Have a terrific Tuesday....
Until next time......
Monday, October 31, 2011
Double Duty
Posting one pic for two spots....cute little pumpkin for Lisa's The Creative Exchange which has it's own new site beginning this week and for Kim's Texture Tuesday. Kim's requirement was to use her texture "and then some" this week. I used 2 layers, the 1st one on soft light at 100% and the second one at linear burn at 75%.
Have a terrific Tuesday....
Until next time......
Have a terrific Tuesday....
Until next time......
And It Ended with a Bang
What a fun filled weekend I had beginning with Friday Foto Fun with Catherine. Friday was another super-duper day and a ride to the country was definitely in order. As I was driving I spotted a beautiful yellow leafed tree in the middle of a corn-field that I just needed to stop and take a picture of for my Composition Class with Tracey Clark and while we were there we watched a Coopers Hawk land and sit atop some old fencing. I kept walking closer and closer and closer until I was able to get some really nice shots.
Composition image - Negative Space
Just barely out past all the subdivisions that seem to go on forever, we decided to take a side road, best decision I made that day. Right on the corner was a farm that had a market attached, beautiful gardens (but the flowers were definitely on their way out) and a large tent for receptions. A further drive down the same road revealed a horse barn with several horses, and while out snapping one of the volunteers drove by and invited us in to get really good pictures. After introductions we discovered this was a horse rescue stable where you could also board your horses as well. We meet all kinds of people on our travels. We inquired if there was anything we definitely should see along this route and we were told to go right next door to an old abandon house & barn. She said "haunted" but I didn't see any ghosts or goblins while we trapsed all over the property, but I admit we did not attempt to go inside the house or the barn just in case there were some left-over ghosts still roaming the halls. (more pics later of the horses & "haunted house")
The road.....
My only purchase at the farmer's market....
After a full day, Friday nite I had a date with my good friend, Marti. She had called earlier in the week and invited me to be her date since her husband would be out of town for the weekend to a "wine & cheese" party with a group called "the empty nesters" from her church. It was held at the home of a super nice couple named Jill & Robert, wonderful host & hostess. There was a plenty of thrilling ferment on the tongue wine to drink and many tantalizing cheeses to taste and a whole lotta yumptious nibbles. A total gastric delight.
What do you suppose the garbage men say when they empty the can holding all these empty bottles?? And this was just "some" of the many that were opened and enjoyed.
While at the party the discussion of fashion and what's the latest that the fashionistas will be wearing this fall & winter was a topic of conversation. According to Nate Burkus (love him) the scarf fashion this year is higher on the neck. Carolyn was the fashionista of the evening with her "higher" on the neck scarf. She enlightened us on how to wrap your scarf to get the "look". All of us that had scarves on that evening decided we needed to be part of the "new trend".
Carolyn (our instructor) is on the right, Marti (my date) and Jill (the Hostess with the Mostess). And me (oh, excuse me I was taking the picture). Great fun!! Great fashion!!
Saturday dawned and with it another beautiful day. Not to be wasted Catherine and I decided to just do a little more Friday Foto Fun on Saturday. We stopped at the hospital to visit our poor Elaine (the broken pelvis lady). She is headed off to rehab shortly so prayers are welcomed for a speedy recovery for Elaine.
All God's colors.....
This is the spot where we came upon the family trying to take their Christmas Card pictures and we jumped in and volunteered (see previous post)
Sunday came and with it clouds and prediction for rain. Oh no, it's the Sycamore 50th Anniversary Pumpkin Parade. And my granddaughter, Brie was home from Iowa State for the first time since she left in August. I was not going to miss it. Dressed warm, added scarf, gloves, and hat and I was ready. Met my grandson Brandon, Hilary (his wife), and the "new" boyfriend, Colton in downtown Sycamore for the big day. I can almost tell you what is going to be in the parade, I have attended so many of these. Always begins with the big wide motorcycles ridden by "senior citizens", various and sundry marching bands, pet rescues marching the dressed up dogs, Cub Scout Troops, Brownie Troops, Financial Institutions trying to get your money, politicians trying to get your vote, the Shriners driving those ridiculous small cars, etc etc. My daughter always marches with the Northern Illinois University Pom/Dance Squad since she is the coach, and also with a group of her dance students (which includes my 2 granddaughters) from her dance studio, Studio M.
Group of Latino Dancers, all had on these colorful skirts (wouldn't you have loved having one of these costumes as a little girl?)
Best Band of the day....a group called "The Fossils". A bunch of ex-band marchers getting together with various costumes (mostly jeans & sweat shirts) to play and march in the parade. Fun group, they even had cheerleaders and baton twillers, all way past high-school age.
These were quite original. A Bakery that placed "real" carved pumpkins on their heads and played cooking pans with kitchen utensils. Very entertaining.
And ofcourse there is a pic of my daughter, (she is the quiet one in front) and her girls from NIU.
And my "growing up too fast" Brie with her new main squeeze, Colton. They left right after dinner to drive back to Iowa State, a good 5 hour drive. Won't see her again until Christmas since I will be in California for Thanksgiving.
So, after a wonderful dinner and a piece of warm pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert it was time for me to head home. I stopped at their local Walgreens on the way back and guess what?? this is where the "it ended with a bang" enters the picture. It was dark, the pavement was wet with rain, I got confused and missed a stop sign and ran right into another car. Thank God neither of us were hurt, but boy are the cars hurtin'. Both had to be towed and both were 2011 cars. I felt really, really bad because the driver of the other car was a sweet young highschool girl, not hurt but really shaken up. Her parents were there within 5 minutes, thank goodness I had not driven very far, so my daughter, son-in-law, grandson & granddaughter-in-law were there within 10 minutes. Everyone was so nice, from the parents of the young girl to the police officer that handled the accident. But, my gosh, Deanna, 2
accidents in less than 6 months. I am starting to worry about myself. I went for many, many years without having an accident and now 2 in 6. YIKES!! But all in all a wonderful weekend, too bad it had to end with a bang.
"Life is a rollercoaster. Try to eat a light lunch." ~ David A. Schmaltz
Until next time......
Composition image - Negative Space
Just barely out past all the subdivisions that seem to go on forever, we decided to take a side road, best decision I made that day. Right on the corner was a farm that had a market attached, beautiful gardens (but the flowers were definitely on their way out) and a large tent for receptions. A further drive down the same road revealed a horse barn with several horses, and while out snapping one of the volunteers drove by and invited us in to get really good pictures. After introductions we discovered this was a horse rescue stable where you could also board your horses as well. We meet all kinds of people on our travels. We inquired if there was anything we definitely should see along this route and we were told to go right next door to an old abandon house & barn. She said "haunted" but I didn't see any ghosts or goblins while we trapsed all over the property, but I admit we did not attempt to go inside the house or the barn just in case there were some left-over ghosts still roaming the halls. (more pics later of the horses & "haunted house")
The road.....
My only purchase at the farmer's market....
After a full day, Friday nite I had a date with my good friend, Marti. She had called earlier in the week and invited me to be her date since her husband would be out of town for the weekend to a "wine & cheese" party with a group called "the empty nesters" from her church. It was held at the home of a super nice couple named Jill & Robert, wonderful host & hostess. There was a plenty of thrilling ferment on the tongue wine to drink and many tantalizing cheeses to taste and a whole lotta yumptious nibbles. A total gastric delight.
What do you suppose the garbage men say when they empty the can holding all these empty bottles?? And this was just "some" of the many that were opened and enjoyed.
While at the party the discussion of fashion and what's the latest that the fashionistas will be wearing this fall & winter was a topic of conversation. According to Nate Burkus (love him) the scarf fashion this year is higher on the neck. Carolyn was the fashionista of the evening with her "higher" on the neck scarf. She enlightened us on how to wrap your scarf to get the "look". All of us that had scarves on that evening decided we needed to be part of the "new trend".
Carolyn (our instructor) is on the right, Marti (my date) and Jill (the Hostess with the Mostess). And me (oh, excuse me I was taking the picture). Great fun!! Great fashion!!
Saturday dawned and with it another beautiful day. Not to be wasted Catherine and I decided to just do a little more Friday Foto Fun on Saturday. We stopped at the hospital to visit our poor Elaine (the broken pelvis lady). She is headed off to rehab shortly so prayers are welcomed for a speedy recovery for Elaine.
The Sumac bushes in front of the hospital are outrageously brilliant orange!!
After the visit we headed down to the Riverwalk. 
All God's colors.....
This is the spot where we came upon the family trying to take their Christmas Card pictures and we jumped in and volunteered (see previous post)
Sunday came and with it clouds and prediction for rain. Oh no, it's the Sycamore 50th Anniversary Pumpkin Parade. And my granddaughter, Brie was home from Iowa State for the first time since she left in August. I was not going to miss it. Dressed warm, added scarf, gloves, and hat and I was ready. Met my grandson Brandon, Hilary (his wife), and the "new" boyfriend, Colton in downtown Sycamore for the big day. I can almost tell you what is going to be in the parade, I have attended so many of these. Always begins with the big wide motorcycles ridden by "senior citizens", various and sundry marching bands, pet rescues marching the dressed up dogs, Cub Scout Troops, Brownie Troops, Financial Institutions trying to get your money, politicians trying to get your vote, the Shriners driving those ridiculous small cars, etc etc. My daughter always marches with the Northern Illinois University Pom/Dance Squad since she is the coach, and also with a group of her dance students (which includes my 2 granddaughters) from her dance studio, Studio M.
Group of Latino Dancers, all had on these colorful skirts (wouldn't you have loved having one of these costumes as a little girl?)
Best Band of the day....a group called "The Fossils". A bunch of ex-band marchers getting together with various costumes (mostly jeans & sweat shirts) to play and march in the parade. Fun group, they even had cheerleaders and baton twillers, all way past high-school age.
These were quite original. A Bakery that placed "real" carved pumpkins on their heads and played cooking pans with kitchen utensils. Very entertaining.
And ofcourse there is a pic of my daughter, (she is the quiet one in front) and her girls from NIU.
And my "growing up too fast" Brie with her new main squeeze, Colton. They left right after dinner to drive back to Iowa State, a good 5 hour drive. Won't see her again until Christmas since I will be in California for Thanksgiving.
So, after a wonderful dinner and a piece of warm pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert it was time for me to head home. I stopped at their local Walgreens on the way back and guess what?? this is where the "it ended with a bang" enters the picture. It was dark, the pavement was wet with rain, I got confused and missed a stop sign and ran right into another car. Thank God neither of us were hurt, but boy are the cars hurtin'. Both had to be towed and both were 2011 cars. I felt really, really bad because the driver of the other car was a sweet young highschool girl, not hurt but really shaken up. Her parents were there within 5 minutes, thank goodness I had not driven very far, so my daughter, son-in-law, grandson & granddaughter-in-law were there within 10 minutes. Everyone was so nice, from the parents of the young girl to the police officer that handled the accident. But, my gosh, Deanna, 2
accidents in less than 6 months. I am starting to worry about myself. I went for many, many years without having an accident and now 2 in 6. YIKES!! But all in all a wonderful weekend, too bad it had to end with a bang.
"Life is a rollercoaster. Try to eat a light lunch." ~ David A. Schmaltz
Until next time......
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Quite Accidental
Oh my word, I have taken so many photos in the last 2 days I will never get them all posted. Yesterday was Friday Foto Fun with Catherine and we headed out to the country again. The colors are blazing right now and we can't help ourselves in taking a ridiculous amount of images. More later on those images, but right now I am rather excited to share some other photos. Today, Catherine and I went on another jaunt, this time right in our fair city and as we were walking down by the Riverwalk there was a family trying to take their family Christmas Picture. Now ya gotta understand, neither Catherine nor I are a bit bashful. We stepped right up and offered to take their pictures for them with our cameras. They were a little hesitant at first, but decided OK, why not?? Oh, Catherine and I were in our glory, a whole family to take pictures of, posing, happy (oh except for the youngest, he so wanted to be doing something else), meanwhile I am doing a happy dance. We snapped away, tried different ways of posing them, I was so unprepared for this, but it was so much fun. We were both taking pictures at the same time which made it difficult for the family to figure out which of the two of us they should be smiling at. Our fault, I think we were so excited by this whole turn of events, we had no idea how to handle it. So I have been busy this evening editing what I think are the best of the group. Any feedback at all would be wonderful. But be kind, remember this is the first time doing this, no don't be kind. How am I gonna learn if I can't take criticism well. So have at it (I say that with hands over my eyes)...kidding!!
As I was editing I gave a vintage look to some of the individual portraits just to mix it up a bit. So here goes.....
Now that I look at this, I think Dad should have been standing next to Mom... I think this may be better if it is cropped instead of showing the whole bodies.
Again, Dad is kinda hanging out there, needs to be brought into the center somehow....
I thought the sun was too bright in this spot....too many shadows around their eyes.
OK, but still a little on the glare side....
The youngest daughter, she is only 15...wow, isn't she a beauty!!
This is the oldest daughter, she is 19 and is in college....love those freckles!!
As I was editing I gave a vintage look to some of the individual portraits just to mix it up a bit. So here goes.....
Now that I look at this, I think Dad should have been standing next to Mom... I think this may be better if it is cropped instead of showing the whole bodies.
Again, Dad is kinda hanging out there, needs to be brought into the center somehow....
I thought the sun was too bright in this spot....too many shadows around their eyes.
OK, but still a little on the glare side....
The youngest daughter, she is only 15...wow, isn't she a beauty!!
This is the oldest daughter, she is 19 and is in college....love those freckles!!
And the youngest who would much rather be playing with his electronic game than posing for Christmas pictures.....he is a cutie, tho it was hard to get him to smile.
And Mom, isn't she lovely? She and her daughters almost look like sisters. Such beautiful skin and NO wrinkles....
And last but not least, Dad. The head of the brood. Beautiful family!!
These shots were taken right smack in the middle of the day, which is not the best time for any kind of photography, if I could have a do-over I would try it earlier in the day, and arrange the family better so Dad and son were better positioned. But it was fun and I hope they enjoy the pictures.
"If you aren't making some mistakes, you aren't taking enough chances." ~ John Sculley
Until next time......
Thursday, October 27, 2011
He's Happy, I'm Happy
Why do bad things have to happen to good people? That is an age-old question that comes up regularly and to date, no one has been able to answer it. Yesterday, the sweetest 89 year old lady fell as she was walking out the door to come to Bible Study and ended up with a fractured pelvis. And yesterday was also the Wake for my friend that passed away from Cancer way too young. Bad things, good people. And you wonder why I watch mindless TV that makes me laugh. I feel very bad for sweet, Elaine. It is going to take a mighty heap of healing & recovery to get her back on her feet, and for my friend's family, they now have to adjust to a life without their wife and Mom. Sometimes I wonder what is God's plan in all this? Is it to help us recognize what's good in our lives when we see the bad? Maybe we cannot fully appreciate the good until we have experienced some not so good things in our lives? But gee wheez I sure would like to see the world with less hurt and ugliness and more beauty and happiness. OK God??
I did get some good news today. I drove up to see my sweetie and also to meet with the Director, the Activities Director and the Head Nurse for feedback on Gary's overall health and well-being. He is doing well, has actually improved in his capacities, behaves quite nicely, sweet, gentle, participates in activities and in fact they all said they would like everyone in the facility to be just like Gary. This makes me very happy and gives me that added confidence that I did the right thing at the right time. He's happy, I'm happy.
After attending the Wake yesterday I took the time to drive around our fair city and was pleasantly surprised to find a hidden park. I drove in and was totally surprised by all the beauty surrounding me. Ofcourse I had to stop and take a few photos a long the way.
I thought this was the cutest house all decorated for Halloween with that cobweb over the porch....
As I walked to my car, I heard this scraping sound, looked up and the squirrel was really attacking that nut in his mouth.
The path leading into the park....
A dead tree that had fallen in the woods with that wonderful moss growing on top...
Hope your days ahead a filled with all good things.
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Until next time.......
I did get some good news today. I drove up to see my sweetie and also to meet with the Director, the Activities Director and the Head Nurse for feedback on Gary's overall health and well-being. He is doing well, has actually improved in his capacities, behaves quite nicely, sweet, gentle, participates in activities and in fact they all said they would like everyone in the facility to be just like Gary. This makes me very happy and gives me that added confidence that I did the right thing at the right time. He's happy, I'm happy.
After attending the Wake yesterday I took the time to drive around our fair city and was pleasantly surprised to find a hidden park. I drove in and was totally surprised by all the beauty surrounding me. Ofcourse I had to stop and take a few photos a long the way.
I thought this was the cutest house all decorated for Halloween with that cobweb over the porch....
As I walked to my car, I heard this scraping sound, looked up and the squirrel was really attacking that nut in his mouth.
The path leading into the park....
A dead tree that had fallen in the woods with that wonderful moss growing on top...
Hope your days ahead a filled with all good things.
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Until next time.......
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Edit Me Week 23
It's Wednesday which means "Edit Me" is ready with another challenge. This week's Edit Me Challenge is from Wendy Wright a writer, photographer, homeschooling mom, and a Disneyland nut. She features her pictures on her website Choosing Love . Today she presented us with this challenge....and it was a challenge. The challenge was not her cute little boys but all that glaring and I mean glaring glare. I tried several ways to try and disguise it, but to no avail, so I just went with it and tried to ignore the obvious. I lightened and brightened and softened, added a frame and some pixie dust all edited in PSE 9. Now raise your glass to glare, something I could not make disappear.
Here is the original pic......
And here is my edit.....
Happy Wednesday everyone, hope your week has been glaringly (is this a word??) grand!!!
Until next time.......
Here is the original pic......
And here is my edit.....
Happy Wednesday everyone, hope your week has been glaringly (is this a word??) grand!!!
Until next time.......
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Colorful Days
Getting ready to watch "Last Man Standing" the new Tim Allen TV show, I watched it a couple of weeks ago and I laughed out-loud the entire 1/2 hour. We need things to make us laugh, because sometimes life just gets to be not fun. And watching a funny TV show is about the easiest and least expensive way to bring a little laughter into your life. Sometimes ya just need some mindless entertainment.
Speaking of entertainment, not the mindless kind, this morning I went down to our local book store to listen to the twice a year Carol's Book Talk. Carol, one of the ladies that works at the book store, gathers quite a few books in several genre's; fiction, non-fiction, memoirs all in paperback to give us book club lovers some ideas for future reads. Since I got my Kindle I still miss that feel & look of a book. An e-reader on your bed-side table doesn't quite have the same aesthetics as a real book. But, the e-reader is very convenient, easy to hold, easy to read, and so EASY to buy a new book, sometimes too easy. But with all the book-stores that seem to be going belly-up ie BORDERS, having an e-reader seems to be the way of the future. To spice things up, Carol always gives away some great books by answering a few questions, usually about "book clubs". One of the questions today was "where is the most unusual place that your club has met?" One lady speaks up and says "an airplane"....needless to say, that answer won that round. As she came up to claim her prize she revealed that their book club travels extensively, and went to Paris when they read "The Paris Wife". Our traveling from one end of our town to the other does not exactly measure up to her kind of traveling.
After Carol's Book Talk I decided to take a stroll along the riverwalk. The colors are in that absolutely gorgeous stage right now. The oranges, the yellows, the reds are jaw-dropping spectacular. And to think they will all be gone quicker than a squirrel can bury enough nuts for the season.
So here are some of the pics from my walk from yesterday around the neighborhood and today from a short walk at the Riverwalk, it started raining so my walk was shorter than anticipated
The marigolds still look great in my neighbor's yard.
A pretty little feather caught in the dried weeds....
Love these black berries against that pretty blue sky....
We have a ton of geese gathering at the pond across the street....
Isn't this an interesting bud on the sumac bush??
The riverwalk....
Oh those colored leaves make my heart go pitter-patter....
Another view of the riverwalk with an added texture from Kim Klassen.
Such lovely oranges ...
Leaves on one branch so many different colors.....
Well, these are just a few of the many photos I took the last 2 days. I just can't help myself when nature is so majestic with fall glory.
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." ~ Corita Kent
Until next time......
Speaking of entertainment, not the mindless kind, this morning I went down to our local book store to listen to the twice a year Carol's Book Talk. Carol, one of the ladies that works at the book store, gathers quite a few books in several genre's; fiction, non-fiction, memoirs all in paperback to give us book club lovers some ideas for future reads. Since I got my Kindle I still miss that feel & look of a book. An e-reader on your bed-side table doesn't quite have the same aesthetics as a real book. But, the e-reader is very convenient, easy to hold, easy to read, and so EASY to buy a new book, sometimes too easy. But with all the book-stores that seem to be going belly-up ie BORDERS, having an e-reader seems to be the way of the future. To spice things up, Carol always gives away some great books by answering a few questions, usually about "book clubs". One of the questions today was "where is the most unusual place that your club has met?" One lady speaks up and says "an airplane"....needless to say, that answer won that round. As she came up to claim her prize she revealed that their book club travels extensively, and went to Paris when they read "The Paris Wife". Our traveling from one end of our town to the other does not exactly measure up to her kind of traveling.
After Carol's Book Talk I decided to take a stroll along the riverwalk. The colors are in that absolutely gorgeous stage right now. The oranges, the yellows, the reds are jaw-dropping spectacular. And to think they will all be gone quicker than a squirrel can bury enough nuts for the season.
So here are some of the pics from my walk from yesterday around the neighborhood and today from a short walk at the Riverwalk, it started raining so my walk was shorter than anticipated
The marigolds still look great in my neighbor's yard.
A pretty little feather caught in the dried weeds....
Love these black berries against that pretty blue sky....
We have a ton of geese gathering at the pond across the street....
Isn't this an interesting bud on the sumac bush??
The riverwalk....
Oh those colored leaves make my heart go pitter-patter....
Another view of the riverwalk with an added texture from Kim Klassen.
Such lovely oranges ...
Leaves on one branch so many different colors.....
Well, these are just a few of the many photos I took the last 2 days. I just can't help myself when nature is so majestic with fall glory.
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." ~ Corita Kent
Until next time......