Rome, Ga. Photographer: ~{Favorite Things Tuesday: August Blue}~

I missed the whole digital revolution when my kids were young.  I get SO jealous when I look through photographer's personal work and see all the sweet pictures they've taken of their babies.  When you're paying for film and the development of it (I think I still have a few rolls around here that were never developed.) you just weren't really allowed to have fun with it like you can today!  Not much room for exploration!!  So I guess I'm making up for all that with my sweet little puppy August Blue.  We call him Auggie for short, Auggie Blue when he's in trouble and Augustine DeBlue for sillies. (That name has to be said in your best pirate accent. :)

Everyday when Auggie hears the school bus carrying Levi on it, coming down the hill, he jumps up on the bench in the entry and stares out the window.  As soon as he see's Levi emerge from the bus, his tail starts wagging like he's trying to achieve lift off.  He watches Levi all the way to the porch, then jumps down and sits by the door looking up through the glass expectantly.... waiting, waiting, waiting for his Levi to open the door so he can jump up on him, lick his face, his hands, his rear.... what ever he can reach, then.......chew on his leather jacket. :/

One day I'll record for you the crazy noises he makes when he's trying to "hint" to me that he'd REALLY like to go outside for a good "Free Run"  but for now...

Happy Tuesday!!!

Hugs... and ciao Bella!!

Christy C

Rome, Ga. Photographer: ~{Favorite Things Tuesday: No Ordinary Family}~

Oh the memories.  Those days when you're walking through the toy isle with your toddlers and they start begging for their favorite cartoon character's coloring book!  Then we'd take them home and spend hours and hours coloring in them.  Doing coloring contests or just having quiet time.  Sigh... those were the days...

Oh wait...

Actually the time was today.  The age of the children...13 and 15... and YES... they begged for coloring books today at the store!  And yes... you bet I bought them for them.  Even bought one for me. ;)

The giggles coming out of the living room right now are priceless.  

Here's some of the conversation:

Lydia: "It's hard having an over-achiever for a sister.  I mean WHO COLORS THE BACK GROUND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" 

Lydai: "Bekah!  You broke my crayon."  Bekah: "I didn't break your crayon.  You broke your own dang crayon!"

Tehehe...

 I just love my quirky family!  Never an ordinary moment... just the way I like it!!!

Ahhh... Happy Tuesday!

~{Favorite Things Tuesday: The Wind and the Waves}~

When I close the office off from the rest of the house and open the french doors that lead outside, I can sit at my desk and almost imagine that the warm breeze that's tickling the curtains causing them to twist and turn in a fury of hysteria, is really coming off the ocean. And the wind, rustling high above, in the rounded, green tree tops, is the ocean's waves, coming home from a long night out at sea. I can see it so clearly in my mind's eye!! : )

 "Imagine"

Have a GREAT Tuesday!! God is so good!

Hugs... and Ciao Bella!

Christy C

Northwest Ga, Rome, Ga Photographer: ~{Favorite Things Tuesday... on Thursday: Sibs and Old Friends}~

YAY... apparently today is "National Siblings Day."  (Actually it was the 10th... but I'm cool with being two days late!  Really!) I know nothing about this holiday, NEVER heard of it before, but if it gives me reason to pull some old pictures of a few of my favoritest people in the whole wide world, then I'm  ALL for it!!! 

Here's me and my sibs: (from L to R) little brother, Steve, aka. Steve-a-rino, as a child, my "sparing partner", as adults, my NEVER see enough of precious brother;  ME, aka. Suzie Q (my first name is Susan....). My sweet cousin Alan that has gone on to be with the Lord.  I will always miss his amazing smile and easy laugh.  Then there's my sister Stacey, whom I love so dearly... and our long talks : ), and last but DEFINITELY not least, my BIG sisser, Shelly, aka. Shey, who holds me together when I'm about to fall apart!!  Gosh, I love these people so much!!!!!

"Siblings Day" has also brought back some GREAT memories of people who have been in my life for just about as long as my sibs. Can you guys guess who the guy with his arm on my shoulder is? 

 Oh my goodness.  He is going to shoot me so dead.  Next time he cuts my hair, he's going to shave it! : )  I'm speaking of none other than my dear friend.... well, maybe he'll let me live if I don't say his name!!! : )

Anyways, I couldn't let this day pass without some sibling love... and a little bit of blackmail! Mwa ah ah ah ah!  >: ]

Hugs... and Ciao Bella!

(SUSAN) Christy C ; )

Rome, Ga. Promotions Photography: ~{Cindy and Amy's Billboard}~

Recognize these lovely ladies? : )
The gorgeous Cindy Carnes and Amy Hutchins... larger than life! 
As they should be! ; )
PS.  Many people have been asking where this billboard is.  It's on N 5th Ave.  From Broad Street it's just over the bridge past the courthouse.

Northwest Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: Proof of Life {SPRING!!}

Bees buzzing frantically around fluffy pink flowers.  Morning dew sparkling like Edward Cullen in purple sunrises.  Bird songs filling the air with happy, joyful music.  The smell of  fresh cut grass. Dyed green toes... and french tipped pedicures due to walking through said fresh cut grass in bare feet... tehehe. The boys tossing the ol' pig skin around in the front yard, and the girls sitting on the front porch... redoing thier pedicures. ; ) The signs of life.... after winter.

Spring... (Sigh)... I'm so glad you' here!!

OH... oh.... oh.....    one more thing to add to this "Favorite Things Tuesday" post.  I, Christy Cundiff, have been able to turn my husbands "disapproving look" into an emoticon!!!  --->    ,: /    <---  I know... awesome, right!  

You've got to understand, Tim Cundiff's "disapproving look" as my kids have named it is legendary in our home.  AND I can't do it!!! My eyebrows just can't do that arch thingy his does!!   So now when my kids text me some lame message, like they do so often, I get to give them their daddy's disapproving look!!! :D

 Don't be hatin'. You know you'll be using it... probably today! Tehe... ; )  HUGS... and happy Tuesday!
Christy C

Northwest Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: {Being Crafty}

Wow... it has literally been YEARS since I've sewn... anything!!  About the time my girls outgrew the cute little romper outfits I used to make them was the last time I used a pattern!!  But I don't know if it's the weather, spring, or "blame it on the rain", I'm ready to be a crafty woman again!! ; )

Of course, the inspiration began on Pinterest with all those links to the sweetest banner and bunting shops!!  But I'm never willing to pay the big bucks when I know it can be made for half the price!

So here's what I've been doing lately...

This one I made for First Birthday Sessions.  I'm making matching diaper covers for boys and girls. (Girls with ruffles and bows. : )

This isn't quite finished yet, but I was able to use it this weekend just the same! : )

 Had to buy new supplies!  It has been TOO long!!  My poor sewing machine had all but seized up!!

Happy Tuesday!!!

HUGS... and ciao Bella!

Christy C

Favorite Things Tuesday: Marry Me by Train

I've listened to it about twenty time, just this morning.

"You wear white, and I'll wear out the words I love you."

It makes me want to marry Tim all over again... and I would in a heart beat. : )  But also makes me think back to the day he proposed to me.  

He asked me if I wanted to go for a walk.  I said, "Yes."  We walked for a while and ended up at a picnic table that sat beneath a HUGE oak tree.  I still remember that the table was red and was in desperate need of a new coat of paint, not that that mattered to me much at that time.  All that mattered to me was that Tim was there, and my hand was in his.

We both sat up on top of the table, resting our feet on the benches, and talked ...and laughed.  I looked away for just a second and when I looked back he had pulled out a ring box.  He didn't kneel, but then I wouldn't have wanted him to. I wanted him right where he was, sitting close to me, asking me to.... "Marry me."

SIGH, yep, definitely one of my favorite things.

Happy Tuesday all of you lovelies!!!

HUGS and kisses,

and... ciao Bella!

Christy C

Rome, Ga. Photographer: Say 'Ello to My Little Fre'nd!"

Look what we found as we were coming back in from pick up line!  I've always been so fascinated by the Preying Mantis!!  We probably gave him a heart attack from all of our attention... but wow!  What a fascinating little creature!! 

Kind of creepy... in a cute kind of way!

 I had no idea they could twist their heads like that... again... creepy... in a cute kind of way!

Ah... he found what he was looking for.... dinner!!

Okay... so allow me to be Paul Harvey and say...

This is the rest of the story!!!  LOL!!!

You probably already see this one coming.  Bekah thought it was just "so cute" how the sweet little preying mantis was trying to attack the lens that she was aggravating him with... until he jumped onto on the lens!  (and he was FAST!) The child THREW MY LENS DOWN!!! and ran into the house screaming!!!  LOL!!  Good thing for her I never use that lens!!!  I guess I should mention that the reason this is the last picture is because as soon as that little guy jumped... I jumped about five feet backwards... yes, screaming too! : )

That mantis will think twice before meeting us on the front porch again!!

Happy Wednesday!

Ciao Bella!!!

Christy C

Lindale, Ga Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: My Morning Walk About : )

Okay... so if you're one of those people that skips ahead and looks at the pictures before reading the post, you may be thinking, "One of Christy's "favorite things" is spiders and spider webs!!??"   LOL!!! No... I'm not Lily Munster or Morticia Adams.  Te he... but one of my favorite things is something I've always liked to call my "morning walk about."  

It started years ago, when my babies really were babies.  I'd try getting up before they did just to get outside and get a few quiet moments to myself.  Sometimes praying, sometimes thinking, sometimes nothings... just searching out a bit of peace.

I love gardening... the flower kind... not the veggies, though if I had the space, I'd probably love that kind too. So I usually begin my walk about with the watering of all the plants and flowers I have in... or on...various containers.... pots, window boxes, jars, baskets, latices.... you name it.  Then I set out at a slow pace looking to find anything that might have changed over night.

When we first bought the house that we're in now, we bought it with the intent of fixing it up.  So we had many, many projects planned.  On more than one occasion, I'd grab Tim up off the couch { his favorite weekend spot. ; ) } and say, "Let's go on a walk about."  He knew that, that meant we were going to walk around making plans or just dreaming.  Ah... such sweet memories.

Well this morning on my walk about I noticed some really cool spider webs.  I know nothing about them, though I'll probably "Google" it as soon as I'm finished here.  I just call the first one a Tunnel Spider, because of the cool tunnel they build in their web.  

The second spider I captured today is one that I've just noticed hanging around the place this year.  He's got the most interesting backside!!  It looks like a iridescent tic tac!!  LOL!!

Anyways... so I hope you enjoy a few from my morning walk about!  Here's to a peaceful kind of day!!  And I strongly recommend you find your own little time and space to have a reflective walk about, too! 

Hugs and ciao bella!!

Christ C

The one on the right was at home!

This is the tic tac fella!!  Interesting, aye!  You can't tell from the picture,
but his backside actually shimmers.



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Thanks!!

Rome, Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: The Art Walk

Whew!  It's been too long since I've done a favorite's thing Tuesday!!  But I just couldn't wait another minute to talk about my fun day at Rome's Art Walk on Broad Street, Saturday!  

I had to be downtown bright and early last Saturday to do some headshots for the Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge, sponsored by the Sexual Assault Center. {More about that on another post.} I was waiting for my last couple when I got a call from my oldest, Jessa, who said she wanted to take me out to lunch for Mother's Day! = )  So when we met up a little later I told her about the Art Walk.  She thought it sounded like fun, so off we went!

Let me just say right now, that Rome, Georgia {and surrounding areas} has some of the most talented people I've ever seen!!  There were sculptures, painters, jewelry makers, candle makers, wood workers, glass blowers... and on and on and on. There was a man who was painting a children's book by layering stencils!  Very time consuming, he admitted, but the book was looking good! It had a really cute theme! And, of course, what would an "Art Walk" be without photographers! LOTS AND LOTS of photographers!  Yay!  I enjoyed meeting them and discussing there work and how much I loved it! = )  

But my all time favorite was a banjo player named Phil. He was at the very end {or very beginning, depending on where you're coming from} of Broad Street in front of the Forrest Building.  I don't think most people even knew he was there, but when I parked Green Bertha {my very old and very green suburban} and shut off her motor my ears immediately perked up to the sweetest melody I've ever heard from a banjo!  Not bluegrass, but a ballad that reminded me of spring!  That he wrote, I might add. We talked. I told him about how his music reminded me of the eight years I lived in Kentucky and about my very talented nephews there {and Nebraska now} who play the banjo and guitar.  We discussed different songs that we both enjoyed, including Dueling Banjos = ).  I told him about my daddy's favorite, Ghost Riders in the Sky.  After a nice little talk {while I waited for Jessa to pick me up} he told me that I had made his day... and even though all we did was talk about music, he made my day, too!  

So thank you, Phil, for your beautiful melody and conversation!!!

Ciao Bella and Happy Tuesday!!

Christy C

Here's just a few more things that tickled my fancy! ; ) 

The man on the left was a very nice man that didn't mind explaining the "hows" of his craft to the crowd, all the while spinning that wheel. Amazing!  The man on the right was very into his music.  He was in the zone!

 Tehehe... love it!

  

Okay, so this last fella wasn't actually "in" the Art Walk, but anytime I'm on this block, I have to stop by the book store and see the kitty in the window!!  I wish he'd been awake so you could see his beautiful blue eyes. 

 PS.  If anyone knows Phil, please give him my contact info!  I'd love to give him a copy of his pictures! = ) He told me his last name, but for the life of me, I can't remember it!! ; p

Rome, Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: My Kid's Measurement "wall"

Well, it's Tuesday again! = )  I had decided earlier that I wasn't going to do a "Favorite Things" post today.  I had an idea of what I wanted to do the next one on, but I would have had to dig through all my archived CDs to find the one I needed and you know what?  It's spring break!!  I just wasn't prepared to put that much effort into to it this week.  Tehe!  But then as I was passing through the laundry room door to do yet another load of towels, I spotted my kid's measurement "wall" and I knew what I wanted my Favorite Thing Tuesday to be about! 

It's actually a door jam.  I just had to smile as I looked over how much they have grown!  Of course, like the little pig and his pancake, one thing always leads to another, and before two shakes of a lambs tale I had all my "babies" standing by the door measuring them again!  I so love that door jam!  The dates and names have had to be rewritten several times due to kids rubbing past a door instead of walking through it. LOL.  But I decided today that I'll put a coating of  polyurethane over it and cover the existing dates to preserve them and build from that.  There's not a whole lot of room left on that door jam, but I'll keep squeezing their names on that jam for as long as I live. = )  Or until they stop growing! ; )

(Happy sigh...) Happy Tuesday everyone!  Be sure to take a moment to squeeze ( in LOVE!) those kids that can so often drive us crazy, but who without, we just wouldn't be complete humans! ; )

Ciao Bellas!

Christy C

 You may note that not all those names are the names of my kiddos!  

Let's see... there's a nephew, a niece, and one "adopted" daughter.  = )

 Dirty as can be... but you'll not find me EVER washing it off.

Rome, Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: Jessa Damaris, my awesome assistant!!

I have a confession to make... this is a Favorites Tuesday... but this is not Tuesday! = D  Actually, it's Saturday.  But next week is going to be full, Full, FULL (not to mention I caught the flu!! and have been in bed since I wrote this on Saturday! BLAH!!)  so I thought to myself, "Self if you're going to get to do this post, you better do it now!!"  So here we go...

Jessa is my oldest.  When she was little I used to introduce her as my little secretary.  She always had a way of keeping me on task or reminding me of what was going on.... she even tried to direct me to a "better" route to take to Grandmas!!  She'd say, "Momma, wouldn't it be better if we went the Walmart way and turned by that church, and...."   Yep, that's my precious... if not headstrong, Jessa!  

I tend to like to keep things all in the family... and she tends to like to hang out with me at weddings, so she's been hired as my first employee and wedding assistant. 

What does an assistant do, you may ask.  Well, for weddings she's one part grunt... helping me lug all my equipment around, one part, "On task" master... she makes sure that I've taken all of the "necessary" photos, and lastly, she's one part second shooter!  She has taken some awesome shots for me and I can't help but be proud of her!   Jessa also helps out with some of the larger shoots... studio and portfolio shoots, when I need more than two hands.

So on this third installment of Favorite Things Tuesday... one of my favorite things is my Jessa!!  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!!

Happy Tuesday and...

Ciao Bellas!!

Christy C

Rome, Ga. Photographer: Favorite Things Tuesday: My QwIrky Kids!!!

Yay!  It's Favorite Things Tuesday!  I love doing these posts!!  I've always enjoyed doing a bit of creative writing, so these allow me to put two of my favorite things, writing and photography, together.  So.....

You know... being a photographer's kid is almost as bad as being a preacher's kid.  Where the preacher loves to tell embarrassing stories about the kids (and wives... uh hum... TIM!)  from the pulpit, we photographers just LOVE to post pictures about our kids.  Mostly great ones, but some embarrassing ones!  Tehehe!  But I guess my kids are used to it, because now they just laugh at them. 

My husband is away... a LOT!!  I think that's why I have such a great relationship with my kids.  With your hubby and best friend gone so much, a girl gets lonley, but to chase away the blues we love to get out and about and just have FUN!!  My kids are my bestest buddies!! I get to be the real me around them... the way too silly for proper adult company me, the laughing over something stupid that no one else found remotely funny me, the side of me that I never could quite get to grow up. I can be as spastic and as random as I please, and all they'll do is laugh at me.= )

It was on a recent beautiful Saturday that our wander lust got to us, again. I was needing to finish up my kids birthday pictures.  I had already gotten two of the girls finished, but now it was the boys turn.  So we took advantage of the mild, sunny weather that, that February weekend had offered us, grabbed the cameras and headed for my favorite local to photograph guys... a junk yard/ dumping ground.

This is Caleb... (my Caleb Bug... shhhh, don't tell him I told y'all my nickname for him. ; ) and no, he doesn't smile in pictures. Sigh...  but I think we do the most laughing together.  We both share the same ridiculous sense of humor.

...and this is the youngest, Levi.  We share cuddle time... and tickle time. : )

So I'm clicking away and the boys are really getting into it (the mood, not a fight), when Caleb stumbled across an abandoned shopping cart... or as my hubby calls them, a bascart (bas-kart: mixture of a basket and a cart)!  Funny.  You'd have thought they had found a pot of gold the way all of their faces lit up!!  (Okay, okay... yes, mine too! )  You could just see the visions of grandeur dancing through their minds of the fun and exciting adventures they could have with an old shopping cart!  LOL!! 

Now it's my girls, well primarily the older two... no, actually the middle daughter Bekah, that is the QUIRK MASTER in our family!  So of course, she jumps into the cart and starts "striking a pose"!!  LoL!  Oh, we had so much fun with that bascart.

 As you can tell, Bekah is the Qwirk-mister!!  She's fearless, adventuress, and very creative... so much to the point that she's constantly drawing and writing... on herself.  But isn't she cute. ; )

There rendition of the Titanic scene... in a shopping cart.   LOL!!  Sounds like an Owl City song.

Both of their faces just crack me up in this one!!

My Lou Lou!  I've already written a blog about my mini-me, but I can also add that Lydia is the quiet little dreamer girl I used to be.  The stringy haired, in her own little world, little Christy... BUT she is an awesome student... unlike I was!  She comes home everyday and with out me telling her, pulls out her homework and stays with it until it's finished.  Now if she could just remember where she puts it later, we'd be in business.  (She get's that from her Granny. ; )

Now I don't know why.... can't explain it...  will never understand it... but when these two get together, they always act... well, weird!! ; )  But I promise they aren't devil worshipers as they appear to be in this photo!! Maybe little hellions on an occasion... but they really do love Jesus. = ) If they're together and there's a camera near, their mouths will always be wide open, tongues hanging out and hands pumping the "Rock On!" sign.  Whatever. ; )  I'm not going to talk much about my oldest Jessa... I'm saving her for next week's Favorites Tuesday.

See what I mean...

Will SO be getting the one on the left enlarged and mounted on my wall!!

Lastly, I leave you with the reasons I got into photography in the first place...

For my crazy, quirky kids... and just for the fun of it! = )

Ciao Bellas...

and Happy Tuesday!!

Christy C