Tahoe

Well I faithfully took my picture yesterday and came to my hotel room to post and well I shot my picture in RAW and got nothing here to convert it! Call it a learning experience and so I will be posting 116 later this week. Then I took today's photo in jpeg but for some reason it won't load from the iPad - user error I am sure.

Bottom line - still taking pictures. Will just be posting later this week and well I am okay with that.

115/365 Happy Birthday!

Today is Dave's birthday! He isn't much of birthday celebration guy so when he said he wanted to out for dinner I said of course! I was pretty sure we would be going to some BBQ place in or around town.... Lucille's it is!

Apparently there is was a favorite at our table. (Okay we didn't use it all, but we did do some damage)

114/365 Easter!

Easter is a big deal in our family if for no other reason than it is the first real get together of the year in my parents fabulous backyard. Oh the food - there is always a ton of great food. And although most of the kids are a bit beyond the Easter Egg Hunt age this is still a very important part of the day - trust me the adults have as much fun hiding the eggs as the kids do finding it.

We are also lucky (and thankful) that is a younger generation to help celebrate the holidays. My camera is always drawn to them. Tons of good shots today, but I have always been a fan of the B&W and a colorized B&W .... well she had me at hello.

113/365 Pineapples

Not only are pineapples an international sign of hospitality, they are quite tasty. These pineapples are especially important though. It is the first time I have taken pictures in the grocery store. I have pretty much gotten over the weird looks I get carrying my camera around with me everywhere. I have had a couple people ask me about taking pictures, some places are obviously not weird - like the park. I didn't get weird looks in Ikea, in fact I accidentally got in someone else's shot. For some reason, self created I am sure, I was all freaked out about taking pictures in the grocery store, and of course it was crazy busy because of Easter.

So I am spending the whole trip looking for the least crowded area not necessarily the best shot, watching to make sure our service dog in training isn't doing anything she shouldn't be (thankfully my hubby who is now never surprised about what I am doing for a POTD, was in charge of her), managing the cart and the list. Then I decided this was stupid and I would find something else to shoot. Then while waiting for my hubby in the produce section I was thinking - ohhh I love pineapple lets get some. Then the inner photographer said - NO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT!

The strawberries were 2 for 1 so we took a picture of the pineapples, and got the berries instead. (P.S. I ended up liking the picture too)

112/365 Elburt G Daliwinkel

I am Sir Elburt G Daliwinkel of North Devin. I came to this er - garden, on the good word of by 4th cousin twice removed - Heathburt. You probably gnome him from that picture box of yours as the Traveling Gnome. He does rather undignified things such as stay in hotels, gives discounts, spouts out travel recommendations and other such craziness. Not a life fit for a prestigious gnome family such as the Daliwinkel's. As I previously stated we hail from North Devin, the Gnome Reserve to be precise, where my family has been holding court and minding the garden for centuries.

Per the images I received via electronical post from my cousin - the authority on travel - I was going to be moving to the great land of America and residing in one of the most prestigious gardens ever. It is a gnome's job to over see a garden, not to do manual labor it in. I have left this as a hint to the so called garden tenders of residence here to - as they say in America: get a move on sister, this garden isn't going to plant itself.

I am unsure how much longer I can live in such conditions.

111/365 Bubbles!

My post the other day got me thinking about taking pictures of bubbles. This certainly needs more work. I didn't take quite as many as normal, thinking I need a remote or longer arms. I used Dawn dish soap and it made these little tiny bubbles. I will have to try again in the tub with bubble bath. The good part of these bubbles is that they were all packed in together in a dense little grease fighting army.

110/365 Easter!

I may have mentioned that I love Easter (second only to Christmas Eve). I bought these for our Lacinda's Easter Basket POTD. Stay tuned.

109/365 Roses

I never really thought I was a "rose" person. Don't get me wrong I would gladly take roses delivered in a lovely vase every day and twice on Sunday. I just generally don't care for the way a rose bush looks. I decided to try some climbers to cover up the side yard where we store our recycle cans - with lovely results! These were three very small bare root plants, a couple years of rooting and meticulous trimming have paid off. They are Snowdrop Whites and the red/orange are Joseph's Coat.

108/365 Bubbles

I love bubbles - whether it be soap bubbles, bubbles in ocean foam, glass bubbles. It is the translucent and opalescence about bubbles that love. Go ahead I know you want to say it "oh shin-ey." I think that they remind me of the sea, of fairytales, princesses maybe? (they are always wearing beautiful opalescence dresses right?) I am also amazed at the things that I find around my house for POTD. It makes me happy that my home reflects things that I love and not just things I have accumulated. It also gives my recent - if I don't love it I don't need it - purge validation.

107/365 Jared's Ride

I love motorcycles, love riding. Haven't been on one in a very long time, but there is a certain sort of freedom that you feel when you on a bike that you don't get any other way.

This is my friend Jared's ride. Very happy that after 42 shots there were three I loved. Three that didn't require a ton of post processing, that I just knew were good when I saw them. I feel like I am learning, which is exactly what I hoped for in this project.

106/365 Photo Hunt

I did not spend as much time taking pictures as I would like today, but I have certainly planned a return trip to the UC Davis Campus when I can focus (sorry) on photos and nothing else. In general there is something I love about college campus'. I am not sure if is because they generally quite beautiful, the buzz of people out and about, or just the learning that goes on. I could be a perpetual student if I had the time and money - I love learning new things or being exposed to something I had never thought about.

Today was UC Davis Picnic Day and we participated in the parade and then had a booth to support CCI. As I was walking back to the booth I saw the old wood on these doors and was drawn to them. However the reason I took the picture was on closer look two little kids were making faces against the glass. You will have to trust me they are there I just didn't get them on film. Still I love the old doors and love that they are less than a block away is a uber modern parking garage.

105/365 Fuzz Fixes Funk

This is Lilla. She is just over 10 weeks old and is an aspiring service dog. I was lucky enough to be there the night she came in to the world! Apparently she is quite punky, but that is why puppies are so cute - so we put up with the punky ones. She is just chilling out in a kennel - and doesn't have a care in the world. Of course shortly after this I had to pry her out and get some snuggles. Who knew that fuzzy snuggles fix the funk?

Got to get this posted and go to bed - parade tomorrow!

104/365 Funk and Distraction

I woke up Tuesday morning in a funk - no particular reason - but it seems to be hanging around like Pooh Bear's little black rain cloud. Not sure what I am going to do with the funk, it isn't one of those starving student inspirational funks, so I am thinking that I will just have to wake up in the morning with a new attitude - which considering the good things I plan to have happen tomorrow that shouldn't be too hard.

Tomorrow our first in a very long time newsletter will be published (a major distraction for me as of late) I haven't done a newsletter in quite a while so I had forgotten the ugly details and drama that can arise from such a beast. (Preview in the background.) However lots of good input and support are making this a worth while endeavor. Tomorrow Dave has a second interview for a job that looks promising. Tomorrow I get to do one of my most favorite things of all time - drop off a ton of scrapbooking supplies to the UCSF Children's Hospital. They have a scrapbook program for the children and their families. I am honored to be able to give a gift to such a meaningful program, but even more honored to know so many selfless people who gave their supplies and money to support this cause.

So here is my main work area (yes the walls are orange), my main distraction, and maybe I will just put my funk in the top desk drawer and leave it there for another time.

103/365 Grow Little Plants Grow

This is the beginning of a great garden. It may be a little late, but better late than never! Lots of flowers and basically a salsa garden. Although I am trying my hand at a couple root plants and lettuce.

102/365 Meet Max

You have heard a lot about our service dogs in training, but another 4-footed beastie in our house - Max the Cat. That is his full name Max the Cat. He is a maine coon (our second) and was adopted at the shelter after his first lame family turned him in because he meowed too much. Come on people he is a cat. He does talk when he is unhappy, hungry, or he feels I am hogging my bed - that he thinks is his.

Going to try this again, had some issues with the shadows. Thanks to Dave for helping out, and keeping Max from jumping on my head.

101/365 Wow!

I wanted to do something dramatic for 100 - however the day turned out to be so dramatic itself the only thing I had on my mind this evening was comfort! To be truth I was a little scattered thinking about tonights picture, and I remembered this little gem in the fridge.

This weekend we went to a potluck and we had dessert. So there is something else you know no about me - I like to make dessert. This weekend I thought I was on cupcake wars and made my own batter and frosting. You already know that I love cupcakes (see day 23 & 25), and I love miniature things (day 68 & 69) - here is the ultimate mini-cupcakes!

This little number is a vanilla bean orange infused cake with an orange cream cheese frosting with a sprinkle of sanding sugar.

100/365 Interesting...

Hadn't seen the Gnome around, Dave thought that he may be hanging out in the volunteer ivy garden. (volunteer because it is my neighbor's ivy which he has all cut back, but it is still on our side of the fence) I hadn't seen him but apparently he got lost on his way back home I spied him in the clippings. He better find his way out of there or he will be gone with the clippings next week.

099/365 Old Farms

There is something about old farms that I love. I have never worked or lived on a farm, nor am I tough enough physically or mentally for that sort of work. My grandmother came from a farming family, maybe that is why I love them. I imagine that they hold these great stories and old treasures. There is something about the way they become one with the land and their walls lean as if bowed under the weight of the enormous history they have seen. Not really sure about all that, I just know that I love old barns.

098/365

Had big dog class at McKinley Park today. Ducks! Big time distraction for the dogs in training.

097/365

Trying to work with the light behind the subject. Not horrible but still not exactly what I was thinking. Cropping helped. One of the early highlights of my garden - climber out front.

096/365 Art Deco

I love art deco and have seen this very cool mailbox when visiting my friend at lunch. Today I was there early so I got a couple pics.

095/365 The Tower

The Tower Theater is a Sacramento landmark. Still an operating independent film theater, and is the birth place of the now closed Tower Records chain. (A place I miss, I spent many hours as a highschool kid browsing (and buying) music and books at Tower. The best Tower Books was right across the street from the theater, and was cramped, and a bit musty and held the greatest treasures. I will have to make it back down to take a picture after dark, when it is all aglow.

094/365 Bleech...

First because I was asked by a couple people. No - I don't know where the gnome is. I went back out to the daffodils and well he isn't there. It is sort of unnerving.

After I went on and on and on about how much I love Easter I should mention there is one caveat. Peeps. Don't like them, never have never will.

093/365 Hop

Apparently it is a little known secret (my husband of 20 years said Really?? when I mentioned it last night) that I LOVE Easter. It is second, in my book, only to Christmas Eve. Why? There are so many reasons. It is a time my family gathers, the Easter Egg Hunt is a big deal (put on beautifully by my sister), dying the eggs, the ham, not so much the candy now that I can't eat peanuts, the pretty baskets, especially if I get to dress up and don't even get me started about how much I love a grand Easter bonnet.

Last night we went out to Hop - a great way to start the Easter month. Thought I would practice my Easter Egg hiding today. It was a little windy today but I like the way the motion and the candy colored eggs look. Bear with me, there will be many more Easter pics to come.

092/365 Is there someone out there?

Recently the pups have been hanging around out back by the trees behind the pool. I figured that Sabina was just trying to "accidentally" fall in the pool again before official swim season starts. I went out there to investigate and heard some rustling around and was pretty sure that I spied a little visitor. After a couple days of chasing him around the yard I was able to snap a few shots.

I hope that he is here to bring good luck to the garden season and not cause mischief. That is Sabina's main job, and we wouldn't want her to be unemployed. (We thought her main job would be to be a CCI Breeder; however, she is certainly a slacker in that regard).

091/365 Under!

In the service dog world we teach our dogs a command called "under" - which is just well get under whatever I am asking you to get under it!

Today I had lunch with several other puppy raisers at a local elementary school fundraising event. This is 10 dogs doing and under all bunched up under there together - and a fine job they did!

Yesterday I mentioned that there would be a special guest for today's picture. He has turned out to be more elusive than I originally thought. I am hoping for tomorrow maybe.