FACE TIME

A Year Ago Today

2012-01-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

What were you doing a year ago today?

This week in iPhone photos

2012-01-28T09:42:00.001-05:00

For my friend Karen - adults playing kickball in the neighborhood park:

Rain at rush hour didn't prevent a friend from joining me for supper:

Discovering a restaurant in the west end - West Egg:

The take home : coca cola cupcake

Beautiful watercolor post card from a friend (it didn't arrive this week, but I photographed it because I've been enjoying it on my table this week):

Another post card from a friend with my favorite saying:

Texture

2012-01-23T22:34:00.000-05:00

LOVELOVELOVE the gray/green trim color...

Bug

2012-01-22T15:37:00.000-05:00

Study Date?

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

from an area coffee house near Emory...

Reminiscence

2012-01-16T22:33:00.000-05:00

My paternal grandmother's birthday is today. If she were alive, she'd be 99. I thought about her today and wondered how I could celebrate her. I had a couple of errands so it was mid afternoon and I hadn't had lunch - I was headed to my next errand when I happened to think about how any time we traveled to Montgomery from Troy, we would eat at Krystal. My grandmother loved them!

Now my grandmother was ahead of her time - there was no Coke in the fridge, no chips or packaged cookies in the pantry. Meals were balanced: a protein, a yellow and a green vegetable appeared at each meal. Lots of poultry and fish, red meat and pork only occasionally made the menu. I remember wishing we could have Pop-Tarts for breakfast but she was unyielding!

That made it especially fun to know how much she enjoyed a trip to Krystal since fast food was an unusual event. So, in honor of her birthday I had 3 cheese Krystals and a small diet Coke.

Happy Birthday, Grandmother!

Profundity

2012-01-09T21:16:00.001-05:00

Time is inevitably going to pass and one year from today, you can find yourself in the exact same spot you're in now, you can find yourself further away from your goal or you can find yourself closer to your goal - so where do you want to be a year from now?

Ali Edwards tweeted this, and it took my breath away. It took my breath away because I've been reflecting on how last year seemed to fly by. I was also thinking that I didn't know how to define my dreams. And then I read this and thought how easy it would be to be at home on January 9, 2013 having made no progress other than passage of time.

I don't know about you, but I want to be closer to my goal. Whatever it is.

[here's the post where the phrase came from...it's worth the read http://karenrussell.typepad.com/my_lifejust_not_on_the_ro/2012/01/prepare-yourself-because-this-is-a-long-one-i-shared-this-picture-and-a-few-words-after-completing-the-portland-triathlon-b.html#comments ]

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-01T10:48:00.000-05:00

Last November, I treated myself to an adventure.

I went to a photography workshop in NYC that took me far outside my comfort zone. I was certain that I would be the junior member of whatever group assembled. By junior I mean less experienced, less talented, less technical. Just less. I mean, I emailed the workshop coordinator and asked about who typically attends - his response was that they had a wide range: from Joe McNally to those new to photography [Joe McNally? A National Geographic caliber photographer might be in my class? Ack!] This was not my day job, know what I mean?

But, it seemed like an opportunity that I shouldn't pass up: I could afford it, I had not taken a major vacation in a few years, I missed the connection I once had to my photography and what if the photographer conducting the workshop decided to stop? I'd been looking at the workshop for a year and thinking "one day I will do this".

So I signed up, paid (gulp), booked a flight, booked a hotel room, booked my dogs into the boarding kennel. I evaluated my equipment. Bought a backpack. Googled the NYC weather forecast. Several times. Bought a couple things to wear on the trip. Borrowed a rain poncho. Asked some folks to look at some photos to help me create a 'portfolio'. Resolved to take at least a photograph a day until I left since I had not shot much during 2011.

I figured the first session when we would go through the 10 sample images would be the toughest. And then everyday life got busy and I didn't have much time to fret. But I did say to a couple of people what I said above about being the person who was sort of the junior person. And one of those people let me have it for having that less-than mind set. Huh, I thought. I'm just being realistic. I mean, it's not my day job. You know?

Finally the date arrived. I packed, dropped off the dogs, called the security patrol with my travel dates, called a cab and stepped into the unknown.

On the ground in NYC, my cab driver and I looked at each other in confusion - his GPS said we were at the hotel but neither of us could see the entrance until finally he looked at me in the back seat and said "there it is!" We were both relieved - he could get his next fare, and I would not be on a dark block in Chinatown wondering where the hotel was.

The next morning, I set out for the studio and my iPhone GPS failed me and sent me in the wrong direction (you aren't thinking user error are you?). No matter - I figured it out and had plenty of time before 8:30. A guy on the street stopped me and asked if I needed directions and then asked if I'd been to NY before. We had a nice chat and he said 'with that smile, you're going to have a good day".

And I did. Every day for the next 5 days. What happened next was amazing. The class. The venue. The Photographer. The photographs. The experience. Me.

I made 3 rules for myself for that trip the Sunday night before falling asleep: Be Open. Be Willing. Be Present.

Be Open: Accept what is going on. Let things come to me. Don't hide behind sunglasses and iPod earphones. Smile at people.

Be Willing: no making up my mind in advance of the facts. Trust the workshop leader - I mean, he had my money and all that feedback from former students. Do what he suggested to the best of my ability. Get the experience I deserved.

Be Present: No blackberry. And very little iPhone. iPhone is there to serve me, not for me to serve it and the interwebs.

That week was the right person, the right time, the right place and it all equaled the right experience. I can't help but believe it was the mental posture I adopted on Sunday evening before falling asleep. I admit it was easier to do since I was not in my everyday routine. Everything was different.

So I sit here on January 1, 2012 and I wonder what is possible if I take that same perspective on the new year?

Be present - no time like the present. one thing at a time. multi-tasking ain't all it's cracked up to be. focus.

Be willing - take the opportunities that are part of everyday.

Be open - see what's right in front of me without making it more or less.

I think 2012 can be the best year yet.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's Almost Christmas

2011-12-24T09:43:00.000-05:00

UnWrapped

2011-12-24T00:45:00.000-05:00

This is what it's come to. My family isn't large. But. At Christmas I have 6 nieces and nephews, 2 siblings, 2 in-laws and a parent to wrap for. Plus. 4 December birthdays. But I ran out of tape just before I got through the Christmas presents And I couldn't find the birthday paper I know is here somewhere.

I used painter's tape to finish the Christmas presents. And when I got the the boys' birthday presents, I decided to make the masking tape intentional.

Necessity is the mother of clutch plays.

Foggy Night

2011-12-22T08:44:00.000-05:00

Latkes & Dreidels

2011-12-22T00:12:00.000-05:00

Tonight I spent with friends celebrating the second night of Hanukkah...there were 3 of us for whom this was a new experience. It's always wonderful to be with friends and it is especially wonderful to get to share their traditions.

Eye contact

2011-12-21T09:42:00.002-05:00

A Little Something Different

2011-12-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

At the link below, you can get in on a 20 year tradition of seasonal songs but with a little something different. This year is jazz flavored. http://christmas.soundopinions.org/

http://christmas.soundopinions.org/

Wreath

2011-12-20T08:22:00.000-05:00

From the neighborhood...

Sights

2011-12-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

I loved this vintage Santa when I saw him last night...we had a small one just like him when I was growing up.

And this is just a glimpse of the lobby of my building...I love all the lights and reflections. I'm going to have to try this again tomorrow.

Holiday Wreath

2011-12-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

I thought of something to do with the catalogs I've been receiving since October 31. It's not too late to make it my holiday card - what do you think?

Roses in December

2011-12-13T22:54:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it?

unfocused

2011-12-12T22:38:00.000-05:00

There isn't anything in focus here...and that's because I saw this in my viewfinder and flinched. But it's kind of funny, don't you think?

Morning Commute

2011-12-07T07:36:00.002-05:00

Decorations

2011-12-03T22:05:00.000-05:00

My neighbor hangs ornaments in the tree in her front yard and they were so beautiful in the morning light today.

NYC and Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T19:38:00.000-05:00

I took a trip to NYC the week before Thanksgiving for a photography workshop. You know how something works out so much better than you ever imagined? That happened here - the combination of the photographer who led the workshop and his team, the combination of people who attended, the mind set I had going in...they all made for a very special time.

Returning home I thought a short week of work would be fairly easy but that was not to be - it turned out to be fairly hectic.

Thanksgiving was at my house this year with my mother, sister's and brother's families. It is always a wonderful time, and this year the star of the show was the chocolate cake my sister in law brought. Oh my, that cake was amazing! And Gus didn't steal anything - last year he helped himself to coconut cake which we now know is not life threatening to dogs, though it is a bit, ahem, rich.

Much to think about over the balance of the holiday weekend.

I hope you had a memorable Thanksgiving.

Live From New York

2011-11-15T07:16:00.000-05:00

Mantel

2011-11-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

I love this little vase, and I love the yellow gold leaves that fall from the trees on the either side of the back of my house.

The brown 'roses' fell from some sort of conifer and I picked them up during a dog walk.

Under the Same Moon

2011-11-12T22:40:00.000-05:00

I see the moon and the moon sees me.

God bless the moon and God bless me.

I see the moon and the moon sees thee.

God bless the moon and God bless thee.

A Discovery

2011-11-11T22:13:00.002-05:00

I love reading.

I love reading blogs. There's wondrous variety out there in the interwebs.

Today I clicked a link that took me to Cold Antler Farm. After you read the passage she wrote below, I bet you'll click the link and take the trip too.

Everyone out there enjoying this Wolf Moon? That's what the Almanac calls it. The November moon is a big bright beam out there, and the last few nights it has been so bright It cast shadows inside the farm house at night. Deer walking around the yard stand out like make believe things in the blue light. Folklore says the night right after the full moon is a time to prayer to remove things from your life that are negative, bad thoughts, fear, guilt, all of it. As the moon wains into dark it's supposed to carry those prayers home. I don't think it can hurt. Wolves after all, are very fast dogs.

from Cold Antler Farm

A Discovery

2011-11-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

The Cherry Trees are Shedding

2011-11-09T07:35:00.000-05:00

Saturday Spirit

2011-11-06T12:29:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, two of my nieces participated in a Cheerleading competition.

Getting ready includes glitter eyeshadow...

coordinating bows on the 'high and tight' ponytails,

and a run through in the other gym...

Here's an atmosphere shot. Below the balloon arch was a smoke machine that activated when the first cheerleader led their group onto the mat.

My younger niece's team on the floor.

For family readers - she is in the back left position in the rest of these. Forgive the quality, I used my 50mm lens because it is easy to carry and blew up the images.

We've got spirit

Yes we do

We've got spirit

How about you?

Gold

2011-11-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

This tree drags its feet each year when it's time to change colors...but when it finally does it's almost an overnight transformation.

Do You See What I See?

2011-11-02T22:21:00.000-04:00

The caps are like a basket weave, or a complex woven chair seat and doesn't it look like bark? The pattern on the acorn itself forecasts the woodgrain of a future tree.

I love the Fall.

Found

2011-10-31T22:46:00.000-04:00

I am a collector.

Pottery, ceramic chickens, magazines...and lately, things I find when I walk the dogs.

Like what?

Well, acorns. And these lovely pineconey things that look like flowers. Nuts from my back yard that the resident squirrel eats round the clock. I filled up a glass vase with those for some free fall decor.

And, after some high wind on Friday, mistletoe.

Have you looked at a acorn? Go get two or three from different trees. They come in all shapes and sizes...and the acorns themselves have different patterns on them. And the caps. All that lovely texture on the outside, and more pattern on the inside.

Here's some mistletoe. I loveLOVElove the color. The texture, too.

Go walk your dog and see what you find.

Graphic Saturday

2011-10-30T09:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I got this graphic image in my head of my house and the neighbor's house as I was bringing home dog 1. (I've started walking them separately because then I get more exercise and they each behave better on a leash but more importantly we have some one on one time) Then when I came home with dog 2, I went and got my camera.

After a while, I noticed there were some graphic things to see inside too.

That is all.

Carry on.

Golden

2011-10-29T09:21:00.002-04:00

Before the Rain

2011-10-28T21:14:00.002-04:00

Abandoned Hotel

2011-10-26T07:44:00.002-04:00

For Creatives...from Ira Glass

2011-10-23T11:20:00.000-04:00

He's talking about stories, but this seems true about any creative endeavor...for me, it's photography.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Lunch break

2011-10-22T09:12:00.002-04:00

Singing

2011-10-17T22:03:00.002-04:00

Magical

2011-10-01T22:23:00.000-04:00

Part of becoming a good photographer is developing an eye. One of the ways to do that is look at other's art - including other photographer's art. Most of what I like to look at is from the 30s-40s-50s BUT there is a current photographer I love: Rodney Smith. I read recently he only watches movies made before 1947.

I think his work has a magical quality - and some whimsy.

Forest

2011-09-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

When you look out of my yard from this angle, it looks as if I'm in a forest, don't you think?

Zack Arias workshop

2011-09-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

Great day.

Talented people.

Lots to digest.

Thanks to Zack's breakdown, lighting doesn't seem so mysterious or intimidating. It seems accessible. But it will take work. Look forward to working on this.

On Duty

2011-09-19T23:14:00.000-04:00

New Cats Have Moved Into the Neighborhood. GASP.

Homeland Security is on the job.

Budding Photographer

2011-09-18T23:17:00.000-04:00

The friends of the park have hired experts in weed control. The herd of sheep includes a few goats and a billy goat. And perhaps most importantly, Anatolian Shepherds. These dogs are mixed into the flock at a very young age and grow up thinking they are sheep. And protect them.

I told Olivia about them, and of course we had to go see them. They had made short work of the creek section they were in and were having a Sunday siesta.

After getting a good look on both sides of the creek, Olivia had to go back and get her Leapster camera.

Triplets

Shepherd in the flock.

This has really drawn the whole neighborhood out - people come by to just sit and watch the sheep. They hop across the rocks in the creek, bleat for each other, the bells on the necks of some of the goats clang now and then...it's a really peaceful scene. Contrast that with the cacophony of mowers and weed eaters.

This way is better.

Definitely.

Saturday Morning

2011-09-10T09:17:00.000-04:00

A dog loves a firetruck...

Two dogs really love a firetruck! But only one of them broke the rules and sat in a chair for a better view.

(whatever the emergency was, it was quickly solved with no water, smoke or ambulance)

Dragoncon

2011-09-09T18:42:00.001-04:00

This year I went to the Dragoncon parade in downtown Atlanta.

A-ma-ZING!

Costumes worthy of a Hollywood soundstage.

And variety. To wit:

Star Wars.

Star Trek (in all it's iterations).

My Little Ponies.

Netherworld.

The world of Harry Potter...and boy were the Snapes good.

Lego people. Lego Star Wars people.

Dr. Who peeps.

Speed Racer.

Men in Black and they had their memory obliterator thingamabob.

Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters Louisiana.

Ghostbusters Missippi.

Ghostbusters Alabama.

Ghostbusters Georgia.

And they all had a cool white car.

GI Joe.

And many many more that I'm not culturally current enough to have recognized.

And lots of Atlanta were there. I was surprised. In my photo of the banner above, there is a parking deck to the left, and you can see folks gathering on the two lower floors. After about 15 more minutes, the deck was full of people.

I would have taken more photos, but we were so packed in on the sidewalk, I could barely crane my neck to see, let alone take any photos. Had I been about 7 feet tall, I might have something to show you.

Small Things

2011-09-04T23:19:00.000-04:00

This is something small, a heart, right in a neglected planter at the bottom of the deck stairs.

I'm about 2 weeks from a photography class and I am woefully out of practice. I need to give myself some assignments, but I think the weather is going to make it some inside assignments at best. Maybe I will sit down with my manual and my camera and at least know where everything is, even if I haven't used it in a while :)

Friday Afternoon

2011-09-03T13:43:00.000-04:00

Sitting on the couch, I admired the owl pillow my mother made me for my birthday, at my request. Isn't it great? Anyway, I got very interested in the shadows playing on the wall.

And I started working on capturing the abtract I saw on the wall. If you look, you can see the angel toward the bottom of the image. I suppose because it sits on a glass table top, the angel wings repeat toward the top of the image. This is SOOC...it looks black and white, but it's color, just as I took it. I think that's interesting.

And then I went outside and sat on the hill behind the ferns. The hill used to be covered in ivy, but now it's cleared off and safe to sit on.

Very random, I know. Have a great day!

Flash Light

2011-09-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

Just playing around with a camera and a flashlight.

Red Tailed Hawk

2011-08-31T23:02:00.000-04:00

We have a family of red tailed hawks in our neighborhood.

Sunday, I happened to notice Dad Hawk in one of the trees shading my backyard.

Can you spot him?

The best I can do is say look on the broken off limb just to the left of center of the picture...

Once he scoped the yard out, he dropped down to the ground and hung out. I was mystified. Then after about 5 minutes of that, he hopped up - literally - on the fence and stared at me for a few minutes.

Then he was gone.

Folk Fest Art

2011-08-28T21:43:00.000-04:00

Finally! See what I caught with my iPhone or camera...I was enamored with the creations of metal pieces like you can see in several images below. Hope you enjoy these too. It's just a small sample of the show.

More Style

2011-08-21T20:54:00.002-04:00

I left this one out...

Travel in Syle

2011-08-20T21:28:00.000-04:00

Every year the weekend after my birthday Folk Fest is held north of Atlanta. I used to live near the facility and could visit every day. In recent years, I've had to miss the event.

Not this year!

I went today. And I could show photos of some of the wonderful, imaginative art. And maybe I will tomorrow.

But today, I want to share that some of the artists travel in style!

I just love Folk Fest!

Tone on Tone

2011-08-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

I was going around the house, checking that doors were locked, turning off lights, getting a last drink of water. And I turned and saw this. It was beautiful. I took several shots trying to capture it, and this comes closest. It reminds me that if I'm looking, everyday gives me some beautiful images.

Fence post

2011-08-16T23:12:00.000-04:00

Sunday

2011-08-14T14:24:00.000-04:00

"Repeat daily as needed", Gus says.

Backyard

2011-08-13T14:11:00.002-04:00

Round Dog

2011-08-12T22:09:00.002-04:00

A-ha!

2011-08-10T22:51:00.000-04:00

I have to admit it: I love the photos of the Lego mini-figs that are posted on LegoADay blog. He just finished a second year of daily Lego figure photographs and is running a contest. Just for fun, I took of photo of my Explorer (not sure what his name really is) examining the contest post.

When we were small, my brother loved Legos, and now his boys and girl all play with them.

I couldn't resist, I had to get a few.

I have 3 - Robot, Explorer and one of the green army men from Toy Story (one of my nephews wants to be an Army Man).

Wishing you a bit of whimsy every day.

Life with Gus

2011-08-08T20:16:00.000-04:00

"Oh, hi. Didn't hear you."

"nomnomnomnomnomcrunch...uuurrppp"

"it was good while it lasted"

Heart You

2011-08-06T09:29:00.002-04:00

It's not everyday that your breakfast is also your model...

Promise

2011-08-04T22:51:00.000-04:00

When I got home tonight I let the dogs and got my camera because I needed some artsy/creative to offset the last few days.

Look. I found the first leaf of Fall. It's a promise that my favorite season is coming. There will be a break from this heat and humidity.

I, for one, can't wait.

Everyday Walk

2011-08-03T22:18:00.000-04:00

We go for a walk everyday. Sometimes I take my iPhone and try to catch different perspectives on my favorite models. This is one of those times I wish I'd had the big girl camera because the dogs were watching an albino squirrel that was playing in the driveway. But I did get this great angle on Gus and Cotton.

Canopy

2011-08-01T22:56:00.000-04:00

I just read a post by Jon Katz...he was talking about how he was becoming very selective about what he puts in his head.

Amen, brother.

I made that decision some time ago, and unfortunately for the local tv news, it generally means no local tv news. I am tired of the sensationalism of senseless, cruel behavior. Oh, I keep up with what's important, like the local Atlanta Public Schools debacle. Or the misreading of the water meters.

But does one really want to know that there are teens twisted enough to torture animals, and how, just before bedtime?

The 24/7 news cycle has pushed news organizations to try to drum up interest. That's why every weather event now has a name and a logo.

Whatever side of the aisle in Washington, DC you favor, think about whether the media helped or hurt this latest Capitol Hill issue.

No, thanks.

No manufactured hysteria for me.

For me, less is definitely more.

P.S. I am sure I am the last person in Atlanta to read The Help. Oh em gee. The first time I picked it up it wasn't for me. This weekend I tried it again. What an amazing book. I'll be thinking about it for quite a while.

Glow

2011-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:00

Waiting for September

2011-07-30T08:17:00.000-04:00

I'm dreaming of a trip to the beach...and if I get to go, it will be in September. In the meantime, I walk with the dogs everyday, with my iPod playing music or podcasts that fuel dreams.

Street Light

2011-07-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

Crape Myrtle under the street light...on our walk this evening, I was looking for photos I could make with my iPhone. I took lots of pictures of our shadows and this one. I think it's my favorite of the evening.

iPhone Sunset

2011-07-27T07:43:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, a sunset usually features the sun. But when the sun was setting during last night's dog walk, this beautiful reflection was in the east. I couldn't resist trying to capture it with my iPhone and Camera+ app.

Just what the doctor ordered: a pleasant walk with my dogs and a beautiful view.

Iridescence

2011-07-24T20:41:00.000-04:00

I was looking at the light this evening when I noticed something iridescent between me and the sun. It was a spider's web cast in a dead limb that had tangled in the mulberry tree. The sun was sinking pretty quickly - you can see that since the iridescence is at 3 and 9 if the web were a clock. In the next one it's at 7 and 2 and the colors have changed.

Summer Afternoon

2011-07-24T13:11:00.000-04:00

I walked out to get in the car to run an errand Saturday, and thought that the trees against the blue sky and the cotton ball clouds looked like summer as I remembered it from childhood. So I captured it with my iPhone.

Bug Day Afternoon

2011-07-22T06:54:00.001-04:00

This first one is my favorite because it's dramatic and those wings are so wonderful.

I do not understand how something so small can be so loud!

Close Encounters

2011-07-21T08:41:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when Gus spots the half wild little black cat which frequents my flower beds.

Ferns

2011-07-20T08:03:00.000-04:00

The heat and humidity are back after a surprisingly cool weekend. In fact, it was a shame to be inside the weather was so nice. Anyway, ferns make me think of cool forests, where the light is dappled and every foot step is dampened by a carpet of pinestraw or leaves.

Mid Summer Hydrangea

2011-07-18T22:30:00.002-04:00

This week in iPhone

2011-07-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

It's always the little things that make life sweet...

Alligator

2011-07-13T21:10:00.000-04:00

from a little online Carla Sonheim tutorial...for Cindy and Pam.

It's the End

2011-07-10T22:34:00.002-04:00

End of the weekend...and I'm already looking forward to next weekend!

Have a great week.

Patterns on the Ceiling

2011-07-08T15:44:00.002-04:00

Near Misses

2011-07-07T21:17:00.000-04:00

My mojo is apparently at the coast on the beach under an umbrella, sipping a fruity drink with a paper umbrella. And probably just had a lunch of fresh oysters chased by a plastic cup of draft.

I get points for composition, but fail on execution on this one. And here's the thing: it's the best of the lot from July 4.

Cotton never lets me photograph her straight on. Once she sees the camera, she walks toward me. Tonight in a rare fit of cooperativeness, she obligingly looked at my left hand as directed. Too bad I didn't get the focus sharp on the eyes. Or anywhere else for that matter.

Try, try again.

Night In

2011-07-01T22:06:00.000-04:00

With the prospect of a long weekend in front of me, I was happy to stay in and read, finally get Photoshop loaded, watch Covert Affairs On Demand and play with my camera. I'm contemplating taking photos of fireworks Monday night.

I love seeing the red, white and blue on the 4th weekend. It's also Peachtree Road Race weekend...I'll probably walk the dogs over early and watch some of the runners make their way down Peachtree Street.

Wishing you some red, white and blue.

Heart

2011-06-27T07:39:00.000-04:00

I've been saying a lot of prayers lately. I've got some things on my mind. We had a humdinger of a thunderstorm late Sunday afternoon, and the normally sanguine goldens retreated to their comfort zones of choice (one on the bed and one right next to me wherever that was). When I let them out well after the winds, thunder and rain had subsided, I found this as we were coming back in.

No where else on the deck were other tulip poplar leaves that looked like this - I looked.

This is not an answer to prayer...but I think it's a response.

And one more thing: I got a 365 day photo prompt afterward - after it was long dark outside - that said take a photo of a heart.

Lines

2011-06-26T15:17:00.000-04:00

There is a time each morning that the sun gets to a particular angle and my bathroom fairly glows. The light spills out of the doorway and lights up the hallway and the living area.

I ventured in with my camera when that happened on Saturday to see what I could find. Almost every set of lines I thought were interesting were juxtaposed against some curves.

See for yourself:

Gus, at night

2011-06-24T19:54:00.000-04:00

Photograph. Watercolor.

More watercolor efforts.

I really hope to get my camera out this weekend.

Creative Pursuits

2011-06-23T20:24:00.000-04:00

After coming home from Inspired! in May, I've been very interested in art journaling. A key part of the art journaling has been trying various things: making my own journal, testing various supplies I already own such as paints, watercolors, stamps, stencils...some collage, even drawing.

The interwebs have connected me to wonderful artists who post tutorials on their sites or youtube. One I found was on Carla Sondheim's site...part of the Make It Easy 11 days of tutorials.

So here is my effort. It's an iPhone picture because my trusty all in one printer doesn't work with my new MacBookPro so can't scan things in. phhhppppttthhhhpppttt.

Anyway, I haven't had much chance to photograph lately, so I've been cutting, pasting, painting, coloring and staying in touch with my creative side.

In other news, the basil or dill (can't tell which) has [finally] started coming up. Unfortunately the feral cat feels that part of the flower bed is prime sand box area. Good thing I started some in pots on the deck.

shooting the moon

2011-06-16T21:05:00.001-04:00

so, ok.

forever i've taken photos of the great big lovely moons that have floated over my life.

generally they've come out like a small white dot blazing away in a pitch black sky.

until this week.

in my blog feeds, i found instructions for shooting the moon.

AND IT WORKED!!

would have worked better if i'd had a different lens, but LOOK AT MY PHOTO.

you can see things on the surface of the moon.

details. maybe even the sea of tranquility.

i followed the link inside a post on what it means to be an everyday photographer.

and i took my trusty old 40D, not the new camera, set the settings and made tracks to the street in front of my house and walked until i had a good angle on that full moon.

yay! i'm glad it's still exciting to learn something new.

Sunday Afternoon

2011-06-12T21:16:00.000-04:00

Sunday afternoon, by Gus.

TGIF

2011-06-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

At the end of a very long, grueling two weeks punctuated by meeting a rather ambitious deadline, I sat on my deck with my trusty sidekicks and a cold glass of Groth.

Here's to the weekend, ya'll.

2011-06-05T14:34:00.000-04:00

Cold press water color paper, xacto, ruler, linen thread...homemade art journal. YAY!

Random

2011-05-31T07:11:00.000-04:00

Above is a cardinal nest that was abandoned by the female cardinal after the bush was cut back. At first I thought it was the normal coming and going that scared her away. But after I realized an egg had disappeared from the nest shortly after I took this picture, maybe it was some predator. Aren't the eggs lovely? The nest is very fragile. Not what I'm used to seeing. It's almost see through in some places.

I included this today because I like the ring around this guy's eye. He looks a bit imperious, doesn't he?

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T19:16:00.000-04:00

Thinking of those who died in the service of our country today. Part of my celebration is to spend part of the long weekend watching some of my favorite movies to help me remember what freedom costs. Twelve O'Clock High (Gregory Peck), The Longest Day (who isn't in this one?), A Bridge Too Far (another huge cast, there's a very young Harrison Ford included), The Green Berets...they all shelter us from the filth, monotony, fear and loss that are the inevitable partners to bravery, derring-do, resourcefulness and grit that those in the service live through everyday. But still, I like these movies because they begin with the premise that the US forces are to be admired.

And they are.

Every day.

Relax

2011-05-28T10:13:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone follows Gus' example and has a relaxing weekend. I'm going to see the Cartier-Bresson exhibit. Finally.

Gardenia

2011-05-26T07:58:00.000-04:00

This reminds me, oddly enough, of a propeller on a jet engine...not sure where that's coming from. Perhaps I want to fly away?

Yucca!

2011-05-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back I shared that I was excited about 2 of the 3 main yucca plants in my back yard blooming. The 3 plants have produced offshoot plants that I can relocate. When I got back from Inspired! this is what I found.

They're beautiful!

Room to a View

2011-05-17T21:39:00.000-04:00

One night after class, I walked into the room to find this view - I thought it was lovely and tried to capture it here.

Inspired!

2011-05-15T21:39:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate enough to participate in the last Inspired! Artist Workshop this past week. Donna Downey arranged this event for the last four years, with around 200 women participating each year. The community, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm as well as the instructors made it a wonderful experience. I met several wonderful people, two in particular - hi Brenda and Debbie - who were the icing on the art cake.

Below is a series of photos of the results of the classes I took.

Alisa Burke's class on surface design of fabrics (you can then use the fabric to create apparel, home decor, etc):

Lolly Chessie's class - we took some everyday items - jute, canvas, felt, hot glue- and made an art piece. Mine doesn't do it justice because I fizzled out during the hot gluing of jute, but you get the idea. And maybe I'll add the rest of the jute. Maybe.

Perhaps the most surprising thing I did - a bag from recycled plastic trash. All you needed was an iron and a sewing machine. Look out friends, I may be making you some grocery bags for Christmas this year and get rid of all those plastic bags I have in my basement.

A petite doll painting from Suzi Blu's class:

From Trish Seggebruch's encaustic class - and perhaps my favorite result - this was painting with wax a layer at a time and adding texture and pattern along the way.

And finally, the jewelry we decorated and assembled in Becky Nunn's class. This was great fun. Although I used my glue water to wet my transfer images (it worked anyway).

It was a great week.

Swinging

2011-05-10T22:16:00.000-04:00

3 generations: my mother, sister and nieces Mother's Day weekend.

Flowers

2011-05-09T23:12:00.000-04:00

Played Out

2011-05-08T19:24:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day weekend. I was able to host my mother and my sister's family last night and had a wonderful time. The weather was just right and we sat on the deck with snacks and drinks and dogs and enjoyed each other. They let me take photos, too! We missed my brother and sister in law and their family, but am sure they had a nice weekend, too.

Here comes Monday!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T14:20:00.002-04:00