bluebonnets

They Paved Paradise And They’re Putting Up a Parking Lot and A 7-11 – The End of Bluebonnet Hill

by Jill April 26, 2016

written by Jill

R.I.P. Bluebonnet Hill. As of today, it’s totally leveled. The developers think a 7-11 is what we need. Never mind that we have a Walmart and a gas station literally across the street. The people need Slurpees, I suppose.

A photo posted by Jill Krause (@babyrabies) on Mar 23, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT

If you’ve been reading for more than a year, you know that Bluebonnet Hill is one of our (okay, MY) favorite annual traditions. I’ve been dragging my family out there for photos for 4 years, and they’ve been some of my absolute favorites ever of all time.

2015

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Easter Day 2014

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2013, months before Bruno (0ur first English Mastiff) passed

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2012

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It’s also yielded some hilarious outtakes and stories, and some of my favorite blog posts. It all started with that first year we took Leyna to a big field of weeds and nature.

She still makes ALL. THOSE. FACES. EVERYDAY.

She was not feeling it the next year, either…

She finally started getting the hang of it after Lowell came around.

And she was a seasoned pro at dealing with those “icky flowers” by last year. You can see why I had so much hope for this year!

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Then again, nothing will ever top the T-rex chase down the hill, so maybe some things are best leaving on a high note.

We still haven’t found a new spot this year, and honestly I don’t really want to. It’s too soon. Too soon to replace my beloved Bluebonnet Hill. Also, it’s a lot of work to get to another spot that’s not practically in our front yard.

So no new bluebonnet pics this year, I’m afraid. My deepest apologies.

April 26, 2016 19 comments

Dallas/Ft. Worth Photography

The Official 2015 Bluebonnet Post- Because That’s A Thing

by Jill April 22, 2015

written by Jill

After years of anguish (see here and here), it seems Leyna has finally come to terms with the reality that is the field of bluebonnets every year. She not only willingly participated this year…

Dare I say she even posed?

I am sorry if you’re here to see her losing her mind. This is simply not funny.

My condolences.

Even Kendall gave me a few good shots.

Though his only real smile was reserved for when I made him reenact “pooping on bluebonnets.” Such a magical age.

Lowell’s little personality really stole the show, though. Unlike his sister, he wasn’t disgusted or scared of the bluebonnets. There’s not much that really gets to him. He’s a go with the flow, happy dude.

Stay here?

No YOU stay THERE!

Look at how the other two have been tortured into submission over the years. That pained smile on Leyna’s face, the result of years of hard work. Meanwhile, the littlest obliviously picks flowers…

And generally gives no fucks. WE ARE IN A FIELD OF FLOWERS, YOU GUYS! WHAT IS THIS LIFE?!

Leyna’s gentle squeeze around his neck, urging his cooperation. Look how far she’s come!

It’s all fun and games for LoLo until he trips on a weed.

Of course, if you keep shooting long enough, you eventually wind up with some that look serene and magical.

This was a crop of one of the Bluebonnet Dino Apocalypse pictures. GOD BLESS THE CROP TOOL.

And while this was the reality of what our family photo shoot looked like…

I was able to work some magic in Photoshop and stitch together this lie…

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Did you see that I have free downloads of hi-res, non watermarked bluebonnet pics (without my kids in them) available?

April 22, 2015 6 comments

Dallas/Ft. Worth Photography

I Want To Give You Some Bluebonnets

by Jill April 19, 2015

written by Jill

I never really thought I was attached to Texas when I lived here the first time (actually 2nd time, I couldn’t really remember being born here). Junior high through high school, I did what I could to not let this state define who I was. I was an ex-Navy Brat who couldn’t shake her wanderlust. I felt suffocated in our small, conservative town. When I left for college at Mizzou, I didn’t think I was ever moving back to Texas.

To keep this blog post short, let’s just jump to the part where I DID move back. And I brought my husband and my tiny 8 week old first-born with me. Turns out, I missed it. And now it feels like home.

I still don’t feel comfortable saying we will be here forever, and I don’t really align with a lot of what people think this state represents, but I love it. I truly do.

The people are nice, the tacos are a plenty, it’s casual, the houses are gorgeous and cheap, and the bluebonnets bloom every spring.

A lot of people from other states tell me they wish they could come take pictures of or with the bluebonnets, so I thought I’d put a few images up for you all that you’re welcome to download (free!) for PERSONAL use. Print them, frame them, gift them, make them your phone background.

They are all printable up to 8×10. (If you’d like a larger size, email me – jill at babyrabies dot com, and I’ll give you pricing info.)

Now, THESE pictures below are not the images for download. They are sized and sharpened for the web with my watermark on them.

You’ll want to click on the link below each picture to download that particular one. Look for the download icon in the bottom right corner (an arrow pointing down over a line). The pics available for download will not have a watermark on them, though I would appreciate if you send people my way if they ask where you got it.