
I recently joined a photography forum called Clickin Moms. It’s a collection of professional and enthusiast photographers giving each other advice, participating in workshops, and partaking on projects. I joined the ClickMoms Project 52, which gives me a theme for each week out of the year. This week’s theme was a self portrait.
I had to wait until Iris was napping. That gives me an average of 45 minutes to the first cry, 20 minutes to the next. Then I had to figure how I was going to photograph myself amongst all the clutter of my house. There’s one good window for lighting, so I decided that instead of trying to clear everything out from in front of the window and give myself a clean background, I would put everything in front of the window and show you who I really am.
My goal as a photographer is to embrace the awkwardness of life that gives us humor. I look for lightness in life by seeking humor in humanity. I want to remember over and over again that what makes us human is love. I want to document the truth of us and show it beautiful. Wish me luck.
This is me.

Seeing as I’ve hardly taken these pants off Iris since I made them, I decided to make another pair.
On this pair, the wool is quite felted, which makes them rather waterproof and windproof.
Now Iris can stand near the front door with no fear of getting frostbite.
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I still failed to make process photos and directions.

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The frost came in
came in through the doors and windows
came in through the walls
curled its fingers βround the edges of the frames
capped screw caps white

held captive the hinges

then turned the handle of the door.
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The frost came in.

It left us lace.
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I thought I had no use for the arms of this sweater,Β but the truth is,
thick cashmere is fantastic when the weather outside lurks below zero for days on end and
all the heat from the wood stove goes out the front door.

I snipped the arms from the sweater, cut some curves here and there, added pins and stitched it up.
I ought to start taking process photos.
I ought to practice writing more precise directions.
Mom (Gramma) made the booties.
We have a house full of toys.
Iris plays in the potted plants, moving soil from one pot to another and rearranging the tiny figurines.
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Anyone want some awesome toys?
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I made up a recipe for sweet potato custard pie before Christmas.
Martin thought it was fantastic; I thought it was imperfect.
So I made up another one. This time I left out the crust. Really, I’m just interested in the formation of custard.
It was real yummy, but then I ate too much, which didn’t feel so good.
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Here’s my recipe, because I didn’t see anything like it on line, and because it’s the only thing I photographed today:
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2 cups (about 2 medium) sweet potato, boiled and peeled
Β½ cup sugar
3 eggs
Β½ Tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
Β½ teaspoon coffee extract
tiny dash of cinnamon
bigger dash of ginger
blob of molasses; about 2 Tbsp
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Mix well everything but the eggs and cream. Beat in the eggs. Mix in the cream.
Pour into 4 custard dishes (equivalent of one 9″ pie)
Bake at 400Β°F for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted halfway between center and outside comes out clean.
Cool.
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Iris calls it pie. Now after dinner she chants, “Pie! Pie!”
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