Have Camera and PSE; Will Blog

I love playin' with my camera!

Here is the original photo (with added borders) of my gumballs. Lots of glare from the glass.


I am thinking I will use some of the panning shots I take for bottom layers in PSE, to place other photos on or in.

Polar-Co-ordinate filter in PSE applied.

Here is yesterday's peacock with the polar-co-ordinate filter on it. That may be my new favorite filter for now :o)

No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film. ~Robert Adams

Day 17

Last one out, turn off the lights!

Photo Fun

Sunday we went to a Fleece Farm with Scott and Bethany. A teacher they work with, owns and runs it. It is not too far from our house, up here in the back hill country. Scott asked to use my camera almost right away, so the first picture you see here is one he took.....

Isn't this such an awesome photo of a peacock?!?! What a great eye Scott has! For more photos of the fleece animals, check out Bethany L's blog site.

I have been eyeing the sidewalk chalk at the store's checkout stand for several weeks now. I keep thinking they would make some great pictures, though I don't have any interest in making drawings with them, but making pictures out of them! Here you see a simple photo of them, but if you notice my blog header, I tried out a show shutter speed with a bit of panning, too. This header was my favorite outcome.

Every day when the rain stops, I wander outside to see what has bloomed, and practice with my camera. This is (I believe), a flowering quince tree/bush. Way back when we lived in North Bend and were starting to build the house we live in now, we dug a bit of this up from a wet gulch, brought it out to the property here and planted it. It has become quite large over the years, and when it blooms, it is a spectacular mass of beautiful blossoms.

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. ~Author Unknown

Think YOU have a Blubber Problem?

This one's for you, all you blubber lovers :o)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vmnq5dBF7Y

The Pasque Flower

So named because it blooms around the time of Easter (Passover). Everything is a bit late this year due to the exceptionally cold winter and spring. Everyday I find something new blooming in the yard! It is the state flower of South Dakota, growing wild over all the prairie.


It is highly toxic, slowing the heart. Excess can cause diarrhea, hypotension and even coma. DO NOT INGEST IT!!!

Flowers really do intoxicate me.

~Vita Sackville-West

Day 16

Guess these little guys don't want to leave their nest! This is day 16, the last day they are supposed to be homebodies! I think they don't want to leave their notoriety behind. After all, how many birds get to play the leading role on the Internet for 2+ weeks? I have no doubt the believe Terry is their mother, too!

Dinner Theater

A week ago Saturday, a friend from work was the main actress in a dinner theater her church put on. A bunch of us from work bought tickets and went to cheer her on, as well as enjoy an evening out together. Sarah has been in a play each year, and is hysterically funny.

This particular play was a melodrama. That means the audience gets to shout out feelings, like boo, hiss, off with his head, and such against the 'bad' guys. And cheer and holler things like yes, way to go, and give cat calls and whistle for the 'good' guys.


It is easy to identify right away who is good or bad. Black or white. Pretty obvious. That way we don't accidentally boo the wrong character!

The actors and actresses are over-dramatic, which adds to the humor.

The work gang!

You need three things in the theater - the play, the actors and the audience, - and each must give something ~ Kenneth Haigh

Field of Immune Boosters

It gives one a sudden start in going down a barren, stony street, to see upon a narrow strip of grass, just within the iron fence, the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass, like a spark dropped from the sun. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Day 14

I was wrong.

Still 4 in the nest today.

So big.

So soft.

So cute.

So what?

Day 13

Beautiful!

I think the first one or two will leave the nest tomorrow. That poop has got to be wearing on them. Or more likely, they must be wearing the poop on them by now :o(

Doodling with Bugs

I wanted to show you just a few of the many filter techniques you can use with PhotoShop Elements, or you probably have some similar things on your own editing programs, if you don't use PSE. Here is a photo I took at the Reptile Zoo of cockroaches in a tank. It is overexposed in parts, so first I increased the contrast up to 45%. It did the job of correcting that issue. Then.....

For this one I applied the 'Glowing Edges' filter. Looks like neon transparent bugs!

This one I used the 'Extrude' filter on. Looks more like a piece of impressionistic art.

This filter was called 'Poster'. It seemed to make the photo sharper and like it has a glossy finish on it. Not sure what it is supposed to do!

My favorite is this guy. The 'Polar Co-ordinates' filter made my bugs into a wonderful piece of modern art. Maybe I'll hang it on the wall! It's all in the Mind's Eye!

Day 12

All four birds are looking into the camera, entertained by the daily intrusion of our faithful photographer (Terry).......... and wondering when the heck their parents are going to clean up their disgusting poopy nest! And build on, while they are at it!

Move over, you BRAT! ~one little bird to his sibling

Reflection on 'Weeds'

Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. ~ A. A. Milne

Day 11

Jeez Louise! They almost have all of their feathers!!! Anybody want to take bets on what day they leave the nest?!?! Today is day 11. They are supposed to fly the coop by days 14-16.

Down and Dirty

The last two days have been really warm and sunny. That means I had to start planting some of the vegetable garden that is fair game in the cooler weather. Our windows of dry, sunny weather are short and far between. Tomorrow the rains begin again. So.......

Here are the seedlings nestled in the cold frame and enjoying fresh, warm air during the days.

I rototilled most of the garden Sunday and Monday (not doing the lasagna method, Mamapua), and got the pea and sweet pea plants in along the fence. My grandson, Zach, dumped and spread manure for me while he was here Easter weekend. :-)

Then I set out to plant lettuce and carrots. They will survive (underground) any snow or frost. Snow is in the forecast for Thursday night.

This is the plot of carrots. Those are mason bee homes in the background. They are great for pollination. I also got my parsley, onions and shallots in. I thoroughly enjoyed working out in the garden, digging the soft, warm soil, getting the beginnings of the garden in the ground and soaking up the Vitamin D. Is has saved my sanity and returned me to a happier state of being :o)

Vegetable gardening might be considered one of the great conservative rituals. ~ David M. Tucker, 1993

Day 10

I don't know about you, but hanging around in a crowded nest with my mouth in a pile of poop, isn't my idea of fun. It appears that the wing feathers have come in overnight. Only 4-6 days left before they leave the nest, so I expect the fluff to disappear quickly now, and be replaced with feathers over their entire bodies.

Bad hair day!

Viola Sempervirens

Also known as Redwood Violet and Evergreen Violet

Family Violet

Description Creeping Plant forming mats of thick leathery leaves, bright yellow flowers on short stalks.

Habitat Damp Woodland

Height Creeper, 5 inches

Flower Irregular with two symmetrical halves, 1/2 inch in diameter

Flowering April - June

Leaves Cordate, thick and leathery, finely-toothed and scalloped, 1/2 - 1 inch in width

I have only stumbled across a few patches of this variety of violet in our yard, but whenever it is blooming I am drawn to this delicate flower. It is indeed in the shadier, damper parts, though it seems to enjoy some filtered sunlight.

The splendor of the rose and the whitness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness. ~ Therese of Lisieux

Day 9

Peek-A-Boo

Day 8

The Mystery Birds.....

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/lifehistory

Check out this link for some interesting facts on the house finch. This photo is of the male house finch.

As you probably assume, the hatchlings are house finches. "House Finches are familiar birds of human-created habitats including buildings, lawns, small conifers, and urban centers. In rural areas, you can also find House Finches around barns and stables. In their native range in the West, House Finches live in natural habitats including dry desert, desert grassland, chaparral, oak savanna, stream sides, and open coniferous forests at elevations below 6,000 feet."

Our winners are Anna Lyn, Ginny and Scott/Bethany. Bookmarks on on the way soon!

Day 7

I spy open eyes! Next thing you know they'll be off to college.............

Day 6 / 2 winners so far!

We have 2 folks with the right answer to the mystery about what kind of birds these are! I will give the weekend for somebody else to come up with it also (shouldn't be too hard by deduction :-) On Monday I will post the answer and send out the bookmarks to 3 winners! They are growing at an alarming rate! They leave their nest by day 16, so need to get those feathers quickly to stay afloat! 10 more days and they will have flown the coop.......

Friend or Foe?

This is the time of year we see these nasty heads poking up from our lawns. They are impossible to free ourselves from. In a matter of hours, it seems, they burst out into the dreaded flowers.....

But wait! Could we be mistaken? Are we just programmed to hate these plants? Did you know they are packed with Vitamin C? The young leaves of the dandelion plant (Taraxacum officianale) can be added to a spring salad. They have a slightly sharp, bitter taste, which can not only add an interesting twist to a green salad, but give you a wallop of a dose of Vit. C to build up your immune system. The bright yellow flowers can be made into wine, and the roots roasted and ground, can be used to make coffee. Last year I made Dandelion Tincture for added boosts of Vit. C during the cold and flu season. The plant is extremely wholesome, containing vitamins, proteins and mineral salts, and has been used for centuries as a healing plant.

Of course, it grows as a wild weed here, but in France they cultivate it to sell in the markets! Can you imagine growing it purposefully? Maybe not, but perhaps you will view it with a bit more friendliness, now that you know it really can be to our benefit :o)

The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common. If no one had ever seen a flower, even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world.

Day 5

Terry has decided these little hatchlings were born on Easter Day, so I am a day off in my count in the last postings. Starting with today's post (which is really yesterday's photo), I will be on the correct day number. Sorry for any confusion and sleeplessness this may have cause any of you bird experts! HA! The other 3 decided they were sick and tired of being sat upon by Mr. King of the Roost, so they have now pushed him off and taken their rightful places among the living. They are getting so much fuzz..... so CUTE! HATCHLING:
Noun
1. hatchling - any recently hatched animal (especially birds)
young, offspring - any immature animal

Spellcheck does not recognize 'hatchling' as a word. So there you are!

New hint: Where this nest was built should give you help with the specific type of variety of this bird.

Tagliatelle

So okay, I used fettuccine noodles instead...... but I have yet to find tagliatelle pasta anywhere! And it looks the same anyway. I made it for dinner last night. Best batch I have made yet. Maybe because I used fresh grapefruit juice instead of the additional orange juice it called for.

Sauce ingredients are: butter and olive oil, leeks, asparagus, peas, orange zest and orange juice

Heat 2 Tbs. oil and 1/4 cup butter in skillet; add the sliced leeks and cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus (tips only) and peas. After tender, stir in 1 Tbs flour, then add zest from 1 orange, juice from 1 orange and 2/3 cup more orange juice (this is where I substituted fresh grapefruit juice instead, as that was what I had on hand).

Boil the noodles until al dente.

Stir together the noodles and the sauce and serve.

Day 3

No correct answers for the kind of bird babies these are yet, and I have 3 bookmarks waiting for new homes. Here is a hint: Male red, female grayish brown with stripes. Believe it or not, there are 4 babies in the nest. One seems to like to be King of the Roost!


There are 8,600 species of birds in the world today. They are found everywhere. Birds play a vital role in the balance of nature. They eat insects, pests and small animals. Fruit eating birds are best for scattering seeds for these plants. Seed eating birdsdigest seeds and in so doing keep millions of weeds from the earth...Birds have between 1,000 and 25,000 feathers.- Birds, U.C. Davis