Project 365 - Photo of the Day - January 5, 2009

First day back at work started out to be fairly uneventful, but then around mid-day . . . it is almost as though the financial world hiccuped because not only did I have an issue that I had to deal with immediately, but one of our contracted organizations said that they didn't get paid the right amount on the invoice that they submitted, but I had it right in front of me and didn't understand what they were talking about and then I had issues with a online account where I was trying to pay my writers and couldn't.

So by the time I got I home, I couldn't wait to throw on a pair of shorts and sneakers, grab my camera and get outside. The sun was beginning to go down and I wasn't sure that I could get any good shots, but these are results and I am fairly pleased.
























In this first image, I was laying flat on my back at the guard gate to our complex (people in my neighborhood really must think I am nutty but who cares??). I wanted to get a shot of both the palm tree with the reddish orange of the setting sun AND the moon way up in the darkening sky.



I loved the silhouette of the duck on this dock. I promise, I didn't use Photoshop to make this happen. I had to move off of the dock fast because above my head there were about 50 birds in the trees and they are BIG birds. The BIG birds have a lot of BIG poop so as soon as I heard the first "rainfall" of the poop, I got out from under their tree. The problem is that these birds are nested in most of the trees that line the lake. I didn't realize that their numbers had grown so much. They make a lot of noise too and sound like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz!



I was very persistent in following this bird around the lake. He wanted to get far away from me. I was as quiet as possible but he kept on moving away. When he was flying over the water I caught him but I blurred the shot. This was when he landed. You can see I ruffled his feathers a bit!!



Before I headed home for the evening, I snapped this last shot at the guard gate because that was where the sun was setting and just loved the color of the sky.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - January 4, 2009

Last day of winter break. Sad, but necessary. Got to do normal stuff like clean the house, do the laundry and pay the bills. Then I decided to upload all the photos that I have so that I can start clean and clear on Monday.








In this first photo, Joel and Adina are working hard on a project that Adina needs to turn in by January 16. She has to create a newspaper and the theme is the 1960s. They looked very intense when I took this photo. It may be a bit out of focus, but I liked it anyway.








And then Rachel was using her brand new hair straightener that she got for her birthday. She was prepping to look good for the first day back to school. You can still see the sunflowers. So far the cats haven't ruined them.






And here is my Adina, well just being the Adina that she normally is . . . silly.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - January 3, 2009

Horseback riding . . . not what I had planned for my Saturday, but why not? Jose is always telling me to come out to his parent's horse farm whenever we want. I never want to impose, but today I did because Rachel wanted to try riding and see if she liked it.








Adina was first. She was very nervous and didn't want to stay on the horse very long. Jose was VERY patient with her and tried to get her to calm down. But at one point the horse walked faster than she was expecting and she was ready to leap off the horse!

















I loved the way the horse looked right into my camera and the sun was setting and made his mane look wonderfully rich and red.



Rachel was next. She was nervous too, but so determined that she wouldn't get off the horse until she felt more comfortable. She only panicked one time.



Finally it was my turn. Adina took a lot of photos but this was the only one that was clear. I actually like this one because you can see the tension in my shoulders. I was definitely nervous. After I walked in circles for a while, Jose led the horse with me still on him (or her) out into the paddock. I walked the horse around for a while. It was fun but when Jose's dad told me to make a kissing sound, the horse took off a bit to fast for what I was expecting. If I knew that was the result, I don't think I would have been as afraid. But Jose was right there for me and told me what to do. I think I might like to go back and try it again.
















These two photos can't capture the beauty of the sunset, but it comes pretty close. It was like the sky was on fire.



As the sun was setting Jose made each of us go for a ride with him in his homemade go cart. I had never been in one, and I love the way he drives . . . fast!!! I only screamed once and then realized it is better to keep your mouth shut because stuff flies in there!!! This is Rachel trying to get her foot in and Jose giving her a hard time. They get along like brother and sister and yell at each other.



This little fella poked his head up and I got to take two shots before he took off.



And, last but not least, the "children" HAD to play Rock Band!!! Jose included. Such a kid, but he is really a lot of fun to be around. Always happy go lucky.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - January 2, 2009

Rachel is officially 18 years old. Hard to believe that 18 years ago I was 33 years old and scared to death about whether I would be a good mother. Now, looking back, I can honestly say that it has all been my pleasure to raise this child. She had her moments, but don't we all? There was nothing at all to fear about parenthood. It came to me naturally, like breathing. I didn't need a manual to know whether I was doing a good job.

So we woke Rachel up with a bouquet of 18 sunflowers . . . her favorite flower. She didn't know what to say. She had this look of surprise on her face . . . but she had no clue what was to come for the rest of the day.



After a wonderful lunch with my father and his girlfriend at the Grand Luxe Cafe . . . with a luscious hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream made while we were eating lunch . . . . we dropped Rachel at the house. She seemed very depressed and wouldn't tell me what was bothering her. I knew that her friends were all telling her that they were busy.

So Joel, Adina and I went all over to get cake, balloons, decorate and pick up her present. This photo is of Adina peeking through the massive amount of balloons in the back seat of our car!



And the moment of surprise! Rachel was showered with eight friends spraying her with silly string!!! She really was surprised. She never had a surprise party and this blew her away.



Here are all of her friends. They are a great bunch of kids. They are polite and funny and very respectful. They had a ball. We even brought in a belly dancer for a little fun. They were embarrassed but I finally got them up one at a time and took photos! At the end of the evening each one of them gave me a hug and thanked us.



And what party would be complete without a birthday cake?? It was supposed to be strawberry shortcake but someone at the bakery had a senior moment and made it with chocolate cake! Duh! Oh well, they said that next time we need a cake, it is on them! Well, Joel's birthday is coming up in a few weeks.



After the party I let Rachel go with her friends to Las Olas Blvd and get ice cream at Kilwin's. It is an old fashioned ice cream parlor. Then I met Rachel at the Cinema Paradiso in downtown Fort Lauderdale at midnight and we saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show! Oh what an experience that was!!! We laughed a lot and didn't get home until almost 3 a.m.!! Needless to say, I slept really late on Saturday. But it was worth it.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 31, 2008 -- Part III

New Years Eve . . . we spent it with our friends at their house, but we brought five 13 year olds and our 18 year old with us, along with champagne and lobsters and chicken wings and other stuff. When you invite the Leshinskys . . . you never know what we will bring!

Joel and Andrew were just chillin' on the couch waiting for midnight. Joel was finding it difficult to watch Dick Clark and Andrew was just too busy texting to notice my camera.



Sweet Lynn with her New Years crown! I had one on too. I always wanted my very own crown!!

























Can you guess what was for dinner? I took a bunch of photos of the lobsters going into the pot, but I can't stand looking at them. I don't eat lobster, but I don't mind if everyone else does. I am not a vegetarian, I think that I just ate too many lobsters as a kid and I lost my taste for them.



During the party we played a fun game of Pictionary. The 13 year olds wouldn't part with their cell phones and continued to text throughout the entire party. Oh well, can't win so might as well join them! I ended up sending Happy New Year texts to almost everyone in my phone. It was fun getting the texts back all at the same time from everyone! I can see why they like this form of communication.



Here I am playing with Rudy. See, I have my Happy New Year crown on too!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 31, 2008 -- part II

Ah . . . the very last day of the year. What to do, what to do??? After sitting around the house . . . a lot . . . we decided to go to the pool. Why not. We live in South Florida, we might as well enjoy the absolutely glorious weather that we are having.


















This was a shot of Adina and me. Adina was making shadow puppets!!


This is Rachel pointing out the icky bump on her foot. You can see it is between her ankle and her big toe. This is what hurts her. She went for an xray but we still don't know if it is broken. The doctor didn't get the report yet. We have to call on Friday morning.



This was my vantage point at the pool. The sun felt wonderful and I actually got to read half of my book.



My almost college-bound daughter trying to look sophisticated. I also was LOVING the color of the sky.



And Adina was looking so mature in this shot. I love her hair up off of her face and neck.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 31, 2008

My cousin Roni's daughter, Devon, came over from Clearwater for a visit with her grandparents (Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Howie) last week. When we were having dinner one night she showed me this fabulous book about cupcake art.

This is the book.















So Rachel decided that for the party they we went to on Christmas Eve, she was going to make Christmas Ornament Cupcakes. This is the result of her handiwork!







Then for New Years Eve, she decided to make cupcakes that look like spaghetti and meatballs! This one was funny!