A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 120~ RRC...The Right Angle

"Colors answer feeling in man; shapes answer thought, and motion answers will."

~John Sterling

Round Robin Challenge: The Right Angle
Brought to you by Karen, author of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

It wasn't easy to find quotes to go with this week's RR subject, I finally had to settle for a generalized quote about shapes, but I think it suits the theme pretty well. Right Angles you say? Well, I did a looking through the archives for photographs that would accurately illustrate Right Angles, and I did a little snapping away while I was in San Francisco recently. So, here are my Right Angles...

The photo above was taken in Santa Cruz, in 2005. The pyramid you see is called Guardian I, and sits at Natural Bridges state beach. It is a kind of place marker of the small cove below the cliff that is the nudist side of the beach. It's an interesting art piece, and a lovely seaside area. The nude beach is well hidden, and out of the sight of the family friendly side. Hey, nothing like a little sunbathing... right?

Photo #2: Not Worth It (It's pretty self explanatory) 8/31/12


Photo #3: Rainbow Flag From The Castro, San Francisco, Ca 8/31/12


Photo #4: Enjoy CocaCola San Francisco, Ca 8/31/12


Photo #5: Another Brick In The Wall, San Francisco, Ca 8/31/12


Okay, that's my contribution for this round. If you would like to join in the fun, grab your camera and snap a Right Angle. You can find out all the details, and well as the links to other participants, at the official Round Robin blog. Just click the link at the top of this entry to be redirected!

:)

~Me

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 120~ Angry Pickles

"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it."

~Jane Wagner

A Mostly True Tale...

He: That's a strange Smile you have on your face...stressed?

Me:  Yes, I am stressed. Why do you ask?

He: Well... you are picking pears off the tree and throwing them at the back fence.

Me: Oh am I? I hadn't noticed. Well... lookie there... (BANG) I AM PICKING PEARS OFF THE TREE AND THROWING THEM AT THE BACK FENCE. WHEN DID I START DOING THAT?

He: Did I do it?

Me: No, no it wasn't you.

He: Do I know who it was?

Me: Yes.

He: Oh... well... um... do I need to start burying the body?

Me: ALAN... that's a silly question... I took care of the body. It's not like I would be irresponsible or anything. I wouldn't leave it for you to do. I always finish my projects.

He: Does that mean you actually took care of the body, or does that mean you at least have a sense of humor about the situation that stressed you out?

Me: Well... if you don't know the answer to that... well... then I don't know what to say.

He: Are you going to be okay?

Me: Sure. I will be fine.

He: Good.

Me: Can I have a hug?

He: Of course, just put the pear down first.

Me: (Laughter) Damn you Alan, you always make me lose my mad.

He: Good. Then my work here is done.

Me: Alan?

He: Yes?

Me: Will you rub my back while I watch General Hospital? I just have to find out if Jerry Jacks kills the whole town of Port Charles.

He: Sure. Sheesh. The things I do for love.

Me: I love you to Alan.

He: (Pointing toward the house) Come on. ( As we walk away, he puts his arm around me, and we walk into the house, leaving the stress behind in the yard.)

The End...

Of...

A Mostly True Tale.

:)

"Stress level" extreme. It's like she was a jar with the lid screwed on too tight, and inside the jar were pickles, angry pickles, and they were fermenting, and about it explode."

~Fiona Wood, Six Impossible Things

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 119~ The Light In The Afternoon

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The Sun warms my back instead of beating on my head... The harvest has dwindled and I grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on."

~Robert Finch




Ordinarily I wouldn't complain about summer coming to an end, but I enjoyed this past three months of warm weather, because it helped to produce the most beautiful roses I have ever grown, and the yummiest tomatoes and zucchini. It wasn't one of those oppressive summers, when it is so hot outside you can't think straight, but it was a consistent summer and it was good, not just for growing things, but for stretching my creativity as well.

Later today, Alan and I will be cooking up some tomatoes from the garden, in some wonderful all purpose tomato sauce, that will eventually become pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and assorted different bases for dinner dishes. I will post the photos along with the recipes as they are developed. I am still considering what wines I may want to add to the sauce. A nice Cabernet for sure I think. We'll see. :)

 

 For the most part, we had an amazingly bug free garden. The roses have been strong and producing new growth at a better than expected rate, so it softened the blow a good bit when I found some aphids munching down on some of my Pink Promise roses. (YIKES). I caught the infestation early, and cut the rose bush back to eliminate the infected new growth, then did a deep sprinkling of cinnamon at the base of the bush. Next I did some preventive maintenance by cutting the new growth from the rest of the roses in the garden.

 

It's been a couple days, and I haven't seen any new instances of aphids, but I will have to watch things closely for the rest of the season. If all else fails, I have some homemade organic remedy all mixed up and ready to go. It worked wonders in years past, so I am confident that if I need to use it, it will do the trick! In late October, I will prune all of the rose bushes back by a third to promote new growth next spring. Aphids like to overwinter in dry leaves, so while I adore autumn and look forward to the big mess the leaves make, this year I will have to be diligent about the raking and disposal of them. FUN! :) It's a good thing I love autumn leaves so much... lol... it will make dealing with them a lot more fun. At least that's what I am hoping! LOL.

The autumn light is beginning to whisper our way, especially in the late afternoon. When that gorgeous late day sun hits the roses, it's nothing short of magical. The roses in this posting all are showing off that light, with only a tiny amount of editing on my part. This pretty much how everything looks right now, and we are getting little bits of color all around. The leaves are gorgeous this year, and I can't wait to get out with my camera a document it all.

Autumn... HERE I COME!




Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 118~ 24 Hours Of Blue

"The storm starts, when the drops start dropping. When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping."

~Dr. Seuss
 

Several years ago, in either 2004 or 2005, we had an unbelievable February in California. We had amazing warm weather here on the coast, and a huge snowfall in the Sierra. So, within the span of 5 hours you could be surfing in Half Moon Bay, or Pacifica or even Santa Cruz, and then later in the same day, swooshing down the slopes in Tahoe. I couldn't resist the urge to grab the camera and showcase what I love the most about living here. The awesome beauty of California weather. It's amazing at times. Take today for example. We are on storm lookout for lightning and thunder. Despite what Hollywood likes to say, we rarely have lightning and thunder, so when we do, I enjoy the hell out of it! With a little luck, I will get some pictures of lightning. Hmmm... now where did I put my lightning rod? Where is that thing? Oh well, I guess all I really need is a key and a kite! Now, if can just remember where I put my kite! Have you seen it? It's shaped like a black and white cow. Which is utterly ridiculous! LOL. Just think of it... and electric cow, flying in the air. How cool is that?





Photo One: Half Moon Bay, California February 21st 12:30 PM

Photo Two: Snow Park Placerville, California February 22nd 8:30 AM

Photo Three: South Lake Tahoe, California,  February 22nd 12:30 PM
 
~Me 

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 117~ Happy Birthday Hendrix And Dylan

"I would like to see anyone, prophet, king, or GOD, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time."

~Neil Gaiman

Has it really been 4 years? My little boys are now my big little boys. According to the Cat Years Conversion Chart they are both 35 years old. If that's true, they are the most youthful 35 year old I know. I love my boys, they make me smile every single day. I just wish I could get them to sit still for pictures... maybe the 12 catnip mice was too much? LOL. They are good boys, and I couldn't be happier that we found each other. They make me happy. And make me crazy. And make me proud. And make me tired. And make me homesick... Alan says I can't get to the end of the driveway without missing the heck out of them. But to be honest, I felt that way about Elvis to. What can I say? They are my kids! And I got to be their mama! :)

:)




~Me

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 116~ As Seen In San Francisco

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade windows in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~H. Jackson Brown., P.S. I Love You.

Today's posting is a bit of randomosity, but there is one thing that unites the photos... all of the them were taken during my time in San Francisco the last couple weeks. Ahh San Francisco... I love you!

Photo One... The Octopus

 

I spotted this octopus on 24th Street, just across the street from the little market, Casa Lucas, where Woody Allen had filmed a scene for his new movie. I didn't make it in time to capture a picture of them at work, but I didn't pass up the opportunity to walk around the neighborhood a bit and check things out.

Photo Two... Sally Hawkins As Herself



I was looking through my files from the month of August, and to my happy surprise, I found a photo of actress Sally Hawkins among my "To Edits." I had completely forgotten I got a photo of her as well. She will be playing the sister of Cate Blanchett's character. She came down the red stairs really quick, and scooted around the corner onto Lexington really quick. I was lucky to capture this photo! I wish I could have taken more pictures of her, but the opportunity just didn't present itself again.

Photo Three... Listen To This Wall

 

This wall caught my eye as Alan and I were searching around Haight/Ashbury searching for Woody Allen. I wasn't sure what it was about, but upon searching around on the Internet I found out is a new and innovative approach to improving the urban landscape. A decluttering of sorts. Cool. I will be looking forward to seeing more!

Photo Four... Dr. Who?

 

See the guy on the right? The one in the dark blue shirt? He is one of the dentists that occupies the professional building that was featured in Woody Allen's movie project. I didn't get a chance to speak with him much, but he seemed to enjoy his day off, watching the filming going on. I imagine there are worse ways one could spend an August day. LOL.

Photo Five... The Squat And Gobble.

 

I don't know a lot about this restaurant, except that the have a menu that makes my mouth water! LOL. This is the front of the restaurant that I saw Woody Allen walking out of. See, like I said, I was only about five feet from him, and where was my camera? Sigh. That missed opportunity is gonna bug me for a while methinks. :(

Now, about the picture at the top. Doesn't the face just about say it all? I think someone got their car towed... which is a terrible feeling... I think. I makes me want to be a really good citizen, and follow all DMV rules and regulations. Not that I don't already... but you know... just sayin!

"Longed for him. Got him. Shit!"

~Margaret Atwood

:)

~Me

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 115~ Color

"It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly."

~ Claude Monet

I did a lot of black and white photography last week, and while I love it, I can't help but want to highlight all the glorious color I see around me. The garden right now is in a full on outrageous display of color. Purple, yellow, apricot, red, you name it, that color is screaming... NOTICE ME! The leaves on my Japanese Maple is especially vibrant. It was an amazing crimson red for most of the year, but right now it is transitioning into a lovely copper color. Everything is so vibrant and vivid right now, you can almost see an exclamation point next to each leaf and petal.

"If the world really looks like that I will paint no more!"

~Claude Monet







~Me :)