Keeping With The Times

living, learning, and keeping with the times

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.

meyer lemons

myer-lemons1-copy

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

kk_trace

Feather Light Find and 14 in 2014

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We’ve been having some crazy snowy weather (again) and it’s a bit difficult to get around our country roads. A couple of days ago we were on our way home from “town” and we witnessed a car slide into the ditch. It happened close to an approach so thankfully the driver was able to navigate safely back onto the road *whew*!

So I’m sticking close to home. Trouble is, its even hard to walk around our back yard and when I went out I wasn’t feeling too inspired. But then I spied this little cluster of feathers sitting lightly on the snow. How delicate! The tips are white and a bit hard to see here, but this cluster almost fills the whole frame.

feather light

feather light

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Things are looking up, I finally wrote my list of 14 in 2014. As I was writing it, I became more aware, and more thankful that I already have so much; which is why it was hard to come up with 14 things!

  1. A lot less pressure and angst when it comes to writing Photoshop tutorials for Digital Scrapper. This is THE biggest thing for me this year. I don’t have a complete plan on how I’m going to accomplish this, but I think it has to do with the WORD that keeps popping into my head … .
  2. Write tutorials and share them here (completely separate from DS, and not always Photoshop either).
  3. Take the photographers tour of Antelope Canyon in AZ. The canyon is beyond breathtaking … .
  4. Make something artsy with real paper. Just one thing (to start).
  5. Sponsored posts.
  6. Improve my photography. Take a class in a real live classroom.
  7. Get a @!#+*&%* handle on Lightroom (I’ll have a whole post on that one).
  8. Print some of my photos/art and display it.
  9. Evenings with no TV and no internet.
  10. Reading. Good books.
  11. Meet an on-line friend IRL. You know, one of those people who “get me”?
  12. Improve my writing skills.
  13. A storage room that I can walk into.
  14. Growth of my blog.

Here’s to another lovely winter day and countless photo opportunities. It’s so strange, I didn’t notice the flag until I posted this photo. It’s cool how the fence drew my eye right to it.winter-day_0065-copy

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

Woodpecker1-copy

I see you …

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… hello …

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Chickadee-copy

Chickadee1-copy

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

Snowy-Tree-copy

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?

I’m Working On It

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Yesterday I spent a lot of time trying to write a post about my word for 2014 and I could not get it done.

I think I know what’s standing in my way, and it’s the fact that I first need to write about my word for 2013 and how it all went down. I may never post it – but I need to get it out of my system.

Let-Yourself-be-Drawn

My word for last year was WORK and it served me well. I had made a commitment and I worked hard all year to fulfill it. Now I’m looking back and reassessing, trying to decide how to approach it this year. I really need to think … .

So today, I decided to simply join in with my friends at Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com. Kim has suggested we write out a list of 14 things we want to see happen in 2014. That feels like less pressure to me, not so precise, and perhaps it will help me think more clearly. Until then … have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve everyone!!

Textures:

kk_desert

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.

Shed-in-Winter

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

Turn an Antique Grater into a Flower Vase

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When I saw a rusty old grater at my favourite junque store, it didn’t take me but two seconds to scoop it up and tuck it under my arm. If anyone else was looking at it, they were going to have to fight me for it…

The tag suggested that it could be used as a candle holder, and yes, that would work, but I had other plans. The globe thistles (echinops) that I had harvested from my garden and were drying in our basement were crying out for a home.
antique, flower vase, echinops, barb brookbank, keeping with the times

I knew instinctively that the rustic style and greyish tones would be the perfect complement to these quirky, spiky flowers.

Antique-Grater

I was quite surprised at the top of it. What would this grid have been used for?

antique grater, flower vase, barb brookbank, keeping with the times

Well, no matter. I saw the perfect flower frog! What a treasure!!

I donned my (thickest) garden gloves, stripped away most of the very prickly leaves, trimmed the stems, and stuck them into the grid. I put the tallest stems in the middle, and the shorter ones at the edges. Piece of cake.

I love it when a project comes together so easily. I couldn’t wait to post until Friday so here it is today…

Have a wonderful Thursday! and see you tomorrow!

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors

Direction

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Trust what you know;

have faith in where you go;

if there’s no wind, row;

or go with the flow.barb brookbank, texture, photoshop, cs6, texture tuesday, kim klassen

I really like this quote by Ed Parrish III (when I tried to find our more about him, I came up with nada… sorry). I think it’s all about following your instincts, doing what feels right, and then if it isn’t working, trying something else.

I had fun with this one, so I  thought I’d reveal the original photo. Yep, that’s my bathtub… there’s some pretty awesome light coming through the opaque window we have there. If I was building a studio, I’d have one whole wall made of this glass.

As you can see, the crop is pretty substantial (good thing my camera has 24 Megapixels to work with). However, that crack in the table kept bothering me until I lined it up from corner to corner – then it clicked! After that I made a curves adjustment and duplicated it until I was happy with the light. Then I added 2 layers of kk_0411, one on soft light, and one on color.

Daisy-Diagonal-Original

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Thank you to Kim, for the new free texture this week.

Simply Sunday

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barb brookbank, waffles, keeping with the times

Guess what time I crawled out of bed this morning? It was almost 10:30… you see, we had a bit of a late night last night.

Our 3 hour flight from Arizona left around 9:20 pm and we landed around 12:30 am. As we stepped out into the icy blast of a minus 14 degree Celcius night, all we could do was look at each other, no words were spoken.

We grabbed a shuttle to get our car and as hubby was cleaning off the ice and snow, he scraped his hand on the ice. Ugly. Oh, and did I mention that I fell as I was leaving the airport? That was a tad embarrassing.

Anyway, we made it home safely and crawled into bed at 2:00 am – totally grateful for our big soft bed, comforter, and pillows.

It’s amazing what a good nights sleep will do, because we both woke up feeling pretty good about being home. The sun was shining, the snow was sparkling, and it was Sunday. Yay!

I made coffee, hubby made waffles, and in honour of all his hard work, I decided to post his recipe. They are delish! Hearty, crispy, and decadent.

Print
Simply Sunday Waffles
 
I'm not saying these are good for you... well, maybe good for the soul...
Ingredients
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat waffle iron.
  2. Beat eggs in large bowl with hand beater until fluffy.
  3. Beat in flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla.
  4. Lightly grease preheated waffle iron.
  5. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron, and cook until golden brown.
Notes
Recipe from "allrecipes"

It says you can keep the batter covered in the fridge for up to one week, making sure to whisk well before using.

.

Boyce Arboretum, AZ

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For the past week we’ve been spending some time at our little get-away in Arizona. It’s very relaxing here; we eat, we sleep, we tour around a bit, hubby golfs, I play with my camera.

On Friday we visited the beautiful 323 acre Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior. We spent over two hours exploring the desert and all the amazing plants and creatures that call it home.

I don’t know what this plant is, but it was a magnet to butterflies – there were dozens of them flitting around it and I was pretty lucky to capture three of them sitting still for a moment. I think they’re monarchs… but please correct me if I’m wrong! Did you notice the bees?

Update! TexWisGirl said she thinks these are Queen butterflies and I believe she is correct. Upon closer inspection, not only are these darker but they also have some spots on their bodies which I do not see in a Monarch. Thank you TexWisGirl!

barb brookbank, butterfly, photography, photoshop

It turned out to be quite the nice little hike (where some of us hid in the shade every chance we got).

Boyce-Arboretum

Beautiful cactus, beautiful light…

Barrel-Cactus

Have a wonderful Sunday!

What’s Inspiring You?

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barb brookbank, photoshop, photography, textureThat’s the question Kim is asking today at Friday Finds.

I can answer that one quite quickly; flowers.

Oh, and autumn, and spring, and summer, and winter.

My DSLR, my iPhone camera, Photoshop, and Lightroom.

Blogging, reading blogs, other people’s work, and lately, Flickr.

Books, catalogues, magazines, and manuals.

My creative “spidy senses” are always on high alert (sometimes I wish they weren’t). Good golly, can I not just watch a sunrise without rushing to grab my camera? Yesterday as I was grocery shopping, I picked up a fennel bulb. Hubby asked what I was going to do with it, and I said, well it has a wonderful licorice flavour, but… I think I want to photograph it… hmmmm… (that gave us both a good laugh).

So what about you? What is inspiring you? Head over to Kim Klassen dot com to check out some great “Friday Finds”. That’s a great place to find inspiration, I can assure you!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Autumn 2013 Recap and a Free Template

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I’m offering a free template to use with your autumn photos! Please enjoy … for personal use only!

It’s a *fully layered psd template, compatible with Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

As October draws to a close, most of my autumn photo opportunities are over. Our “show” starts early, and ends early.

This year I was particularly inspired because our weather was warm, dry, and calm, which resulted in some spectacular colours. I also had a my new D7100 to play with, and oh, does it ever do bokeh well! I’m excited for (then next season) and another chance to rock the bokeh!
barb brookbank, free template, adobe photoshop,

 

I made up a template to showcase some of my favourite shots, and you can get it here for free!

It’s a *fully layered psd template, compatible with Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

 

 

barb brookbank, free template, adobe photoshop,

bb_9 photo template

*For personal use only

Happy Halloween!!

5 Reasons Why This Still Life Works For Me

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vintage, barb brookbank, kim klassen, friday finds, texture, photography

On my last post I wrote about how I sometimes don’t like what I see when I’m shooting a still life. A lot of you told me that you also struggle with that self-doubt, and I appreciate your encouraging comments. I guess we just have to accept that we are not going to love every single thing we create. But the key is to keep creating. Show up every day, do the work, and then share it (or not)!

When I came across this chippy enamel spoon in my favourite junque store, I was instantly transported back to my childhood. I saw my mom standing at the kitchen counter making supper for 6 hungry kids, and memories of how it felt to come home to the smells of bread baking, and some kind of hearty meal simmering on the stove washed over me. There was no doubt that that spoon was coming home with me.

As I was looking at this little scene, I knew I loved it, so I sat there and wrote down every reason I could think of as to why I loved it. I was creative BIGstorming; a technique I learned at my blogging convention. Then I spent about half an hour on this shoot, focusing on the top 5 things on my list.

So here are 5 reasons why I like this vignette:

  • It’s simple.
  • It makes me feel something.
  • Late autumn sunlight is streaming onto the table, and I love late autumn light.
  • The spoon is resting on mom’s cookbooks, and that feels right.
  • The close details of the rustic edge of the spoon, and the soft worn cover on the cookbook, are comforting.

So, although there was really nothing wrong with my previous still life, I guess I just wasn’t feeling it. It may have been my mood that day, or perhaps I was in a rush to just get something. No matter what though, it was totally worth the effort and I’ll continue to show up and do the work. You never know what will come of it.

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

Gorgeous Gourds

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barb brookbank, autumn, kim klassen, texture tuesday

I’m still getting mileage from these quirky little white gourds that I found while visiting our favourite market garden. I first used them in my Autumn Tablescape, and since then I’ve had them lined up on my kitchen table along with two sedum bouquets. Every day the sun pours in on the little vignette and the scene warms my heart.

autumn, barb brookbank, kim klassen, texture tuesday

Yesterday I took them outside and played around, trying different combinations of props, different camera settings, and different backgrounds.

Sometimes I think my creations look forced. Do you ever feel that way about your own work? That self-doubt creeps in… next thing you know, you’re paralyzed, and you can’t get anything out. Happens to me all the time… but I fight it, which is why I managed to get this posted for Texture Tuesday – although I’m quite late to the party.

Kim is giving away a copy of “What Katie Ate”. I would sure like to win that – wouldn’t you? Head on over to Texture Tuesday for some eye-candy and a chance to win that book!

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_3003

Autumn Photography

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adobe, photoshop, barb brookbank, autumn, nurture photography, friday finds, kim klassen

This tenacious little Amur Maple sits at one corner of our house, underneath a window.

Two years ago, it got so big and unwieldy that I cut it right to the ground. I did say sorry while I was doing it though…

It must have forgiven me, because it has come right back and its beautiful fiery orange, red, and yellow leaves are gracing our yard once again.

barb brookbank, autumn, nurture photography, friday finds, kim klassen

Just one of those perfect autumn moments…

Orange-Fiery-Still-Life

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

Autumn Yellows, Going, Going…

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Yesterday, as I was driving back to my country home, I stopped for a coffee at Tim Hortons. The sun was up, but still low on the horizon and it made these poplars glow.Poplar-Trunk-Leaves

Our autumn displays are fast coming to a close. Most trees have lost their leaves and the landscape is starting to look a bit bleak.

Poplar-Leaves

Hard to believe when you see this, right?

Poplar-Leaves1

But it’s true, and I’m soon going to have to see the beauty in stark bare branches. And beauty is everywhere, you just have to see it, right?

I’m Thankful

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autumn

We celebrated Thanksgiving this weekend. Our oldest daughter and our son-in-law hosted the whole shebang. Wow! What a feast they prepared, from home-made bread, several different types of vegetables, to a delicious turkey. Oh and the dessert… oh my… pumpkin pie, and pecan pie…

All I can say is that I am thankful; for my family, my friends, and my life. As I write this, I have Kim Klassen’s husband on my mind (as well as Kim and her boys, of course). Yesterday was their 24th wedding anniversary, and she wrote a heartfelt, and powerful post that brought tears to my eyes. No matter what she does, or writes about, she is an inspiration to me, and to hundreds of others. I am thankful for her.

It’s Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

I used kk_day, and kk_wake in my image

Yellow, Yellow, Everywhere

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Yellow-Lake-Scene

Yellow-Trees-Lake

Yellow-Single-Autumn-Leaf

Yellow-Leaves-Nurture

Yellow-Autumn-Love

This past week I spent one full day at our country home soaking up our autumn colours and taking photos. I felt guilty, but this beauty is so fleeting that I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. Now, as I sit here this morning in my city home, I absolutely know I did the right thing.

I’m looking forward to getting together with family this weekend. It’s Thanksgiving here in Canada, and I see a turkey in our future.

I hope you have a lovely weekend too!

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

Autumn Greens

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Blissdom Canada is fast coming to a close. I can’t wait to share some of the insights that I gained from this blogging conference but that’s going to have to wait until I get home and get my thoughts together.

There was a lot packed into these last four days, and my head is spinning. Thank you everyone, for your words of encouragement – you were right! Everything went well and I am very proud of myself!

For now, I simply want to celebrate the greens of autumn with Kristy at Live and Love out Loud. Kristy has teamed up once again with Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and they are hosting the Nurture Photography Challenge.

I took this photo before I left home – it’s another one in the series #fromthepottingbench that I put on IG. I love the greens in this one! And I can’t wait to get home…

Nurture Photography - Autumn Greens

I spied these cabbages in the planters in front of the hotel where I’m staying – aren’t they gorgeous! Love these!

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Nurture Photography - Autumn Greens1

… and this… as seen on the wall in the Tim Horton’s lounge…

write-about-what

… is what I’m going to continue to do…

Autumn Tablescape With Warm Whites

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Fall is such a gorgeous time! I love the bright colours it brings; the oranges, the reds, the browns, and the golds. But there is  a lighter side to it as well. This is when the soft pink Autumn Joy is blooming and I find it amazing that it comes into its own, just as the days get shorter, and the nights get colder.

I also love the white pumpkins that are so popular right now. I couldn’t find any, but I managed to snag these wonderful white, odd-shaped gourds from a farmer who was about to plow them under. He said they were just an experiment, were kind of weird, and he couldn’t see how anyone would want them! Ummm, just a minute, I’ll take a few (dozen)…

autumn, tablescape, decor, keeping with the times

For my autumn tablescape this year, the only new things I bought were the wicker chargers, and the cloth serviettes, all from Pier One. I chose a patterned serviette, and a plain one, put one on top of the other, shaped them into a loose cone, and slipped on a big silvery jewel ring. I already had the rings since I had bought them at a garage sale a few years ago for $1.00/ea.

Autumn-Tablescape 2

I’m not usually into sparkly stuff, but for some reason, these really grabbed me.

Autumn-Tablescape 3

All my other stonecrops are still growing beautifully as well. My pots are full of soft blue-green whorls, bright mossy-looking mounds, and tiny grey-green leaves. I plan to bring them all in for the winter, and I’m hopeful that they will do well in the sunny south window in my basement.

Autumn-Tablescape 4

Pink, and green, and white. Light and airy.

Autumn-Tablescape-4-copy

Hmmmm, I think that pear needs to be poached…

Autumn-Tablescape-8-copy

… but it’s so pretty…

Autumn-Tablescape-7-copy

…don’t forget a few candles…

Autumn-Tablescape-9-copy

… and a white cotton tablecloth.

Autumn-Tablescape-5-copy

My dining room has some wonderful light, and I managed to capture this sunburst off the wineglass!

Autumn-Tablescape-6-copy

I hope you liked my autumn tablescape. I don’t have any sage advice to pass on, except maybe to pile on the layers. Layers of plates, serviettes, plants, candles… use lots of stuff! I used the same concept when I created my “Pier One Inspired Tablescape” when I was in Arizona. In fact, I find that Pier One is one of the best places for inspiration!

Thank you for dropping by!

 

Friday Finds with Kim Klassen

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Friday Finds

… and a little sneak preview of my autumn tablescape.

Last Friday I went to the market garden with a friend, where we found all kinds of fabulous veggies, and pumpkins, and squash. As the owner was taking us for a ride in his little ‘gator, and we were tearing around in his fields, I spied a patch with some white “things” way off in the distance. When I asked what they were, he told me that they were some kind of weird squash, just an experiment, and he was going to plow them under.

OK,  wait a minute… take me over there…

As soon as I saw them, my heart did a little leap! How pretty, and how fun are these?! They were just what I was envisioning for my autumn decor. They sparked an idea that led to my autumn tablescape. Warm whites, pinks,  greys, and greens. Love!

friday finds, autumn, sedum, squash

I do have some amazing light in my dining room…

friday finds, kim klassen, tablescape

Later today I’m going to post my complete tablescape. I’m so thankful that I was able to finish up the photo shoot given the fact that for most of the week I could hardly move. My back has much improved and I am so, so thankful!

Have a wonderful Friday!!

Linking up to Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com.

 

Take a moment…

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I discovered this big frilly mushroom hiding in the debris behind the garden. Isn’t it pretty? Just sitting there not caring if anyone saw it or not… just being a mushroom.20130801_Big-Frilly-Mushroom_0002-copy

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I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with commitments that are bearing down on me this month. And not only the commitments I’ve made, but also the commitments I am about to make.

I spent all day yesterday working on a project that basically fell apart at the seams… arghhh… so I’m feeling deflated…

Today I’m going to pretend I have nothing more important to do than to go shopping. Hey! that’s a good thing, because that’s what is at the top of my list! Crate and Barrel here I come!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Fading Sunflowers and Texture Tuesday

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In a few short days our summer will be over. The forecast is for cooler temperatures, and even a few thunder showers. Up until now, we’ve been enjoying one of the warmest and sunniest Septembers ever, and it certainly hasn’t felt like fall.

texture tuesda

But every season brings it’s own beauty and excitement. Cooler, crisper days make my thoughts turn to crock pot meals, candles, and pumpkins.

I’m trying to put my autumn mantel together, but it’s been a slow process. I just haven’t been inspired. I’m hoping that a trip to Crate and Barrel tomorrow will fix that! My walking friends have asked me to join them on a shopping trip to the big city, and then for lunch. How fun! This walking gig has turned into so much more than I expected… some mornings it’s hard to get myself out the door but every step has been worth it.

I’m showing up for Texture Tuesday today at Kim Klassen dot com.

Fading Sunflowers: a slow shutter speed, high iso, large aperture, a bit of Photoshop magic, and a couple layers of kk_villa

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.
bokeh

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.

bokeh

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

grass bokeh

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.

grass bokeh

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.

bokeh

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!

 

 

Friday Finds

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Here are just a few of the extraordinary things that I found this week…

A nasturtium and a marigold that I dug out of the garden about a month ago and put into a pot on the deck are rewarding me with a profusion of new growth.

friday finds

friday finds

Crispy and colourful leaves on the driveway leave no doubt as to what is on it’s way.

friday finds

Morning sunlight streaming through the trees and onto the dewy grass.

friday finds

Some beautiful light shining into a farmyard.

friday finds

This slippery salamander was on the road as I walked to meet my friends. It seemed to be frozen, so I had to push it along to the ditch so that it wouldn’t get run over. In the ten years that I’ve lived here I’ve never seen one until now.

friday finds

It was a beautiful week.

Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com

3 Things

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texture tuesday, kim klassen

Good Morning! It’s a beautiful September morning where I live; sunny, with clear skies, and a predicted temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. Pure gorgeousness! I’ve just returned from my morning walk and am ready to get busy.

I’ve probably mentioned a few times that I always have a few too many projects tumbling around in my head. So today I’ve decided to write down 3 things that I must do today.

  1. Organize the linen closet (arghhh).
  2. Decide on a subject for a guest blog post I have coming up in October, and get writing!
  3. Go on a photo “drive” around the countryside, starting around 5:00 pm. Our fields are turning golden, and the light is as well.

That’s it, that’s all! Happy Tuesday!!

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com.

kk_cherishscripted

kk_steelish

simplicity word art – Anna Aspnes

 

Garlic Bulbils

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I went to our favourite u-pick yesterday and found this garlic. I also learned something new. Not only can you use a garlic bulb, you can also use the bulbils that form in the flower at the top of a very tall stalk.

The man who owns the garden showed me how to coax the little seeds out, and said I should taste one. Well, it nearly knocked my (boots) off! Serious garlic going on here. How very intriguing… I had no idea…

Garlic Bulbils

Garlic Bulbils

So when I got home, I did a little research.

I found out that they are called bulbils, which are like miniature garlic cloves, and that they are actually a sort of seed. This seed can be planted, but it takes two or three seasons for the plants to produce. Apparently, it’s a great way to grow garlic because they don’t harbor soil-borne diseases.

Anyway, I had garlic mashed potatoes on the brain and couldn’t wait to get home and whip some up. When I boiled the potatoes, I threw about 10 bulbils into the pot and cooked them all together. I left the skins on the potatoes because they were fresh baby potatoes (yumm), and it makes them rustic, and probably more nutritious.

Anyway, the result? Too mild. Boo. Next time, I’m going to crush and add them when I mash the potatoes. I think the residual heat will cook them, but still preserve the intense garlic flavour. Or maybe I’ll surprise hubby and put some in the ice cream… see if he notices…

Garlic Bulbils

 

Follow Your Art

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texture tuesday, kim klassen

This morning when I went to get a second cup of coffee, I glanced out of the dining room window and looked down at my potting bench.

Have I mentioned that I love my potting bench? Maybe 50 times? Anyway, I noticed the little sign I have that says “follow your heart” but the “he” was hidden behind a plant. It struck a chord with me, so my little quote for the day was born.

I’m always working on some project, ideas tumbling around in my head, and sometimes I get tired of it (or maybe it’s the mess that results from photo shoots and props). At the same time I’m thinking that I should be doing something more productive. Do you ever feel that way? I guess I have art angst… there are worse things…

If you have a moment, check out the series of photos on my Instagram feed with the hashtag #fromthepottingbench, to see how the season is progressing. I see a bit of yellow in the trees already, and the highbush cranberries are turning red. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was working with bedding plants…

August-Potting-Bench

 

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_red x2 partly desaturated

Art of Blending by Linda Sattgast

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art of blending, digital scrapper

Yikes! It’s the middle of August, people… how’d that happen? I hope all of you are having a great summer, I know I am.

July was filled with family visits, a birthday party, lake time, and the never-ending yard work.

Through it all, I’ve been trying to keep up with my classes and have been doing pretty good. I’m a little behind in a couple of them, but I’m sure I can catch up.

One of my favourites has been “The Art of Blending” taught by Linda Sattgast, at Digital Scrapper (it’s not open to registration at the moment).

This week we are on lesson 6, where Linda teaches about edges, and masks. I was completely fascinated with this lesson, and used masks in ways I never had before. I had to watch the video about 5 times to get the concept into my head… very good stuff!

I hope you like my onion bouquet… when I asked the farmer if I could have the tops off the onions, he was completely baffled… what would you want those for?

 

Textures:
cement-LSattgast-11 – Screen 30%
cement-LSattgast-11 – Soft Light 100%
instagram edges

Texture Tuesday

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texture tuesday, kim klassen

… a little note to myself today…

 

I’m working on some new word art and I have a few fresh and exciting ideas for it. I’m hoping to have some ready by September 1st, but for now, have you seen the free word art I’ve already made available?

If not, check it out here: Free Word Art & Photoshop Tips.

Happy Tuesday!!

 

 

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_jamal, de-saturated, soft light

kk_chaos, soft light