Musical Creations

Music to my ears...

I am a lover of all types of music and am always willing to listen to a new artist or song if presented with the opportunity.  I think that music is one of the top three most awesome creations mankind has developed.  Here are some things I have been listening to lately...

Taylor Swifts "Trouble" is so catchy - It definitely gets stuck in  my head + I like the beat.  I am not usually a Swift "fan," but she got me on this one.  :)

I have recently started listening to all of M. Ward's music.  Can't say I have any complaints.  I love his mellow style and his voice is very soothing.  Here is the video for "Rave On" from his "Hold Time" album.  Enjoy!!

Mason Jennings is another one of my new favs!!  Here is the video for a really "cute" and lovable song "Darkness Between Fireflies."  Good tunes!!

Last, but definitely not least... I have a song that I could listen to every day... all day (well almost all day).  John Coltrane's "In a Sentimental Mood" is a classic... an "oldie," but a goodie - for all time.  :) 

The Best Creations

Having Nieces... it's a Beautiful Thing...

I wanted to share a few photos of my amazingly awesome nieces.  The pictures were taken by our Aunt Karla.  Here is her facebook page: Karla Jenkins Style Photography.  My Sister and Sister-in-Law set up a yearly 'photo shoot' for their gals and they just keep getting more adorable (the photos and my nieces)!!  Karla does a great job with the little ones - they even sit still for her (most of the time).  :) These are some of this years photos and a few photos from past years as well.  <3

These are Bella's 4 year old pictures... love this one of her running and jumping!!

My sister (Bella's Mom) and her giggling ... Always!! :)

I love this photo!!  It is soooo Bella!!
 Hands on hips, pretty smile, not minding the wind in her hair.

Two of my gorgeous gals!!  Timeless photo of mother and daughter!!

Cutie Pie X2!! 

I love how Karla set-up this photo.  Mother looking over daughter...

Pretty flower for a pretty gal!!

As Karla said "This is what you get when you tell a 4 year old - smell the flower..."
(he he... so adorable!!)

This is our Adorable Addison - holding tight to her awesome Mommy (Christine).
I had to throw in a baby pic of her ... seems like yesterday...



Addison's 1 year old pics - They show her 

Incomparable and bright personality - along with her cuteness!!





"How old are you, Addison?"  She's so smart... and precious!!  Look out world!!



So adorable!!  Those curls... To die for!!  Great Pic, Karla!! 

If this isn't the most delightful picture... It really shows off her playful
personality and her beautiful face perfectly.  <3

What a difference a year makes...



Bella's 5 year old photos - by Karla.  Everyone says it, but... She's growing up so fast!!



Bella and Nina - one year later - and in color.  Love these two!!

Miss Bella in Black and White.  <3

Look out TYRA... I think she is "smizing" already!!  ha ha. 
Beautiful gal... look out world!! :)

Seriously... they are growing up so fast!!  Addison - 2 year old photo. 
Such a darling picture!!  <3 her!!

Such a wonderful photo!!  Love the effect Karla did on this one. 

Pretty smile!!  She is so sweet!!  You could eat her up with a spoon!!
Nice work Karla!! 

To The Farm We Go

Who doesn't love old barn pics... ??

While going to put our bikes in the storage shed for the winter, I snapped a few photos of my Uncles Farm.  We live in Central Illinois (about 2 hrs. south of Chicago), so the opportunities to ride a bike during the winter are few and far between.  My Uncle has lots of great old sheds and barns on his various properties, and after doing a photo project in college (using barns around our hometown as the subject), I never shy away from an opportunity to try and grab a few more pics of these aging structures.  I have a soft spot for them.  :)

Looking up at the old shed windows I caught a bit of sunlight
peeking over the roof.

Last truly warm day of the fall - Side of the old shed.

The grass in this picture is really crazy.  The wind was blowing and it caught flashes
of the grass in various spots - they look like they are floating or growing out of the wall.
This rusty wagon wheel is becoming part of the brush.

When you have generations of farmers in your family - you learn that they accumulate things.
Never know when something might come in handy, right?  :)



I wanted to show a lot of different texture in this photo. 
I like the rogue gray wire slinking through the picture and the layers of the old
wire fence against the stones.

 

This photo is of one of the corners on the old barn.  So much wear and tear
on the outside has left nails and screws exposed. 



On the front of the barn you can see where the door used to be able to slide open -
There is a small hinged door that leads to what used to be grain storage.

Hidden treasures!!  The sunlight in this photo gives the long storage space
a dreamy quality.  I'd like to get my hands on that old window hidden behind the GIANT tire!!



Here the boards have pulled away just enough to see through to the other side.
You can see the small stripes of light shining through.

 

Photo I took of the simple latch that holds the barn door closed. 
(reminds me of an old western move... for some reason <3)



I like the effect the black and white gives this photo.  I wanted to take it because
of the single board coming loose on the side.  An anomaly...



Tiny window above the back sliding door to the old barn



The clouds decided to part and let the sun peek in on me again :)



The Barn... from a different perspective. 



On the side of the barn there are some old, rolled up picket fences. 
I thought this one had a good amount of character. 



A close up of the fence - some little spots starting to take over.


Hope you enjoy the pictures!!  If you feel like sharing - feel free - just make sure to give me (A. Marie, or MomentousCreation.blogspot) a shout out!!  I appreciate it!! <3  Remember - it's super cool to give credit where credit is due... or something like that.  :)

Some Flora

Backyard Simplicity...

I wanted to post a few photos I had taken in the same backyard mentioned in the previous post.  They were all taken on a simple little 'point and shoot' camera - so working with what I had / could afford at the time, was the goal. 

If you feel the need - always make art.  No matter what kind of tools you posses... it's going to be beautiful.  <3 

Macro of a pretty purple flower - love the detail in the center.

A little white flower - peeking out from the bunch. 
It was such a cute and tiny little thing.  Presh!!

I like this composition because it reminds me of a firework.  :)
Pretty purple flowers exploding into nature.  <3

This flower was so pretty and complex.  I wanted to capture the dainty little
bud that was coming out of the center of the petals.  So beautiful!!

Purple flower peeking out from behind some leaves. 

I like how the light hits the flower and the photo looks sort of dreamy!!



This one I like to call Georgia - reminds me of one of her paintings <3



These hanging flowers give the impression that they go on for days...



I have always liked the detail in the photo.  I wanted to get close-ups
of some of the flowers in the yard - this one really shows how
surprising the colors can be in a simple white flower. 

Even the flowers think getting dirty can be fun.  :)

Pink flowers dancing in the sunlight
I wanted to take a couple photos where sunlight had a strong presence as well...
(There is a tiny sun spot on the photo the draws your eye up to the corner).

pretty yellow flowers striped with sunlight.  I like how the leaf shoots into
(or away from) the photo.

A photo I took of a pretty purple flower in their front yard.
I like the cute white bench in the background. <3

Here is my 'self-portrait' for the photos <3 
Pretty yellow flowers on the front porch & my tootsies. 
:)