tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42818559717190053582024-02-20T16:09:14.833-05:00At Last...We are family!Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-8089105029591116022014-02-05T00:36:00.004-05:002014-02-05T00:36:46.244-05:00"Purple"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iheartfaces Purple Photo Challenge...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and this happens to be one of my all-time favorite photos </span><br />
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<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/user/communalglobal/media/2014/Wanda-Canada/DSC_8124lightwm_zpsf5abd226.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo DSC_8124lightwm_zpsf5abd226.jpg" border="0" src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/communalglobal/2014/Wanda-Canada/DSC_8124lightwm_zpsf5abd226.jpg~original" width="840" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of my Dahlia - who is growing up way too fast.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/">www.iheartfaces.com</a></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-51492332778383320682014-01-13T11:02:00.000-05:002014-01-13T11:02:00.897-05:00Best Face of 2013 - IHeartFaces<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Dahlia 017 texture wm +blog" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8442060290_44773497d1_c.jpg" width="920" />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">My Muse - I can read a whole volume in that one glance.</span></div>
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<em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge –<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"> <span style="color: #003399;">www.iheartfaces.com</span></a></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-47407346956888382802014-01-07T00:38:00.001-05:002014-01-07T01:08:28.833-05:00Favorite Photo of 2013 - Rock the Shot!<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/user/communalglobal/media/2013/Wanda/DSC_8250re-sized_zps903a3b92.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo DSC_8250re-sized_zps903a3b92.jpg" border="0" src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/communalglobal/2013/Wanda/DSC_8250re-sized_zps903a3b92.jpg~original" height="840" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite Photo of the Year 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rocktheshotforum.com/">www.rocktheshotforum.com</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.rocktheshotforum.com/" target="_blank" title="Rock the Shot"><img alt="Rock the Shot" src="http://tinyurl.com/rtsbanner1
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This image is my favorite of the year...well.....first of all - these are my girlies....but it's also one of the beginning of a stylized, illustrative direction I've been taking. This was about 4 PM in July and I'm shooting with my Nikon D800 and the 28-75 2.8 lens.</span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-70586165051920451332013-04-19T09:21:00.002-04:002013-04-19T09:21:43.600-04:00Ummm.....hi.....<div style="text-align: center;">
...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.ummm.....yeah....so, my sister (hi Elaine!) mentioned she hadn't seen an update on my blog for <strike>a million years</strike> awhile...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.....and she's right. (Older sisters are always right....right?) Busy would be one word I could use as an excuse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other would be I spend a lot of time over at Facebook and try and keep that a bit current soooo........you can always visit me there and see what's up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wanda.malfara?ref=tn_tnmn">https://www.facebook.com/wanda.malfara?ref=tn_tnmn</a> - my home timeline</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WandaMalfaraPhotography">https://www.facebook.com/WandaMalfaraPhotography</a> - my business page</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love you to come over and follow along and "like" my page.<i> (That'll ease my guilt for not updated here as often.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also update my photography on my website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wandamalfara.com/">www.wandamalfara.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, here's a picture of my girlies during a recent walk in our park. I'm happy to say our snow is now officially GONE, even though we got a big dump only last Friday.</span></div>
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<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/user/communalglobal/media/2013/Wanda/DSC_0824vividsoftprismwmfb_zps1fa774b8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Green - Fri April 5, 2013 photo DSC_0824vividsoftprismwmfb_zps1fa774b8.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/communalglobal/2013/Wanda/DSC_0824vividsoftprismwmfb_zps1fa774b8.jpg:original" width="425" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Milana....looking cute enough to eat. (Said her mom...modestly.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/user/communalglobal/media/2013/Wanda/DSC_0536wm_zps179ac58e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mon March 11,2013 photo DSC_0536wm_zps179ac58e.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/communalglobal/2013/Wanda/DSC_0536wm_zps179ac58e.jpg:original" width="640" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Dahlia, on her 10 birthday in March. (How can it be that my babies are 5 and 10!! that's hardly an original thought but it still blows my mind.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/user/communalglobal/media/2013/Wanda/DSC_0528wmflare_zps7a19d32f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Tue March 12,2013 Today photo DSC_0528wmflare_zps7a19d32f.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/communalglobal/2013/Wanda/DSC_0528wmflare_zps7a19d32f.jpg:original" width="427" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by (and forgiving my absence.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope to see you on Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Spring everyone!</span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
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Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-22504455066102631402013-02-22T11:49:00.002-05:002013-02-22T11:49:38.340-05:00Favorite Photo Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="DSC_0083-2 texture wm blog" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8497262165_4e0801797f_c.jpg" width="534" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Since starting my photography business, I find I'm taking pictures "just for fun" less and less. And though it's probably pretty normal - it's also frustrating for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So last week, when Dahlia had a day off school we hit our favorite mall where normally the atrium area is full of flowers and decor. Nothing...nada....hardly a flower. There were holes in all the raised beds where they had just pulled out most of the flowers in preparation for changing them to a spring theme. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Still, we found a few nice areas to grab a few shots. This is one of my favorites. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I can hardly believe that my little girl will be turning 10 in a few weeks! Where is that time going?</span></div>
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<img alt="the long road" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7748164760_cb87fd57a6_o.jpg" />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>(<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining my friend Lisa and many others sharing their favorite photos.)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Happy Friday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">xoxo </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-55265315038354045122013-02-03T19:50:00.001-05:002013-02-03T19:51:48.195-05:00Sunday Snapshot - "Still winter here!"<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Dahlia 032 wm +blog" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8440964503_e076828f3f_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may still be cold and snowy up here......</span></div>
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<img alt="Dahlia 018 wm +blog" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8440966395_695b98dcb4_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...but even just a moment with this....</span></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/8440965357/" title="Dahlia 026 wm +blog by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Dahlia 026 wm +blog" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8440965357_d171e1c0db_c.jpg" width="531" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...<strike>schnook</strike></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">munchkin....</span><br />
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<img alt="Dahlia 017 texture wm +blog" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8442060290_44773497d1_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...can warm my heart!</span><br />
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<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/IwkCy.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great week....and stay warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo </span><br />
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /></div>
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-32888855456625549012013-01-13T18:25:00.002-05:002013-01-13T18:29:39.184-05:00Favorite Shot of 2012 - Rock the Shot<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img alt="WEDDING N&B #1 360 wm" height="532" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8377526873_3ebbb57e3e_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yup....I'm repeating myself here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another <span style="font-size: large;">favori<span style="font-size: large;">te shot</span></span> entry, this time for "Rock the Shot" <a href="http://www.rocktheshotforum.com/">www.rocktheshotforum.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This image (from a wedding I shot in 2012) is far from a <span style="font-size: large;">portrait</span> image but I love it anyway, mainly for the eye of the little girl behind her big sister.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was using the Nikon D4 (for the first time) and was standing at the front of the church, really zooming with a 70-200mm 2.8 lens so the clarity is not there. But the church door had just opened and in poured this delicious light behind these two little cherubs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.rocktheshotforum.com/" target="_blank" title="Rock the Shot"><img alt="Rock the Shot" src="http://tinyurl.com/rtsbanner1
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Have a perfect week</span>!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo</span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-86491672276770412962013-01-10T12:30:00.001-05:002013-01-10T12:36:13.212-05:00I Heart Faces - January Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/8367170551/" title="WEDDING N&B #1 360 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="WEDDING N&B #1 360 wm" height="532" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8367170551_abdf2c7bc7_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I'd enter the I heart Faces challenge this month with one my favs. Two beautiful flowers girls I captured at a wedding shoot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/2013/01/photo-challenge-best-of-2012/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a>
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http://www.iheartfaces.com/2013/01/photo-challenge-best-of-2012/<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a perfect week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-13296906049048831292012-12-31T13:06:00.001-05:002012-12-31T13:06:37.393-05:00The Year 2012....in review.<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Tremblant Nov2012 293 card 2012" height="559" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8330922620_dccef9e7af_c.jpg" width="800" /></div>
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Click on the link for the Year in Review.<br />
<a href="http://animoto.com/play/td1pVlXKF5IxuJJSrMrdLg">http://animoto.com/play/td1pVlXKF5IxuJJSrMrdLg</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!</span> </div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-48454540678438685132012-11-02T00:25:00.001-04:002012-11-02T00:25:44.048-04:00Favorite Photo Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her Majesty and her little Royal Highness</span>.......</div>
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<img alt="Ballet Halloween 2012 006 wm blog" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8146779520_2b4ea71a71_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...are looking a tad bored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could it be that dressing up, pretending and preparing to collect <strike>wicked</strike> amounts of candy and treats for Halloween is getting......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...oh....I hardly say it (insert top of hand to forehead with eyes drawn upward)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">old, tired, passe</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No, it couldn't be, could it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or maybe it's one too many "ok...hold it, just one more......cl<span style="font-size: large;">ick</span>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you suppose? </span></div>
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<img alt="the long road" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7748164760_cb87fd57a6_o.jpg" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well.....I'm happy to announce that once the sugar high kicked in.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">......all was well with the world again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whew, good thing. Otherwise I'd be left to play all by myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(smile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">xoxo</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Be back in a few days for more dress-up.)</span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-46764930836464127892012-10-21T23:22:00.006-04:002012-10-21T23:22:54.347-04:00Sunday Snapshot "A visit to the Pumpkin Patch"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 027 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8111222269_f604db6484_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again, the time arrived for our annual Pumpkin Patch visit. We were later than usual this year so there were not many left on the ground but it was still fun to watch the girls running through the field in search of the perfect pumpkin.</span></div>
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 014 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8111230661_06a86540bc_c.jpg" width="534" />
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 007 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8111234847_206f5aeeaa_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/8111244536/" title="Pumpkin Patch 2012 001-2 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 001-2 wm" height="534" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8111244536_7d218f128d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 003 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8111242378_3afca015d5_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each year when I look back, I'm a bit blown away by just how much the girls grow and change. This was last year's visit to the same spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://atlastmilanascominhome.blogspot.ca/2011/10/tuesdayaround-world.html">http://atlastmilanascominhome.blogspot.ca/2011/10/tuesdayaround-world.html</a></span><br />
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 013 wm" height="534" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8111237516_e6ac286d9b_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/8111231676/" title="Pumpkin Patch 2012 018 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 018 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8111231676_4f1507e71d_c.jpg" width="534" /></a>
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<img alt="Helen's Fall Flowers 035 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8111217532_a014ff578d_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I visited my friend Helen's flower shop this week where she had some beautiful and unusual arrangements made. This was one of my favorites. I'm not an "orange" lover but this flower is so amazing to me.</span></div>
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 036 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8111223516_c31b41579f_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(As is this one!)</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nikon D300, Lens 50mm 1.4, f/3.5</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/125 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shutter speed,iso 200 (very late aftenoon, cloudy day.)</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<center>
<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/8taxm.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<img alt="Pumpkin Patch 2012 037 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8111221124_a5e9596e78_c.jpg" width="534" />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope everyone found their perfect pumpkins this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo</span><br />
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /></div>
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Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-16933551168756708402012-10-14T14:29:00.002-04:002012-10-21T23:03:57.557-04:00Sunday Snapshot<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="St Paul Playground 168 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8087013628_587b127042_c.jpg" width="531" />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi! It's me......I'm back</span>.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the land of "too much to do, think I'm on over-load, need some time-out and where did I go?" (Ever been there? Yeah...I thought so....it felt kind crowded there....) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'K....nough said.</span></div>
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<img alt="St Paul Playground 226 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8087011377_f2e05169b3_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.....I thought I'd post some recent pictures. We were driving home from school and grocery shopping and passed the park where I spotted a sun flare. (And just happened to have my equipment with me as I'd had a shoot on location that day.)</span></div>
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<img alt="St Paul Playground 201" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8087008752_7f313d2a67_z.jpg" width="427" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/8087005903/" title="St Paul Playground 205 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="St Paul Playground 205" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8087005903_e37bf94b92_z.jpg" width="425" /></a>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And it didn't take long</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">before my two nut-balls were hamming it up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mentioned the last time I blogged that I'd post some pictures of the kids fooling around on same stage where Steven Tyler had performed this summer. I didn't get back here till today. And I <strike>hate</strike> strongly dislike saying I'll do something and not doing it <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I said I dislike doing it....didn't say I didn't do......catch the difference?)</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<img alt="blog 2" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8086991649_d02c17ebe9_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So...here are those pictures from August</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dahlia acting like Miss Diva and Milana (aka Miss Wild Thang) doing an amazing impression of Elaine </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(circa: Seinfeld</span>).</div>
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<img alt="St Paul Playground 189 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8087011818_860bbd744e_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<center>
</center>
<center>
<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/8taxm.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nikon D300, Lens 50mm 1.4, F/stop - 1.8, Shutter 1/200,ISO 200</span></div>
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<img alt="St Paul Playground 228 wm blog" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8086999439_12efc548bf_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's definitely fall</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">around here</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I feel like I'm finally coming up for air. I've spent way too much time with my nose in this screen (building my website: www.wandamalfara.com and trying to finish my photo blog</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">attached to that site as well as tweaking my branding and marketing.....puff,puff. Almost done and beginning to feel human again</span>). <span style="font-size: x-small;">(How's that for a run-on sentence?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have a wonderful week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">xoxo </span> </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0px none;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-40569282893476553882012-08-19T12:36:00.003-04:002012-08-19T12:36:32.961-04:00Sunday Snapshot - "My girls"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Girls park 190 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7815763618_45fac46527_c.jpg" width="531" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nikon D300</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lens 50mm 1:4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">F/2,ISO 200, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Exp. 1/250</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a week where I felt like I was chasing my tail and getting nowhere fast, by Friday evening</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I really needed a change of pace</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and scenery.</span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 145 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7815778204_dc76477e8a_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.....I dropped everything, <strike>put a note on my computer saying </strike></span></div>
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<strike><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I'm outta here baby"</span></strike>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">grabbed my camera and the family</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and headed to the park. It was about 6:00 pm and we had the place to ourselves again. (We're late eaters....it's just the way we roll.)</span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 053 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7815796656_0b38d2a8a3_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So....in between jumping and swinging and running....I was able to grab a picture or two.</span></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7815792386/" title="Girls park 088 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Girls park 088 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7815792386_26c1e53b21_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7815781300/" title="Girls park 136 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Girls park 136 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7815781300_5abd5f4e34_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7815785156/" title="Girls park 103 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Girls park 103 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7815785156_707e1d81db_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<img alt="Girls park 042 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8289/7815803040_599821a0fb_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">OK....so, I admit.....this one scares me a bit. We were just wandering near the water below, down this little path and I said - "turn around babe" and this is the look I got.</span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 041 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7815808614_22586012e9_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And then this one.</span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 183 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7815767688_e68ee86722_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And to restore my vision of my little <strike>monkey</strike> baby girl</span> - <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">she just as quickly jumped</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">into this tree and I was thankfully brought back to the present reality.</span></div>
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<img alt="Girl park 200 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7815813608_71af585546_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And not to be outdone.....my second monkey had to have her turn.</span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 173 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7815773268_bba63724c3_c.jpg" width="531" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">( I have some really fun shots from our little outing that I'll post on Tuesday. The girls pretending to be performing on the very stage where Steven Tyler</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Aerosmith had their outdoor concert a few weeks ago......just a mile from our house.......<span style="font-size: x-small;">yes....that's what I said.<span style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></span></div>
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<img alt="Girls park 094 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7815789296_1f0e09eea9_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I posted this (below) on Facebook this week. Thought I'd share it here too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i>Something special happened tonight. After a week of (mama pulling her
hair out) the girls fighting more than loving - this mama was getting a
tad discouraged with the whole scene. After dinner tonight the girls
were both enjoying a Toblerone</i></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i> chocolate
bar each and as Dahlia was about to pop the last triangle into her
mouth....she dropped it!....On the floor!!! (Oh horrors.......had Daddy
not been around we may have enlisted the 5 second rule but alas....that
did not happen.) Wailing pursued as I rolled my eyes and wondered how to
fix....yet another earth-shattering trauma. Then.......a little hand
reached out and offered Dahlia her very last piece of chocolate. Dahlia
gleefully grabbed it, took a tiny bite and handed back half of the last
piece that Milana had offered her.<br /><br /> Peace is now restored and I have suddenly forgotten all the drama/trauma of the week. It's all good!</i> </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7815759630/" title="Girls park 205 text wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Girls park 205 text wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7815759630_2c2d87f776_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was Dahlia's face the very moment I mentioned "hey.....let's go get some chocolate". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy much?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining Stef and the other photogs. Check 'em out!</span></div>
<center>
<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/16huvd.jpg" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Have a fabulous week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's my plan. </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-37412732956370059982012-08-12T15:44:00.001-04:002012-08-12T15:44:21.043-04:00Sunday Snapsho t- "Birds and the.......flowers!"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 099 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7767804082_ab503d61de_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides kids and art, music and flowers, food and <strike>eating<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(</i></span></strike><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>....wait...I'm thinking)</i></span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">decorating</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, sunshine and photography and lot of other stuff.........</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 133 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7767790482_7e2ef7de3f_c.jpg" width="531" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">......I also love.....birds. I just find them fascinating. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I mean, have you ever wondered just how many feathers cover their bodies? And....what the heck are they thinking about when they cock their head and stare you right in the eye?</span></div>
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 097 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7767807522_b24a31b6d5_c.jpg" width="800" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There were dozens of these birds all over the floor when we visited our little nature park greenhouse.....almost stepped on a few.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 124 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7767800712_95891b6396_c.jpg" width="800" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And for awhile...the place was quiet with almost no one else around. I almost felt like I was trespassing on their</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">turf.....so I was happy they let me stay awhile and cooo to them as I clicked away.</span></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7767814534/" title="Nature Park Picnic 088 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 088 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7767814534_e3412e6ff1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ok....so maybe this one was starting to tire of the visitor with that big black thing beeping and clicking away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 130" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7767888754_c2075d506f_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So...I gave my feather</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ed friends a break to capture some of the fauna and flora......which was equally fascinating.</span></div>
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 129 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7767797224_d7774c7c60_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 134 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7767785710_ce28d02fa6_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 089 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7767811040_e2ee91cf87_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/8taxm.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Camera: Nikon D300</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lens: 28-75 mm f-2.8 macro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">75mm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f 2.8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/125</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Metering center weighted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 136 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7767782492_4ea83c0321_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoping everyone has a wonderful start to the new week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop and smell the flowers this week....and look up....you might just see a little bird flying by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't miss it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo </span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-60385088597906565322012-08-10T09:56:00.002-04:002012-08-10T09:56:48.686-04:00Favorite Photo Friday - " Milana's Gotcha Day! "<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 044 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/7751162880_0d9a45ae3b_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">August 9th is Milana's Gotcha Day! And we are 3 years home with our littlest munchkin.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7751166560/" title="Milana Gotcha Day 022 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 022 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7751166560_7583e4b50f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in 3 years, Milana has gone from almost shutting down and not even walking at 22 months (!!) to this - spunky, bright, charming, grabs your heart tight and will not let it go - child</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who has found her rightful spot in our family and in this world.</span><br />
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<img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 013 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7751168364_94c9c0b464_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been quite a ride.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7751170058/" title="Milana Gotcha Day 010 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 010 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7751170058_fe10998f0a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To celebrate our Milana's Day, we went out to dinner with our dear friends who share the same special days. (Our 2 families traveled to China twice together</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and both our 2 daughters share the same gotcha days. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, if you don't know our story......our eldest girls were from the same</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">place and knew each other since infants and are best friends ever since and our littlest, while not from the same province, still share the same day and they too have become <strike>holy terrors</strike> best friends</span>!</div>
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<img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 005 crop wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7751172858_ec13252501_c.jpg" width="534" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really is a fairy tale story that we ought to write one day. Such a rare bond that very few people share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Joining Lisa and friends at </span><a href="http://www.thelongroadtochina.com/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Long Road to China</a>.)</div>
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<img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 008 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7751171486_ebba9aceb5_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>(Now...about that first picture at the top...the family one. I get asked a lot how I manage to get everyone in the same picture with me in it too. So....here's the <strike>madness</strike> recipe. Set up the scene, warn the troops...." it picture time!" <strike>WHAT? AGAIN?</strike></i></span> , <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">get someone</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">to sit in the sweet spot so I get my focus....oh....camera is on tripod of course,</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">put the camera setting on delay shooting - 8 seconds, press the shutter, yell "sckoosh over so I can get my bum in.....here we go....now smile!!"</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">that's it</span>!</div>
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<img alt="Milana Gotcha Day 026 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7751164730_d0a58bd251_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another year has passed with this most interesting child in our midst, who lately just makes me stand back in delighted wonder at just how she is blossoming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From "cling-on" child who lived on my right leg for over a year to "Miss Wild Thang" to " get ready world...cause Milana has arrived" <strike>so brace yourself</strike> .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is all that and soooo much more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's our love bucket......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.....our beloved daughter! </span>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
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</div>Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-61955036943285855922012-08-05T15:49:00.002-04:002012-08-05T23:13:19.644-04:00Sunday Snapshot - "Our favorite park"<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719425216/" title="Nature Park Picnic 013 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 013" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7719425216_6b2ffd8b7f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Though we don't</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">go nearly as often as we'd like....when we do get to our favorite nature park</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- it never disappoints</span>. </div>
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 167" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7719400222_419e444fe1_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And it's especially great when we get to share it with our great friends.</span></div>
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<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 153" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7719409586_b8182d4dee_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My friend Helen and I have brought our kiddos to this park since the first ones were wee little......in strollers. We will never tire of it....as long as the kids don't. And there's no sign of that happening anytime soon.
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</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 024" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7719420730_df34a07c7e_c.jpg" width="800" />
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There is just so much to see and do....and it's practically in our back yard. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719391006/" title="Nature Park Picnic 170 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 170" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7719391006_5a278fbfd0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719416078/" title="Nature Park Picnic 036 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 036" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7719416078_f2dac5efdc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 166" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7719403858_0efeb2cb74_c.jpg" width="531" />
<img alt="Nature Park Picnic 050" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7719412892_a76f5d497f_c.jpg" width="800" />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719386910/" title="Nature Park Picnic 175 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 175" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7719386910_d94e6e7ba1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719380478/" title="Nature Park Picnic 182 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 182" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7719380478_ac42a06fff_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7719431398/" title="Nature Park Picnic 002 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Nature Park Picnic 002" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7719431398_8596edf91d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was just a sprinkling from our visit the other day. I'll try and post more later this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Joining Stefanie and some other great bloggers for this Sunday Snapshot post.</i> </span></div>
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<a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/8taxm.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Camera: Nikon D300</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lens: 28-75mm F/2.8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aperature: f/2.8 - f/8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shutter: 1/160 and faster</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ISO: 200</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo </span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
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</div>Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-58545232366643416972012-07-30T22:04:00.000-04:002012-07-30T22:04:04.186-04:00Tuesday.....around the world. "Crazy for bubbles"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bubbles 026 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7674433538_0ab9f6c915_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Absolute, unabashed joy!!! What is summer without bubbles and lots of them. And when they're huge like these ones......even better.</span></div>
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<img alt="Bubbles 028place wm" height="534" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7674427112_b7cfdb8964_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7674430550/" title="Bubbles 028 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Bubbles 028 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7674430550_0331098022_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hey....I get <strike>more</strike> as excited as they do only I have to hold the camera still to catch a few shots. The size of these bubbles alone were awesome.</span></div>
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<img alt="Bubbles 067" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7674420514_a6630624a9_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<img alt="Bubbles 033 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7674423672_4c2b9e1b63_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Still lots of summer left on the calendar AND in my girlies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy last day of July!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Join in or just take a peek at some other happenings this</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Tuesday.......around the world.</b></span><br />
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<script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=175090" type="text/javascript">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b> </span></div>
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<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-62868157180563554992012-07-24T00:33:00.001-04:002012-07-24T00:33:39.715-04:00Tuesday.....around the world - "More flowers"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Flowers 014 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7634788646_7d1c8cf53e_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One very cool thing about having a Florist as a Bestie is I get to pop into her Floral Studio anytime I want and capture some of her beautiful flowers.</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Flowers 029 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7634786700_5fda2ac1cd_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I recently did a shoot of some of her wedding and bridal arrangements (swoon) and I'll share those once she gets them up on her website.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(I won't "out" them until she has the chance to....though I'm mighty tempted.....)</span></div>
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<img alt="Flowers 052 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7634781306_7ed4c37e19_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just look how the middle point of this rose comes to a peek. You could almost miss this because of the captivating color and design of each petal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've planted many rose bushes in my garden through the years, and besides just gazing at them or strolling by and breathing in that intoxicating fragrance - what I love most is to take a rose petal.....place it right up to my nose and breath in very deeply. The petal kind of goes up your nose....but it's so soft....like puppy's ears....on the inside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's just one of my little "things". </span></div>
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<img alt="Flowers 042 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7634784154_6650d1fdb0_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Enjoy a little tour around the world now.</span></div>
<script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=175070" type="text/javascript">
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0px none;" /><br />
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<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-88895950657768388862012-07-17T18:43:00.001-04:002012-07-17T18:43:58.472-04:00Tuesday...around the world. "Monkeying around"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Monkeying around 004 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7593298572_17e1b4015c_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a slightly looser schedule and the kiddos home for the summer....our closets and drawers were calling out to us so loud, we couldn't ignore it any longer (though we gave it our best shot.....)</span></span>!</div>
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<img alt="Monkeying around 017 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7593296362_190b166f99_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And you know what happens when you start cleaning out, sorting, purging etc? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You find.....TREASURE!!!</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Monkeying around 019 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7593292298_979d7b4aec_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And what could be better than finding mama's old hats and shoes?</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7593302032/" title="Monkeying around 003 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Monkeying around 003 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7593302032_0b71337747_c.jpg" width="534" /></a>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maybe that's where the expression - "hitting the mother<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> lode" comes from.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I seem to recall doing the same as a kid. Opening my mother's old trunks was like finding the jewels of the Nile. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not much has changed</span>.</span><br />
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<img alt="Monkeying around 020 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7593289932_600974ef4e_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(I'm posting these pictures....not for their quality, obviously, but for their joy factor which hits the top for me.)</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Enjoy a little trip around the world now.</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
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<script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=173702" type="text/javascript">
</script>Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-8953255896018309952012-07-15T16:40:00.001-04:002012-07-15T16:40:28.932-04:00Sunday Snapshot<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Flowers 133-2 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7577243020_ffb5181b46_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have yet to find a flower</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> that doesn't absolutely</span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">fascinate me.<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<img alt="Flowers 128 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7577247002_46bd6d69b5_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What an amazing engineer who designed these beauties I found in a friends backyard. </span><br />
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<center><a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/16huvd.jpg" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nikon D300</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lens 28-75mm f/2.8</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">F2.8</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/160</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ISO 320</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">75mm</span> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7577239274/" title="Flowers 137 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Flowers 137 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7577239274_9b4baba1e9_b.jpg" width="680" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I should rename this post...."Short and sweet Sunday"! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But sometimes....words are superfluous...don't you think?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a great start to the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">xoxo </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-18557161758368440912012-07-13T08:04:00.002-04:002012-07-13T08:04:07.188-04:00Favorite Photo Friday - BFFs<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Flowers 105 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7559581234_4e02335524_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Milana, above, looking pretty in her party dress....chewing her fingernails which is her habit lately. Hmmm....must try and break that.)</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a week of birthday parties</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and celebrating good friends here. Dahlia and Milana have the most amazing friendship with Angel and Georgia.</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Georgia's 4th b-day 096 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7559576732_896a1f8679_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Georgia as she turned 4 this week with her bff - my Milana.)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When my dear friend Helen and I traveled to China together for our first daughters</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">we never imagined how close our girls would become. They were friends in the same orphanage and have become inseparable ever since. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They just adore each other!</span><br />
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<img alt="Flowers 159 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7559572574_3920255eaa_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Angel and Dahlia - BFFL's as they like to say. Best friends forever for life.)</span></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So even though our second trip to China brought our two families to different provinces (much to our great disappointment)</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">we never could have anticipated that our second daughters would fall in love with each other so intensely like they have.</span></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7559574046/" title="Georgia's 4th b-day 100 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Georgia's 4th b-day 100 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7559574046_9fc77a6649_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Georgia getting smooched by Milana. It's funny, but both my girls are huggers and they hug intensely</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We have so many pictures of their hugging and kissing...I need to get them all together in a collage.</i></span>)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's really the most amazing bond and attachment that only seems to be growing deeper. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We could not have wished for more.</span></div>
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<img alt="Flowers 107 wm" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7559579434_440e6f81af_c.jpg" width="531" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(why yes....that is a tattoo on Milana's little arm. They had been playing around with them the day before and I'd washed them off at bath time only to discover, too late, that I'd missed this one. I <strike>hate</strike></i> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>dislike</i> <i>tattoos on kids, especially little girls in pretty white dresses, but...oh well....at least it was a cute little birdie and not a skull. )</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Great friends are so important (I can't imagine my life without mine) and we're so very glad our girls have found each other</span><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and have become so close.</span><br />
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<a href="http://thelongroadtochina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="the long road" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6121833519_e37029da2c_o.jpg" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's Friday!! I booked off this week - no shoots, so I thought I would catch up a bit. Ummmm.....NOT!! But I made a dent into the pile of work waiting for me at least and even got a bit of housekeeping done too. Both girls have been home for 2 weeks now so it's harder to get chunks of time alone but...it's summer and our schedule is looser - even got to sleep in a few times. Woohoo!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Week-end !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo </span><br />
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-5491753360428262352012-07-06T10:40:00.000-04:002012-07-06T10:40:18.326-04:00Favorite Photo Friday - "At the beach"<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="MAC MAC Summer 2012 167 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7511817904_b032812a4a_c.jpg" width="800" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summertime........</span></span></div>
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<img alt="MAC MAC Summer 2012 163 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7511820878_4f12fecb67_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-size: large;">......and the livin' is easy!</span></div>
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<img alt="MAC MAC Summer 2012 173 wm" height="531" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7511816832_eef43f96a0_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fish are <strike>not</strike></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">jumping........but the girl's definately were when we finally got to the beach over the week-end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our few days away to a lake with very good friends and their kids was the highlight of Dahlia and Milana's year last year. It's practically all they talked about.</span><br />
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<img alt="MAC MAC Summer 2012 176 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7511814436_226f5db126_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And it looks like this will be another family tradition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have more pictures of our little excursion to post and share......but for now, I hope everyone had a great Canada Day celebration and a happy 4th of July.</span><br />
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<img alt="the long road" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6121833519_e37029da2c_o.jpg" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(And anything else you might be celebrating.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-43467324542912792282012-06-29T09:39:00.004-04:002012-06-29T09:39:45.151-04:00Favorite Photo Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="WEDDING N&B #1 360 wm" height="532" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7466527622_166ca02884_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm just finishing up a clients wedding pictures and had to share this one of the two little flower girls.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These 2 were beyond precious and just stole everyone's heart. I had a hard time not swooning every time I pointed my lens at them. </span></span></div>
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<img alt="flowers 032" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7466532394_85bdb9c909_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<a href="http://thelongroadtochina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="the long road" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6121833519_e37029da2c_o.jpg" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And another favorite photo was after some rain earlier this week and my roses (this one is the climber "New Dawn"</span>) <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">were heavy with raindrops</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's the time to grab<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> an image and then I softened it up in editing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Very few words today because......I'm unplugging for a few days.......time to just chill and play with the kids.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bring it on!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Friday!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo </span></span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
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<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-66091060504523579972012-06-24T14:05:00.002-04:002012-06-24T14:05:23.229-04:00Sunday Snapshot<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 021 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7432929866_ac05cf571f_b.jpg" width="680" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another school year....gone!</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Dahlia jpg wm" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7432811320_bd4b1627ef_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 013 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7432851374_af96ec27d5_c.jpg" width="531" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is where I can really see how her face is maturing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7432843356/" title="PhSho Adrian Family 028 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 028 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7432843356_14ab21cbac_c.jpg" width="531" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">......but her <strike>silliness</strike> cuteness remains the same.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7432824448/" title="BLOG and POST1 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="BLOG and POST1 wm" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7432824448_b70c89141a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anybody notice that Milana has gone from standing beside her big sis and just looking cute to................the honorable role of <u>"pack mule"</u>! I sometimes try and change the course of this division of power but this morning it just made me giggle. That backpack is hanging so low that if I attached clippers to it she could mow the grass as she walks.</span> <i>(Not that I would do that or anything....)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Talking photography for a minute - the above collage is a good example of the challenges of grabbing pictures of your kiddos as they move and run. We had about 2 minutes to grab some last day of school pictures or we woud have been late.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The light conditions changed with each shot so it's a constant scramble to change the settings. ISO, shutterspeed and aperature changed here 3 times in about 5 seconds. You can really see the changes here in these 3 shots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For a look back at previous years of first and last days of school for Dahlia, click on the link below. </span><br />
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<a href="http://atlastmilanascominhome.blogspot.ca/2010/09/black-and-white-wednesday-woo-hoograde.html">http://atlastmilanascominhome.blogspot.ca/2010/09/black-and-white-wednesday-woo-hoograde.html</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oh, how they change and grow!</span><br />
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<img alt="PhSho Christine Chan (June 2011) 094" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7433565950_00b954069c.jpg" width="332" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7433546060/" title="PhSho Christine Chan (June 2011) 112 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="PhSho Christine Chan (June 2011) 112" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7433546060_893fd5e48b.jpg" width="332" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Same time last year, above)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7433598550/" title="Dahlia 1st day, grade 3 008 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Dahlia 1st day, grade 3 008" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7433598550_0057de80e8.jpg" width="332" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7433580188/" title="Dahlia 1st day, grade 3 030 by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="Dahlia 1st day, grade 3 030" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/7433580188_5e5caf13f0.jpg" width="332" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(And the beginning of this school year, above)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Back to now....June 2012 and last day of Grade 3. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And school is OUT!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7432815412/" title="BLOG and POST2 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="BLOG and POST2 wm" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8006/7432815412_0c1e363093_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And as the school bell rang for the last time this year, we could hear squeals of delight</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">as the kids came pouring out. Dahlia is so overjoyed, instead of walking or running....she's doing the happy dance.</span><br />
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<img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 292 wm" height="531" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5279/7432842082_53532954f5_c.jpg" width="800" />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7432791650/" title="PhSho Adrian Family 293 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 293 wm" height="531" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7432791650_57536f24af_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96734751@N00/7432840014/" title="PhSho Adrian Family 295 wm by Wanda Malfara, on Flickr"><img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 295 wm" height="531" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/7432840014_04846b2210_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This has really been a watershed year for all of us. Dahlia became a "reader" this year. She loves to read her chapter books, visit the library and read everyday this year. Her marks continue to improve and the things she is learning surprise (and shock) me. I know we didn't know half the stuff she knows at her age. She's interested in history, geography and how things work as well as art and music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dahlia and Milana have become inseparable - playing together constantly which has helped Milana so much with her language development. Milana has being a little chatterbox now of course</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">which confirms</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">that old adage - "be careful what you wish for". (Kidding of course, we're delighted with her advancing language skills.)</span></div>
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<center></center><center><a href="http://www.nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/gcvAK.jpg" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My camera: Nikon D300</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lens: 28-75 mm 2:8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">ISO,shutterspeed,f/stop: all over the place. </span></div>
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<img alt="PhSho Adrian Family 297 wm" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7432837320_147dd5c492_c.jpg" width="531" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, it's been a great Grade 3 for our big girl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are so proud of you sweetheart! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now.....let the summer begin!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Summer everyone!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo </span><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br /></div>Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281855971719005358.post-56834140198293225592012-06-17T18:19:00.000-04:002012-06-17T18:19:32.932-04:00Sunday Snapshot<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="iphone 075 wm" height="1024" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/7389151104_c86187b54c_b.jpg" width="768" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Daddy's </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">two treasures, walking out of church on our way to Sunday brunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Father's Day! </span></div>
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<center><a href="http://nihaoyall.com/" target="self"><img alt="Ni Hao Yall" src="http://i.imgur.com/8taxm.jpg?1" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Camera: iphone 4S</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Settings: who knows......how refreshing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">;-) </span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/103/F0EA928548874A12CAECA2FAC9138214.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Wandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645427399530140006noreply@blogger.com7