Dwelling in the Moment

UP and Running my NEW Websites!!!

2010-01-10T08:47:00.005-05:00

OK...............they are still a work in progress but my new sites are FINALLY up and running.....more work to be done so please check back.

You can find me here and here......Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment and say "hi" when you find me!!!
Hugs to all!

Birth Announcements

2009-10-14T03:24:00.022-04:00

I ♥ Faces Fix-It Friday

2009-10-09T18:42:00.007-04:00

Another Friday fix-it at I ♥ Faces.
Here's is the original photo submitted by KimAnd here is my version of this handsome little guy!For more submissions, please visit I ♥ Faces here!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great Friday!!!!

Little baby Aedan

2009-09-20T11:50:00.002-04:00

For more baby pictures click here!
Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend!!!

Another "Fix-It" Friday

2009-09-11T04:25:00.005-04:00

First please note this is not my new 'lil grandbaby :).....please see previous post for my precious little angel!!!

Here is the original of this little cutie for today's "Fix-It" Friday at I ♥ Faces!And here is my version........
My idea was to try and make it look more like a sketch by changing to black and white with a slight sepia effect then dodging most of the shadows. Boosted the contrast a bit and used the burn tool to darken the lashes. Then cropped. Edited in PS4.
For more please visit I♥Faces here!

Thank you for stopping by and have a great Friday!

Today we celebrate the new...........♥

2009-09-09T18:46:00.013-04:00

A new Life....................A new mother..........and father.......new grandparents.....
and new uncles.........and aunts.....nieces and nephews...
A new life is born...little baby Aedan Blake....
A new reason for a grateful heart!

We love you guys! ♥

On a beautiful note....

2009-09-08T18:34:00.004-04:00

....something pretty from my yard! ♥

More of the same.....

2009-09-08T16:51:00.007-04:00

The invasion continues..............today we find even more varieties of mushrooms on the homestead.....one actually resembles a small chinese umbrella....

An invasion of..........................

2009-08-29T15:13:00.014-04:00

Fun⋅gi

–noun

any of a diverse group of eukaryotic single-celled or multinucleate organisms that live by decomposing and absorbing the organic material in which they grow, comprising the mushrooms, molds, mildews, smuts, rusts, and yeasts, and classified in the kingdom Fungi or, in some classification systems, in the division Fungi (Thallophyta) of the kingdom Plantae.

2.	Pathology. a spongy, abnormal growth, as granulation tissue formed in a wound.

sing. fungus Plantlike organisms lacking chlorophyll, such as mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. Modern biologists tend to place fungi in their own kingdom, not in the plant kingdom, because they get their nutrients from other living things (or from the remains of living things that have died) rather than from photosynthesis.

While taking the girls out for their morning "business" we found we were being invaded by a variety of creepy mushroooooms...
Fungi......a funny word....and imagine......a Kingdom all their own........

Are you serious????

2009-08-28T06:24:00.020-04:00

Last week hubby and I decided to visit one of our favorite stores. Our normal visit to Whole Foods usually requires a 2 hour drive South to Sarasota. But the rewards are great and worth it.

Usually we go on a Saturday as the "Saturday Market" is full of the best fresh fruits and vegetables around, the arts and crafts from the locals always leaves you wanting something to take home, and the music and fanfare is lively with interesting colorful people. People stroll the streets with their dogs....cafe tables surround a water fountain lining the storefront for people to enjoy the outdoors. The store is massive and the employees are some of the happiest people around.

So on this day having recently discovered the opening of one just an hour from us, we decided to make the trip.

Arriving we were a bit taken back as it's location was very industrialized and felt more like a warehouse then our beloved Sarasota store. Cafe tables surrounded by nothing but parking lots......Two stories of parking lots, in fact. No music, no tempting fruits stands or homemade goodies....no handcrafted purses, no puppies strolling with their master's........just ice cold cement......everywhere........

Entering the store, as expected, the flowers that greet you are just bursting with color......vibrant pinks, yellows, scarlets, every color imaginable.....

Hubby's first stop, as always, is the meat market.......so I busy myself snapping pictures of all the pretty flowers........100 snaps or so later I move on to the fresh produce.....

Now, I don't know if it's something about organic fruits and veggies, or if Whole Foods just has an incredible knack at displaying their goods......but everything just pops with color.

Before I even get as far as selecting my next victim for my little photo shoot.....perhaps that succulent ruby red tomato.......or that stack of golden sweet potatoes that resemble an Egyptian pyramid...I am confronted by a salesman who asks if I am one of their vendors. Hmmmmm....that's a new line.....never heard that one before....a bit odd....I tell him "no".....and he goes on to tell me that I am not allowed to take photographs in their store. That it is against store policy.

Really???? Well, at first I thought he was joking, but soon realized he was quite serious.
I'm like......"you're just a grocery store, you're not a bank....a government building, the FBI or CIA........you sell food...where's the harm....what's the threat......"

Stunned by his request I carry on through the isles searching for hubby, wondering....what has become of us!

So ok, I can see if I was taking pictures of their alarm system, or their office.....or all the exit doors........but it was obvious I wasn't...................I was taking pictures of flowers.......minding my own business.

And how many people walk into public places with cameras....or at the very least one on their cell phones......if someone wanted to "case the joint" there would be no telling..........

This incidence is a flash back to a recent time at Amscot when I went for a money order........the lady asked me what the money was being used for........"What....excuse me?"

She goes on to explain that as part of the Patriot Act they are required to obtain that information from their customers. After recovering from disbelief and refusing simply based on principal she brings over the manager who politely hands me a pamphlet that discusses their policy and how it relates to the safety of our country.

Now seriously if someone came in and had any intention of wrong doing with transferring monies ect.....would they really be so honest as to divulge that information?

So I had the choice of telling them that all I needed was a money order to pay a simple bill.....that I haven't written a real check in a long time, with the discovery of online banking I barely even know where the checkbook is any more.

Instead I decided to take my business else where.......walked next door to Publix and bought the money order with no questions asked. Amazing..........

So back to Whole Foods....as a small gesture of protest, we buy this little goodie and eat in the cool atmosphere of their little outside cafe area and snap this picture.

But honestly, in all sincerity, there is little I wouldn't do to protect this great country I live in.........but to stop taking pictures of fruit just doesn't seem like one of the top 100 threats facing us today!

PS
If you ever find yourself in New York near Central Park, Columbus Circle, you will find the most amazing Whole Foods....EVER!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Friday!!!

I ♥ Fix-it Friday

2009-08-21T03:45:00.014-04:00

Another "Fix-it Friday" at I ♥ Faces.

OriginalAfter
For this version I desaturated and added contrast, then on a new layer I added Gaussian Blur and decreased opacity to 54%. Dodged the catch lights in the eyes to brighten up a bit, close cropped and slightly tilted the photo.
For more, please visit I ♥ Faces here!
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Busch Gardens and a Cheap Date ♥

2009-08-19T08:55:00.022-04:00

Spent another fun morning at Busch Gardens. Karl and I love strolling the park.

The beautiful grounds.......lush foliage......amazing animals.........crazy roller coasters with death defying twists and turns......the shops.....and the smell of oak on the BBQ preparing for all the hungry folks that show up midday.....

Early morning has always been our favorite time to go as the sun is still sitting on the horizon....the park is less populated, and the animals are out enjoying breakfast and getting their morning exercise before the heat sets in.

These tigers always make for great photo opportunities......the 2 foot thick plexi-glass walls separating us from these beautiful creatures are barely visible to the camera.
In this photo we could have touched noses!Shops offering fun items from stuffed animals to imported wood carvings from far away places.Flowers of every color......towering bamboo.......lush plush foliage wrapping around the entire park.......the beauty is breathtaking.In the glory of our escape to this wonderland, life carries on as Karl takes a moment to schedule work for the upcoming days.
Whooorahhh for work!!!! :)
At journeys end, a quick stop for lunch before leaving the park!
$3.99 lunch for two...........Life is good! :)
For more photos please visit Karl's gallery here and you can find my gallery here. Both a work in progress, much more to be added!

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!

Cards for Heroes

2009-08-12T17:46:00.005-04:00

Please take a moment to visit Scrapstreet.com. You can become a part of their efforts to raise over 1000 cards for Cards for Heroes, supplying cards to our troops.
Karen Russell will also be giving away one spot in her much acclaimed online photography class to one lucky participant.

It's "Fix-it" Friday.......

2009-07-31T03:09:00.006-04:00

Here's my version of this beautiful little girl for today's "Fix-it" Friday at I ♥ Faces........
My 1st step was to add a bit of contrast and sharpening to the photo, then I added the texture "gravity" by Jesh de Rox to give it a painted look.....then erased much of the texture to the facial area....a touch of vignetting....and viola!
For more please click here
Before

After
Happy Friday everyone!!!

Fix-it Friday with I ♥ Faces

2009-07-24T03:21:00.011-04:00

Before

After

Here is my version of today's photo challenge.
For this I used Lightroom and Photoshop.
I started by converting a copy of the photo to black and white and another to sepia. Then I layered the original and my 2 copies and changed the opacity to my liking.
I increased the green tones and decreased the exposure slightly.
I was trying for an aged look....
I pictured this cutie walking the streets of old Italy wearing knickers and kicking a rock down the paved street on a slightly drizzling day....
For more please visit I ♥ Face here.
Thank you for stopping by! Happy Friday!

It's "I Love Feet Week" at I ♥ Faces

2009-07-20T23:38:00.007-04:00

This weeks photo contest is all about feet................here's my favorite "feet" photo taken on our recent trip to California.
This is a picture of my daughter and the special little guy in her life!
Check here for more :)
Have a happy day! :)

Scott Kelby Photo Walk Ybor City Double Click Photo to Enlarge

2009-07-18T17:00:00.009-04:00

Here's our group photo for our walk in Ybor City.
The skies opened a big pour just before our scheduled meeting and by the time we reached Ybor the air was sweltering!
Our walk was fun, nonetheless.........Ybor is such an awesome city.......more photos coming.......resting up for our evening walk with Jeff Donald at the Sponge Docks.
Hope everyone is enjoying their day! :)
Click here for photos! Thanks for stopping by! Have a nice day! :)
Ybor City
Sponge Docks

Get ready..........................................

2009-07-17T20:52:00.003-04:00

Ok all you beautiful people.................get those walking shoes ready.......charge those batteries.......memory cards gathered.....and let's have some FUN tomorrow!!!!! Forecast promises another gorgeous sunny day here in Florida!
Hubby and I have the honors of strolling Ybor City with Scott Kelby! Looking forward to a fun day! :)
Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow and good luck with capturing some really awesome photos!!!!
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

Reason to Celebrate

2009-06-22T05:58:00.012-04:00

This weekend Karl and I celebrated our 12th wedding Anniversary!
Amazing how time passes so quickly.
I'll never believe that our meeting was just by chance, some things are just meant to be.
I have not only been blessed with an incredible man to spend my life with but my children have also been touched in so many ways by his presence.
Thank you Karl......we love you so much! ♥

So, in celebration of our Anniversary and happy Father's Day we head out to our most favorite restaurant of all time.........
I know you've heard this from me a gazillion million times.........but if you haven't been to the Zen Forrest yet you are truly missing out on one of life's greatest little treasures!

As always I have the General Tso's Chicken, extra spicy, with the Zen Forrest rolls, salad, and the most fabulous Tuna Tataki ever ever ever................
Karl's usual is the Bul Go Gi, but this day he chose the special which was Tuna, Scallops, and Soft Crab (you actually eat the entire crab, shell and all......hmmmmmmm.....sounded weird but OMG, how delicious!)And of course, we can't forget Karl's favorite appetizer....Mussels in Holly Basil.
And to top it off.......as if we didn't eat an abundance of food already by this time........we had the chocolate cheese cake and for our Anniversary Victor sent us a special ice cream (I can't remember what it was called, perhaps Chi ice cream.....)....definately unique in it's taste....possibly our next addiction?
Thanks, Victor! :)
Hungry yet??
Here's the link for the Zen Forrest, and if you ever get a chance. stop by and say hi to Victor and all the wonderful people that work there!!! :)
http://zenforrest.com/
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!!!

My newest obsession?????

2009-06-21T13:32:00.014-04:00

..or perhaps, just another to add to the list of many :)
Yesterday we tried our first hand at Geocaching. From the onset of hearing about this I was silly ready for the adventure!
Our first excursion took us to an old winding dirt road. Down a ways Mr.GPS alerted us we had reached our destination. Finding an old rickety wire fence with an area partly fallen down, we journeyed though the trees and stickers, fighting a few spider webs along the way. Eeeek!
Coming to the railroad tracks we search the area looking for anything out of place......a little area of piled leaves, sticks neatly layed, ruffled areas, a foot print....anything that might lead us to the hidden treasure.
From behind we could hear the clickedy clack of a small train coming toward us. Fearing we might be seen as trespassing, we hightailed it out of there and headed back to the car.
Wondering now if maybe the train master might even have been the initiator of the cache.
Ok, agreed we would come back to this one another time!

Next 3 attempts proved fruitless. Mr.GPS wasn't able to direct us to the correct location. Possibly due to changes with recent road improvements......

Our last attempt for the day we found the location easily but unable to find the cache.......this one was fun because it took us to an old tractor, rusted and totally overgrown with plants....complete with an old tree growing from the floor board up through the roof of the cab.

Thanks Gabe and Joyce :)
Wondering what tomorrow will bring.......Have a happy day ♥

Love gives us a fairy tale.......

2009-06-19T21:57:00.020-04:00

Our beautiful friends tie the knot!

I had the pleasure of photographing their special day!
Pre-wedding photos went well.....hair, make-up, shoes, something borrowed, something new....catching all the little details of this special day.......flowers, rings, reception room, "the dress".........................................
Trying so hard to remember everything I've learned these past months.......ISO, Lighting, Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure, Composition, yada yada yada....
Ok, so far not bad.....
Then the moment arrives, I am standing in front of the bride in the foyer as she is getting ready to walk down the isle by both her sons, the music starts, I go to take a picture of this beautiful moment, and.....what??? no click......nothing......I look at my camera...OMG..memory card is FULL!!! How could I be so careless not to check my card......and even worse...how could I not have an extra one with me.....
Quickly turning around I scurry up the isle.........feeling like such an idiot....find my camera bag which is hiding up front right of the pastor, I fumble around in a bag I have never used until now since it is so large and only brought because it easily holds all my equipment....
Where are all my memory cards?? So many pockets, so many zippers, tons of places to hide them little cards......where on earth could I have put them...minutes pass.....feels like hours.....OMG can this be happening.....where oh where are those cards.......Ah.......ha.........there they are.....now I remember....I'll put them in this little pocket so I'll remember where they are....geeeee, how many times have I done that before......
So back doooooooooown the isle I go....slap the new card in........get into position.....and off we go....

What a beautiful bride......what amazing sons, together walking their mom to this incredible man that will soon become her husband.

"May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth." ~BLESSING OF THE APACHES

Through it all, I learned I have much to learn, that I am a long ways from purposely capturing the moments that only happen once, and that my day was spent doing what truly gives me pleasure! :)

Special thanks to Kara, who really saved my butt!!! :)

Mark your Calendars!!!

2009-06-11T02:18:00.011-04:00

The past 6 months or so I have totally been hanging out with Jessica Sprague and her group, and learning so much.
For any of you interested in photography, scrapbooking, photo editing, or just hanging out with a great group of people, check out this site......And as a added bonus.........drum roooooooooooolllllll please.......Jessica is announcing a new class...................and it's FREE!
So mark your calendar for June 22. That's the day registration opens for the FREE instructor-led class of 2009 - Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects!
If you are not currently a member, hop on over and sign up. That's free too!
Hope to see you there! Enjoy your day!!!

Click here

What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know

2009-06-03T13:58:00.007-04:00

As written by Cheryl Nicolai
Please stop by and visit her site!

http://www.cherylnicolai.com/

These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.

I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here's my answer.

- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.

- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.

- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.

- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.

- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.

- You cannot specialize in everything.

- You don't have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don't have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.

- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.

- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.

- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?

- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".

- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.

- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.

- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.

- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.

- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.

- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.
- CJ

Scott Kelby's 2nd Annual PhotoWalk

2009-05-19T08:52:00.005-04:00

July 18th is Scott Kelby's second annual Worldwide PhotoWalk......come find a group and join the fun!!!
Hubby and I will be joining the man himself, Scott Kelby, for a morning Ybor City walk then a sunset walk at Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks with the one and only Jeff Donald!!!
Should be a great time.....any day in Ybor is destined to be an adventure!!
And the sun setting over the gulf can be one of the most gorgeous skies!
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

And here's mommie!

2009-05-15T04:05:00.002-04:00

It's a BOY!!!

2009-05-02T14:30:00.007-04:00

My youngest, Lea and Alex are having a little baby boy!!!! Due September 18th.
A little Virgo baby! How cool is that?
This will be my first grandbaby and Karl's third!!!! :)
It's so hard sometimes to believe Lea is old enough to be a mommie......was it really that long ago? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............
To view 4D video please Click here

Be True to Your Dreams

2009-04-18T08:34:00.006-04:00

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.
Dream.
Discover!

~Mark Twain

The Zen Forrest Restaurant

2009-04-05T08:54:00.005-04:00

Our most favorite place to eat......the Zen Forrest has won our heart and taste buds with the most incredible tastes we have ever experienced......

An elegant and cozy place snugly hidden in New Port Richey, the Zen Forrest has been serving the Tampa bay area for over five years now. Happy to be the culinary doorway to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, as well a fusion of international and American flavors.

Chef Victor Wang has had over 20 years of restaurant industry experience. A family with generations in the restaurant industry, his entry into the restaurant world was that of a very young age.

Victor has traveled throughout Asia, and the States picking up recipes and ideas everywhere he went learning from chefs of various cuisines.
Chef Wang is an avid believer in the benefits of balanced nutrition and the philosophy of “Food as Medicine.” Studies have shown that many human ailments are caused by a lack of or excess of certain nutrients.
Also, many foods have been proven to help prevent many human illnesses. Chef Wang has read studies regarding these foods and combines these findings with his own cooking style.

2009-04-05T08:45:00.004-04:00

Zen Forrest Rolls with Hot and Spicy Lemon Mustard Sauce

Absolutely the BEST....and I do mean the BEST... Tuna Tataki on earth!!

2009-04-05T08:27:00.007-04:00

The most delicious General Tao's Chicken ever ever ever........with Wasabi Mashed potatoes and cooked Veggie Bean Sprouts
You have to try this dish....it is like no other General Tao's anywhere......
Fresh hormone-free chicken breast cooked to perfection.....absolutely scrumptious......My favorite dish of all time!

Incredible homemade desserts.........this is their mouthwatering Raspberry Cheese Cake....simply the best!

2009-04-05T07:28:00.008-04:00

Food so yummy nary a morsel left........

Still not convinced?????

Where was the last place you went that made you behave like this......:)

If you are ever in the area, or even remotely close, or in the mood to travel cross country or fly overseas........this place will definitely make your trip worth while.....you will not be disappointed!
Guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more......!!!!

Night Shot

2009-04-01T06:53:00.009-04:00

My first night pic to come out half way decent!
Taken for a photography class assignment.

This is our Electric Company Substation in town. My hope was to try for a cityscape, but living in a small town, this was about as city as I was going to get for the night.

Aside from all the mind blowing things to tweek for a perfect photo, aperture, lighting, speed, ISO, white balance, composition, yaada yadda yadda, my thoughts kept going back to what passerbyer's (hmmmm....is that a real word!?) might be thinking as I patiently sit waiting for that "golden moment" when the lighting is just, you know, perfect!
In this day an age of terrorism and suspicion, one never really knows the thoughts or intentions of another.
So with that lovely thought in mind I tried to be more obvious in my activity as to not appear suspect with a ready excuse of blaming my photography teacher should an explanation be necessary!

Oh, and for the record, I know I know, I really blew the "rule of thirds" on this one, but, geeeeeeezzzz, there's just so much a brain can handle at one time! LOL!

The Life of Mr Snowman

2009-03-29T16:06:00.006-04:00

Today I'm uploading photo files to their new home......my trusty EHD what would I do without you!?
And so I come across this little guy I nearly forgot about.
Created just barely a month ago and marking one of Florida's coldest night of the season.
Meet the Florida snowman......ok.....so he's but only 4 inches tall...nonetheless.......he is authentic in his making.........and a rare site for these neck of the woods.
Is he not just the cutest 'lil thing??
Shortly after sunrise, the mornings heat melted Mr Snowman's round belly and off he went, skiing down the roof of the car, sliding down the windshield, and speeding off the hood and air borne onto the warm driveway.

Along comes Trissy, our number 2 Rat Terrier and quickly gobbles up Mr Snowman..........twig eyes and all...........................

Oh, Mr Snowman....how short your life.....but what smiles you brought to your owners as we carefully affixed your scruffy little arms and beady little stick eyes........you fell apart so many times.........by the time we had you built to perfection you were nearly half the size you started out to be.......we laughed so hard.......!

2009 Weblog Awards

2009-03-17T07:59:00.006-04:00

Big ***TOOTS*** to Ree Drummond for taking top prize at the 2009 Weblog Awards for her site
http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/

Ree won Best Photography, Best-Designed Weblog and Weblog of the Year.

As an admitted stalker of Ree's site I look forward to her wonderful sense of humor as she shares her daily life of photography, gardening tips, Do-it-Yourself ideas, and scrumptious recipes!

Here's to you girl..........Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

Masks and Brushes

2009-03-15T20:21:00.004-04:00

Couple of pix created playing around with masks and brushes........

Textures

2009-03-15T09:11:00.024-04:00

Had fun this morning playing with some textures by Textures by Paul Grand Click here
Check out his site if you get a chance....please remember to leave some luv!!!
You can also find a huge variety of super cool textures at
http://mayang.com/textures/index.htm
...............have fun!!!!!
Off to take the pups to the park.....another gorgeous day in Florida!!! :)

Miss Kitty

2009-03-08T19:08:00.005-04:00

Found time to play a bit today........this is Miss Kitty....this day unlike most she was quite cooperative for our little photo shoot........isn't she just the cutest?

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."

2009-03-07T16:14:00.010-05:00

This quote by Dorothea Lange is the basis of this weeks creative assignment. To explore our hometown with new eyes. To see what we have never stopped to see before.
In the busyness of our daily lives we too often forget to stop and "smell the flowers". To stop and take notice of the small things, sometimes the important things. Sometimes the big things.
Today I spent some time visiting our local Humane Society. A place I pass by almost daily, never giving thought to the needs that might exist there. What I saw was quite sombering...but also encouraging....as the volunteers who dedicate their time to making the world a better place for these precious animals are a testament to what wonderful works can be accomplished when it comes from the heart.
Being the owner of 4 amazing dogs.......and loving them dearly.......it was heartbreaking to see the eyes of these creatures longing for a loving pat on the head.......a buddy to play ball with, a warm blanket to cuddle to, the joy of having a happy and loving "real home".
They ask for so little and give so much.
The Humane Society's purpose is to eliminate animal suffering and provide pet adoption education and counseling to the public. Their goal is to engage the hearts, hands and minds of the community to help all animals.
The Humane Society is a private non-profit organization and depend on the goodwill of others.
Please consider adoption, becoming a foster family, volunteering, or donating to your local chapter.

Lesson 1

2009-03-05T21:42:00.007-05:00

Today's my birthday! Yaaay....happy birthday to me!!!
Hubby and I spent the day at Epcot. :)
P.S. Free admission on your birthday.......another Yaaay!!!
Loving all the photo opportunities and completed Lesson 1 for my photography class with Candice Stringham at http://www.jessicasprague.com/

This week’s technical assignment was to take two photographs of someone or something in motion using the TV mode on my camera.
One shot at a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion and one at a slow shutter speed to show the blur of the motion.
Here are my results.
The more pictures I took, the more I studied my results, paying attention to all the settings, the more it started to make sense! Like....aaahaaaa......I get it!! :)

Kubivet

2009-03-01T10:32:00.002-05:00

For those into Digital Scrapbooking, Kubivet offers beautifully creative digital kits for free....
Please remember to leave some luv if you download! :)
http://kubivet.blogspot.com/

And on a different note....

2009-03-01T10:19:00.003-05:00

I found this story on the news this morning quite incredible.....

Now it's been a long time since my children were in school......and I do remember the days of requests for funds to help defray the cost of daily supplies for the children.....but isn't this just a bit much.........

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090108/SCHOOLS/901080424

And we're off........

2009-03-01T09:46:00.011-05:00

So the much anticipated day arrived....... I was super excited about the Gasparilla 5K race....hubby spent 2 days trying to conjure up ways to get out of it! But being the great sport that he is we headed to Tampa at 6 in the morning yesterday!
Our first stop....(and I only mention this because I was quite amazed at what we discovered) was MCDonalds for a quickie "energy" boost...lol...nothing like greasy deep fried hash browns to get the body rev'd up!
And though it's been a long time since I've been inside a Mikey D's, this one was quite impressive.
The place was immaculate. The floors were covered in beautiful faux wood tiles, stylish green covered booths, comfy sitting chair areas like you see in popular coffee shops, classy looking light fixtures, and rich brick lining the walls which displayed beautiful rain forest photographs. And the bathroom.......beautiful granite counters and lovely amenities of silky lotion soaps and wonderfully smelling hand cream.
The staff were decked out in professional looking suit type attire all crisp and styling.
And as much as I wanted to, I think I would have really been pushing my luck with hubby if I had gone as far as to photograph them too.......As it were I think he was trying to look like he wasn't my other half as I walked around snapping pictures of all the cool additions to this little "hamburger joint"

Gasparilla Distance Classic 2009

2009-03-01T09:35:00.007-05:00

A yearly event, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, raises funds to provide the necessary athletic equipment and support required for people with disabilities to stay active and involved through participation in sports.
This was our second time participating in this event and I proudly say my run time excelled that of 2006......OK........so only by 17 seconds.......but hey......at nearly 52 years old and counting, it sure seemed BIG to me!

2009-03-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

Words for Thought by Martin Gommel

2009-02-25T16:17:00.002-05:00

100 Things I’ve Learned About Photography

Since I found photography two and a half years ago I have learned different things which I would like to share with you today. These lessons have made me richer and I hope that you will find them refreshing and inspiring on your journey with the camera, too.

1. Never do photography to become a rock-star.
2. Enjoy what you are shooting.
3. Prepare well for your shooting, realizing that if your battery isn’t charged when you’re setting up for that sunrise shoot it's too late!
4. Always take one warm garment more than you actually need with you
5. Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions while you are shooting
6. Set goals you can achieve
7. Write tips about photography, because writing is also learning
8. Never go shooting without a tripod
9. Be pleased with the little prosperities
10. Build relationships with potential photo buddies
11. Watch the place you want to shoot first with your heart then with the camera
12. Always stay calm
13. Know that you tend to overestimate yourself
14. Perspective is the killer
15. Dedicate yourself to photography, but never browbeat yourself too much
16. Take part in a photography community
17. Keep your camera clean
18. Never compare yourself to others in a better or worse context
19. Find your own style of photography
20. Try to compose more and to hit the shutter less
21. Seek out and learn to accept critique on your images
22. Do something different to recover creativity
23. Get inspiration from the work of other photographers
24. Criticize honestly but respectfully
25. Get feedback from your significant other
26. Don’t copy other photographer’s style
27. Be bold
28. Take care of the golden ratio
29. 10mm rocks!
30. Take self portraits
31. Read books about photography
32. To give a landscape photograph the extra boost, integrate a person (maybe yourself)
33. Every shooting situation is different than you expect
34. Pay attention to s-curves and lines
35. Always shoot in RAW
36. Keep your sensor clean, so you can save some work cleaning your image in post production
37. Discover the things you think are beautiful
38. It takes time to become a good photographer
39. The best equipment is that what you have now
40. You can’t take photographs of everything
41. Break the rules of photography knowingly, but not your camera ;)
42. Pay attention to the different way that light falls on different parts of your scene
43. The eye moves to the point of contrast
44. Clouds increase the atmosphere of a landscape
45. Start a photoblog
46. Accept praise and say “thank you”
47. ‘Nice Shot’ is not a very useful comment to write
48. ‘Amazing!’ isn’t useful either. Try to describe specifically what you like or don’t like about an image.
49. You are not your camera
50. Ask a question at the end of your comment on a photo to get a ping-pong conversation with the photographer
51. Do a review of your archives on a regular basis, the longer you photograph - the more diamonds are hidden there
52. Always clarify what the eyecatcher (focal point) will be in your image
53. No image is better than a bad one
54. Everyone has to start little
55. Your opinion about photography is important!
56. Leave a funny but thoughtful comment
57. Speak about your experiences with your photo buddies
58. Limit your photograph to the substance
59. Participate in Photocontests
60. Post processing = Optimizing your image to the best result
61. Shoot exposure latitudes as often as possible
62. Use photomatix as seldom as possible, HDR’s always have a synthetic flavor
63. Always remember what brought you to photography
64. Never shoot a person who doesn’t want to be photographed
65. Always turn arround, sometimes the better image is behind you
66. It’s who’s behind the camera, not the camera
67. Mistakes are allowed! The more mistakes you make, the more you learn!
68. If you have an idea and immediately you think : No, this is not going to work - Do it anyway. When in doubt - always shoot.
69. Understand and look to your histogramm while shooting. It delivers very important information about your image
70. Know your camera, because searching the menu button in the night is time you don’t want to waste
71. Shoot as often as possible
72. Believe in yourself
73. Don’t be afraid of getting dirty
74. Pay attention to qualitiy in your image
75. Your photographs are a personal map of your psyche
76. Re-check your ISO-Settings. It’s aweful to detect the wrong settings on your screen.
77. Be thankful for long and thoughtful comments on your images
78. Never trust your LCD. Normally it is brighter and sharper than the original image.
79. Provide for enough disc space, because it’s cheap and you will need it.
80. Learn to enjoy beautful moments when you don’t have a camera with you.
81. Always arrive at least half an hour earlier before sunrise / sundown, composing in a hurry is a bad thing.
82. Try to amplify your mental and physical limits. Takes some extra shots when you think “it’s enough”
83. Pay attention to structures in the sky and wait until they fit into structures in the foreground
84. Visit the same place as often as possible. Light never shows the same mountain.
85. Print your images in big size. You will love it.
86. Calibrate your monitor. Working with a monitor that is not accurate is like being together with someone you can’t trust. It always ends badly.
87. Don’t think about what others may say about your image. If you like it, it’s worth publishing.
88. Never address reproaches to yourself. Learn from your mistakes and look forward, not backward.
89. Fight your laziness ! Creativitiy comes after discipline.
90. Ask yourself : What do you want to express in your images ?
91. Always try to think outside the box, collect new ideas about photographs you could do and ask yourself : Why not?
92. Search for a mentor.
93. Photography is never a waste of time.
94. Every community has it’s downsides. Don’t leave it out of an emotional response.
95. There will always be people who will not like what you are doing.
96. Henri Cartier-Bresson was right when he said that “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”
97. A better camera doesn’t guarantee better images.
98. Always have printing in mind when you postprocess your images.
99. Photography is fair : You gain publicity with the quality of your images. Unless the images are stolen, there is no way of cheating yourself higher.
100. Write a 100 things list

Mine added to the list....
101. Have a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Wish by Rascal Flatts HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-02-25T13:27:00.003-05:00

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window,
if it's cold outside,
show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more then you take.

But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
this is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
may all your dreams stay big.

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-02-25T13:27:00.001-05:00

Busch Gardens, Florida 2008

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2009-02-25T12:52:00.004-05:00

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Lexi Fleur

2009-02-25T12:51:00.004-05:00

Shelbs

2009-02-25T12:51:00.003-05:00

One Fine Morning in Mendocino, CA 2008

2009-02-25T12:51:00.001-05:00

Russian Gulch State Park, Mendocino, California 2008

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That look................

2009-02-25T12:50:00.001-05:00

Eyes of the skies

2009-02-25T12:49:00.002-05:00

My favorite SMILE.................

2009-02-25T12:49:00.001-05:00

Conversations of days gone by, Within these walls I've heard it all

2009-02-25T12:48:00.003-05:00

Love Someone with all your Heart

2009-02-25T12:48:00.002-05:00

California, Albion River Bridge Built in 1944

2009-02-25T12:47:00.000-05:00

Photo taken in beautiful Boulder, Colorado 2007

2009-02-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

Ladies of the Carriage

2009-02-25T12:45:00.000-05:00

Mendocino, California 2008

2009-02-25T12:36:00.000-05:00

2008-03-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Florida sunset, Hernando County 2007

2008-03-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day rose, 2007

2008-03-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

Mountains of Colorado, Spring of 2007

2008-03-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

From my Garden

2008-03-01T14:50:00.000-05:00

Hunter's Lake

2008-03-01T14:49:00.000-05:00

Sponge Docks Tarpon Springs, Florida

2008-03-01T14:48:00.000-05:00

Frisco, Colorado 2006

2008-03-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

St Pete Pier 2007

2008-03-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

Busch Garden Florida 2006