A Good Day

Today was one of those "stay at home and do whatever I want to" days.  They are few and far between and I really enjoy them when I get the chance.

I started out  by trying to make a photo card for a friend of mine.  Had to edit the image, put the shadow on it, then create the template for the card, import the image and then try to align everything correctly so that when it printed everything would be in the correct place. 

So while I was doing that I flipped on the TV and found a great movie to watch.  If you want to see a "feel good" movie, get "Operation Dumbo Drop".  The movie is based on a true situation that took place during the Viet Nam war.  I know that the terms "feel good" and "Viet Nam war" in the same sentence might seem like an oxymoron to some of you, but really, it's a great movie...

After completing the card, I packaged up some items my son wanted sent to him and headed off to the post office.  But before I left I googled a recipe for Pumpkin Choc. Chip cookies, just in case I needed to buy any of the ingredients.  Sure enough, I couldn't find any pumpkin puree in the house, even though I was sure I had a can of it and about three pkgs of frozen pumpkin.  None to be found, so I went on a search and rescue mission after stopping at the PO.

The pumpkin I found was Libby brand and while putting the ingredients together I tasted the puree.  Ick.  No flavor at all which really surprised me for being a name-brand. 

The finished cookies look okay but according to the wee little taste I took, they taste like regular chocolate chip cookies.  So I guess my next mission is to get out there and buy some cooking pumpkins at a farm stand and try the recipe again with the real thing.  



I have a fun meeting tonight and then home to watch what will be left of Dancing With the Stars.  Altogether it's been a good day!

Followers

I've noticed lately that the number of "followers" for my blog has been growing, slowly but surely.  It's encouraging, but it has me curious as to why.  I mean, I began this blog about 5 years ago and have been pretty faithful about posting.  Along the way I've had a small group of "followers", but the numbers have increased at the slowest possible rate.  Well maybe not, maybe the slowest rate would be no increase in numbers.  So why now? 

Anyway, I began my blog the first time I went to Hawaii so that I could post images I took while there, so people back in NY (I was thinking about those in my church) would be able to see the pictures.  Well, as it turns out, the majority of them say they don't have time to look at my blog.  Okay--well, I wonder why they all said they couldn't wait for me to return so they could see the pictures I took? 

(and I won't even comment about that excuse cause I would certainly make some enemies).

When I discovered, about a year ago, that I could make books out of my blog posts, I decided to continue using the blog as an online, fairly superficial,  journal, you know, highlighting some of my daily activities and the sights I was seeing.  Maybe someday my children/grandchildren will enjoy reading through the books and get a kick out of my adventures.

But now that I have a few more "followers" and have read some of their insightful and profound blogs, I'm beginning to think I should be writing more philosophical, thought-provoking posts. Seriously, do I owe my readers more than a few pictures of license plates?

Nah!!

So in light of that, I went back to my archives and did some alternate processing on an image I made this past summer when a friend and I visited an abandoned quarry.

This is all you get today.  I'll come up with something a little more provocative another day...maybe.

Just a Few

Here are just a few fun license plates.  I must have seen at least three really funky plates while I was driving today, but, alas, I couldn't photograph them.  The first two here are from a few weeks ago, but the last two were ones I found parked today.  

What a Surprise!!

Many years ago an acquaintance, who was a pretty needy person, got a job selling Cutco knives.  To help him out, I agreed to let him do his schpeel on me for practice.  I had never, in my entire adult life, had good knives and I was so impressed with the product, I purchased a set from him.

Well, as I said, it was a long time ago--maybe, hmmm, 20 or so years.  They have a lifetime guarantee.  Lifetime in terms of sharpening, replacement, etc.  I never took advantage of that because I never again knew anyone who sold the product.  I LOVE THE KNIVES.  They are awesome, but after 20 years, they definitely needed to be sharpened.

One day I received a sale brochure and noticed that they had instructions and a "where-to" address if sharpening was desired.  I finally got off my lazy procrastinating butt, wrapped them, wrote out a check for only $9 (for 5 knives), and sent them off.  

They came back today.  Woot, woot!!



Now here's the kicker!  As I happily unwrapped them, I remarked to myself that some of them looked as good as new.  When my husband came in the house later, I gave him a heads-up that the knives were newly sharpened and that he should be aware of that if he decided to use them. 

He looked at the invoice, which I ignored when I opened the pkg, and asked why they replaced some of them.  I said, "they didn't replace them, they just sharpened them".  Here's the thing...they actually did replace three of them--NO CHARGE--not even an explanation on the invoice.  I guess it was the ones with the serrated edges.  What a surprise!

So!!  If any of you have Cutco knives and they need to be sharpened, go to the website for the address and don't delay.  If you don't have them and you're in the market for good knives, bite the bullet and purchase them.  You will never regret it.

North Creek

So today, two friends and I took a train ride to North Creek.  You might be thinking to yourself, 'okay, why would a train be going to North Creek, and exactly what is there to do in North Creek once the train arrives there?'

Hmmm, I had the very same thoughts when I saw the flyer for the trip.  I mean, I've been through North Creek and I guarantee it's not a thriving metropolis.  Actually, it's not a metropolis of any kind, and it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

Always on the lookout for a new experience and a new photo opportunity, I decided to take the trip anyway, and fortunately two of my friends agreed to go along. 

However, Indian Summer decided to return with a vengeance today.  The train was very warm on the way there, and a veritable sauna on the way home. No a/c, no breeze, and hardly any view to speak of.  In spite of that, we did manage to have some great conversation, a yummy lunch at one of the local restaurants and some fun taking photos in front of a wonderful mosaic mural.

Back at the train depot, we saw this old car off to the side.  Not the best abandoned car specimen I've every seen, but it will do.

Either,  Or

It was a stunningly beautiful day today.  Much more like our usual Fall weather than all the rain and cool conditions we've been having.  So . . . three grandkids in sports, three games to attend.

After putting the images on the computer and crying over viewing them,

I feel like I have only three alternatives left. 

EITHER I turn a blind eye to the results from the lens,  OR I:

1)  Stop trying to take action shots, 

2) suck it up, keep taking action shots and deal with the soft images I've been getting, or

3) get the new super-duper, very, very, very expensive sharp lens that I want.

NONE of these are acceptable alternatives, although #3 is the most only desireable one.  Each time I get soft images like these , it drives me crazy, I mean, closer and closer to getting the lens.  They may not look too bad on the blog, but they aren't sharp, and the lens doesn't seem to get sharp images no matter what I do.  Okay, I'm whining.  I'll stop now.

The Art Show

When I arrived back in town tonight, this is how the Glen Store looked.  It was only about 52 hours since the "takeover" and it has a new paint-job, a new porch, a new railing and a new sign.  I could see people inside being busy.  

The annual Hagaman Art Show was held this weekend.  I was completely blown away when a friend called to congratulate me for the 2nd place ribbon on one of my images.  I was even more blown away when I arrived there this afternoon and saw the other photographs on display.  They were great!  So the 2nd place award is much sweeter, knowing what my competition was.  Success definitely breeds motivation and enthusiasm.  On my way home from the art show, I was already thinking about which of my images I would submit next year.

Again

Yup, rain again.

Our Photo Walk this morning included a stop at the fire house.  I was psyched!

Saying Goodbye

This is somewhat of a random post.  I went driving around this afternoon to find some photo ops.  I decided to go to the Guy Park Manor that was so seriously damaged when hurricane Irene hit.  It's the first time I attempted to get on the property, and although I've seen other pictures of it, it was so sad to see it in person.  One wing of the historical building was almost destroyed when the waters rose, but good news!!  reconstruction has already begun.

When I was walking back to my car, I heard a train approaching and I decided to try and get some motion images.  I didn't have my tripod, so I had to hand-hold the camer on a slow shutter speed.  The stationary items are not sharp, but it was still fun.  

And now to the "Saying Goodbye" part.  For many weeks we, the residents of Glen, have known that our local store would be closing.  Well, not actually closing...  The people running the cafe didn't own the bldg, and after several years of struggling to make a go of the business, they decided to close and direct their efforts in a different direction. 

As their last "hurrah" they announced their final Thursday night dinner with this sign.  Tim's sense of humor is notrious.

They had to vacate the store by noon today.  On my way home from my mini-road trip at about 1 pm, I saw the new proprietors painting the outside of the bldg using a bucket-loader.  At about 7 pm I went out for a walk, and unbelievably, the bldg is completely painted.  I didn't have my camera, otherwise I would have posted a pic of the store with its new look, at least the outside. 

New look or not, we sadly say Goodbye to Tim and his crew.

People-Watching

I attended my granddaughter's soccer game yesterday morning.  She does a great job and it's fun watching her.

While I was waiting for the game to begin, I did some people watching.  Usually there isn't too much out of the ordinary at small town soccer games, but yesterday a few people caught my eye.  This girl is dressed for winter.  It was 71 degrees and she was wearing Ughs (or wanna-be ughs), jeans and a heavy hoodie.  I broke into a sweat just looking at her.

I come from redneck country.  The moms and other females that attend soccer/little league games wear things like:  jeans, cut-offs, sweatshirts, t-shirts, sneakers, sandals.  This soccer game was a mere 15 miles from my home turf, but I guess the dress code is a little different.  Cap, stylin' raincoat, skinny jeans and designer wellies.  Cracked me up!

By the way, granddaughter's team won.  Woot, woot!

Sure Sign of Fall, Part II

I stopped at an awesome gift shop on my way home today.  I know the owner.  I had carte blanche to take pictures around the grounds.  Fall is definitely on the way.  Sigh.

But before I stopped at the gift shop, I went to the site of the Chalmer Building again.  More of it has been demolished. I don't feel any less sad . . .

Sure Sign of Fall

I forced myself to go out for a walk today, and I took my camera with me which I don't usually do.  I'm pretty bored with taking photos in my little town, which is really just an intersection, but I thought there just might be a chance that I'd see something interesting. 

I saw a caterpillar on the shoulder of the road, you know, the brown furry kind that seems to be a sure sign of Fall.  I put my foot in its path and it climbed up on my shoe, so I sat down on the side of the road and spent a few minutes "working the subject".  I wonder what the passing drivers thought when they passed me?  Oh well.  

I saw this bumper sticker on a car parked in a driveway along my route.

Doomed, Part II

Doomed

When Tropical Storm Irene hit upstate NY, I was in Alaska.  Everyone at the workshop was keeping in touch with family and friends to see what was happening back East.  Several of our bridges are out, and several homes have been condemned, but my local area wasn't affected anywhere near as badly as others surrounding us. 

I never went out to take photos after my return to NY.  I felt a little self-conscious about taking photos of the destruction of the homes I had seen, but today I decided to go out and see if I could get close to some of the bridges near me.

I walked down to the next set of barracades on this road, but didn't go near the bridge.  Considering it was Sunday afternoon and there wasn't a soul in sight, I probably could have approached the bridge, but I knew of another place I thought I could get closer to.

The locks at this bridge are damaged pretty seriously.

Then I went over to the site of the old Chalmers Bldg.  I've been there several times before, and once had the nerve to step into the entrance.  I was alone that time and didn't have the courage to go farther inside, which I regret now.  Anyway, I guess that all the efforts to save the building and restore it have come to naught, since, as you can see, it's being demolished.  Well . . . maybe you can't see, since part of it isn't there anymore.  The area in the foreground with all the red brick on the ground used to be a beautiful, historic building . . . sigh. 

 

There's obviously more than one kind of destruction--nature and manmade.  Nature can't be controlled, but I sure hope that in this case, the manmade destruction is the wisest thing to do.

The Annual Dog Walk

Today was the 4th (I think, or maybe 5th) annual county SPCA Dog Walk.  The event was raising money to build a much-much-needed new shelter.  There were vendors, demonstrations and food.  Oh...and of course, lots of dogs. 

My friend talked me into being a vendor to photograph pet portraits.  I HATE doing this kind of thing.  I usually stand around for the 4-5 hours of the event, trying to look upbeat, but being bored and angry with myself for being sucked into doing yet another "show".  I won't even consider something like this unless I can be in a booth next to someone I know, just so I can be sure of having someone to talk to during the long, lonely hours that I'm there.

Well, for this event the booth fee was zero $s, I was next to my friend, I love dogs, and it was for the benefit of a great organization.  So I caved and said I'd do it. 

Contrary to my expectations of doom, I actually had a good time in spite of the fact that except for my camera, almost every piece of equipment I had with me (computer, printer, media card adapter, strobe light, and light meter) malfunctioned in some way. 

I muddled through and tried to stay calm and managed to get some acceptable images.  They certainly won't go down in "doggie-portrait-hall-of-fame", but the people had eyes only for the faces of their adorable pets and they were fairly satisfied with the results.  And except for my technological nightmare, so was I.

Stockade Art Show

I was in town this morning to do some errands and I stopped at a friend's house to have a quick lunch and chat.  While I was there I received a surprise call on my cell phone, from a friend I haven't seen in a very long time.  She was heading to the Stockade Art show in Schenectady and was calling to see if I wanted to join her.

So off I went to meet up with her.  What a great visit we had.  It was a beautiful day--perfect for this type of event.  Of course we had our cameras with us.  After spending time looking at all the wonderful art, we walked along some side streets and took photos of some of the fun front doors and other decorative details we saw.

Some of the homes nearer the river were hit hard by the floods caused by Irene, but on the whole the Stockade fared pretty well.  I'm sure that the Art Show today was a celebration of sorts considering how devastating the flood could have been.

It was a blessing to be able to spend this wonderful day with two great friends.