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- 300?! I’m not even sure I comprehend that number.
(In case you aren’t sure what I’m referring to: today is Abby’s Saturday – #300!)
How about this statement: I have taken (over) 300 photos specifically of my dog. Does that make me a crazy dog-owner-lady, or what?
I know I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again – if you aren’t aware, this whole “Abby’s Saturday” thing started as simply an exercise in me breaking out my camera every week. When I started this “project” (I guess you can officially call it that), I was still working full-time & photography was simply my little tiny side-hustle-dream. So, I looked around & found the only willing subject I had access to: our dog, Abby.
It’s actually really cool to think how much this “project” has taught me & grown me as a photographer. I have experimented with light, different locations, and I’ve played with my flashes in ways I literally never would have without the “responsibility” of coming up with a new Abby-photo every week. And this week is the perfect example of that! I stumbled upon a technique I’ve never heard of before & decided to give it a try – that blue “glitter” effect is straight-out-of-camera – no Photoshopping required. Of course, that doesn’t mean I haven’t ever Photoshopped an Abby’s Saturday photo – I definitely have added effects, edited out distracting elements, and let’s not forget all the heads I’ve swapped when the kids are in the frame.
I’d be foolish to claim that I haven’t learned a single thing from this little weekly project I decided (on a whim) to undertake almost 7 years ago. In fact, it would be more truthful (and honest) to credit this little weekly project with my growth as a photographer. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say: I would not be the photographer I am today without this little weekly project. So, cheers to 300 posts & cheers to the next 300! - It is Memorial Day weekend and that means it is the “unofficial” start of summer! I won’t lie – this weekend completely snuck up on me & I didn’t even realize it was Memorial Day weekend until like, last week. I’m sure living in “quarantine” for 8+ weeks has something to do with that. But, it’s a 3-day, holiday weekend, we’re all at the Lake House, the weather is glorious (for the first time ever – it always seems to rain Memorial Day weekend) and life is suddenly so much brighter.
- Since we didn’t have anything going on (see “quarantine life”), my Mom & Ruby, the kids & I came down to the Lake on Wednesday. It’s been SO good to be here, in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Life feels right again. Not being able to come down & open up the Lake House at the beginning of April – like my family has for the last 50+ years – just felt so wrong. Thankfully though, with the restrictions finally being lifted (even if it’s just a tiny bit), my parents were able to come down last weekend & open things up – allowing us all to come down & enjoy this place this weekend (and the rest of the summer).
- So, after running 3 times a week for the last 11 (or is it 12?) weeks, I didn’t want to simply let that endurance I’d built up go, simply from being away from home. So, I brought my running shoes with me to the Lake. Thursday morning dawned & I invited my sister Ruby to go for a run with me. She isn’t really a runner, but she’s a fit little person – plus, I have literally never run anywhere but on a treadmill, so I knew there would be a bit of a learning curve to running on the road anyways. Thursday morning was cold – it was only about 46º outside. The wind was blowing and there was a fine mist in the air. But, running we went. I won’t lie: it was a bit torturous. Our ears ached, we both came home with this weird cough in our throats, and it was just different from anything I (and she) had done before.
We refused to let that deter us. We got up this morning & tried again. This time, it was about 58º outside, it was foggy, but there was no wind. What a huge difference that 12 degrees made!! We actually had a ton of fun running this morning! We ran the exact same “course”, but we were able to talk & laugh the whole time – and we came back feeling so good.
For me, after running on a treadmill (in my basement) for so long – getting outside & running somewhere different was exactly the change-of-pace I needed. I went from feeling really good after running, to feeling really blah after running, and I think it’s just because I had become so bored with the treadmill. Running outside, along the lake, with a partner, changed the game up so much that suddenly it was delightful again. Wait, did I just use the word “delightful” in regards to running? Okay, hold on, let me rephrase that: suddenly, it was a fun challenge again. (That’s better. I still am not a huge fan of running, but maybe this whole “running-outside” thing is helping me learn to like it a little more.) - Since we haven’t been home most of the week, we left the care of our tiny little baby plants with Derrick. He was faithful to water them for us & reported that so far, they are still doing well! Fingers crossed that they stay that way!!
