You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2012.
“A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” Henry David Thoreau
I snapped this shot off the end of the dock with my point and shoot camera. I’m amazed at the clear reflection of the blue sky and clouds . . . it’s processed with a mosaic texture in Photo Shop.
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“A true friend is one soul in two bodies” Aristotle
My guy has been out on the lake in the boat with the boys fishing for the last two days. Finally, I get my few minutes with him alone in the boat. Ahhh . . . peacefulness! I love it when he turns off the motor and we just float in the quiet bay . . .disconnected from life as we know it . . . just us and the loons.
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“Health food may be good for the conscience but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better.” Robert Redford, “The Junk Food Companion: The Complete Guide to Eating Badly” by Eric Spitznagel (1999)
We’re at the Lake for a week or so. The property has the main house, and a smaller one bedroom cabin with no bathroom. This is where the kids love to hang out and be kids, play cards, sleep . . . oh and suck up all the Coke they can and cram down as many Oreo cookies as possible! I guess you’re only a kid once eh?? And yeah – once it was all gone, there was no more to replace what only took an afternoon to disappear! It was intended to last the entire trip . . . oh well! Good thing I brought lots of water and fruit . . .
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“It’s practically impossible to look at a penquin and feel angry.” Joe Moore
There is a new act in town! My grandson was really excited to go see the new African Penquin Exhibit at the Vancouver Aquarium. They are behind glass and well protected from us humans, but cute they are! I’m reflected in the glass, taking a picture of him taking a picture of the penquins. We had a very fun day . . . and he came away with a Penquin back pack . . .
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“The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canad-United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands 20.5 metres (67 ft) tall, was built by Sam Hill and dedicated in September 1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Gent in 1814. The monument is built on the exact United States-Canada boundary, between Interstate 5 and Highway 99, in the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes. The Peace Arch has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two incriptions on both sides of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads “Children of a common mother”, and the words on the Canadian side read “Brethren dwelling together in unity”. Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading “May these gates never be closed. Peace Arch Park consists of Peace Arch Provincial Park on the Canadian side and Peace Arch State Park on the American side of the border. Within the park is a major border crossing (between Interstate 5 on the U.S. side and British Columbia Highway 99 on the Canadian side) which has never closed, symbolizing a long history of peace between the two nations. In Canada, the crossing is officially named Douglas in honour of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. Because of the Peace Arch monument, however, the border crossing between Surrey and Blaine is popularly known as the “Peace Arch Border Crossing”, one of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States. It is the busiest such crossing west of Detroit.” Wikipedia
I took my Grandson to see the border crossing . . . and get a few pics. We found the actual border marker, so he stood on the US side trying to look really cool, while I stood on the Canadian side. I poked him trying to get him to smile . . . but cool guys don’t smile!
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“I believe things happen that can’t be explained, but so many people seem intent on explaining them. Everyone has an answer for them. Either aliens or things from the spirit world.” Harold Ramis
I shot my reflection in the window glass of my husbands truck canopy. I had my 50mm 1.8 lens mounted with a 12mm macro extension tube – hence the very fuzzy shadowy outline. I played with all the sliders in Lightroom to really bring out the lights and darks, then added a few textures and effects in Lightroom. It looks very “otherworldly” . . .
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“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” Jesse Jackson
We were out and about in the yard today – gorgeous day after a night of thunderstorms, lightening and heavy rain. My Great Nephew followed me around as I puttered . . . helping me with trimming, pulling weeds, killing monsters. All in a days work!
Just before lunch, I pulled out this old metal truck that had been my husbands when he was a child. The little one was just fascinated with it . . . and I was just fascinated watching his imagination take him away! No electronics needed, no fancy new toys . . . just room for an imagination to blossom, flourish . . . and get carried away!
Imagination is something I believe is seriously declining in our youth today . . . and I say that with the fear that I am sounding exactly like my mother, and her mother before her. It’s a scary reality. Our kids now think that we must entertain them, that they must be provided with all the toys and gadgets they desire. Without them . . . they are lost, bored . . . they just don’t know what to do. I’m concerned with where we are taking our kids . . . in to a world of no imagination, because it’s all provided for them in a little box that they are glued to 24/7. Alarming . . . what is the future that my Great Grandkids will face . . . especially when I consider how much the world has changed in just my lifetime.
It’s my perception that there is a serious lack of compassion and connection with others, a lack of desire to self motivate . . . a lack of involvement with ones environment. And when the motivation is there . . . it’s all one sided and selfish. As one who tends to Nurture others . . . and who strongly believes in community, connection and commitment . . . I struggle with what I see . . .
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“raspberry: n-raspberry [ˈraːzbəri] a type of edible red berry.” www.thefreedictionary.com
So yesterday I posted a picture of the gorgeous and yummy Salmon Berries that are ripening in the park out back. This morning I decided to check on my raspberry patch – 50 feet of canes that we’ve planted and nurtured of the last few years. It’s been so wet, and not much sun lately so I wasn’t expecting to see anything red. Tons and tons of green berries that are going to provide us with a freezer full of fruit here soon . . . so to my surprise I discovered these two beautiful read delectable’s. They didn’t last long though as my 4yr old Great Nephew happened along and then they were gone! I’m looking forward to the bounty soon enough . . .
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“salmonberry(n.)ˈsæm ənˌbɛr i: the salmon-colored, edible fruit of a raspberry, Rubus spectabilis, of the Pacific coast of North America.” http://www.definitions.net
Took the kids for a walk in the park behind our property today . . . first time I’ve been in the park this spring. It is lush, green and somewhat overgrown with all the rain we’ve had recently. It was a real treat to find the Salmon-berries ripe and ready to be picked. Yum! I took the first shot with my 35mm 1.8 lens ISO 400 and 1/1600 (overcast day and a steady breeze). Then I added the 20mm Macro Extension Tube for the second shot . . .
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salmonberry
“If I saw something in my viewfinder that looked familiar to me, I would do something to shake it up.” Garry Winogrand
I’m playing around with my new Macro Extension tubes. I really want to do some Macro Photography because I like the abstractness that can be achieved. I really didn’t do much to this photo other than boost the clarity a bit. I used my 35mm 1.8 Prime lens with the 20mm extension tube. Wow! I’m kind of blown away with how much detail you can capture in an image . . . so anxious to do some more experimenting! Can you guess what this is? (Hint: it is a self portrait)
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Nurture Self 365 