White whiskers

The cats were sunning this morning as they often do. I have a few stunning shots of Dottie in the sunlight. Her black and white coloring makes it difficult to get a good picture of her face without using the flash and causing her to shut her eyes. But due to the location of the sunlight, her face was bright. However, what really caught my attention was that her whiskers seemed to be lit up, standing out against her black fur. She's my glowing kitten.

Turner Falls

We arrived at Turner Falls (Davis, OK) in late afternoon, as the sun was falling in the sky. I wanted to get several shots around the falls but was concerned the sun would be a problem. It did take some working around but I had fun with the sun flares and lighting. I saw this shot in my view finder and thought it would look great if I could catch the light streaming across the falls and the little fog cloud that had formed at the top of the falls. The camera was able to capture both as I hoped and I came out with this picture. We had fun getting a few shots in the area before heading over to The Cliff for dinner. It was a great day in Oklahoma with a visit to Ada, a basketball win, a trip to Turner Falls and dinner out.

Old but good

I've been spending my time cleaning my computer and memory cards of photos and trying not to overload my computer until we can get the new hard drive installed. Therefore I haven't taken a photo to share but as I was looking through old photos, I ran across this one. It's one of my favorite bird pictures. I use it as a background on my computer in fact. I love how he's not just looking at me but cocking his head, and the depth of field and his bright colors against the beautiful blue sky. This picture was taken in Lubbock.

Senior Night

Tonight was the last home game of the season and therefore Senior night for the three seniors on the team. This team has already made playoffs, for the first time in six years, first time for of these players, a great accomplishment. With all of this going on, you want a win more than ever, especially since a couple wins could give better the team a better starting position in playoffs. The game started on par with most games but took a turn for the worse for the home team early into the first half. However, in the last few minutes, the game took a turn in our favor and the ladies were able to leave the home court with a last second win! Of all the pictures I took, I pick this not because it's great, but because Hash, one of the seniors, shows her emotions so well here, big hugs all around! :D

Mayan Mask

A former student brought me this mask from Mexico while we were studying the history of Mexico and the Aztec and Maya civilizations. I hung it in my classroom, along with the marionettes and pinatas and other decorations but it is special because a student decided to bring it and share it on his own. Today, a student asked me what it was so I was reminded to really look at it. I have been to a few ruins in Mexico and studying the ancient civilizations always intrigues me, and that's saying a lot as I am very much not a history person! But these things interest me so today's picture, straight out of my classroom.

Reading time

Our bookshelves are overflowing! We have both always been readers but after a couple years in book club, our collection is growing. One of the best used book stores in the world (yes really, a world traveler has told us) is here in town and that obviously has increased our collection. Also, through recent travels, we have found other great stores. Most recently, I was able to visit a Mystery Book Store in Seattle. All mysteries, now that's my kind of store! In fact, I got out with only two books but several other ideas. Tonight, I am finished with my daily tasks early and I am going to go read.

Scrapooking help?

This is the life! I was scrapbooking today and the cats "helped" me out quite a bit. Sophie decided to lick the pictures. Dottie chased a bug that was outside the window, and to get there she had to run across my work. Gus and Sophie both jumped up on the table as I was putting letters together on a page and took some with them, causing me to be missing various letters. And finally, Gus curled up with the book to take a nice nap. Then, not to be outdone, Sophie came and moved him off the book and she took his spot. Thankfully, I also was doing some work on the computer so I could walk away from the book. Not to say they didn't "help" me with that as well, there was some walking across the keyboard and the fun mouse chasing as well...

All cat

We were playing with the laser pointer with the cats tonight and for the first time, even Gus played along! It was so funny to see the difference between the kittens, anticipating and stalking the red dot and then Gus, just flat out chasing it. He didn't last that long before he decided it was time to rest and bathe himself...
It was fairly dark in the room so the kitties could chase the laser pointer so I got down on the floor and used the flash to light up just the foreground. As he opened his paw up and started licking was the shot I was looking for. You can see his paw, his tongue with it's sandpaper finish, the markings on his face and the whiskers and then the darkness behind him makes him the lone image.

Warning: Not pretty! ;)

Admittedly this is a strange picture, but it has it's purpose. This is me immediately after a 30 minute run, shot into a mirror and with a kitty in the foreground. I don't usually like to take pictures of myself all sweaty but this one is for my friend Linda...since she shared hers. Although I finally made it up to Seattle this past weekend, and got to see her, we didn't get to take a run, walk, hike or otherwise. However, she shared a picture of her after a run and likewise, here's mine. Also, one of my photography assignments was to take a photo through a mirror or reflection and this fulfills that. Additionally, the cat...today, typical workout getting in the way by all of them and then Sophie,  jumped right up as I was trying to take the picture and then when I laid my towel down to do some floor exercises she was spread out flat on it before I could lay down and I nearly put my head on her as I went to start my crunches! Appropriate she's in the picture, I grabbed the camera for that as well.

Workin' Out!

The cats really like to "help" me as I am doing my workout. Most especially, Dot will chase me up and down the hall as I am warming up, it is a challenge to get through my warm-up without tripping over her...she does a stop, drop and roll right in my path. Meanwhile, Sophie sits atop a fish tank where she can reach out and grab me as I pass by her. Then, they sit and watch me on the treadmill. (Dot's only tried to get on twice ;) After my run, I head downstairs to do weights, this is where Gus and/or Sophie will lay down right under me in push ups or behind me as I lay down for sit ups, etc. Obviously, we have a "routine" here to OUR workout!
So, the picture isn't spectacular as far as photos go, but as all these things went on today during my workout, I thought I'd just grab the camera and see what shots I could get, and this one isn't too bad ;)

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley came to visit me from California. I took him to the basketball game tonight and he and a friend donated some money to the TWU SAAC Make A Wish bucket. He had a good time at the game and made several new friends.
If you don't know the Flat Stanley story...here's info from Wikipedia:
Flat Stanley a 1964 children's book by Jeff Brown (1926 – December 3, 2003) and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer.
Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their Dad for putting pictures and posters on. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed, but during the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Eventually Arthur, who tires of all the attention Stanley has been getting, reverts Stanley to his proper shape through an air pump used for footballs. The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document what Flat Stanley has done with them.
The Project provides an opportunity for students to make connections with students of other member schools who've signed up with the project. Students begin by reading the book and becoming acquainted with the story. Then they make paper "Flat Stanleys" (or pictures of the Stanley Lambchop character) and keep a journal for a few days, documenting the places and activities in which Flat Stanley is involved. The Flat Stanley and the journal are mailed to other people who are asked to treat the figure as a visiting guest and add to his journal, then return them both after a period of time. Students may find it fun to plot Flat Stanley's travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a photo or postcard from his visit.

Eagle eye view

Despite the Seattle penchant for rain, we have had a few clear times, including this afternoon, my last in Seattle. The views were stunning upon my departure and it was so nice to be able to finally enjoy the sights. I didn't get a great look at Mt. Ranier specifically but I did see some other snow capped mountains.  Then this little area came along and it was so interesting. There is a definite edge to the mountains and then the curvy path along the left side looks like a piece of yarn strung along. The clouds add depth to the photo as well as casting shadows on the ground for a bluish appearance against the white elsewhere.

Seattle Seagull

These birds were everywhere, of course, as we went all around Seattle. I first noticed them right as we got out of the taxi at the hotel, they were talking up a storm and landing on the roof of the hotel. This one is one of my favorites though because he's sitting on the wood, with the sky in the background, out at the piers along the Sound.

Happy Faces

This weekend, I am visiting Seattle. One of the things I got to do here is see my nephews, and I always get good pictures of Declan, he makes great faces! We had a nice visist and I got to meet the newest baby, 13 days old! Of course I took tons of pictures but I really like this one of Declan, overall it shows some character and I am happy with how it came out. We're at Dick's, a burger joint near our hotel and a local greasy burger place. Declan obviously enjoyed his cheeseburger and milkshake :)
And because I have new baby pictures, I'll share one of baby Brennan too!

Snow Reflections

I was able to get out today, while I didn't make it the full distance I usually go, I was thrilled to make it to this pond. When I got here, it was a beautiful scene, with the water frozen and so still. Along one edge the water was just barely icing and was reflecting nicely. This picture has not only the snow and ice but also the reflections as well as the look of black and white. It has been a beautiful couple of days here, breaking snowfall records and giving us an an awesome sight.

Snow Dove

With all the opportunities to take snow pictures today, I wish I had more energy to take on the weather and go photo crazy.
While I haven't made any snow angels or snowmen as I might when healthy, I certainly did get out a few times for some photos. I have plenty of photos, but didn't take as much time on "getting the shot" as I might have otherwise. I did, however, get lucky and catch this dove in a tree in my backyard. The sky has been so white all day and the snow on the branches feels very wintery. The bird sat still long enough for me to get fairly close before I scared him off. I would love to catch more of the birds in the snow but I am happy with this one.

Sun shadows

Flash is one of my works in process in regard to photography. It certainly has it's uses and it's needed to front light or balance the natural light and of course you can use multiple flashes and locations. However, I usually prefer natural lighting for most of my shots. Today, I decided to play with using a flash specifically. I took some images with opaque items as backgrounds and reverse lighting. Then, I moved on to this sun candle holder, I like the wavy lines it already has and I thought it would look fun with shadows by taking the shot just moving off to an angle to get the shot.

Kitty power

Look at the muscles in those arms and paws and also the nice teeth she's showing off here! I was playing with the cat and trying to get some fun angles with her and this one is just kind of different and you can see the movement through the muscle contractions. The other picture from today had to be taken with an iPhone as I didn't have a camera with me at the time. It was too dark and is a bit blurry but it was fun. My nephews had both crawled into the toy basket and we played "stop and go" meaning I shook the basket when one of them said go and then I stopped when one of them said stop and they went back and forth...my arm muscles got a great workout of their own!

Kitty in a basket

My Valentine's gift from yesterday came in a cute little basket, which apparently is exactly kitten sized. As soon as I got the gifts out of the basket, I had a cat jump right in, then another and I think they are very happy about "their" gift basket. It fits both Dottie and Sophie perfectly if they curl up they can just hang their head over the edge. Of course, this does nothing to discourage them from being on the dining room table...

Valentine's Flowers

My mom brought me my Valentine's present today, including some roses and a sunflower. They are beautiful and I love the dark red and bright yellow together. It's nice to have fresh flowers and greenery around the house, especially in the winter. The problem in getting the picture was the lighting. I wanted the natural light, so I picked this location with sunlight from the side but the location along with the dark background. Then I ended up using the flash on this first image, and took some with no flash for the second shot. The trick is in getting the sunflower not to soak up all the "sun" or flash and then setting up for a still shot without the flash. I enjoyed getting back in the photo "groove" with these shots. You can see the difference in color due to the different lighting options.

Hanna...this one's for you!

The last couple of weeks have not been my greatest, I've struggled with some things and pushed through others. I've had a lot going on as well and I've fallen behind on lots of things including keeping up with the picture taking and blogging. I've not been creatively motivated, usually I see things that I want to take pictures of, be it nature or sports or my animals, something, and nothing has struck me and I've not forced myself to do it. To complicate things, last night my "little" camera broke as well,  so I'm way behind in my daily blog but I've picked not one, but a whole a set of pictures to share today that came from this past Saturday and Wednesday. I've really enjoyed the last couple of bball games, they have been extremes, from a take it to them win to a fight through double overtime loss, but they have been a great get away for me and so I picked not my best shots but rather shots that make me laugh. I have to dedicate this post to Hanna...she knows why.