Backyard Baby

A small tree in my backyard held a little surprise.  A nest with three eggs.  I told myself I’d photograph the progress frequently….then I got distracted (squirrel!).

By the time I took my camera outside, one baby had hatched and grown up!!

Baby Bird - Tressie Davis Photography

Mama bird was NOT very happy that I was looking in her nest…

Bird on Wire - Tressie Davis Photography
Bird on Wire - Tressie Davis Photography

The next time I went to check, mama bird had kicked the baby out of the nest!!!  All that was left was the two eggs that never hatched.

Robin Eggs in Nest - Tressie Davis Photography

The End.

ps – if you have a little time to waste and want to watch something cool, check out this video of a robin hatching from its egg.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor

What better way to spend time on Memorial Weekend than with fellow photographers at Matthaei Botanical Gardens?  It was beautiful, and what a great place to look for critters and practice “seeing” details.

Our first friendly visits were with geese, frogs, turtles and a muskrat.

Mama Goose and Goslings
Gosling
Frog
Muskrat
Turtle

We were kinda hoping that the mama goose would bite Brian, but we weren’t that lucky.  She just hustled her babies away.

After the critters, we concentrated on color, texture and tiny details.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor

One of my favorites of the day 🙂

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor

And my partners in crime, Kiah and Brian.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor

Suggestions for our next outing?  I’m all ears!

The Windy City – Chicago Rocks

The view from my hotel room

The last weekend in October, I left my family for a short trip to Chicago.  The “official” purpose of the trip was the Zenfolio Zoom Tour, where I would learn about all kinds of ways to make my website better.  Hopefully in the next few months I will be implementing what I learned.

“Unofficially”, I wanted to take pictures in Chicago and visit with my dear friend Vicki.

I signed up for a workshop with John Batdorff, to walk the streets of Chicago and to see it from the perspective of a resident.  I was not disappointed – no only did John show me lots of cool places to shoot, I learned a lot about shooting subjects that do not have eyes.  This is a struggle for me you know.

With John, I practiced seeing in black and white – spotting patterns within a scene or subject, and thinking about black and white conversions while I shoot.  I am by no means a landscape or architectural photographer, but I love how learning an unfamiliar type of photography can bring so many ideas and inspiration to the type of photography that I DO shoot.  And it was FUN.  Between shooting locations John and I chit chatted about our families, our photography, and very interesting things like the difference between a Booty Call and a Butt Dial.  But that’s a story for a different day.

Don’t forget to look up!!

A bonus Chicago tip from John:  The Ghirardelli store gives out a free chocolate to each person that walks in.  Dessert on John! (don’t worry, I won’t tell everyone you’re a cheap date)

Lunch with Vicki, shopping on the Miracle Mile, and some street performances rounded out the trip.  (Vicki I won’t tell the story about how you mailed post cards to my girls 4 years after they were written…love you xo)

I think I need to do this more often…



Even the pigeons were cold
Yay for beautiful friendships…

Every Day is Mothers Day

Sunday, May 12, 2013 is Mothers Day.  At least “officially”.

But whether I’m sitting at the ice rink with my skaters, or cheering at a soccer/football/basketball game, or sitting down at my desk to pay bills and finding little notes that say “I love you Mom”, every day is Mothers Day for me.

In doing for my children, I reflect on the things that my mother did for me, and the things she now does for them.  Indeed, I sometimes see in my own actions, those of my mother.  Most often good, but occasionally with the thought, “oh crap, I sound just like my mother“.  My choices in life may be different and we may not always agree, but my mother made me who I am and for that I am thankful.

There are many other mothers in my life.  My mother in law raised the man who became my husband.  With her guidance he has grown to be the kind of father we all wish for our children to have.  She embraced me with all of my baggage and has surrounded my family with love.

I would guess that for my mom and mother in law, every day is Mothers Day too.

It takes a village of mothers to raise our children.  That village is teaming with grandmothers, sisters, in laws, and our mom friends that share the joys and triumphs as well as the “OMG I can’t believe what happened” stories that remind us we are not alone.

For these moms I know, every day is Mothers day.

While the world sends cards and flowers to commemorate this one special day for moms, I want to add a hearty THANK YOU to every mom out there that touches my life every day.  My mom and my mother in law (for everything, always), my grandmothers (love you), my sisters in law (you rock!), the mothers of my children’s friends that help out with rides and play dates and fun (I appreciate you!), my friends who are also mothers (thank you for laughing and crying with me!), and my photog friends (I treasure the pics of me with my kids!) – I could not successfully walk this journey without any of you.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
 
Images below by Judi Morrissey Photography www.judipix.com