Cucumbers and Croutons

   My latest addiction is a healthy one. Every afternoon I cleanly slice a fresh cucumber, add a little salt, add a little pepper, and add some croutons on the side. When my kids complain there are no more chips, I chunk this little plate of cukes in front of them.  Letting my children try alternative snacks is my mission this summer. I'll admit the kids have blatantly rolled their eyes. But once they realize there is no alternative, they give in and adapt. A plate of half-eaten cucumbers is more gratifying for a mother than a bag of chips. 

  My husband's grandmother hooked me on this delicate snack. Everyday she has a sliced tomato and cucumber on a plate on her counter at lunch. On my visits, I would sit on her cushioned window seat, chat, and nibble on her fresh veggies. Before I realized it the plate was empty. They were more addictive than cheese puffs. 

    For some reason the food tastes so much better from grandma's house even a plain ole cucumber. So the grandchildren want to know her secret ingredient. She simply tells them, "This snacks secret is its simplicity." 

  

 Gosh, it is true that I haven't taken any pictures in a while. The life of a teacher is extremely demanding, and beyond that my time has been divided between each child and their particular sports and school activities. As they grow older, my family is on the road more often.  Despite the racing around, we've had a blast this school year with the kids, but I am so ready for some down time.  At last, it is time for mama's hobby.
   Crystal, my hairdresser and the wife of my cousin, wished to take some photos of her son Bryar since he recently turned one. So I persuaded her to ride with me to capture some Beach Pics of her tiny crew. The little ones were so hilarious, her daughter Kamri is absolutely a cutie pie. After I composed the little ones long enough for a few poses, I decided to just let them play. That's really all one can expect from kids their age. 
  By the way, the sunset hours are also the hours that the dog-walkers come on the beach. Yeah! Kids and Dogs. Thank heaven these kids liked dogs. As a photographer, I have to work against wind, water, the sand....dear God the sand..... and I have to maneuver to
get the kids in the right angle..... (away from the dogs). Sometimes that doesn't always happen so smoothly, so I just shoot to shoot and hope it comes out in the wash.
  Kids and the ocean are just a wild combination, but the natural joy in their faces is exactly the expression that a photographer craves. The onlooker can see it in their smiles. After this session, we were a mess! I had sand in every crevice of my body and was soaked. My poor camera probably needs to be taken apart and cleaned. Was it worth it? Oh, Yeah! It was actually a breeze! 

Enjoy your summer friends,

and if you desire some beach pics message me anytime! 

 Love Kelly

      *Note to self, take a extra change of clothes next time.