Coffee Break

This week I have been extremely busy on my off time and I've been mysteriously sleeping in. Usually when I have a lot going on, I wake up extra early. Maybe it is the nature of my busy-ness that is making me sleep. But you will find out all about that on Monday. So, today I'm taking a coffee break. This will be short and sweet.

When I hit the bank to make a deposit for the pools, I have to go inside. At Wells Fargo they have a delicious little machine that gives me some yummy hot flavored coffee to warm my day. I was taking the last sips of my hot java, when I noticed that there was art in the bottom of my cup.

Swirly Goodness

I don't normally stop for coffee, but at this time of year The Coffee Bean makes this wonderful peppermint coffee and I decided that I needed some.

Daily Grind

But wait, I was going to make Espresso!

One Fold Sleevy...

Coffee Coasters

Really, they've been around that long?

A tile I made for my kitchen.

Cup of Joe

And now for something completely different.

Just for fun, I thought I would share a couple of pics that Zach took of me on his phone with some crazy app that makes me look all artsy.

I'm a Rock Star!

Pop Art

Mmmmmmm!

Okay, break over...back to work!

Test Patterns

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't. Some times these blogs write themselves and sometimes they don't. Like today. Not one single thought crossed my mind today...I could stop right there, but I won't...regarding my blog. I almost skipped it.

I'm a little foggy and not really into it. Taking Benadryl for a strangely swollen ear, so I'm just blah. I feel if I sat in front of the television and test patterns came on, I wouldn't necessarily change the channel. I would probably just blankly stare at them and find them mesmerizing. Must snap out of it.

So, patterns today, people! I find patterns pleasing, interesting, captivating. Come and veg with me. You are getting sleepier and sleepier...

Cool Candle Holder

Basket Weave Chair

Pool Water

Bamboo Curtain

Concrete and stone

A Rock Wall

Checker Board Terra Cotta

Stacked Circles

Patterns in nature.

Palm Plaid

Free Form

Palm Rows

 Metal and Glass

Come to the Light

Glass Bottle Wall

Beautiful Mosaic

A Planter

Blinds? No, a Palm Frond up close

Silver Balls, Silver Balls....

Tinker Toy  Sky Light

This was a bathroom stall door at the theaters at Universal City Walk. Yes, I even take pictures while I'm doing my business.

Burnished Metal

Wrapping paper

70's Flowers

Fabric

This one looks cool when you scroll it up and down.

Skirt Hem

You have just emerged from the Twilight Zone.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

A couple of weeks ago at a photo shoot, my customer asked me a great question that I could not answer. He wanted to know what my favorite kind of photography was. I had never really thought about pinning it down. There I was doing a family portrait session and loving it. He remembered when I was at a wedding that we both attended, at which I was not the actual photographer, and that I was flitting about taking pics of all the details of the day and loving it.

When I am invited to a party, I do a little conversation, but mostly I am taking pictures of everyone in attendance along with the decor and I'm loving it. Maternity shoots, newborn shoots....love them. Taking pictures of kids...love, love love! Animal and nature pics, well, obviously. Fun photo shoots on the fly, ditto.

So, what don't I love? Maybe about six months ago I was chatting with one of my pool customers about getting into the photography business on the side and she said "What about doing before and after pictures of home remodels?" Bingo!!! That did not sound interesting to me at all. Don't get me wrong...I'd do it, but not on a regular basis. Sorry, Suzie, if you ever reads this, which is quite possible.

Yesterday, while using my new camera at work (which, by the way...WOW!!), I took a few pictures of a rose and each photo was completely different. Sometimes the wind blows at the exact moment that I snap or I don't hold the camera steady enough and that alters everything. Well, I liked all three pics and that got me to thinking that within the different fields of photography there are even more choices that one can pick from.

For instance, do you like posed pictures?

My Zachy Boy in the Park

Or candid?

In the Sandbox

 Do you like full views?

Some Goddess

Or partial views?

Bird in a Fountain

In focus?

Sharp

Not so focused?

Softer

Out of focus?

This would make a good background for the written word.

Maybe you're a black and white fan.

The Corn Fields in Fall

Or does Sepia float your boat?

Precious

Do you like to look at life from a different perspective?

A little Sideways Action

 And who doesn't love a good silhouette?

Santa Monica

Funny?

Is he Rock Em or Sock Em?

Or serious?

He's serious about his wine.

Don't make me choose. It's all good to me.

Mama Got a Brand New Toy!

Get your minds out of the gutter, people! It's a camera...what else? My everyday camera is on it's last breath. It was old and on it's third owner and now I've pretty much killed it. Can you hear Taps playing faintly in the background? I definitely gave it a work out and it gave me it's all. So, I must now lay it to rest. Poor little thing, it served me well.

But I already have a good camera. Why do I need another one, you ask? Good question! I can't take my good camera to work or on my walks with me and that is where most of my pics come from for my blog. I have to save that baby for my serious pics. So it was a necessity. I mean, I can't live if I can't take pictures 24/7, right?

Well, it's cute and it's blue and it's twice, no, three times the camera my old one was. It has a bigger screen so my poor old eyes don't have to strain. It has more than three times the mega pixels, oooooooh!! Which means more clarity and sharpness, I think. And it zooms in like nobody's business. So now I can get the hairs on the legs of the fleas on the dog at ten paces!!!! Oh, Baby!

So, what does all this have to do with today's subject? Not a thing! Just wanted to share the excitement.  Maybe I will zoom in on things and see what happens. I got it...all pictures, but two, today have been taken by the new camera which will, henceforth, be known as....Louie. I don't usually name inanimate things, but the mood just struck me.

Here we go. Let's see where this leads.

Did I mention it zooms? This caught my eye in the rear view mirror, so I pulled over. I stood in the middle of the street and zoomed in on it.

Pretty Path

 This is what it looked like before I zoomed in. I'm standing in the same spot.

Can you see it dead center between the trees? C'mon, Squint!

Here's my new blue toy!

Louie (Blue Raspberry)

Check out that new screen...WOWZERS!!

Playing around in Zach's room. There was a tiny heart-shaped potato chip.

Heart Chip

Then in the midst of taking chip pix, Zach appeared in his phone.

What Fun!

My little cutie!

The Boy I Love!

 Must go outside and take pics!

Kolanchoe

Purple Petunia

Rose Geranium

 

An Old Vine

Check out that ant!

Redwood Trellis

Euphorbia

I wanted to take a picture of a present in honor of today's subject, but I was too lazy to wrap a box just for kicks, so, here's some bright wrapping paper instead.

Mmmmm, Cupcakes!

With all the bells and whistles on this new camera, there is definitely a learning curve. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!