My other "tis the season" possibilities

[Ms. Toad]

I've already selected one, but wanted to share a bit more of the flavor of "12 children, cookies, icing, and sprinkles: The Aftermath"

The cookies in progress:


The cookie results:


The aftermath (version 2):


The craft room:


The results (from the almost youngest):


The results (from the almost oldest):


The results (from someone between the extremes):


The overall results:


Quiet with the last couple of guests, around midnight:


26th year for our open house - this day with friends really is the bulk of "the season" for us.

[xiamiam]

1. i love these...and the aftermath made me laugh out loud...you are a saint....i think...nt

[Ms. Toad]

2. I do everything leading up to the icing,

including supervising the wee ones cutting out cookies, and my spouse does the icing supervision and clean up :) (It's a small price for her to pay in order to be allowed to sleep the night before instead of staying up until the wee hours of the morning chopping veggies and making soup :evilgrin: )

[Eurobabe]

3. I love the Aftermath, that is really clever!

Makes me want to bake cookies this week. Yummy!

[Ms. Toad]

8. Thanks.

When one of the suggestions for the December contest was to take a picture at noon on the 16th, I suggested between noon and midnight (or something like that) envisioning just this picture. It works just as well for 'tis the season (since the entries didn't fill up very quickly).

[Blue_In_AK]

4. You are a very brave individual, Ms. Toad.

It looks like a wonderful (and very messy) time was had by all.

[Ms. Toad]

7. It was a wonderful and messy time...

and not so brave since my work ends when the big mess is created - cleaning up BEFORE the party is my job - my spouse gets the AFTER party clean up!

[superconnected]

5. These are absolutely fantastic!

Aftermath is my favorite and I love cookie results too but they are all wonderful.

The one you did enter in the contest is one of my fav pics entered in any contest this year. I LOVE your after cookie disaster pictures!

[Ms. Toad]

6. Apparently lots of people like it too...

much to my surprise. Of all the pictures I've entered this year, Aftermath has to be one of the least artistically pleasing images. Oh well.

Thank you for the kind words.

[superconnected]

9. You have to be kidding!

I find it incredibly pleasing.

[Ms. Toad]

10. From a concept standpoint

I find it quite pleasing - otherwise I wouldn't keep doing it year after year. We haven't yet had a child who came to the party as a child bring their own child - but since we've been doing it for 26 years its bound to happen.

But from a photography standpoint it seems to me rather run of the mill. But, thanks again - I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[F.Gordon]

11. Is that a REAL tree??!!

We were just commenting recently on how all the old tree lots that we've seen year after year after year.... are gone.

Any of these would have made a great entry. "Art" is purely subjective. These, like Aftermath #1, do something that is very difficult IMHO. They communicate/stimulate a feeling.. emotion... memory .. that can be "felt" by almost anyone who views them.

But.... I'm a hopeless romantic so maybe I "see" things differently.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Yep. Real tree.

Growing less than 24 hours before it was decorated, and it will serve as a bird/small animal shelter in our wooded area for at least the rest of the winter. We still have several lots around here, although they seem to be slower at replanting. Lots of empty field, and not so many new young trees.

Thanks for the kind words - it was definitely triggering memories/feelings I was going for.

[photogirl12]

12. Those are great photos

Thanks for sharing!!

[Ms. Toad]

14. Thanks for the kind words! n/t

[Maestro]

15. Wonderful holiday pics.

Did you use a macro lens on some of those close-ups?

[Ms. Toad]

16. Thanks!

I used the built in Macro - the built in macro in my camera (Olympus Camedia 4000) is pretty fantastic.

[Maestro]

17. It sure is.

Depth of Field is so difficult with macro shots but you and your camera handled it nicely. :)