Round Robin Challenge: Candlelight

From For Ellipsis

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness is never decreases by being shared."

-Buddha

RRC: Candlelight
Suggested by, ME :)

Here is my Candlelight gallery. I enjoyed my adventures with the candles. From my Andy Warhol inspired one at the top, to the "Candle in a Storm" it was a great experiment for me. Who knows... maybe we will try this one again later this year! If not for the Round Robins then maybe for my Monday Photo Shoot. For now, enjoy my gallery...

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

If you enjoyed by photos, be sure to visit the other Round Robin participants. Just click on the links below...

Linking List... as of 2:15 PM PST, Jan 16th 2009

Carly - Posted!
Ellipsis
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com

Karen - Posted!
Outpost Mavarin
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com

Hip Chick
Hip Chick's Photos
http://hipchicksphotos.blogspot.com

Linda - Posted!
Mommy's Treasures
http://mommystreasures.blogspot.com

ellen b - Posted!
The Happy Wonderer
http://happywonderer.wordpress.com

boliyou
endomental
http://www.endomental.com

Vicki - Posted!
Maraca
http://mymaracas.blogspot.com

Jama - Posted!
Sweet Memories
http://mummyjam.blogspot.com

CarolynUSA
Ford Family Photos
http://carolyn1209.blogspot.com

Sherrie - Posted!
Sherrie's Stuff
http://sherrie-plummer.blogspot.com

Lana G!
Above The Clouds
http://aimiles.wordpress.com

Ann
Sandcastle Momma
http://sandcastlemomma.blogspot.com

Gattina - Posted!
Keyhole Pictures
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com

Julie - Posted!
Julie's Web Journal
http://www.barrettmanor.com/journal

Brianne**Welcome, New Member**
All Kids & No Play
http://allkidsandnoplay.blogspot.com

Sandy**Welcome, New Member** - Posted!
From The Heart Of Texas
http://sandytrefger.wordpress.com

Jen - Posted!
My Muskoka
http://mymuskoka.blogspot.com

Ruth - Posted!
The Scrabblequeen knits, Too
http://scrabblequeen.blogspot.com

Peggy - Posted!
Holmespunfun Memes and Themes
http://holmespunfunmemesandthemes.blogspot.com

Freda Mans - Posted!
Day One
http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2010/01/round-robin-challenge-candlelight.html

Eva - Posted!
Hagemor
http://hagemor.blogspot.com/2010/01/round-robin-challenge-candlelight.html

Suzanne - Posted! 01/18/10
SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
http://suzyq421sphotoblog.blogspot.com


There's still time to play! Just visit the official RR blog for all the details. And don't forget to check on Sunday for the announcement of what our next challenge will be!


-Carly

If you enjoyed playing the RRC, then check out our other memes!

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot (A new photo shoot assignment posted each Monday)

Weekend Assignment (A new weekly assignment posted each weekend)

Run Don't Walk... I'm Pulling My Money Out Of Chase!

From For Ellipsis

"A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain."

-Robert Frost

Warning: This Post Is Rated PG-13

The other day I heard Ariana Huffington's plea, on MSMBC's Countdown With Keith Olbermann, for we Americans to take our money out of the big banks and put it into a smaller local bank or credit unions. I remember thinking about how monumental that task seemed. When you have direct deposit, and you have automatically scheduled payments, it can be a lot of work to make any new changes. Still, she had a point. The large (TOO BIG TO FAIL) banks are recording not just profits but record profits and they are continuing to reward their "BEST PEOPLE" with huge bonuses. I have never seen a more blatant FUCK YOU! Have you? And just today, as I logged onto my account with JP Morgan Chase to check my balance, I found that some sort of "GLITCH" has caused my account to overdraw by $278! Fine. Great. I had money in my account, but now I don't. I get promises to fix it... but no indication about how long it will take. It is affecting folks nationwide, so I guess I am supposed to take some comfort in that fact.

I think I am ready to put up with the inconvenience of changing banks. As soon as I can I am changing to a smaller bank or credit union. I have had enough of putting money in the pockets of the very same people who nearly bankrupted this country, and I hope others will join me. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I wish I could do it today, but alas the last time I checked what little money I did have in my account is tied up in limbo while CHASE figures out it's "GLITCH." I can't even access enough to buy milk, and I suppose that is the mess a lot of folks are facing today. If you have an account with Chase, you better go check your balance and then hope for the best.

JP Morgan Chase Profit 4Q: Bank Profit Soars To $3.28 Billion

Stop The Abuse: It's Time To Break Up With Your Bank

Ariana Huffington: Move Your Money And Make Too-Big-To-Fail Banks Smaller

-Carly

Pink Peppercorns

From For Ellipsis

"The disparity between a restaurant's price and food quality rises in direct proportion to the size of the pepper mill."

-Bryan Miller

From For Ellipsis

I LOVE to cook. I LOVE to take photographs. I can't always do both. But when I can combine my two great loves, I am in 7th Heaven! Pink Peppercorns are delicious and therefore fantastic to work with in my culinary pursuits. Have you ever tried them? They have a slight citrus flavor, which means they taste wonderful on fish or chicken, but sometimes I sprinkle them on fruit salads as well. Tasty.

One of my goals this year, is to do more with photographing food and ingredients. It's one of the most accessible subjects, especially during the winter when it is sometimes just too cold for me to get outside with my camera. I think I will do a whole series on spices and herbs. If you want to join me, let me know and I will try to coordinate something. Leave me your thoughts in the comment thread. If we get enough interest in the subject, perhaps we will do a special Photo Shoot Assignment specifically for the spices and herbs.

-Carly

PS Don't forget tomorrow's Round Robin Challenge: Candlelight. There is still plenty of time to play, just pay a visit to the RR blog to learn all the details.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #72: Pairs.

"I do not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty."

-Imelda Marcos








EMPS #72: PAIRS. NOW CLOSED!
2's company this week! Grab your cameras and photograph the wonderful world of PAIRS! Pants, windows, sneakers, trees, eyes, twin humans, eye glasses... heck... just for fun I will even accept a photograph of a PAIR of PEARS! Use your imagination and have fun!

Extra Credit: Show me both a color and a black and white version of your subject!

**PLEASE READ**
As always, this Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes promptly at 9:00 PM ET next Sunday evening. PLEASE submit your entry by getting your photo, uploading it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. PLEASE REMEMBER the link you leave, must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your blog won't be accepted or added to the Linking List. Also, please include a link back to this assignment in your entry, so others can play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS # 71: Weather. 01/04/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Sherrie

2. Fredamans

3. Suzanne

4. Jama

5. Liz

6. Greg

7. Rita

8. JR Cline

9. Mike

10. Karen

Excellent photos everyone! Thanks so much for playing this week, the turnout was awesome! See you next Monday, with an all new assignment!

-Carly

Something Wicked This Way Comes?

From For Ellipsis

"There is no such thing as an omen. Destiny does not send us heralds. She is to wise or too cruel for that."

-Oscar Wilde

Have you heard about the strange case of the missing sea lions? Pier 39 in San Francisco usually has hundreds of them along the wharf area, but since the end of last October they have been mysteriously disappearing... at an alarming rate! In fact it all occurred virtually overnight! I am so glad I got to go to Pier 39 in March of last year, and was able to capture this picture of them while they were still there. Who knew that in less then a year, they would be mostly gone. :( Local marine biologists have been investigating what might have happened, but so far the situation has them stumped. Earlier today I saw on my local news about a sudden influx on California sea lions found in Oregon, which is good news because at least they are safe, but still one has to wonder... why did they leave San Francisco, and at such a fast rate? :(

Personally, I find the whole thing rather spooky. I wonder if they had some sense of something bad coming our way? And the moderate earthquake we had this morning really isn't helping my mood or my nerves! The 4.1 quake was centered a few miles north of Milpitas, and it was a good jolt to us here in the East Bay. As always, the news reminds us not to be worried, but they also never fail to mention that someday we will be facing the BIG ONE. Fine. Thanks for reminding me. :(

Will 2010 be the year that all of California's woes were erased by the BIG ONE? That's one way to fix California's budget problems I guess... LOL... ROCKING AND ROLLING and SLIDING into the Pacific Ocean in a matter of moments! WEEE! Hey, living here means occasionally the earth will move under your feet. That's just the way it is, but as for the sea lions, well, until someone can give me a simple scientific explanation I think I will lean just the least little bit toward the superstitious side of my reasoning and do a little praying. I just hope it's not too late. I know one thing, a 4.1 quake isn't enough to drive the sea lions away.

:(

Read More About It Here...

San Francisco's Vanishing Sea Lions Baffles Experts

4.1 Preliminary Magnitude Quake Strikes Near Milpitas

USGS Earthquake Log for S.F. Bay Area

UPDATE: A major earthquake (6.5) hit at 4:27 PM near Ferndale Ca.
01/09/10
-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #71: Weather

"Some people like snow, I find it the unnecessary freezing of water."

-Carl Reiner







EMPS #71: WEATHER. NOW CLOSED!
Your photography assignment this time around is an easy one , simply show me the weather in your neck of the woods as it looks this week! NO ARCHIVED photos for the main assignment, but you can use the archived ones for the Extra Credit part of the assignment. You see, I want to see what the rest of the country looks like as we begin 2010! So, show me the WEATHER!

Extra Credit: Show me an archived photo of your favorite weather conditions.

**PLEASE READ**
This photo shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entry by that day and time by getting your photo, uploading it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember the link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your site will not be added to the Linking List. Also, please include a link back here in your entry, so other folks can find the assignment and play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS#70: My 2009 Gallery 12/28/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. JRC

2. Sherrie

3. Fredamans

4. Jama

5. Suzanne

6. Duane

7. Carly (Yep, I played too!)

8. Greg

9. Mike

10 Karen (Here) and (Here)

I enjoyed all your photos very much! Thank you for your participation in 2009! Well done! See you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly

EMPS #70: My 2009 Gallery

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

"Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man."

-Edward Steichen

Here are my favorite photos of 2009. It is a little incomplete, some of my favorites are stored on the computer that died, still, I am happy with these...

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

From My Favorite Photos Of 2009

That's My Gallery... thanks for stopping by. :)

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: Roots

From For Ellipsis

"Unless your heart, your soul, and your whole being are behind every decision you make, the words from your mouth will be empty, and each action will be meaningless. Truth and confidence are the roots of happiness."


-Unknown


RRC: Roots
Suggested by Vicki, author of the blog, Maraca


It's here... our first RRC of 2010! I enjoyed the time off from this project, but it's a lot of fun to back.


I had to go to the archives for this one. I took a very nice series of photos in Golden Gate Park a couple years ago, it was in autumn, of course, but I don't think I posted these particular photos before, so I hope you enjoy them.

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

Okie Doke... that's what I came up with, now go have a look at the entries of the other Round Robin participants...


Linking List (As of 12:54 PM PST, Saturday, January 2nd)


1. Karen
Posted!

2. Linda
Posted!

3. Carly
Posted!

4. Jama
Posted!

5. Peggy
Posted!

6. Monica


7. Gemma


8. Suzanne
Posted!

9. Sherrie
Posted!

10. Julie
Posted!

11. Gattina
Posted!

12. Vicki
Posted!



Be sure to check the Round Robin blog tomorrow, to find out what our next challenge will be!


-Carly


PS... There is still time to play along with the Monday Photo Shoot, and this week's edition of the Weekend Assignment. :)

Happy New Year 2010!

From For Ellipsis

"Cheers to the New Year, and another chance for us to get it right."


-Oprah Winfrey


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-Carly

So Long 2009... And The Horse You Rode In ON!

From For Ellipsis

"An optimist stays up till midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old one leaves."


-Bill Vaughn



Well, didn't 2009 just suck rocks? The death of some of my favorite celebrities, a near economic depression, both nationally and in our own home... LOL... I haven't hated a year so much since 1995, the year that brought me Epstein-Barr and the death of my father. I still miss my dad. I would have loved to know what he thought about Sarah Palin. Knowing my dad, he would have been beside himself for the entirety of the Bush Administration. LOL. And when gas approached nearly $5.00 a gallon, well, let's just say I could hear him turning over in his grave! LOL. Oh my, but Sarah Palin is the gift that keeps on giving, and I know he an I would have shared a laugh or two at her expense. Yea, I come by my sense of humor honestly, I got it from my Dad. Thanks for that Dad!



:)



It's up to you if you believe we start the new decade this year or next, as for me, I think I am going to start things now. I am officially letting go of the "AUGHTS." Here's to the "EENS."


-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #70: Your 2009 Gallery

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to."

-Bill Vaughn










EMPS #70: YOUR 2009 GALLERY. NOW CLOSED!
New Year's is upon us, so, let's take a look back at what we all did this last year, as far as our photography went. This week's photo shoot assignment is to create a gallery of your best photography from 2009. Best in this case doesn't necessarily mean the photos you thought were perfect, best can also mean the ones you simply enjoyed taking the most. How you choose the photos for your gallery is completely up to you. You can choose a special gallery, such as florals, or landscapes, or maybe you will choose to highlight your best portraits. It's all up to you, but the photos you choose MUST be from 2009, and of course, your photos can be previously published.

EXTRA CREDIT: Caption the photos you choose for your gallery.

**PLEASE READ**
As always, this photo shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please try to submit your entry for this assignment by that time, because I close the comment thread promptly at that time. Please submit your entry by getting your photo, posting it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. REMEMBER the link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, a general link to your site will not do, and NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED! Also, I would appreciate it if you would link back to the assignment so other folks can find us, and participate as well!

Linking List for EMPS #69: Holiday Music 12/21/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Suzanne

2. Liz

3. Carly... Yep, I participated also!

4. Karen

Thanks so much for all your participation in the Monday Photo Shoot this year, your support of this project has been appreciated more then you know! I am looking forward to seeing all your photography in 2010! You are awesome photographers, and you are only getting better!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

-Carly

Remember, the return of the Round Robin Challenges is this coming Saturday! Our first challenge of the New Year will be... "Roots."

While Visions Of Profiteroles Danced In Their Heads

From For Ellipsis

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience."


-James Beard


It is the day after Christmas, and I am still stuffed from the holiday! LOL. I was a bad little diabetic yesterday, but it's ok, I am back on the wagon, besides, I am a good girl the rest of the year, and since being diagnosed back in 2007, I have kept my blood sugar well within the limits. In fact, my doctor added a little "KUDOS" to my last blood work statement! So, it's ok once in a while to be a bit naughty.


I decided this Christmas, with funds low in the bank, that since we weren't really in the position to spend a lot on presents, that maybe I would whip up some fun culinary treats. I remembered making Profiteroles when I was in High School, and so I thought it might be a nice way to improve on all the usual holiday treats. I found the recipe at Woman's Day. Alan had never had them, which surprised me because his mother was a professional chef. Neat, I could actually make him something he had never had before! Alan loves to cook, so he helped me whip them up on Christmas Eve! FUN!


The pastry can be stored in an airtight container for a few days, so it is really great if you have some time constraints, but they are really light and airy when they are first made, so I like them better served the day they are made. When we were ready for them, we filled them with Peppermint ice cream and topped them off with some Chocolate syrup. Delicious!


If you want to serve something for New Year's, and you are looking to replace the same old nibbles, here is the recipe...


Profiteroles (Woman's Day)


They are also good stuffed with something savory like Egg Salad or Ham and Cheese!


Happy Eating!


-Carly

Merry Christmas!

From For Ellipsis

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Love, Carly

Don't Open Until Christmas!

From For Ellipsis

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children they are all 30 feet tall."

-Larry Wilde

Merry Christmas From Dylan and Hendrix!

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

They are such wonderful boys. They are my gift all year long! They are kind and respectful, and most of all loving. They are my children!

Merry Christmas... or rather... Mewwwy Christmas!

-Carly

EMPS #69: Christmas Music

From For Ellipsis

A Holly Jolly Christmas
(Johnny Marks)



Have a holly jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
Well I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer



Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet



Ho ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me



Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear
Oh bygolly have jolly Christmas
This year



Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet



Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear
Oh bygolly have a holly jolly Christmas
This year



If you have known me any length of time, you probably know that I am not a big fan of Christmas music, but I do have one exception. The bear and his penguin friends you see above. I just love this happy little bear and his companions. They can be found at the Christmas Fantasy in Tilden Park and the Carousel. I look forward to seeing them perform every year. It's so adorable when they begin to sing, that you can't help but smile and sing along!



:)


There is still plenty of time to play along with this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. You can get all the details right here.



-Carly

Scenes From Christmastime In The City

From For Ellipsis

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Alan and I went over to San Francisco Saturday night. It is so beautiful this time of year, everything is decorated for the holidays and it's just so festive you can't help but be in a good mood! It's wonderful...

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

It's so much fun in San Francisco. We got a hot chocolate, and watched all the shoppers just come and go! Then we went by Justin Herman Plaza and watched folks skating, and sometimes dancing, on the ice. Beautiful!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #69: Holiday Music

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence."

-Leopold Stokowski











EMPS #69: HOLIDAY MUSIC. Now Closed!
Well, we are finally here. Christmas is this coming Friday, and in that this is an extremely busy time for everyone, I wanted to choose an easy, more lighthearted assignment topic, yet I wanted it to be timely for the holiday season. So, here's what I came up with. Lets share some HOLIDAY MUSIC with each other! You are free to run with your imagination on this one, any representation of the subject will do, as will any holiday. I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, so please feel free to share your favorite music from any holiday. Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, Halloween... you get the idea.

Extra Credit: Turn your original photograph into a holiday greeting!

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. That means you have almost a full week to take your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here to leave your link back to it in the comment thread. Please remember, the link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your blog will not work, and NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED! Also, please link to this photo shoot assignment, so others can play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #68: Holiday Decorations. 12/14/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Fredamans

2. Jama

3. Suzanne

4. Irene (No link provided, see comments)

5. Carly... Yep, I did the assignment too!

6. Karen

Thanks so much for taking on the assignment everyone, and Merry Christmas to all! See you next week with our last Monday Photo Shoot assignment of 2009! It's something very special, so please try to join us!

-Carly