well…i got up today with a plan in my head.
i would go running, take a nice hot relaxing bath at the craft house
and then make Vlog answering some of your questions.
i did go for my run but then the school called and said Scott was throwing up.
so…i am stuck at home still in my stinky running clothes and i will be writing and not vlogging today.
you guys ask great questions.
let's see….
1. Did you ever convert the attic in the craft house?
nope.
we just never had the energy and the money at the same time. :)
who knows what will happen though….we may still do it.
i have dreams for it. Maybe a store? Maybe more work space? Maybe more bunk space? Maybe a little apartment? My running buddies suggested making it a full gym so we could workout together all year long.
and i am LOVING that idea.
2. Are you on Pinterest?
ummm….i am.
but it's the only place online that i am private….i have a fake name.
i just like having all the ideas i like in one place but not sharing what i love with everyone.
that may seem weird but… it's what i am doing and i like it that way.
3. which is your favorite camera and lens?
i have a canon 50D and the 24-70 f/2.8 Canon lens.
and that is all.
i own one lens. :)
it works for my needs…i dream of the 70 – 200 and the 35mm….and a 5D camera body.
but for now and the past two years….just that.
nothing else.
so that is what is in my camera bag.
and by camera bag i mean my purse. HA!
4. How do you edit your photos?
i upload my photos into LightRoom and i use their settings to edit.
i usually bump up the exposure…the vibrance….the fill light….sharpen and that's it.
5. what settings do you use on your camera?
i almost always shoot in AV mode. i shoot at an ISO of 200 and at 2.8 or 3.5. does that help?
someome asked about my settings for indoor shots in the evening…well i just try not to shoot indoors in the evening. because i think those pictures are always bad. So i have no settings to share for that.
i love wendy&tyler from blue lily and they have helped me immensely with understanding my camera. they have workshops where YOU can learn about your camera too. you should go.
and Ashley from Under the Sycamore has an AWESOME online class that you can learn about photography…her next course is coming up soon.
i have never felt great at explaining cameras or putting it into words but both of those blogs do it well!
6. Will you come to Washington?
yes. :)
i would love to do that sometime….
also i was worried it was going to be raining for my run this morning and your quote went through my head Leann "once you're wet, you're wet" and had decided i was going anyway. thankfully… it stopped before i ran.
7. where are the glasses from in the post with the happy things to look at? And the afgans?
i found that pic of the glasses on pinterest….and it linked to martha stewart…who else? but the link was not for the pic…but i think it probably came from her site.
and the afgans linked to flikr….just plain old flikr.
that is the downside of pinterest…messed up links and not getting a real source.
8. does having a GOOD dlsr camera make that much difference?
well…
i think i wouldn't want to go without my dslr. But getting a dlsr won't make you take good pictures. there is a lot more that goes into getting good photos than the camera. instagram is great example of that. it's figuring out the lighting, composition and your angle. and that is where having a nice dslr camera comes in…and makes the shot clear and crisp. where a point and shoot may have a grainier shot? possibly.
if you just want snapshots to keep your memories then a point and shoot is fine.
if you have an interest in photography…any desire to learn more….i think you need a dslr.
9. Can i get a top ten book list of your favorite books?
this is a funny question mommyjulia.
because i don't know that i have read ten books in the last ten years!
but i will share again what i have read the past few months…
i read 7 and then Interrupted….loved.
Now i am reading "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" and this book is making me think in ways i never have!!! it's challenging me. it's making me do hard things. it's so good.
i love the book Crazy Love.
i loved Calm My Anxious Heart….good for a mom.
Long Way Gone was a book to prepare for africa and it was so good.
i don't read very much….i get so distracted and i don't make time for it.
i definitely don't read fiction.
IF i am reading a book it's going to be about something that i want to learn about…change in myself…get a new direction.
and thankfully i got glasses so at least i don't fall asleep as soon as i start reading.
10. can i have your pattern for the apron? can you tell me how make all the stuff you make at craft weekend? can you do tutorials on all those things that the craft weekenders paid for? (i am paraphrasing here)
nope…sorry. :)
that would not be fair to all those Craft Weekend girls at all.
but i will be selling these things in my shop someday.
and i can't wait for you girls to get your hands on them… everything takes time.
i have five kids and i am running a business so things take a long time to get done.
i wish i could snap my fingers and have my shop filled and everything done…but i just cant.
i am grateful you are patient.
11. tell us about Lauren….you never do…she is ignored….why don't you talk about her…WHY?!?
(again…paraphrasing)
lauren is 17…almost 18. She requested quite a few years ago for me to not blog about her.
so i don't.
i love her. she is crazy smart. she works on the weekends. she is an awesome volleyball player. she wants to be a doctor.
maybe someday i will be able to talk more about what it's been like raising our first teenager but for now she doesn't want me to talk about her here.
and that is that.
12. Kirsten J asked all these at once: do you make lists? yes…very messy lists Do you ever ask for help? yes. a lot. YOU HAVE TO or you will drown. Do you ever future trip? i don't what that is…dreaming about the future? not much i guess. Will Lauren go away to college? yes she will. we don't where yet but she will. Did you ever have a penpal? YES! i used to write letters constantly. when craig got home from one year of college he had TONS of letters from me. i had two from him. ha ha haaa. also my sister got letters from me constantly. My grandpa and i wrote too. i always signed my letters to him Love, Megan the GREAT!! i would tell him my grades and about my boyfriends and my dance recitals and he would send me money for good grades and call me out on my bad ones. my 101 year great aunt and i wrote for my entire marriage until she passed away this year. i love writing letters. Do you ever just veg out in front of the tv? Reality tv? Or talk shows? NCIS? i do occasionally veg with tv… Parenthood of course, Office, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy and Saturday Night Live. NO reality tv. i can't take it. NO singing shows…or dancing shows…or dating shows. it makes me want to poke my eyes out. i did like Amazing Race and Survivor…in the beginning…but not anymore. AND i miss Oprah…really really miss her show. What blogs do you read regularly? Julie, Ashley, Kimberlee, Shauna, Jess, Megan, Leslie, amy, shannon, sarah, lisa and michelle just to name a few….i have over 50 more in my reader. :)
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i wish there were some pictures to go along with this post.
how about some george?
yes…i did just take 15 minutes and made a george collage in picmonkey.
don't judge.
just enjoy….it's easy….
there over 100 comments on that post so it will take me awhile to get through them all.
hope you made it through all those answers.
ok…i am going to make all the appointments i have been putting off forever since i am stuck at home.
you know what i mean…. dentist, eye doctor, exterminator, ob/gyn, sewing machine guy, specialist and anything else i can think of.
the part i hate more than making the appointment….GOING to the appointments!
wish me luck.
Sarah - Thank you so much for posting this. This is indeed a lovely pictures. I do love Fall it is actually my favorite time to have my teeth clean at the dentists ottawa in time for the holiday season. Thanks again for posting this!
Jessica - I love seeing all of your lovely fall photos. It’s my favorite season and you capture Kansas fall perfectly. I was born and raised in Ottawa, KS, but moved away a few years ago when I married a Marine. Thank you for posting the beauty of Kansas that I miss so much!
mary beth - I am with you …I can’t get enough of the fall color! each one I see is more beautiful than the last! hope you got a chance to recharge over the weekend, windy Monday is here!
Sarah - The view down the road in front of your house is so peaceful. Love it. I should have read your blog yesterday when I was feeling the same way you were, then I would have known I wasn’t alone.
April R - Jack Johnson 🙂
Ana - Seriously. You always inspire me to go take pictures of so much natural beauty outside. So, I went in my backyard with my Nikon. Sadly, I couldn’t find a single change in leaf color. =) Great pictures!
jennyonthespot - I love Fall. My favorite time of year… Wouldn’t it be fun to go for a run together? I soooo know what you mean about needing to go for a run… I hear that… <3
Jennifer - Well, I straightened up the kitchen kissed my kids and husband goodbye, Scooped up Dear Daughter off of the bus and headed out to teach my 5:45 healing yoga class:) Came home and my husband had dogs on the grill and a beautiful cucumber tomato avo salad on the side:) I gave him a big kiss and relaxed vegging out in front of fb and tv. Next time leave the kids with one of the older kiddo’s in charge and go for a run or take in a relaxing yoga class 😉
tinaehb3 - lol…love the the appt. offer 🙂
Grace - Ohhh! Thank you … 🙂
I left definitively Boston 2 months ago for France (my country), and I was so sad to miss the autumn foliage… Very sad. I usually love going out just to take pictures around.
So, once again, thank you very much. You made my day very happy.
Leah - Just watched “About a Boy” and was reading blogs and getting crafty ideas.
Kate - Watching Sabrina and flipping back and forth between that and Sleepless in Seattle
Mary - awww man!
today was nuts.
our leaves are LOOOOONG gone, but they sure were great when they lasted.
hope you get some ALONE time this weekend.
i had a fit today because my plans for the weekend were foiled do to impromptu babysitting for my dear friends. i got over it, because life isn’t all about me, but i sure hope to get a FEW quiet moments to myself…and i sure hope they involve coffee! 🙂
xoxo
beth - home made pizza and movies here too. that’s how you’ll find us spending our friday nights, unless something else comes up. usually works out well, since hockey, soccer and dance are on the other weeknights and the rest of the weekend. i find it’s the perfect way to unwind with the peep’s after a long week. while the crust was rising we took a family walk on the train tracks that run along side the lake where we live. it was a nice crisp fall day here on vancouver island, no rain, lot’s of fall colour on the trees, and a pretty sunset on the lake. your ahead in time than me, so hopefully your house has quieted down by now : )
Maria - A nice, quiet night at home for us tonight…homecooked dinner, followed by cider and donuts and a new tradition (ala Nienie) of watching the legend of sleepy hollow with the boys…a perfect October night!
Routhie - Not going to lie: A little tipsy from some beers and full from decent bbq (I’m a Texan living up north, so it’s slim pickins), kids are playing with neighbors, I just talked to my mom for 30 mins about one of my brothers, making lists about what needs to be done instead of just getting things done, brainstorming about a bday present for party on Sunday, and burning incense because there is a funky smell in my bathroom because, according to the plumber, a vent on top of our house is clogged. Oh, and I am sad about Big Tex.
KirstenP - Here’s something completely different: go to ancestry.com and sign up for
a free 2 week trial and then start doing a genealogy search of grandparents. You’ll probably find some info in census records. Have a happy fall weekend with lots of color!
happygirl - All these pics are about light. Ever since you said photography was all about light I can see it in the images. Now if I could find the light in my lens.
Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - You are so funny! Scrambled eggs for dinner and we are going to watch Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer!? Hmmm not quite sure I’m going to like that. Just a wild and crazy night here in my house.
tiffany kraght - assuming you watch the x factor, you could just re-watch the two episodes that were on last week over again because they were soooo good. especially the two 13 year old girls at the end. amazing. i’ve watched both episodes twice!!! are you watching??? you totally should. my kids think i’m going crazy with how much i love those girls. i’m just super jealous i wasn’t blessed with a good singing voice!!
Molly - we are eating homemade pizza and watching movies. these plans were made entirely by my hubby. reason #509 why i love him:)
shauna - stop with the leaves you brat
Heidi Jo the Artist - Love fall and all the photos of the oak leaves. My favorite tree lately. We are going to watch a movie shortly, just the kids and I until hubby gets home from work. We try to do that a couple of times a month, and will probably do that each week this winter. Where mom (me!), actually watches the whole thing without doing anything else during the movie, a tough feet for this busy hands.
I’d say pop in a movie, or do something crafty with the kiddos and then when your hubby gets home, go for that run or even a walk? I almost didn’t run last night and so glad I did even though it wasn’t my best run.
Amanda - Driving 4 girls and meeting 11 more to dinner, Cotillion, then back again. Can Totally relate to wanting to do something else, ha! I woke up this morning and my hubby asked me why I kept turning off the alarm. “I have to do boring things today. I do not want to get up.” Us mamas are tired on Fridays and frequently, it’s a busy night!
Your photos are really great, thanks for posting those!
Amanda
jackie grandy - Hi Meg! I feel your pain today. Friday’s are supposed to by my days off to play. I usually hike or have lunch with a girlfriend, but I had so much catch up work to do today (house chores) that I ended up doing chores like vacuuming the beds, washing and changing sheets and endless piles of laundry. BORING! I use to be able to take a day off from laundry, but as my kids get older there’s just more laundry to do.
I also cooked up a bunch of stuff to get ready for our crazy weekend, so I’m taking the night off from cooking and we’re headed out to our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner. I’m going to have me a tall glass of wine! Now, I just have to go and pick up my kids from school!
Tiffany - Wine, get some, it’s relaxing. Sewing too.
Amy Huff - Grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s then snuggling in bed with hubby after baby goes to bed and watching Revolution and Grimm on the dvr.
Donna - Dave Matthews Band!
shannon - We are having a movie night, Winnie the Pooh 😉 I’m sure that movie might not work for your kids though. It’s always an easy way to transition into the weekend around here.
Donna - hi meg. i feel your pain – i have 6 girls in my house right now – i think if i closed my eyes i would think i was at a justin bieber concert right now. i too would take a pelvic exam in exchange……….well maybe NOT. My husband and I were going to get a bite to eat tonight, but now I think I am stuck home with Little Caesars pizza, screaming girls and justin bieber!!!! I think I will lock myself away in my bedroom and organize my jewelry – my inspiration comes from Paige: http://paigeknudsen.com/
Jen - P.S. Also just downloaded my first EVER iTunes. Yep, helllllo 2012! Blues Traveler Run Around was my first song. Looking for tunes to play in the background when my girlfriends come over for dinner. Suggestions?
Jen - Beautiful pictures, Meg! Thank you!
Here in Ohio, it’s chilly and raining. My girls and I just crafted some Halloween cards a la Pinterest. Now I need to get off my rear and make chili and cornbread. After dinner, girls, hubby, and me are going to snuggle up and watch Madagaskar 3. TGIF!
Alicia @ La Famille - beautiful pictures! wouldn’t it be sad to live where there was only one season? hope you have a good weekend and get some quiet for a few 🙂
Lachalle - hired a baby sitter for my kidlets and heading out to supper with hubby and before we head home maybe just a walk together . Then home and hopefully she gets everyone in bed before we get home . Wishful thinking there I am sure.
~L~
Lori Tacchino - Lovely photos, Meg! Great job capturing the light. We are still waiting for fall to arrive in Cali. Can’t wait-its supposed to be here next week
keri - forever folding laundry - I’m hosting a sleepover for 10 boys (+ Avery) tomorrow.
Still wanna trade?
Leadia Jarvis - the colors are so gorgeous that it makes me laugh on those (many) days when I feel so “gray” on the inside! Trying to motivate myself to get to the 6:00 Crossfit class or I will be Mt. Vesuvius by 8:00. Last night we had a floor picnic/family movie night. We turned off all the lights, I gave them treats…90 minutes of relative peace. I download Kindle books onto my iPhone so I can snuck in some reading during the movie. That, and Words with Friends. (Do you play that or Draw Something? Both are mindless distractions!)
JennD - Waiting to head home from work and hibernate! The kids have a day off of school and we are having a huge snow storm.
(I am very jealous of youe beautiful fall pictures, looks like winter is here aleady for us…)
Sara Torbett - Watching Project Runway, bath or long shower, crafting. Plus lighting a fall candle and leisurely drinking some decaf coffee. 🙂 I’m a mama to a busy 16-month old and 8 months pregnant. Friday nights are the one night for me! 🙂