A New Beginning ...

Project 366 #101

" Before beginning, prepare carefully"
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (Ancient Roman Lawyer, writer, scholar orator and stateman)

Twilight ...

"Lord of the far horizons,
give us the eyes to see
over the verge of sundown
the beauty that is to be"

William Bliss Carman



Project 366 #61

Friday's Fave Five, The Little Things ...

It's Friday the thirteenth today!!! Awwww, I do hope nothing bad happens today eh? Nah, I don't think so, I'm meeting two friends for breakfast this morning.
Anyway, it's time to look back and share the good things of the week that has passed. That's why I'm joining my favorite meme, it's Friday's Fave Five and it's hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.




1. Bread pudding. I really love to bake, and I hate having to throw away food, so last Sunday I made bread pudding with a loaf of white bread that would have gone stale. It was a Weight Watcher's recipe, so on top of that, it was low calorie as well!

2. My new non stick wok. I bought it in the sales at half price, and again, it's a perfect kitchen tool if like me you're trying to loose weight!

3. The new tripod replacing the old one that used to belong to my hubby. It's light weight and super easy to use, I love it!

4. First signs of Spring. It's still only January, but new buds are appearing everywhere. The white plant on the bottom right has not stopped flowering yet, I've never seen this before in my life!

5. This quote : " Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything - Aaron Siskind."
This is in a nutshell why I'm doing Project 366 and why I love this meme so much, they both make me take lots of photos to remember the little things!


UPDATE: This is my photo for today, #13 for Project 366

Macro Monday, The Bee’s Knees

Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, and post it on your blog. Join the fun at Lisa’s Chaos.

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

~ Isaac Watts ~ "Divine Songs"

Endings …

 

 

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." 
~ Carl Bard ~

Thematic Photography: Feet

 

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.
Oprah Winfrey 

 

 

 

This week’s theme for Thematic Photography is “ Feet”.
I was at the shopping mall yesterday when I came across this shoe display.
It was late in the afternoon, and the shoes were no longer perfectly displayed, they had this little air of nonchalance, which was exactly what appealed to me.
I quickly snapped a picture, kind of like with the same air of nonchalance because 
I can be rather shy when it comes to taking pictures in shops sometimes, not that they’ll get me arrested for it ( I hope) …  but still …
So when I got home and looked at my pictures, this one came out as one of the best pictures of the day. It’s (almost) straight out of the camera, a natural very nearly black and white, no cropping or effects involved, except for the shadowed corners.

Find more Thematic Photography here.

Wednesday Wisdom

 

 

"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit."

Dawna Markova
Author of Open Mind.

 

 

Location: Chicago Botanical garden

Almost Wordless …

 

 

To the world you may be one person,
But to one person you may be the world

Author Unknown.

Macro Monday

Charlotte Perkins Gilman:

... while we flatter ourselves that things remain the same, they are changing under our very eyes from year to year, from day to day.

We went up to the heart of Washington DC to take a look at the house and the neighborhood where Melli was born into. It was a good feeling to see that her old house was still there . It is a quaint little neighborhood, in huge contrast with the surrounding business and shopping areas like Bloomingdales to name one. Even the cracks in the sidewalk are still there after all those years!
However ...

This is probably not going to be there much longer, that's why I am so happy she took me there and that I was able to take pictures there.
On our way over to the Italian restaurant where we had lunch a little bit later on, we saw this unique bug. I'm really rather curious what kind of bug this is, but to me he looks like his species have been around like for a million years! If the story I heard is correct, he is a stink bug. He has managed to survive instead of going extinct because nobody has the desire to kill this guy.
Because if you do, he will stink so much, you' ll probably remember him forever! LOL!!


Today is going to be a very busy day for me, because I will be saying goodbye to Melli and her family, travel to the west coast and meet other friends. I have warm memories and feelings for them, they really really wore themselves out to make my visit something I will never ever forget. I carry them in my heart. Saying goodbye to them is really going to be hard ...

Time to get my stuff together now!

Explore. Dream. Discover

 

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

 

 

See you when I get there!

October 20th

 

October twentieth today. That’s a very special day for me, because it is my birthday.
From this day on I’m 52.

It’s funny but I feel a lot younger now than when I was 25.  
I may not look better, but it feels better in my head. Oh well. Mother Nature always tends to compensate things for us, haven’t you noticed?
Anyway. I KNOW it’s going to be a good day. Thanks for the emails and ecards and wishes on Facebook on text and by mail. I’m overwhelmed.

 

Quote of the Day:
A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.
--Robert Lee Frost

My hubs is taking the afternoon off today. I’m really looking forward to spend some time together, only one more week left before my departure.      
After that, the poor guy is going to have to miss me for three whole weeks.  

Wednesday next week I will be leaving for Washington DC, where Melli will pick me up at Dulles International Airport. I’m very much looking forward to celebrate Halloween and learn more about this popular but very American event. Halloween is slowly finding it’s way to Europe but things like pumpkin carving and trick or treat will have a different ring and feeling to it than it has over here I think. I’m really looking forward to the time I’m going to spend with Melli and her family. I will also get to meet my future travel companion Ella. Ella has seen more of the world than any of us. Thom invited Ella to Hawaii, and I’m going to take her there, and then take her to Europe afterwards. Keep her out of trouble. And TRY to stay away from ditches. Ella is a real dare devil so I’m going to have to keep an eye on her! Anyhow. I’m not sure how embarrassed I’m going to be traveling with a toy elephant, ( yes! ROFL!) but we’ll see. It’s going to be TONS of fun, and giggles . I KNOW.

Four days with Melli are going to be over much too soon, I already know that now. On Nov 2nd Ella and I will be flying over to Portland where Terri is going to show me the beautiful coast of Oregon. I’m SO looking forward to see the lighthouses and the ocean, I can almost smell the sea as I write this. Silly girls with a camera and lots and lots of stuff to explore and to talk about. I know I will hate to say goodbye to her too.

After that I’m heading for LA. I won’t see much of LA though, because I will be boarding the next airplane to Honolulu, to visit Quilly and the Amoeba and Thom.
I will be staying at Quilly’s for a week and we will explore the beautiful island of Hawaii’. I’ll get to soak up some sun, I’ll see breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, exotic flowers, birds and what not … Awww. Wonderful.

One week later, I’ll be flying to Chicago. I hope I' will not be too jetlagged when I arrive, it’s a night flight and there will be a huge time difference. I have no idea how this is going to affect me, but we’ll see. There are plans for a blogger meet up but I don’t know the details yet. Lou promised to be my guide in Chicago and he is taking care of that part for me.  Lord knows whom else I’ll meet !!
What I already DO know is I am going to meet Lisa as well. Yes, THE Lisa from Lisa’s Chaos !!! I’m very excited about that too! I’m a very big fan of hers, she’s a wonderful photographer and we’re planning to make a photo walk together, and then probably have lunch together. Can’t WAIT! Even though this will mean the end of my trip will be in sight.  
Three weeks …
It may seem like a very long time now but I just know it will be over much too soon …

Macro Monday, Raindrops

 

 

 

 

Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain,
Unraveled from the tumbling main...
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

More Macro Monday pictures at Lisa’s Chaos

Sepia Scenes, Paper Work

 

 

Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday. 
~ Author Unknown~

 

Since today is Thursday already, I’ll better get a move on.
There are still too much things to do on my procrastination list.
One of them is paperwork.

I hate paperwork.

Bear with me.

 

 

Click the link to find more Sepia Scenes .

Ruby Tuesday

 

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. 

~Author Unknown~

 

Tonight is my second lesson in my photography class.
In the mean time I’m practicing, practicing … practicing.

 

More Ruby Tuesday posts at Work of the Poet.

Birthday Wishes

These pictures are very dear to me. They were taken thirty years ago today. It was my little girl’s very first birthday, and we celebrated that with a home baked peach pie. This is one of the rare pictures I have of my grandfather, and the only one with her in it. He was doing a little children’s nursery song with her, and she loved it. As you can see, the cake went down well, but you know what they say, don’t you?

Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.

She’s thirty one today, she’s currently vacationing in Greece so I won’t be able to see her today. I hope the sun kisses her, and tells her that I love her.

Oh and speaking of birthdays, it’s somebody else’s birthday today as well.
Lou, AKA Lceel, is celebrating his birthday today. So if you know Lou, or read his blog, hop over to his place and wish him a happy birthday! Tell him that I sent you, okay?

Have a great day today!

Weekly Winners, the Food Edition ...

 

 

 

 

 

If God had intended us to follow recipes,
He wouldn't have given us grandmothers.
~ Linda Henley ~

 
It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. 
~ Lewis Grizzard ~

We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink...
~ Epicurus ~

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. 
~ Carl Sagan ~

When baking, follow directions.  When cooking, go by your own taste. 
~ Laiko Bahrs ~

Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts! 
~ James Beard ~

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast. 
~ John Gunther ~

 
There is no love sincerer than the love of food. 
~ George Bernard Shaw ~

 

 

Oops! Did I make you hungry? 

More Weekly Winners at Sarcastic Mom’s.