Maggie McKenney Photography

not so random photo Friday ~ memories of “Blueberry Hill”….(personal post)

Maggie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:37:51 +0000

I was looking thru my old files for a picture for random photo Friday….and came across “sweet P” in her backyard eating a bowl of blueberries. I know I post lots of pictures of her on here but that is because I just love her and she inspires me with her sweet little face & quirkyness. So I am scrolling down all these pics and it’s funny but my mind goes from “sweet P” to me.…walking thru masses of blueberry bushes on “Blueberry Hill” in Maine (late 70′s)….not an easy spot to get too…(ya can’t get thaya’ from heea’…my Maine accent) My dad would pile us into the boat ..and god love him but he was no skipper….we would spend the next hour dodging boulders in the manmade lake…once the town of Flagstaff now a beautiful big lake. We would direct Dad with our arm motions …we knew roughly where the big rocks were and could open up the engine at certain times, I loved that ~ Mom was thrilled she was going to get piles of berries to make her famous jam! It got choppy way out there and my hair would be wet with the cold water spraying on my face. I would look back at dad with his firm grip on the motor handle and he was so happy, finally relaxed in the summer ~. We would land on shore with our dog Schotzie in tow and pick berries for hours….filling our mouths and buckets. I didn’t end up with many in my bucket My sister Ellie and I would sing sitting in our chairs perched in the sun. Life was really good. I remember loving those days in Maine & am thankful for all the memories I have. I got all that from looking at a photo of little “P” eating her bowl of blueberries~ this is why I love photography…one snapshot tucked away & brought out again… It can take you places you forgot you were.

Sweet P (last year)

my sister & I ~ circa 1978 (give or take a year)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whatever it is you plan on doing, I hope you are happy~

* i love your comments & thoughts, I do not always reply but you know I appreciate it & thank you…please click the SHARE button at the bottom~:)

random photo Friday~ & quote…

Maggie — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:43:05 +0000

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

I am sort of infatuated with “sweet P’s” curls…she has constant bed head but it works. She is my little muse & her mom my dear friend who puts up with me & the constant clicking of my camera as we chat about life and motherhood, our shortcomings, our hopes….we could solve world peace if we only had another hour & more caffiene…~

I am “off’ this week & not sure why…a little off balance & not in a great mood. sweet P’s wind swept curls make me smile even when I am down~. Whatever you are feeling today I pray you can find a little “smile” deep inside. It is always in the smallest of things for me~

tgif, again.

random photo Friday~ & quote.

Maggie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:01:32 +0000

“There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all.”

~anonymous

she makes me smile~ what a darling…click here to see more of her :)

smile today~

FEBRUARY PHOTO CHALLENGE~ Black & White

Maggie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:13:37 +0000

” I have tried meditation, lying down with soft music and yoga but nothing seems to calm me more than a walk with my camera”.

~Maggie

Ok folks~ here is the deal. This is supposed to be fun~ I am looking forward to seeing your great photos & think a little challenge/contest will be a good way to get through the month…SOOOO….get your cameras ready. I pondered themes over & over, so many ideas…but kept coming back to simplicity~ and I love Black & White. I used to do alot of it & have really gotten away from it, so I am going to be playing with it this month & hope you want to join in the fun. I am always in need of more inspiration & think a “challenge” rather than a full blown intimidating “contest” will be the way to get it, inspired that is. We all need it & sharing your work is a cool way to get excited about what you are shooting! Hope you are up to a challenge~:)

here is one i took yesterday~ as an example….

THEME~ finding beauty in Black & white (portraits, still life, landscape…)

MEDIUM~ your DSLR or iphone ( I am discouraging “over- use” of apps as they easily turn a photo into art…the point is to find the beauty in simplicity…but go ahead & be creative!)

who can enter this challenge? anyone that loves photography!

this challenge begins today & ends on February 28...please have your entry to me by then~:)

send your submissions in. jpg format to marmag@cox.net

please send only ONE photo!

in the subject line please write “photo contest” along with your name~ a little something about yourself & where you are from too please…in the space along with your attachment of photo

~there will be a winner and I will post the top ten photos (there will be a few judges because I can never make up my mind & will love all of them!)

the winner will receive a little something but I haven’t decided what that is yet!

~ just an idea…shoot till your heart is content..make a folder of your pics & near the end of the month make your submission choice! leave a message on my FB page for any questions!

“OH baby” ~…{6 month cutie with his big sister}

Maggie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:16:06 +0000

This darling little guy just turned 6 months old. I love this age…the huge drooling smiles and twinkly eyes. Complete love. Here are some of my favorites of “C” and his adorable big sister “M”~. . . a few inside & a few outside on a very W i N d Y afternoon~… to see him tiny click here.

Winnie the Pooh: Happy “Winds-day”, Piglet.
Piglet: [being blown away] Well… it isn’t… very happy… f-for me.
Winnie the Pooh: Where are you going, Piglet?
Piglet: That’s what I’m asking myself, where?
[he is lifted into the air by a gust of wind]
Piglet: W-Whoops! P-P-P-Pooh!
Winnie the Pooh: [grabbing Piglet's scarf] And what do you think you will answer yourself?
Share this quote

random photo Friday~ & quote…

Maggie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:32:47 +0000

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”
― Marilyn Monroe

~these shoes were worn by the very pretty bride I shot back in November (Noel) …they were her prom shoes! LOVE THAT! recycle, reuse, save money. Smart.

HAPPY WEEKEND

Maggie~

lost & found~ the art of finding yourself in someone else… {personal post}

Maggie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:47:33 +0000

”Know thyself, or at least keep renewing the acquaintance”. ~Robert Brault

I lost myself somewhere between August & October. It has happened before…I tend to stay happy but lose my inner self, like I continue looking totally together on the outside but am unravelled everywhere else. I began eating poorly, exercising less, complaining more, constantly in a state of trying to balance everything. I was multitasking & got overloaded…then the holidays hit. You get the idea. This is why I have truly welcomed January & this quiet season. I am cleansing & am starting to feel better, more myself. Less is more. WOW. Such an easy concept but so hard to implement in my life for some reason. Each day can totally be a fresh start. Forget the new year resolution stuff. I love that there is always hope…my tank is slowly filling back up~ I have ideas, things I want to get done, but I have to focus. Interesting word, focus… It’s got alot of meaning for me in my work & personal life. It can be hard to focus…

Focusing on my girl the other day made me see and feel what I have been missing. A real connection to what I love. I felt calm & really happy… Taking photos of people is my absolute favorite thing to do~ but I hardly took any personal photos last year…and I didn’t do some projects I had planned on doing. I need to learn to take time for my own life. You know that saying about the shoemaker? how his kids don’t have new shoes…well….I get that. Looking at my girl through my camera lens was interesting. I haven’t done it in a long while, she’s busy & really doesn’t like doing photoshoots! she needed some pics for a particular reason so I got lucky. She is a no fuss kinda girl, “30 minutes tops, Mom”…well, thanks to the warm weather and slight breeze , I got what I wanted and what she needed in that short time… I captured my girl & found myself. :) again.

Emmy face

when she laughs she squints~

my funny girl~

I encourage you to take MORE photos of your family~…that’s what I plan on doing

I always appreciate a comment below or you sharing this post on FB or to a friend~ thanks a bunch.

random photo Friday~ quote & more…

Maggie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:22:06 +0000

Talking of Pleasure, this moment I was writing with one hand, and with the other holding to my Mouth a Nectarine — how good how fine. It went down all pulpy, slushy, oozy, all its delicious embonpoint melted down my throat like a large, beautified Strawberry.

John Keats (1795 – 1821)

I love food. I can eat alot. I adore breakfast in particular, in fact my ideal breakfast would consist of belgian waffles (with pieces of bacon inside them)….my favorite Canadian maple syrup, berries on the side…or blueberry pancakes…..or my other favorite, southwestern omelet with green chiles. Always accompanied by a lovely cup of hot tea~ cream & sugar please…

I love pop tarts too although I try not to eat them anymore…the cinnamon ones are delish with my tea. Lunch & dinner are entirely different topics.

Back to breakfast. I’m a little overweight.~ just a few pounds… (ten or more….)I feel doughy, too much bread. I don’t long to be skinny, never have been. . . I do however want to feel better & fit into my pants without unbuttoning when I sit down~. The photo below was taken last week. A perfectly toasted english muffin (oh, those nooks & crannies!) with peanut butter & raw honey, with a side of chopped green apple & of course, my tea. I cannot keep eating those. I am taking a break on the carbs. I miss my comfort food already & it has only been 3 days.

This weekend I will be taking nice walks with my new puppy Finn~ I will be eating lightly & plan on throwing in a few crunches. Just to make it clear I will never give up the food I love, no way! Life is too short to not enjoy food. Moderation is what I am working on….and cleansing comes first…..

goodbye carbs~ see you later……

having oatmeal for breakfast today. I would appreciate any thoughts below in the comment section.~ love the support!

p.s. I had to look it up~

embonpoint French [ɑ̃bɔ̃pwɛ̃]

plumpness or stoutness

adj

plump; stout

[from phrase en bon point in good condition]

random photo Friday~ and quote.

Maggie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:10:34 +0000

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.”

~Thomas Jefferson

I snapped this photo of my little Luke over Christmas. I caught him in a moment. When I asked him what he was doing he said, “nothing…I was just thinking”. I love that. Just thinking.

tgif~ have a thoughtful weekend.

random photo Friday~ and quote…

Maggie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:09:06 +0000

“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying”.

~George Bird Evans,Troubles with Bird Dogs

Our new baby ~ “Finn”

right before Christmas we lost our two beloved dogs in a terrible way….we got Finn from the shelter 5 days later….two days ago he was on deaths door & is recovering from Coccidia. I cannot tell you the worrying we have done & all we have been through. He is adorable. this little life. Happy he is on the mend and taking up his “sisters” spot on the couch.

TGIF :)