Some "Fair"ly Random Observances

So, finally went to the Tulsa State Fair last night.  I have been looking forward to it.  Like a child, I dearly enjoy the whole fair atmosphere.  I think it makes Kevin laugh.  I know it doesn't effect him in the same way, although I know he enjoys it. 

So here are some random thoughts about the fair this year.

1.  The butterfly house is very much worth the admission price. You really need to see them being born in  
     another area first. You need to see and hear the entire process. The tent contains thousands of  
     butterflies and you can have many of them land on you.

2.  I've learned that anything, and I mean anything, can be either dipped in chocolate or deep fried and bought at a food booth at the fair for the low low price of about $3 a bite.  There were the old standards, which we stuck to.  Corn Dogs, Funnel Cake, Cotton Candy, Fudge....... but there were also such delicasies as chocolate dipped cookie dough (almost went for that), deep fried cheese cake (again intriguing)........
deep fried stick of butter (no one was buying it), and Krispy Kreme burgers (loaded cheeseburgers with Krispy Kreme doughnuts for buns (yeah they were busy) .

3.  I have learned that certain rides have the ability to induce nausea in some people without ever having to board them.  Seriously, it wasn't the corn dog, fudge, and funnel cake..... I don't think.....
Swinging at the end of a ginormous arm at about 60-70 miles an hour doesn't appeal to me.  Nor does a 4 story free fall in a stationary seat, or a spinning ball attached to bungie cords. 
However there are a few standards that capture my inner child every time.....

4.  The butterflies and carousel horses were not the only animals....

I love the barns.  Did I mention something about an inner child?  :0D

I feel a butt coming.....

Anyone you know?

He was just kidding....

Duck, Duck.........

They are Zoe (left) and Sparky (right) and they are in love.... haha

Posing for pics

So, overall, the fair is still as much fun as I remembered.  And my date was the best ever.  





In My Family's Hands

I have found that among the things I like to photograph are hands and feet.  I don't know why.  They just seem to hold so much character.  I have good memories involving both.
I remember holding my daddy's hand when I was little.  It seemed so huge in my small one.  I liked that.
I also remember my mom's soft cool hands on my face when I didn't feel well.  Best medicine ever!
I remember Rob's little feet at our wedding.  We had placed silver dollars on the stage for the little ones to stand on.  They got to pick them up afterward.  Rob's dress shoes were discarded as soon as the I do's were said.
Brin's little feet were a favorite target of kisses when she was brand new. 
At one of the more recent family reunions on my dad's side... we took pictures of all the siblings' hands.  So many stories in those hands... and so much love.
Here are a few of my favorite hands and feet..... hopefully many more to come.

Solitude

I have made a discovery about myself.  While I sometimes enjoy being left alone, I hate being left alone.  Yeah... I know..... huh?
Kevin doesn't have to be away often, but tonight is one of those times.
It reminds me that while I may like to just be quiet together, I do like the together part. 
I guess I prefer to share my solitude.  It's nice to have someone I can do that with. 

Moments When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

In my brief history of photography, my favorite photos are the ones that are unposed, spontaneous..... candid. 

In the moments we think that no one is looking, we let down our guard and our true selves shine through.

A grandson who "isn't tired" lets down his guard, and sleeps in his Pop's arms.  A granddaughter who wasn't sure about Nana's camera begins to play with Mom and Dad, and that precious grin sneaks out.

So what do people see in me when I let down my guard?  What are folks learning from me when I don't think they are watching?  There is a poem I like that says it well.

When you thought I wasn't looking

Author: Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,

and I wanted to paint another one.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you feed a stray cat,

and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I heard you say a prayer,

and I believed that there was a God to talk to.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I felt you kiss me goodnight,

and I felt loved.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw tears come from your eyes,

and I learned that sometimes things hurt,

but it's alright to cry.



When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,

and I wanted to be everything that I could be.



When you thought I wasn't looking,

I looked....

and I wanted to say thanks for all the things
I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.
 
So.... make all your moments the kind you would be proud for folks to see.

The Little Things....

There is a saying that life is not in the number of breaths you breathe, but in the moments that take your breath away.  It has struck me, since I started viewing the world through the eye of my camera about a year ago, that this is so very true.  So many things have grabbed my eye lately, that in days past I would have simply passed by.  What do I mean?  The wonder of an artistic spider, the colors God spashed her with, and the sac of life she quietly created today.  She is a small whisper of God.

What do I mean by a whisper of God?  Consider this.

"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and  stood at the mouth of the cave.'"  I Kings 19:11-13

Don't get so caught up in the concerns of today and plans for tomorrow that you miss the whispers.

Allow your breath to be taken away..... often.