November Instagram Challenge - Make It Wild

I don't know if it is the cooler weather, the recent trip to Colorado or the fall festivals, I've attended, but lately I just want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Perhaps I was inspired by a recent article I read about the 30 Days Wild program that is sponsored by the Wildlife Trusts in the UK, a program that encourages participants to get outside each and every day for 30 days in a row.

November is traditionally a month that we really focus on our gifts and blessings and one of those is certainly this wonderful world that God has given us to care for.  Hence, this month's challenge---Wild November. I challenge you to get outside each and every day this month and find something that is photo-worthy. You may need to re-arrange these prompts to fit your particular situation or weather conditions, but if you include the prompt in your caption, we'll be able to follow along just fine. (hint: I generally post the photo caption, then the prompt in all caps, followed by the hashtag, like this:   WILD - #mtwildnovember2017)

So here's the list for this month:

If you are interested in "upping" the quality of your phone photography skills, be sure to check out the handbook, Picture Practice that is offered in my online shop over at www.DotToDotConnections.com/shop. While you are there, feel free to browse through my other offerings as well.

See you over on Instagram!

Picture Practice - An eBook

Back in March, our Instagram challenge was titled Picture Practice and each day was devoted to learning about our phone cameras, new techniques for improving our photography and practicing that technique. I blogged for 31 days straight!  I know, right?!?! Well, I have taken ALL of that information, edited it and added to it and compiled it into a downloadable eBook! Whoa! It was quite an undertaking, but I felt like it would be so much easier to review or refer to if it was in a single document.

The name of the book is: Picture Practice: Taking your photos from "so-so" to "WOW"!

This book is 150+ pages of information, photo examples and comparisons and includes information for both iPhone photography, as well as Android phones.

I even added info about the new iPhone7+, even though at this time I am still coveting it in the stores. The book is available for purchase as a single download in the shop over at Dot To Dot Connections. And guess what?  For a limited time, it is also on sale! Hooray! Just in time for those beautiful fall colors, special programs at school and holidays. Just add it to your cart and check out and you will immediately receive an email with a link to the download.

I hope you enjoy the book and will send me some examples of your new and improved photography skills!

July Instagram Challenge

June is coming to a close, which means it is time for a new Instagram challenge. For July, let's find some Summer Fun to photograph! Use the hashtag #MTSummerFunInstagram2017 to tag your photos. Remember that the interpretation of the prompts is entirely up to you---just shoot a picture each day and post it to Instagram. If you need to miss a day or switch them up to fit your calendar, no problem, just jump in wherever you can.  If you would like to download a copy of the prompts to your phone for easy access, just click on the photo below and then save (I tag mine as a Favorite).

Remember to check out the hashtag from time to time so that you can meet new friends and find a bit of inspiration.  I'd love to know you if you are playing along, so send me a comment either here or on my Instagram if you are new. https://www.instagram.com/lsperki/

P. S.  If you would like to learn/practice some techniques to improve your phone photography, be sure to refer to my March series on Picture Practice. (just type in Picture Practice in the search box for all of the posts)

Sunflowers for Days

If you follow my Instagram, you know that the Sunflower fields I've made several trips out to the sunflower fields lately. The first trip was an impromptu trip with Callie and the boys. We are both trying to get back in our running routine, and weekend runs are essential for that. I've been wanting to join a local group, the SMR (Saturday Morning Run) group, but have been a bit intimidated by the speed and experience within the group. Instead, Callie proposed that we run down to the Farmer's Market where Jordan would meet us with the boys. Ron wanted to run as well, but needed a different route so as to stay within close range of his truck since he was on call, so, he dropped us off near the parkway and we ran the 4.5 miles to the Market.  It was hot and we were slow, but it was good to be outdoors and moving.

After seeing a display of honeybees making honey, Toddler D decided he wanted to spend his 2 quarters on honey. Of course, Mama and Daddy had to supplement it a little bit, but he found a tiny bear full of honey to bring home.

After doing a little bit of shopping and a little bit of eating downtown (yummy strawberry nutella crepes!!!), we made the decision to just head on up to the fields before it got any hotter. All I had with me was my iPhone for photos, and we certainly weren't dressed for photos, but we headed out there nonetheless.

Please be gentle with us----iPhone photography + Sweaty hair and clothes from running = Interesting photos.

Many of the flowers were not yet blooming, but we did find a few patches where we could explore and take photos.

Most of these farms produce cotton and soy beans (and occasionally corn) during the growing season, and as a child, I have fond memories of visiting a friend's farm and riding in the giant trailers filled with cotton--it was like riding on a cloud! 

I love that they now invite the public to come out to enjoy the beauty of sunflowers for no other reason than to make people happy!

(Toddler D has that "cheese" face down, doesn't he?)

It was incredibly hot, so we loaded the boys into the stroller and walked down to the tiny store in Gilliam where we purchased ice pops before going home. I have to say--those were the most refreshing 10 cent pops ever!

What have you been up to lately?

For some strange reason, I thought that once I retired, I would have all of this extra time on my hands. Time to lounge around out on the deck, time to work in my garden, time to paint, time to practice photography, time to volunteer and even time to blog.  It hasn't really panned out that way this year, but it's totally fine with me. It has been crazy busy, but somewhat relaxing at the same time. When my friends who are still working ask me, "Do you ever get bored?" I want to laugh!  Not at all!! I have a list a mile long of projects that I want to tackle and am slowly, but surely checking them off my list. At times, I get a little frustrated with myself for the lack of progress in certain areas, but then I remind myself of what Valine told me: "It doesn't all have to happen the first year!" I guess that I felt like it was a short vacation--like spring break or summer--and I needed to cram every single project into that time. But, it's not! I'm going to be retired for a long time. If I do a little bit here and there, it will all get done.  And if it doesn't, oh well.

Ron and I slipped away for a short weekend camping trip over the Easter weekend. Because his work has been so busy and unpredictable lately, it is unlikely that we will be going on a real vacation until sometime in the fall. But, having a place to go that is only 45 minutes away gave us a much-needed break. I didn't break out my "big girl camera" the entire weekend, so he is an unedited, iPhone look at our time.

Callie and the crew came out to visit one of the days we were there and after dinner and s'mores, Luke stayed to spend the night.

While he was sort of interested in fishing, he REALLY just wanted to hide and hunt Easter eggs.

After a bit of a rough night away from mommy in the camper, we awoke to a happy toddler who was thrilled with camping again. We went on a little hike and to a visit to the nature center.

While we tried to interest him in more fishing, he really just wanted to hide and find Easter eggs again.

And again and again!

Oh the joy of being 2 years old!

When Callie came to pick him up, we all visited the small zoo where the peacocks really put on a show for us!

That night, Ron and I did a little more hiking and some fishing as well. I was on a roll---I caught 20 fish, many of them nice-sized catfish, while Ron only caught 6.

Easter morning, I got up, showered & dressed and headed into town for church before returning to spend the rest of the day at the campsite.

We had such a nice, relaxing weekend filled with family, fishing and fun!

And in case you're wondering, I have indeed reminded Ron of my fishing prowess several times since then!