Where have you been? & the Punk inspiration

So where have I been? Playing outside of course! Our home has been filled with children. Lots of sleepovers and laughter filling these hallways. Panda requested I take pictures of her & the friends staying over which I agreed to do. She came back with a question "What theme should we do?".. I honestly did not think the girls meant to go all out but thought... why not?! What would be FUN for these girls? Something THEY would want & appeal to...  Something fun & full of persona's. Something the girls would enjoy that includes doing hair, makeup & choosing of outfits. Then I remembered this video which I soon played for the girls to understand what I had envisioned. The one Drew Barrymore directed for the band Best Coast and their song "Our Deal"....:  " Lets go Punk. How does that sound?" .... of course they were very happy with a theme away from my norm of soft Natural settings. They wanted edgy and honestly, for teen girls, THIS is as edgy as I will go. Thankfully they were all about it.

The next Morning began with makeup & hair styling taking over the bathroom & Panda's bedroom. We got a late start due to some other issues, making the afternoon sun not play in our favor. Afterwards we stopped for slushies and while they looked through their photos, I picked up Pizza. Their evening ending with another sleepover with many talks of how much fun the day was. Their laughter & banter of the day's activities still echoing down the hall....

I like themes. I like costumes. I like giving different Persona's when I play with the camera. I am far from mastering it. No where near Pro quality but I'm learning as I explore & experiment. Have I reinforced this enough? I really do not want some "pro" coming upon this and proclaiming me a "hack". I in no way present this as anything other then a sharing of our camera play. Spare us all the spiel. 

This is the Short version of the inspired theme. The extended version is made like a mini movie music video of 10 minutes.

 http://www.mtv.com/videos/best-coast/677679/our-deal-directed-by-drew-barrymore.jhtml?xrs=share_copy

MTV Supervideo - Music - Best Coast - Best Coast - Music - More Music Videos

I call this session with the girls my warm up. I truly have not shot photos other then snapshots since Last Fall... Without all the fancy equipment, indoor photos do not come out well and my collecting of such items will take some time. The stuff is not cheap. There was a lighting setup at the thrift for $125 but it was gone before I could afford to grab it. One of those make you sick to the stomach deals being you know when you come back it will most likely be gone. Outdoor lighting is timed. Not just anytime of the day will do as you will see in my pictures. Shadows can be a photos worst enemy. We worked through it anyway. Knowing these are a session of practice & learning for me yet fun & adventurous for them.

A short Peak of our The Punk Practice session:

I'm still playing around with editing which is the cause for various differences of their colors, framing, etc.

 

 

 You should have seen their faces when I whipped out a handful of Twizzlers and cans of spray paint from my backpack. Priceless!  No, they did NOT actually use the spray paint. All props. Very little direction was needed by me. Other then moving of a chin or arm to help ease the shadow issues of mid afternoon, obviously you can't force it away but you can try working with it.

 They were so much fun and to hear from the backseat by all  "That was so much fun. When can we do it again?" and then hearing them think up more themes and persona's... pure happiness for this Mom. 

The pictures are not great and the girls knew before hand this is a new hobby for me. These were not going to come out as something you see in magazines. BUT they could care less.

They were laughing & loving it. My mission & their Spring Break fun.... complete. 

I honestly can not wait to do it all again soon. They want to gather up a few more girlfriends for this same theme in the next month or two. Thankfully I thought ahead & gained permission from the Train yard owner for re visits. Non active tracks & trains as well as so much inner city influence oozing from it's environment. PERFECT and safe for these kids I care for as my own.

 The hens have begun laying again after a late winter Molt. The Captain & I are discussing the possibility of allowing them to hatch out  a few dozen for replacements. I would prefer to just go pick up a dozen barred rock chicks and thin out the current flock. The thought of chicks inside for a bit has kept this thought as just thought. A consideration unconfirmed. We'll see how it goes.

For now...

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

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Safe & Sound inspirations

The video takes my breath away. The song, made for the soundtrack The Hunger Games, has an eery lullaby sound in comparison to her normally upbeat sunny songs. The video emits the same eery lullaby with a romanticized feel which pulls you in. Set in the hillsides during colder weather. Trees bare with a fog rising around. Taylor slowly walks around as though in deep thought, searching in loneliness. Her vintage chiffon dress making elegant long waves around her legs and bare feet as the fallen leaves contrast in color.

I have searched out for a dress similar to the one she wears with no luck. Before the weather brings the burst of green, I have this surge of desire & inspiration to find the perfect spot for photos in the same feel of the video.

My search has made me realize, my sewing machine can be my best friend when the need arises for something that can not be found in the stores. I fear chiffon. It's delicate nature is not like where one can whip through sturdier fabrics. A visit to the fabric store will provide further decision on the delicate flow of fabric as chiffon provides. The decision on this as well as the pattern is consuming me. The eery romantic side of me is bursting with want. Being that self photography has it's drawbacks for obvious reasons, I may have my little Panda, whom resembles a Snow White with her dark long hair and snowy skin gliding along the foggy morning hillsides.

During one such search for location, I fell for this beautiful statue in a local graveyard. It sits upon a newer very large header which marks a family area of members buried between 1890-1930. 

When ever the subject of burial comes up with The Captain & I, my one huge selfish desire is to have a very large female statue marking my resting ground. My ashes split between between there and a few other places. This young female statue standing barefoot,  her long chemise hanging low from her shoulders, drew me in as I drove by. I could not stop looking at her. Here, almost 100 years later, she still holds all who come upon her. Throwing all other thoughts to the wind as you look up to her face. That, is what I desire with mine.

If I could only find a large statue like this for my Garden of Eden... So beautiful.

The late dreary months of winter are not my best of times. It's as though you can almost see Spring coming from afar and yet, it does not come soon enough. Like seeing it down a long road, you want to run towards it, hoping it will meet you sooner. I know that is not possible. Mother Nature takes her own time but that has not stopped me from starting the Romanesco Broccoli. The Peony poppies & Hibiscus Roselle seeds. I simply can not adjust to these northern winters. It gives me the feeling of being trapped. Always looking for a way out in between trying to settle.

I know this will pass as it has has a hundred times before. So I dive into my artsy side. Not worrying about the satisfaction of others. I do these to appease myself.  Such as this recent surge inspired by the above video.

This is not meant as a sad posting. Truly not. More of appreciation and understanding that the many sides which make each of us up can not always be Sunny in Ohio. That just would not be reality.

Now, time to dust my old friend off and allow myself to drown my thoughts into chiffon's and threads. the patterns of the 1930's and center the overpowering thoughts of bare feet, hillsides and the feel of early Spring soil warming my soles.

Sunny dreams,

~Tammie

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The Mcguire Homestead~ Video Spotlight

It was so hard to make the final cuts in editing the footage, from the visit to Southern Kentucky. Plenty more to share in future segments. For now, enjoy part 1.
The History of The Mcguire Homestead.
Stella with her generous Southern Hospitality, shared some fantastic old B & W photos with us. The lighting inside, did give a few the "orange tint". You can still make them out, but wanted to share that is not the color of the actual photograph. After viewing the video below, you can check out Stella's blog titled The Mcguire Homestead at this link*.


Videos made possible by:Overstock.com & Lehmans.com

Stay tuned for more Adventures with The Unusual Farm Chick!

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

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Video spotlight~Plant swap & heirlooms seeds

When growing a garden, you will most likely have plants which will need thinned out each year. By attending a plant swap, you can trade out your extra plants & seed for others you may like to acquire.

I found a very intersting woman in Nova Ohio who has begun holding an annual plant swap & heirloom seed sale. Her farm is called "Harvest Thyme". A woman after my own heart with her love of heirlooms. She shares some very intersting information pertaining to how and why she grows exclusively Heirloom variety produce during our visit to her plant swap.

The day was very windy, a few minutes of pea size hail came down and the chill made us regret not bringing gloves. Our late Spring visit was a bit too early to see her crops growing in the field. Later in the year we hope to visit again when Dawn will share more on how to properly save seed and give us a glimpse of her abundant fields.

As always, the split second editing on my computer is not the best. There are hiccups but none the less, enjoy the video. I hope you feel inspired to find local Plant & seed swaps in your area. Bring a gardening friend as I did and be sure to read up plant swap etiquette.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheUnusualFarmchick



Video made possible by: Overstock.com ~ Lehmans.com

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Our first video segment!

We ventured out to Wooster Ohio, where we met up with Rick Pratt of Around the bend willow furnishings. He not only travels around the nation to various shows but supplies various top designers with his creations. His pieces vary in style, appealing to many different tastes in furnishings and decor.

Rick left his previous vocation to do what he loves. Making Willow furniture full time, for over 25 years now. We were fortunate to spend an afternoon with him and learn how to make a few different kinds of Garden Obelisks. He gives us pointers and the how to for adding Art back into the garden. Natural, Organic structures for your climbing plants and tomatoes.

For those who may not know, here are a few examples of Garden Obelisks:

This being our first published video, I hope you will take into mind, I am an amatuer when it comes to production. With each one, lessons are learned. I become more relaxed and hope to continue growing with these segments. Producing more enjoyable videos for your viewing.

With this early season, I will not have as many segments as I would like, but as the season grows warmer, the adventures become more frequent

The video below is just over 7 minutes long. I have split the total time with Rick into 2 segments. Giving a total of 3 different ways to make your Obelisks. Today, I share Part 1.

These can be made with willow for it's wonderful bending effect or using other woods, to make for more box like structural pieces.

If you enjoy this video, Please be sure to rate it over on youtube, at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzoPshyQHk

If you do not have one of their free accounts, it is very quick and painless to sign up for one. By rating this video, you help keep it in their search engine for future viewers.

I would like to thank Overstock.com for supporting us in this venture. Without whom, these segments would not be possible. Be sure to share some love and check their site out for the great savings they provide. And if the low prices are not enough, think about their shipping for your all your purchases at only $2.95!

Now I must be off and survey all those downed branches. I have just 18 obelisks left to make for the tomatoe patch, pole beans & cucumbers.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

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