Keeping With The Times

living, learning, and keeping with the times

The Doors of Barrio Viejo

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barrio viejo

This is one of the images I took while on our photo walk in the Barrio Viejo, Tucson. I liked how the green window frame and the green leaves on the tree had some of the same tones; almost neon. I also liked the way the tree was creating a frame across the top of the building and drawing the eye in.

I’m contemplating having this put on canvas and then hanging it in our little kitchen. The tiles on the counter are this same blue, with some rusts and greens and reds – sounds perfect! Hope I follow through!

I’m a bit out of the loop – I see TT is about love this week so here’s my nod to love…

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kk_seriousmagic on the top photo

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

 

Butterfly Wonderland, Arizona

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Last week I visited the Butterfly Wonderland in Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, with the “ladies”.

Whoa! I didn’t know where to start. There were hundreds of these beauties flitting around, landing anywhere they pleased, including on my head. They weren’t shy, that’s for sure.

At first I was using my 55-200mm lens but it didn’t take me long to figure out that all I needed was my 18-105mm, and at times, my 40mm f2.8.Butterfly Wonderland, AZ

I wanted to get this fella with his wings open, but that was near to impossible. It’s too bad because they were the most gorgeous bright blue, but every time it landed, it closed it’s wings. Still pretty, though!

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When we finished at the Butterfly house, we all went for lunch at Mimi’s and enjoyed about an hour and a half of eating and talking (pretty much nonstop). How fun! Just like we’ve known each other for years.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful Monday!

Just Playing With Poppies

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Good Saturday morning everyone! Hope this finds you well!

I’ve been playing around with my Nikkor 40mm f2.8 and was reading that with this particular lens, the best images are taken at least 6.4 inches away from your subject, and then on to portraits and landscapes.
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But then I captured this … I think I was about 1 inch away from this poppy.

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Perhaps it has to do with getting the best possible focus, and not taking into account artistic expression.

Lately I’ve been studying up on my camera and my lenses and its amazing how much more control I’ve gained over my photography. A quick push of a button and a turn of the command or sub-command dial and you can change ISO, exposure, metering, etc. You all probably know this, but I’m a slow learner, or at the very least, I’m slow to study up on my equipment.

Having said all this, I still end up deleting over half my images, mostly due to dreadful exposure or focus.

What’s one thing that you’ve learned, either about your camera or a lens that you’ve found helpful? What lens do you love the best? I’m dreaming about the Nikkor 18-300mm f 3.5 – 5.6 … dreaming, I said … .

LR Presets and Actions in Action!

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I took these shots around 4:30 in the afternoon when the sun is lower and the light is warmer. In the winter in my house, the sunshine pours in and splashes across entire rooms. It’s a real mood booster and I’m always expressing gratitude for it (even though it shows the dust … oh my … the dust …).

So that’s what I love about these shots – the warm sun and how it makes me feel.

Still Life Photography

Still Life Photography

Even though it’s Texture Tuesday, I didn’t use a texture. But don’t worry – I used Kim’s LR preset “kk_berrily”. I love this preset but it doesn’t work on everything – it tends to flatten colours and tones. I think it worked here because of the sunlight. Then I ran an action from Florabella called Warm Vintage which I’ve seriously become addicted to.

Have you ever run an action and then picked it apart to see how they do it? Well, the Warm Vintage action de-saturates, adds warm tones, adds a subtle bright haze, and then a warm bluish tone. Knowing that has led me to try writing some of my own actions – they don’t always turn out, but it’s a great way to learn.

Today I’m off to get my haircut! woo hoo, do I need a “do” or what! The dust will just have to wait!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Spring Fever in January

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Oh my, the sun is shining, it’s 8 degrees Celsius and I can hear water dripping off the roof. It’s January in Alberta and I have windows open, fans running, and the sun is pouring through the windows. Bliss.

This is not the photo I set out to take this morning. I had been carefully arranging tiny pine cones and clay pots and nothing was working when I turned around and saw this succulent sitting quietly (of course) in my window garden. What gloriousness! And there’s my rosemary in the background! I had hoped that that would survive at least until Christmas but it has outdone itself and is thriving.

I need to get to work, but I think I have spring fever so a little watering and re-potting of plants is in order. Then I’ll get to work … I promise …

Happy weekend everyone!

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

 

 

Texture Tuesday

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Texture Tuesday Pansy

What do I dream about? When I thought about it, I didn’t really have an answer so when I challenged myself to come up with one, my garden came to mind.

Yes, I dream about my garden. I miss being able to walk outside to pluck even the tiniest little bloom. I miss my potting bench (which was a simple dream of mine that came true), and I miss photographing flowers. I had to dig around my files this morning and I came up with this tiny pansy bouquet. Such a simple little thing and at the time, I don’t think I appreciated it as much as I do now.

What’s one simple thing you dream about?

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Vintage Blue with a Touch of Lemon

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I felt I needed a bit of colour this week and because I couldn’t find any flowers I liked, I bought some lovely Meyer lemons. I piled them into my big old glass cookie jar with the blue stripes and blue lid, and added one vintage blue mason jar in the background.

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What a bright spot in my otherwise white and grey wintry world. When I went back and looked over my last few posts I was struck by the lack of colour in them. Not a bad thing, just an observation … .

As I mentioned in my 14 in 2014, I’m trying to get a handle on LR. It’s really only the organizing part that I can’t (couldn’t) seem to grasp. But I decided to start over with a brand new catalog and simply go from there. I ‘m pleased to say that something has “clicked” and so far, so good. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

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Winter Residents

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A little stroll out into our back yard was just what I needed today. We had a quick break from the cold weather and I was able to go outside without freezing my fingers off!

The bird feeder was a hub of activity, with a woodpecker and dozens of chickadees flitting about so fast I could hardly get a shot. But what fun I had!Woodpecker-copy

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I see you …

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… hello …

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There’s lots of the white stuff, and there is more on the way …

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I’m hoping to get myself out of my January funk so I can write 3 posts that are brewing in my head. One is about my word for 2014, one is for the 14 in 2014 list that Kim Klassen suggested we do, and one is to report on how my battle with Lightroom is going … arghhh … .

Anyone else feeling blah?

Snowstorm

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Our world outside is grey and brown (and white). It’s no wonder that inside we light candles and put twinkly lights on trees.

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I was watching the news last night and contemplating how parts of the world are in so much turmoil, and how so many people are in desperate situations – and I mean desperate… there seems to be no hope…  it’s hard to comprehend.

I know, I’m being a downer and I’ll stop right here.

I just feel so grateful that my world is simply cold and grey and silent. I am warm, and well-fed, and safe… and so is my family.

Have a grateful Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Snowstorm courtesy of : kk_magicfilm2

Country Mouse, City Mouse

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This morning I’m sitting at the kitchen table at our house in the city. Yes, we do have two homes, so I’m a country mouse, and a city mouse.

The country mouse takes walks along roads where the dew on the grass sparkles like jewels.
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On one of my walks last week, we were chatting up a storm when I commented that is was so humid out… and just look at that dew on the grass…

As my voice faded away, I was struck with how I had just about missed this miracle.

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I couldn’t wait to get home and get my DSLR, and after everyone had left, I set about to capture some magic.

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I’m not sure if anyone saw me, but if they had, they probably would been alarmed to see that I was lying down, in the ditch, on top of soaking wet grass.

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I stayed there quite a long time, taking shot after shot, and marveling at the beauty that surrounds me, and again, how photography has opened my eyes to so many things that might have gone unnoticed before.

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But, today I am a city mouse and must use this time to catch up with all the cleaning, and washing, and other tasks that having two houses entails. But I do not let an opportunity of any kind get past me. As I look out my window, I am aware that the city holds many marvels as well.

Such as City Hall. On the weekend, I happened to get a glance at the gardens there, and I made a mental note (actually I wrote it down) that I must get downtown with my camera – an opportunity awaits! But, first things first. I cannot wait to get to Chapter’s, to grab a latte, and to sit and watch people as they go about their everyday routines. Even though I am a country mouse first and foremost, I can certainly appreciate the city life, and everything that it offers.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

 

 

Nurture Photography – Gold

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Nurture Photography - Gold

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Nurture Photography - Gold

Nurture Photography - Gold

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We managed to get a couple of hours out on the lake yesterday; the sun was shining and it was quite warm, but there were dark, menacing clouds lurking around the edges. So when we went up to the house around 5:00, and the thunder and lightning started, I despaired of finding my golden hour photos for the Nurture Photography Challenge.

Around 8:00 I felt so chilly I had to go have a hot bath, and thought I’d settle in for the night. But suddenly, through the trees, I noticed some beautiful light hitting the lake. Now was my chance! I grabbed my camera, and decided to go with whatever lens was on it (40mm f2.8). I wasn’t sure if it would work out, but I had no time to fool around.

For 15 minutes I stood on the dock (in my pj’s) and snapped away. I was quite surprised to see a bit of a rainbow… how fortuitous!

for·tu·i·tous

Adjective: Happening by accident or chance rather than design. Happening by a lucky chance; fortunate.

Synonyms accidental – random – incidental – casual – chance

Why fortuitous? Well, when our family gets together, we quite often use words that are a bit out of the ordinary… it may sound like we are being snobs, but we all understand that it’s for fun, and simply emphasizes how much we appreciate life. I also like to use the quote function in WordPress.

I’m doing pretty well with all my tutorials, classes, projects, and challenges so far. But I have to tell you, I work hard on them every day… and sometimes, all day…

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Nurture Photogaphy: Gold

 

One Thing Leads to Another

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My Friday Find for this week is a roll of rustic cotton “ribbon”.

I was browsing around my favourite country store (shouldn’t have been there…) and spied it almost right away. It stirred something in me. Visions of days gone by flooded my mind. The crafty urge that lurks just below the surface of my being became overwhelming and I convinced myself that I would definitely be able to use it on something, someday. Isn’t it beautiful? Dreamy.DSC_3076

The first thing I did when I got home was rummage around in my (mountains) of scrapbooking supplies that are taking up way too much space in my basement. I looked for papers with similar colours and for some reason, envelopes and tags came to mind. I think because they are easy to make, and at least it would get me going.

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This then led me to my next project… a flower press. I used to have one, but alas, it made it’s way to Goodwill during one of my purging episodes. (More on that next week).

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So what about the ribbon? Have I used it? Most definitely.

 

 

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot Com

LR Preset kk_lettherebelight

My Big Outdoor Studio

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Day-1-Peonies
After watching Kim’s process from start to finish (class), I felt inspired to set up a “shoot”.
You remember the blue table I brought home the other day? Well, the location (on the lawn) works perfectly if the sun isn’t shining brightly. Today it’s very overcast and I saw my opportunity. The white chippy enamel top is a perfect backdrop… no cloths needed, and I’ve just realized that I have the whole great big outdoors as my studio.

I’ve gone back to shooting in RAW (I missed you RAW) but only for specific shoots. I don’t think that family fun on the lake needs to be shot that way since it’s just too hard to process the photos, so they never get shared.

I did some basic edits, crops, and then used the LR Preset kk_berrily. Then on into PS where I added one layer of kk_mary on soft light and brushed a bit off the flower.

Just for interest’s sake, here’s one of the shots I took. What a difference! You would never know that the image above was shot here. Amazing stuff.

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Heritage Hollyhock Dinner Plates

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texture tuesday kim klassen

When my Mom passed away, I inherited these lovely “Hollyhock” dinner plates made by Sovereign Pottery. I can’t remember which side of the family they first came from, my Mom’s or my Dad’s. It’s just one of many things I wish I had asked… well, I think I did ask, but I didn’t cement it into my head… same result…

I would guess that these plates would be at least 75 years old, perhaps older, and not one of them has a chip or a crack. Of course they are completely crazed, but I think it simply adds to the charm.

I processed this image in LR and used kk_berrily by Kim Klassen. I think it added just the right amount of light and warmth.

Linking up to Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Summer Breeze

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Which of these would be my find? Is it the gorgeous peonies? the white vase? the blue table?

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all of the above?

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makes me feel fine

sweet days of summer

the (peony’s) in bloom.

July is dressed up and playing her tune.

sorry, I just couldn’t help it… it popped into my head, and now it’s going to be there all day…

Yesterday, I dragged home a table … I didn’t go looking for it (specifically) but there it was, sitting in a corner, all chippy and blue. I just knew I needed it.

Images of tea parties on the lawn, a table laden with flowers, and books, and candles, and food, and great light, filled me with excitement. A Somerset Life. A dream of mine.

But as soon as it was tucked safely in the back of my vehicle, the doubt began. It wasn’t about the money so much as the “uh, oh… do I really need to add another piece of junque to my yard? Well, probably not … but there she is.

As soon as I set the bouquet of peonies on it, I felt reassured.

It’s a harmless pastime, this hunting for treasures, dreaming of photo shoots and trying to capture, express, and share something that’s in my mind’s eye. And honestly, I’m blessed and thankful to have “found” it at this time in my life.

I’m sharing this today over at “Friday Finds” at Kim Klassen dot com

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

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A phone call at 1:08 am is never good, right?

word art, free

I literally had a wake-up call. Not that I need one, because I am always grateful for everything that is good in my life, and grateful for each new day.

But last night I woke up, thinking I had heard the telephone. I’ve done that before, but it has always been a dream (a vivid dream, nonetheless). But just in case, I glanced over at the phone, and it was lit up… omg… it did ring…

It’s 1:08… omg…

Heart pounding furiously, I reached over and turned on the light. Then I leaped over the bed and grabbed the phone and looked at the display. It was my youngest daughter’s cell phone number. Sheer terror gripped my heart. I feel it even now, as I type this.

I grabbed my glasses from the night stand and in the process tipped over a small vase of flowers. I fell to my knees on the floor and hit #1, and then the “talk” button. An eternity passed before I heard her voice. It was small, and weak. Oh, god…

“Mom”, she said, I’m so sorry!, I just got out of bed and stepped on my phone and it dialed your number. I wasn’t sure if it went through, and I didn’t know what to do.

Absolute relief washed over me, and all I could think was “thankyou, thankyou, thankyou“.

After a brief chat, and laugh, we both went back to our beds.

I was a bit shaken up, but I just laid there and thought “thank you” over and over again, like a chant, or a meditation, and it wasn’t long until I drifted back to sleep. And when I woke up this morning, I said it again.

 

 

free word art

 

 

I created some word art to share with you. If you want to see more, check out the Word Art tab at the top of my blog.

All word art is a brush in .abr format, which can be used in both Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Simply click on the graphic above to download. If you have any questions/problems please ask them in the comment section so others can read them and perhaps find help too.

 

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_sybil, and a few LR adjustments

You Shouldn’t Eat Tacos for Lunch

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Tomato, Bocconcini, and Basil Salad

That’s what my inner voice tells me every time I do it. It says “don’t be so lazy, go and stock up on some fresh fruits and vegetables, and be thankful that you can.”

So, I listened, and this is what I had for lunch yesterday. I used fresh basil from my herb pot, isn’t it cute? I’ve never seen such tiny basil leaves, but let me tell you they are packed with flavour!

I feel quite inspired and vow to eat healthier this summer. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just thought out.

(Vintage) Friday Finds

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My “find” for this week would be a teaspoon.

I’m always on the hunt for vintage silverware, it’s so full of character and makes me think of farmhouses and family meals.  It makes me think of summer, and bridal showers, and other special occasions.

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But I also found the pretty white teacup at Value Village several years ago. I just loved the green and mauve design, and the slightly worn gold edges.Lilacs-Tea2

After I took all my photos, I sat and drank the lovely green tea and admired my garden. It’s doing ultra well this year. We’ve had a lot of rain and there’s more in the forecast.

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Have I mentioned that I love lilacs?

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And I love my garden.

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It’s pretty maintenance free, mostly perennials, with a few annuals sprinkled here and there. Right now the anemones are blooming their hearts out.

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It’s such a rush! Every day a different plant starts to flower. I can hardly keep up. It’s heavenly.

Lilacs can be Overwhelming

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lilacs, photography

We have a beautiful lilac bush in front of our house. It’s not big, but every year it produces a ton of flowers.

I adore lilacs. I love the colour and the sweet smell. What I don’t like, is that they only last about one and a half days as a cut flower.

So I guess that’s where a few (hundred) photographs come in handy. I have taken a ton of shots and this one… this one here, is the very last one I took. It also happens to be the only one I truly like. How does that even happen?

I’ve come to the conclusion that I am overwhelmed by their huge blossoms which turn into huge bouquets when I try to arrange them. Too much of a good thing, perhaps?

I vow to keep trying though, and I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

An Inspired Barnwood Potting Bench

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Yesterday I headed outside, fully intending to cut the grass.

Strangely, though, I found myself over by my new potting bench… it has become a magnet for me.

I think I’ve been dreaming about having a potting bench my whole life, and I’ll tell you how it came about. Last summer I wrote down in my journal that I would have one. Then I pinned a couple ideas, and voila…

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I’m a firm believer that if you write something down, there’s a better chance of it coming true. There are tons of books written about that theory but for the life of me I can’t remember where I read it first. I think it was Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach, or The Artists Way, by Julia Cameron.

Right now I’m reading The Secret, which of course teaches about the law of attraction. But I digress.

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So, early this spring I was at my favourite little country store which I frequent on a monthly basis. It’s there that I’ve been scooping up rustic, custom-made barnwood benches by the handful… I can’t resist them. Each one is so unique, with different colours of lichen clinging to them.

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Anyway, I simply asked the owner if the fellow who makes these benches would consider making a potting bench. She replied; not for the shop, but here’s his number. Hmmmm, I was expecting her to take an order or something. But I took it and ran.

After that it was just a series of fortunate events.

I called and asked this fellow if he would consider making one for me. He replied; well, I’ve never even thought of making a potting bench, but here’s what I think: it should be about 5 feet in height, 44-45 inches wide, with a 21 inch deep counter. Add a small shelf in the top part, and a large shelf on the bottom.

Ummm, well, OK (said I) as I crumpled up the little scrap of paper with all my measurements written on it … I could see there was no need to tell him what to do! But what would it cost me?

Well, this is just a hobby for me (said he) but I’d have to charge you $115.00…

… gasp… seriously people, I know of some places that would not charge any less than $250.00… I mean, this thing weighs a ton… and look at the colours of these fabulous lichens!

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… and it holds a lot of heavy pots, and gardening essentials…

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It was here that I created my little cottage garden/wildflower bouquet. Could there be anything more charming?

So if you are dreaming of a potting bench, or anything else for that matter, I would advise you to get out your journal, or even just a scrap of paper and write it down.

I feel so inspired.

Oh, and yes, I did cut the grass.

Take a Look at This Real Estate, Honey!

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As I was working in my flower beds, I heard a bird singing far back in the trees. I thought it must be an oriole, or a rosy breasted grosbeak because it had such a BIG voice.

But suddenly, this tiny little wren appeared on a branch nearby and proceeded to belt it out in a BIG way!Wren

At first I thought it was scolding me (how self-centred are we humans…). But then I noticed another wren flitting around in the background.

Ahhh, Mr. Big Voice was showing his potential mate the house that he had found for her . . .

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He went in and out, and in and out, all the while singing and chirping.

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Miss Potential Mate finally did come and take a look. At that point, I left the scene so as not to ruin the chances that the two of them would feel safe enough to make this their home.

I really hope they do, they are a joy to have around. So cheerful and bright.

Today I’ll be working around close by, in my flower beds, and at my potting bench, and I’d feel really blessed to have their company.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

 

In My Own Back Yard

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I took at least 50 photos yesterday, and deleted about 40. I don’t usually have such a poor outcome… but nature, light breezes, and sprinkles of rain can play havoc on a scene.

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I did manage to get three insects, which made me happy! Two were taken with my 40mm fixed lens.

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This Hemaris Thysbe paid me a visit when I was trying to photograph some lilacs. Well, I failed miserably on the lilacs, but Mr. HT saved the day.

hemaris thysbe, hummingbird moth

And, one of my favourite flowers, the anemone is in bloom. It’s sort of taking over the garden, and that’s fine with me.

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Thank you for stopping by, and here’s to a productive day for all!

Texture Tuesday, and Positive Thoughts

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Yesterday morning as I was sitting at the computer, I started to feel so uncomfortable. I had the windows open and I could hear the birds singing; the sun was shining and there wasn’t a breath of wind.

It became quite clear that I couldn’t stay inside.
wild strawberry, photoshop, texture, kim klassen texture tuesday

I quickly changed into my work clothes, set my camera by the back door (to grab at a moment’s notice), and sprayed myself with OFF from head to toe… the mosquitoes here are brutal. In fact, there had been one buzzing around my head before I even got out of bed. Gah! I hate that! I managed to fend it off for quite a while, but it eventually got me. I know that because I woke up later with an itchy hand.

Anyway, I spent the morning weeding and fluffing up my flower beds. It always amazes me at how fast the plants grow once they get going, and there are tiny little miracles sprouting and blooming everywhere I look.

I potted up my spicy little herb garden that now sits happily on the deck, and dug up a wild strawberry because it was so cute.

A Hemaris Thysbe, and a Canadian Swallowtail Butterfly were buzzing around. They are here because the lilacs are blooming, and I knew it was only a matter of time before these two creatures would grace our yard.

It was a beautiful morning and I am very thankful for all the good things in my life. As most of you know, Kim Klassen is going through a hard time after learning that her husband has leukemia. He is now in a hospital receiving treatment. The doctors have said they caught it early and he should make a full recovery. In the meantime, I’m sure Kim could use our positive thoughts.

For my image, I used kk_teatime from the “minimay” set.

Black and White with a Touch of Colour

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kim klassen, texture tuesday, black and white photography, adobe photoshop, cs6, liightroom

My favourite day! Texture Tuesday!! Today everyone voted on a subject and Black and White with a Touch of Colour was the winner.

I’m “grandparenting” this week, so I’m at my daughter’s home. As I lay in bed this morning (briefly, I might add, since little ones were soon joining me), I kept looking at this North-facing window with the white curtains. Creative thoughts started to flow.

After breakfast, when the two oldest were off to school, and the 3 year old had had breakfast, my mind turned to TT.

I thought about the lovely sedum that I got for Mother’s Day and went around the house looking for props. A lovely pot, a white table, and an off-white ball seemed to be the perfect combination. It’s a simple scene but that’s what works for me.

Even though there are technically four items, I see three, since the plant and the pot become one. And odd numbers are always a safe bet when designing anything.

I used a technique that Kim taught us using gradients to reveal some colour in the plant. Then I brushed away some of the gradient on the ball to reveal a slight, slight, bit of green to support the theme.

Lastly, one layer of kk_3003 on soft light was the final touch.

I’m totally crushing on this… it’s amazing what a fresh perspective can do.

Well, I gotta go! It’s time to play Hungry Hippo!

 

 

 Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com.

Beyond Inspiration – Day 14

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kim klassen, beyond, b2b, texture

The lesson in B2B for Day 14 (or should I say one of the lessons) was on how to stretch your canvas and add words to the side of your image.

I have to say that I really like this format. I had a bit of trouble coming up with a good quote but mostly I didn’t sweat it.

When I saw this little spray of flowers at Safeway, my heart jumped. Such a tiny thing. Surrounded by dozens of colourful roses for Mother’s Day, and I pick these.

I adore them. And I adore the potting bench they are sitting on. I’m afraid you are going to be seeing a lot of that bench this summer. I’ll tell you all about it later… I must get to work on my dinner party. EEK, what am I doing sitting here??!!

Have a wonderful, amazing Mother’s Day weekend, everyone!

 

kk_3003 (my newest absolutely favourite texture) by Kim Klassen

 

Willow Catkins and the Art of Avoidance

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Today I woke up early, enjoyed my coffee, checked e-mails, poked around some blogs, primped my own blog, ate French toast for breakfast, and had a nap.

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I walked down to the lake’s edge and sat and listened to the birds. Geese, ducks, seagulls, and loons. It’s a regular cacaphony of hoots, cackles, and wails (got that from the dictionary).

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I admired the willow catkins that seem to glow in the sunlight. Then of course I had to pick a few which I spent an hour arranging and photographing.

Which brings me to the question “when am I going to start preparing for that dinner party for 8 that we’re hosting on Saturday?” Egad. I truly wish I could walk into the sunset and leave that one behind. But I cannot. Tomorrow I start.

Goldfield Ghost Town and Superstition Mountains

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Our first stop before we headed off into the wilderness of the Apache Trail was Goldfield Ghost Town. The engineer of our little tour train tipped us off that this was THE Kodak moment. I have to admit, I didn’t see it coming. But there it was, the little town backed by the Superstition Mountains.

I spent over an hour editing this shot in Lightroom. I cropped it, adjusted the white balance, and applied several presets: sharpening, punch, and a vignette. It’s not perfect, I think the sky is blown out but I decided to leave that lesson for another day.

Here it is with the ‘Aged Photo’ preset applied. Kinda cool! I have a feeling I’m going to be acquiring several thousand Lightroom presets in the near future.

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Confession: I made a slight edit in CS6

Driving the Apache Trail is a story in itself. It’s an incredible drive and I’m glad to be alive.

My struggles with Lightroom

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When I signed up for Kim’s first ‘Round Trip’ class – the one which started about the first week in September – it was because I was intrigued. I had heard so much about Lightroom – I had to know what the fuss was about. Plus – anything that Kim is so excited about – well, so am I! ;)

However – the first thing I came across was Lightroom’s organization system… aaaccckkkk… it reminded me of Photoshop Elements Organizer which I disliked with a passion. When I upgraded to CS6 I was elated with Bridge-now there’s a system I understand. Good riddance to Organizer.

But, I decided I was going to give it a chance – I began to let Lightroom suck all my new photos into its puzzling and mystifying file structure. Like Kim says ‘Deep Breaths’.

It wasn’t long until I began to falter. I had signed up for too many classes at once and my scrapping duties were taking a toll. I ended up letting Lightroom go. But in the back of my mind I kept thinking ‘I’m quite sure I can do this’. So when Kim announced she was offering a three month extension on the class, I immediately decided to take it.

Fast forward to November… I’ve worked up to Day 5 of the class. Things aren’t going too badly! I have stuck with the organization system. I’m entering keywords. I edited some photos. I took one into Photoshop and then back to Lightroom and then back to Photoshop and then back to Lightroom! Hey, this is cool! Say wha????

I’m getting more enthusiastic. I think it is going to be OK.

Kim is an endless source of inspiration to me. You all know what I’m talkin’ about here, don’t you. I now know that I’m going to get through this class and probably even become a big fan of Lightroom. I still have so much to learn but I’m making progress.

The photo I posted today is a result of LR and PS together. As well as some mad photog skills (he he). I made quite a few adjustments and removed some sun flares that I didn’t like – they vanished like magic using the Spot Removal Tool. Thank you, Kim! Thank you!

I’m not quite sure of the quote – don’t cacti stand still? Oh well, for some reason I thought it worked. Cacti are strong, tough, and resilient. And I would say they don’t give up easily either.

If you’re still reading – thanks to you too!

Font for quote is DJB CONSTANCE BEAUREGARD by Darcy Baldwin (it reminds me of a cactus).

I’m linking up to Texture Tuesday – the ‘anything goes eDition’.