Saturday, March 20, 2010

Sweet haze

What a joy the weather has been for the past few days here in Maryland. As I walked around the property this afternoon, I could hear the crunch of leaves under my feet. I could also hear birds singing and the lilt of children’s laughter coming from the development next to us. There’s something lovely about the laughter of children, isn’t there?

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I’m just fooling around here with my macro lens. For the photo above, I used an action from the Florabella Color & Haze Set called Sweet Haze. It gave it a milky soft finish.

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I used the same action on this photo but added a texture from les brumes on Flickr.

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I call this doggie bokeh. Perhaps you’ll agree.

I took all of the photos you see here during magic hour with my Nikon D80. Magic hour is the hour before the sun sets and the light is just beautiful.

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And so is George. Yes you are, pup pup. Or as I call him sometimes, Monsieur le pup pup. I guess you can gag now, but I’ve always called him that. In fact, I’ve called all my dogs that name.

Thanks to those who responded via comments and e-mails to my question about advertising yesterday. Your advice is really appreciated. Rest assured that my blog will remain the place of peace and quiet that it’s always been. I’m not going anywhere fast.

So what plans do you have for the weekend?

I’ve got an eight o’clock appointment Saturday morning to get the Element serviced and then the world is my oyster.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

39 comments:

tainterturtles said...

Very nice photos....George has a cute wet nose!

Treasia Stepp said...

Love the photos. Not many plans here at home. Doing some shopping and then if the weather holds out some yard work.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

I was going to be very excited if you were going to EAT oysters after having the Element serviced - that's what I read at first.

Magic hour has been exquisite these past several days. Great for taking pictures, but also great for stretching out on the back porch.

wv: ressersh. Ressersh shows that for maximum enjoyment, magic hour should coincide with happy hour.

Low Tide High Style said...

Love the photos, and of course the one of George is my favorite!

This weekend is non stop fun and excitement. If you feel like making the drive you can join in!

Kat :)

tj said...

...Fab' photo of Monsieur le pup pup! Whatta doll! ;o)

...Yeah, I just came from Ree's and found out I didn't win the camera...dangnabbit! *giggle* So for now, I'll just have to live vicariously thru you dear Kate... :o)

...Enjoy your world full of oysters! Oy! :oD

...Blessings...

Cheryl said...

The weather has been great here in NC also.

Have yourself a great Saturday!

beth said...

crunchy leaves ?
ours are all still soggy......blech !

and sewing is on my agenda....keep your fingers crossed that I have enough fabric :)

abb said...

Possibly the cutest nose I've ever seen. (UH-OH! Don't let Stella-dog know! That would be baaad!)

Sweetpea said...

"DOGGIE BOKEH"?!?!?! just luv that.

I can see it now...as CG goes more commercial, she starts to offer a photo set of "George Textures"...first texture up - "Squirrel Warrior: Diffused." Can't you just see what THAT would look like? oh, the possibilities are endless.

Caroline said...

Ohhhh...I love me a sweet milky haze... Gorgeous shots! Have a wonderful weekend!

Chrissykat said...

The last pic of George is great, love that his nose leather is the focus. My plans for the weekend include two exercise worthy walk/runs (I'm just starting so it is quite painful at this stage), two new photoshop skills & porch time with my two sweet kitties. Hope your weekend is fab!

Barb T. said...

Beautiful photos, as per usual. George is such a good sport.
The weather in Florida has improved also; it makes it so much nicer to go out and work in the yard.
I love coming to your blog and have told you before, along with Donna Booshay at Quiet Life, you two are my only every post reads; maybe I am just old fashioned (I'm saying this here because I just saw your post from yesterday and thought you wouldn't go back and look at comments), but I really don't like blg, jaring ads. There are so few places on this earth where we can escape advertising. Of course, it is entirely up to you, but photos of your beautiful place, George, hiking in Maine don't mix, in my mind, with ads for Tide and Glad Wrap, etc. Will I ever stop reading here--no, but you asked for my humble opinion and there it is.

wildbanshee said...

Hope to have a nice quiet weekend,
rest today, church tommorow, got some new yarn, might start on a new afghan.
Isn't it funny how we give our pets
special nicknames, Bandit I call Bandy Boo, Sheeta is Sheeta Marie,
Sebastian is Sebastian Bach, and Hank is Hanky Panky.
It is very nice here in Virginia, the smell of spring, I guess it is the ground thawing out.

Ellen said...

What a beautiful picture of George. He is the handsomest pup.

Daryl said...

Oh George's nose is the perfect DOF for kissing! Love the heart chair backs ..

Oh today we learn Spanish .. WV nouncias. Over at my blog I nouncias'd the winner of a book giveaway ..

Joan said...

I don't comment often but I read your blog everyday. I love your pictures, especially the ones of George...he is gorgeous.
I live in nw NJ and besides my MV blog I also have a photo one called Through Jersey Eyes. I love what I see through the lens of a camera, it often makes the world a different place.
My weekend plans - walk with our dog Chappy this morning and then a family gathering this afternoon.
Have a great weekend yourself.
Joan

Deb said...

George is such a cutie...

S. Etole said...

The processing is beautiful ... as is George's wet nose of course!

Char said...

sounds like a perfect and wonderful evening/dusk - enjoy the weekend

Julie Harward said...

Love it! Give George a hug for me will ya? I'm headed for some surgery this week so my visits here will be off for a while, have a great weekend. :D

Donna S. said...

Cleaned up some flower beds yesterday.....no big plans....just the way I like it!!!!!!! Hopefully I talked a childhood friend into coming over today (as is..no makeup...no dressup)!!

Carolynn Anctil said...

I've nearly forgotten everything I learned in my introductory course to Photoshop. I just don't seem to find the time to practice with it. *sigh*

I really love that first shot of the barn door. Such an interesting & creative angle.

Let your love for George spill out, Girl. I think our companion animals provide a wonderful outlet for us to express the love we have inside just itching to be spill out.

Happy First Day of Spring!

Skogkjerring said...

Oh there is nothing like a wet nose of a beloved fur baby!! I am in total agreement, children's laughter is one of the greatest sounds on earth...must be what angels sound like I think...

I call all my dogs different names too, Isabella is bella or izzy busy, Nanna is Nanna banana, Bently is Bently bear, Birdy is Birdy Birdy NamNam...hahahaha..and Redman, well, that's difficult, just been calling him Redman for the moment. Jenny is Jenny the wonder dog..she is really amazing.

Have a super Saturday, our day is done soon, going to make some pasta with scallops and scampi for dinner. Have been up since 6. Walked dogs from 7AM until 2PM- ok ok, I stopped in for some coffee with the neighbours and watched three moose in their backyard...but the rest of the time we walked...and walked...it was delightful weather here too.

Wish I had advice to give you about the adverstising, but that's a hock more advanced then where I am in the blogging experience...but I'm sure you'll make the right choices for you and your wonderful blog!!

myletterstoemily said...

such great photos!

and how could you NOT call
him 'monsieur le pup pup?'

Marla said...

George is such a cute puppy! :)

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Kay on south coast of or said...

We have a replica of a tall ship docked downtown. I want to get a pic when her sails are up and she is out at the bay, not at the dock.. a lovely day again today, but not like yesterday at 80 here in my yard....that was too warm for me... Knew that Ree would be getting snow for sure !! As always, love your photos. Kay

Girl Tornado said...

Gorgeous pics as always... no big plans this weekend, esp today, as we are getting a snow blast. Winter's last hurrah, I hope! :) Perfect day to blog and catch up on blog visits.

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

I just found your blog through PW. Very nice work. How long have you been doing photography? I've just begun the steps to making my blog give back to me through blogher... so far its nothing I regret and readers aren't running and screaming! Hopefully you have the same luck.

Gail said...

I never get too much of George.

I have been catching up and your pictures are fantastic. I especially love the raindrops on roses and the seeds...and George of course.

Great posts, each and every one.

Sharon said...

Oh I LOVE that first shot!

Jo said...

George is the world's best dawg -- next to Baily, of course. :-)

Magic hour is wonderful here too. The sun filters in from the west, through the big old Douglas fir trees, and that's always the time when I see lots of dragonflies.

And my weekend plans are dinner with a friend tonight at a new steakhouse nearby, and lunch with a friend tomorrow, and then shopping for spring clothes.

Oh ... and vacuuming ... argh.

Mary said...

Oh, I hope it is as nice in Maryland as it is here today... We went for a walk, grilled some chicken, and watched a movie today. Tomorrow -- another walk, perhaps at my favorite park, and a party for my mil.

Love the photos, especially that sweet doggie nose! :)

Maria said...

Monsieur le pup pup. I had to say that out loud and you're right, that name is so much fun to say it has to become a permanent word combo in one's vocabulary.

Flea said...

Cute pup pup! It's snowing here in Tulsa. Imagine! And beautiful.

J.L.S. said...

We've been moving into the apartment next door (we needed a lot more space) all day today. We will do a good amount of moving tomorrow, but also lots of celebrating! It's hubby's 26th birthday! :)

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

I can't get enough of the George photos.....such a sweet looking doggie...

Hilary said...

That first shot is wonderful. I so agree about the magic hour. It has always been my favourite time of day.. ever since childhood.. even more so since photography. ;)

Unknown said...

Love the puppy bokeh! I really enjoyed the warm weather this weekend. Made everything a tad bit more manageable.

The JR said...

Cute! Yes, he is a beautiful pup pup.