to Ponchatoula and back

Mama has learned to string pearls!  She made some beautiful pearl necklaces.  Then, she strung every bead she could find and was chompin' at the bit for more.  Aunt Clara Faye turned her on to a place in Ponchatoula called the Turquoise Coyote.  This is a bead store.  I'm talkin' wall to wall beads of every size and variety can be found there.  So, Mama needed to go buy some pearls today.  She picked me up then picked up Aunt Clara Faye and off we go...to Ponchatoula. 

On our way, Mama is driving with one hand and talking with the other.  Her little drop pearl earring (which she handcrafted) is swinging in time with her talking.  The little red heart that hangs from the rear view mirror is swinging in time with her driving.  I am so observant.  heehee.  I sit in the back seat and listen and practice my manual camera exposures.   They can hear me clicking away but ignore me because they are used to me and the ever lovin' camera stuck to my face.



So, this is the 'on the way back' picture.  Aunt Clara Faye wears out her little paper sack that holds her new beads.  She can't help but pull out her new lapis beads to admire them.  Then, she puts them back in the paper sack and rolls the top back over.  ooops....here comes the unroll..out with the beads again.  I am sure she is imagining the beautiful strand these will make.   Personally, I love the idea of crafting more than the crafting.  The potential, the potential...



Look -a- there.  She loves those new beads. 

She even admires the new style of clasps that she purchased today also. 




For some reason, I am captivated by that little red heart.  It's still  justa swingin'.   Trust me, the conversation is still going on in the front seat, all the way there and all the way back.  I am reminded of when I was a little kid riding in the backseat of Mama's car.  I guess I will always be my Mama's little kid at heart.  ...watchin' and listenin'...and swingin'...

 

I started a new blog...

I began this blog as a way to document my daily thoughts, inspirations and photography field days and challenges.  From the original beginning of the blog, my photography has progressed for me in unexpected ways.  Nowadays, I have been posting more photo sessions than ever. So, I decided that I needed a home specifically for my portrait and wedding images.  I will continue to use this as my personal blog journal. 

I am still learning how to use WordPress so I will continue to post as I learn HTML. The link to my new site is http://michellesibley.com/blog/.  Check it out but remember to come back often because it is a work in progress.  I am still trying to get it all snazzy, jazzy and presentable, just the way I like it.  Oh, and if you see any misspelled words or anything that looks off to you, please drop me a comment.  I would appeciate the tips.  It is hard to proof your own stuff, ya know. 
For today, I will share a few doozies that I took of myself using the camera's self timer on a tripod.  My motivation for the self portraits was the need for a bio pic in my new blog.  Here you go.  Don't laugh too hard.


Ok, a bit off...went back to pick the tripod up a bit...

 


getting closer  but...I Scalped my forehead...

 


Hellow, out of focus...went back and set the focus point...

 


Watch yaself... 
Show me whatcha workin' with!  :)

After a bit of retouch, this one made the cut for my bio pic. 

 

Felicia & Austin - Engagement Session

Felicia and Austin's wedding is in only 2 weeks! I am super excited and honored to have the opportunity to photograph their upcoming wedding. Today, we went downtown and I followed them around and captured all their gorgousness! I absolutely think they are so charming. Felicia is a spunky, funky modern chick. I knew Austin when he was in high school.  I always thought he was such a good lookin' guy.  Well, he is still a good lookin' guy.  And, oh my gosh, Austin cracks me up.  He really, really did not feel like doing a photo shoot.  Skipping around and having his picture taken is not his cup of tea.  When I called Felicia to set the date and time, I am sure that Austin would have put it off if at all possible.  But, luckily my timing was good and I called during the football game.  I suggested a time and I heard Felicia ask Austin if it was ok for him.  He said, 'yeah, whatever Felicia'..while glued to the game....So, there!  He agreed.  Book'em Dano! 

I did Felicia's bridal shoot a few weeks ago which turned out so beautifully.  I will be sure to post those after the wedding.  For today, I picked up the couple from their wonderful new home and we headed to BR.  I told Austin it was his day.  It was all about Austin.  wink.wink...  He was probably grumbling inside and thinking, 'yeah, if it was Austin day, he would be doing something funNER'.  He cracks me up.  He picks on Felicia and mimics the way she laughs which only makes her laugh some more. Those two keep a constant banter going. They remind me of Edith and Archie Bunker.  But neither Archie nor Austin can fool me... I know both guys are true softies on the inside.  Archie loves Edith and Austin loves Felicia.  I wanted to end that sentence with a tiny little heart instead of a period.  :)  They are an adorable couple. I am going to enjoy capturing their wedding day. Yay!!!

p.s.  Felicia said that Austin loves his PawPaw recliner and PawPaw slippers.  True Archie style!

Check out their slideshow. It turned out way cool!  By the way, Austin had fun in the end.   I just know it.

We went to the lookout Tower of the State Capital Building overlooking Baton Rouge and the Mississippie River.  

Felicia and Austin are going to a resort in Breckenridge for their Honeymoon!  When we walked down the steps of our State Capital Building, Felicia was noticing how all the state names are engraved on them.  I had noticed Colorado earlier and knew that I wanted to capture something like this.  I love it.

Ok, everybody say it with me...Rarrrr!!!  Gorgeous! 
Look how that sunlight outlines her hair and body.  Amazing!!!

Austin, you got it man...  IN SPADES!



What can I say?  When I saw this huge pillar under the porch, I knew I had my black and white.  I asked Austin to take a seat and lean against the post.  Then, I showed Felicia what I wanted her to do.  She fell into it perfectly.  Perfection.  That 's the word.  I thinik this is quiet Perfection. 



New Orleans Photo Field Trip with Jean Ann, Aunt Clara Faye and Mom

Create a free picture slideshow

Wop, Wop, Wop, went the flat tire-ON The Scary Bridge at That!



Trevor and Kayla were in front of Terry and I.  We were traveling to the semi-annual Jewelry Show in New Orleans.  Trevor found his tire low of air this morning.  He used our compressor to fill it back up before we left.  Everything looked copacetic until we saw Emergency Flashers!   I called them, "What's up?" 
Flat Tire.   That's what's up. 




A two lane Insterstate Bridge  is NO place to be at a time like this. 
Pretty scary stuff there, huh Trevor?




Terry & Kayla are watching the oncoming traffic.
Oncoming at 70-80 mph, that is. 




He just broke the lugs.




Kayla gives Trevor a hand putting on the donut spare tire. 
Two heads and four hands are better than one sometimes.




Go, Kayla, Go!
Lower that Jack and throw it in the trunk.

Let's get off this rumbling Interstate Bridge, PRONTO!

Once again, We are On the Road to Market.
  



RESERVATROL...PreservatroL??? Searching for my Fountain of Youth

Question? 

What do you remember about Juan Ponce De Leon?

Answer:

He went looking for the Fountain of Youth!

Question? 

What happened to the elderly group of retirees in the 1985 movie Cocoon?

Answer:

They discovered a magical pool and after swimming in the water found themselves rejuvenated!

Cocoon was the sweetest movie.  Jeanita and I went to see it at the Broadmoor Theatre together.  I will never forget it. 

Here is a movie trailer clip.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMvucGcfWs

As you know if you read my November 3rd posting, I just had a birthday.  ON my birthday, Terry and I went to Sam's to shop.  In the refrigerator, not far from the milk and eggs, I saw this promise:

Can you read this?  If not, you might need to go grab your cheaters.  :)

Can you at least make out the words "fountain of youth"?!!!

Yeah, Mama!  I grabbed that sucker up and slam dunked that promise right into my shopping cart!

When I got home, I couldn't wait to start my quest and drink up my very own "Fountain of Youth".  I poured myself a glass of the thick burgandy juice into my pretty crystal iced tea glass.  CHEERS & Bottoms UP!  I can say it made me PUCKER UP.  I'm not sure how much I am going to like this stuff.  I do like my new glasses though.  I just purchased those crystal glasses today.  Terry saw me put them in the buggy and he said to put 'em back cuz we had enough glass that just sits in the cabinet.  Typically, we use the stacks and stacks of plastic souvenier cups that we collect at mardi gras parades, amusement parks and football games.  Do y'all do that too?  Anyway, when he saw the word, Dublin, he relented and said, "Oh, ok we can get them if they come from Ireland."  He has a big idea that he would like to travel to Ireland.  Actually, he really, really wants to go the the land of Braveheart.  Scotland!  Oh, but wait.  His aspiration is to go the Highlands of Scotland and hunt Werewolves!  I don't know how he cooks up all these crazy ideas!  

Out with the GO Phone, In with the NEW Phone!

I had to get up to date.  That obnoxious Go Phone ring tone has GOTZ to GO!   About a year ago or so, I bought the new fangled (at the time) smart phone.  I had it for a week and then one day, I think I set it on top of my car.  I'm sure when I spun out of the driveway, my phone spun into the ditch!  Back in the day, I have punished my girls and refused to allow them to upgrade phones as long as I thought they were irresponsible.  hmmmm...well, I guess I didn't want to be hypocritical so I punished myself.  I refused to allow myself an upgrade.  That's the truth.


 

Finally, Terry's slick & fancy (in 2006!) Razor cell phone was starting to not hold a charge.  We were in Sam's today and I guess I realized that Mama & Papa were ready for an upgrade.  We picked out a couple phones today.  They are not the fanciest but an upgrade none the less.  The guy recommended that we purchase the screen protector sheets that required cutting to fit.  Our sweet Kayla took on the task.  She is the type that gets things done.  Whatever is in front of her, she just goes about taking care of things and knocks that little job out.   Terry and I, on the other hand, make a pot of coffee and think things over.  Seriously, procrastination is our number one game.  I ain't proud of it, but I ain't too proud to admit it.