30/366

New Year's Eve, Dec 31, 2020

I don't think there's a single person who's sorry to see this year end.  Because of God's grace, His will really will prevail and I've been praying that His will would be that things get better~~that the evil will be revealed and that goodness and sanity will prevail.

While I was trying to think of something to photograph today, I decided to try a still life of some of my favorite books.  Once upon a time when I was younger, I bought almost every book I wanted.  I had so many books I didn't have enough bookshelves.  Then I purchased a kindle and decided I didn't need or want all those hard copy books so I began getting rid of the ones I hadn't re-read or even handled for a long time.

Still.   Too.   Many.

When I knew I would be moving, I became brutal in riding myself of things I didn't need and didn't want to bring with me, especially since I was relocating to a much smaller space than I was used to.  I managed to hold onto a few of my favorite books, ones I knew I wanted to read again or share with other people.

These are just a handful of those favorites.  

Making this image also gave me a chance to practice a photoshop technique that I'm interested in.

So here's to a Happy New Year's and new year to y'all.

29/366

I was trying to learn a process in photoshop and wasn't being too successful.  But while searching around, I tried something else and came up with this.  I really need to get a book or take a course to be able to do some of the things I'm interested in.  

It has taken me years and years just to learn the little bit I know about photoshop, mainly because every time I learned a technique, I never had the opportunity to use it and then by the time I wanted to try it again, I forgot everything I learned.

You really have to be immersed in a new technique before it becomes second nature.

This will be one of the images I use for my notecards.  I struggle to come up with new images for the cards.  Can't keep sending out the same images, eventually  people will begin to get repeats.  How boring.

28/366

A Great Antique Find

I decided to register for an online Still Life photography course because it was on sale for a great fee.  I'm loving learning how to put textured backgrounds on my images, although the instructor is using a different version of photoshop than me~~the different functions are all in different places so it took me forever to get this one image to my liking.  

The day after Christmas I spent several hours wandering around a couple of antique shops.  I despaired of finding any boots that were within my budget, but I found these in the 2nd shop I went to.  Sadly, they aren't my size, but they're perfect for photos.

27/366

Checking Out the Tree on the Morning of  Christmas Eve Day

My daughter and I and two grand kiddos went to this fantastic burger place for breakfast in one of the nearby towns this morning.  They usually aren't open for breakfast, but since this is Christmas Eve day they made an exception.  They were also running a competition for the best photo of people wearing their PJs.  The winning photo will win the maker a gift certificate.

Right inside the entrance they have a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. My grand kids are very difficult to photograph but while I was trying to get them to turn around they decided to both look at the tree and the ornaments so I grabbed this shot which I actually like a lot.

Maybe we'll win the gift card.  Maybe not.  Either way, it's still one of my fave burger places.

Merry Christmas to y'all, 2020.

 26/366

Faux Christmas Present

I went to the zoo this morning to see what they had on display for the Christmas season.  It's really difficult to photograph the decorations without getting unwanted items in the background, but I managed to capture this faux present to my liking.  It's not a world class photo, but I kind of like the simplicity of it and how intensely colorful it is.

There's a string of mini-lights inside the box and I bet it looks really sweet once the sun goes down.

25/366

Another Yard Display

On my walk this afternoon I saw this yard display.  I've seen it before, but today it was late enough in the afternoon that the lights were on but there was still too much daylight for the words to show up in the image.  Each candle had a different word. 

The two on the left:  Hope, Love.       The two on the right: Peace, Christ

I should head over there one day before Christmas when it's closer to dusk and try to get an image with the lights showing more clearly.  

Jesus is the reason for the season and thank God some people remember that.  

24/366

Working the Quilt

Two of my grandkids are graduating in June 2021.  In all the years I've been sewing, I've never made them quilts, so I decided that's what they'll get for graduation.  

They may not be too excited right now, but just maybe they will think fondly of me when they use the quilts years from now when I'm no longer able to be with them in person.

These are squares for the first quilt. Only 22 to go.  It's a work in progress but I think it will be done soon. Then I can get started on the 2nd one.

23/366

The New Chess Set

My friend just received this new chess set and he was setting it up to take some photos of it.  Of course I offered to make a few images of him with the board. 

I only had my cell phone with me, but I think it did an admirable job of capturing the board and my friend.

22/366

Public Display

I took a ride into town yesterday to see the public display of Christmas decorations as I mentioned in the previous post.

I often use my images for notecards that I make.  I just played around with this image to see how it would look as a card.  I deliberately edited it to have the high-key background. I'll keep it even though I'm not really enamored of it.  After a few weeks, when I look at it again, I'll be more discerning about whether I should use it or not next year.

In the meantime, it's was just a fun experiment.

21/366

Christmas Details

I took a walk around downtown this morning.  It was a beautiful, sunny day, no jacket needed.  The convention center always displays a huge tree right in front of the main doors.

I think it's lit at night, but I usually don't go downtown at night, although one of these days I should schlep my tripod down there and try to get some sunset photos of the tree.

I love the way the Christmas bulbs reflect the Convention Center.  It was tricky to make sure I wasn't in the reflection, but I think this perspective works.

 20/366

Change of Mind....Again

Every year I determine that I won't be sending out Christmas cards.  I make that decision for several not very valid reasons:

**cost of cards
**cost of stamps
**does anyone really care if they don't get a card from me?
**too time consuming
**too lazy

Then, about 3 weeks before Christmas I start feeling guilty and my common sense kicks in:

**who doesn't like getting mail that isn't bills?
**I really want to touch base with folks I haven't seen in a long time and may never see again in this lifetime

**cost of stamps is a small thing in the big scheme of things
**cost of cards, ditto previous statement
**stop being so lazy

So I started my l card campaign and naturally ran out of cards.  In the next day or two I'll head to the store for more, thereby paying full price for the cards I need.  Right after Christmas I'll go back to the store for cards for next year, but then they'll be on sale.

Next year I'll probably make the same vow to   not.  send.  cards.  but then I'll have a change of mind...again!

19/366

Another version of the historic train station I photographed yesterday.  Yesterday's pic was of the vine covered loading dock around the other side of the building.

 18/366

Defunct Loading Dock Door

There's a beautiful old train station downtown.  It's on the Historical register and it's been for sale for quite a while. 6.5 acres for $1 million +.  Wow!  If I could afford it, I'd buy it and convert into a home for myself. 

The building is right in the middle of an urban area so there's no real landscaping around it.  With a little TLC I'm sure it could be significantly improved and would look like an oasis in a desert.

I can't afford it, so it's just a figment of my imagination. There was actually a realtor showing it to a prospective buyer today when my friend and I were wandering around looking for photo ops.  

This is the loading dock door~~there are so many vine branches that in the summer it's impossible to see there's even a door there. 

I hope whoever purchases the property does so with the intent of restoring its former glory.

17/366

Water Pipes

Today as I was driving to a friend's house, I saw these pipes in the field.  There were a lot of them, so I knew there is some construction in the future, but I wasn't sure what they are actually for.  When I arrived at my friend's house, I asked her if she knew and she said they are water pipes.  So there ya go!

I love the color of these pipes~~it contrasts so nicely with the dead grass and winter landscape.  I only had my phone with me...I've carried my big cameral with me so many times when I never took it out of the bag that I decided to leave it home today.  So naturally a scene presented itself.  

There's a saying that the "best" camera is the one in your hand at any given time, so today my best camera was my phone.  Not usually my camera of choice, but today it worked.

 16/366

Junk Yard

Several months ago someone in one of my photo groups organized a field trip to what she thought was a junk yard.  It was actually a scrap metal yard, so it was basically filled with piles and mountains of scrap metal in various stages of ruin and decay.   We spent a few hours wandering around making images.  The interest was in the details.  

15/366

Cement Wall

This wall is outside the now defunct train station in town.  I just heard the story today about how the wall was built because the train tracks used to flood when it rained hard and trains would have to wait until the flood waters receded.  So the tracks were raised up and this wall is part of the support of the raised tracks.  

I love the vine branches. There's just something so appealing about bare branches in the fall and winter.  Obviously in the summer the wall is covered in vines which is also beautiful. 

14/366

 Family Portrait Update

This great family came in today to have their family portrait made, in order to update it since their previous portrait, however many years ago that was.

They're a pretty laid-back group so there were little to no shenanigans during the session.  Sometimes shenanigans make for good photos and sometimes they make for a stressed-out photographer.

This session was a little of this and a lot of that.

I consider it a successful session.

13/366

Another Lawn Display

As I was walking home today I saw another totally cute Christmas lawn display.

Most of the time less is definitely more.

12/366

Thanksgiving Day 2020

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.  There is so much to be thankful for.  God still reigns from heaven and He blesses us in so many ways. It was great seeing these friends whom I hadn't seen in a while.  The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. I'm so glad I was able to spend the day with my daughter's family and the others.

After we ate and cleaned up some of us sat outside by the fire and spent a while talking and eating dessert. By then it was too dark to take photos otherwise I would have jumped at the chance to get some pics of us by the fire.

 11/366

Another post today, but I couldn't resist.  I went out for a walk in the late afternoon and was pleasantly surprise when I saw this display.

Who doesn't love Charlie Brown & Christmas?

(I especially LOVE the fact that there's no snow and probably won't be all winter)

 10/366

The Good & the Bad

I didn't have plans for today (the day before Thanksgiving) except to do a little baking as my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, but my daughter asked me to pick up an online order from the Carter's store.

The Bad News First

As I drove down the road I heard what I thought was the sound of a flat tire.  Ugh.  So I went immediately to a shop and sure enough, not only was the tire just about flat, but there was a HUGE screw in it so there's no salvaging it.

The tread on the opposite tire is pretty low.  The guy recommended getting two tires so they would match in tread and wear.  I decided to go for the entire 4 tires since the other two will need to be replaced in the near future any way.  I was expecting this to happen pretty soon, so now it will just be done and I won't have to think about it for at least a couple of years.

Now for the Good News

When I got to the Carter's store I couldn't resist looking at all the cute clothes they have for babies and toddlers. When my kiddos were little I was somewhat of a clothing snob (although not for myself) and I always shopped at a local children's shop.  I would wait until they had their seasonal sale and go in and buy the size I thought the kids would be the following year.  It always worked out well and I saved a ton of money doing that.

So I was looking around and I saw a display labeled Door Busters.

I found these 5 onesies for the amazing price of $10~~Carter's brand no less, and I can return them if my daughter doesn't like them, which isn't likely.

The grand baby will be 2 next summer and these will be perfect for her then.  SCORE!!

 9/366

Weekly Racquetball

Thanks to my friend who agrees to meet me for a weekly racquetball game.  We don't actually play a "game".  We just volley and concentrate on getting some exercise.

Racquetball has to be one of the best games ever invented.

 8/366

 Family Portrait Session

Yesterday I had the chance to do a portrait session with this fun family.

After making some images with their pets, we did a few with just the humans in the family. 

I'm so glad I decided to do this session in the studio~~it was a great way to contain the pets and the kiddos. 

 7/366

Finally Got the Strobe Slave

It's been over 20 years that I've wanted a slave system for my strobe light.  I don't know why it's taken me so long to bite the bullet and purchase one.  Maybe because I didn't really know what to get~~I'm so "gear-challenged", but I finally had help so I did the deed.

It's a Pocket Wizard and once I got the correct cord it was a breeze.  

Since I moved into a smaller space than I used to live in, I have very few photo subjects and definitely no models to work with so I recruited one of my houseplants to practice with.  

I have a family photo session coming up this weekend, so I'll post one of those images in the near future.  

 6/366

Fallen Leaves

Until about 2 years ago I lived in an area of the country where the Fall colors could rock your world.

Not so much now.  I feel like I'm lucky to see any color, but on the plus side, the weather is better here.  I spent some time today walking around one of the college campuses hoping to see some photo ops.  There weren't too many of them, but then I saw this piles of leaves.

This is hardly a world class photo, but it speaks of the season. 

5/366

Fun portrait session

Several months ago I had the pleasure of working with these kids on a portrait session. The little kids were tricky but I finally got some images I like.  I think the parents will love these.

 

4/366

Quilts for Cops

For the past 9 or 10 months I've been getting together with a friend once a week to work on quilts we're making.  One of her friends (who I also know) is part of a national organization called Quilts for Cops.  Volunteers from all over the United States make quilts which are then donated to police and first responders who have been injured in the line of duty. 

The friend started a local chapter.  Seven of us attended the first 3 sewing days.  Shortly, 7 quilts will be sent to 7 recipients.  How exciting to be part of a group offering tangible comfort to those in need.  The quilts are beautiful.  

Just one of the complete quilts.

3/366

Random Thoughts

So...this virus has done a number on America (and other places I'm sure).  My opinions about it and the measures that have been taken shall not infringe on my posts, but it needs to be said that I haven't been taking the kinds of photos I would have, had the virus not happened.  Also...living in West Texas doesn't help.  It's ugly here. Finding a prettier place involves traveling for hours, and right now everyone is too leery to travel, which I find annoying, but that's the way it is.

So here is a random collection of photos:

An barrel-racing event at a mini-rodeo called a PlayDay

     So sweet that this little guy was guiding the horse for the littler girl.

 

Senior photo of a recent seminary graduate.

A group of us were out for a day of shooting practice at a gun range.

A Christian University graduate.

2/366

Crazy Times

The JoAnn Fabric store where I live is still allowing patrons inside the store, but only 10 at a time.  This was the line outside the store when I was there this afternoon.  The majority of the people were there to purchase fabric to make face masks, as was I.  

The store also provides a service where you can order online and pick up curb-side a few hours later.

Shout out to JoAnn's for providing thousands upon thousands of face-mask kits at no charge.  How awesome is that?

Just sew a mask (or 10) and donate them to a facility that needs them.

By God's grace this hideous virus will end soon and we'll be able to get back to close-encounters-of-the-social-kind, much needed and much desired.

1/366

In The Midst of the Virus

The United States, along with other areas in the world, is currently in the throes of the Coronavirus19.  It's a drag and it's scary.  The isolation might do just as much damage as the virus, although that statement might be a stretch.

Since I haven't posted in such a long time, I just gathered together a few photos I've taken over the past several months.  I still try to get out every day and always have my camera with me, but my local West Texas area is pretty void of photo ops.

Several months ago I signed up to take horseback riding lessons.  After each lesson I stick around and try to get some good shots.    It's still winter here in West Texas, so it's not very green or lush.

I was hoping I could get to some ranch rodeos this spring, but I guess those plans are on hold this year.

When I first relocated here I managed to connect with a local photographer who was looking for an assistant.  This was from a senior photo shoot~~the mom and brother were checking out some of his shots.  It was a beautiful day, but again, not very green.  This shoot was completed before "social distancing" became the norm.  How I long for those days again.

One of the local collages has several of these very cool sculptures outside the library.  

There's an historical village not too far outside of town.  I went there one day to see what I could get photos of.  Unfortunately it had just rained and they wouldn't allow anyone inside the buildings in an effort to preserve the structures, so I was only able to walk around outside.  This building was obviously the barber shop. 

Hopeful we won't be required by the gov't to stay inside our homes and I'll still be able to get out to public outdoor places even if I am alone.  In that case I can still be making photos even if I am alone.

God have mercy on our country and the rest of the world.