Hello February

Hello February

I'm checking in for my monthly update of this, that and nothing much.  My camera continues to sit idle while I write and write and write some more. Instead of taking snapshots with a camera I've chosen to create snapshots of life with words, at least for now. 

Do I miss taking photos?  Yes. 

 I took this lonely tree photo on  February 3, 2012 & it's pretty much SOOC

Will I pick up my camera and begin snapping shots the way I have for the last few years?  Not for the foreseeable future. 

 Such a Valentine photo!  A gathering of an old book, Sans Famille written in French, a bit of ribbon roses on lace, and my mother's charming little heart bracelet.  I like the way the heart caught the light.

Why?  Because I've discovered that if I spread myself too thin nothing gets accomplished.  There's not enough time in the day to be a photographer, an editor of photos, a writer, a researcher, a reader, a commenter, Mimi to a grandson, and still do all the things that need to be done on a daily basis.

This photo just makes me smile, the light shining through the petals gives it a softness and yep, this is another SOOC photo from February 2012

In the wee hours of a sleepless night I need a quiet occupation, so I thought I'd catch up with my favorite blogs and write a bit of a post.  I sincerely wish all a lovely life every day. 

Inspiring Words

In the Country OOOOPS!!

A quick update....after my snaffu yesterday I'm linking with Rural Thursday...today, a September Thursday.  I'm finally caught up!

I'm so darn delighted that I have zinnias blooming that I go out every day to see how they're coming along and how many I can pick.

Why not take a jaunt down country roads and see what other photographers are capturing...

I'm joining up with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday today!  Won't you join me in a merry romp through wonderful photography?  Just click below...

****************
Well I feel silly! Today is W E D N E S D A Y!!!  I missed Texture Tuesday by a day. Well I'm still gonna visit...still gonna play as if today was a day ago, but I might also pretend like today is tomorrow and join Rural Thursday.  

The Flowers of September

The calendar may say September, but it's still summer in the garden. The zinnias are blooming in bright and pale pinks with a few whites and oranges in the mix. A bouquet of flowers that includes Queen Anne's Lace adds just the right touch of sweet feminine.

Orange is a loud color that seems to scream look at me, but oh how I love orange in the fall.  Until the frost is on the pumpkin, making due with an orange zinnia works. 

Then there's the whisper of white zinnias.

A small rose blooms along side the garage. It was nearly choked out of existence last year by an overly vivacious trumpet vine, but its hearty nature won out.  It was still blooming in late November.  This summer it weathered the drought and is in a full flush of tiny blooms with a blush of color before opening.

I love photographing flowers using the macro setting.  The little rose above is only an inch or two across at the most; the buds even smaller.  Through the wonder of technology we can capture every detail from the secret center to the blemishes on the outside petal.

And sometimes it's a different perspective that creates a delightful surprise.  I totally ignored the law of thirds in every one of these photos and I don't care. 

Break rules, have fun, and capture all that makes you smile, dance, sing, and sometimes weep. 

The Color of Morning

Have you ever wished you could capture the colors of a morning?  When the sun rises in pinks and fills the earth with light I am filled with wonder and long to hold on to the painting. Since I cannot hold the beauty in my hand I'll create it. I set to work in Elements 10 stacking four morning glory photos on top of each other, adding touches of delicate light, and finally a soft Kim Klassen texture.

Draw out the colors using The Coffee Shop's Color Bar.  Add a bit of text and there it is...a pink sunrise in the depths of a morning glory.     

 

Editing Story

Random Stuff

Here we are six days into August and I'm making my first post.  I took up the August Break banner challenging myself to take at least one photo every day and post it, but darn...life or rather a yard sale just got in the way. 

Have you ever held a yard sale at your home? It's a ton of work, but a great way to purge your house and life of all those bits that accumulate while we're busy living.  And then there are those who decide it's time to unload generations of stuff.

Check out the antique black stroller, yep that's a stroller called the The Junior Tourist. The metal blue stroller is a more recent model.  One gentleman purchased both stollers.

We had two-legged and four-legged visitors.  An adorable Westie stopped by with his lady to browse treasures of all kinds.

 No matter how I tried I just couldn't get him to look at me.  Isn't he cute? 

Cheerios looks so much more delicious in a close-up photo than in person.  Well...that takes me up to three photos.

Today I've promised myself some photo time and I'm going to keep that promise.  Where ever you are, I hope you've been blessed with a glorious day that is as fine as it is here in nw Ohio this 70-something degrees morning. 

My photo editing consisted of a bit of cropping and punching up the color in Elements 10.

Texture Tuesday

Textures Used: KK's February Magic & The Ladder

Linking with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday. Check out more textured photos at:
 

A Preview of August

Wow! What a weekend! It was three days of boxes, lost treasures found, dirt, dust, and finding the remains of unwanted visitors. Once again my daughter, ex-sister-in-law and friend, MJ, and I are joining forces for the 127 Corridor World's Longest Yard Sale. We like to think we have a classy, well-organized sale full of cast off treasures, collectibles and even a few antiques. The yard sale extends from 5 miles north of Addison, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama.  This has become such a big thing that HGTV heads out to tape sellers and shoppers alike.  So there's my pitch for the yard sale that begins this Thursday, August 2 and ends Sunday, August 5th.

Sometimes a lady just has to try something new, hence the cut up photo of two coneflower blooms that fought the heat to survive and flourish as best it could.  The flower was planted this spring with great hopes of producing a nice bushy plant, but now I'm just delighted it soldiered through.  By the way...that is the color of the flowers and I just love it. 

August Break!

Yes I'm joining Susannah Conway again this year for The August Break.  There will be a photo most days, but few if any words unless something spectacular  occurs that I just can't keep to myself.  Oh wait...something spectacular did happen over the weekend, but it's too soon to spill the beans. Wanna join the August Break?  Hop over to Susannah's site and check it out. 

Whewwww.... busy weekend shaping up to be a busy week, but ya know busy is good. 

Priming the Pump

If you ever lived with a windmill outside your door you know what priming the pump means.  For those of you who think I've gone off the deep end...let me explain.  When a water pump dries up it must be primed or water added to get it flowing again.  The creative process is much like a moaning old pump...when the well runs dry it must be refilled with experiences, sights, sounds, tastes, and touch.  That's what my week in Toledo did for me...it replenished a drying up reservoir of imagination and creativity.  I came home ready to embrace my daily life with a new attitude. 

What did I do to prime my creative pump?  MJ and I nibbled on lemon poppy seed and orange burst muffins while gabbing between cups of Georgette's coffee in Maumee.  Where's the photo you ask?  I was so into the delicious muffin that I forgot to take out my camera. 

Maumee is a suburb of Toledo that is ever so charming.  It lacks the hoity-toity of Perrysburg which makes it even more quaint.  There's a nostalgia about the buildings....

street lamps....

and a night depository at a defunct bank.

But what got my attention more than anything was a sign swinging above heads...

What a jovial fellow, but who wouldn't be smiling when the smell of fresh-made pizza comes wafting out the door.

I should have been inspired to photograph so much more. Maumee was a battle setting for the War of 1812.  There are forts, landmarks, and old legends of Mad Anthony Wayne.  A river runs through the town adding that touch of romance that makes me sigh.  Another trip to Maumee is on my list of fall things to do and the next time I hope triple digits don't keep me from exploring the town as it should be.

As for the primed pump, every little bit helps and just sitting in a coffee shop with a Ten Thousand Villages shop in the back/front got the ball rolling.  What do you do to prime the pump of creativity when it begins to dry? 

Let's do tea tomorrow...shall we? 

Nature in the City Getaway

It's been a wild and crazy week and it's time for a little getaway.  The little man and I are heading for the city.  We'll be staying with a dear friend who I'll pal around with while the young ones attend a day camp full of nature and fun.  Isn't it funny that we're going to the city for a nature camp? 

Mr. Fuji will be accompanying me and I hope for some cooler mornings and evenings for some fun photo sessions. I'm looking forward to lots of girl talk, eating out as often as possible, and the change of scenery. 

Have a wonderful weekend and pray for rain!

Texture Tuesday: Daisies Three

I've been MIA for the last couple weeks. Blogging, photography, and writing all took a back seat to catching up with a visiting sister and other out of town guests. In between making dinner and going to dinners there's been baseball games to watch and an evening of fireworks. I cherish the time I spent with my sister from Montana and miss her each day.

While she was here, we had a sisters day.  What better thing to do than go shopping?  We headed for The Green Awning Gallery where I picked up a milk bottle and a few vintage buttons.  Next it was on to Archbold, a quick stop at the nursery, Green Acres, lunch at Casa Vieja and browsing in the shop Ten Thousand Villages.  We took in a couple second hand stores in Bryan and ended our day at Stoney Ridge Winery, just a hop, skip and a jump from my house.  Sister days are always fantastic!

But now...things have quieted down and we've returned to our summer schedule. I'm itching to get behind the lens and spend a day photographing anything and everything.  I wish it could be right now during this mellow yellow June day when the thermometer stays in the 70s.

For Texture Tuesday, I photographed three daisies I cut from the fledgling cottage garden I started behind the house this spring.  I used the milk bottle and a red gingham cloth to create a simple scene.  After 33 shots, I wasn't pleased with any of them, but I chose the best of the lot, which isn't sayin' much.

Daisies Three

As usual, you'll find inspiration at ....

   

Rural Thursday: Down a Country Road

Now it's time to take a jaunt of your own over to The Rural Journal, just click on the badge and be whisked away...

Flower Art Friday: Remember When

I discovered a new for me photo/art challenge.  Flower Art Friday is the brain child of  LeAnne at Photos by LeAnne. Have I mentioned lately...I love flowers! So here's my meager offering to the lord of light and beauty..

I processed my peony petal photo using Elements 10.  If you've never checked out Leslie Nicole's wonderful French Kiss textures, brushes, overlays and more, you're missing something special.  I used her overlay, Golden Orb, one of my favorites for creating a soft golden light to photos.  I also used one of her French script brushes in the lower corner.  The vintage sheet music background came from my favorite graphic lady, The Graphics Fairy. You could spend hours perusing all the great images she gives away.  
There's so much flower power to be found at Photos by LeAnne...take a breather and click the badge below...





When you're finished viewing flower love click on the other badges.  I know you'll find something wonderful.

Peony Petals

Just one photo for Nancy's photo challenge, Your Sunday Best.  Take a Sunday drive over to A Rural Journal and enjoy the views of other talented photographers.
 

Texture Tuesday in a Hurry

What's the old saying?

That's how I'm feeling today, but I'm still joining Kim Klassen at her Cafe for Texture Tuesday

Bleeding Heart Love

This is one of those photos that I don't feel all that great about, but it meets the requirements for the photo challenge: Use at least one layer of Oh My or Let Go textures.  My artistic process was a long one, probably because I just couldn't seem to get it the way I wanted it to look. Here's the steps I took:

In the Adjustment layers I fiddled with Levels, Brightness/Contrast, and Hue/Saturation. 
Added a color filter.
A layer of Oh My texture mode set to Multiply at 70% opacity with a layer mask to retrieve the color of the bleeding hearts
Finally the layer of Let Go was added and kept at 100% opacity.

I was looking for a painterly effect, but to me it's muddled.  Anyhow, that's how I learn.  How 'bout you?  Do you learn through trial and error? Check out more texture love at...