The birdies 13/52-17/52

Posted on April 29, 2014 by BeSquirrely

Oh my, am I remiss in my weekly portrait posts. I’ll try to catch up in one hodge podge of a post. The blog has taken a back seat to life in the real world. That’s how it goes sometimes, eh?

So here goes, lots of portraits in one post – and not even in chronological order. As you’ll see I’ve been using my phone’s camera feature more too so the quality isn’t the best. But I guess I’ve seen worse, so I’ll just leave it at that and move on! Onward.

Easter 2014. Chris took the girls Easter dress shopping this year for the first time. Don’t they look smashing?!

So Phoebe isn’t a big fan of the camera right now…

Both birdies at Triple Falls again.

Kid in the candy store.

Soda fountain. Wren’s watchful eye.

The girl hardly EVER naps. Except on long road trips after some light reading.

Spring has sprung. Ice cream season is here!

This kid. She loves her naps. And her “owl penguin.”

One of the highlights of our trip was the time we spent at the Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit with my Mom. A beautiful place and newly reopened. It felt so great.

Wren. Flower arranging.

Phoebe Jane on the loose.

Phoebe and Wren at the Belle Isle Nature Center (now called the zoo).

As soon as it hit 70, the girls were in their swimsuits in North Carolina. Funny kids.

I’ll try to get back on the regular weekly posting wagon, but I’m not going to make any promises… Any links to your portraits that you’d like to share?! I’d love to see them.

through her eyes

Posted on April 29, 2014 by BeSquirrely

While we were on our spring break trip to Detroit and North Carolina, Wren really got into taking pictures with my phone’s camera. And I really got into seeing what SHE was seeing. Here are a few captures through Wren’s eyes. Enjoy!

You’ll see that she spent a good deal of time exploring the selfie feature. Apparently this is popular with all ages…

This is one of my very favorites.

I thought it would be fun to take a screenshot of a bunch of her selfies. She exhibits quite the range of character and emotion. This we know well…

Speaking of cameras and kids’ photography, do your kids have their own digital camera to use? I’ve seen kids-type cameras and have wondered about them. I’ve also wondered about getting a used iSomething-or-other for her to use the camera feature on it. Thoughts? Please share!

Return to Triple Falls

Posted on April 26, 2014 by BeSquirrely

Earlier this spring we took a road trip to North Carolina. We made sure to bring Chris to Triple Falls since he didn’t come with us last time. It was one of our favorite things from our trip two years ago when I took the girls down by myself. Not much had changed at the falls…, but the pictures show how much the birdies have grown. Here are some great pics that my Dad took when we visited this year. Enjoy!

It was a gorgeous day. I had forgotten how great 68 and sunny feels after our epic winter! No jacket! No hat! No mittens! Aaahh. I could actually get used to this kind of weather. Here in northern Michigan, we’re still betting on when the last snow pile in our yard will disappear. I’m betting May 1. There’s still ice on the lakes up here, people! Wow.

Happy weekend!

What’s a cup of coffee worth to you?

Posted on April 15, 2014 by BeSquirrely

It’s official! I’m in training for something very meaningful and difficult!

I’m training to run (walk, stumble) the 40 mile Solstice Run organized by On The Ground to raise awareness and funds for women’s empowerment programs in the DR Congo. The run will begin at sunset on Friday, June 20th in Leelanau County. It will continue south 40 miles through the night, ending at sunrise in Traverse City. At which point I will drink a beer and collapse on the shoreline.

The funds raised will be used to launch OTG’s next project area in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where OTG will focus on women’s empowerment programs. Together with our supporters and partners we’re working to bring peace and transformation for women’s lives in the eastern DRC region where hundreds of women, mostly widows, feel the brunt of difficulties in the conflict stricken area.

On The Ground recently returned from recent visits to the Lake Kivu region of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where program work is being developed with coffee cooperatives, communities and partnering NGO’s to empower women coffee farmers.

Project Congo initiatives will promote peace and women’s equality while highlighting the inspirational people and stories. The work aims to break the chains of poverty and conflict through the funding and support of women empowerment groups in the coffee cooperative system.

Learn more by visiting www.onthegroundglobal.org

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On a personal note, as a regular and avid coffee drinker, I’m especially drawn to the mission of this particular program. I can’t drink coffee anymore without thinking about the coffee growers around the world. Will you consider donating a few bucks toward the effort?

Perhaps look at it this way:

Donation of $2 – one cup of fair trade coffee

Donation of $10 – bag of fair trade coffee

Every dollar counts. I appreciate your support!

Click here to donate whatever you can to my goal of $1000 through Razoo.

Here’s a little photo from today’s training run at 5 a.m. It was 20 degrees with some new snow on April 15… Run on!

I plan on posting more information about my training, motivation, the DRC and what keeps me going. Any questions? Thanks for your support!

Do hard things.

Be Squirrely

creating a nest worth sharing

Monthly Archives: April 2014

The birdies 13/52-17/52

through her eyes

Return to Triple Falls

What’s a cup of coffee worth to you?