Looking back on 50/50/50- and ahead too!

Yep, now that I've finished {FINISHED!} the 50/50/50 challenge I'll definitely be delving into some more of these kinds of projects (photo credited to The Pioneer Woman). Mmmmm! Chocolate!

And, of course, I'll be hanging out with my favorite guys in the world. This is G's first Christmas (he was born 3 days after Christmas last year) and I'm so excited! Even though I know he's too young to get what's going on or even to remember it, it just puts all those Christmas traditions in a whole new light.

And, maybe I'll even be doing more of this too!

I can seriously not believe that Christmas is 9 days away! Wooohooo! I'm hoping to have the Hubby home for the entire weekend, for once. Happy, happy!

And the day after Christmas, I'm making a trip to the mall to go shopping for some much needed clothes. Personally, the after-Christmas sales are the absolute best- even better than Black Friday. But that's my secret. Forget I said that. I don't want the mall to be totally jam packed while I'm there. I want all the sales to myself, thank-you very much! Yeah right, very funny.

As far as future photography plans go, around Day 25 of the 50/50/50, I remember saying something to the Hubby about taking the 365 challenge (1 photo, every day, for a year). He wisely (and because he knows me too well) suggested I finish the 50/50/50 challenge before I decide on anything new. Well, I've finished now and I'm pretty certain I won't be doing the 365. Maybe someday, but not in the year 2010.

But I am considering the 52 photowalk/drive challenge. 1 photowalk (or perhaps, photodrive, in my case), every week, for a year. I think that sounds a little more doable. Plus, what a great way to get exercise!

You may ask, "What's up with the sudden obsession with photography challenges? Why not just shoot?" Well, I like challenges because they force me to get out there and shoot, even when I don't feel like it. I learn new things, see things from a different angle and, overall, just helps my photography skills. Yeah, I know, I've got skills- you know like, nunchuk skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills... Sorry, couldn't resist the Napoleon Dynamite skills quote.

But, back to the point, photo challenges are just plain good for me and my camera. Eventually, when (if) I ever have my own photography business and have the regular challenge of shooting for other people, I don't think I'll need to set them for myself anymore. If that makes any sense.

I'll let you know. I'll be back here blogging in a little while, but for now, I'm going to take a few days off. A few days without touching my camera (maybe) and without trying to think up new blog posts. Maybe I'll be back before Christmas, maybe after, depending on if I manage to stay away from camera or not.

So, if I don't see you before then, have a very blessed and merry Christmas!

Day 44 (t-minus 6 days)

The only thing I can think of when I look at this shot is the song 'Whiter Than Snow'.

1. 
   
2. Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
   I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
   Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
   • Refrain:
     Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
     Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
3. Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
   Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
   To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
4. Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
   And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
   I give up myself, and whatever I know—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
5. Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
   I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,
   By faith for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
6. Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
   Come now and within me a new heart create;
   To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
7. The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
   Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
   My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
   The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.
8. Yes, I know, not very original, but I am so glad for that chance to be washed whiter than snow!

Day 41

Got the idea for this shot from DPS's (Digital Photography School) Weekend Photography Challenge: Shoes. Not sure if I'll actually enter it as I've never figured out how to upload images to their boards, but regardless, this is my 'shoes' shot.

I'll probably be wearing these things a lot this winter. And yes, they are the true definition of clodhoppers. But they're warm and that's what counts.

Day 19

Yup, already been out and about this morning! At approximately 7:30 this morning, Hubby called and told me to get out of bed and take a drive while the light was still good. So that's what I did. We had some snow last night and the prairie was perfectly ethereal and lovely. Snow just makes everything look different, ya know? It adds a sense of mystery, silence, enchantment- you get the picture.

Plus, I'm not afraid to go poking around in tall weeds and ditches because I know that now that there's snow on the ground, it has to be too cold for any rattlesnakes to be out. I'm pretty much deathly afraid of rattlesnakes- actually, all snakes in general make me shriek and pull my feet off the floor. Even plastic ones. Even movies with snakes. Even a picture of a snake will give me the urge to shriek. Yeah, me and snakes? No bueno.

So I found this old farmstead this morning. Actually, I've seen it before, but I guess I never really saw it before. I would've gotten closer, but there was a 'No Trespassing' sign and a gate. Actually, now that I think about it, it may have just been a 'No Hunting' sign, but I wasn't gonna take the chance.

I love, love, love old farmhouses. If I could find an old farmhouse that isn't too far gone, I would totally buy it and fix it up. If we had the money. And if I really liked remodeling. I've been there, done that, and no, I don't like remodeling.

But back to the subject at hand. So often I wish those places could talk. Could tell me of the things they've seen. About the people who lived in them. What those people dreamed of doing. About their families. So much history that I will never know. It just intrigues me. A lot. I guess that's why I like shooting places like this. I want to preserve them, if only an image, before they fall apart any further.