More of spring...

A picture is worth a thousand words…

I have a variety of pictures today.  I love tulips.  We have a few coming up in our yard, but not a whole lot of them.  Since our church has a lot coming up, I walked over there to get some pictures before they lost their shape.  I wanted to process these in a more vintage look, so these are an experiment…a happy one.  I liked how they turned out.

I spent a long time in my backyard photographing all kinds of silly things.  I decided to try a "painterly" effect on this birdhouse.  It is different.   I cannot decide if I like it or not.

The trees around our neighborhood have such lovely blossoms right now.  I had Warren go with me to gather some.  He's pretty tall, and can reach branches that I cannot.  I am so thankful he indulged me, because I absolutely love this shot.  I saw a similar still life on a website, and I wanted to try to do my own version.  I think it is so gorgeous!

Today was a lovely day…even with the wind kicking up a little.  Good pictures, and good times. Be blessed.

In Ouietness...

"Cats are rather delicate creatures, and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one that suffered from insomnia."  -Joseph Wood Kruch

Lately, Maggie has been spending more time indoors.  There are a number of reasons why this is could be happening…#1.  Our neighbors, who she visited on a regular basis, got a dog, so she no longer visits them.  She is not keen on dogs.  #2.  Even though it is spring, it has been colder lately.  I have a feeling I know why it has turned cold after some pretty warm days.  I removed all the winter blankets from the beds, and put away my winter clothes.  I am sure this little act of putting blankets, and clothes away brought on the cooler weather.  #3.  We have been watering our lawn, and she doesn't have a place to lie around with all the grass, and flower beds wet.   It's a hard life when everything is wet.

Her new favorite spot is a piano bench, which I moved in front of a window... to use as a table to place objects on that I wanted in window light... for purposes of photographing.  Whew!  That is a long sentence…maybe not grammatically correct, but, oh well.

She is watching something very intently…
texture: 2 Lil' Owls-masquerade, soft light 77%, kk_revolution, color burn 59%

 

Still watching…
texture: kk_waterfront, softlight 100%

still watching…(I moved to get a different angle…)
texture: 2 Lil Owls, distressed multiply 62%, layer mask, painted over her face to remove the texture.

Here is what she is so intent on watching… a crow.  The sprinklers are on, and it is taking a shower.

Another favorite spot of Maggie's is in a sink.  This can be rather frustrating when she's in your sink, and you need to turn on the water to wash your hands, or spit after you have brushed your teeth.  She doesn't care…she's quite content to "sleep in heavenly peace." I even turned the water on one time, and it did not phase her much.  The water beaded up on her fur, and rolled off.

There is no bothering this cat…not even when a camera is clicking away.  There is one good thing about her sink sleeping...When she's in the sink, I can get her claws trimmed without much fuss. I don't know what makes the sink so tranquil, but she likes it.

"In quietness, and confidence shall be your strength."  -Isaiah 30:15

texture: kk_revolution, soft light 100%, text: violation

I am linking this up to Kim Klassen's  texture Tuesday.  Our theme for this week is "quiet."  Stop by and visit her blog.  Until next time…be blessed.

Grandkids...twins...Erynn, Reid, and me!

"In the eyes of a child…there is joy, there is laughter…there is hope…there is trust…and a chance to shape the future." -Air Supply

I love to take online photo classes.  Right now I am taking two…I dabble in each when I can carve out the time.  I need more time since I can spend hours in these classes.  Can you believe I am thinking about taking one more class that has all pictures taken with your iPhone.  Today, I went into my archives, and found some pictures Jordan sent me.  I intended to tackle the rest of their second birthday, but as usual, got side tracked.  I did not do any birthday photos...These little guys are the cutest.

Sawyer…he likes to carry around not one, or two cars or trains, but as many as he can hold in his little hands, and arms.

Always…his arms are always loaded with different modes of transportation. 

Tate…oh those eyes...

He carries things around too.  Cuteness times two with both of these little guys.

I have been doing some photo shoots as well.  I took some of the photos from one of my shoots, and did some experimenting to make them look more vintage…These photos are from my "Beyond Layers" class using techniques from the class taught by Kim Klassen.

Love the vintage look here.  This is one of my best models...

She makes good contact with the camera.

A fun one!

The editing of this picture was done using techniques I learned from my photo artistry class.

Practicing with textures, and fonts…

I have not signed up for the iPhone class yet, but I have experimented with some of the apps the class would be using.  The photos are to be self-portraits.  Yes, I did one of me…and yes, I think I am going to take the plunge, and take the class.  I like the grunge effect, so that is what I did.  The hardest part was setting the timer on my iPhone, and running to get in the picture.  I took a lot of photos before I got one with me without my head cut off.

Me…old vintage, and grunge look.  Taken, and processed with my iPhone.

That is what I have been doing lately…there will be more.  Until then, be blessed.

A short getaway…to Midland...

Woo Hoo!  Warren and I went to Midland to visit some long time friends.  Sometimes you have to get away to be able to relax and refresh, since there is always something calling for attention when you are home.  It was rather windy both going and coming.

I took this with my iPhone.  I thought the sweep of the clouds was amazing.  It must have been pretty windy way up there judging by the cloud formation.  It certainly was on the highway.

This is what you do while your sitting in the passenger seat…take selfie photos!

I like to take photos through windows…here is Warren looking at the view from the inside of our friends home... to the outside.

Warren and Charles watched a lot of basketball...

While Ruth and I visited, and looked at all her old family photos...

Charles looking rather "Charles-ish..

We went downtown to take photos of a statue.  This building had a lot of windows that made for good reflections…I got the front and back of Charles.

This is a reflection of both Charles and me…too cool. I was shooting into the windows of the building.

Charles and Ruth…aren't they a lovely couple...

Here we all are lined up for our photo…like peas in a pod!

This is the downtown statue…interesting to say the least.

We enjoyed good food, company, and went to funniest play ever.  We were glad we got to reconnect with our wonderful friends…they are like medicine to the soul.

The sky was not as dramatic on our return trip…there was just a lot of dust which this picture does not show very well.

Until next time…be blessed.

Warren for president…Iguana anyone...

"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.  Government programs, once launched, never disappear.  Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth." -Ronald Reagan

Warren always comes to help me set up when I have to take photos for our new member's class at church.  He sets up the background, then poses, so I can make sure my camera settings are correct before everyone starts arriving.  He uses this same pose, always has on his sunglasses, but this was the first time in this T-Shirt.  I decided I would get creative with my photo...Too bad he's not really running for president.  He'd have my vote.

Write in your vote…just kidding!

On to the iguana story...I told my aerobics classes, water and land, about the wonderful turkey recipe with only two ingredients.  If you haven't tried it, you need to, because it is amazingly good. The recipe opened up many discussions about other two ingredient wonder recipes, but the biggest discussion was about iguana.  That's right…Iguana.  Think about serving it for your Easter dinner.

It seems a local grocery store here carries green iguana in their meat department.  All of us wondered how one would go about cooking it, and decided the crockpot and a stick of butter was the solution.  Later that day, the lady who told us about the iguana meat sent me a photo via iPhone.  I cannot image eating this…but it must be a delicacy…look at the price.  Almost $10.00/pound.

photo by Melinda

In English it is Green Lizard…In Spanish it is Iguana Verde.

There you have it, Easter dinner menu: solved.  Who to elect for president in 2016: solved.

Signs of spring...

With our warm weather, then cold, then warm, and cold again, I can only imagine that our poor flowers, trees, and bushes might be a little confused about appearing for spring.  I would be…what am I talking about?…I am.  I almost took the heaver blankets off my bed, but now I am glad I did not.  I almost put away my winter clothes, and got out my spring…I only put away a few, and got out a few.  Clothes swapping for the season is one of my top hated tasks.  Still signs of spring are still in progress.  Spring is still just around the corner.  I will be glad to see it come.  I have chosen to link to Kim Klassen's texture Tuesday with the theme "from above."  I was taking pictures of blossoms from a volunteer tree, a very little tree I might add, when this little "fly" of some sort landed on the bloom.  Lucky me.

kk_softly, blend mode soft light 73%, kk_paperstain music, multiply 100%, kk_softly again, blend mode soft light 100%.  Layer mask added and painted 50% over the blossoms. 

Busy little bee…maybe there will be plums!

My favorite magazine arrived today.  I refrain from reading the whole thing in one sitting.  I savor the magazine... reading a few articles, and looking at a few pictures each day.  I get a lot of inspiration from this magazine.  There's nothing like enjoying it with a Starbucks passion tea. My idea of a good "unplug from the world" time.

I was cleaning the kitchen one evening when my cat jumped on the bar stool.  If I had not corrected her with a stern voice, she would have made herself right at home on the kitchen counter, which is a big "NO, NO" for her, but she pushes the limits.  She remained on the stool with her head just peeking over at counter level.  I loved the hard light, and her pitiful look, so I ran for my camera hoping I could catch the pose, and I did!

Maggie...

A longing look is a good ending… be blessed.

I wait for the Lord...

"God doesn't call us to do hard stuff; He call us to do impossible stuff." -Pricilla Shirer

Last Wednesday was the beginning of Lent which marks 40 days before Easter (Sundays are not counted).  Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, reflection, and spiritual discipline.  The purpose is to set aside time reflecting on Jesus Christ…His suffering, sacrifice, life, death, burial, and resurrection.  While our church does not formally observe Lent, I like to do my own personal reflecting on Jesus for the 40 days.  I found a wonderful website called "She reads truth" that has a plan for Lent.  Each week there is scripture that we are to meditate on.  Friday we share about that scripture.  This week was on Psalm 130, one of the ascent Psalms.  I chose verse 5.  I seem to have trouble on waiting for the Lord because in re-reading some of my past journals, I have this verse sprinkled throughout them, so I must need help with my waiting.  I wait, my soul waits, and in His word I do find my hope…strength, purpose, life, and the way.  His word brings me comfort and joy.  I love His word.

Recently, our photo club visited 3 of our older churches.  What treasures were to be found in all three. These are my Friday finds that I am linking up with Kim Klassen . 

I love her blog.  It is refreshing, encouraging, and beautiful.  I always come away with a very peaceful feeling.  These pictures were taken at St Andrews Episcopal Church, and are of St. Francis Assisi who is known for his love of animals.  

I have fallen so far behind in my Photo Artistry class that I thought I had better try some techniques, and get somewhat caught up.  This first one is from Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers class.

  

The following are from my photo artistry class…

I like trains.  I wanted to make this totally unique.  Notice my hubby in the train's front?  There's also a train ticket, a clock since trains were to run on time, and a car.  

I took this picture in Milford, Tx 

I had to make my cat look very vintage.  I loved how this turned out.

This car sits by an abandoned house just down the street from my house.

That's all I got done.  Be blessed.