Category: Uncategorized

Although I appreciate winter rains and days spent inside reading books and sipping hot drinks, the photographer in me longs for flowers and leaves and signs of life outside! I went outside in search of any sign that Spring might be on its way- and found some tiny buds on my plum tree.

In the above photo, my husband is checking his email on his iPhone first thing in the morning. Here are a few (very) random facts about our connections with and through our electronic devices:

• we sleep with 2 iPhones, an iPad and a Kindle Fire connected to outlets near our bed, as well as the usual lamps, house phone, and clock radio.
• when I can’t sleep, I reach for my kindle and read a book, e-mail, or blogs or play Words With Friends or Draw Something.  My husband gave me this new kindle for Christmas and hasn’t complained yet about me reading it at three in the morning- but I don’t think he likes it.
• sleeping with an iPhone can be dangerous.  Last month, I fell back asleep one night with the iPhone on the covers next to me. In the morning, my husband threw off the covers as he got out of bed, and the phone FLEW high up in the air and totally CLOCKED me on the left ear (I was asleep still). Owwwwwww. . .
• I read in a blog yesterday about someone disconnecting in December- no Facebook, emails, internet surfing etc.  I don’t think I’m ready for that.
• my husband uses his phone and computer almost totally for WORK- and often doesn’t take his phone when we go out, because he is not working. I feel very disconnected if my phone isn’t with me.
• when we travel, our laptops and all our devices and their chargers and cords accompany us.
• before I got into photography, I was immersed in genealogy research on the computer- and made many family connections.  Now, I’m connecting with photographers.
• I used to look at magazines or knit while watching TV- now I’m on the phone, iPad or kindle
• my family thinks I spend too much time on the computer.
• everything I’ve learned about photography has been online.
• I’m fascinated with and horrified by the phenomenon of catfishing (pretending to be someone else online).
• I’m on too many mailing lists and periodically go through and unsubscribe.
• but. . . I subscribe to my own blog (is that weird?).
• in the last 24 hours, I’ve received 99 emails (thought it would be more!)
• my daughter regularly connects with me by text, phone, and email so that I can see photos and videos of my grandsons almost every day. I’m so grateful for that connection!
• my grandsons connect with me through FaceTime and Skype- double grateful!
• in a recent workshop I attended, it was suggested that we connect with our hearts (our spirit, God. . .) before setting feet on the floor in the morning. I try to remember to do that before checking my e-mail.
• I don’t sleep with my camera- I had to run into the other room to get it when I saw this photo opportunity.

I’m thinking you will either relate to this post- or be appalled.  I’m already feeling defensive.

This little leaf CAUGHT in a twig CAUGHT my eye yesterday afternoon while I was wandering around with my macro lens.

I played with it a bit in Lightroom and then added one of Kim Klassen’s textures (weathered) at low opacity.

It’s Day 366- the last day of my Project 366 for 2012!  I have a great sense of satisfaction in completing this project for the second year in a row. I’ll still be here- so please keep visiting my blog!

Thanks to all of you who stop by and encourage me; I truly appreciate your comments (online and in person).

Have a very Happy New Year- see you in 2013!

This will warm your heart.  Be sure to watch til the end.  ❤ ❤ ❤

Congratulations, San Francisco Giants- 2012 World Series Champs!!!!

I started the day by following the theme, abstract, for Our Daily Challenge.  I challenged myself further- OK, I was just lazy- by looking for something on my desk to photograph.  Within 5 minutes I had uploaded this photo to Flickr.

 

The next two photos are just ordinary items I felt like photographing . . .

 

 

And now for a pop of color and texture- just for fun. . .

I almost forgot to do my blog today. We babysat the boys all day, and there was hardly a moment to snap a picture!

Here are some shots of Henry in the bath. Enjoy those curls now- I hear that the curls in the back may be trimmed soon. . .

Begins with H is the theme for today. I ended up going with HAPPY, because I have been intending to photograph this cheerful, plaster sun, given to me by my friend, Carol for my birthday.  Carol and I are going to attend a Photoshop seminar given by Scott Kelby tomorrow in Sacramento, and both of us are certainly happy to be able to participate in a whole day of Photoshop classes!

The weather in Benicia is overcast and gray today, which may explain why I chose to process this image as a stark black and white (which does diminish its cheerfulness, I’m afraid).

Theme: Starts with W

WINE!

I am so grateful for my hands! I took them for granted until a few years ago when my almost lifelong carpal tunnel problems and more recent tendonitis began to impact the use of my hands. I had surgery on my right hand in December and plan on having my left taken care of in a few months. I have regained some feeling in the fingertips of my right hand and am now working on rebuilding some of the muscles.

Today’s theme is your own hand, a very appropriate topic for me. Here I am making cubes with my putty- good practice for developing a pincer grip (it’s harder than it looks).