Summertime iPhoneography

First things first: I’m writing a book proposal and it’s taken me longer than I thought it would but I got some good advice from a few published friends about that so I halted what I was doing and read three books (3!) on the subject on publishing non-fiction. Needless to say, it has set me back quite a bit. But this week I devoted myself to writing and writing and writing (and then, of course, have published two blog posts and written for the Curvy Girl Guide) and yesterday I hit a wall and had to walk away from it. I’m trying desperately to fit all this in while I’m on my vacation which will, undoubtedly, end too soon.

If you ask me when I’m going back to work I will throat punch you. Seriously.

I go back to work next week.

Happy now? That means I have precious little time to do a bunch of amazing things and finish up projects that have taken up an inordinate amount of time this summer. Actually, just this month. I don’t even get a full month off of work.

One of the most important things about this summer is that The Cuban and I are able to finally have a relationship with one another. We’ve never had time together alone because my mother lived with us right away and we have 6 kids between us so there is always someone here WHICH IS FINE, I’M NOT COMPLAINING. We’re getting to know who we are as a couple and it’s still an exhilarating time for us. It’s sort of like young love, you know?

In taking a break I have found several wonderful new iPhone apps that are fancy schmancy and a total time suck. Most of them I get from reading iPhoneography, the App Whisperer, Instagram, and the numerous photography friends I’ve made through blogging. Without further ado, here’s my summer so far in pictures:

A man I will only call Sexy Mr. Manchester (I know! All my friends have bizarre nicknames). Suffice to say he’s a great storyteller and I snapped him while he was talking with his hands.

Donut peaches that are my new favorite. I’ve eaten so many that there’s a peach tree in my stomach. Oof.

This little girl was pulling her wagon behind her at the Farmer’s Market and I asked her mom if I could capture that, but she turned shy on me and went to hug her momma’s leg.

While I was downtown in Chicago, my friend Heather called to say she was in town and I booked it right over to see her. I love this woman. (No nickname, though! Unless you count “Zygote” which I called her the first time I met her.)

The Cuban playing on his softball team. I loved getting the blue sky and the dirt and the shadows of him. Yes, his team name is “The Cuban”.

We parked next to this gorgeous old car at the Farmer’s Market out at the fairgrounds. The Cuban was drooling over it and I wanted to give it a hug.

Bizarre photo where I captured this man twice or maybe just his other spirit.

Jeannette Spaghetti and I grab a shot in a dirty, stinky alley but she made it look pretty and European. YOU’RE-A-PEEN.

One day last week I was out driving and didn’t want to go all the way back home so I stopped at Mallory’s house.

A view from my bed which includes my purple (really purple!) wall. I think that’s called an alcove?

The most nostalgic picture I’ve taken so far. I’m watching The Cuban bring in the boat from the lake after dropping me off at the dock so I can go get the truck and trailer. This is how I want to remember the summer.

A summer of just us.