Old Photos Reborn

I added textures to several landscape photos I shot a few years back.

Yippee, 2014 Biennial Foto Fest Houston

I am honored to have my photo series "Each Day a New Sun"  selected for display at JoMar Visions during these two events!

Friday March 14 from 7 until 10 pm and Saturday March 15th from 2-6 pm :-)

Location - Hardy and Nance Street Studios at 902 Hardy Street, Houston.

I am looking forward to meeting the other photographers and seeing their work :-)

These are the images in my series "Each Day a New Sun  :-)

   

Inspiration

Inspiration is what I need a heavy dose of today :-)

Winter Moon

Cloth texture layered between two photos I shot from my backyard :

-)

To those who count and appreciate their blessings, they will soar in life :-)

Total of three layers..Two of my photos are combined in layers... I layered a "Lil-Owls" texture in between the two photos :-)

Sunshine

Today started out gloomy and very cold..Now it is pretty outside, still a bit chilly..Simon was  happy to soak up some sun  :-)

I am not sure what these little yellow birds are called..Either they are normally very brave around people or these tiny fellas were hungry..
I like the pretty sound of their chirping :-)

Houston Ice Storm 2014, January 28th

Second ice storm in a week..

Icicles hanging from the edge of the roof of our house..

Freezing rain, thick gloomy clouds without a ray of sunshine..

Oscar and Simon both wonder why their backyard world is so freezing cold under their feet :-/

In the house Oscar and Simon huddle and cuddle to stay warm :-)

And the chase is on

My doggies love, love, love to chase and bark at squirrels..This squirrel teased my doggies mercilessly..There were spectators, lol..My backyard was very lively this morning :-)

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Glorious Weekend Jan 2014

This weekend was a beautiful one spent with my sister....At lunch we celebrated our belated Christmas together.. During the rest of the afternoon and evening, we visited places that we used to frequent when our kiddos were in high school/college..We went to Salento's, Paddywacks and Village Firefly..I bought a piece of "Hurricane Art", which is the red heart pictured.. The unpainted heart has been with me for some time...I bought the red heart at the Village Firefly..These buildings are seen outside of Paddywacks..I decided to shoot a pic of the buildings because I loved the pretty play of light and shadow on them, with the moonrise in the background..I shot the pic of the buildings with my cell phone cam..I edited this image of the buildings in Photoshop to add a texture layer :-)
My patio is my outside studio and happy place to spend time working on art/reading and relaxing with the doggies :-)

Surrealistic Frenzy

I recovered this image, and many others, from a thumb drive that I forgot I had.. I played with this shot by adding some texture layers..Quite a different effect :-)

White Pelicans

I spent a beautiful afternoon with my friend shooting pelicans(with a lens).
We went to the Texas City Dike, an awesome place to birdwatch..It was a chilly day, but not too cold for the birds to do their thing :-)

My Kiddos

These pics bring back memories for me..I shot them  years ago.. The pic of Chris hiding in the yellow art installment was shot by me shot 10 years ago :-)
The pic of Benji working on a guitar, I shot several years ago..To this day he rewires electric guitars and restores vintage amps as a hobby..

How to be alone

I found this u-tube on another blog and wanted to copy it to keep..
Beautiful poetry, beautifully performed, and I love the photography

http://youtu.be/k7X7sZzSXYs


This video portrays who I wish to be alone, when I am in the mood :-)

If you are in the mood to be alone that is okay, more than okay ....All one can count on in the end is oneself.....

Skunks, Skunk Pictures, Skunk Facts - National Geographic

Skunks, Skunk Pictures, Skunk Facts - National Geographic

My experiences with a family of skunks during a campout

While surfing online I came across the National Geographic website. The administrators of the website had requested reader's stories and comments regarding memorable close calls with nature. This request triggered my memory of an incident that happened to me 34 years ago!

Many years ago when I was in my early 20s I lived in Tennessee..I loved to go camping in the mountains, especially in the mid fall! One of my favorite campsites was in the foothills of Tennessee. On this night, my four friends and I had just finished our tasty dinner at our usual weekend campsite in the foothills..We were having hot chocolate while talking and lounging about.. Suddenly I noticed an alarming scene taking place. I froze on the spot and held my breath! My friends did the same! We realized too late that we forgot to put our loaf of bread away. The bread was sitting on top of the cooler.. As the skunk family paraded through our campsite to explore the possibilities of an easy snack, I realized that we were having a close call! We were nose to nose with these skunks, but they were fearless! After these skunks got their fill of bread, they calmly left the camp site without stinking it up to high heaven!.

Skunk Clip Art from http://totaldrama.wikia.com/wiki/File:Skunks.png

Another Fun Pottery Class

I took another pottery class with Marcia shortly after I retired from my Ben Taub nursing job..This class like my previous one was a ladies night of fun :-) This is the pie plate that I made..I baked these whimsical and yummy cookies also..Months after the pottery class, lol.. I put the cookies in this plate, and brought them to a Thanksgiving gathering at Ben and Melissa's house :-)

Retirement from my longtime job

I retired from Ben Taub, my full time nursing job, April 3rd 2013 after 28 years of service...
I made this choice after emerging from a series of life altering losses... I decided that I needed a long break from my routine before making another set of difficult choices.... I wanted to have the time to travel and spend more time with my family who is out of town...I  needed this time and space to get to know myself better..

I am the second  lady from the right :-)

When there are clouds and fog

Sunrises are beautiful even when it is mostly cloudy or foggy!

Fun and productive Saturday

I spent the afternoon and evening with Chris! We went to the Clear Lake gallery where my work is on display..The name of the Gallery is Art of Ricardo which later morphed into ArtWorks 102..I brought additional photos with me to hang..At this point I was still so very new at the gallery, so I didn't have much work to hang..The owners found me via my Etsy shoppe and I got juried into the gallery as a participating artist (majority vote of all of the participating artists)..Anyway, Chris and I rearranged my work, tagged and inventoried it:) We enjoyed chatting with the owners while we were there! Afterwards we had an early dinner at Zito's!

We spent the evening hanging out at home.. Chris organized some of his fishing equipment for an upcoming trip!

Tuckered Out

A Careless Word

A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck
a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may
heal and bless.

I love this! It is so true! I saw this on a friend's web page and wanted to save it somewhere :-)

A Treasured Teddy Bear

I have had and treasured this little teddy bear for the last 18 years! :)

Porcupine made of phone books

This is a cute porcupine magnet that I bought.It is made from recycled phone books and newspapers! :)

Baby Jade

This adorable little jade plant in the stylish pretty blue pot is going to be a beloved favorite plant for me..I hope it will thrive under my care.. Chris made me this plant's new adopted mommy by giving it to me for Mother's Day!
I am going to take more photos of baby plant tomorrow morning when there is better lighting, I am not fond of the lighting in this photo..I will also take more photographs  of baby as he grows :)

Pre Mother's Day Celebration

My sister and I went to a nursery just before meeting up with Chris for dinner..I like to walk thru this nursery to browse..I don't know the names of many of these flowers but I think they are pretty! This whole nursery is very photogenic:)Terri and I both took pics and practiced adjusting our camera settings by using the flowers and the available lighting in this nursery! After we all had dinner, we went to Hermann Park to get more photography practice.. None of my shots of the park were any good :) A very fun evening! :)

This latter part of the week/weekend was a fun one that I spent with my sister..Today, before she arrived to meet with me, I browsed the Whole Foods garden area by the entrance..We usually meet up at Whole Foods for lunch, coffee, snacks before we drive off to explore other parts of the city! I fell in love with this daisy..I love its pink color ! I decided to buy the potted daisy for the purpose of taking many many photos of it ! My sister agreed that she would adopt Ms. Daisy permanently and plant it in her herb garden..I agreed that I would bring Ms. Daisy to her after I decided that I had had my fill of it being a subject in  my photos :)

On Pins and Needles

Last Friday, the day before cinco de Mayo, was a useless day for me..I didn't leave the house, I didn't get dressed, I didn't do anything:(  I did take a pic that I was happy with though! :)

Share your cup Thursday

Healing Art Contest Winners - Harris County Hospital District Foundation

 Speaking of photos and photography I got this encouraging bit of news a couple of days ago ! I found out while reading my work e-mails :):):):)
Healing Art Contest Winners - Harris County Hospital District Foundation

I love all of these photos..I am very happy and grateful that people enjoy my photo "Touching the Sun" ( Late December Sunset)..I am in love with the image of the turtle munching on his strawberries...