Frost

The photo prompt was "Frost." And I immediately thought of the Robert Frost poem, so I chose a picture to go with it.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,


I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Stark Magnificence

I like the one lone bird in the top of the tree.

Current Netflix Obsession

POLDARK!

A terribly filmed and horribly acted British TV series from 1975 and I love it!!

I cannot tell you why I love it, I cannot tell you why I am obsessed with finding out what happens next. Maybe it's like love, with all it's strange chemical attractions. Or maybe it's because Katie and I started watching it when we were trapped in the house for a week straight and we were relieved to find anything to keep our mind occupied....whatever the reason, I'm hooked.

I tried to think of one thing that is good, but I couldn't think of one: there are no pretty or handsome actors in it. The setting is Cornwall and while that may be beautiful, they surely didn't capture it on film. I can barely understand many of the characters when they speak. The story is long and drawn out and hard to follow at times. The fight scenes are laughable. There's really nothing good about it.

So, I highly recommend it!!

Wrapped Up

The photo prompt today was to do something with towels. I immediately thought of wrapping a towel around the head like a turban. Katie and a couple of her friends were over this afternoon and so I asked them to pose for me. I wanted the feeling of an old portrait of white women in British India wearing turbans. What do you think?

Forgotten Beauty

Controlled Chaos

Signs Of Life

The photo prompt today: Signs of Life. Everybody was taking pictures of plants and birds. I just can't go with the flow!! So, I took a picture of waking Katie up... "2 More Minutes"

Then, the light was particulary interesting outside today...

I "Hart" You!

Today's photo prompt was "Things that warm the heart" or something to that effect. So, here's what I submitted:

It's a sewn heart and note made for me by Katie when she was little. I took the picture where it stays - in the china cabinet with all my other "treasures."

Then, I took it out and took its portrait. I didn't submit this one because it looked to stiff and staged. I like to take pictures of items in their natural habitat, haha!

And just as an added bonus, here are the icicles that are hanging from my damaged gutter:

I haven't seen icicles like these since I lived in NC!

More Photos

Every day I get a prompt and I have to take a photo that represents that idea. 

"Cracked Open"

"Quiet Beauty" 

"Everyday Use" 

"Textures"  

I love the way the lemongrass looks like it's trying to keep the lavender warm. I called this one: Compassion.

Balancing Act & Bundled Up

These were my latest 2 photos taken for my class.

Steave has always tried to impress me with his balancing act. It works. He's like a seal. I've seen him balance a bicycle on his nose before!

This is my North Face coat that I've had for 34 years. I got it for Christmas when I was 14. I've worn it, both of my kids wore it and I still have it. I sent an email to North Face and told them about my coat, it's age, etc. thinking that they would be amazed and like to use the story for advertising or something. They wrote me back and said, "that's great, we're glad you like it." So much for dreams of my coat having its 15 minutes of fame. 

I realize that I'm not technically proficient with the camera. Never have been. But I really like trying to interpret the daily prompts in a way that no one else does and I don't think that is the goal of the class. I think the goal is to try to get really great shots, not think outside the box. I get a lot of responses on my photos, but mostly how it makes them laugh or they didn't think of it that way. So, if a photo is supposed to illicit some sort of response, I am doing that. That's some sort of achievement, I guess.

Snowed In

If we get snow down here in GA it's usually a few flakes that makes everyone panic and run to the store to buy milk, bread and eggs. Well, we really got a good dumping of snow and a coat of ice. So, I've been in the house for 24 hours now and it looks like tomorrow won't be any better. I am not very fond of being "stuck" places - even if it's my own home.

So, Steave, Katie and I have been watching seasons 3 & 4 of Northern Exposure. A series that ran from 1990-1995. I enjoyed it then and I am enjoying it again. Chris is one of my all-time favorite characters.

Right after Christmas I went to The Corner Shop and saw Tina and her son. Her Mum was at home taking a day off. Needing to have "A Taste Of The UK" I picked up a few things that I haven't tried yet. I got a tiny Christmas Pudding and a can of Spaghetti that Tina's Mum suggested a while back and some shortbread.

I heated the pudding and gave it a try...

It was really good. It smelled like fruit cake and tasted like raisins. Then I heated the tin of spaghetti. I know we have Chef Boyardee, but Tina's Mum said the one from Britain was different.

It was different. I think it's not as sweet. The beans (for beans on toast) are not as sweet as our pork 'n beans. Katie and I munched on the shortbread, which I have to admit that I have had before and just as good as I remembered.
Tina and her Mum had rearranged the shop and it was quite nice with many new items that I had not seen before.

As you saw in previous posts I am taking an online photography class which is a blast. I haven't posted my last few pictures because to be honest I've just snapped quickly to get something turned in.

I am also in the planning stages of starting an art and crafts studio. I want to hold classes and grow an art and crafts community. I am very excited. Joel (urban expo) is designing my logo and hopefully I'll get a facebook group up by tomorrow and then maybe a blog after that.

I think I am doing all these things as a knee-jerk response to the "empty nest syndrome" but I think they're pretty good reactions and if they all don't really amount to anything, well, I've had fun doing it and being busy and I've managed to keep my mind off missing my kids.

Intended for Daily Use

These are my entries for today's photo class. Intended for daily use.

Photo Class Day 4

A coat of sunshine. Katie decided to paint her bookshelves yellow today which was perfect because my direction was to be inspired by sunshine.

Photo Class Day 3

Healthy Possibilities.

These are my chiropractor's hands and they give so many people the possibility of a pain-free future.

Photo Class Day 2

Today, we were to "look out." We were to get outside and find something that inspires us. I chose the giant trees in my backyard.

Photo Class Day 1

I'm taking a 30 day on-line photography class. Maybe that's misleading. It doesn't teach you how to take pictures exactly - it gives you daily assignments to complete. It inspires you to look at things and photograph them.

So, yesterday was my first day and the assignment was to take a photo that represented rest and relaxation. My classmates were taking pictures of spouses sleeping, pets sleeping, stacks of books on crumpled bedclothes, cups of tea, etc. Being the rebellious person I am, I couldn't copy that.

This is the photo I submitted as my classwork:

I added the caption "Rest is for the birds." I went on to say that it was raining here in GA and even the birds weren't coming out even for a bite. I got a couple of nice positive comments.