Pink Clouds

I've found some fun new textures. They're from Florabella and there are some wonderful tips that come with the generous set I purchased today. For this photograph, I used an artistic filter on the rose itself, then applied Florabella's Allure square (normal blend mode) 21% and Patina square (normal blend mode) 18%.
Thank you, Mary, for introducing me to these!

Lost dog

My friend and I came across this sign in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. At first, we were both saddened to see that this dog had been lost. And then we were laughing out loud.

Live oak

I took this photo of a beautiful live oak while dining at Wentzell's Oyster House in Fairhope, AL last week. It must be very old. This is one of my favorite trees.


I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,
All alone stood it, and the moss hung down
from the branches,
Without any companion it grew there,
glistening out with joyous leaves of
dark green . . .


Excerpt from the Walt Whitman Manuscript, "Live Oak, With Moss"

Secret identity

I came across this cool little mask in a shop down in New Orleans and gave it as a gift to the young girl who came to water our plants while we were away. I tried it on before I wrapped it and it made me beautiful.
It's quite the dandy, I think.

Handblown glass

This shop in the French Quarter of New Orleans had all sorts of cool items and the air conditioning was a welcome relief. I asked permission to shoot some photos and just walked around taking pictures of things I liked.
Ghostbones texture applied.

Balcony in New Orleans

I took this from the car window last Monday while visiting New Orleans for the first time. We were actually staying with friends, about an hour east of the city. It was so hot, it was almost unbearable just to walk around. So we drove around for a little bit, in air conditioned comfort, while I snapped photos from the car window. {{{sigh}}}

Shopping along the French Quarter

This alley caught my eye while strolling with my friends in New Orleans last week. I love that yellow dress on the end and think I'll have one please, in a size 8.
And then, please oh please, could I be a size 8?
I applied 3 textures to this photo, I think. However, I have no idea what they were. Good to be back.

A gift from a friend

Our art teacher at school made one of these for everyone in the office while she was demonstrating stamping techniques to students in her class.
I love this gift and wanted to show you how beautiful it is!
I'm taking a break from this blog for a short little while. Could be a couple days. Could be more like a week. I've just got a lot going on and want to relax with friends and try to stay away from too much technology. My husband doesn't think I can do it, however. So we'll just see about that.

Marmalade skies

We had a big-ass storm hit our area late this afternoon just as I left work. I'd been warned about its arrival, but left anyway, thinking it was still north and to the west of us but and ended up driving right through some of it. As hail rained down on my car and the wipers went beserk, I had no idea how beautiful the skies would look later this day at sunset.
This is not a painting. This is not the work of Photoshop. This is my sky. Unfortunately, there aren't any tangerine trees to be found.

I can't talk right now . . .

Yeah. I can't talk right now. I'm in the receiving line at my graduation. Yeah. And the principal's coming. I'll call ya back when it's over, k?
In all my years, this is a first. Thanks for the memories, boys.

Summer Stock Sunday

To me, summer means a lot of things. And a girl's gotta eat. Last week we had Kahn's hot dogs and corn on the cob for dinner. And it felt like summer.

For more pictures of summery-type food, visit my other blog today.

For more of this photo project, visit Robin at Around the Island.

Finches at feeder

I figured out what was wrong with me and the lens. I removed the polarizing filter and voila! I could focus. I don't know what my problem was, but am now loving this borrowed lens. And speaking french.
Ghostbones texture applied.

Favorite things: wine bottle stopper

I took this photo in the spring of 2008. I just liked this bottle stopper, which just broke last weekend. I need to find another use for it.

New life

I was just fooling around. Taken June 2008 at Jim Thorp, PA.

Super Fun Happy

From the archives. Super Fun Happy is the action I used on this photo. It's from Totally Rad Actions. And you can get it free if you have Photoshop. Visit their site and you can download 3 demo actions. Super! Fun! Ok. I'm done now.

Frisbee love

George at rest. I liked the perspective, too. Photo by husband.

Favorite things: Afternoon light

I happened to walk through the dining room this weekend and was taken by surprise at the way the light was coming in and making everything glow. I love when that happens.