPER excited about starting the blog. Today.....well not so much. I desperately wanted my Day 2 picture to be something with snow, since we're expecting some significant snowfall tonight. Why wouldn't I think that my first time photographing outside, at night, in the snow, would turn out fabulously? But, this challenge isn't about being the next great photojournalist or still photographer. It's about learning about my camera, and documenting my adventures through the camera. So, for now, I will post my picture and go enjoy this snowy night with some TV and a cup of tea.

365- Day 1

Here is my first photo for my 365 photo challenge. This was taken in my current home town of Columbia, Missouri. I took this today on my way home from a secret trip to our newest local doughnut shop (Shout out to Harold's) for some treats for the amazing M for Valentines breakfast. This photo is of the sign for Columbia College, one of the 3 colleges/universities in our fair town. I would tell you all the settings and stuff that I used, but let's be real, I've only had the camera a week, I'm thrilled that I know how to take and edit a picture.