Still exhausted from the last dinner I’ll ever host, but everything is cleaned up, including the dirty dishes I put away neatly in the cupboards. 🤬 (I thought I ran the dishwasher; it must have been a Vicodin dream.)
Granddaughter took the family’s first dip into NC son’s new pool, in the rain.
Vagabond son & DIL hiked 4 miles into Bryce Canyon at 8000’ elevation. Got some great photos & survived. Also survived the motorcycle ride to the national park.
Every bush, shrub & tree in my entire yard has been in frenetic motion from WIND 💨🍃all day, even though it’s sunny & warm. I’m hunkering down inside.
Hosting a birthday 🎂 dinner for my grandson this weekend & had to order a crapload of junk food today. Balanced it out with an indulgent package of halibut.
Vagabond son & DIL left Zion NP for Bryce Canyon, which I remember (as a four-year-old) as the land of pink stone castles with turrets. This pic is of Zion.
Post-holiday Tuesday blues got you down?
Check out my latest blog post where I share some of my favorite stress-relief TV shows that have been absolute lifesavers for me. 📺
ps. Sending you virtual hugs friends! 🤗
There's a photography technique I use that I never see anyone else do so it's time I share it. I use it to capture action shots of people... typically dancing.
Most people would handle these situations by zooming in, spraying and praying, or being exceedingly patient for that ONE shot to materialize.
Those strategies were too unreliable for me so I learned to move with my subjects.
I pre-focus the lens for a set distance, wide-angle, full manual, and set the camera against my cheek. I move the camera only by moving my feet. If my subject twists, I twist. If they step toward me, I step back so they stay in focus.
Because I’m not using any viewfinder, my peripheral vision is good. You immerse yourself in the scene. When it feels right you shoot blind. With practice, your shots will line up.
You obviously will need good balance and confident footwork for this. I'm reaching back on years of Shaolin Kung Fu. If you've done dance or martial arts, you can get the hang of this.
I headed out for a morning walk at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia during a light autumn rain last year. The trees sheltered me from most of it. The early morning light and fall colors were amazing!
@elizach Thank you so much, Eliza! Mountain Lake Lodge is where they filmed many parts of Dirty Dancing. I had fun exploring the areas of the resort that never appeared in the movie. I received permission from the lodge to post any photos except of the lodge itself and Baby's Cabin. Let's just say that I came out far ahead in that agreement. There were many more photographic gems than the 2 very recognizable buildings (if you've seen the movie). I'm just now digging through my archives.
@elizach Oh yeah! I loved that movie, too! But when I post the images, I don't promote it as "Mountain Lake Lodge, where they filmed parts of Dirty Dancing" because I want to promote my photography, not the movie; I don't want to ride the coattails of its popularity if that makes sense. LOL
Not sure if this link will work - in early November, I posted the photo of the gazebo. The Lodge gave me permission to post this - I think because it looks entirely different than it does in the movie. In part because the lake is now empty and overgrown in the background. I was THRILLED I could share my photos of the gazebo.
Okay I have done the impossible....cleared and organiz(ing) all kitchen and home cupboards, and today, cleared all things unworthy from freezer and fridge. OMG what a job. No cleaning today. I'm not fit for it. But great relief to have the deciding done. Made a couple of other disengaging decisions today and that is also GREAT relief to have made them and acted on them. Dusted and done, as they say.
@Lizette603_23 what a job it is to organize kitchen cupboards. I put it off but once it’s done, I wonder why I put off for so long because it feels so good to accomplish the task. And then I remember, I hate cleaning out the cupboards. Vicious circle. Haha.
Shadow (standing) and Jackie from Big Bear, CA, guarding & brooding their three eggs through our latest storm. Hatch watch will begin about Leap Day, 2/29.
From YouTube channels, “Lady Hawk,” “FOBBY CAM,” (FriendsOfBigBear.org)
I had a blast creating a blizzard in a crystal tea cup! It's not often that we get snow here in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The snow scene I made has muted and nearly monochromatic colors, just like typical snow scenes. ❄️🏔️