Not One Stinkin' Thing

I have been playing around with my new camera today along with downloading some new actions that I would highly recommend if you have Photoshop or Elements....so therefore I have not accomplished one stinkin thing all day long.

New camera shots....

New actions....Addy Lane is going out of business so she is offering all of her actions at 30% off with the code FINAL30 when you checkout.  Here is a link to her site if at all interested. I enjoy using actions...they make editing so much simpler and since these are on sale, even better.  

And I can't believe I have actually done this, but because I did cancel my trip to Italy due to the fact I did not want to be so far away in case I had a sweetie emergency, but have been itchin' to go someplace with camera in hand, I just signed up for a week-long photography workshop in The Great Smokey Mountains in October.  The instructor is from my neck of the woods and has been doing photography workshops and teaches photography at a local Chicago college for years.  I spoke with him on the phone and I just decided to go for it....if you don't continue to grow, you die on the vine.

Sharing with my friend, Nancy over at A Rural Journal for.....

"Doubt who you will, but never yourself."  ~  Christine Bovee

Until next time....

A Clickin' Good Time

Signed up a month or so ago for the Chicago Clickin' Mom's Photo Walk....did the Scott Kelby walk a couple of years back and enjoyed it so thought I would give this a try.  Fun.  Met quite a few photographer's from my town and surrounding towns, so maybe this will lead to more photo walks with like-minded camera nuts like me.  Altho most of them were young Moms, I mean really young, it was fun.  Quite a few of them had taken classes from Clickin' Moms and everyone of them had nothing but praise for whatever class they took.  I belong to Clickin Moms, but I have never participated in any of their classes....thought they were a might pricey, but now that I have talked to many that were so positive in their feedback, decided to give it a whirl.  Starting a new class with them in October.  And will definitely provide you with feedback for any of you that are interested, but hesitant like me.  Have always enjoyed Tracey Clark's classes, but feel like hers are more inspirational than teachable/definitive stuff.  I need some teachable stuff now. Does that make sense??  

Anyway....it was another beautiful day in Chicago.  We have truly been blessed lately with gorgeous weather, and I think it is predicted to continue...yippee!!  A great day for a camera walk.  We met at a  park really close to downtown Chicago.  So much wonderful activity going on in this square block park, kids playing, women sunbathing, couples picnicking, a dog park, men reading on benches....just like the suburbs only this was only a couple of blocks from downtown Chicago.  Lots of new condos, apartments & townhouses in this area which I believe was once almost a ghetto.

Not every apartment building was brand-spankin' new....some definitely needed some renovating....

While others were lookin good.  Wonder if any of these residents work at that USG building right next to them?

As we wandered there were always signs that life was tough for some folks....

I worked in downtown Chicago for several years, taking the train in and out of the city everyday 5 days a week.  Not once did I stop and really look at this beautiful building, what a truly special landmark we have here.  But today, I did....enjoying every detail.

And this is where I met one of the Amtrak police officers...

And I also met Fred....and his spiffy hat!!

We came out of the train station just in time to see the bridges rising to let the sailboats pass under. They do this in the Fall and again in the Spring as the sailboats return or leave their winter storage spots.

Walking back toward the park where we began we passed Old St. Pat's Catholic Church....couldn't pass by this historical church without at least stopping in for a moment.  St. Pat's opened it's doors in 1846 and is one of the few buildings that survived the Chicago Fire.  Lot's of history with this old church.  Today a wedding was scheduled for 1:00 PM so we were there just prior to the wedding party arriving.  Wonder how many thousands of couples have been married in this old church?

I have about 300 more pictures, but I think I'll stop now and go to bed.  A great day, well spent with my camera and a group of really special ladies.

"A little of what you fancy does you good."  ~  Marie Lloyd

Until next time.....

It's Friday....

Friday Stuff....A Little About Me and My Workings...

I love animals....especially dogs.  I even stop on the street and ask owners if I can take pictures of their sweet puppies.  Perhaps that is the reason I brought home my sweet Cinder. Toby and Cinder are still in the "what is she still doing here??" stage.  I am hoping that eventually they will become buddies, there are no fights, just no cuddles.

I am a very impatient driver and this is probably caused by the fact I never seem to leave the house on time for wherever or whatever I am doing.  Like today, for instance...my granddaughter, Bailey, texted me (young people have lost the ability to dial a phone number I am totally convinced of that) to meet her for lunch today.  I love the fact we do that, usually at least once a week.  But because I left later than I should have, I managed to hit every red light, get into every traffic tie-up possible.  I was pounding my fist on the steering wheel, obscenities were streaming from my mouth, every driver was an idiot, definitely not lady-like.  All because I didn't leave the house on time. I can fritter away time like nobody, thus the late to everything syndrome.  Is there a cure for this??

I always sleep on the right-hand side of the bed.  If I am forced to move to the middle or to the other side, I can't sleep.

I've been watching some of the new shows on TV...my favorite so far is "The Black List" with James Spader.  When he was younger he was quite the looker, now not so much, he is balding and has become somewhat paunchy, but I still enjoy those interesting characters he portrays. The show is little intense but an interesting concept. Give it a try.  I also watched the new Michael J Fox comedy...cute and The Trophy Wife...funny, made me laugh.  The Goldberg's had too much screaming and head pounding for me.  There just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I need or want to do.  Reading, I love, photography I love, editing my photos, I love, writing my blog, I love and I enjoy watching good TV....so how do I squeeze everything I love to do into a day along with doing a little (I said little here) housework, gardening, and being with friends? Something always gives and it's usually housework.

I love Fall...that's it, I just love Fall.  The colors, the sunny days & cool nights, sweaters, anything, I mean anything pumpkin the taste, the smell, the look, Thanksgiving its a favorite holiday, I even enjoy a good football game maybe once a season.

And my Friday Find is....I bought a new camera, the Nikon 7100, just arrived today.  Have barely had a chance to test it out, but it has received such raves I decided to indulge myself.  I have had several family shoots lately, so I saved the money I made from these shoots and invested in this new camera.   Will let you know how I like it.  I have already discovered one thing added on this camera that I like....a little knob on the top of the wheel that must be pushed in to change the shooting mode - Manual - Aperature Priority - Shutter Priority  etc.  Prior to this the wheel turned without having to press anything.  Many times I would find myself shooting in a different mode simply because the wheel had been accidentely turned without my knowledge. Just a little extra something that I was delighted with.

Sharing with Nancy's Random Five on Friday and Kim's Friday Finds....
  

"If you rest, you rust."  ~  Helen Hayes

Until next time.....

A Poem

A Poem

by Ganga White

What if our religion was each other?

If our practice was our life?

If prayer was our words?

What if the Temple was the Earth?

If forests were our church?

If holy water - the rivers, lakes and oceans?

What if meditation was our relationships?

If the Teacher was life?

If wisdom was self-knowledge?

If love was the center of our being?

Certainly words to ponder.....

Until next time.....

While Lane Was In Town...

My Handsome Son (look at those blue eyes!!)

While my son  Lane was in town the weather was beautiful every single day, ofcourse with him being from California, a beautiful day is rather common in his world.  But considering this is the midwest, we sometimes are not that fortunate to be blessed with bright sunny skies and cooler temps.  Saturday we took advantage of Mother Nature's good mood, deciding it would be a good day to attend the Native American Indian event in our city.

Almost immediately after parking the car to walk to Naper Settlement, we could hear the native drums. As we walked thru the gates, not only could we hear the drums louder but the smell of "fair" food was everywhere.  I LOVE "fair" food....it probably is the worst food in the world if you are trying to eat healthy, but resisting it is almost impossible.  However, we had just finished a delicious breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Egg Harbor Cafe where I managed to eat scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and 2 pumpkin pancakes rolled up with cream cheese stuffing, a total belly banquet. (probably not so healthy either) So eventho I LOVE "fair" food, there would be no elephant ears for me on Saturday.

What fun to see all the wonderful American Indian dress, watch them dance, talk with them to discover which tribes they were from.  There were children as well as adults, old and young, some in full dress, other's with nothing more than a a piece of jewelry or a feather.  I was fascinated by all and so admire them for keeping their traditions alive.

And because it was such a beautiful day we decided to walk into town and do a little shopping.  Lane wanted to buy his wife, Nelly, a little something since she was not able to come with him. Now how can I resist a little shopping, especially when he suggested we stop in Pottery Barn.  As we crossed over the bridge, we spied this cute scene....a Dad and Daughter creating chalk art on the Riverwalk sidewalks.

That evening we ran out for some take-out, brought it home and watched both of the new Star Trek movies "On Demand".  I had not seen either one, and they were fun.  Love the new casting, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is a cutie.  Sorry, William Shatner, you were just getting too old.  Recommended watching!!

Joining Nancy's Tuesday Muse....

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

-- Groucho Marx

Until next time.....

The Walk....

Well, this was it....this was the weekend that had been marked on my calendar for months, the Walk for Alzheimer's.  In years past, the thought had crossed my mind that it would probably be a good thing to do, but like so many other things in my life that I think are good things to do, ie: exercise, lose weight, clean out the basement or the garage, I tend to put them on the back burner.  Kinda like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind....I'll think about that tomorrow.  But this year I didn't put it on the back burner, I wanted and needed to do it.

Like many, I went to the Alzheimer's Website, found the weekend that was scheduled for my home-town and with determination added my name to the list to be a team leader.  Now it began.  Sending out e-mails to friends & family members, bravely adding the information to donate on this blog, adding it to my facebook page...anyway I could think of to get the word out that I was attempting to raise money for this fight against this disease that took my sweetie far too early in our lives.

I can say with great humbleness that I raised over $4,000 to this cause.  I am blessed to have so many friends that responded to this plea, friends that I had not seen for many years, you, my internet friends who I have never met, my friends that I see regularly and my family.  All so very generous.  My heart was filled to over-flowing when the monies kept coming in.  And to the 15 of us that walked yesterday, honoring all of those affected by this devastating disease, another feeling of gratitude that somehow words just cannot express.

The walk began at the North Central College football field....

We put on our T-shirts and wrist-bands

We all were given Memory Flowers, each color representing
 Purple - One who had passed away from Alzheimer's
 Yellow - One who has a loved one with Alzheimer's
 Orange - Supporting the Alzheimer's Foundation
 Green -  One who currently has Alzheimer's

After the opening ceremonies, the 3 mile walk began.  It was a beautiful day, temps in the upper 60's, clear blue skies with a few puffy clouds, a perfect day for walking.  Along with my family, several friends walked with us, supporting TEAM GARY.  There were 15 of us walking together and before we knew it, the Walk was over.

Besides having alot of my family at the walk and many friends, the bonus was having my two children together long enough to take a picture.

Lane left this morning on an early flight to LA, with a promise that he and his wife Nelly will be back at Thanksgiving which is only 67 days from today, but whose counting.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for those of you that donated to this most worthy cause.

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."  ~  Sam N. Hampton

                                                                                    
  Until next time....