{wee bit}

So I came across this on an old college friend's blog - it's called "Wee Bit Wednesday" - well, it's technically Saturday - but I figured I'd kill some time and try it out for once.

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?
Salad - I hated everything green.

{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?
Yes, I did. I have a bachelor of fine arts major in photography. I never once changed my major - most college kids change theirs, but not me :)

{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?
Elk and deer in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller?
Nope

{five} can you juggle?
Yes if I focus

{six} hardwood floors or carpet?
I'm a fan of both. I want a hardwood floor kitchen, but carpet throughout the house. I feel hardwood floor home isn't very homey.

{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”?
I call it pop - bite me fish.

{eight} what was your first car?
1992 Cadillac :) (I think it was a '92)

{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?
Warm apple crosta from Olive Garden - it is amazing!

{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture?
Not very often. Living in an apartment, space is limited. It sucks and I can't wait to have our own home one day. Bring on the color!

{More Scanning and a New Baby

So for the last three weeks, I've now scanned over 2000 images. This is insane - and such a huge project. I spent the first five hours of my day restoring images - I'm up to 625 images corrected, and about 1400 more to go so far. It's been so interesting to see how things have changed over the years.

The huge news today - my cousins, Mark & Becky McFarland, welcomed their second son today, Parker Deane. Born at 7:45 a.m. eastern time weighing in at 8 lb. 8 oz. I'm so happy for Mark, Becky, and Garrett. I can't wait to meet Parker :) Mom and baby are doing well - I'm anxiously awaiting photos to be posted.


McFarland Family, August 2009

Next up Ronnie & Ashley with Mr. Preston :)

Dad update -- he's doing better today - still can't see very well. So far, Josh, Jeremy, and I have told them they need a new tv - there's is 27". Small compared to all of ours. So mom & I might have to do some tv shopping next weekend.

Huge Project Underway

I've been thinking about blogging lately - except my old computer doesn't have the internet and I've been on it scanning my life away. I'd thought constantly about scanning all of my old family photos. Every time a client brings one in of a lost loved one, or an old beat up photo - I think to myself - why don't I do that? I started this project back in 2007 - and then my computer crashed. The few hours I'd spent that summer scanning were lost...back to square one I go. About three weeks ago I went home and started gathering photos. So far, out of about 10 boxes, I've scanned 7 - I still have one box to sort through, and 5 albums to pick apart. Whoever invented "magnetic albums" - I hate you - HATE YOU! I hope you're family photos are stuck in there FOREVER. Sorry - had to vent. Bare with me, I'm sure that's only the start of venting.

One of my favorite pieces I've found ---

My Maternal Grandparents Wedding Announcement.

I barely new my Grandma Mary, and never got to meet either Grandpa (Charlie or Arlis) - so this project has been my link to their lives. I know my Grandpas would have spoiled me to pieces. I know I get some of my wise cracks from my Grandpa Arlis - I can tell by his smile how ornery he was.


This is a picture of my Grandpa Arlis when he was about 4. This was my first image that I restored.

I'm not only restoring images, I'm sizing them to 5x7s and 4x6s in case other family members ever want a copy. I'm also categorizing them into families - Nichols/Sprague and Troutman/Nichols. And then chronological order. This is a huge undertaking. So far, I've finished about 225 images out of the 1000+ I've scanned. (And still more to scan). It's so hard to not pick and choose - I want to have them all. I'm a picture hoarder. They're my most prized and favorite possessions.

I love all of the pictures of my big brothers when they were little - they remind me of Cole and Cason.


Jeremy & Joshua when they were about 3 years and 5 1/2 months


Cole almost 3 and Cole 9 months

What really started all this - besides my want to - was to restore my parents wedding pictures. Married almost 40 years ago, the images are yellowing and of poor quality. The picture they used for the paper was out of focus and my mom didn't know it til the other day. There was a sign behind my dad that I removed and increased the sharpness - as well as many other tricks.

I can't upload the before because it's a .tiff file - so here is the after :)



My mom was only 17 and dad 19 when they were married. June 5th, 2011 - marks their 40th anniversary - stay tuned for party or trip plans - whatever we can figure out. I'll post more images when I can.

Quick update - my dad is feeling better after his stroke this last Saturday. He has a blood clot in the back of his brain and it's affecting his sight. He's on plavix - which I believe is a blood thinner. Hopefully it'll clear up within the next few months.

xoxoxo - Amy