I taught myslef a new technique where you can make a person, or virtually any image, and pop it out of a scene for a unique 3D effect. I love this!

This is a picture I took on August 6th in my flower garden. Here is the before and after.

I would also like to pass along a little trick I know.  If you have a smaller computer screen, or even a larger one, while surfing the net (or blogstream), hit your F11 key and watch what happens.  It makes viewing easier, and also can be taken back to the original state by hitting F11 again. 

...and then He began to create. Golden hair that shimmers in the sunlight. Silky to the touch, and as soft as angora. It frames her face like an angel.

Eyes which have not yet settled on their color. They were blue, and have transformed to a gray/green. They continue to change....

Her lips...colored with the pedals of a rosebud. Her flawless complexion and tiny nose give her a delicate porcelain doll appearance (make no mistakes, this child is as rough and tumble as they get!).

I softly touch her cheek and wonder...How did something so beautiful come from me? And then I realize...it's a God thing.

After dropping Tara off at school, Madeline and I took a drive so I could shoot some pictures. I look forward to spring and summer, but the snow scenes did actually look pretty too.

This snowman reminds me of "Wilson" from Tom Hanks movie Castaway.

The remaining pictures were all altered by using the "Orton Effect". It gives them a dreamy ethereal look. I like the way they turned out.

Isn't this one so beautiful??  

And this little glass house. It is so enchanting and whimsical. I'll have to be certain to revisit it in the summer.

This next beauty is an old chicken coupe which is over 100 years old. It's right down the road from me, and yes...the pump actually works.

I also photographed this chicken coupe this past summer. Here's a warmer perspective

...Started out at a local library.  Jean Parks, who is an amazing story teller, started the morning off with captivating stories for a full house.

Tara and Madeline's new friend Riley was there...

Long time friends Timmy and Haley...

Cousins Shannon, her beautiful daughter Scarlett, and "baby girl to be" who is still growing in her mommy's tummy.  Scarlett is going to love having a sisiter...

And of course the "star" of the show....Curious George himself.

New friends obviously make a cute trio.

THEN....

It was open swim at our community pool with the Awanas group. It was our first time there and I was very surprised at how wonderful it was..

Madeline and I stayed long enough to take pictures and then we left. I was sorry that I hadn't brought my suit and Madeline's too. I'm certain we'll be going back again though soon! They had a fun "water park" section for the little one's.

Tara clearly was loving every minute of it...

She and daddy had some very nice bonding time .

This weekend, I had my niece Shannon over for dinner with here little girl Scarlett. My sister Cindy also came over for dinner. When I told my girlies that Scarlett was coming over, Madeline announced to me that she wanted to give Shannon's baby (Shannon is pregnant) her paci's. I immediately jumped into action and got a pretty box for Madeline to put them all in, and called ahead to Shannon to inform her that Madeline had something VERY special and for her and to make a big deal of it. When they arrived, Madeline sat on the floor with Shannon as she opened her special treasure box....

.... and handed Shannon each paci one at a time.

Are these for the new baby? Shannon sweetly asked pointing to her tummy. "Ness, ness" replied Madeline. (Ness means yes )

Kisses and hugs were exchanged...

Now Madeline has a favorite paci which she ALWAYS sucked in bed and she named it "Moonie"...

That night, she whimpered a little throughout the time that Shannon was still here saying that she wanted to keep Moonie, that she "miss Moonie" and wanted Moonie back.  I lovingly told her that she could not have him back and that he was now going to belong to the baby.  She gave him several hugs and kisses throughout the evening. When Shannon left, she whimpered for him but never shed any "real" tears. When she went to bed, she was letting me know how she wanted him, and Tara told her she could suck on a pretend Moonie and held her hand out for Madeline to take the imaginary paci. Madeline did just that, put it in her mouth, laid down and went to sleep without any fuss.

She brings him up every day to me, but has done remarkabley well in giving him up . My baby is growing up

....and yes, I kept Moonie.