Artistic or Crazy - ???

I'm pretty sure there is a very fine line between the very artistic and the truly crazy!.

I like to think of myself as relatively artistic. Luckily I think that most all my children are on the artistic side as well. THEN there is the little thought about one of my children. Especially when they do something like this.

My two crazy daughters. (its always the girls right?) I sell items for people on eBay, and this lady brought in her two old Halloween costumes which are fully body bunny suits. One is white and one is brown. I asked my daughter (dressed in white) to please model for the camera so I can get a good picture.

I don't know how, but from there she started walking out into the yard, running down the sidewalk. She talked my youngest into donning the hat and going with her! Cars are waving, people laughing - oh geesh its like a circus almost.

Now my youngest is very creative. She is just entering first grade and she can draw and color out of this world. So I'm pretty sure she is artistic. Which leaves the crazy option open for my other daughter!!!

If you would like to own one or both of these bunny suits, feel free to check out my eBay auctions - user ID is GLOBALDUK.

The Big Day Arrived

The big day came and although there were a few hitches and here there. Most everything went awesome and it was very beautiful.

Here is one shot that I took - WHY do grooms always smash the cake!!??

I think on the whole I got many great shots for them to put together a nice memory book. The ministers wife was shooting also - so we'll see what she has to add for them as well.

Its definitly lots of work to take so many pictures - and there are somethings I would do different if I had to do it again.

WOW - first wedding under my belt and I still don't know half of what I need to know yet. Though I definitly want a new camera now. uh oh - need to work ebay harder now so I can get some new toys!

The Walk Through

Tommorrow is the BIG DAY! I will be a "for real" photographer at a wedding. Needless to say i'm a little nervous. Don took me over to the site (his parents backyard) so that I could see the set up and run through the routine again. Luckily Tom and Rapee were there so I could talk to them a little more about what they would want.

We did a few test shots - just so I could see what my camera would do under certain settings.

I'm pretty happy with the out come and feel a little confident that I will not totally blow their wedding pictures. We figured out where I'll be for certain shots and what my son will be doing with the video camera.

As you can see it will be an outdoor wedding - so everyone hope for the best weather ever! It looks like the rain is going to hold off, so i'm crossing my fingers on a joyous event. I suppose the worse that could happen now would be a deer running through the dining hall just as people are heading to sit down and eat!! BUT I'LL HAVE MY LENS READY!!

Taking the Camera out on the Town

Today there is a festival in town and we are going to be visiting it. I have not yet taken my camera along to just snap pictures of random people. I think today - I will try.

There is also fireworks this evening and I'm going to give it another shot at capturing those as well.

When I visit the antiques/junque sales today, I'm hoping to find some treasures. I have a new phone that is capable of Internet browsing now, so I can "check out" an awesome find before I purchase it.

Hopefully I'll be back to post here about some spectacular item that i'm going to sell for multiple times what I paid for it!!

(or watch my auctions as GLOBALDUK to see if you can guess what the treasure is that I found)

Party In the Park

Today we had a party in the park. This was put on by the Saranac Library - it is part of their summer program. The library has had some great shows on Thursday mornings to entertain/educate the kids this summer. The party is something to reward them for all their reading so far.

We had bubbles the clown making balloon animals - and she was a hit!

There also was arts and crafts to enjoy, then popcorn and water to round it out!!

Fabulous!

Ionia Michigan - Fireworks

Fourth of July is all about taking the kids to see the fireworks.

This year we went to see Ionia's. We went to the fairgrounds and parked in the over flow lot, which is a big grassy field flanked by woods.

One would think, we'd have thought of the mosquito population given the amount of rain we had recently. We did not, and we were bitten plenty, but enjoyed the show. We were to far away to hear the music clearly - but the line of site was amazing.

More Photography!

Well they are finally going to do it. My brother - in - law is going to get married and he has asked me to take pictures during the wedding.

This is incredibly nerve wracking! I mean there is no "do over" to the most important day of your life!!

So I've been practicing, hoping to get even more familiar with my camera and lens.

Here is a great shot that came from our fourth of July BBQ in the backyard where they plan to marry.

Hopefully every picture I take at the wedding will show as much emotion in be a non-blurry as this one.!

We've opened a new store!

Very awesome handywork done by a local couple here in town.

I've decided that EBAY should not be the only venue that gets to show off this work. I've opened a store on ETSY.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade globalduk.etsy.com

that shows my first item listed in there. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Take a look -

If you have handmade items and would like your OWN etsy store - contact me and we can work something out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON!!!

Today is my daughters birthday!! In her honor I am posting in PURPLE - her favorite color.
She is 14 today!! HOLY MOLY - that means I am getting OLD!
She is becoming a fabulous lady and I am SO proud of her. She is brilliant and is not afraid to do well in school. She is friendly and caring about the people around her, she makes many friends and of course loves to be the center of attention.
Allison is also athletic and plays a mean game of softball. The team she plays on isn't doing that great this year - but her chin is high and she plays her hardest.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLI - I hope all your dreams and wishes come true in life. Your making great strides to achieve them.

My Favorite Idol - Jason

Waaa - LOL

Well my silly little crush is over. Jason Castro - the one with the dread-locks was removed from American idol last night.

Right from the beginning I was rooting for him. I thought he was off to a fabulous start. Sadly though the last 2 weeks I was embarrassed to say he was my favorite. Especially if he would talk. LOL Wow he just doesn't sound so put together.

Hopefully he will develop a great career with this experience now. I know I would still buy his CD if he made one.

My new favorite will now be David Cook. He is going to be a rocker. His sound sorta reminds me of Guns n Roses.

I could though live forever happily if that little kid David A - would just get sent home!!

GLOBALDUK - My Ebay Store

I have an ebay store. I sell on ebay - I sometime will blab that every where. Other times I keep it to myself. Just depends on the company i'm in. Some people look down on selling on ebay - likes its silly.

Well if you've ever tried selling, you know its a lot of work. It can take me more hours in a day/week then if I'd just go get a job at a local gas station.

I started selling a little over 10 years ago. Then it was easier, you could just put a picture up and everyone bid, then they paid you via money order or check.

Things were easy and uncomplicated. Now days there is competition coming out of the woodwork. Things that used to sell like there was no tommorrow - now there are 10 of them listed at one time.

Once I ran out of my own items to sell - I started selling for other people. That is mostly what I do now. Though I am easing back into selling my own stuff. I will start getting back into shopping and hunting for treasures of my own to sell.

You can check my ebay store out here www.ebaystores.com/globalduk

You might be wondering what the heck is a "globalduk"? One it is "duk" like quack quack - and not some cowboy like some people what to pronounce it. My husbands name is donald - which you know rolls off the tongue sometimes as donald duck - well on ebay we sell worldwide. HENCE!!! GLOBAL DUK!

Its catchy and I like it. I've slowly taken over the name, it was more his then mine- though he uses that same ID for AIM and posting on trading card sites, so you may run into him.

My next venture is going to be teaching people to ebay. The economy- and especially michigan, I think a lot of people will want to know how to generate some fast cash.

Watch my other website http://www.e-seller4u.com/ for the announcement of when classes will be forming. I'll also be offering private in your home on your computer lessons too.

From behind the Camera Shutter!

Photography -

I love photography - it is very fulfilling to spend time taking pictures and then uploading them to your computer to see what great or not so great shots you've acquired.

I began dabbling in photography when I purchased my third digital camera. It is a Fuji fine pix S5100. It is a great camera and I love it. I also think it takes great pictures.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures I have taken
http://psc.photoshelter.com/image/PSC000103788
We were at a park that had a "water playground" for a birthday party. It was a great afternoon and every time I look at it I feel that happy feeling again.

Since I have so many kids (five), they are my favorite subject to photograph. THANKFULLY, they are more then willing to "ham" it up for me. I'm also pretty lucky (this is purely objective I'm sure you'll agree) that I have very photogenic children ;)

Many times we'll all just head to a park or somewhere that they can burn off some energy. I'll bring the camera and just snap away. Usually I'll have at least one or two amazing photo's.

Digital cameras are so awesome. It allows anyone - (like me) attempt photography. If you have 50 pictures that don't turn out - you just hit delete. No cost to develop. No large dark room taking up space. They really have changed the amount of people who can try this hobby. I wonder how professional photogs feel about it?

Painting your nails

Painting your nails is a tricky art form when your a mother. Your children could be blocks away happily playing with friends, yet the moment you open your nail polish, they are at your feet needing something.

I find this strange phenomenon happens when you need to make a phone call also. Everyone is involved in something. You sneak away to privately call a friend, instantly everyone needs something or is fighting and you have to referee.

Really - there should be a good way to harness this craziness. For now though - a good lock on the bathroom door should give you the privacy you crave.