On being nice

First off, see the post below for the Giveaway winner announcement.

That having been said, let’s get to today’s post which is chock full of swirly loveliness. I went to a local florist over the weekend, looking for flowers to purchase so that I could bring them home and photograph them.

There was the usual array of roses, carnations, gerbera and regular daisies – but I kept searching the refrigerated room and was finally rewarded. I’ve always wanted to photograph calla lillies.

Unfortunately, they were all spoken for except for these three which I presumed were the runts of the litter.

I bought them regardless, because they were a little different, sort of swirly, and I thought they would make great subjects for my macro lens.



They’re a little camera shy, but I got them to glow for me in the afternoon light on my bedroom windowsill.




I love swirls.




These are my sister Charlotte’s favorite flower. She carried calla lillies on her wedding day, but I only got to see them in her photos because I was in the hospital having my first child.

Charlotte, I’m so sorry that it was my idea to lock you in the attic when we were young so that you couldn’t win our mother’s Be Nice contest again. You were the best of the bunch of us, and when you kept winning the contest week after week, I needed to resort to taking you out of it, so that someone else (namely, me) could win.

I’m sorry I made you cry. Even though you say you don’t remember it at all.

Because I never forgot that I did something so mean.

I hope you like these flowers, because they are for you.

Love,

or as you know me, your big sister, Katy.

Giveaway winners annnounced

The results are in on the recent Giveaway held for reaching the 800 mark for followers on this blog (that I never imagined anyone would visit, let alone follow).

Here’s the numbers chosen by Random.org as the three winners:

#20 – Sandyandcosmo

#17 – Louisianna Belle

#51 – Andi

Congratulations, all. Each winner will receive a print of their choice, plus a set of photo greeting cards.

I would also like to congratulate myself on finally proving it properly. Look! I copied them correctly for once.

Aren’t you proud of me?

Thanks to everyone who participated. I often have Giveaways here, so I’m sure there will be another coming up at some point.

Saturday doings at the manor house

Today I did some cleaning and was hoping the weather would be as warm as predicted, but come to think of it, 40 really isn’t all that warm – especially when, more often than not, the clouds are hiding the sun.

I polished the furniture and made it gleam. And then I swept and swiffered the wood floors. I vacuumed the old rugs, pretending that I was using my dream machine rather than the poor excuse for a cleaning tool that I own. {{{I don’t want to say that too loud, though, in case it hears me and completely stops working}}}.

Someday I’m going to own a decent vacuum. As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!

For a good vacuum.




That guy on the bike that you may or may not have noticed in one of the picture frames in the bookcase is my husband, taken about 20 years ago. When I look at it, I think I cannot believe that it was that long ago but it was. He was competing in mountain bike racing back then and actually scored quite high in the standings for the mid-atlantic area in his age group one year.




Meanwhile, out in the backyard, my husband was busy too. I had no idea what he was up to while I was inside cleaning until he showed me when we were both finished.

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At first, I thought he’d gone off the deep end. But then I began to think that maybe he had something in his ongoing battle against the squirrels who continue to raid our bird feeders. It wouldn’t bother him so much, but he spends good money on bird seed only to have much of it eaten by the little varmints. And the property here is covered with nut bearing trees.

Don't feel sorry for the squirrels/ There were enough nuts to feed an entire army of squirrels this winter. And some are still on the ground.

















Unfortunately, the system he’s come up with is not pretty at all.



In fact, our yard now looks like a hillbilly haven. (No offense to hillbillies).

Rather than have each feeder suspended vertically from wire off the branches of the trees, my husband decided to string one long wire from the side of the house to the dogwood tree, hanging each feeder from the wire and securing it in place with tape.

Crazy?




Maybe a little.

But this is what they do when confronted with wire. They simply slide down, the little scamps.




He just finished the project this afternoon and I think this wire seems way too thin for the squirrels to inch across.

But only time will tell.




I’ll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, there’s still time to enter my latest Giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by today ~

Another Giveway because I luvya

It has come to my attention that I have reached another milestone in my followers widget and for those who have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that this means it’s giveaway time.

Without your support, I may have gone a little cuckoo with all the things that have transpired in my life since I began blogging in late 2007. And without your support, I would have never begun to sell my work. Oh, I meant to tell you that I have two pieces for sale in a local art gallery as well as an assortment of my greeting cards. Yay!

To thank you, my followers, I’m offering a set of greeting cards to 3 winners PLUS an 8 x 10 or 8 x 12 print of your choice from my etsy shop.

This giveaway is for followers only. If you’ve been reading along but have yet to become a follower, well now is your time to do so. And if you’re thinking of coming on board just to enter this contest, that’s ok too. I just won’t love you as much.

I’m kidding.

When I took these photos this morning, the clouds were closing in, changing the colors in the room back and forth. As a result, the pictures below aren’t the best representation of the cards themselves. In fact, they’re quite bad. But what the hey.



MUTED TONES

For a better example of one of the photographs, click {here}.





CARDINALS

To view one of them, visit {here}.





PAPERWHITES

A better photo of one of the prints is {here}.



THE RULES


1. Visit my etsy site and choose the print you would like to receive.

2. Then choose the set of greeting cards you’d like from either this post or the etsy site.

3. Enter your choices in the comment section and make sure I can get in touch with you if you win. This means I need your e-mail address.

4. For followers only. Because I love you.

The random integer generator at random.org will be used to choose the 3 winners. Contest will run until Monday (Feb. 14), 6 PM Eastern Standard Time. Winners will be announced Monday evening. Anyone - anywhere can enter, as long as they follow this blog.  Good luck ~

The fog comes on little cat feet

I’m excited that it’s Friday – the end of a long week and the beginning of a weekend that promises to be quite lovely if the local weather forecasters are correct. Our temps are supposed to soar up to 50 - both days, and other than the slushy mess that all this frozen snow is going to create, I plan on getting a little sunshine in my soul.

Good news from my husband’s doctors at Johns Hopkins – the last MRI is clean and his re-checks are being stretched to every three months rather than two. In early May, it will be seven years since the initial diagnosis of stage IV brain tumor (Glioblastoma Multiforme) when he was given three months to a year to live. So I am happy ~

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Every day, I’ve been walking up and down the driveway, trying to kick up my walking workouts. It’s quite the challenge coming all the way back up the steady incline of the 1/3 mile long driveway and I can now do it two and a half times without stopping. Woot!

Now if I can begin to shrink my butt from the size of Montana into something more manageable, like maybe Delaware, or Rhode Island . . .

: : :

I found these photos that I’d taken over the weekend and had forgotten to share with you.



I took them late Saturday afternoon, after heading upstairs to get something from my bedroom. And I stopped when I saw this foggy, dreamy landscape out my bedroom window. So I went back for the camera, and opened the bedroom window to take the photos here.

The branches of the dogwood tree looked so beautiful against the mist with the woods in the background. I added a texture that made it look a little vintage and rumpled and imagined that it must have looked very similar out this very window a hundred years ago.



Looking to the left of the open bedroom window is the edge of the house – the 1810 addition.
This is a window in an empty bedroom that’s awaiting repair. I thought it looked interesting, with the old black walnut tree in the background and the vines that are growing on it.

At the base of the tree is the old fireplace we discovered under the bush and vines that used to lie there.



And then I went downstairs and baked a pie. And it certainly didn’t help with the Montana situation that’s going on right now.

* snort *

Hope you’re having a wonderful Friday. Friday night I’m going to a Faculty/Trustee dinner at a great local restaurant on the water. The food is always excellent. Thanks for stopping by, my friends ~

Oh, and before I go - there's a GIVEAWAY at the blog of a friend. Check it out!

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg

My day in photos

I had the 50mm lens on the camera today, which I brought to school to take the final portraits for the Lower School Spotlight Board. Every month, it is my job (and has been for years) to take photos of whatever class we’re highlighting on both the main board and the lower school board. Last week, I photographed all the 9th graders (44 of them) and then about 30 lower school students. Today I took photos of those who were absent last week.

It takes me about 5 minutes to go into a classroom and photograph about 20 kids. The trick is to do it fast. And do it right. I believe you also have to really like the kids, which I honestly do. They smile for me because I believe they like me, too. I tell them they are naturals, or that they love the camera. I joke with them. And because I do it so fast, I sometimes have to retake one or two.

Today I snapped a few extra pics while I was at it, thinking that if I had nothing to say tonight (which I do not), I’d share these with you.



Coming in the school driveway at 7:20 this morning.



The cupola, viewed from inside one of the courtyards. I actually opened the door to take this shot and the icy blast nearly knocked me over.



A moment of weakness after lunch.

I have many moments of weakness some days. Today Andy, who teaches government & economics in the upper school, brought in tons of little candy bars, left over from a project to teach the students about supply and demand.

What to do with all the leftover candy? Hey, let’s put it in the main office and drive Mrs. Young crazy! Capital idea!

Those big m&m’s are filled with peanut butter.

Can you feel my pain?



The Varsity and Junior Titan cheerleaders warm up in the lobby before a basketball game this afternoon. Our cheerleading squad is one of the best, if not THE best, in the area. Our coach is one of our parents, who also happens to have coached for years at the college level. We are blessed to have her. And the squad is absolutely amazing to watch.

I never post photos of the kids at our school, but these two young ladies (they’re sisters) have their backs to the camera, so I hope it’s ok.



Driving home through town at the end of a very long day.



About to head up the hill where I live. Our house is on the very top, at the end of a long driveway. The long driveway which I walked this afternoon, up and down, up and down – trying to negate the effects of m&m’s and what have you. (Tiny little Almond Joys, Snickers, Reece cups).

Thank heavens I only had the m&m’s.

Ok. I had two Almond Joys but who’s counting?




And at the very top, he waits for me. Every day.

And then we walk together.

The End.

Respectfully submitted,



PS – My husband and I are watching the end of one of my favorite movies from when I was a kid: The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming! Fun!!

My sunshine

Sitting here in my favorite spot on a cold Monday night, not really watching Jeopardy, although my husband is. George is having his dinner in the other room; I know this because I can hear his tag clanging on the bowl. Soon he’ll be in here, rolling around on his back, which I’ve discovered is actually his way of wiping his face after the meal. It just looks like he’s rolling on his back.

I opened the photos on the camera disk today to find these two lovely shots, taken  by my husband yesterday morning while I slept through a beautiful pink sunrise.

My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,
It comes from the love in my dog's eyes.

Unknown Poet

People write and tell me how much they love coming here, to this little blog of mine. But so many of them admit that although they love the landscapes and nature photography, it’s George they really love.

And I’m absolutely fine with that. In fact, I love it. Because it’s George that I really love, as well.

Thorns may hurt you, men desert you, sunlight turn to fog;
but you're never friendless ever, if you have a dog.

Douglas Malloc

: : :

Heads up on another Giveaway to come this week, or next ~ or whenever I hit another milestone on my Followers widget. Woot!

Thanks for stopping by today ~

PS ~ I love this post, from Sprindrift, Maine. Give it a look, if you have an extra moment. She's new to the blogging world.

The apple (pie) of my eye

I love the scent of apple pie baking in the oven, don’t you? I’ve been using the same recipe for the past 30 years and have tried others, but this one is for me. When I first made it, my boyfriend at the time (my now-husband) loved it and actually told his friends how good it was.

I have always put a heart in the center of the crust because I'm such a hopeless romantic. In fact, the one time I neglected what was to become my trademark for this pie, my boyfriend asked if I was mad at him. "Why?" I asked him. And he told me, "Because there's no heart in the pie."

There has always been a heart since then, because I loved that he said that.

My recipe comes from Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook (1959).



I used my new Emile Henry pie dish.



And forgot to put aluminum foil underneath because some of the juices dripped into the oven.

Ok. It was a lot of the juices. I’m such a klutz in the kitchen sometimes.



But I love this pie.

Here’s the recipe, straight from my torn and tattered cookbook:

FAVORITE APPLE PIE
(A pie that lives up to its name – plain or caramelized. It’s one of our best.)
Pastry for 2-crust pie
6 large tart apples
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. butter

Peel and quarter apples into sauce (cut each quarter into about 4 slices). Add 1/4 c. cold water; simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Cool.

Fill pastry-lined 9” pie pan with apples.

Combine remaining ingredients, except butter, sprinkle over apples; dot with butter. Moisten edges of undercrust.

Adjust top crust; cut 6 vents (cut like chevrons – 1 in each piece); flute edges.

Bake in very hot oven (450) 10 minutes; reduce heat to moderate (350) and bake 45 minutes longer. Makes 6 servings.

Variation --
CARAMEL APPLE PIE: Cover bottom pastry with 1/4 c. melted butter; spread evenly with 1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed, then sprinkle with 1/2 c. pecans. Follow above recipe, using only 1/4 c. brown sugar. This makes a luscious caramelized pie.

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I think it’s humorous that it says it only makes 6 servings, because I believe it makes a lot more. I use an old family secret recipe for the crust. At least, that's what I tell people when they ask me. It's actually boxed pie crust mix (either Betty Crocker or Jiffy) because it’s easier and it always comes out perfect. And believe it or not, I’ve never made the caramelized version. I may try that next time. Enjoy!

The gray looks lovely on you, my dear

I awoke to a gray, drizzly day here in Maryland, complete with some lovely ice. For a few seconds, I entertained the thought of heading outside to take some photos, but quickly came to my senses.

It’s been an hour since I woke, and the ice has begun to melt a little. I’m still thinking of heading out, mainly because I haven’t walked the property for three entire days and since it’s the only exercise I get, I’m way behind.

But I did shoot a couple photos from my porch.

A view of the front yard this morning.

And another view from the garage.

I have a sister who loves days like this and I’ve always envied her ability to embrace the gray. I’m going to try to do it today, and know it could be worse out there. When it melts a little more, I’m going to head to the supermarket to get some apples for a pie.

These photos were processed using the Velvet Sage action from Red Leaf Studios.

Red Leaf Studios

I also added two new textures that I received from Kim Klassen this morning. Kim sent a little ‘February Magic’ to everyone on her e-mail list. The textures look black, but the trick to applying them is using the screen blend mode, and it seemed to work on these lovely gray day photos of mine. To get on her list, visit her here:

Kim Klassen Cafe

Hoping your weekend is everything you want it to be.

PS ~ George’s fur is frizzy today.

Looking for the light

Earlier this week, during one of our snow days, I spent some time taking photos of my blooming paperwhites, trying different rooms in the house and searching for the right light and the right background. 

One of the guest rooms upstairs seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

In fact, I liked the photos so much that I’m having these two printed for use on my greeting cards. For those of you who have asked, I get my card stock here:

Art Supplies Online

I use the Strathmore photo mount cards and purchase them in bulk.



Today was better than yesterday. Still playing catch-up at work because of all the snow days missed, but at least I don’t feel as though I’m drowning.

And I got my hair done in hoitytoityville today. That’s what my co-worker, Rich, calls it. I go to a high end salon every couple of months to get my hair cut and colored. And it happens to be in a rather ritzy area in nearby Delaware.

Thank you for the well wishes that you left on my last post. It never ceases to amaze me how much support is out there when I really need it.



This one is my favorite.

Thanks for stopping by, my friends. Until tomorrow, then . . .

The dark side

I arrived home from work this afternoon in a foul mood, having nearly fallen asleep behind the wheel from the sheer exhaustion. I spent the entire day going at full throttle, trying to catch up from all the snow days we’ve had at school. There is so much work to do. Luckily, I remained awake, collected the mail from the box at the end of the driveway (always a dangerous mission) and when I pulled  up to the house, I found a soaking wet box, sitting in the rain – a delivery from FedEx. All I could think of was that it was the new card stock that I had just ordered.

And my foul mood deepened.

Carrying everything into the house, I knocked over the snow shovel, earning me a ‘look’ from my husband who cheerfully asked me if I was having a bad day. Note to all you cheerful people out there: Don’t be all smiles and light when someone is having a bad day. It’s always best to give us a wide berth. And some time to cool down.



Normally, I would change my clothes and head outside for a walk but something is up with my ankle and I’m taking the day off. I believe that the snow boots I’ve been wearing for the past several weeks are the cause for the ankle pain, so I’ve been wearing a brace all day. I think a walk would be good for my mood, but I know it’s the wrong thing for the ankle.

Things must be really bad, because I poured myself a drink, something I rarely do, breaking my ‘no drinking during the week’ rule.  Thankfully my husband had the courtesy to keep his mouth shut.

Things could be worse - oh Lord do I ever know that things could be worse. I apologize for not being my normal self today.

One bright spot is that it wasn’t the card stock that was in the soaking wet box but rather an Emile Henry pie plate that was a free gift from CSN Stores for hosting their recent giveaway on my blog.

That was a nice surprise.

And the black and white is trying his best to make me feel better. God, I love this dog.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Please tell me your day was better.

Love,

Winter photo contest at B&H

Maybe those winter photos you’ve been taking can pay off. You have been taking photos, right?

B&H Photo and Video is hosting a winter photo contest with the theme “Cold”. The winner will receive a $100 Gift Card to B&H Photo and Video. Images must be submitted to the B&H Flickr group and the contest deadline is February 14. No limit to the amount of photos you can enter, but you can only enter six at a time. You’ll have to sign up with Flickr to submit unless you’re already a member.

So get your b-r-r-r-r-r on and enter.

B&H Photo – Photography Contest – “Cold”

Good Luck!