I am an avid photographer with a love for digital processing. The Bearded One and I have become "Townies" once again and are in the process of transforming our suburban nest into a peaceful refuge. This blog is where I like to stash things. An assortment of random thoughts, a recipe or two, a few of my favorite photos, and the processing thereof.
Apparently 1908 was "the year" for leap year mania... The fair maidens took it quite seriously. Guns were involved. How politically incorrect these postcards would be today...
Yi Haw girls... It's rodeo time.
A little art...
Yes spring is really on the way in spite of a few little flurries...
Tiny Iris spotted at work today
The Crayola version
Hmmm... Pause for Thought
Why lil' Abner of course... Daisy Mae has gotta catch her man...
Thanks Leslie for reminding me that it was indeed leap year....
I've been off a little for the last several days. I have discovered that I am a clencher... I tend to clench my jaw when stressed or fatigued, which in turn tenses up my neck and shoulder which in turn makes me clench my jaw. It's the chicken and the egg dilemma. I don't know what started the whole thing not that it matters but I just can't seem to unclench or un-tense. So anyway the last few days have been accompanied by a continuos ache. The Bearded one has been very patient as have my co-workers since I'm sure I've appeared more than a little distracted. It comes at a time when I want to be looking forward to moving into our new digs. I am such a planner. It's my favorite part, so it's been a little frustrating. I have shared this whole pitiful "woe is me" to explain why I have been a little lax in my posting. I will endeavor to stop clenching and tensing and get on with the life that I've been given. It's a pretty good one after all...
Before and After
I am enjoying the "Alien Skin Snap Art" filter trial and have it for one more week so thought I'd experiment... It costs 299.00 for the plugin, and can be used with both lightroom and photoshop. I will be putting it on my christmas list, along with more lenses of course.
Before
A simple blue hydrangea photo...
After
A section enlarged so you can see texture.... Oil on textured canvas
This one's fun... called impressionist... All done with one or two clicks.
And then there is good old crayola...
Healthy Choices
A great quick and easy recipe from Jorge Cruise...
Here at the cottage I find myself in a sort of limbo. Neither here nor there and we are beginning to sort through the combination of our stuff and the cottage's. We have been merged together for a couple of years now, the cooking utensils mingling quite well together so it seems a little odd to be separating them. I will miss the fine assortment of frying pans. They are "Emeril" pans and I've become quite smitten. They are stainless with really thick bottoms and they work really well without sticking. I looked on line to see how much it would cost me to purchase two of my favorites. $70 and $50 dollars respectively. It looks like I will be scouring the thrift stores. I was able to find a small "Wolfgang Puck" pan at value village, along with a nice set of sheets. I hope the pan proves to be an acceptable substitute. Having the wrangler as a moving vehicle means we can transfer only a couple of totes at a time to the storage shed. The Bearded one wants to get everything we own there, and then get a pickup and move from the storage unit to the house in one fell swoop. It's a good thing we don't have a lot to move. We want to be able to clear out enough so that the cottage can be shown and rented in a timely fashion, at least that's the plan. The one thing we have a lot of are books. Lots of them. No paperback novels, mostly how-to, self help, and gardening books all heavy. I'm finding that using shopping totes is working quite well. They are easy to transport with their sturdy handles.
Totes and baskets getting ready to be transported.
A little Art
A photo of miss Madelynn run through different "Alien skin" snap art filters
I enjoyed the bit of blue sky that peeked out today, however fleeting. I came across a couple of weeping pussy willows that had begun to pop. My new lawn has been christened with a "Wolbert's treatment". I will be documenting the before and after transformation. The lawn itself consists mostly of broad leaf weeds and moss. It was treated with fertilizer with a little extra iron for moss control. Today, with the sun break I was able to treat the broadleaf weeds in the lawn and the ornamental bed weeds and grass in the beds.
Already you can see the effect of the treatment... The moss will begin to turn black, and the grass will have the nutrients it need to fill in and become healthy. I will continue to update and document the progress. It's a little exciting. I know what a transformation our lawn program can make and it's great to be able to do a real time comparison. here is a shot of some of the weeds in the beds. I will document this also. Also make note of the "faux mulch" kind of like grated rubber. Stay tuned it will be miraculous I assure you.
A little Art...
I pulled this one from the archives... I'm ready for a seasonal change...
hostas and bluebells
Hmmm... Pause for Thought
A vintage spring... an awfully big egg for such a little peep...
I've been in a bit of a fog of late. Actually I've just been a little distracted. I think I'm just waiting for the light to finally turn green. I'm anticipating the change but can't actually go until the light really changes. So in the meantime though, there is a lot that I could be doing. Prep work. Organizing my little stash of stuff. Making lists of things that we will need and putting the "would likes" aside for a bit. Life is full of wonder. Whatever we need has a way of showing up right on time. And then there are all those "beyond what could be imagined" things that are sprinkled in. Had a great visit with my friend Sandy W. this afternoon. It's good to have someone to chuckle with about life's ups and downs, comparing trench notes as it were... a great wash of fresh air. Besides, I needed somebody to share my excitement with... The bearded one is the one who gets the brunt of all my planning and scheming. Bless his heart. He just smiles and ignores me. I'm so busy rattling on that I don't really notice so it's okay. There shall be family picnics and margaritas. We do have a blender. See I can't finish a sentence without going right back to the planning and dreaming. I think I shall burst...
A little Art...
It looks like a local hardware company is going to sponsor me in this year's spring Olympia Art walk. This is something that caught me by surprise. I've always been intrigued by the thought of putting some of my "stuff" out there but would never have gotten around to doing anything about it. Then it just so happens that someone knows someone and Wa Lah! It happened. Out of the blue. With out me lifting a finger. I am grateful for the opportunity, and now I get to figure out something to put out there. This is the cover of the Thurston County Direct sales Map That I've been working on.
Healthy Choices
We enjoyed a marvelous dinner last night with neighbors and friends which included fresh salad greens from Pat's Cloche, beets from her garden, lamb from her farm, potatoes from Melody's garden, and Costco's amazing little cream puffs for dessert. Paired with some lovely wine and good conversation it was a lovely time.
Hmmm... Pause for Thought
Eating Pat's fresh winter salad inspired me to look for great ways to have fresh veggies all year round.
We got the news today that the house we've been looking at is ours. They are holding it for us until march 15th, which is amazing. The Bearded one will have a garage for the v-star, I will have my hardwood floors, 2 1/2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms and a fenced in backyard that we will be able to landscape. It doesn't get any better than this. Funny it's in the development that went up right behind our old house. We will now have plenty of space for all the kidlets and biglets too!!! I've already got my order in for a "Wolbert's" lawn. It will be green, moss, and weed free in no time. This should be fun since we got rid of almost everything when we moved into this mostly furnished cottage. We will start out with a craftsman rocking chair with footstool, a butcher block cart, a pantry shelf and my really cool office chair.... oh, and a blow up bed. I did find a toaster at the goodwill, and a cool wicker hamper. We are well on our way to becoming townies once again.
A little bit of art...
A repeat, but the rain reminds me of mom and her umbrella.
Saint "Francis of Sissie" (daughter leslie bought him for me) and I have something in common. We have both been in the shade too long and have thus accumulated a green tinged coat of moss. We long for the sunshine and the smell of warming earth. I have noticed signs of spring around the cottage. The two clematis have fresh green sprouts as does the hydrangea off the patio. On the front steps the Hellebore is sporting some tight blooms... promising a profusion of blossoms to come. Hooray!
I love this time of year. This is the planning part of the season. The look at all the garden books and dream of lush green vignettes to enjoy a cup of tea served up in an english china cup part. Having graph paper in hand, moving plants around, adding trellises, pavers, and garden art, all with a number 2 pencil with eraser. Beckoning the ever patient "bearded one" to see in his mind's eye the magic world that I've put onto paper in the form of squiggles, circles and rectangles with the aid of my exuberant hand gestures to help him to better understand the perfection of placement and design. This is the best part. The no limitations part. I can dream as big as I can imagine. In three month's time when summer is quickly marching upon us, the realities of finances and logistics will become more than obvious, but that is then and right now I choose to revel in the possibilities.
Clematis bursting out...
A bit of Art
An old latch
Hmmm... Pause for Thought
Not really much thought needed here... just a cute animation about springtime on mars after earth's many failed probes... Ahhh spring is in the air.
Happy Friday... Personally I'm a little frazzled and frayed with all the changes going on. My focus is blurry, my thoughts are fairly random, and not necessarily interesting. Thus producing this teeny little post. My project 365 photo is an ornate gravestone that has been over-layed with ice from a puddle. I told you I was a little disjointed. My sister Sandy enjoys looking at old grave markers. She says that they tell of a life lived rather than a life lost. I think that's a great way of looking at things.
Transitions. Some easy, and some not so easy. I've grown to love our little cottage by the bay. The design, impeccable. Totally comfortable, peaceful and enchanted. Our landlord has been a gift and we've been able to share Bette the dog, loving her like our own. It has been a wonderful two years. It seems our lives go through seasons, just as in nature. Circumstances change, winter gives way to spring and so it goes. Nothing is ever static. We now have accumulated a gaggle of grandchildren, six of them which are five and under. It looks like we need to become a little more accessible and centrally located for the benefit of all. They grow up so fast. I will surely miss the dinners with exotic flavors, wine, and great conversation but will cherish the memories and remember that cloth napkins and candles are always appropriate between friends. Thanks Melody.
I have been passing this doorway with the mosaic trim for a couple of years always intending to get a photo. It just has never worked out. It's the Thurston county food bank and there is often a line at the door and or no available parking. Today after gassing up the company van it just seemed to be the right time. No one was there and there was a parking spot so that I could jump out and snap a photo or two. It's a new season.
A mosaic rainbow of sorts
Pause for thought...
This is the song one that my sisters, brother and I would sing together with great harmony according to our mom :-) Love you guys.
Came across this camellia today on the job. It was such a surprise and reminded me that spring will come. Eventually. These February Bloomers mark the beginning of the up and coming spring bloom season. Today turned out to be quite beautiful although a little chilly. Our area isn't really the best for camellias. Their edges quickly turn brown in the rain. Portland, Or is much better suited. They are quite proud of their blooms. Camellias prefer dappled shade and a lot of air circulation. If you can manage that and keep them out of the driving rain they will reward you with lovely rose like blooms. If you are interested in types and the cultivation there of go Here to Portland Nursery. I also came across these solar eggs in a wire nest. I'm getting the spring time gardening bug. I love garden art. Little surprises tucked here and there for a wanderer to happen upon. Look out garden centers here I come. I will have to go visit Sissie at the Efeste winery in Woodenville and use that as an excuse to go to to Molbaks a great place to find plants, garden decor, ideas, and even a nice lunch with a latte'.
Molbaks Woodinville, WA
Project 365
This photo should've been posted yesterday on valentine's day but I was other wise occupied. Big oops. My strawberry heart. Happy belated Valentine's day.
Strawberry Heart
Hmmm... Pause for Thought
In keeping with my Belated "heart" theme here's Neil young circa 1971 singing Heart of gold. After he finds his harmonica that is...
