Purple and the blues

I haven’t really been feeling very much like snapping pictures this week.   I think it is partly because the weather has taken a dip back into the cooler tips and rain has been hanging around too.   But I want to make sure I continue to participate in Shutterboo’s weekly challenge and this week’s subject is purple.   So I ran out in the front yard and snapped a couple pictures of these…

bluebells.   I least I think that is what you call them.  They look purple to me, so I’m going with it.  Yeah, yeah, I know the name says “blue” but give me a break will ya?  You probably noticed that I did a little more editing than usual on this one.   I’m trying out a program that I had heard about called Picnik.   It’s really kindof cool.   Lots of things you can tweak in your pictures and I am especially liking the way I can watermark my photos with this program.  

I’m always, always trying to get a good picture of the different kinds of birds that come to our feeder in the backyard.   I need to look these up in my bird book because I don’t have a clue what kind they are but I didn’t take the time to do that today.    So here are a few bird pictures that I edited and watermarked with Picnik.

Well, actually I do know what that big red bird is called, it’s a cardinal – duh!   It’s the other ones I don’t know.   I’ll work on that for you.

The Picnik program has a free verson and it is definitely work giving a try.  I think you’ll find it worthwhile.   Maybe next week will be a better “picture taking” week for me.  

Until next time then!!!

Kim

My Past

Before I was interested in photography and scrapbooking, I was interested in genealogy.   I still am to a certain extent I guess, but not as much as back then.   So I have a special interest in the past.   When the subject for Shutterboo’s weekly challenge was “past” I had so many ideas running through my head I didn’t know where to start.   But I had to choose and here is what clicked first

 

This is THE box of button from my maternal grandmother’s house.   She was a special person in my life and an excellent seamstress.  She sewed clothes, hand-stitched quilts and crocheted many afghans, hats and shawls.   She lived very close to us my entire life, being a big part of it, and therefore holds an extra special place in my heart.  All of the grandchildren (and even a great grandchild ) played with these buttons.   They’re not a pretty collection, or a particularly photogenic collection but they are a treasured collection to my family, and I am blessed to be their keeper.    Another treasure from my maternal grandmother is this

a homemade highchair.   It most certainly is not glamorous but it was functional for this family with 12 children.    I’m not sure my grandmother ever used it as she was the oldest of the children but a lot of bottoms did rest here throughout the years.    I treasure this family heirloom as well.  

I am one of those people who looks at old things and sees its history.   I like to imagine what its life held or where it’s been.   I guess that seems strange to some but not to me.  I don’t mind being around old people either.  I mean I don’t seek them out but they certainly are interesting if you just pay attention to them.   I especially like to hear them talk about things from the past.   After my grandmother died, I was delighted to be given this book.

I’m not really sure what the purpose of the book was and I know it is older, much older than my grandmother.   The front has the date August the 12 1865.   It has lots of little handwritten notes and poems signed by lots of different people.   I guess it’s a lot like signing someone’s annual only this was just a book, no pictures.   Tucked inside are family photos from the early 1900’s, letters from family members from the late 1800’s, obituary clippings from the newspaper dated 1970’s, even score sheets from my generation.   It’s quite a collection and most definitely another of my treasures.   This last picture was my contribution for Shutterboo’s photo challenge for week 11 “past”. 

I love the way all the memorbilia fills the frame and nothing in particular is in focus other than the spine of the book itself.

Hope you’ve enjoyed my little trip down memory lane.

Kim

I said I wouldn’t…

Yep, I said I wouldn’t do it and I didn’t.   Well, I kindof did, but I didn’t.   Let me explain.    Shutterboo’s photo challenge subject for this week is “curves”.   The first thing I thought of was a curvy road and I figured that was way too easy and I just wasn’t gonna go there.  And I didn’t, not really.   But I kindof partly did.    I didn’t use a curvy road picture for the challenge but I did take some curvy, walking path pictures which were similar to a curvy road.  So, I’m not really sure if that counts or not.  Since I ended up not using any of them I’m gonna say it doesn’t count.   And since it only matters to me, I guess I can say whatever I want about it counting or not, huh?

 Here’s what I thought was the “best” of the curvy path pictures. 

 

It was okay but nothing special in my opinion.    While taking path pictures I captured this and thought the color was nice, but still wasn’t what I was looking for.

 

I love that spring is popping up everywhere.   The walking path runs along this beautiful lake and I took this picture at the same time as the others above.

 I came very close to using it for my submission for the challenge.  I really like the curve of the bank and how it draws you into the picture.   BUT, while picking up puppy toys (imagine that) I glimpsed a view I probably otherwise would have missed.   THIS was it!  

I love the curve and the shadow and even the blury electrical plug in the background. It’s the leg of an end table in my living room.  I guess I owe this picture to my little sweetie cutie, Rileigh.  If she didn’t make such a mess with her toys I might never have seen it or thought of it.  

Lesson learned for me this week:   Don’t forget to look beyond “eye-level” for interesting subjects and unique angles.   

May your path be as curvy (fun) as you can handle, but always lead you to the place you should be at that time in your life.
Kimyjo

Puppy Life

I can’t believe how much this little puppy face is taking up my play time. 

 

No, I’m not complaining, she is wonderful and I love her to pieces.   I’m just stating a fact.    She requires a lot of attention right now because of the housebreaking and stuff.   I know that part will get better/easier as time passes.   Also she (we) started puppy training classes this week.  I think this is going to be so much fun  – once she gets past been scared to death. 

She just sat in mine or my husband’s lap shaking the whole time we were at class.  She was the only puppy (as far as I could tell) that did not know what a leash was all about so that was interesting.   Of course I do think at 10 weeks she is the youngest in her class.  The others are all about 12 weeks or more and 2 weeks can make a BIG difference in puppy terms.   We, yes we – as in all three of us, have homework to do this week.   I hope she does well with this, and I know that a lot of that will depend on how well we do our part.  I really really want her to be a good doggie.   She doesn’t have to be the smartest, or the fastest, or anything else but just be good mannered (no jumping on people, no biting people even if it’s just playing, and most important – no peeing on other people’s floor when she’s visiting).   But isn’t that pretty much what all moms want from their kiddos – no peeing on other people’s floor? 

She loves to play with her squeaky ball and pick up sticks outside.  She keeps trying to sneak past me and bring a stick in the house.  

I can’t believe she gained 1 whole pound over the last two weeks.  I guess she does seem a little bigger to me though.   Now if she will only grow into those ears – they are real whoppers  right now, huh?

 I’ll try not to bore you too much with all the happenings in the life of Rileigh, but proud puppy-moms have to do what they have to do.  

Signed,
Rileigh’s mom

Mess? What Mess?

That mess, and that mess and THAT mess!!!   Every where I look I see a mess.  A new puppy creates messes everywhere.  Potty training is especially messy.  Top that with a pouring down rainy day (or two) forming a swamp in the backyard and there is your mess.  

 

I’m not a particularly great housekeeper either.  All you have to do is look around my house to find the dust and cobwebs lurking in the corners, draped from the ceiling to the curtain top and protectively covering the various tabletops throughout the house.  

 

So why am I telling the world wide web my messy little secrets – Shutterboo’s photo challenge subject for the week – mess – that’s why.   You would think with all this mess in my little corner of the world it would be an easy challenge for me – not so much.  Mess, in my opinion, is not particularly photogenic.  But here’s my submission for this week

 

Again this week I blame it on the “New Puppy Syndrome” I’m obviously suffering.  I wonder how long I can keep “blaming it on the dog”?  Because of my new self-diagnosed syndrome my blog entries may be on the shorter side for a while, at least until she is house-broke.   But she is SOOOO worth it.   Look at this face and you will see she is completely adorable!

 

Sweet puppy kisses to all.

Kim