Vote for Me...

I'm not going to promise "change" or lower taxes (LOL), but I will promise being very grateful for your vote.

Voting is now open for the photo contest. Vote for your favorite (hopefully, it's mine...lol) at Write from Karen. Voting is open until Jan 21 @ 11AM central.

Winter Photo Contest

This is a "repost" of an image I took after one of our many snowstorms in December 2007. It's among my favorites of the winter pictures I have taken. Because it is a favorite I decided to enter it in a winter-themed contest at Write from Karen.

New Profile Pic

I had grown very tired of my old profile pic so I snapped about 30 or so self-portraits a few days ago. The best shot has replaced my old one. Here it is a bit larger, but not so large it will scare you away...lol!!

*sigh*

I love this view from the kitchen into the family room...

Fun with Macro

A little over a month ago I spent a little time playing with the macro setting on my digital camera. These are the same daisies I used in my studio shoot for photography class. They lasted over two weeks and I got lots of photos using them...

You can see the rest of them here!

Tree #2

I finished decorating the real tree in the living room just a few minutes ago. I love the color scheme of ornaments on this tree, but I definitely need to find more ornaments that are NOT round, glass balls.

Abstract Photo Fun

Confession...

I don't think I ever told you all that my mom is a "h00ker", and we're all proud of her...lol!

Rug h00ker that is...LOL!! The photos above are of the one made for me for last Christmas. I got it back recently because she entered it in a couple shows and wanted to photograph it for the records she is keeping of the projects she has done.

It will go in our home office -- the only room that hasn't been redecorated since we moved here in 2000. This rug will serve as inspiration for color & style. I can't wait to get going on it after I complete a few other projects!!

Tree #1

I got one of our Christmas trees up and decorated Sunday evening, but had to purchase a new topper. I was a bit sad the old one stopped working until I found the perfect replacement at Target today.

There are a few more pictures of our Christmas decorations here.

Canon's Captures

Here are a few shots I have taken with my new digital camera. I am lovin' it so far.

Yep, I still LOVE taking floral & sunset shots! :) They don't run away when I come with the camera like Bob, Olivia, Boomer, & Chevy do.

Yes, I am Spoiled

Two cameras in two days! :)

I mentioned a while back that it was time for a new digital camera for us. I also mentioned that I would probably stick with Nikon. I was leaning toward the CoolPix S600. However, after reading some reviews & holding one in person I changed my mind. I ended up with the Canon PowerShot SD790 IS! They were the same price -- the Canon had a quicker start up & time between shots, the LCD is larger, the camera just feels sturdier, and everywhere I looked the SD790 got better reviews.

I have been playing around with it a bit yesterday & today, and so far I really like it. I can't believe how much faster (start up & from shot to shot) it is than my old Nikon!

Fabulous Blooms

Daylily


Red (with one white petal) Dahlia

Dashing Dahlias

A couple shots of this year's window box flowers -- Dwarf Dahlias!!



Not to toot my own horn, but they may be the best I have ever taken. I LOVE them! :)

Photographic Evidence

Here is some photographic evidence of our busy weekend.

As you might remember, over the winter our mailbox lost a battle with a snowplow so we purchased a new one. A new mailbox called for a fresh look. We had planned on doing this (minus the mailbox) for the last couple years, but never got around to it.

Before

After #1

After #2

Replacing the coral bells, three euonymus, and a bush that was somehow a mixture of spirea & weigelia are fountain grass surrounded by creeping phlox, coreopsis, coneflower, meadow sage, veronica and some sweet alyssum. The rock has been replaced with mulch.

Thank you again, Olivia, for moving all that rock to the back yard.

Spring Blooms

These were blooming about a week ago (two weeks later than normal), but are done now...

They are the tulips & rhododendrons I have shown before, but this year I took pictures from a different vantage point -- worm's eye view and ultra close. The close up of the tulip is my fav, and I may have it printed on canvas to hang in our house somewhere.

Photos, Photos, & More Photos

I have spent sometime the last couple days adding more pictures to flickr. They go back to 2004 and it isn't all of them. One of these days I will get them all up for friends & family to enjoy and as a back up to our back up. A bit of overkill? Probably, but can you ever be too careful with those precious memories.

Winter's Beauty: The Sky

our sky at dusk today

The Full Bath

Here are the pictures of the bathroom I promised you all way back in, when was it, November.

before

after

I still don't care for the green counter, but it isn't as bad with this paint as it was with the green and white striped paper with gold and pink details. (UGH -- that paper is hideous.)

I usually use a darker hand towel but the usual ones were all in the towel hamper I didn't realize I had a back up on the towel rack until I edited the picture. The rugs and towels are a deep purple similar to the mat of the two florals. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I still want to paint the vanity & possibly do something about that counter, but for now it's a HUGE improvement.

I did end up finding and using most of the items from this post.

All Glammed Up

Here's the shot Olivia took of Bob & I as we were about to head out the door to the black-tie gala on Saturday night. We should have had her take another shot -- Bob's eyes are only half open & I was saying something -- oops!

Chevy

This is the only Chevy in my life that I am pleased with right now.

Chevy enjoying the warm sun on an extremely cold winter afternoon. This dog loves taking his naps in the sun.

The other one (my Blazer) is back at the mechanic for another problem.

Why is it when you start talking about paying a vehicle off you have trouble, and the day after you do pay off the vehicle you have trouble again? It's almost as if the car know and wants to be the center of attention again.