Over at Harry’s Beach Bar,
The music plays all night.
My date and I stopped in there,
To have a quick little bite.
Regrettably I’d told a tale,
About my rock star vocals,
How shocked I was,
To read the sign:
Karaoke TONIGHT for Locals!
No doubt, I was in a pickle,
For my singing he’d abhor,
So I excused myself…
To the ladies room,
And left through the back door.
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop were not there, I think the ocean would be less by that missing drop. Mother Teresa
Greetings Everyone! It’s been a couple of months since I opened up any of my Adobe programs, so I thought I would give it a shot today and see if the right side of my brain still works. I took this photo of an orange and dew drop when I was in my photography class, so today I added the hand and used scale and some paint effects to make it look larger than life. I thought it was fun.
My second year of school starts in two weeks, and once that’s finished I’ll be just one class shy of earning my Associates Degree in Psychology, so this time next year I should be finishing up and planning for my graduation and University transfer.
I’ve been contemplating what I want to do with my blog these days. I seem to be at a place where the only thing I have to talk about are my day to day activities; not exactly exciting material, but today just happens to be my two year and five months “sober anniversary,” so that’s something I thought was worth mentioning. Time just keeps flying by!
Once I figure out a more concrete direction for the blog, I hope to be posting more. For now, I’ll just keep checking in to say hello now and then, and share any photos or art that I drum up on my days off.
Peace and Love!
“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” -J.K. Rowling
After working on my last image The View, I got an idea for a new series I want to try.
And I’m going to try and stick to my guns this time!
I’m going to focus on images that have views or reflections within the photograph, similar to when I set out to do that “frames within frames” project some months ago.
But I’m going to do varying effects on one image- like my featured image that retains the photograph in the window reflection, but a sketched effect for the building and trees. I’ve been wanting to jazz things up, and this will give me some great practice and a new approach to some old images as well.
I love change!
A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea. -Helen Keller
We had some awesome cloud formations yesterday so I finally dusted off my camera and got a few new shots of the sky. Continue reading
Flowers on Fabric
In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock. -Thomas Jefferson
The wooden head here is actually part of a statue from that train museum. I believe it is Casey Jones, the railroad engineer- not to be confused with Teenage mutant ninja turtles.
This was a fun little project because I finally learned more about getting rid of edges after removing backgrounds, and the sky was brought in from somewhere else, as well, so I’m getting better at blending.
Of course, my mom walked by my computer and kind of freaked out when she saw it. “Why is there a head hanging from that tree?!??” So, to be clear—he is not hanging—he is looking down on the camera lens. I guess we see things differently.
Blessings!! Life is good and God is great!
I’m cheating again. Today I am not only grateful for flowers, I am grateful for birds!
Today I had a special moment. I had mentally decided to take a day off from photographing things, when I heard a familiar sound out front, by the wash.
Anyway… here are a few pics, straight outta camera. Love this guy!
Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow. Helen Keller
This is actually a shop in Jerome, Arizona—an old 1800’s mining town that I visited. It was a wild place back in the day, but it’s now a tourist attraction; full of coffee shops, restaurants, and cool art galleries. This particular building was used as a brothel in the early 1900’s, and it’s now a boutique.
Leaves from one of the trees that my dad planted, just hanging out over the wash after the rain.
Spray painted quotes that make you wonder…
THESE SYSTEMS ARE FAILING!
Up with Faith! Down with Buffy! (the vampire slayer??)
I’m still not great at candid shots of strangers, although it’s not due to lack of advice from Streets of Nuremberg. I seem to be accumulating a lot of backs and buns. (No… I don’t have some weird fetish!) Anyway… this is my zoo collection:
Peace and love everyone!
Well… I have been at this a good part of the day. It’s raining again and the fireplace is ablaze. This is kind of crazy stuff. Just having some fun with the water and some artsy effects.
Teardrops in the Japanese Maple
Reflection in the driveway
A rain drop on the Christmas lights
More Japanese Maple droplets
That’s all for now. Just enjoying these rainy days!
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable- that is when change is going to happen. Jillian Michaels
I took my camera to the park to get a little sunshine and see some new scenery. It seems my little friends were everywhere! 
Whew! Too much caffeine today and I can’t sleep! I’ve been wanting to do something with the lights that we have in the back because they’re fairly transparent. I’m always seeing things through them; leaves, clouds—things like that.
My grandson worked perfect for it. It’s supposed to be magical—but I think it borders on nightmarish. Not intentionally, mind you. It actually works though, because he’s always in his own little world, tuning everyone out.
The good news is I’m finally tired…
…and Christmas is almost here!
Play is the highest form of research. Neville V. Scarfe
That sounds like a fierce warning alarm, or the title of a good song! My joy is on fire! Anyway… the ornament wasn’t really AWOL. I was kidding. So… it’s been REALLY chilly here. Not so much outside, but inside. Our heater isn’t working!
Needless to say, I really DID find joy in the fire today.
God is great and life is good!
Last night I started thinking… hmm… I think I’m already bored of this little JOY ornament! That’s me: easily amused, but I tire of things quickly. But I’m stepping out of the norm, and sticking with it—even though my mind is saying NO NO NOOO. I think that makes it even more interesting. I’m going to have to find ways to make it humorous or entertaining!
Anyway, Joy heard the rumor that I was thinking about scrapping her and she tried to hide…
I found her though, and I even captured her in black and white. I’m keeping her close because I have to hit the rake….
and I’m worried I might lose her in there!
Call me crazy, but I have a plan. I’ve been wanting to do holiday photos but haven’t been getting out much yet. I picked up a $3 ornament and I’m going to use it as my prop for the next 13 days. Discovering Joy. Kind of like, Elf on the Shelf.
Sounds a bit childlike, but that’s how I feel and that’s how I want to stay this Christmas.
Have a joyful day everyone!
