You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2012.
My Day Eight . . . hubby bought me a “new” used tripod on eBay. I was “supervising” his cleaning and oiling process . . . I processed it a bit and put a texture layer on it. I’m doing a 52 week Beyond Layers course thru Kim Klassen . . . so will be doing more Photo Shop effects in the days and weeks to come.
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Eight
I’ve been seeing several people putting up Multiplicity shots on the MTM Challenge board so had to give it a try. A bit of a cheat on this one, as I took the pics yesterday up on Grouse Mountain but had so much fun doing the edit in Photoshop today. Can’t wait to try this trick on one, or several, of the grandkids!
What do you mean CLOSED! Where are those darn BeaverTails anyway??
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Seven
Had a great day today – celebrating my 60th birthday with my favorite companion . . . my husband. I thought we were just getting new snow tires for the car . . . who knew tires came with a whole new car??
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Six
Wow – can’t believe I’ve got 60 years under my belt already. In the blink of an eye . . .
It’s been an amazing life so far . . . with lots of ups and downs, good choices and bad . . . Every step of every day that has brought me to this day, is part of who I am now. In this moment, sitting here typing this for all the world to see.
Sixty years ago a thirty year-old young mother of three, gave birth to her 4th of 7 children in the midst of a frigid northern Ontario winter. I grew up in an atmosphere where children were seen but not heard. As the middle of seven, I learned to be invisible – to not cause any disturbance or trouble. To never question . . . to just obey. It was an idyllic childhood in many ways as we played outside from dawn till dusk, coming in only when we were hungry. It was a small town where everyone knew everyone, and everything. Dad moved us all to Northern California when I was 13 where I graduated from High School, married two weeks after Grad, and had my own two beautiful babies. Divorced in 1998, I moved back to my birth country and now live in the Greater Vancouver Area in British Columbia. I met my life partner in Aug 1999. We have been very happily married since 2003.
Life is good . . . so many memories created . . . so many more to create. Can’t wait to get started on the next 40+ years! My magic looking-glass envisions round the world travel, nurturing the artist within me that has lain dormant for so many years, and lots of time spent with the people I love so much: husband, kids, grandkids, extended family, friends old and new . . . lots to see, lots to do, lots to learn, and lots to share!
Thank you to all who’s path’s I’ve crossed for enriching my life and contributing to the person I am today. I vividly remember turning 40 and thinking that my life was on a downhill slope – I felt so old and could not see where my life was going. Then came 8 of the most difficult years of my life. Physical and medical issues along with severe depression, divorce, estranged from family . . . tough times. However, going thru that dark period brought me to a clarity and deeper understanding of who I am as a person, an individual and a Woman in my own right. Not a mom, wife, daughter, friend, employee, cook, housekeeper, manager of everybody and everything except myself. Each one of those things is a very integral part of who I am . . . however I’m discovering bits that have always been there but kept in the dark, a far off dream. I am also closer now to the people I cherish most, than I’ve ever been. I am incredibly blessed.
So – these next 40+ I dedicate to continually tilling and fertilizing my inner muse so that the dormant seeds can sprout, grow, bloom .. . and infect the lives of everyone I touch with joy, love and beauty.
Sophia Loren: There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.
Joan Rivers: Looking fifty is great… if you’re sixty.
Me Early '70's
Me in 1954
One of my favorite things to do on a cold snowy winters day (we’re getting up to -20C here in the Fraser Valley today) is to stay snuggled in to my comfy cozy bed with my flannel sheets. So I lay awake for about 20 minutes thinking hmmm . . . that would make a perfect pic for Day Five! So I finally pulled myself out of my nice warm hidey-hole and set up my camera on the tripod and took about 25 shots before I came up with this one . . . gotta love the delay timer on my camera. Have it set at 10 seconds which was JUST enough time to snuggle in to the covers each time.
Took a few test shots with a balloon first . . . (left over from New Years when we had a party with the little ones).
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Five TEST
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Five
Today I challenged myself to try something other than just pointing the camera and shooting. There are some AMAZING self portraits being posted over on the Michael the Maven blog. Seriously! Huge inspiration . . . I’m really fascinated by images where people are “ghosting” themselves. So – I tried that today, out in the snow – freezing my tush off! It was fun though . . . and this is the result . . .
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Four
It’s snowing like crazy right now. Nice big fluffy soft flakes. Just gorgeous . . . as I admire them from INSIDE my nice cozy abode.
365 Self Portrait Challenge DayThree
Day Two Challenge submission: heating up some homemade chicken soup in the microwave for dinner on a cold winters night …
365 Self Portrait Challenge Day Two
I am participating in a Self Portrait Challenge over on Michael the Maven’s Blog. I happened upon it while browsing other photography blogs and was immediately intrigued. I’ve been honing my photography skills, and this seems like the perfect vehicle to take it to the next level. In fact . . . being BEHIND the camera is a very comfortable place for me. Focusing that little machine on me will most certainly push me outside of my comfort zone. Publishing the results of what that little machine records will push me even further outside my comfort zone! But what the heck – you only live once right? No Excuses, and No Regrets. So . . . here is Day One . . .
Our first day of snow this season here in the Greater Vancouver Area. Hubby and I took our Great Nephew out to play in the white stuff . . . a very excited little guy he was!
Self Portrait Day One
Nurture Self 365 