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.  

Around our house...

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food, and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home."  -Edith Sitwell

With our apricot tree in bloom, it seemed that spring was on its way, but it was not to be.  We have had a cold snap lately.  Wonder if it zapped my future apricots. Right now my tree is full of doves with feathers fluffed trying to stay warm.

Brrrr...

Birds of a feather, flocking together...

My cat, Maggie, likes to go outside in the warm weather, but if it is too cold, she sits outside the kitchen window waiting to be let in…it has been pretty cold lately.  Here she sits...

Watching for me to open the door...

When is she going to let me in?….

Here she comes…

I think...

Wait…what's that over there…I might have to change my mind…no, I think I will come in…brrrr.

When she finally gets in, she has a favorite spot to warm up.  Ahhh, the sun feels good on the backside.

That sunshine feels divine...

I have been staying close to home not because of the cold, but because I have a cold.  I hate colds.  I have been taking Airborne, vitamin C, Zicam, using lots of kleenix (the kind with lotion in them), and Vicks vaporub.   When I was a kid, Vicks was the all time remedy for everything.  I don't know if I have shortened my cold or not, but I am certainly over the counter medicated.

I have read that Chicken soup was supposed to help shortened the length of a cold, and its intensity.   I found a great recipe online…not for chicken, but for the most fantastic turkey recipe ever.  It is from Miz Booshay's blog, Quite Life.  The recipe has two ingredients: a turkey breast, and a stick of butter.  My kind of recipe.  She used a turkey breast with bones, but I found a boneless turkey breast which I liked better.  No bones to deal with later.  All you do is put the 2 ingredients in a crockpot, and turn it on low for 8 hours or so.  I put mine on the night before, so we could have it for lunch.  You could put in on early in the morning, and have it ready for evening dinner.  MMMM…good.  Better than Campbell's soup.

photo by Miz Booshay, Quiet Life Blog

After it is cooked, shred the turkey like you would for pulled pork.  If you used a turkey breast with bones, throw out the bones.  It makes great sandwiches, or served in flour tortillas…or as a soup.  I am telling you, it is the BEST tasting turkey ever.  

photo by Miz Booshay, Quiet Life Blog

Go get a turkey breast and stick of butter.  You will thank me for the recipe.  Be blessed.

Oscars…Seniors Ignite…suitcase…texture Tuesday...

"Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the the  name of the Lord our God."  Psalm 20:7

I did not watch the Oscars, but I heard about them the next day.  I heard about bad jokes, gorgeous gowns, and bits from speeches.  My favorite was from Matthew McConaughey who gave credit, and glory to God for his success.  Here's a portion of his speech:

            "First off, I want to thank God, because that's who I look up to.  He has graced my life
             with opportunities that I know are not of my hand, or of any other human hand.  He has
             shown me that…it's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.  In the words of the late
             Charles Laughton who said, 'When you've got God, you've got a friend- and that friend
             is you.'"

Way to go Matthew.  By the way, I read online that his mother named him  after the Biblical character, Matthew. She told him his name was Matthew, not Matt, and so he has not shortened his name, nor does he answer to Matt.

Now onto my seniors ignite conference.   The conference was a jam packed event.  In fact, the only free time was for lunch and supper.  They had every minute of the day, and night scheduled.   One afternoon, they had spots all over the resort set up for model shoots.  We simply went from model to model taking our own pictures of them, and learning tips and tricks from the leaders that did the set up.   There were boy, and girl models.  I put together a little collage of the models that I took.

Models at Senior Ignite

We did not get around to all the models…there were so many of them.  I thought they were all pretty incredible, and they did all kinds of crazy things we asked of them…like getting in the fountains…and the water was not warm.

Our flight home was delayed about three hours.  I was glad we did not have a connection, but it made us get in very late, since we had a 3 hour drive home once we landed.  I was waiting for my suitcase at baggage claim when I thought I saw the bright, yellow fabric on a suitcase come down the chute…I had put one on mine.  At first, I said, "That's mine," and a nice gentleman next to me went to pick it up.  But this suitcase was shredded on the outside…mine was not, so I said, "No, it's not mine." The man put it back.  Then, I noticed the piece of yellow fabric was indeed the one I had put on.  I said, "Oh, yes that is mine…"  He asked, "Is it yours or not?"  It was mine…shredded.  It looked so sad.  It was a wonder all my items had not fallen out!  The gentleman got my bag, and told me to take it to the baggage customer service.  They would fix me up.  They did.  I had to empty out my bag, put my stuff in a bag they gave me, fill out a claim form, and one day in the future…Poof!... a new bag will show up at my door via FedEx.

My new, temporary bag…another will arrive one of these days...

I am linking to Kim Klassen's texture Tuesday today.  The theme is "above", so this photo is "above all else, we will get that shot."  Whew, what we go through to get the perfect picture, and then it is not always the perfect shot…it is better.  And I am happy.  I love photography.  I love digital.

Stephanie DeFranco...

That's all for now.  Be encouraged, and blessed today.

Las Vegas, baby…Senior Ignite...

"The camera always points both ways.  In expressing your subject, you also express yourself." -Freeman Patterson

I was off to Las Vegas again, but this time with Stephanie DeFranco, and her mom.  Stephanie told me about a workshop called Seniors Ignite, and asked if I wanted to attend.  This is not a workshop for seniors, as in senior citizens, like me, but HS seniors.  Photographers from all over (we even had a guy from Australia) unite to share skills, creativity, and business wisdom to other photographers.  The whole experience was pretty amazing, plus it was a lot of fun.  Anytime the DeFrancos are involved, it spells fun.  This year, the event was held at the Westin Lakes just outside of Las Vegas in the town of Henderson.  It was very beautiful, and so unlike LV on the strip.

Photo taken from the Senior Ignite website

Scene from the back of the hotel…gorgeous!

The bad thing about the hotel was that there were no eating facilities close by…well if you did not have a car that is.  There was nothing within walking distance.  We ate at this Market Express everyday, and it was not cheap.  By the end of the event, we were pretty sick of their food.

Our food was served in these nice cardboard boxes...

This collage is of several things…Left: our shadows which we thought were cool.  Center top: we are on the plane blowing kisses through the stir sticks…love the heart stir sticks.  Bottom center:…the Dr. Better beverage that I had everyday.  I brought an empty bottle home since I thought the label was pretty as well as unique.  Right picture:  me in the lobby sitting in a fancy chair.

Both Stephanie and I borrowed lenses to try out.  The picture was taken in our room by the beautiful sheer curtains…are we desperate for backgrounds or what?

Me…inside our room.

 This is our little group that went about the grounds taking photos of the various models.  The two guys on either side of me are from Boise, Idaho, and are hilarious I might add.  We met them the first night, and tried to always sit at a table with them.  The one on my left, Nate, offered to drive us to the airport on the last day.  We were so thankful for the lift, and for his great company.  The guy on my right is Sam Marvin.  Apparently, Sam is the photographer, and Nate is the videographer.  Make sure you check out their website: http://samuelmarvin.com.

One of the nice things about going with Stephanie is that we get great photos of each other taking pictures.  

Me…

Stephanie...

We did our own model shoot.  Here are some of the shots of me taken by Stephanie. 

This picture was shot and edited by Stephanie.  She super imposed the scene that I was seeing through the window…the lake with the mountains behind.  Is that not the coolest?

Photo shot and edited by Stephanie DeFranco

 This is one of my favorite photos, also taken and edited by Stephanie.

Photo shot, and edited by Stephanie DeFranco

Next are a few of my photos that I took of Stephanie.  

I really liked the full belly laugh here.

Stephanie...

Stephanie by the fireside...

Stay tuned for more from Las Vegas...