Corin, a.k.a. Outdoor Kitten/Cat, likes nothing better than to find a sunspot on the family room carpet and languidly groom himself.  If that isn’t available, a basket will do.  We try to convince him the great outdoors holds many adventures for him, but he’ll have none of it.

Cluney, a.k.a. Clawless, Extra-Large Indoor Cat, even escaped from the house, killed a shrew, and left it on the back porch for us all to admire.  Corin barely smelled it, and side-stepped it as he frantically scratched on the door to be let in.

We need a Plan B.

Going outside in the late afternoon to take pictures is delightful, but the light is good inside, too.  I am usually finishing up at my desk at this time of day, and it is a wonderful diversion to watch the light play off the items in the west windows before heading to the kitchen to wrangle supper.

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal this week titled “The Nanny’s Secret”.  It was about a woman who worked as a nanny, and spent her days off taking pictures on the streets of New York City and Chicago.  She never showed her pictures to anyone, and 100,000 negatives were found in storage boxes after her death.  The pictures are now being exhibited in galleries, and they are truly amazing.  Please check them out:

http://www.vivianmaier.com/

Today Rebecca didn’t look like this.  After finally getting the right antibiotics for her pneumonia yesterday, she has become more chatty, awake and tonight, hungry.  The first thing she asked for is bacon.  That’s my girl.

Ashley came over last weekend just before the “magic hour”.  (Thanks for reminding me that is the name for this perfect picture-taking time, B!)

I asked nicely if we could go outside and take pictures.  She nicely said yes, even though she is married and independent and everything.

Delightful time, Lady Brittingham.  I’m much obliged to you for bringing cheer to your old mum’s heart.

Can anyone tell I’ve been reading Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman?

If I had my way, I would always take pictures at this time of day.

I had taken pictures of a family earlier in the day that were nice, but pictures taken in the right light have a magical quality to me.

However, if you take enough pictures, you don’t get to choose to take them when and where the conditions are just right, and you are forced to do your best with what you have.  This is good, and pushes you to look at things differently and learn.

But even though I can appreciate different conditions, I would rather always take my pictures right before sunset.

If you stop in at this time of day, watch out.  I may put you on the deck and snap some shots of you with the light shimmering in your hair.  I don’t have enough willing participants around here!

My husband’s big sister, Rachel, called me Thursday after lunch.  “Can you come take some pictures of us this afternoon?  We’re having a girls’ day out!”

Who could resist accompanying the Parker girls on their day out?  Not me.  I just followed them around as they prettily posed all over the Haymarket.

The only problem I encountered was tremendously contagious giggles from one Parker (Shalom) in particular.

After deep breaths we were sometimes able to capture a semi-serious moment.

Thanks for including Auntie Jen in the fun, girls.

I have been witnessing breathtaking sunsets from my car this week, but I was finally home at the perfect time yesterday.  The colors were constantly changing, so I would snap a picture, and Rebecca would yell, “Mom!  You need to get your camera out again!”  I love that Rebecca is on the lookout for God’s beauty, too.

Sometimes it is difficult to capture the color of a sunset – if you get too much of the dark silhouette of the land, it washes out the colors of the sky.  So I try to fill the frame with as much sky as possible.  Whew.  Worked this time.

All done.  And I can’t even take credit for these pictures, as Matt took these while Ashley sewed beautiful rosettes all afternoon.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with judgment and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.”        Isaiah 9:6-7