Quiet On The Set!

"Give them pleasure. The same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare."

~Alfred Hitchcock

Yesterday, as I was tiptoeing through my 2012 archives, I came across a several photos that I liked a lot, but that I never got around to posting before the end of the year. So, in the coming weeks I think I will be posting a combination of brand new photos, and some from 2012 that for whatever reason, didn't quite make it to the blog. I am happy that I came across the photos from 2012 that are fresh to the blog because when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve it didn't just usher in a new year, it brought a nice little colony of ants along for the fun! Needless to say, I have been a busy lady lately.

Ugg... I hate ants. I managed to do really well with keeping them out of the garden last summer, just by maintaining a certain amount of diligent gardening, including the occasional deep dusting of cinnamon, which as you might know is natures best way to confuse an ant! No kidding! Cinnamon causes the ants to become confused, which in turn gives you a way to send them on their way without accidentally hurting any other little creature that might happen through the yard. The garden was an amazing success, and I owe it all to cinnamon!

I am going to Costco later today to purchase a large amount of cinnamon, to make the same liquid spray solution I used last summer, to try and eradicate this new collection. The ones in the house seem to be grease eating ants, which is fine, they are quite easy to deal with, but the trouble is, we can't seem to figure out where they are getting in. Ugg AGAIN!. We have been working on the situation, literally since New Year's Day, and it's just a never ending line of ants! There are a couple more things we will be trying this weekend, hopefully it will finally bring an end to the ant drama!

Think good thoughts for me, and bad thoughts for the ants! Okay?

If nothing else, perhaps I will get some good photos of the invaders. I need to do more practice with macro photography. Wish me luck with that also!

Will they be ready for their close-up?

Stay Tuned!


~Me :)
"Quiet On The Set"
AMC
Emeryville, Ca
August 9th 2012

A Weed... Up Close (EMPS)

From For Ellipsis

"A weed is but an unloved flower."

-Ellen Wheeler Wilcox

One of the most interesting Round Robin topics of 2008 was "Weeds Can Be Beautiful Too." I had a wonderful time finding weeds, identifying them, and appreciating their beauty. I always learn so much from these challenges, so I think it is good thing if I participate every now and again with folks taking on my Monday Photo Shoot assignments. :) I found this weed in my yard just yesterday. It is a tiny little thing, smaller then a dime, but just kinda lovely and soft. :) It wasn't easy to photograph, because the wind has been outrageous this week, but the effort I put in was enjoyable. :)

-Carly

Steven's Feline Friday: What Elvis Sees

"A dog will show his love by jumping on you at the front door. A cat will show his love by ignoring you, and then curling up next to you when you need it most."

-Danielle Asson

We had a lot of fun with Elvis yesterday. He was in a happy playful mood, and the weather was just right. A perfect autumn day. Alan, Elvis and I spent the first day of our vacation, in the backyard, doing a little maintenance, looking for flying creatures, and generally having fun. There were lots of small, brown skippers flying about, so I had a chance to get in some time with the camera, practicing some macro shots. Elvis loves the little skippers, he watches them dart in and out of the flower garden, as they pass under the awing were the table is.

It was a little difficult to keep his attention, as I tried to take his photo, so rather than annoy him, I just gave up and tried to follow his gaze, rather than work for a portrait of him. I ended up with a lot of nice candid shots of him. Lots of action and wonder. I was able to see in his eyes, what he sees. He is a happy little guy these days, and his over all heath seems to have improved a great deal. I think we might do a video soon, he likes the camera, which will make doing the video a breeze. :) Maybe we will do that this year for Halloween, weather permitting of course. We're off to a good start of the vacation season!

Have you played Feline Friday yet? It's a lot of fun. Just pay a visit to my friend Steven's blog, "(sometimes) photoblog" to meet his kitty Pickle, and find out all the details.

-OndineMonet
"What Elvis Sees"
Berkeley, California
October 8th, 2007
Afternoon