Photography

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Fun Find Friday: Books & Cupcakes’ “Book Photo Challenge”

It’s been a while since I’ve shared my “Fun Find Friday” meme. This week, the new find is one I am super ecstatic about. It combines two of my favorite things: books and photography!

While playing around on Instagram, I discovered Books & Cupcakes‘ “Book Photo Challenge”. Jessica over at Books & Cupcakes on Tumblr posts a Book Photo Challenge list every month, with an assignment for each day. How fun is that? So, every day, you post on Instagram, Tumblr, or other social media and use the hashtags #bookphotochallenge and #booksandcupcakes.

A few days before the next month, she posts the new challenge. I think I’m a little late to participate in May’s challenge, but I’m definitely planning to do June’s. I’ll be posting mine on my Instagram account. If you’d like to join me, please let me know in the comments section! Or, tag my Instagram username @courtneyec90.

Books & Cupcakes - May Book Photo ChallengeThis is the list for May’s Book Photo Challenge. Don’t these sound fun? Visit Jessica’s FAQ page for more info.

 

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Backwards & Forwards

A look back at 2013 and looking forward to 2014 (to the empty shelf challenge).

2013

Looking back at 2013 here at The Green Mockingbird, I’ve done a little bit of everything. Several crafting projects, including finishing a quilt; conducting a solar-dyed yarn project & making a hat from the same yarn; and adapting a scarf pattern to crochet a table runner. I’ve shared some photography news and a few photos from this year. In the cooking department, I’ve made my own birthday cake, shared a strawberry pina coloda granita recipe, and an easy iced chai tea recipe.

Most prominently, in 2013 I began featuring book reviews, book-related posts, and occasional “Fun Find Friday” posts covering several topics. Looking back at the books I’ve read in 2013, I have to share my favorites. They include (in no particular order) the entire “Winds of Change” series by Julie Lessman, “Fired Up” by Mary Connealy, “The Breath of Dawn” by Kristen Heitzmann, “Fifteen Minutes” by Karen Kingsbury, and “Dear Mr. Knightley” by Katherine Reay.

2014

Have you heard about the Empty Shelf Challenge for readers in 2014? It’s a challenge to start with an empty bookshelf and fill it as you read in 2014. Supposedly, I should be more motivated to read and fill it if it is a visibly empty shelf. I had to rearrange a little – ok, a lot – to empty a shelf to start fresh in 2014. I’ll be keeping track and sharing my progress on my Pinterest board. Find out more info and read the original post here. I read a total of 33 books in 2013, not counting what I’m currently reading. My goal for 2014 is at least 40 books.

If you participate, use the hashtag #EmptyShelf in social media.

As we look ahead to a fresh year, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year! May God bless you abundantly in the coming year.

-Courtney

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December Photo Challenge Revisited

Hi, everyone! Last year (2012), I participated in a December photo-a-day challenge. It was so much fun!

December Photo a day Challenge copy[9]

I thought I’d share the links here to all of my posts and photos from last year, just for fun. Or, you can visit my photo set on Flickr to see them all!

1. Your View Today     2. Favorite Holiday Movie     3. Red

4. Joyous     5. Today’s Temperature     6. Shopping

7. Bright     8. Ornament     9. Something You’re Reading & 10. Wrapping Paper

11. Green     12. A Beautiful Sight     13. Family

14. Christmas Tree     15. Favorite Holiday Song

16. Outside Christmas Lights & 17. Presents     18. Stockings

19. Candy Cane     20. Tree Topper     21. Peace & 22. Tradition

23. Scarf      24. Favorite Part of Christmas Eve & 25. Morning

26. Grateful     27. Night Time & 28. Words

29. Sky View, 30. Your Winter Wonderland, & 31. Fun

Are you participating in a photo challenge this December? I would love to follow your progress ~ leave your info in the comments!

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Fall Harvest Wreath

I love fall. It’s one of my favorite seasons! (I really do love them all, but I’m not a fan of the hoooot summer days). With pumpkin EVERYTHING, what’s not to love? My favorite pumpkin food would be a pumpkin pie, made with a fresh pie pumpkin, and real whipped cream. A truly unique pumpkin food I tried recently was pumpkin ravioli with browned butter and sage. Yum!

I was inspired by all the fall decor I had seen in different stores recently. And on Pinterest. I decided to make a wreath from various picks, pumpkins, and gourds I gathered from my favorite craft stores.

 

This is the result!
Fall Harvest Wreath

Here’s the burlap bow I made! It was simple and easy. I used wire-edged burlap ribbon.
Fall Harvest Wreath Bow

And, a close up of my favorite gourd.
Fall Harvest Wreath Detail

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Exciting News: New Photography Website Launched

Hi, everyone!

I hope this spring day finds you well. In my “neck of the woods”, as some people say around here, it was an unusually snowy day for spring.

I am excited to announce a new website for my photography business: www.PhotographyByCourtneyC.com, as well as a corresponding Facebook page, Photography by Courtney C. I am happy about the new opportunity to take on more photography work.

I plan to continue this blog to share my other creative endeavors, too 🙂

 

Happy Spring, everybody!

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Snow on the Mountain

It’s snowing here in Northwest Arkansas! After somewhat of a mild winter, I’m excited about the possibility of snow pictures. I just love getting out in the snow and traipsing around with my camera. I usually end up with freezing hands and feet, but I think it’s worth it. 🙂

Here are a couple shots I’ve taken already from my porch.

Cardinals in the Snow

Perching

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Final Photos of December Challenge ~ Happy New Year!

December Photo Challenge, Day 29. This is a view of my skyline…or rather what was falling from the sky. It was gloomy and overcast this day, but the snow was beautiful. This photo was taken with the HDR painting photo effect on my Sony A65.

December Photo Challenge, Day 30. This little cardinal was hungry in the snow. He found some bird seed.

31. "Fun" Ombre Rain by courtneyec90
31. “Fun” Ombre Rain, a photo by courtneyec90 on Flickr.

December Photo Challenge, Day 31. For my final photo, I chose this macro of raindrops on my windshield. This photo was taken with my new lens–I’m really excited to use it for macro shots and distance shots (it’s a Quantaray 70-300mm Macro lens).

I would like to say Happy New Year to all my readers and followers! I hope that you have enjoyed seeing my adventures this December  through my photo challenge posts. I think I’m going to take a break from photo challenges this January, but I have plans for upcoming photography and craft posts in the next few weeks.

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December Photo Challenge 27 & 28

28. "Words" Not A Fan

28. “Words” Not A Fan

December Photo Challenge, days 27 and 28.

This is another photo of me and my niece hanging out after supper.

This quote is from Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman, a great and thought-provoking book exploring what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

 

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Merry Christmas! ~ Photo Challenge 24 & 25

25. "Morning" Puzzle by courtneyec90
25. “Morning” Puzzle, a photo by courtneyec90 on Flickr.

Merry Christmas! I hope you all have had a blessed day, and that you took time today to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas – our Savior’s birth!

 

December Photo Challenge, days 24 & 25. My favorite part of Christmas Eve is dinner (and dessert) at Grandma’s house. It’s so fun to see all my aunts, uncles, and cousins I don’t see very often. We always have a lot of great food and a fun time visiting.

This morning, I began a country scene puzzle I got from my parents.