Me...On the piano...literally.

I recently came across a web article written about an incredible 14 year old boy who manipulates photos into surreal images.  http://www.demilked.com/surreal-self-portraits-14-year-old-fiddle-oak/.  I was very impressed with his work, and imagination.   I wanted to see if I could come up with something like he did.  Using his picture of the man on the piano for inspiration,  I tried my own.

Photo by Zev (nickname fiddle oaks) from website: http://www.demilked.com/surreal-self-portraits-14-year-old-fiddle-oak/

I originally wanted to use my granddaughter, but she said she did not want to do it, so I used myself as the subject.  Warren took the photos.
Here are two photos that are the result of our afternoon of play, or work depending on how you look at it.

This was very had on my abs, since I had to hold the pose so long while Warren worked with the camera.

This one is my favorite of the two.   I wanted it to appear as if  I was stepping over the crack between the piano keys.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  Warren was my photographer, and my consult on how my shadows would fall in each picture.  Once again he's my hero.  

You would think I did not have enough to do since I spent so much time playing with this.  I really do have a ton to do...it just didn't get done today.  It will still be waiting for me tomorrow.  Besides, this was a challenge, it was fun, and I hope I get better at it.

Today...

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." -Mark Twain

I like Wednesdays because it is the one day of the week that I do not have to teach class, or have any other obligations.  I always think I am going to get so much done, and I do not even come close to doing what I imaged in my head.  I got up early this morning to walk with a friend...it was blowing 26 mph which was not the most pleasant walking conditions, but the company and conversation was grand.  I had a great breakfast with my hubby before he went to work.  Then he read his Kindle book and I took his picture.  He didn't know I did.  I don't think.

My favorite person in the whole wide world...my man.

I am doing a 30 day June challenge where we have to take a picture of something specific each day.  Today we were to take a picture of our favorite shoes.  My favorite shoes are boots.  I have one pair that are my absolute favorite, and I would wear them everyday if I could, but they might look funny with some of my outfits.  Like my workout clothes, or shorts.

My favorite boots

I went to the DMV to renew my driver's license...I was in and out in 56 minutes.  And my picture looks pretty nice, I think.  I do not get the real license until 10-14 days.  I have a temporary piece of paper.

I went to visit Jane.  She fell out of bed last night, but luckily she was fine.  She loves going outside in her "dark glasses."

My favorite little lady

When I got home, it was so pretty out, I grabbed my camera, and just took some pictures from our backyard.  Maggie was in a posing mode today.  She let me snap some great pics.

My favorite Maggie

My Basil is going to seed.  Luckily, I have several new plants coming up, so I will always have a fresh supply when this plant peters out.  I will gather these seeds for next year's crop.  My new favorite thing to do with Basil is to make flavored water.  Drop a couple of basil leaves, with the juice of one lemon in 2 quarts of water, and you have the most delicious, and refreshing drinks of all time.  I love it.

My favorite herb

There were a lot of busy bees in my flower garden.  

And Wasps...

And gorgeous flowers...

It was a mighty fine day.  I just wished it had rained.  Lots of wind and clouds tonight, but no rain.  Maybe it will rain tomorrow, but I am not holding my breath.

Storm Chaser...

"Some are weather-wise, some are other wise." -Benjamin Franklin

Yesterday I did my first storm chasing.  One of the ladies in our photo club takes these gorgeous, and awesome pictures of storms.  They are incredible really.  I asked her if she would call me during the next storm so we could take pictures together.  She said she would, and true to her word, she called me yesterday morning.  "There's going to be a big, wonderful storm tonight," she told me.  Really, are you sure?  As we were talking, I went to the window to look outside.  It was gorgeous out--not a cloud in the sky, not much wind, and a nice temperature. How could there be a storm coming?  She said it would hit between 9 pm and midnight.  It did not seem possible that a storm was coming, but I was game.  I called my other photographer friend, Stephanie, http://sdphotoblog.wordpress.com, to see if she would like to go with me.  She did.  My storm chasing friend lives in the country just outside of Dexter.  Let me tell you, it was pitch black around her house.  We decided to go to Bottomless Lakes to catch some good lightning.  We set up on the side of the road after checking for snakes.

We found one in the road, and ran over it.  Hmmm.  Looks like I missed photographing the head.   Well, it was very dark out, and I was afraid it still might be alive, and I did not want to get bitten.  This looks like a rattlesnake, but I do not think it is.  There are not rattles on the tail, which I did get in the photo.

We were not there long when we could see a black moving mist coming upon us.  The wind got suddenly cold as well as hot, and we decided that we had better get out of there fast.  That is perfect tornado weather, cold and hot air mixing.  We were just in front of the storm, and arrived at her house when the wind and dust really hit full force.  It was horrible.  We set up on her back porch where the wind was blocked by her house.   I did learn how to photograph lightning which I did not know how to  do before.   Our cameras, and our bodies (clothing included) had a nice film of dirt on them by the end of the night.

My first capture of lightning.  I was very excited.

The camera was on a tripod, so the spot was the same.  Notice the difference in cloud structure.  Flat clouds like this are what tornados come out of.  At least, that is what my grandfather who lived in Oklahoma told me.  

I changed location here.  There seemed to be more lightning in the new spot.  

This lightning was way up in the clouds.  Interesting how the sky color changes.

I changed location again.  The storm was moving on.  We decided to pack it up and go home.  I got home at 1 a.m.

The storm was pretty far away.  We never heard any thunder to go along with the lightning.  We can have some pretty scary thunder and lightning storms around here.  We were careful not to be out in the open.  It seems Roswell got all the rain.  There was none where we were, so we did not have to worry about keeping our cameras dry.  I will say there were times when it was very eerie out, but it was fun, and I learned a lot.  Now I have to figure out a good, safe location for me to shoot storm pictures in Roswell.

29th Annual Milkman Triathlon

"Triathlon-It's not about finding your limits.  It's about finding out what lies beyond them." -Unknown

Today, June 1, was the 29th year of the Milkman Triathlon held in Dexter, NM at Lake Van.  This year there were over 200 contestants from all over the USA.  It is amazing how this event, in such a little town, is so famous to triathletes everywhere.   Many, many years ago,  I helped work the event, and my youngest two children, and husband were participants.  I am back in the helping mode by taking pictures.  I was to take pictures of the bike and run transitions.  I have over 1000 pictures...do not worry, I am not going to post them all.  What a great time, and great athletes.  Most of all what an inspiration.  The oldest participant was Jim Lilley, age 85, who did the whole thing, and took first place in his age group.

Bike transition area.  Waiting for the race to start.

Jim Lilley is #727 (left), Michelle Royer, #4, bike portion of a relay team.

Jim Lilley left, top center--this person had to fix 2 flat tires before the race began;  bottom center and right are some of the participants.  

More scenes before the start.  There were a lot of people fixing flat tires before the event

Here are some people I recognized.  This is Ashley Smith (#202). I don't know her married name.  She was on the swim team with Mark, and Luke.  They all did Rainbow kid triathlons together, and of course, swim meets.  

Ashley Smith

Sean Lee

Jason Waltmire on the right, and his friend that I do not know his name.

Jason told me to take good pictures because he was not going to win any awards.  He was doing the race for fun and inspiration.  Actually, he did pretty well.  Jason was one of Ian's (my oldest son) best friends in school.

More of Jason Waltmire

Sarah Villapando.  She is an instructor at the Racquet Club with me.  

I do not know the following people.  I just like their character, and thought they made an interesting picture.

I think he looks like he could be a jockey at the Kentucky Derby.

In the transition area.  It is hard to get a shirt on when you are all wet.  I rarely saw anyone drying themselves. They just put on their shirts, and shoes.  

Here is the photographer that asked for photography volunteers.  She is the main, and best photographer, Jennifer Coats. http://www.jennifercoats.com

Taking pictures of the awards ceremony.

The person who puts the triathlon together year after year, and makes the whole event happen is Larry Marshall.  Thank you for all your hard work in making this event so great.

Larry Marshall

Finally, there is me.  

Rob

I think it would be so fun if next year we could have a McKelvy relay team participate in the Milkman.  Let's see.  Luke could swim; Mark bike, and Amber or Jordan could run.  I bet they would win.  We could have two teams actually.  The second team would be: Ian swim; Warren bike, and again either Amber or Jordan run.  They might win too since they will be in a much older age division.  The rest of us would be the cheerleaders.  I'd be the official documenter of the event with photos.  Get training guys and gals.  You have a whole year!

Memorial Day...

"And I'm proud to be an American

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me."

   -Lee Greenwood

Today, since it was Memorial day, Warren and I went to South Park Cemetery to remember those who have fallen in defense of our country.  My main goal was to see if we could find Chris Sander's burial site, and to photograph all the flags put on the veteran's graves.  It was a moving sight to behold.

 We did find Chris's burial site too.  Actually, Warren did.

Front of the memorial stone.

At the very bottom, it says,"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for  one's friends."  John 15: 13

I wanted Warren in a picture since Chris was his patient, and his mom, Warren's nurse.  

The back unclose.  Chris and his wife and two children.

The whole back.  He has a ton of awards.  I wish they were readable.

I liked the way they added the photos on the memorial stone.  I told Warren to make sure mine had pictures on it.  He said I had better tell the boys because he would probably be the one who dies first. 

We, also, visited David, Warren's brother's grave. He was not a veteran, but he is a hero in our eyes.  

And then we went to find my mother's grave.

My mother.  I wish I could remember  more about her.  I was too young.  

This is my father.  I like this picture in front of the flag.  He was in the Marines.

Flag flying over South Park.

Thank a Veteran today.  

Holly's world...

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us, or we will not find it."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

While Holly was away on a trip, her wonderful husband took photos of their many flowers just in case she got home too late to enjoy them.  She sent me some of the pictures, and they were all breath-taking. I am always looking for photo opportunities, so I asked if I could come over and take some pictures of things in their yard.  I felt like I was in heaven.  Everything was so beautiful.  Here are a few of the flowers.

I think these are sweet pea vines, but I am not sure.

Loved the deep color of this Hollyhock

Mexican buttercup not quite open.

some kind of grass.

Lovely reflections

Sunset...

Gate to paradise

They have two Canadian Geese living on their pond, a male and female, who have set up housekeeping.  The male swims about while the female sits on the nest.

The male was keeping his eye on me making sure I stayed away from the nest.

Here is the female dutifully sitting on the nest...

While her mate swims around.