Michaela's Photography

Shot of inspiration | Week 4: Treasure

I can't believe it's week 4 already ... here's where we started A shot of inspiration | Week 1 !  Our word this week is "Treasure" and to be honest it was due yesterday and I still had no clue what I was going to photograph.  I've been so busy with so many things I'm passionate about ... I spent some time yesterday at our local Boys and Girls Club, I've been so excited because the club got 9 new garden beds filled with fresh soil ... I volunteered yesterday helping the kids plant some seeds for their new garden.  I wanted the kids to learn not only about growing their own food to enjoy all summer while they are at the club but also about recycling and reusing things from home to start the garden.  We used egg shells and egg cartons as mini green houses ... we also used an apple juice bottle and poked holes on the lid for our watering can!  The kids planted peas, beets and spinach seeds and then we headed out to the garden to plant an entire box full of strawberries! 

I can teach my kids at home about gardening, but I believe in community and want my boys to share in a community garden ... I want to be an example and show them that sharing and volunteering in a community is valuable and important.

I will "treasure" the time I spent with the kids ... seeing the excitement and enjoyment they got out of our experience ... especially this little "treasure" the kids found in the fresh soil in our new garden beds! 

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I then spent yesterday evening attending a parenting workshop with Candyce Bollinger (Another passion of mine ... getting parent support and education in our schools. For the past year I have been working with my school district to begin offering parent education.) Last night I attended a workshop geared towards teens on "Resiliency and Learning Optimism". I learn so much at every workshop but this one was one of my favorite. It was so hopeful, especially in a time of economic and political uncertainty ... war ... and negative media ... it was nice talking about how to help our kids be optitmistic about their future.   A few parents shared some publications about positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. I thought these would be great to share especially for teens.  Ode Magazine  and  Good News Network. 

And now check out Nicole Gerhardt for her take on the word "treasure"!

Sunday... a fresh bouquet and an apple pie... Michaela's Lifestyle Photography

Today I picked my first bouquet of flowers in the garden... popcorn viburnum.... and my husband made the yummiest apple pie!  It's a beautiful day outside... spring is here and I'm feeling grateful for the simple pleasures in life.....

~Michaela

 

Summer Strawberries....

I use strawberries in my garden and flower beds, they make a great ground cover, less weeding for me and the kids can pick beautiful fresh strawberries all summer!!  Yum!!  ~Michaela

A Summer Garden....

I spent most of my childhood in Germany and my best memories are of picking fresh fruits and veggies out of the garden.  Gas and fresh food are very expensive there......does that sound familiar?... so everyone grows their own fresh food.  Meals are planned based on what is growing in the garden, I loved digging up potatoes and carrots!  I have my own garden now and my kids spent last summer eating peas every morning for breakfast!  These images are some of my favorite snap shots on a sunny day enjoying our bounty!!   It's time to get that garden started again!......... ~Michaela

Good Grub is the most amazing program here in Olympia, you can purchase a garden of your own and by doing so you will also be giving a garden to a family in need!  Check out their website!

http://www.goodgrub.org/kgp/fundgardens.html

April Showers Bring May Flowers.....

....Hostas, bleeding hearts, lilacs, lilly of the valley.....This is my beautiful garden in May.  My husband Ed is a landscape architect and I love to garden!  I even like to weed, my favorite time is very early in the morning while the kids and even the neighbors are still sleeping, it's so peaceful just me and the birds!  I have lots of flowers and can make beautiful flower arrangments from spring until fall.

Looking forward to May!    ~Michaela