Tools of the Day

I was only going to order the book ...

DOLBABY

I wondered as I snapped this from the driver's seat of my car (we were stopped at a light), whether the driver in the auto could see what I was doing and if so, did my action arouse feelings of paranoia. I have already had to explain to several people as I whip out my camera that I am working on a project. No one has minded so far.

The Eyes Have It

Playing in Photoshop. Discovered a great filter that will be useful for creating cartoons for bead projects.

Sean Scully Collage

I love Sean Scully's work. Last year I was fortunate to see his work in person. I was overwhelmed ... the scale, the colors, the textures ... and the variety of techniques ... painting, watercolor, photography. Here, I have collaged snaps of the photographs I use as my computer screen saver. Not the best in terms of exposure or focus, but, well, I was on the computer all day so this seemed appropriate for my photo of the day.

Outsider Camera

I love this outsider camera I bought at an exhibit last year. It has everything a camera needs ... a lens (that eyeball always makes me smile), a shutter cable release, film (see the pink paper attached beneath?) and a neck strap. Appropriately, it has been painted with RGB and CYMK (minus the black) colors.

Kidney Stones

Early morning call from a friend who needed to be driven to the emergency ward. I can't imagine how painful having one of these stones can be.

Witchhazel, Flowers in Winter

I like to garden and when I discovered that there were plants that bloomed in the winter, I had to get one. In the process of finding the cultivar I wanted, I ended up with three. Ironically, the one I wanted is the less attractive of the three because it does not shed its leaves until spring, hiding and detracting from the beauty of the spidery blossoms.

Residential Deer

Deer are numerous where I live. I often see them at dusk on my way home from work at the edge of one of our city parks but tonight I spotted these two crossing the street in a residential neighborhood, an unexpected sight. I pulled my car over to the side of the road, doused my lights and snapped blindly. The photo looked black but thanks to Photoshop, I was able to salvage this blurry image.

Beads In A Dish

First Snow

Judging from the way my dog sniffs these bushes every morning, I think this is where the neighborhood stray cats bed down at night.

Shadows

Another Beautiful Face

The photo is a little blurry but the expression is so her.

Library Book Sale

I saw quite a number of people with palm size scanners methodically pulling books and scanning bar codes looking for books they could profitably resell, probably online. Their little machines compare the bar codes to price lists stored inside. These people might love books, but tonight they were cruising, not browsing like I was.

My finds: A complete set of Harry Potter books, several children's books, an out of print book on beaded flowers, Bouquets From Beads by Virginia Osterland.

The Stare

Isn't he a beauty?

Grocery Shopping

I only intended to buy a few things. Really!

The Neighborhood Library

It's a small old branch library with lots of my favorite wood, quarter-cut oak ... and lots of books, too.

Snow Woman

A picture I took and manipulated several years ago. I guess I am missing snow. We haven't had any snow at all this year.

New Camera

I have been using a Fuji FinePix 2400 Zoom (2.1 mega pixels) that I got for Christmas quite a number of years ago. It was my first digital camera and I was thrilled. It has served me well, but it is time to step up to a smaller camera that I can put in a pocket and one with faster response time. There are smaller cameras (slightly) than this Canon but I liked the swivel LCD monitor, the optical viewer, and all the enthusiastic positive reviews from users.

Rainy Day Errands

Running around doing errands. Bought myself a late Christmas present, to be unveiled tomorrow.

What's for Dinner?

For over a year, driving to and from work, I have been passing this stand, located on an old gas station lot turned auto repair shop (behind the stand). Sometime last year, I broke down at the intersection where it is located and while waiting for a tow truck to haul me and my car to my mechanic's shop, the owner of the auto repair shop gave me a menu. He said the fellows who ran the stand were his friends.

Even though I decided to buy my dinner there sometime, I continued to drive right by on my way home, usually lost in thought, but tonight, the brighter than normal lights snapped me out of my reverie. The sign said "Barbecue Ribs," so ribs it was, along with some cooked cabbage, pinto beans and cornbread, enough for two meals, dinner and lunch tomorrow.


A twofer day. I have always loved Christmas cacti and two Thanksgivings ago I was given one. These are it's first blooms, two to be exact. The other is drooping out to the left. You'll have to imagine it.

Neighborhood Thrift Shop

It doesn't have the same quality of used goods that my favorite shop does and many items are chipped, seriously marred or broken, but occasionally I find something that I can use or is inspirational. One of my favorite purchases here was a pair of metal Globe Werneke bookcases. Other purchases have included a mental clothes cabinet, a second-story escape ladder, bureaus, bowling balls (future mosaic project), swing-arm lamp, toy box (for my dog's toys), books (primarily juvenile and pop-up), bulletin board, pots for plants, baskets, to name a few. What I like about thrift shops is the element of surprise, the feeling that one is on a treasure hunt and I am amazed at how many times I find things on my search list. Thrift shops are not only a boon to people on limited budgets but support my desire to recycle and conserve.

Aggie

The most lady-like cat I have ever know.

IMABUG

I like to collect vanity plates. Mostly, I scribble them down when I see them on a roll of adding tape that I keep on the dash of my car.

Sudoku

Taking a break from computer work. My sister-in-law introduced me to sudoko this Christmas. I put the two books I bought in my car so I wouldn't be tempted. But, yikes, it's on the web, here.

Weighing In

Back home from holiday visit with family. Time to dust off last year's resolution.

Very Big Traveling Dog

According to the information ducktaped in several places on this enormous crate, the occupant was an American Bulldog, weighing 125-pounds, almost twice what my dog weighs! The attendant taking care of the dog said he had never seen a dog that big ride on an airline and apparently neither had the people coming up to peer into the crate. His size was frightening to them but I thought that he was a gentle soul and felt sorry for him because he looked so bewildered.

Blooming Jade

I spotted this jade while walking around my brother's neighborhood during my holiday visit to California. I've had several jade plants that I have kept going for three decades (!) but they never thrived until I started putting them outdoors in the summer several years ago. Still, they are only about a fourth the size of this one and they have never bloomed. But, I can dream, can't I?

The "Old" Dog

My dog, nine years old this month. This solemn look belies his playfulness.

New Puppy, New Year

My sister's new puppy, Teddy.