December 31

Goodbye 2009!

Well, this is it. I DID IT!!!!! I got through the entire year and it is so much fun to look back over each day as the year progressed. Some days were a little lame (LOL) and there were probably too many sunsets (I can take those while multi-tasking such as checking homework AND making dinner thanks to where I live), and others are truly keepsakes that represent 2009.

There's a couple of great ladies from across the pond who have followed my blog and always commented - you know who you are and I thank you so much!! ♥♥♥

This was the year that I said I would start my business - and I did! My photography business really took off and I appreciate my wonderful friends who provided the word-of-mouth. You all are awesome. ♥

I'm about to start a new Project 2010 - I *think* it will be weekly and will highlight food photography as well as a recipe. Link is HERE

I should have the site ready in a few days :)

A very Happy New Year to everyone!!! (And it's my wedding anniversary - 12 years! ♥)

♥ Stacey

December 30

December 30 Sunset

And it's a beauty!

December 29

Last Portrait of 2009

December 28

Sea Oats Silhouette

I captured this by kneeling in front of the natural preserve area just off my lower terrace that separates us from the Gulf of Mexico. Like I've mentioned so many times - I just love the sky this time of the year!

December 27

Glued to Bakugan

And getting your parents to play.

December 26

My New Shootsac (Thank you Santa!)

December 25

Glee Under the Tree

December 24

Off to All Children's Hospital Docs....

Yeah, you didn't expect this one for Christmas Eve! My son has had fainting/dizzy spells since August, probably due to the fact that he doesn't drink enough. It was the last spell at school that sent us scrambling to his ped (and it wasn't sports related) and he in turn referred us to the wonderful Pediatric Cardiology group out of All Children's Hospital in St. Pete. So we had a 9am appointment......took 50 minutes to get there...not bad. All the tests they could do there (EKG and ultrasound) were normal - now we go back for a stress test on Jan 4.

And......I probably shouldn't take photos WHILE driving over the Sunshine Skyway LOL. Just really glad there weren't any "jumpers," as Christmas Eve is a *popular* day I think. Too many sad souls jump from this bridge.

December 23

MORE Holiday Bokeh

This one is good!! Love all the fuzzy circles. Used my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and had it completely wide open.

December 22

Holiday Bokeh 3

I didn't open my lens wide enough on this one, needless to say. But there's a bit of bokeh.

December 21

Holiday Bokeh 2

This was taken during daylight hours......same ornament as last night. Nice blur, but not enough "fuzzy" circles.

December 20

Holiday Bokeh 1

Ahhh, here begins my quest to capture a bokeh background. Bokeh refers to the out-of-focus area, usually in the background, that gets rid of background distractions and helps your subject to stand out. This one is okay, not great.

December 19

Tree at Night

December 18

School Holiday Party

Kind of a goofy pic, lol, all the kids were jumping and dancing around. My son had failed to inform me that he could wear jeans today....oh well. He's not a jeans guy anyway. :D

December 17

Holiday Greetings

December 16

Big Red Door

I didn't have a photo for today, so this is from Dec 11 - hubby and I finally signed the closing papers for our other house on Anna Maria which is a major Christmas present. We met at my son's school (since I volunteered there that day) and I had him snap a few pics of me at the beautiful church that is adjacent to the school.

December 15

Holiday Gym Jam

An annual holiday event at school - and here you are with your French horn. NOT an easy instrument to play, but you have really improved!

December 14

*W* Girls Photo Shoot

And what a gorgeous day! The sun was so strong, though, as it was beginning to go down. The girls were troopers (and their two golden retrievers, too!).

December 13

Tree is *Almost* Decorated

December 12

Most Improved Player Award

We are SO proud of our son......his improvement was definitely noteworthy. His dedication, including being at every match and nearly every practice, truly paid off. Way to go!!!! This was at the Holiday Awards Ceremony (yes, parents had to get out there on the courts, too - that's why I'm in tennis attire, too, lol).

December 11

Bring on the Christmas Decorations!

I'm a little behind on decorating because I'm desperately trying to finish up gifts that involve photographs. Memo to self - start earlier next year! :D

December 10

Rain

LOL do you like my original image names? Fog? Rain? Actually, we've had two crappy days of weather.....no tennis for my son today although it had stopped raining when I picked him up at school. Good for me - needed to get things done at home without making another round trip to and from town! :D

December 9

Fog

December 8

December 8 Sunset

December 7

D Family Photo Shoot

This is such a beautiful family (on the inside as well! :D ). If you'd like to see a few more of their photos, please click HERE to go to my blogsite.

December 6

Portrait

December 5

Morning Sky

December 4

What a Face!

December 3

Egret

LOL this is the fellow that hangs around my house. My pups sent him into an annoyed flight off to safer ground. I used the Golden Vintage action from Coffeeshop Photography.

December 2

Moon Before Dawn

I thought this was pretty with the bit of mist or sea fog in the air.....gave an ethereal look to the moon.