Dinner (& a Movie) for Schmucks

Yesterday, after work, Terry called to ask what we were having for supper.  I told him the frig is full of left overs so I did not cook.  He told me he was pea'd & cabbaged out.  Well, he had a point.  It is time to clean out all those left overs from New Year's Day because we are now well into 2011. 

It is crazy how fast the days roll by!  Before you know it..., well I'm not gonna say it. 

Dinner for Schumcks was just released for movie rental.  I rented it from the Red Box that stands outside our hometown Walgreens.  When Terry called, I told him that I had rented a couple movies.  He asked me how pizza sounded.  Pizza?!!  Yeah, pizza and a movie sounds like a winner.  He told me to call in pizza and he would pick it up before he came home. 

Today's photo challenge is 'Natural Framing'.  This morning, I noticed the empty pizza box on the kitchen countertop from last night's Dinner & a Movie.  Seeing the pizza box gave me an idea.  My idea was to attempt to shoot through the hole in the center of the movie case.  So, above is my interpetation of Dinner (& a movie) for Schmucks.  By the way, I only saw half of it because Kayla came home and needed my attention with something.  The half that I did see was HILLARIOUS!  Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd are both two of my favorite comedic actors.  Put them together, and this move was INSANE! 

Here was my quick set up.  I used a lunch box to bring the hole into position to see the little pizza man.  Then, I had to strain to get high up on my tippy toes to see down through the hole. 

I'm lucky I that I didn't get hurky, jerky motion blur in the close up shot. 

Ok, now it is time to go watch the rest of this crazy movie so that I can return it tonight. 

Hope you have an INSANELY HILLARIOUS Happy Day!  :)

New 2011 Calender Planning - Posh, no doubt!

Here is my new new planner for this year.  Ever since I was a young girl, I always enjoyed writing out my goals, plans and dreams at the turn of each new year.  I make a solemn promise to myself that I am going to carry through with my hope of being the ultimate organizer.  Lack of organization in my mind and environment has been my perpetual stumbling block.  I would love to be the type that puts their hands on something once and make a snap decision about how best to handle the situation.  Then, carry out the process forthwith!  Oh, yeah...I would feel so empowered if that could be so.  But, 'one and done' is not my Modus Operandi.  (Method of Operation, or commonly called M.O. in crime speak)  Alas, 'one and done' is but a dream for me.  If I handle something too long, it brings up 'feeeelings'.  Feeeeelings like, "I don't need to get rid of this because, someone gave it to me and I would feeeel bad.  Or, I remember how I feeeelt when I purchased it so long ago."  I could go on and on about those feeeelings!  If you are a Clinger ON-ner, you will know what I mean.  Once again, I purchased my NEW YEAR PLANNER in hopes of being perpetually organized instead.  Don't you love how fresh & clean a brand new date book is?  I do.  I love the idea of  filling up all the open dates with exciting new experiences. 

FRESH & NEW.  Those are my words of promise for 2011.

I love the promise of starting the year, FRESH & NEW. 

So, here is to a FRESH, new perspective in 2011. 

I am sure if you follow along with my daily blog adventures,

you will find out exactly how my new POSH Planner dates get penciled in.

Getting back to my Daily Challenges

When I first started to do the daily challenges with my Internet photography group, I was a faithful daily participant.  Every morning, I would check to see what the inspiration was for the day.  Immediately, my mind would dwell on that.  I would work up a concept.  Then I made sure that I would accomplish it.  I worked as diligently on the challenges as if it were a paying gig.  In fact my family would often ask me, "What's the word for today?".  They had grown accustomed to my loading up the vehicle and striking out on a search for some inspiration so that I could participate with my photo group.  I loved having a reason and purpose for my photography.  All of that really helped develop and stretch my creative vision as I was learning new techniques as I went along.  All good right?  Yeah, all good and very worth the effort.

After posting to the group, I found myself spending hours upon hours at the computer.  I loved every minute of  that part just as much.  The social media aspect was the fun part of being in a photographer's forum.   Meeting new online photo friends  fulfilled my interests.  I could always find encouragement in this group and tried to reciprocate by encouraging everyone as well.  But, by the time I was done, a huge chunk of my day was gone.  Can anyone relate to spending way too much of their day's focus on social media?  That's not even a question because I know the answer! 

So, because of this time killer, I let the housework slide.  Ok, I must be fair and admit that I have been known to use ANY form of procrastination to keep from doing dreaded housework!  Aside from the housework problem, too much sitting at the computer causes something else that is not so desirable!  uh,huh...!  Needless to say, I knew I had to back off and concentrate on other things including more exercise, please!  I miss my online comrades but I need to do what is in my best interest. 

On this January 2011 morning, I decided that I was going to continue to hold off on participating in the social aspect of the group forum but work on the daily inspirations offered through the group challenge.  For today, I saw that the word of the day was SCULPTURE.   Terry watched football all day today.  Because I try to hang around Papa T. when he is off on the weekends, I did not leave the house today.

I thought about my small concrete statue of a lady holding a basket that I purchased a very, very long time ago.   She sits close to my driveway.  Beside her, there is a nandina bush.  I planted both of them there and that is where they remain.  The statue is still small but the nandina is now tall.  I always like to take pics of the little red berries that grow in clusters on the nandina bush. 

Here she is.  

ok, so...Brandilyn just rocked my world!

This is sort of a continution to one of my previous posts.
*Refer to http://michellesibleyphotopage.blogspot.com/2010/12/me-brandilyn-on-photo-field-trip.html.

In short, Brandilyn and I went on a photo field trip because she had received a new camera for Christmas.  I think I am 'miss let me teach you something about taking pics B-ran!'  When I picked her up from her home, we did not have a plan about the WHERE but we had a plan about the WHAT.  In other words, we did not know where we wanted to go but we knew what we wanted to do when we got there.  Our intention was to pracitice taking pics with our cameras on what I call a 'photo field trip'. 

We jumped on the intersate and headed east.  Desination?  Any destination USA.  Actually, as we drove, we decided to visit a local college campus for photo opps.  It was the perfect time to go there because school was shut down for the holidays.  We pulled into the parking lot and was stopped by the campus police.  "Where ya headed?"  I told him what we were doing and he gave us permission to park and walk the campus grounds.  As we walked about, I showed Brandilyn a tip about changing your perspective to give new interest to a photo.  She and I both were doing the 'let's see how a worm sees' trick by getting underneath our subject and shooting up.  Here is an example of her two best pics.  I'm jealous because when I saw hers, I thought they blew mine out of the water!  Ok, so little 'miss let me teach you...' (me) got SCHOOLED by her high school aged niece!  And, I ain't too proud to say it because I am a very proud Aunt indeed.  :)

 I referenced a previous post at the top. In that referenced post, I showed an example of an image I captured of Brandilyn shooting up on this oak tree sprout.   Above is her resulting image. 
Go B-ran,   I love it!

In my opinion, here is the 
 Pièce de résistance!

Bravo, Brandilyn on a wonderful capture.  Great eye! 
I love the tree without and the tree within perspective. 
 I am amazed.....and must admit to feeling properly SCHOOLED! 
I didn't even notice this scene but sure glad you did.  I think it would make a great wall art piece.  
Yes, you did good. 
Together, you & your new Nikon s6000 rock! 

New Year's Eve 2011 Slideshow

Terry and I had a great time celebrating the New Year at Barbara & Billy's house.  Billy cooked up a delicious big pot of Jambalya & White Beans.  Barbara had two tables of her special treats laid out, one inside and one outside.  Their daughter, Baileigh made brownies that were gobbled in no time flat.  We ate,  laughed, talked, danced, bourre'd, watched a fireworks show & toasted a Happy New Year 2011! 

We happened to be the last guests to leave.  We were trying to wear out our welcome, I believe.  Nah, we have not seen Barbara and Billy in such a long time and I was enjoying the visit.  Barbara brought up some possible summer travel plans.  Oh my gosh, don't even get me started!  Terry and I loooove talking and dreaming about vacations, past and future!   Poor Billy was sleepy, I just know he was ready to jump in the sack.   We'll have to talk VACA again soon.   That was fun!

Hey, Barbara and Billy.  Thank you so much for your generous hospitality.  I created a slideshow of the party revelry.  I didn't have my accessory camera flash so I had to use my pop up flash.  Bummer...I got some lens hood shadow which I couldn't really fix without cropping into the picture.  Then, I got some red eyes that I could fix in lightroom.  These images would have been captured better if I had my big flash available.  But, all in all, I wouldn't take a million dollars for any one of them.  I am so glad that I captured the good time had by everyone.  Also, I treasure the group pic captured by Melissa.  Thanks to ya, sista photochick.

Here you go.  I hope you enjoy the show.

A New PINK-a-TTUDE for 2011!

Kayla and I went to The Glass Slipper yesterday.  She wanted to go in there to shop around.  Oh, that Kayla loves to shop.  I used to love to shop.  I used to love to prance around in high heels.  I used to think that fashion was important above all else!  I used to have a PINK-a-TTUDE! 

Then, over the years, my attention (not to mention money!) all went to raising the girls.  I put their cuteness way before mine for all these years.  So, my cuteness kinda got lost and my PINK-a-TTUDE was replaced with practical MOM-a-TTUDE.  

Guess what?  I am beginning to realize that I am not required to be completely absorbed in the MOM-a-TTUDE.  Hey, I traded in my big SUV for a smaller spunkier vehicle recently.  What else?  I have started to find a little bit more freedom because I do not have college tuition to pay anymore.  I think there is still a spark of PINK-a-TTUDE in me yet. 

p.s.  If you do not have PINK-a-TTUDE before you walk into the Glass Slipper, you must understand that the PINK-a-TTUDE will envelope you before you know it.  The Glass Slipper is so chi-chi, girly girl...for real women!   I can just imagine Lisa (Beverly Hills Housewives) & Jiggy flittering out of this
oh, so pink corner of the Antique Village of Denham Springs!

Yesterday, I did not have my camera ready.  So, I called Mama to see if she would ride with me to town.  She agreed.  This is what I requested.  I asked her if she would take my picture coming out of the boutique, THE GLASS SLIPPER so that I could use it for my final post of the year. 

Here are some cute little ballet flats that I purchased.  I think they have a bit of PINK-a-TTUDE.  What do you think?

Well, they are a departure form the utilitarian black leather Clarks or New Balance or whatever name brand that claims to be the most comfortable in the world.   Trust me, I buy anything that promises not to hurt my feet.  I even bought some Born shoes from HSN because the lady said that when you put them on your feet, they make you wanna do the "Born Boogie".  

This was taken at Mom's house.  I went back to her computer room/jewelry & craft room.  Under her work light, she was showing me some of her latest work.  Look at my new pearl necklace and bracelet set.  The neclace is a classic 18" length.  I told her that I wanted to purchase a set of her real pearl jewelry.  She was like, "Oh no.  You are not paying me.  Have them.  Take what you want!"  I absolutely refused.  I wanted to be her very first customer.  I wanted to be the first one to purchase her custom quality hand-knotted pearls on silk thread.   

Not shown are the pretty little earring that complete the ensemble.  She has already given me a long 32" strand of pearls for Christmas.  I love them.  Kelly (owner of THE GLASS SLIPPER) noticed my lustrous long strand of pearls that I was wearing against my black turtleneck yesterday.  She told me to tell Mama to contact her about the possiblility of selling them in her boutique.   She thinks that the brides who visit her store would be interested in a gorgeous classic strand of real hand-knotted pearls.  My mom is very interested in marketing her collection of hand crafted jewelry.  Her designs include a variety of gorgeous stones and beads. 

My brother was watching the slideshow that I made which showed images of the 4 grandaughters receiving their Granny made special beads for Christmas. 

He said.  "Granny Beads!"  Mama told me that she had been trying to think of a name for her custom jewelry.  When he said, "Granny Beads" it struck her as a catchy name for her jewelry. 
I love it.  I think the name GRANNY BEADS is a perfect name! 
Good job Bubba.
I think the name GRANNY BEADS is going to stick!

You may contact her at bjslaton@cox.net if you would like to have your own GRANNY BEADS!

Grass is Always Greener...

Yesterday, Brandilyn and I went on a photo field trip.  When I brought her back to her home, she saw that her parents were away.  Uh, oh...she didn't have her house key.   She called her dad and he told her they would be home soon.  I offered to take her back to my house with me and have her parents pick her up there.  Or, I told her that I would prefer to hang out with her and walk around looking for something to photograph.

Recently, I downloaded an e-book (http://craftandvision.com/books/close-to-home/).  The premise of the book is to express the author's opinion that you do not have to travel to exotic places to find interesting things to photograph.  He writes that someone posed this question, “Everything seems so ‘ordinary’ where I live compared to other people and other places around the world. What can I do to create something original or different; something out of the ordinary?”

His writes his response:  "Here’s another thing to consider. Other people who live in other places struggle with exactly the same problem: how to make where they live look different or better… or just not ordinary. It’s a variation on “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”  Right now, there’s an urban New York City dweller who longs to photograph the green, wide-open vistas of the Irish countryside—and an Irish villager who thinks her photography would be so much more interesting if she could only get to New York City. Both of them, however, might just need to look a little closer at the place with which they’re most familiar."

As shot, SOOC (straight out of camera)

The above (sooc) image of a power line is very familiar and seemingly very ordinary.  Yet, when I think about how our culture and personal livelihood is connected to the power lines, it could be mind boggling.   From a photographic standpoint, the running lines and repetition to infinity combine to make a strong composition.   The exact same picture below was jazzed up a bit in lightroom.  I threw a dash of this and a dash of that preset in and came up with something that I think is a bit more compelling.  Actually, the presets that I used came from Matt Koslowki's blog http://lightroomkillertips.com/.   He offers some of his free preset plug-ins for lightroom on his blog.  He is a great teacher.  I have much to learn about photo editing.   

Continuing to look around, I noticed that Brandilyn was zooming in on leaves that were floating on the surface of her pool.  I am a copy cat so I went over there to do that too!  Then, I noticed  the tree on the other side of the pool was being reflected in the water ripples.  So, then I got kinda excited.  I thought maybe I caught something extraordinary from the ordinary. 

Lastly, I noticed my brother's work boots next to a bag of grass seed.  For some reason, I thought there was some kind of demonstration in this image.  What compelled me to take this photo?  I could not put my finger on it at the time of the capture.  But, I knew there was something that made me stop and take time to take 3 different shots.  What peaked my interest in my brother's work boots set against a backdrop of stark white, plainly marked Bermuda Grass Seed? ? ?  

It had something to tell me. 

I realized what it had to say as I was writing this post. 

Considering the adage that "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence",  it looks like my brother plans to grow green grass within his own backyard.  I think this could very well be a powerful metaphor if you allow.  To make the decision to actively create your own greener pasture could be the paradigm shift that changes your outlook in a positive way. 

. 

Do you remember the good old hymn, "Count Your Many Blessings"?

Let the chorus roll around in your head until it sinks down into your heart.

Then, you will appreciate the 'Green, Green Grass of Home'.

Count your many blessings,  

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings, 

See what God has done.