Short Story Long

  January is swimming along.  We went to the zoo a couple weeks ago, have been to walks in the park, to visit friends, and one day I convinced my middle kid to go pick up trash at the park with me.  And we put in a new kitchen faucet, which does not leak.  Currently, I have eight items captured and crossed off my annual photo list, which is better than usual for this time of year.  The weather has been mild, and the skies bright, and that always makes it easier for me to do photo-creating, whereas the cool and dark weather makes me want to sink into blankets and read or do knitting-creating.   I am working on sleeping better.  I am a night owl by nature, but it doesn't fit as well with the rest of my world to be up late.  Instead of sitting on the computer, watching or listening to something while I knit into the wee hours, I've been working on reading books, which I hear is better for sleep.  Not sure.  I am not so extremely tir...

I've been participating in this annual photo list challenge nine years, now.  What I like about it is that it pushes me to capture things I would normall pass by.  Some of the topic ideas leap readily to mind, but many are things that I have to hunt for, either literally or figuratively.  It also is good fodder for some interesting dates out with one of my boys.   It is one item longer every year.  I almost never get them all, but of course I do usually start the new year thinking I'm going to spread them out and get the shots I want for every single one.  This year, the list includes things like 'gargoyle' and 'at the water's edge'.  My oldest son and I were going to visit New York in April, and I thought that would be a perfect place to find a great gargoyle.  There are not many in Colorado!  Unfortunately, the state of the world made me reconsider our travel plans, and we did not go.  And with many of the items, it just did not w...

I've been too busy with I don't even know what!  So instead of trying to make up for October and November, here are some recent favorites from the 118 in 2018 photo list. You can find the rest of my (as of yet, incomplete) set here: on Flickr .   Did you accomplish what you meant to this month?  What will you accomplish before the year is up? 

I decided in favor of quality vs. quantity, this year.  At the end of last year (2015), I chose to round out my set with the best I had... it wasn't the worst but I did not to do that this time.  And there were some I just didn't want to shoot.  Here are some favorites from the this year's list.   creature comforts                                 a map out of place recycled clean                               nature's jewels                                     a gate You can see the rest of my set here . 

On the photo list for 116 in 2016, #50 super furry animal.  I met this sheep at Christmas and tracked it down again in January for a portrait.  How appropriate that s/he is eating fiber, eh?  Yes, I should know if it is a male or female.  But I don't.

I know, it's been a long time since I have blogged.  In the meantime, I have: ...gone to Vogue Knitting Live in New York!   I was excited to go; I've been to New York City but it's been upwards of 20 years.  Plus a few more.  I was excited, but I was afraid of being mugged, I tell you.  I went with Dianne, from Windy Valley yarns.   We stayed in Times Square - I loved it.  You can take pictures all night and they look like daytime; it was bright!  Our luggage arrived a day late - after our free day for sight-seeing.  We waited for hours , and by the time we finally decided to go without make-up or clean clothes, we didn't have time to see much.  I spent $33 on eyeliner, deodorant and aspirin.  Don't shop at the hotel.    I did not get mugged, and after a day or two, I went outside and up and down a few blocks, by myself.   There are so many places to eat!  We ate at Carnegie Deli, and I had a hot d...

For the 113-in-2013 photo challenge, I did not manage to get a great shot of each item that I was pleased with.  However, it did inspire me to get out and take pictures of things I would otherwise pass by, and that's the reason I do it.  Here are three of my favorites, all shots which I actually took specifically for this challenge. #5 one word #41 trees in a row #99 somewhere to sit You can see the whole set here .  I'm pleased that I got as many as I did - 74.  Better than the previous year.  I signed up for the next group, 114 in 2014.  I'm not sure how much I like this list.  In the past year, I found my self struggling to go out and shoot things, like "a baby picture of yourself."  I just don't find much room for creativity there, unless I spend an inordinate amount of time coming up with a crazy concept.  On the other hand, I know it stretches my thinking, and I enjoy the camaraderie of the group.   One...

I made a list of t en things I want to do this summer; reasonable things that are within my control, although perhaps somewhat ambitious.  Should I shoot for 10%?  Nah, I'm shooting for all ten.  At the very least, maybe 7 or 8.  Of course, besides these I'm still working on my garden - though putting that in the list would be cheating.  We all know that's a success, right?  We've eaten herbs out of it so yeah, that's already success.  And I'm working on my "113 in 2013" photo list, which I probably haven't posted about.  Will I get all 113?  I'm working on it, but it can't be done by the end of summer.  Here's my latest find, #52 cobweb.  (I'm not going in order.) Anyway, back to my 10 Things This Summer list: 1.  Knit a Christmas gift.  This might seem like an easy task for me.  It would be, it's just that so many other projects seem so much more urgent.  But that's exactly the opposite of what I ...

The early bird gets the best pictures, to be sure. On Wednesday, I went to my friend Tammy's house, and was greeted with lots of beautiful lupines that had sprung up since my last visit.  I was reminded of my mother-in-law, who loves lupines.  Tammy said she wouldn't mind my stopping by again with my camera, so I've been looking for lovely light.  Yesterday, the boys and I drove by, but it was too sunny.  This morning, I woke up to cool and cloudy skies, and even though it's Saturday, I knew it was time to get pictures of these lovely little flowers.   When I got back to my house, I sat outside at my favorite table, and enjoyed toast with homemade peach preserves , and loose leaf tea, which always seems fancier.  The birds are chirping and singing and I've got a handknit sweater to keep out the chill while the clouds burn off.  What's better than this? 

I'm staying afloat with my Project 365.  Today, I had a bunch of yarn pictures to shoot, and I was sitting on the patio (which was cold) and this flower just kept saying hi to me.  Finally, I took its picture.  Even in winter, the garden has hidden delights!

 

  I have finally stepped out into the 112 in 2012 challenge that I've been meaning to start for, oh, three plus months.  I know I've got several pictures that would qualify as something on the list, i.e. narrow depth of field, which I shoot almost every week, but I just haven't had the time to sit down to go through my pictures because I've been working on yarn pictures for Windy Valley! Several people have commented on my new header (thank you), and you can see my handiwork on their Peruvian Pima Cotton page.  Click on any ball of yarn to see the whole picture.  I've still got several more sets to finish editing and / or send to the webmaster, but I was just struck with the inspiration to get started on the 112 today.  I had fun arranging all my pretty little things for #30 pink and green.  One thing I love about this group is that there is a discussion thread for each item so you can see them all together, like this . More of my own pink-and-green...

Scott and Lana We arrive at day 25 of the new year.  I have managed to keep up with my Project 365+1 fairly well, although I have missed a couple of days already!  Better than last year, though.  Here's my picture from Saturday (above), when I took some family pictures of my friend Lana, and her family.  And they'll be adding to their brood, as you might be able to tell.  I love this picture of Lana; I think it illustrates how she is full of joy. So this 366 thing.  I can't figure out what it's supposed to be.  It's definitely not my best work to have to get a picture everyday.  Yesterday I was sick, and completely forgot.  I think this is supposed to make you a little more conscientious about using your camera.  I don't have that problem.  It probably drives some of my friends and family nuts when they see me coming with my camera.  Again.  But anyway, I'm going to keep on until I figure out what I'm doing. ...

Here's my third day of the 365+1 project; I will link to the whole set on Flickr on another day, or you can click My Flickr over there on the right.   One of the best things I ever heard come out of another person's mouth... When asked about competing against his friends, I once heard someone say, "My success does not depend on another person's failure."  If only we all believed in being our best instead of just beating the people around us, what a world that would be!  I bet you'd be surprised who said it.  Care to guess?  

graffitti black cat She'll sit all evening next to BFJ but try to catch her outside with good lighting and she runs around the yard.  Finally I caught her between a screen and a dirty window!  I like it, though. heritage Hand written notes in the end pages of my grandfather's Bible.  It is currently being rebound for my uncle by Denver Bookbinding, and they are keeping all the end pages.  candlelit In a candleholder my dad made. crunchy leaves fog/mist Since I don't live near much water that would lead to fog or mist, I had to settle for foggy car windows.  golden pumpkin The white, the gold colored ones, and the little oranges in the foreground are all from our garden! something eerie or creepy I ran into Frank the Rabbit (from Donnie Darko ; I still don't understand that movie) at the end of a haunted house for kids.  None of the creatures jumped out, which I guess was the kid part.  Personally, I found the silen...

September is drawing to a close. Here is my 'harvest' picture for the photo scavenger hunt.  Have any good tomatoes recipes or canning tips??

My latest photo venture.   1/100 John George. To read more about it, click on the picture!

something with your town's name on it (chalk drawing at the Chalk Art Festival) wheel trim architectural detail cheese night tree branches cutlery a farm animal view outside my door Items I neglected to shoot were 'an elephant', 'a childhood memory', and 'something that starts with z...'.  I had something in mind for all of these, just didn't get it done.  Yet. Blogger told me a couple of days ago that I had exceeded my upload quota, so I have put off updating my blog.  In order to prove to BFJ that there's a problem, I did this whole post - without any problem.  Of course. 

I had the opportunity to drive down to Oklahoma and meet my new niece!  My dad and I drove down to my sister's, my mom was already there.  We spent the night, and then the three of us left Wednesday to drive home.  It was a very short trip and I wish I could have had plenty of time to do a couple different photo shoots, but I had three little boys waiting for me back home.  I was very happy to have this little window of time to meet my niece while she's still brand new.  Considering I was there less than 24 hours, I did get to hold her a lot, and I got some great pictures, like this one of her holding my mom's finger.   I knitted a fun little photo prop thing that I had seen in some cute pictures, but unfortunately that project did not result in good pictures.  I think that there was a lot of variables that I just did not have time to fix.  My dad and I had a lot of fun on the trip south, looking for items on the Photo Scav...