Beach Stroll

Spent our anniversary in Cannon Beach Oregon. A very peaceful, relaxing time--thought you might enjoy a stroll on the beach:

Sunshine on my shoulders

A couple of days this week, the temps climbed to near 90 degrees! It was a glimpse of summer!

I, personally, am not a fan of summer, since I grew up in a desert valley that was extremely hot all summer! I can remember hot summer nights when it would cool off a bit, and everyone would flock outdoors to sit in the grass, go for ice cream, or just look at the stars--some of my fondest memories of summer there.

I much prefer the Pacific Northwest, where I live now, because I love the cloud cover, the rain and pleasant temps!!  Love spending quiet time on the deck in the cool evenings.

 What do you love about where you live?

Night Photography

Back on my little patio, this time at night, taking a break enjoying the late night air. Hubby put up some string lights on the ceiling for me, took some pictures from his phone.

Lights from my wind-chime's view

We were enjoying a quiet moment with some popcorn, when it occurred to me to get my camera, that more pictures of my flowers might be different when taken at night!  Obviously these were taken with a flash. The flash washed out any visible background as it was just getting to be dusk and I could see background with my naked eye.

My cheery pansies!

Hubby says that the blue pansies look like old men with mustaches! I guess I could see that if the yellow were their noses!

Pink Primroses

Lavender, baby sweet peas, and "an old man pansy".

I even tried a few shots of the moon!  Tried getting one with a nearby star, then I zoomed in for a couple more shots.

Well, what d'ya think?

Working the Macro

As I had my breakfast out on the deck yesterday, I noticed that the strawberry plant leaves were exuding moisture from the vein tips.  I grabbed my camera! More macro work!

Getting the camera to focus right where my eye was focusing was a challenge, as you can see it in this second photo. The water droplets are not in focus.

But, "practice makes perfect", so here are the best two of the seven shots that I took:

Success comes from patience and practice!

Macro Photo Practice

As I have previously said, I am working on my photo skills during this time--it's becoming sort of a patio progress diary.  Recently I practiced my macro setting by photographing some dirt clumps in a patio pot:

While not a beautiful picture, I was experimenting to see detail.  I think that it turned out OK.  I also planted snow peas in this pot.  They are coming up now: 

Still practicing with the macro setting, and not pleased with this next close-up as it is a little blurry on the new baby leaves. But I am pleased with the promise of yummy snow peas!

I will try again . . . .

Beach Picnic

Spent the last week in Seattle visiting nine of my grand-kids.  What chaos; what pleasure!

First a picnic on the beach with lots of good old "American Junk food"-- as I called it for the day.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, pop and chips!  Not the usual fare that these little ones get from their conscientious parents!

Then hunting for shells at low tide where the creek ran into the bay:

Later enjoying the sunset:

A great day on the Sabbatical menu!

Rays of Sunshine

The weather has changed, and is more conducive to a positive outlook with all the sunshine! I think I will get out and take more pictures, after I finish me tea on the deck . . .

Soaking up some of the rays . . . no writing today!

One New Adventure

Sabbatical adventures, when do they start?

Immediately, when all the pressure was off -- "to preform"-- I picked up my camera.  I found myself walking out the door to the post office and grabbing my camera!  Odd.  It hung from the dining room chair finial for the longest time.  Oh, I used it, for taking pictures of my finished products to list in my online shop.  But, taking pictures just for the fun of it?  Not often enough!

Today it was rainy, again, but I took the camera while we drove to the post office.  I took some pictures as we drove,

while I was sitting in the car waiting for hubs to come out with the mail,

and later when I went on an errand.  Before I got to my destination, I got a coke at the local drive-thru, sat in the parking lot and snapped a few out the car window!  Then when I got home, I went outside my bedroom window and snapped a few more.

Sabbatical is like these next pictures -- going from a gray late winter day,

looking more closely  . . . .

zooming in . . . .

to an awesome moment!

Taking pictures--always something that I wanted to be better at and being a better photographer.  It takes time to see what is really there.

Yes! The adventure begins!