090/365 Where the Pictures Live

By now you know that I am a scrapbooker and that I do it to chronicle our lives as well as my main creative outlet. However as much as I love scrapbooks they do sit on the shelf and do not come out nearly enough. So here is where they other pictures live (well the color ones). These are my favorite pictures of my most favorite and loved people. Some I have taken, some have been given to me, and I admit that I might even have taken one or two (as in stole not the regular kind of taken) maybe rescue is a better description from the shoeboxes under the beds of my friends and families. Originally I thought I would rotate a few out but I just keep adding. Not sure what will happen the day it is finally full - bigger table?

I did mention this is where the color pictures live. That is because I have a whole bank of b&w's - another chronicle of our family. I will save that for another day. I have something - well someone special for you to meet tomorrow.

089/365 Darkest before Dawn

I am one of those people who generally go to work before the crack of dawn. So this is not a bad attempt at a night shot it is a bad attempt at a early morning shot. I almost grabbed the tripod before I left this morning, but truth be told I was just too lazy. I have been thinking about this shot for a few days since I see it every morning when I walk to my office. I also think even maybe 30 minutes later would give a little more blue instead of dark sky.

088/365 Giving Up.

Today was an interesting day. I thought - not going to do it, not going to take another lame picture in the house and well don't feel like going anywhere. I mean I had already made it way longer than I thought I would, so that is it. Then I started thinking  hmmm I should take a picture, I am so done with coming up with stuff in my house not that there aren't challenges or things to learn, just meh. So then I talk Dave into going to one of my most favorite places - Lowe's. I drag him along under the "you can train Lacinda" trick. (that and I still haven't gotten used to people looking at me weird taking places in well places they don't normally see people taking pictures). At any rate Dave is wonderful because he went along.

I got a picture - I actually got a couple usable ones (more on that later). When I sat down to upload I didn't see yesterday's picture. Panic - did I forget? What did I shoot? Oh yeah the coin jar - phew. I just forgot to publish it to the blog, check flicker - yep it's there. Then I realized that I enjoy this more than I don't, I am having more fun than not, and it has become important to me. I don't want to give up on a commitment I made to my self.

Now on to the picture. FLOWERS!!! Today felt like the first real day of spring. As I mentioned I love Lowes - that may have been a bit of an over-statement. I love the garden department - anyone's garden department. Not only am I an aspiring photographer, I am aspiring urban farmer and gardener. Last year was the best garden year ever - looking to top it this year. I could have spent all of yesterday's picture in the garden dept today with out a second thought. We do have a rule here though never buy more than you can plant in one weekend. There won't be much planting this year (I so should have gotten involved in a seed trade), due to the ever dwindling budget, but I can always go to Lowe's and see great flowers like this! (PS here is a bonus picture of Lacinda training at Lowes)

087/356 Coin Jar... Every Penny Counts

For some reason this didn't post yesterday, i must have hit preview and not publish.

086/365 Litter Picture

Some famous actor said never to work with animals or children....was he talking about litter picture - no way this was great fun! This is the second time we have been able to witness a "litter picture." This great looking litter is Dawna's L Litter. It is amazing all of the the thought and "wrangling" that is required to get a picture together.

The smart breeder care takers know that the first step is to wear them puppies out. These little guys had a pretty hardy play session followed by all hands on deck to wrangle them out of the puppy gymnasium into the "photo lab." Once there it is a matter of getting everyone on the steps, getting the black dogs in good light, putting the sleepy pups on first and stick the "instigators" in last. Everyone hold their puppy then duck out at the last moment! (Note to need breeder caretakers - squeekers good, saying "puppies" not - unless you want to demonstrate how good their recall is) Several tries and dozens of shots later our photographer of the day got some great shots. (I got to be the photographers helper - and trust me it was a great learning experience - see "puppies" comment above). Then everyone gets to go back to the play pen for a well deserved nap!

085/365 SUN!

I have spent most of my photographic life working around and fighting against unsightly shadows. I just took this outside in the bright (although not very warm) sunshine! We are due a tad bit more rain, but we are on our way to a very sunny week!

084/365 Migraine Mitigators

Thankfully that was so yesterday...

083/365 Dirty Dog Diptych

I didn't exactly plan on doing another Diptych at least not this soon; however, I didn't plan on a dirty dog either.

Left: What she normally looks like Right: After an afternoon in the mud and rain.

082/365 Diptych

First attempt at Diptych, 3rd or 4th attempt on the tug toy. Very happy with the results. We will have to see what the puppies think of it. (tomorrow's picture?)

081/365 Blue Sky

Even though it was short lived it was nice to see blue sky today.

080/365 Mmmmmm

This my friends is the elusive Shamrock Shake. It can only be found at during the very very short month of March. Now these aren't the cups I remember as a kid, and we certainly didn't get whipped cream - but there are no complaints here.

079/365 The Other White Meat

Is that Chicken or Pork - oh well here is my other chicken. I know I said earlier this week (or maybe last week) that I love little things, well I love these two great big chickens too. They have been hanging around my kitchen (among the other kitsch and bric-a-brac if you prefer) for quite a few years. Just wouldn't be the same with out them. You may know that I have been on a bit of cleaning binge - sort of a "if I don't love it, I don't need it" thing.

Well they made the cut, but now that I am looking some of that other stuff may have to go....

078/365 Chickens!

This is a huge stuffed Foster's Farm Chicken (google it). He lives on top of my refrigerator, he has a buddy - he might be in tomorrow's pick. Who knows. I one them at a silent auction years ago at a charitable event with the help of the very tall and imposing husband of a good friend. I love them.

077/365 Big Dog Class

These are pups who have been training for about 15 months. They are getting ready to go off to "puppy college" where they learn the advanced skills to be service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence.

076/365 In the Weeds

Went out to take pictures of the tulips - which i noticed the snails are feasting on - and was more captivated by this little weed growing up through the willow grass.
Taken on Android with RetroCamera.

075/365 Oranges!

K, I love my new 50mm and colorizing!  These were oranges for for a new buttercream frosting recipe.

74/365 My Favorite Bracelet

73/365 More Spring....

I am going to will spring here I tell you! So tonight a little salad with my favorite little salad shimpers (as we call them)!

72/365 Spring?

I had to (okay I didn't have to) run to the fabric store today. Grabbed the camera (365 is wearing off) and headed out. It had been a lovely day, until I walked outside and literally it started raining. After waiting for 7 minutes for the sales clerk at the cutting desk to stop her personal conversation (yes I counted and no she wasn't chatting and cutting) and cut my fabric I wandered around looking for the perfect pic. Took quite a few and got a few looks - and one husband who just looked at me and said "365?" I nodded he smiled. (I think he was thankful that he found something interesting amongst the bric-a-brac.)

Satisfied I headed to the register and then I spotted it. Spring right here inside the local fabric store. So while the store lights flickered twice in the storm and I could hear the pounding rain through the heavy department store roof - I found a little piece of spring. Oh when oh when will you really get here?

71/365

Well i don't think that sports illustrated or espn magazine will be calling me anytime soon.... I know action is hard so I will try not to be too hard on myself. I knew the shoot wasn't going well when I was in the middle of it. I am happy that I shot the whole game and continued to make adjustments (to the camera, to my attitude) and in the end I think there are a couple shots I can salvage. Towards the end I settled in and could see the shots improving. I am remembering to check the screen, adjust, try different things, lenses, and positions. All in all I hoped for a better outcome for both the pics and the Titans. It seems neither of us were on our game tonight.

The beauty of digital, besides instant gratification, is that tonight I took over 300 frames without a care in the world, no printing costs to just see how I did. I know some people are doing their challenge with a shot limit to mimic film - my hats off to you!

I do have to say that we are so lucky to have such great friends who we consider family, who share these special days and events with us. The Antelope Titans did loose tonight, after a record breaking, hard fought season. They are only loosing one senior so we are certain that next year will be even better.

70/365

Rest assured (although I haven't gotten any rest) that I did take this on Friday. I got home well after midnight and didn't have the energy to stay up and post it. I should have taken it before I left I just didn't think of it. I make some very tasty cupcakes and then put the lid on the container and well - can you say smuchville. I was assured, and I know because I ate one, the smushing didn't affect the taste.

69/365 More Little Things

Maybe I have stumbled into an occasional series of small things I love. These are the teeny-tiny daffodils in our back yard. They are about the size of a quarter. Love them, and certainly cuter than the full size version.

68/365 Little Books

I have a weakness for little. I just so happen to think that small stuff is cute. I mean things are small which normally aren't? For example a coffee mug is nice, but a demitasse cup is way cuter. Have you seen those cute little mini banana's at the store? I mean come on really!?! Have I lost you - well go with puppies are cute (sometimes way cuter than what they end up looking like big) One of my greatest passion is reading, so years (and I do mean years as in 20) ago when I worked at my most favorite bookstore (long before borders) and they sold these little books. Just like the Chevron cars these just aren't any books, they are a specific publisher and I especially like the ones that come with the book mark ribbons that have some little doodad hanging on them. I specifically chose this book case, because of the little CD sections that are perfect for my little treasures. If you need to know, there is more than one bookcase, and I have over 100. I only add the titles I love - or the ones with the cutest dangly doodad.

67/365 921 10th Street

66/365 long exposure

Power light to my mybook. The mybook is our external drive and the primary back up of our laptops. The glow makes me feel happy like "all is well." Still I am working on a second back up - i would totally get a 3rd if Dave would let me.

65/365 showroom floor

Little known fact about me... I collect Chevron Cars. It started with the Breast Cancer Awareness Car "Hope." Let's just say I have gotten a bit carried away from there. Now don't start sending me cars for Christmas or my birthday - I only get a new car when a) I like it, and b) we are getting gas on a road trip. I know - me and my rules.

I am not a real collector in the sense of keeping them pristine in their boxes yada yada - I have them out where I can look at them and gasp - children visiting can play with them. They may even spend more time dusty than not. This is a "sub-collection" if you will. The Breast Cancer Cars are my favorites and have their own special space - here they are (all 8 of them). Maybe tomorrow you will see the rest (yes there are more), then again inspiration strikes in a hit and miss pattern so I may save it for the figurative inspiration-less rainy day.

64/365 snowman

We live about 2 hours away from the snow, but getting the aspiring service dogs out to experience as much as possible during the time we have time is paramount. Each year the very generous Moore family open up their home to CCI dogs and their people. I personally think the snow is best viewed from inside, preferably near a fire - looking out through the window.

Alas my girls have a different opinion of the snow, and snow with tennis balls and other puppies - well it doesn't get much better than this. Nicole, a puppy raiser, made this cute little snowman who wouldn't make the trip back down to Sacramento.

63/365 The Sea

My favorite place is the coast. Not real particular which or what coast, just the ocean in general. Some of my most favorite memories of things that happened at the shore.   There is something about the plants, the moisture, everything for me is better there. I feel at my best with salt air in my lungs. Someday I hope to live closer to the sea, not that I am complaining about being 2 hours away, but as close as we possibly can.

62/365 "Dutch Apple"

These dishes are Franciscan Apple Pattern. However my whole life I have heard them called Dutch Apple. These dishes belonged to my grandmother, who gave them to me. As a young woman my grandmother and her sisters received various patterns of Franciscan - there is a wide variety most common is the Dessert Rose. Over the years I have been able to add to the collection, some new things new to the set, sometimes replacing something I might have broken as a child =). They now live in the same china hutch I remember as a child now that my grand mother has passed away.

I was very very lucky that my grandmother was willing to give up a significant part of her retirement to raise me. When I was a kid all of the dishes were stored in the lower part of the cabinet, but now I display them and use them - as often as I can. They remind me of her, I like having them out to enjoy, and keep her close in my heart and memory.

61/365

Trying not to be bitter about not having Hipstamatic, and working out the features of retro camera. Quick pic of pics =) in my office.

60/365

I have nothing particularly spectacular to post on the 60th day - just a little known secret. I hate to pump gas. I don't mean I don't like to do it or it is a pain - I will literally do anything on the planet to avoid it. Just now, I am trying to figure out that I only have two more work days, do I have enough left (hence the picture)? Can I somehow trade with Dave or get him to go get me gas before work?

I can't explain why I don't like to get gas. I have never ever liked to get gas. When I was in high school I always made sure I had my more chivalrous male friends with me - I would run in an pay and they would pump. My opinion of getting gas isn't swayed by the weather, it isn't because I am generally running late and don't have time because I am hardly ever late. I just don't like it, I don't think it is my job. If I my car could be like those planes that fuel mid flight that would be fine with me.