Photo-A-Day: June 26, 2014 - Photographer's Choice

I glanced out the kitchen window of a friend's house and was, at first, startled by this baby sitting at the base of the tree.  It only took a second to realize it was stone.  I then I saw he's holding a small bird.  It was given to my friend by her aunt and is very precious to her.  The more I looked, the more I saw the absolute magic of him.  I also instinctively knew this was a photograph that had to be in black and white.

Photo-A-Day: June 22, 2014 - Growing

I love the woods.  There is something so magical and peaceful about them.  The woods are my spiritual home.  One cannot help but feel serene when walking down this path.

Photo-A-Day: May 30, 2014 - Side View

It was wonderful sitting out on Jody's patio watching the birds.  I particularly loved these little chestnut-backed chickadees.

Photo-A-Day: May 24, 2014 - Sunrise

There was a time when I was always up before sunrise.  No more.  Except for when I was visiting Jody.  Then I loved being up and outside before the sun.

Photo-A-Day: May 23, 2014 - Black and White

Black and white is not a natural medium for me as I am so based in colors.  However, when I saw this photo, I knew it would be perfect for today's prompt.  Shot on the beach at Admiralty Bay, Washington, I loved all the driftwood.  This section really caught my eye, both for the textures and for the contrast stone within the depression.  Whether someone else deliberately put it there, or it ended up there by nature, I don't know.  Either way, it was perfect.

Photo-A-Day: May 18, 2014 - Something I drew

I love art but don't have a particular talent for it myself.  Still, a friend talked me into taking a one day, watercolor postcard class.  Our end assignment was to paint a portrait of the person sitting across fro us.  I find eyes impossible, so I was lucky she was looking down at her paper to paint me.  In the end, I was actually quite pleased with this.  I don't, however, think I'll take up painting as a profession.

Photo-A-Day: May 15, 2014 - From where I walked

While in Washington, each morning I'd be up around 7 a.m.  I'd quietly go downstairs in my jammies and robe, put on my boots and my friend's wool ruana, grab my cane and my cameras--great pockets in my robe--and head down her driveway to the road.  The entire week I was there, I only saw one car, two times.

I'd walk down the road, to the West, until I hit the path that led me into the woods. 

Photo-A-Day: May 14, 2014 - Lines

When I sent out, I wasn't very excited about this prompt.  However, within seconds, I realized there were lines everywhere and just how beautiful they could be.  The crosswalk, manhole cover, and  drainage grate were right in front of the post office.  The fence and floor mat--isn't that a wonderful floormat?--were across the street at the bank.  It's amazing what you see when you really start to look.

Photo-A-Day: May 13, 2014 - I Spy

Sitting quietly on Jody's patio, I spent a lot of time watching the deer.  There had been five of them.  I saw one wander off into the woods, but then I could only count three of them remaining.  It took me awhile, but I finally noticed the missing one peeking out at me from behind the large tree stump.  Their natural camouflage definitely did it's job.

Photo-A-Day: May 11, 2014 - Mother(s)

These are definitely the three most influential women in my life. 

Gram Nissen (left):  I strive to be as much like her as I can.  She was the most talented, kindest, lest judgmental person I've ever known.
Great-Gram Bingham (center):  A remarkable woman who raised 9 children in spite of being abused by her husband. 
My mom (right):  We went through some tough times--as all mothers and daughters do--but I've always known she loves me and I don't know what I'll do when she's no longer here.  I miss her hugs.

Photo-A-Day: May 8, 2014 - Blue

If asked where my dream place to live would be, it would be here, but a bit further back from where I shot this.  I would have a house on Whidbey Island, WA, with forest to the sides and behind it, a rich green grass in front going down to a marsh where an egret would stand, than a small beach with lots of driftwood, Admiralty Bay in front of  me and the snow-topped Cascade Mountains in the distance.  I've been there; I've seen it--it's my version of heaven.

Photo-A-Day: May 7, 2014 - From Above

Whenever I fly, I always try to get a window seat.  I love seeing the earth transition as we move across it.  This was taken. flying back from Seattle, as we were coming down to land in Oakland.

Photo-A-Day: May 6, 2014 - From Down Low

Cemeteries are perfect places for taking photos.  Besides being beautiful and restful, the mausoleums, headstones and statuary can be fascinating and lovely.

This one caught my eye, taken at the Mountain View Cemetery, both for the sculpture, as the deep blue sky and bit of green from the tree.

  

Photo-A-Day: May 4, 2014 - Us

My sweet Tigger turned 13 years old.  He wasn't always sweet.  When I first adopted him, he was all teeth and claws.  Anytime you'd pass him, he'd try to hobble you by grabbing your leg.  Anytime you'd try to pet him, you'd end up with scratches and teeth marks for your efforts.

I was his third, and probably final, home, however.  Although I did think about it, there was no way I was taking him back to the shelter.  So with lots of love and lots of time, he learned to trust me.  He still won't let me touch his feel or clip his claws, but I can work with that.  What he does now do is let me pet him, brush him, and nuzzle him.  He's a good nuzzler.

Photo-A-Day: April 20, 2014 - Feather

It's so nice being with someone when you're looking for things to photograph.  While I was looking West toward Admiralty Bay, Jody was driving and looking at Crockett Lake on the other side of the road.  She pulled over saying "bird."  And there he was, this magnificent Great Blue Heron standing in the water.

I slipped slowly and quietly out of the car and was able to capture this photo of him....

before he started walking away...

...and looked as though he might fly off

Photo-A-Day: April 18, 2014 - Purple

I love rhododendrons.  We had bushes across our second house in New Jersey; my favorite house of all those in which we lived.  Rhododendrons have always had a slightly special place in my heart. 

While I was on Whidbey Island, WA, I had hoped to visit the Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens.  Unfortunately, I was just ahead of the flowering season.  Imagine my delight, however, when we stopped at a Starbucks and outside the window was the fabulous rhododendron in full purple bloom.  Thank you, Oak Harbor.

Photo-A-Day: April 11, 2014 - Three of a Kind

No matter your craft, everyone knows you need more than one of each tool.  The yarn is a given; it takes  more than one skein to make most things. These, plus two others, are for the Matisse blanket I'm making.    The hooks?  Sofa's eat them.  You always need more than one of each size.  These are Clover Amour ergonomic hooks.  I'm not certain I could go back to regular hooks.

Photo-A-Day: April 10, 2014 - Looking Down

I love to fly.  I love to watch the world pass beneath me and watch the topography change.  Flying back from Seattle to Oakland, I asked the pilot on which side I should sit for optimal photographs.  He smiled and said "Always sit behind the pilot."  So I did and captured this wonderful shot of where Suisan Bay opens into San Pablo Bay at the very top of the San Francisco Bay.

Photo-A-Day: April 9, 2014 - Children

It was such fun to watch the deer in my friend's yard.  She had put out a deer block for them.  Just as with children, one of the bucks was less than willing to share with the other.  "Mine!" it seemed to say.

Photo-A-Day: April 8, 2014 - Hobby

It's not quite right to call them hobbies.  Now that I'm retired, they have really become unpaid vocations. 

Reading--something about which I've always been passionate--and reviewing.  Mystery is my genre and I seriously started writing reviews in 2008.

Crochet I learned when I was 11.  I moved to needlepoint in 1980 but back to crochet in 2010.  I quickly determined there was really nothing I needed to crochet for myself, yet could put my love of handwork to use by crocheting for charity.  I started the Facebook group SASsy Stitchers in 2011 and, as of April 7th, we now have 400 members! 

Least I forget, I now have a third hobby which has changed the way in which I look at the world around me.  Photography.

Photo-A-Day: April 7, 2014 - Distorted

Sometimes you think you're focused on something, yet your camera has a different idea.  The shot on the left would have been perfect, had I wanted details of the trees.  Instead, it completely distorted the chickadee.  However, with the second shot, on the right, I accomplished my goal

Photo-A-Day: April 6, 2014 - Foreign

Although it was a business trip, my trip to England was one of life's highlights.  I spent the weekdays in a small town outside London and moved into London on Friday after work.  In both placed, I took what free time I had to tour. 

Saturday--my only full day to sightsee--I spent the morning at the Tower of London.  I love history and architecture, not to mention jewelry, and figured the Tower had it all.  Was I ever right.

This is Tower Green. In the foreground, is a Yeoman of the Guard and it's not easy to become one.  There are only 60 Yeoman, plus 6 officers.  They are retired members of the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force,but not the Royal Navy as the Navy reports to the Admiralty and the other branches report to the Crown.  To become a Yeoman--there are only four appointed each year--they must be over 42 years of age on appointment, and under 55 years. They must be sergeants or above, but not commissioned. They must also have had at least 22 years' service and have been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM).

Behind him are two of the famous rooks, and in the background is a guard in front of The Queen's House where Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have lived.  It is now home for the Resident Governor of the Tower.

Photo-A-Day: April 5, 2014 - Musical

When I first moved to San Francisco, a man I'd been seeing for several years in NYC decided to come as well.  He was from a New York society/literary family, and his father loved Broadway.  Our relationship didn't last long.  When he decided to move back to New York, he left behind almost all of his library.  That's another story in itself.  However, part of it were 5 notebooks of Playbills his father had collected from every Broadway show he'd seen from 1946 through 1961.  Looking through them--seeing the casts and the advertisements--is always such fun.

Photo-A-Day: April 4, 2014 - Waves

Quiet waves, but waves against the shore in Admiralty Bay, Washington.  What was really fascinating was all the driftwood brought in from various storms.

Photo-A-Day: April 3, 2014 - Men

As I was walking from my kitchen to the livingroom, something caught outside caught my eye.  When I stopped and looked, I realized that, in the absolutely pouring rain, men were topping trees in the property two over from me.  The man in the yellow slicker on the ground was one thing, but the man in the red, way up in the tree with both hand and chain saw, was something else entirely. 

Kudos to those who work outside in all weather.  Where would we be without them.

Photo-A-Day: April 2, 2014 - Flashy

The only problem having a camera that is new to you is that you don't always know where all the settings are.  How I wish I could have made a video showing just how fast this water was moving.  It was quite remarkable.  Even so, the flash of the sun on the water was truly beautiful.

Photo-A-Day: April 1, 2014 - Begins with M...

As we were driving from Oakland up to Washington, I took pictures like mad, often not knowing what exactly I was photographing.  It wasn't until I downloaded all my photos that I started identifying them and, especially those taken while driving, finding their location.

I loved how the snow collected in the bowl of this mountain.  Only when I went to post it did I look it up and realize what is was.

M is for the beginning of Mount St. Helens in Northern Oregon...or what is left of it.

Photo-A-Day: March 31, 2014 - Faux

My wing-back is a wonderfully comfortable reading chair with lovely natural light from the large window behind it.  However, that window also means it can be a chilly place to sit, so I often cover up using my soft, warm, faux mink blanket.  Unfortunately, the result is often that I don't get much reading done when I'm under it, as it is a guaranteed nap-inducer.

Photo-A-Day: March 30, 2014 - Fast

Looking down to the water from the bridge over Deception Pass in Washington, it amazing how fast the water is moving.  Of course, this would have been more effective had I found the video setting on the new-to-me camera.  I've found it, now that I'm home.  I figure that's a good reason for making another trip North.  Either way, it was beautiful. 

Photo-A-Day: March 29, 2014 - Train

My trip to Washington was nearly over.  As we were headed to the airport, I was lamenting to Jody that the one shot I'd not found was that of a train. I looked and noticed the tracks next to the freeway and commented, "Wouldn't it be ironic if a train were to come by right now."  Seconds later, Jody said "Train coming on the right." Through a rain-dappled window, at 65 mph, I found my train.  The universe doth provide.

Photo-A-Day: March 28, 2014 - Nostalgia

My friend Jody had this photo of the two of us, taken in 1990, on her fridge in California. It was heartwarming to see it is now on her fridge in Washington.

Photo-A-Day: March 27, 2014 (#2) - Inspired by Walker Evans

Walker Evans (1903-1975) was one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. He was known for his elegant, crystal-clear photographs.

My photograph of this abandoned house, was inspired by Walker.

Photo-A-Day: March 27, 2014 (#1) - Something I Made...

....or, in my case, several things I am currently making.  The 7-Up blanket is over half finished, the Calder blanket is recently started, and the Admiralty Bay moebius is finally underway.

Photo-A-Day: March 26, 2014 - Pattern

As long as I have been crossing bridges, I have been looking up to see the pattern of their structure.

Photo-A-Day: March 25, 2014 - Soft

I love the fog.  I love mist rising from the ground.  Add the two together, and you have a magical, soft morning.  This was taken traveling up Rt. 5, north of Mt. Shasta in Oregon.  To be honest, it was more luck then skill since we were traveling at 65 mph; no slowing down.  But sometimes, the lucky shots are the best ones. 

Photo-A-Day: March 24, 2014 - One of a kind

Sculpture is a medium that speaks to me and there was something very special about this dog, with a tennis ball in its mouth, and the boy looking thoughtfully off into the distance.  The piece is located in Langley, Washington.

Photo-A-Day: March 23, 2014 - #2 I'm Loving...

I am loving having a good zoom lens that allowed me to capture this heron placidly walking through the marsh of Crockett Lake next to Admiralty Bay on Whidbey Island, Washington.

Photo-A-Day: March 23, 2014 - #1 Abandoned

It wasn't as easy finding a good shot of an abandoned building as I'd have thought.  However, this one in Anacortes spoke to me.

Photo-A-Day: March 22, 2014 - Morning

Every morning while staying with my friend in Washington, I would arise early and take a walk through the woods around her house.  I loved the wee pine cone--maybe, 3/4" long--and the way the light was just starting to catch on the pine needles.

Photo-A-Day: March 21, 2014 - Full

I awoke at 3 a.m., not knowing what had disturbed me.  Then, I heard it.  It was the sound of owls calling to one another.  I arose from bed, picked up my camera and took this shot of the two-days-past full moon through the branches of the trees.  It was so bright, it light the sky around it.

Photo-A-Day: March 20, 2014 - Letter

As with horses returning to the barn, we were getting close to the end of our journey and anxious to arrive.  Therefore, slowing down was not an option.  Thus, the reason as to why this shot of the famous Rainier Brewery "R" in Seattle is just a bit blurred.

Photo-A-Day: March 19, 2014 - Cropped #2

On the road, near Mt. Shasta, is Castle Crags.  I just happened to catch this shot as we were going away from it.  I am so grateful for a good zoom lens and the ability to crop.

Photo-A-Day: March 19, 2014 - Cropped #1

While planning my trip to Washington, I mentioned that I needed to buy boots.  A few days later, a package arrived in the mail.  There was this adorable pair of leopard-print boots; the sort of thing I love but would never buy for myself.  However, there was no note as to who sent them. 

For several days I wondered whether I should send them back or try to contact the shipper.....  Finally, I received a message from a dear friend asking whether I'd received a package.  Yes, she was a sender of the boots and laughed when she realized she'd forgotten to have a note included. 

But all was well, and I wore them happily while wandering through the damp and slightly muddy woods.  I wanted my friend Tina, to see them on me, so I took this shot and cropped it down for best effect.  Best of all, when I came home last night and went out to run errands this morning in a heavy rain, I could slip on my very cool boots!!

Photo-A-Day: March 18, 2014 - Marbles

Years ago, I did stained-glass work.  One shop, from which I bought my glass, had a whole bucket of these wonderful, solid glass marbles from Mexico.  How could I resist?  Put them in a very heavy glass bowl, and they are the perfect stress reliever.

Photo-A-Day: March 17, 2014: Today's Weather

It was a beautiful day the road, headed for Whidbey Island, Washington.  The sky was blue, the temperature very comfortable, and Mt. Shasta appeared cloud-like in the distance.

Photo-a-Day - March 2014 - Day 15: Beautifully Ordinary

The drive across the Richmond/San Rafael bridge made be ordinary, but the view is always beautiful.  

Photo-a-Day - March 2014 - Day 14: Photographer's Choice

In front of the San Francisco Legion of Honor Museum is a fountain.  It has a single, tall spout of water in the center of a large round pool.  On this beautiful day, I found the play of sunlight on the water to be just fascinating.

This is the full shot and shows you how large is the pool.  The bird flew through the shot without my even noticing it until I'd downloaded the photos.