rhymes with ketchup

One of the house/design blogs I regularly read has been inspiring me (and our friends use it for their solar business), so I explained to Keith that I wanted to try to use Google SketchUp to visualize the covered porch we want to make for our house BEFORE we start building anything.

I think I used the words "half-assed" and I think his feelings were hurt, but we made up.

So this is a pretty accurate representation (I broke out the tape measure). And it only took the better part of an hour. (I won't point out that the roof doesn't quite match up with the house on the tall end...I re-worked it a dozen times before I gave up and left it like this. Close enough!)

Since our deck is a weird shape, putting a roof on it and making sure it meshes with the profile of the house is my biggest concern. Keith, I think he just wants it covered any ol' way.

I also want to steal The Brick House's idea of a slat screen on the deck/porch/whatever. It will allow some sun in, but keep it mostly in the shade (on the hottest side of the house) and the bonus is increased privacy. (Not that we have nosy neighbors... Hi, Mom & Dad!)

The plan, still nascent, is to build a roof and slat screen to enclose the main part of the deck and then maybe get a sun shade for the south side of the house (the one with the two windows on it in the sketchup) that will also tie into the roof. Whether or not I can successfully illustrate that before we put hammer to nail is another story.

On display in the windowsill lately, Lazlo's puppy teeth. Don't ask how or why. We don't know, either. I put them in a jar, which is sitting on a tile Keith stole out of the hotel where Jim Morrison wrote L.A. Woman.* And some moss I dug up today.

Tomorrow I may or may not be meeting with the bride for the first wedding at the location. Getting ready for all that by windowscreen?shopping for a new (or used) DSLR. And shooting more Velvia 50 so I can send it off and hopefully get it back before the weddings. It's not good for shooting people (too red) apparently, but great for landscapes. So at least one camera will have a roll of that in it for the backdrop shots.


*allegedly (I'm reading David Foster Wallace. Hence the footnote.)

Location scout

Friday I met with the bride and moms at the location of the July 3 wedding I'm shooting. It's a fantastic location, so many possibilities for gorgeous shots. The ceremony's going to be between a couple of large pine trees and the reception in a barn.

I'm planning on having a new (well, used mostly likely) DSLR by then and Keith's going to be my assistant/second shooter. Fortunately he works cheap!

At the beginning of my 32nd year...

I'm so grateful to have Keith in my life, as my husband and eternal backer-upper. He's incredibly supportive and thoughtful and makes me laugh like no one else can. All the cliches about you don't think you could love someone anymore than you already do. Then 10 years later you look back and realize it happened. Is still happening.

I'm happy at work (well, most days). I like having a part-time job and the freedom it gives me to work on other things.

I'm proud of our house, even though sometimes it feels like the never-ending project. I guess that's what houses are anyway.

I'm proud of myself for sticking with the plan to take up running to get in shape. Admittedly, it sounded a little hare-brained at first, especially since I am great at starting things and horrible at finishing them. But I've actually been doing it. I was thinking of skipping today in celebration of my birthday, but I think I will suck it up and be a big girl.

I'm loving our dogs. Even when they crowd the bed and fart. They're unconditionally loving, hilariously retarded, and really spoiled.

I'm excited to keep climbing up the learning curve of film (and SLR in general) photography. I'm currently searching for a good quality (Nikon, Canon) used film camera I can afford. These things haven't quite come together in the Venn diagram I was hoping for, but I am optimistic I'll find something I will be happy with.

I'm thankful for a loving, supportive family that puts family first.

So overall, as I am turning 31, I have a good life. And I appreciate it every day.