Temperate Tuesday

Before and After

This photo was taken a couple of years ago and shows my niece lyric playing with one of the young turkeys.

I've used a different treatment on this one. I was going for a more vintage, nostalgic look. I wanted to make it a picture that you could enjoy no matter how much time has gone by.
Heads up. I seem to be in a paper texture mood this evening, I seem to be putting it everywhere.

Cottage Life
The Landlady has an amazing garden. It's huge. There is only one of her. She plants enough to feed the neighborhood. She does all the work from starting the seeds in the greenhouse, to adding the compost to her french style mounded beds, waiting for the right moment to set out the plants and then she runs her drip irrigation system throughout. We her humble tenants get to partake of the bounty. One of her favorites is kale. In fact she always plants several varieties. We've come to embrace it saute'd in butter with bacon, garlic and onion. Oh and a few pine nuts sprinkled in.

The "Bearded One" gathering some fresh veggies.

And now for a little "Food Porn"

Tonight's Dinner

Speaking of Food...

Healthy Choices

As promised yesterday's food and gym journal. Please feel free to skip this part. I won't notice.

Hmmm... Pause for thought

It is a well-documented fact that guys will not ask for directions. This is a biological thing. This is why it takes several million sperm cells... to locate a female egg, despite the fact that the egg is, relative to them, the size of Wisconsin.
Dave Barry

Manic Monday

 

Cottage Life

I work outside. All year. Sometimes that can be good, sometimes not so good. Today was spectacular. The weekend's rain had washed and renewed the landscapes I visited and at one in particular it gave me glistening diamonds.

It was absolutely amazing.

Everywhere I turned there were sparkling droplets.

This Alberta Spruce in spite of  having some obvious health issues, was decorated from top to bottom.

Before and After

Healthy Choices

Introducing... Chub Cam

I will be posting a snapshot of my pudgy face every week along with my food and gym journal. The plan is to be able to see some progress as time goes by. It is supposed to be an incentive for me to pay attention and "stick to the plan" It seems the older I get the less committed I am. Anyway There should be over time a visible difference. If not I will resort to photoshop... ;-) I will be posting today's journal tomorrow... Just in case I get a hankering for something to nibble this evening. (just kidding, I'll be good.)

 

Hmmm... Pause for thought.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Bill Cosby

 

Sopping Wet Sunday

Cottage Life

Well yesterday I was somewhat enamored with the pitter patter of a gentle rain. However now that it has decided to continue non stop, the once lilting sound is no longer soothing. On the plus side though, with all the rain,  the skylights are now losing some of their summer dust and pollen accumulation.  Now we will be able to "see" the dreariness unimpaired. Okay on with the post...

Before and After

The Grandkids Before...

The Grandkids After...

I think it adds a bit of punch and shows their expressions. Makes it a just a little more fun.
I'm adding some fun shots. Just because.
I think this one should be Sandy's Face Book avatar...

There's something familiar about this hair. (Names are being withheld to protect the innocent...)

They must all be related some how.
And then there's...

The manly "woodsman" cover boy for John Deere.

Billy Ray Cyrus has nothing on you little Bro. You make your sisters proud...

Healthy Choices

As you can see I forgot the plan... how embarrassing. Oh well, I finished of the gluten free cinnamon raisin bread today so I can try to be a little better focused and stick with complex carbs, vegetables and protein.

Hmmm... Pause for thought

"Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it's not to be; that for the rest of our sad, wretched pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing."  -Seinfield

OH Yeah Baby!!! Click Here

Rainy Saturday in the NW

Before and After

I'm having a lot of fun playing with your photos... Keep them coming. I like the practice.

Did you know that if you save your "art" as a PDF file,  put it on a jump drive,  take it to FEDEX (used to be KInkos), and ask them to print it on 11x17 card stock that it will only cost you about $3. The colors might vary a little bit between printers but they usually turn out quite marvelous.

 

Robin sent this one she took in Germany. It was a fairly small file so in order to enlarge it a bit I went a little more artsy. That helps hide the pixels that really begin to show when you make things bigger for printing.

Here are a couple of different takes...

Pretty colorful and artsy with a paper texture added. More visible at 100%

 

And this one... a little brighter. Here is the original file that has had a little boost and additional sharpening added.

 

Here's another one from Lorali... I really like doing people shots, especially kids. The "Painted" details really show up when printed at 100%

The Before

The After

 

Cottage Life

It's raining here...

It's kind of nice. It helps make the transition between Summer and Fall a little more tangible, preparing us mentally for the forth -coming dismal season. Actually I'm all about dismal... I love schlumpy-dumping around in comfy baggy sweaters and floppy wool socks. You can move slower when the weather gets cooler. You can check off a lot of the outside things that you didn't get around to finishing and put them on next spring's to do list. All the container plants that you forgot to water are naturally dying back anyway so you don't have to feel guilty for neglecting them. As for those of you..(and you know who you are) who are basking on the Florida beaches and enjoying the Arizona sunshine, send me a ticket come mid-winter... Auntie's coming for a visit.

Healthy Choices

I intend to start a food journal. I will be posting the previous days triumphs and tragedies. I will also log the times that I actually show up at 24 hr fitness. This will be just to keep me on my toes and somewhat accountable.  This way eldest daughter will be able to ferret out any hidden gluten that might be lurking in my menus. I will just use the scanner to copy and paste the original in this space. Exciting stuff I know.

Hmm... Pause for Thought

The Tao of Pooh

"While Eeyore frets ...
... and Piglet hesitates
... and Rabbit calculates
... and Owl pontificates
...Pooh just is."

 

Friday... Whooty Whoo!

Before and After

As promised here is another one of Lorali's Pictures. This is a photo of her brother Rocky's Dogs. Animals have great expressions that translate well into "Rockwell" Style.

Here is the before.

A great shot to begin with. I've cropped it just to bring more focus on their eager faces. I think the post processing just seems to animate the picture bringing it to life. What do you think? All comments, critiques, and suggestions always welcome.

And here is an over the top version. with lots of warm color.

 

More next time. Thanks everyone for sending your Photos! keep them coming.

Cottage Living

It can be pretty quiet here on the bay. We don't get cable TV and our internet isn't fast enough to watch shows on hulu. If the silence gets to be too quiet, the "Bearded One" will occasionally start reading aloud. He likes to read aloud. In fact if he's not reading aloud, his lips are still moving. I am his audience. If I'm not home the neighbor's dog Bette can sometimes be persuaded with a dog biscuit to sit and listen for a spell... This weekend they are predicting a little rain. It will be good to hole in, drag out the sweaters and get ready for fall's arrival. Oh and candles. Spicy pumpkin, cinnamon apple, and sugar cookie candles... gluten free of course.

Healthy Choices

Leslie Forwarded me a great post today dealing with "Gluten free" Click here for the original link . It looks like an informative site. Thank's sis! I'm sure I will have to back off the carbs to feel better. One step at a time. Besides I have a delicious gluten free raisin-cinnamon loaf to finish off.

Nate's News

See what Nathaniel in Arizona is up to...

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

Quotes from 'The Tao of Pooh'

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.

A Plethera of Autumn Goodness

 

Spotted This Lovely "Squash Yellow" Volkswagen while working today. Brings back great memories. Remember the Volkswagen Repair for Idiots handbook?

 

Webcam 101 for Seniors

Check out this little video ... Love it love it. These are my kinda peoples!

This old couple looks familiar....

Before and After

Face book friend and former school chum Lorali answered my call for photos that I could play with using one of the "Art du' jour" techniques that I've been working on for post processing. She sent me some great ones. The first one is entitled "Rust in Piece".

I've included a closeup of detail when viewed at a larger scale.

Thanks Lorali!!! I will be posting the others in the next couple of days. Looking forward to some more volunteers. Any comments, critiques, and suggestions more than welcome.

Cottage Life

I did it. I at least got started anyway.

It's Official. Fall can now begin... It's a weighty responsibility when all of life revolves around oneself.

Healthy Choices

Trying to get through the gluteny (not gluttony, although that probably pertains too...) world that surrounds me can be a bit of a challenge. Had I packed a lunch it would have been easier. I managed to get through the day unscathed however and had a nice salmon dinner with sweet potatoes and a broccoli salad.

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

Beetle Bailey

Beginning The "Before and After" Series

I'm launching a project where I am trying to perfect what I like to call my "Norman Rockwell Americana" treatment. I'm looking for photos that I can use to show how regular "snap shots" can become great art and tell a story. This treatment works really well with expressive people shots as well as old cars. If you or some one you know has a shot that you'd like transformed send me the file. It needs to be a fairly High res image (most digital cameras can produce this). Just email me the file and give me permission to show the before and after here and I will send you back a high res printable file. Holiday shots for example including the turkey dinner perhaps would be great. and when we're done you will have a great christmas card pic or poster. The sky's the limit.

Notice how all the clutter in the photo adds to the texture. If you look at it at 100% you'll see a 1940's painterly quality. This really helps to bring out expressions. So pass the word. Lets make some "Art"  rlperdueimages@gmail.com

Here's another example. An old vintage car we saw in Astoria.

She really shines when "done up".

Cottage Life

Okay so I've been fiddling around with photos so my pots outside are still full of "summer dreary". This is embarrassing. I could leap up from my desk, toss around a faux pumpkin or two, snap a picture and go "TA DAH!!... Yeah I could, but it's not gonna happen. Maybe if I hadn't over done it with the home made tortillas... which brings me to...

Healthy choices

Gluten free day ten. Yes I will be going for a lot lower carbs as I get into this routine but right now I need the crutch. Made it to the gym. I swear the weights are getting heavier each time I go. I fully intend to make my life easier by planning ahead and packing my lunch and my clothes up the night before so that on gym day I'm not feeling so behind. So far my intentions haven't moved into the state of reality. The "bearded one" has been watching "Kris Gethin" videos that Karl has been working out with. Kris uses his stairs for cardio... the fact that "we" had stairs was pointed out to me enthusiastically by said "Bearded One". I reminded him that I am made quite aware of that fact several times in the middle of the night. I'll work up to it. really I will

Hmmm... Pause for thought

When told the reason for Daylight Saving time the old Indian said, "Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket."  ~Author Unknown