Guess Who's Here?

Do you know who arrived yesterday on an airplane?  Can you guess?



That's right, it's Miss A and the G-man and they were ready to rock and roll.  In fact it took less than 10 minutes from the time we arrived home until the two of them were splashing around in the pool.  (The water was a comfortable 80 degrees..just so you know.)



Grammy also snagged Tangled at the local Wal Mart on Monday afternoon and let me tell you that brought a big smile to this little girls face.  (Score one for Grammy!)



The G-man has grown quite a bit since we last saw him although he's still a little on the small size for his age.  He is however, full of energy and little boy non-stop action.



Have I mentioned lately how much I have been missing these two sweet faces?



Seven whole days of fun in the sun in with grandkids.  Life is good.

I just hope they'll let me take a nap once in awhile.

Who Turned Out the Lights

Yooooo, hooo.  Anybody home?  Who turned out the lights?



I'm back.  Did you miss me?  I felt as if I had abandoned ship and the guilt was almost too much for me to bear.  (Almost being the operative word here.)  But the truth is I needed a blog vaca, R & R, down time from the frenetic life of a blogger.  Why you ask?  Because lately I have struggled with finding words to write and anecdotes to relay.  I diagnosed myself with a case of blog-burnout and self-medicated with a cruise to the Caribbean.  Usually I attempt to post ahead if I know I am going to be gone but this time I just locked the door and walked away.  I didn't even leave a note.  I felt badly about that too but not bad enough to cough up enough cash to cover the outrageous cost of internet time on the high seas.

Now after cruising the azure blue water of the Caribbean with The Kid, feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on my face and eating more than humanly possible I am back.  The salt air has cleared the fog from my brain and  I have determined that this self-imposed commitment to post something on a daily basis is absurd.  My life is just not that interesting, nor am I that creative.  And besides, the pay is lousy.  So I am changing my status from full-time to part-time and life will go on.  On some weeks I may be here every day, others only once or twice.  Hopefully by removing the pressure to perform daily I'll free up the log jam of words in my head and life will be good.

This decision could also, quite possibly save the life of my couch where I reside for hours each day pondering the state of my life and composing my literary masterpieces.

Pool Blues

We have a pool.  It's really a no brainer if you live in south Florida.  Summer's are brutal and cooling off on a hot summer afternoon (morning, evening or night) with a dip in the pool is pure bliss.  However our pool has no heater.  It has always been a bone of contention with me.  Our winters are warm enough that we could use the pool year round if only the water was warmer.  Not that I am advocating spending thousand's of dollars to purchase and install a pool heater and then actually running the darn thing.  (I see dollar signs spinning out of control inside the electric meter.)  But a solar blanket might be useful.  Wouldn't it?

By mid-February our daytime temperatures can reach the high 70's and low 80's but the nights dip back down into the 50's.  We gain a degree or two during the daylight hours and promptly lose them over night.  It was my belief that a solar blanket (minimal investment here) would retain the heat over night and allow us to raise the temperature in the pool to a comfortable level over a period of time.  The Kid disagreed.  He wasn't certain a blanket would effectively warm the pool water enough to allow us to swim and thus it might be more of a hassle then it was worth.  The battle has been raging for years.



Two weeks ago I took matters into my own hands.  I purchased a solar blanket.  The grandkids are coming in two weeks. (You can paint me excited!!)  And I was on a mission to warm the pool enough for the little guys to enjoy it.  Admittedly it won't be warm enough for me.  If you remember correctly the temperature has to reach a comfortable 84 degrees before I take the plunge.  But kids don't care.  I knew if I could get the mercury to hit 79 or 80 they would jump on in and have a ball.  So faithfully every morning we pull the blanket back and let the sun do it's work.  Late each afternoon we cover the sun kissed water hoping to retain the heat gained over night.

It was working too.  We started with the pool temperature at 70 degrees.  After a week of concentrated effort I had the thermometer reading a much warmer 75.  I was patting myself on the back and gloating.  I was going to see 80 degrees in that pool by the time Miss A and the G-man arrived.  And then that little cold front rolled through over the weekend and in a few short hours I was back to square one.  My little blanket was no match for overnight temperatures dipping into the 40s.

This morning the thermometer once again reads a very chilly 70 degrees.  But I'm not ready to give up.  I still have two weeks.  If I have to, I may even resort to boiling water on the stove and dumping it in the pool like my Mom used to do when I was a kid.

Well it worked for her didn't it?

Wheel Watcher

I have become a Wheel Watcher.  There.  I said it.

Recently I read that you only have to repeat a behavior for 15 days and it becomes a habit.  I have been watching Wheel of Fortune every evening at 7:00 p.m. for five weeks.  I think it is safe to say that it is now a habit.  Sometimes I am a whiz at the puzzle board and yet there are times when all of the letters save one are present and accounted for and I still don't know what the darn thing is.  I do however, love to see what Vanna is wearing each evening.  Do you think she gets to keep all of those pretty evening gowns?  I don't think so either.  Why on earth would anyone need 300 formal dresses hanging in their closet?  It's not like she's Oscar material or anything.

Over the course of the past five weeks I have made a few observations with regard to my newly established habit.  Have you ever noticed that all of the contestants have "wonderful" husbands, "beautiful" wifes,  and lovely children?  Seriously what's up with that?  Why can't people just be honest. Yes Pat, I am married to my cheating husband of 8 years.  We have two unruly children and a dog that we can't quite seem to get house broken.  Or perhaps this, I have a wife who used to look like Vanna but she gained 80 pounds after giving birth to our six children and has now let herself go.  That's why my best friend George is here with me tonight.  She's just not good television material.

And another thing, why do these people yell? Is the audience filled with deaf people or senior citiziens? Don't they know that they are attached to microphones transmit their voices all across the world?  Instead they shout, AN M PLEASE, or I'd like to buy a vowel AN A.  And how about when they solve the puzzle...Pat I'd like to solve.  A.   CHICKEN.    WITH.       IT'S.     HEAD.     CUT.     OFF.    Gheesh Louise, I hear you already.


When I get to be a contestant on Wheel I have decided to buck the system.  I am going to speak in a normal voice and tell it like is about my family.  


Heck, I might even be a rebel and whisper.

Maybe Tomorrow

A very early airport run has me playing catch-up today.  Of course that doesn't account for all of things I could have accomplished yesterday and put off until today.

It appears my procrastination genes are running rampant this week!  I should really do something about it but I think I'll wait until tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be a much better day.

No Guarantees

It has always been my understanding that with age comes wisdom.  At least that is what has always been preached by those older and wiser than myself.  How is it then that one with enough years under their belt to know better sits on the beach for two hours in the blazing Florida sun and fails to use sunscreen?  Can you say ouch?

So this whole wisdom thing is a myth?  I guess there really are no guarantees in life.


Link to Project 365

Where Flowers Bloom

                     "Where flowers bloom so does hope."

                                                                         ~ Lady Bird Johnson




Link to Project 365

Shoo Fly

Yesterday morning we had a wicked thunderstorm that caused the power to surge (knocking out our new HD cable box) and the rain to fall in torrents.  I was stuck inside wondering what I was going to do for a Project 365 photo.  A little shopping jaunt into Naples soothed my troubled soul and I returned with a fresh attitude (and a clearing sky).  I ventured outdoors wondering what I might find after the rain and wasn't disappointed.

Initially I was on the hunt for water droplets left clinging for their lives to flower petals and pretty green leaves.  And then I noticed these.



Tiny little flys with the most interesting colorations were adorning the shrubbery just outside my back door.

To give you a little perspective on the size of these critters I backed out and shot the image below.



I don't know what kind of fly they might be, perhaps a fruit fly, but they were about the size of my finger nail.



They were also much less skittish than the bees and allowed me ample time to set up and shoot before flying off for parts unknown.



It really is amazing what you see when you take the time to look.  (Of course it helps to have a macro lens to get up close and personal.)

Link to Project 365

Play Ball

Watching, watching.




I've got it.



No really, I've got it.



I'm getting it.



I've got it I tell ya.



There, I told you I had it.



So, do you want to do that again?



I'VE GOT IT!



P.S.   Aunt Judi is coming soon and she's bringing me a big juicy bone.  I'm golden.

Link to Project 365

Sight Sea-ing

A few scenes from a Tuesday afternoon on the water.  Enjoy.

Great White Flight


Bottle Nosed Dolphin


Canal Views


Brown Pelican Lift Off


Fresh Catch of the Day



Link to Project 365

Sun Stars

Have you ever viewed a photograph where the sun was represented as a bright shooting star and wondered how did they do that?  I'm going to attempt to explain it to you today and maybe you'll be motivated to try it.

I began with a desire to find something different.  Admittedly it is getting more and more difficult to choose a subject for Project 365 that is in or around my house.  But I keep trying.  I found myself once again drawn to the red hibiscus bush that borders our property with our neighbor's.  In my head I was thinking put your camera someplace new.  But where?  Finally I got down on the ground and lying flat on my back looking up at the bright blue sky I began to observe and wonder.  I am learning not to rush the process but to sit (or in this case lie) still and soak in my surroundings, inevitably the shot finds me.  After a few minutes I took note of two blossoms huddled together, gently swaying in the breeze and knew I had found my subject.

It is difficult shooting into the sun but with a little effort and understanding of the process the results can be oh so rewarding.  My first attempts were pretty, but nothing special.  The back lit blossoms were aglow but I had too much greenery and the power line ran across the lower portion of the frame.  This can be removed in Photoshop, but why not do it in the field?



As I wiggled around on the ground, trying different angles I wondered what might happen if I captured a sun star.  I began by increasing my f-stop to 16 or 18.  I was using a 50 mm lens and this was as high as my lens would go.  If you are using a point and shoot camera try setting it to the landscape mode.  This should give you the greatest depth of field possible on your particular camera.

Secondly I placed the flowers where I wanted them to appear in the frame and began to move the camera ever so slightly.  My goal was to catch the sun just peeking from behind a leaf.  If you watch carefully you can actually see a starburst in your viewfinder.  Sometimes I use a tree branch, a building, a cloud anything that partially blocks the sun will work.

The shot below is an improvement over the first but still there were flaws.  (That's a joke.  ALL of my pictures have flaws.  Every. Single. One.)  The starburst adds interest to the scene but I think overtakes it.  In this case the starburst becomes the focal point, the pretty pink flowers the secondary subject.



I wiggled and moved some more and finally found what I was looking for in the image below.  The star burst is prominent but in this photograph it compliments the flower by drawing attent to it rather than from it.  Success.  I got what I wanted.



Sun stars are fun to play with and relatively easy to achieve.  Go ahead, give it a try.  I think you'll find it gives your images a interesting twist.

If you would like to see my choice as the best of the afternoon click on the Project 365 link below.


P.S.  Henna is grounded.  She's not allowed to use the computer for two weeks.  Bad doggy.

Link to Project 365

Henna Speaks

Hey, internet...are you out there?  Wonder what this button does?  Oh, there you are.

Henna here.  Don't tell my people but I've commandeered the magic box while they're still sleeping.  They don't think I can make it work but I've got news for them.  I'm the brains around this operation and today I've got a few things I'd like to discuss.

First, I have a bone to pick, well actually I don't, and that's the problem.  You see they never share their bones.  Real bones, juicy bones with a little meat still attached are figments of my doggy imagination.  After a good meal they are quickly whisked away tossed in the trash like yesterday's news.   But I can smell them.  And they smell ohhhh soooo good.  I wish someone would look down and see the drool dripping from my chin...surely if they looked they'd see my desire.  Wouldn't they?  What's a girl got to do to get noticed? They tell me it's for my own good.  Bones might upset my tummy. How long must I be punished?  It was only one little spot on the carpet.  It's not fair internet.  Not fair at all.    

And another thing, they never.  Ever. Never let me loose to run. Why is that?  I always get the red leash which means I have to go where they want me to go and I want to RUN.  I want to stick my nose into rabbit holes, and smell the scents of the wild.  I want to stretch my legs and run free. Just run.  And run. And run some more.  I'd come home.  I always do.  Well don't I?  And when I do it's house arrest for me.  Why is that?  I'm a teenager now and I need my independence.  I'm also a dog. And dogs run.  I wish one of you kind internet folks would have a talk with my people.  Could you do that for me?  I'd be your best friend.

Like, forever.

Link to Project 365

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Ave Maria (Sunday Stroll)

It has been awhile since our last Sunday Stroll.  I think today might be a good day to get one going.  But first, to please The Kid, a little history.

After selling his Dominos Pizza chain, Thomas Monaghan didn't know what to do with his many, many millions.  He had traveled the world, had been to places most people only dream about.  He had yachts, and cars and homes and heaven knows what else and yet he still wasn't content.  He wanted to make a difference, do something worth while with all of that pizza dough.  (Go ahead, laugh.  You know that was funny.)  And so in 2003, in Yipsilanti, MI,  he established Ave Maria University.  The first catholic univeristy to be founded in over 40 years.

But land in Yisilanti was scarce and there was no room for expansion so Mr. Monaghan began to search elsewhere for a site for his university.  Enter the Barron Collier Company who offered to donate 1,000 acres east of Naples, FL.  In exchange for relocating his fledging university to this remote wasteland in south Florida, the Barron Collior Company would build a planned community around it.  If you build it, they will come.  (Name that movie.)  And so a deal was struck.  In 2007 the university moved to its new home in Ave Maria, Florida and a tiny community began to grow and prosper.

The little community is beautiful, but isolated.  It seemed we drove for miles, and miles, and miles watching flat, barren scrub land whiz by the window.  But once we arrived we were entralled with this oasis in the dessert.  It is reminiscent of Celebration, in Orlando and contains a world of possibilities.  That is if one wants to live in a tiny community some 20 miles from anywhere and anything.

If the university is the bread and butter for folks residing in Ave Maria, the church is the anchor.  It sits in the center of the main square presiding over all that goes on there.  A reminder to all who live Ave Maria of a value system that should be embraced and a testiment to a pizza king with a catholic conviction and a dream.



















Link to Project 365

A Hankering

I know that there is a lot of snow remaining on the ground.

I know that the lake is still frozen.

I know that the geese have not yet returned.

But.

Lately I have had a hankering to be here.



And to see this.



Link to Project 365

Anticipation

I know that you didn't get any sleep last night in anticipation of today's lovely floral.  I selected this week's bouquet with photography in mind.  I was looking for curving petals, interesting lines and bright colors.  I thought I had chosen well.  But when it came time to set up my mini studio by the front door they were all beginning to look alike.  Maybe that should be my cue to move on to something else for awhile.



I promise I'm not going to beat a dead horse with American Idol talk, just one final comment on last night's show and the top 13.  With one exception, I think America got it right.  Now all I have to do is decide which one of these extremely talented young people I'm hitching my wagon to.  This particular group of hopefuls just gets stronger and stronger each week.  It is shaping up to be one heck of a season.

On that note (pun intended), I'll pour myself another cup of Joe and enjoy the remainder of the morning.

Happy Friday folks, the weekend is upon us.

Link to Project 365

Flowers and Idol Talk

Yesterday was crazy busy what with a trip to the farmer's market and an airport run.  I'll probably post this without a picture which I will add a little later this morning.

You know what a trip to the farmer's market means, other than BLTs for lunch today?  You are correct, a lovely little bunch of flowers was purchased and sits patiently waiting for its photo op.  You can expect to see more florals grace the pages here for a few days.  I was hoping to get to the beach this morning to change things up a bit but cool temperatures and high winds are keeping me at home.  This of course means floral portraits are scheduled for this afternoon.

Any American Idol watchers out there?  The Kid and I have been fans of the show since season 1.  Although the past 2-3 years we watched with far less enthusiasm.  The judges had become boorish, their shtick was old and tiresome.  It seemed Idol had lost its way.  The shows were more about the judges bad behavior and promoting pop "stars"  than the current crop of hopefuls.  It even seemed that the talent was lacking, almost as if the producers had scooped up the best talent in the first 5 or 6 seasons leaving the only a few crumbs remaining.

But this year things seem to be different.  The new judges are a breath of fresh air.  (My humble opinion of course.)  J-Lo offers a gentle touch, even when delivering the bad news.  She is intelligent and honest with the kids and I think it will be fun to watch her grow into the role of judge and mentor.  It's nice to see Randy in a position of leadership.  He has toned down his dawgs and yo mans a bit and tries to keep it real without Simon's caustic and hurtful diatribes.  But its Steven Tyler that does it for me.  I really like the guy.  He is fun, funny and edgy.  And he appears to be genuinely embracing his new gig and connecting with the kids.  I would like to see him offer a little more direction in his critiques but perhaps that will come as he too grows into his new role.

I like that this year it seems to be more about the contestants than in the past few seasons.  I like hearing their back stories and watching them morph into performers.  The talent level this season is heads and shoulders above that of recent years, so much so that I'm having trouble selecting my version of the top 12.

After last year I was convinced that this would be the final season.  However I give American Idol, Season 10 two thumbs up...at least in the early going.  If they continue down this path I believe we just might see a season 11.

Calusa Spirit

Wednesday is a good day for reflection.

Link to Project 365

Honey Dippers

I was strolling around our tiny postage stamp of a yard yesterday afternoon somewhat lost and searching for something to move me.  The day was waning and I needed a Project 365 image.  That's when the shrubbery on the side of the house caught my eye.  They were filled to the point of bursting with tiny white flowers.  (I imagine those pretty little flowers may be a contributing factor to The Kid's sinus misery of late but I thought they were lovely.)

Now I know what you are thinking...not more flowers!  If so, it's your lucky day.   I wasn't in a flower mood either.  Instead I stood quietly observing, hoping for an epiphany on how to photograph them in a unique way.  Waiting for the inner muse to speak.  He was silent.  Ideas were not forthcoming.  After a few minutes I began to notice that the tiny white blossoms were alive with honey bees. And the muse began to chatter.

Less than five minutes later I was set up in the grass; camera safely mounted on the tripod, wondering what happened to all of those bees.  They had vanished.



I waited.  And waited.  And amazingly the bees must have determine that I wasn't a threat and began returning to the shrubs to continue on with their work.  I watched as they flitted from blossom to blossom gathering nectar, and spreading pollen.  Initially I attempted to focus on the flighty little critters and snap them in flight.  That proved to be mission impossible.  Instead I settled for snapping them with their heads buried deep within the blossoms and stingers up.



Finally I figured it out.  If I increased the depth of field setting on the camera and manually focused in tight on one blossom I might get lucky.  I waited some more.  Eventually one of the little honeys wandered into my field of vision and I happily snapped away.  These are the best of the 400+ images I made while communing with the bees.



They really are amazing little creatures.  Buzzing and hovering, dipping and diving.  Their heads would disappear completely within the white blossoms only to emerge when the task was complete.  Their bodies at times would be yellow with pollen.  I began to notice that many of the bees had small, bright yellow balls which appeared to be attached to their rear legs.  A quick Google search told me that they are wax glands and the yellow masses were bees wax used in producing the honeycomb.



What I really learned from the experience is acceptance.  As long as I sat quietly in their midst I disappeared as a threat.  They flitted and buzzed around me and I felt no fear.  The edges of our two worlds blurred and the boundaries disappeared.  Each of us went about the task at hand accepting the other's presence in our lives.

Maybe there's a lesson there for the rest of the world.

Link to Project 365