This week Anna started ESY (summer school), Dominic got sick (again), Curtis was home all week (yay), and me? Well… I could hardly stand to be present in the real world. Social media has been blowing up because of the Cincinnati gorilla, the Stanford rape, the Disney toddler, the Orlando attack, guns, parental neglect, ISIS, Trump vs. Clinton, blame, and negativity. I seriously need a Facebook break. People are so vehement in their opinions, do they really think they are going to change anyone’s minds with their strongly worded posts and demeaning memes? I feel all of that, every little last bit of it… the terror, the pain, the anguish, the heartache, the fear, the hatred, the anger, the polarizing viewpoints… I cannot filter it out. I have my own opinions on all of it, but I don’t see the point in sharing. Some of my friends and family will agree, others will not. At the end of the day, all I can do is love my family, and teach my children how to love in this confusing and chaotic world.
Day 162 ~ Watching Over Anna
Dominic had a friend over to play (and swim!)… he has been very social so far this summer. Anna decided to rest on Nana’s lap. My mom’s dog, Cricket, doesn’t cuddle with anyone, including my mom. But Cricket climbs right up into Anna’s lap all the time, and stood guard on Anna’s hip during her nap. Mom might be a little jealous!
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/2.2 | 1/200 | ISO 400
Day 163 ~ Ino’z Distraction
Curtis and I took the kids to Wimberley for dinner Saturday night. We ate at Ino’z (which has some delicious nachos and queso) followed by froyo at The Wooden Spoon. It was pretty crowded and we ended up at a tiny table for four that was bar height (which Anna hates because she has a hard time with her balance). It was really loud so we let her get on her iPhone to help distract her.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.8 | 1/200 | ISO 2000
Day 163 ~ Getting Sick Again
Dominic started feeling poorly and subsequently had another PFAPA Syndrome cycle… sore throat, cough, congestion, low-grade fever, and tummy pain. My sister wants all of us to get tested for CVID, which she got diagnosed with last year. It took a while, but our family doctor found an immunologist who can test and treat this disorder, so now I need to make appointments for all of us. I hate seeing my sweet boy ill… I could see it coming on in his eyes here.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.8 | 1/200 | ISO 2000
Day 164 ~ Blue-Eyed Dragonfly
I realized it had been a couple of weeks since I got out with my macro and I get really out of balance if I don’t take that artist time for myself. It never takes long for me to find beauty in my backyard. I saw this beautiful blue-eyed dragonfly skimming our pool and I silently asked if he would pose for me. I swear animals and insects understand me and my intentions because he flew over to our palm tree and waited patiently while I got my shot.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/250 | ISO 320
Day 165 ~ Lola and the Elephant
Monday morning dawned and Curtis whispered to me that I had to go in and see what Dominic had done beside his bed. He had his big elephant, Myra, wrapped up in a blanket and propped up on a pillow beside his bed. Aww! Even cuter, Lola went over and laid down with Myra. <3<3<3 My heart needed this cuteness after reading about Orlando and all the fallout from that the last day or so.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.8 | 1/200 | ISO 4000
Day 166 ~ In the Spotlight
The light was pretty and hitting just this one aster blossom in our raised garden. Finding pockets of light is even harder than finding pretty light. I can’t believe the snap dragons are still blooming (seen in the background)!
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/3.2 | 1/200 | ISO 50
Day 166 ~ Robber Fly Meet Stained Glass Hummingbird
Full sunshine and a very hot day… I had not intended on shooting anything other than the aster blossom but then his robber fly buzzed me. These are scary dudes, also known as asilidae or assassin flies. They look kinda like a dragonfly but much uglier. They bite and eat other flying insects by injecting poison to liquify the insides of their victims. I do like the composition of this… as though the robber fly looks like it is meeting the stained glass hummingbird. “Hello, can I eat you?”
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5 | 1/250 | ISO 320
Day 166 ~ Robber Fly Alight
The robber fly flew from the stained glass over to a dead flower. He let me get pretty close before flying off. I was super respectful of him since his bite is known to be quite painful.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/250 | ISO 50
Day 167 ~ Summer School Fatigue
Anna started ESY (Extended School Year) this week. She goes TWTh from 8-12. The bus picks her up at 7 and drops her off at 12:45. Getting up at 6:30 has been hard, every day she has come home to take a nap! Last year she did amazingly well in ESY… I hope this year’s summer school goes as well. Anna needs the continuity of year-round school because transitions are brutal on her physically, emotionally, behaviorally, and educationally. Summer school is held at the high school where she will be starting this fall, so that will also help her transition into being a freshman.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/200 | ISO 4000
Day 168 ~ Sun Freckles
Dominic has been spending so much time outside and in the pool so far this summer that he already has a tan. I love the little spray of freckles he gets when he’s been in the sun.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/250 | ISO 640
Thanks for looking. And thanks for letting me retreat from the real world for a while. <3
