52 Weeks A Quiet Moment

This is our couch. I'ts brown corduroy and very soft. The left end is my spot where most everything  I need is right at my fingertips: magazines, remote, light, Puffs tissues, reading glasses and a blanket.

The sheer drapes let just the right amount of light in without being too dark or too bright.  The room looks dark here but really it's nicely lit with the sun's rays.

Since our two oldest kids have moved away, and the youngest back at school, and me working just part time I basically have lots to quiet time.  Sometimes it's a blessing and other times not so much.

If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.

Henry David Thoreau

 

52 Photos What's in Season

I missed a couple weeks because we were on vacation, but decided not to play catch-up. This week we are to show what's in season. We don't have any farmer's markets close by, or even good produce at our little grocery, and haven't gotten any more tomatoes from my father-in-law. And even though it didn't have to be fruits or veggies I really struggled for a subject. My husband actually helped me out as we were wondering what to do with some uncooked leftover ground pork and beef  mixture we normally use to make meatballs. Instead he grilled them like hamburgers.

They look a little charred but boy they were yummy!! I can't believe how much flavor the pork and seasoning made.

52 Photos Catch the Sun

Well there certainly was an abundance of sun this week with plenty of photo opportunities.

This photo was taken on the morning after a storm that rolled in the night before. I love how the soft morning sun reflects off the lingering clouds. This photo was completly untouched.

The sun reflecting off the sidelite of our front door.

The sun shining through the leaves of our Japanese Bloodgood Maple tree.

The evening sun.  This photo is unedited.

And I couldn't end this  post without this great song about the sun.  I apologize if this song gets stuck in your head all day long.......

"Here Comes The Sun"
The Beatles

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right

Please check Sally's blog to see more.

52 Photos Pretty Patterns

Our assignment this week is all about patterns.

Pattern: 

a form or model proposed for imitation

something designed or used as a model for making things

an artistic, musical, literary, or mechanical design or form

a natural or chance configuration

Just look at all the pretty patterns in these ribbons! 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

~Romans 12:2

Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit Sally's blog for more wonderful photos.

52 Photos Typography

Sally writes:

The power of the written or typed word can be more powerful then you thought!  

The style and appearance of printed matter has an effect to how we view items, websites, businesses, book titles and the list goes on and on.   Is the typography pleasing to the eye, does the font pull you in, draw you away, make you feel inspired?  This week focus on the printed word and see what the words are saying to you!

You may have heard this story before, but I'm telling it again. 

When I was young my mother sent me and my twin sister to learn how to sew.  Our instructors were two old spinster sisters.  While my sister excelled in sewing, I was a complete failure.  Not one to give in, as the spinsters were former teachers, they taught me the art of calligraphy and I was instantly smitten with the art of 'drawing' letters.  The photo above is a small instruction sampler of different styles.

This is another book on Calligaphy.  It even shows how to do it with paint brushes. 

I wish I could have found my very first instruction book to share.  It's not as pretty as this book, but it was the first one I ever used.  Maybe it will show up one day and I will share it here.

Please stop by Sally's blog  on Saturday to see what the written word means to the other participants.

52 Photos Reminisce

This week we are to capture a photo that takes us back to our childhood.  Since my dad was such a saver I have many things I could photograph, such as the ceramic pots and pitchers I made in high school art class, or the Disney lunch pail I used while in grade school, or a tiny tea set my sisters and I enjoyed with Pepsi M&M's and cookies, and so many more.

But the thing that makes me reminisce about my childhood is this....

Dad kept probably close to 100 of these reel-to-reel and 8mm movies.  I remember we would break out the projector and the screen when company came to visit. We only had three TVchannels and this was something different and fun. Plus, mom would always make a large bowl of  popcorn for us.

I remember the sound of the film passing through the projector, and I can still recall the musty smell of the large screen, both of which my dad still has.

I loved watching these old movies, especially the ones of my mom and dad when they were a young couple living on the east coast. They are even more special now since mom passed away. 

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have a chance to fondly reminisce about your own childhood.

Be sure to visit Sally's Blog to see what memories were stirred up this week. 

And please say a prayer or two for the residents in Moore Oklahoma.

52 Photos Looking UP

This week our assignment is to look up.

Sally says: 'There is a whole world above us that we sometimes miss seeing because we simply forget to look up.'

I love looking at houses, especially ones built before the age of the Rambler, or Ranch house.

Most every city has  at least one street lined with beautiful old houses and large trees. Even our tiny town has a street or two like that.  One warm sunny day I took a walk and actually remembered to take my camera, snapping photos of the more interesting architectural elements of some of the houses along 6th street and around town. And since Sally asked us to look up, you will only see the top parts of some of the photos.

This beauty is only a couple blocks away from where we live. At one time, as it sat idle, I wanted to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Thankfully someone purchased it and has done a lot of work on it.

This beautiful Italianate home is currently without an owner. The yard is overgrown and I fear this beauty will fall into disrepair. Such a shame.

I just love this turret and the other elements!  Who knew roofs could be so fascinating??!! The owner takes loving care of this home.

Isn't this gingerbread trim sweet?  I've loved this home since I was a kid.

This low-slung American Craftsman home is gorgeous and well-kept. I decided to show the entire home just because...

Another turret.  The home needs some loving care but still keeps it's character.

My favorite house of all, this beauty was owned by an older woman with a bazillion cats. When she passed away the home was gutted and redone from the inside out. Now it  has a new owner who takes great care with this beauty.

Another favorite.  An elderly woman lives here by herself.  She and her late husband are German, and owned a bakery on our town when I was a child. I have fond memories of that bakery, and I loved to hear this couple talk with their German accent. You can see the home needs a bit of love.

Another American Craftsman House. It's a beauty and has stood the test of time.  I hope the new owners take good care of it.

You can see I get a little giddy about architecture, and I hope you enjoyed these photos.

Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to check Sally's blog to see what others saw when they looked up.

52 Photos Abstract

Our assignment this week is to take an abstract photo by focusing on the visual language of form, color and lines.  I had a bit of a difficult time trying to figure this out...should it look like the real thing only changed in some way? Or should it be something real but transformed so as to be unrecognizable unless it was explained to the viewer?

According to one photography site, abstract does not represent the subject in a literal way, rather it communicates primarily through form, color and curves rather than detail, and evokes a strong reaction in the viewer. 

 Clear as mud?

My first stab at abstract photography using Picasa editing tools. A pretty photo with wonderful form, color and lines, but not quite what I'm looking for.

Again, edited with Picasa, and I do like the photo, but still not there.

This is  more what I was looking for. A close up of a glass votive with sweet little bubbles in the glass and a bonus reflection of a window. It makes me think of  the lovely bubbling brooks we sometimes see on our travels (well without the window).

The original photo.

Thank you for sticking with me through my trial and error.  I even tried Photoshop Elements for the first time but that takes a lot of practice and muddling around, which I did not have time for.  I'm still not sure I got right but it sure was fun trying.

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. – Ansel Adams

Please visit Sally's blog to see more Abstract photos.

As always, I enjoy your comments. 

52 Photos Aged Beauty

Our assignment is to photograph things with aged beauty. I think Sally's original intention was to share one photo each week, but I'm finding that I can't seem to share just one.  I hope you don't mind.

Sally quotes: 

"Aged pieces have a beauty all their own, a beauty that draws us in to look a little deeper into a past time."  

These are some old books I use for props on my jewelry table at shows. My dad has dozens of them. Some are Swedish, others are hymn books. There is a variety.  I just love these old books and wonder about the people who used them in their daily life.

This book is very fragile but so beautiful. 

Old Things are More Beautiful

(Clay Harrison)

Old things are more beautiful
than many things brand new
Because they bring fond memories
of things we used to do.

Old photographs in albums,
love letters tied with lace
Recapture those old feelings
that new ones can't replace.

Baby shoes, a Teddy bear,
a ring that grandma wore,
Are treasures waiting there behind
a door marked "Nevermore".

Old things are more beautiful,
more precious day-by-day.
Because they are the flowers
we planted yesterday.

Many thanks for stopping by.  Please check Sally's blog to see the other participants.

52 Photos Up Close

Our challenge this week, as you may have guessed, is a macro shot.

It seems like it's taken a long time for Spring to arrive here.  But Tuesday was bright and sunny so I took the opportunity to enjoy the day, and took my camera along. Many of our trees were just now showing some tiny buds.  What better way to celebrate spring than capturing these tiny buds in a photo.

These tiny buds were found on our Japanese Lilac tree.  When it is in full bloom the scent is heavenly. 

These pinkish buds are from one of our Ornamental Pear trees, though the flowers will come out white. 

 

 From our Maple Tree, gorgeous colored buds.

We have about 16 trees in our yard.  In addition to the trees above we have a ginkgo tree, an apple tree, Chinese Elms, Pin Oaks, a Japanese Bloodgood,  and several Austrian Pines.

I think that I shall never see

A poem  lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain

Who intimately lives with rain

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

~Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have an chance to enjoy nature this weekend!

Please stop by Sally's Blog to check out the other photos for this week's challenge.

52 Photos Observe The Curve

“In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves.” ~Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

This week our assignment is to focus on the curves that surround us in our daily life.

Searching around the house I found many beautiful curves.  I love antiques and it seems there is an abundance of curves in the antiques we have acquired.

An antique claw foot tub in our spare bathroom. We found it at a salvage place in Kansas City.  It's small, maybe just over four feet.  Our girls liked to take their baths here occasionally when they were little.

A footed pedestal on our antique oak kitchen table.

A sweet antique iron stone pitcher.

A lovely curvy sofa passed down from my husband's grandmother.

As always, thank you for stopping by. 

Please check Sally's blog to see the other participants.

 

 

52 photos week 10 All Wrapped Up

I'm happy to be back doing the 52 photos.  I missed several weeks because of illness. 

This week our challenge is to take a photo using the word 'wrap' as a verb or a noun.

Though my photo is of wrapping paper, this is certainly no ordinary wrapping paper.  It comes with a story, and fond memories.

This wrapping paper is all vintage.  I just turned 50 the end of February and I don't remember a time when we didn't have this paper around.  The paper came on huge rolls which my dad hung on metal racks in the basement.  Every holiday, birthday, wedding, or shower my sisters and I saw this wrapping paper.  There were times we got tired of seeing it, and other times when we just had to smile as we were ripping open the package with maybe a bit of eye-rolling.  The paper came from my maternal grandfather who never threw anything away.  He worked as a janitor at our local Sears store which used this wrapping paper in the store.  One day he was told to get rid of it--which he did--right to our house.

Now that my mom has passed, dad has been getting rid of stuff and passing it along to us kids.  He still had huge rolls of this and carefully cut off some for us girls and all the grandchildren, and there's lots left!  I never  thought I would feel so nostalgic about this paper after seeing it so many years, but it holds so many memories of gatherings with family...especially with mom, who loved any reason to celebrate.

Blessings to you, and I hope you are wrapped with love and joy today.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit Sally's blog to see the other participating blogs.

52 Photos Week 3 Taking Time For Ourselves

Our mission this week is to show how we how we pamper ourselves and take the time (without guilt) to recharge.  I'll be honest, with all our children either on their own or driving age, plus the luxury of a part time job, I've got it made. Still, with my jewelry business, housekeeping, bills, school activities, and the huge amount of volunteer work I do in our church and the community, I find there are just note enough hours in the day to get everything done.

So how do I like to relax and recharge?  With books!  Books on gardening, books on making jewelry, books on cooking, books on healthy living, and magazines--lots of magazines. These are just  a few of the books I have on making jewelry.

To really recharge my batteries I like to go on Sunday drives in the country with our kids, their cousins, and their grandpa.

But the best way to recharge for me is to take a summer vacation. Our family has taken a summer vacation nearly every year, and when we arrive home I'm already longing for the next one.

Our Chicago Trip Summer of 2012 - Lake Michigan Lighthouse, Chicago Harbor

Ferris Wheel at the Pier-Chicago

So how do you like to recharge?
Thanks for stopping by. Please check out Sally's blog to see all the other participant's photos.