By: Amy Pantone April 22, 2020 Nature Time, Words by Amy2020, 50th, Earth Day, flowers, forest, nature2 Comments

Earth Day 2020: 50th Anniversary

This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Fifty years and what a year for that anniversary. Now more than ever before we must not only celebrate our beautiful mother earth but do everything humanly possible to protect her and all of her inhabitants. She is a beautiful gift to us all. Let’s…

By: Amy Pantone August 5, 2019September 20, 2019 Client Sessions, Client Spotlightfamily photo session, Friendship Gardens, Plainfield, springLeave a Comment

A Special Family Session With a “Newborn”

During the late spring a family with a very special four month old wished to have family photos. You see Tyler was born 4 months early. He spent his first few months in the ICU at Riley Children’s Hospital. Fighting hard and with the help of his parents and excellent staff, Tyler finally came home…

By: Amy Pantone November 5, 2018September 18, 2019 Photo of the weekfall, foliage, forest, leaves, nature, simple livingLeave a Comment

A Lovely Walk in a Fall Forest

With my Nikon in tow, I took a stroll through our woods last Monday. I am glad I did. The fall foliage was at its best. This beautiful fall day was followed by several rainy days in a row. Leaving many of our trees with fewer leaves. Click on any image below to view a…

By: Amy Pantone September 17, 2018September 18, 2019 Photo of the weekanimals, barred owl, box turtle, critters, Josie the Boxer, juvenile squirrel, nature, simple living, skink, toadLeave a Comment

Critters From Our Woods

Since living at our place a little over 3.5 years, I have encountered a variety of critters. Unable to photograph many of them, here are a few I had the pleasure of capturing digitally. (I had to include one of Josie our Boxer.) In addition, I would like to dedicate this post to a special…

By: Amy Pantone August 20, 2018September 18, 2019 Photo of the weekbutterflies, nature, sanctuary, simple living2 Comments

A Butterfly Sanctuary of Our Own

A short walk from our cabin there is a place where butterflies flutter free. Here they thrive on wild growth. On any day one will encounter 20 or more. Flying above your head, dipping here and there, or resting on a tall pink flowering plant. Last year I do not recall as many. But this…

By: Amy Pantone June 4, 2018September 18, 2019 weekly photo challengeAll-time favorites, last one, new challenge, photo challenges, photos3 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge (The Last One): All-Time Favorites

When I pulled up the Weekly Photo Challenge I was shocked to see it would be the last one. I am sad to see this challenge go. It has been a big part of my blog over the last 3.5 years. At first, I was slightly irritated it was going away. How could Word Press…

By: Amy Pantone April 21, 2016September 20, 2019 Travel ThursdaysBadlands National Park, out west trip, travel, Travel Thursday5 Comments

Travel Thursdays – Badlands National Park

The geological landscape of the Badlands National Park is worth the stop if you find yourself traveling through South Dakota. For us, this would be our last stop during our six-week trip out west. As our trip neared the end we only had a couple of hours to tour this lovely park. The day was…

By: Amy Pantone February 19, 2015September 18, 2019 Travel Thursdaysbeach, Cairdean Estates, California, camping, coast, Glass Beach, harbor seals, Lake Cleone, MacKerricher State Park, ocean, travel, wine5 Comments

Travel Thursday – MacKerricher State Park

While traveling throughout the western United States this past summer, we had the opportunity to stay at a wonderful coastal state park. MacKerricher State Park is located a few miles north of Fort Bragg, California (roughly 3.5 hours north of San Francisco). Finding a campsite along the coast of California during the summer can be…

Family & Wedding Photography

Currently, I offer the following: Candid/lightly posed sessions Family sessions Maternity sessions Engagement sessions Wedding photography At a location of your choice. I serve central Indiana with ability to travel for your photography needs.

Writing

As an aspiring writer, I plan to offer freelance writing services in the future. Please check back for updates and information. You can visit my profile and stories on Medium. Medium.com/@fstopmama

Yoga

**Update** July 10, 2020 I have completed my online Yoga Teacher Training and I am a fully certified yoga teacher. Due to COVID-19 I am able to register with Yoga Alliance with my online school. I am currently working on getting things together to start offering yoga instruction. With the current pandemic still affecting so…

A Catch Up Session From the 100 Acre Woods

By: Amy Pantone April 13, 2020April 13, 2020

Nature Time, Volunteer work, Words by Amyfostering dogs, Josie, meditation, nature, spring, working from home, writing, yoga2 Comments

About a month ago I posted about a winter hike and all was normal in the world around us (at least here in Indiana). Now a month later, things are different. Our state (like many others) are under stay at home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that is shaking up our entire world.…

A February Hike & Signs of Spring!

By: Amy Pantone March 2, 2020

Nature TimeHiking, Indiana, Morgan-Monroe State Forest, rock, springLeave a Comment

A week ago the sun was shining with temperatures still a bit chilly but great for a day hike. We chose this trail in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Normally this place is lightly attended but on this particular day attendance was up. People in Indiana are ready for spring! In the midwest when the temperatures…

Winter Wonderland

By: Amy Pantone February 16, 2020

Nature Timecreek, Pine trees, snow, winterLeave a Comment

With a light dusting of snow this past week our woods was transformed into a winter wonderland. I’m always amazed how a little snow on the trees makes the forest seem more magical in the winter. Winter runoff Pine trees in winter Creeks meet ©amypantone2020

A Winter’s Bench

By: Amy Pantone January 31, 2020

Nature Timenature, park bench, winterLeave a Comment

A bench in winter. Seeing this bench on one of my hikes at our local park I grabbed a photo with my phone. Now looking back at it I think of all the people who might have sat on this bench. Their stories, what they were thinking as they sat in nature taking it all…

“Becoming” by Michelle Obama

By: Amy Pantone January 13, 2020January 13, 2020

2020 Reads, booksBecoming, books, Michelle Obama, readingLeave a Comment

“Becoming” By Michelle Obama – nonfiction (421 pages) I finished my first read of 2020. What a great book to start the year off with. I give this one 5+ stars out of 5. Michelle Obama richly tells her story with a lot of heart pouring forth from the pages. It was interesting to learn…

A Winter Playdate With Nature

By: Amy Pantone January 6, 2020April 22, 2020

Nature TimeBoxer, Burkhart Creek County Park, county park, creek, Josie, Morgan County, nature, winter hikeLeave a Comment

Today the sun was shining so we took up a date with nature. This little gem of a park is located about 10 mintues from our house. Quiet place, few people, and a meandering creek makes this a favorite for all three of us. I loved the blue skies and the feeling of warm sunshine…

End of Year Recap: Goodbye 2019

By: Amy Pantone December 30, 2019January 6, 2020

52-week photography challenge, Yearly Recap2019, photo challenges, recap, self portrait, week 52Leave a Comment

Here we are at the end of another year! I am always amazed how fast it goes. Looking back it’s been an interesting year with ups and downs but in the end I’m smiling and overall happy. Thanks 2019 you have been a good year but it’s time for you to go. Hello 2020, be…

Week 50 & 51: Patterns & Food

By: Amy Pantone December 24, 2019January 6, 2020

52-week photography challengefood, patterns, photo challenges, pine cone, sushi, week 50, week 51Leave a Comment

As part of the 52 week photography challenge. After this only 1 more to go! Week 50: Composition: Patterns “Patterns/Repetition are another well known compositional rule, but have you ever tried to use it in Macro Photography? Well now you can!” While hiking I came across this lovely pattern lying on the forest floor. A…

Whirlwind Trip to NYC + Photo Challenges

By: Amy Pantone December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

52-week photography challenge, travelcurrent events, emotion, NYC, photo challenges, storms, trip, week 47, week 48, week 49Leave a Comment

November was an eventful month. With the NaNoWriMo challenge, a quick trip to NYC, Thanksgiving, and Shane’s 50th, it was a whirlwind in itself. I plan to write about this year’s NaNoWriMo experience in a later post. This post is dedicated to our whirlwind trip to New York City. It all started with a car. …

I Won NaNoWriMo: 50K Words in 30 Days!

By: Amy Pantone November 29, 2019November 29, 2019

Words by Amy50K, NaNoWriMo 2019, winner, writingLeave a Comment

I did it! I set out with the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days and today I met that goal, one day ahead of schedule. What a fun ride. Now forgive me as I’m ready to take a break from writing. I will write all about my NaNoWriMo 2019 experience next week. For…