Happiness Is... (Pt 1 of 2)

"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed."

-Storm Jameson

I probably should have made this my entry for last week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment, but I was to busy... ahem... eating! Ok, here's what happened. A LONG time ago, way way back in the stone age, known as the 1980's, there was this cute little place to get delicious food, most often on my lunch hour, called Olga's Kitchen. They had these amazing Greek-inspired Gyro type sandwiches on the best tasting flat bread I had ever had. I was instantly hooked on the Ham & Cheese Olga, with Curly fries. It was an obsession. My friends and I ate there probably 3 times a week, because of it's proximity to where I worked, afford ability, and of course... the food!

Well, a few years down the road, the Olga's near my job closed. POUT. God how I missed them, but all was not lost, as they opened a new Olga's in the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, a short time later. It was a bit of a jaunt, but because it was one of my favorite places to go on the weekends, and it gave me a nice excuse to walk the mall after lunch, I was happy to do the traveling. Bliss, bliss, bliss, bliss, bliss, bliss! LOL. Life was good, until the day... wait for it... they closed the only Olga's Kitchen in Northern California! OMG... we are talking serious withdrawals!

Ok, time went by, and I healed. But one day, I decided to to see if by any chance there might have been a GRAND OPENING of an Olga's anywhere nearby. No, no re-openings, but there was... SHOCK... an Olga's Kitchen in a mall in Thousand Oak's California. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Ok, it would take a bit of planning, but I could do that. It would be a matter of a simple drive down the coast. Oh, and maybe some gas money. Well, in another move I will never forgive George Bush for, gas prices went up to over $5 a gallon here in California. Thanks a lot, George! It would have meant that it would cost a little over $200 to make the trip to Thousand Oaks, just to have lunch. Sigh.

Ok, so finally gas prices came down to a reasonable rate, and I could make the case to Alan, that we needed a day trip. Things had been rough, Alan's brother had passed away, Elvis had passed away, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Type 2 diabetes. It was a yucky time. Ok, he loved the idea of a long drive, and I went to get the address of the Olga's Kitchen in Thousand Oaks and... wait for it... they had closed down. Now there was NO Olga's Kitchen in California, and the closest one was in Michigan!

Sigh. Weep.

Oh but all was not lost. I googled the restaurant and learned that they sold the Olga bread... on the Internet! Bliss, again!. I wouldn't have the full Olga experience of sitting in the restaurant, but I could do my best to duplicate it at home. I was all set... but wait for it... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger decided it would be a good idea to steal 3 days pay from Alan's paycheck each month, equaling a loss of $700 a month! Sheesh... REPUBLICANS! As you might imagine, ordering flat bread was no longer a priority. Getting from paycheck to paycheck was.

Boo Hiss. Schwarzenegger... you THIEF! You FIEND!

Ok, the furloughs go on, but the sun is shining, at least a little. We got a nice tax return, and we have been able to deal with the necessary things, and pick up a few "luxuries" along the way. Like... wait for it... a case of Olga bread! 50 individual breads in all. I have frozen some, and eaten some, no make that, ENJOYED THE HELL OUT OF SOME! Honestly, I can't tell you how nice it's been just having a simple treat like this. I even got creative and made an originial special Greek sauce recipe.Plus, I made a lamb roast the other night, and of course we had it served in a flat bread. I made a version of their Peasant soup, not quite as good as theirs, but close, and we did some reminiscing about friends long gone, and all those lunches at Olga's Kitchen.



Happiness is a case of KICK ASS Greek flat bread from Olga's Kitchen!

Olga's Kitchen (Home of some really delicious flat bread!)

-Carly

PS... Later this week, I will share PT2 of my Happiness Is... series.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #79: Numbers

"I am writing a book, I've got the page numbers done."

-Steven Wright









EMPS #79: NUMBERS
Do you see a 13 or a 3 in the above photo? Could be either I guess, but one thing is for sure, there is a NUMBER there, and doesn't that make for a great assignment? Let's all show off the NUMBERS in our lives, shall we? As always, it's completely up to you as to how you show us your NUMBERS. It could be candles on a birthday cake, or the NUMBERS on a calculator or even the NUMBERS represented for maximum capacity seating. It's all good.

Extra Credit: Show me a NUMBER that seems to occur naturally, like the one in the tree above.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot entry closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entry by that time by getting your photo, uploading it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, the link you leave in the comment thread must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your site won't do, and NO HYPERLINKS will be accepted. Also, please include a link to the Monday Photo Shoot assignment, so other folks can find us and play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #78: Still-Life Featuring Food 02/22/10

NOW CLOSED!

Sherrie

Freda

Suzanne

Jama

Martha

Carolyn

Sandy

Mike

Karen

-Carly

Have you heard about my other projects? I hope you will check them out and hopefully, join us!


Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies?
This meme is open until Wednesday night at 9:00 PM ET. Visit Karen's blog on Thursday to find out what W.A. #309 will be!


Round Robin Challenges: Look Up/Look Down
This meme will be played on Saturday, March 13th

EMPS #78: Still Life Featuring Food

"Nothing would be more tiresome then eating and drinking, had not God also made it a pleasure as well as a necessity."

-Voltaire

EMPS #78: Still Life Featuring Food.

Here is my contribution to this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. What you see above is a Pink Lady apple. I got it at Whole Foods, so of course, it's organic! :) It does a body good. Now, for something a little evil...

A Red Velvet Cupcake!

From For Ellipsis

I actually posted the cupcake a couple week's ago on my Twitter page. As I said then it's free to a good home." LOL

Go ahead, take a bite!

-Carly

If you haven't joined us for the Monday Photo Shoot, please consider joining in the fun. If you can't make it this time around, no worries, I post a new assignment each Monday at 12:00 midnight.

I am also hosting the Weekend Assignment this week...

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flick or Guy Movies?

Round Robin Challenge: Look Up/ Look Down (Saturday, March 13th)

RRC: Blinded By The Light

From For Ellipsis

"Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you."

-Maori Proverb

RRC: Blinded by the Light
Suggested by Vicki, author of the blog, Maraca

This particular challenge really challenged me, which is a good thing, because I have been wanting to step outside my personal comfort zone. It's been really rainy and dark this winter, so there just hasn't been a lot of natural light. I am not a huge fan of too much light, so the weather has suited me well enough, but for doing photos... well... it just depends on what your subject is. I was stumped with this one, but earlier this week an opportunity presented itself while in the drive-thru line at McDonalds. The car in front of me, a Prius, had the brightest tail lights I have ever seen. LOL... Ironic! EUREKA! I had my subject!

The following photos are some favorites from my archive. Natural lighting can be a lot of fun to work with. Here, see for yourself...

The Sun in the Sierra

From For Ellipsis

Sundown at the Golden Gate Bridge...

From For Ellipsis

Sunset Over The San Francisco Bay...

From For Ellipsis

Now that you have seen my take on this week's challenge, why not check out the other participants? Just follow the links below...

Vicki
Posted!

Karen
Posted!

Carly
Posted!

maryt
Posted!

Jama
Posted!

Suzanne
Posted!

Flashbulb 100w **Welcome, New Participant
Posted!

Sherrie
Posted!

Ladyhightower **Welcome, New Participant


Sandy
Posted!

Ruth
Posted!

Gattina
Posted!

Manang Kim
Posted!

Peggy
Posted!


There is still time to join us. You can find out all you need to know by visiting the official Round Robin blog. Just click here. I will be posting an all new challenge a little after midnight, so be sure to drop by and sign up for our next challenge. In the mean time, please consider joining us for our other memes. New participants are always welcome to join in!

Weekend Assignment #306: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies?
(A new assignment each Thursday)

Monday Photo Shoot #78: Still Life featuring Food.
(A new assignment each Monday)

-Carly

W.A. #308: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies

From For Ellipsis

"I watched Titanic when I got back home from the hospital, and I cried. I knew my IQ had been damaged."

-Stephen King

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies.
(I am hosting this week. Click the link above to participate)

I think in our house the choice of movies is pretty evenly split. Way back before Alan and I started dating, back when we were best friends, we made a deal to alternate which movies we watched. It's a custom that we still do to this day. Although, there was one recent exception... I couldn't get him to go to the theater to see the Sex and the City movie a couple years ago. Nope. No way. Not gonna do it! LOL. I didn't push, but man I wanted to see that movie. When it finally came on HBO, Alan did graciously agree to watch it with me, and he actually enjoyed it! LOL. I knew he would. There is a new Sex and the City movie set for release later this year. I am already trying to talk him into it. Ahh... come on Alan... we can go for pizza afterwards! LOL.

Sex and the City 2

Extra Credit: A review of the worst movie I have ever seen...

DUNE A review in Haiku

Bad movie I once saw
Searching for spice was a yawn
Who knew Sting was gay?

I hated the movie Dune. The book was so much better then the movie. If you haven't seen it, don't bother. Read the book. :)

-Carly

Don't forget, the next Weekend Assignment will be posted over at Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, next Thursday. See you back here in 2 weeks with WA#310!

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks Or Guy Movies?

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out."

-Alfred Hitchcock










Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks Or Guy Movies?

This week, let's talk about our favorite films. Do you find yourself drawn to one type of movie over another? Chick Flicks or Guy movies, which do you think you watch most often? How often does your spouse, or significant other, choose the movie?

Extra Credit: Write a one paragraph review of the WORST movie you ever saw. :)

If you are new to the Weekend Assignment, here are our guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time. Also, please leave your full link in the comment thread. NO HYPERLINKS PLEASE!

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?

Linking List for Weekend Assignment #307: 8 Days A Week.

1. Julie

2. Florinda

3. Karen

Don't forget, the Linking List for this week's assignment can be found on Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, next Thursday, along with assignment # 309!

See you in 2 weeks with an all new assignment!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #78: Still Life, Featuring Food

"It was in the 1920's, when nobody had time to reflect, that I saw a still-life painting with a flower that was perfectly exquisite, but so small you could not appreciate it."

-Georgia O'Keeffe








EMPS #78: STILL-LIFE FEATURING FOOD NOW CLOSED!
A STILL-LIFE is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate objects and subject matter. It's been a while since we have done a Still-Life as an assignment, so this week, let's do one featuring food. The type of food, the setting, the lighting is all completely up to you. Get creative, work some magic, show me the art of STILL-LIFE photography FEATURING FOOD. No archived photos this week! I want something brand new to see.

Extra Credit: Do a STILL-LIFE in black & white.

**PLEASE READ**
This week's photo shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entries by that time by uploading your photo to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, the link you leave me, must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. Not a general link to your site. HYPERLINKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED and will not be added to the Linking List. Also, please include a link back here to the assignment, so others can find us and play along as well.

Linking List for EMPS#77: The Cone Zone 02/15/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Jama

2. Spiderdama

3. Suzanne

4. Sandy

5. Karen

Don't forget, I will be posting, Weekend Assignment #308, this coming Thursday. Please consider joining us!

Round Robin Challenges: Blinded By The Light

From Meme Logos

Weekend Assignment #305: Eight Days A Week

From Meme Logos

-Carly

Meet My New Internet Ride!

"The temple bell stops, but I hear the sound coming out of the flowers."

-Basho

It's been a busy week. Alan and I decided to purchase a new computer... finally. I was reluctant, in that we had a little money in the bank, and it felt nice to not have to worry for a change. It has been a really oppressive time since Governor Schwarzenegger imposed his forced furlough program. But with the tax return, we have a little bit of breathing room, even with the computer purchase. :) Life is much easier with the new friend, now I will have to think of a name for her.

Here are her vital statistics...

Gateway 4300-15E
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
AMD Phenom 11x4 810 quad-core processor
8 GB DDR2
1 TB HDD
DVD+/ - RW SuperMulti

I have to say, so far I am very impressed. This is the quietest computer we have owned so far, and it didn't contain all kinds of unnecessary programs. So far I am LOVING my new toy! :)

-Carly

Smile :)

"Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate."

-Unknown

LOL. Sometimes I just have too much time on my hands!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #77: The Cone Zone

"Experience is the best teacher.You know, ever since I was a little girl I knew that if you look both ways before you cross the street, you will see a lot more then traffic."

-Mae West











EMPS #77: THE CONE ZONE
Traffic, we all have to deal with it in one way or another, and there always seem to be CONE ZONES somewhere amongst it all. This week, show me something CONE ZONE related. Men at work, traffic cones all lined up, anything CONE ZONE related. But please folks, take your photos from a proper place and distance as to not put yourself at risk, or interfere with those who are working within the zone. SAFETY FIRST! Be mindful of the laws in your state.

Extra Credit: Show me a picture of a traffic sign... any traffic sign.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entries by that time by uploading your photo to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the link that goes back to your entry. The link you leave must be to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment. A general link to your site will not work, and HYPERLINKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link in your entry to this photos shoot assignment so that other folks can find us and participate with us. The more the merrier... right? ;)

Linking List for EMPS #76: Valentine's Day 02/08/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Carolyn

2. Spiderdama

3. Jama

4. Gena

5. Suzanne

6. Nesa

7. Mike

8. Carly (That's me!)

9. Sandy

10. Karen

See you next week with an all new EMPS assignment! You might also consider joining us for this week's Weekend Assignment! There is still plenty of time to participate, the assignment is open until Wednesday evening, at 9:00 PM ET.

Weekend Assignment # 306: Click here to learn the details!

-Carly

EMPS: Happy Valentine's Day!

From For Ellipsis

"Love, a wildly misunderstood, although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise, and lips to pucker."

-Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day!

There is still time to play participate in this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. It doesn't close until 9:00 PM ET! If you can't join us for this assignment, no worries, a new EMPS will be posted at midnight! Hope to see you for our next assignment!

-Carly

RRC: Childhood Memories

From For Ellipsis

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."


-Tom Robbins

RRC: Childhood Memories
Suggested by Monica, of the blog, Shutterly Happy


Childhood Memories...


When I think back on my childhood, I usually change the subject! LOL. I have written many times about how stressful things were with my family. Mental illness, tough economic times, a brother in Vietnam, a sister so much older then myself that we NEVER saw things the same. I don't think about my childhood often, but when I do I usually think about the best times I had, not so much about the sad stuff. I have made my peace with things, for the most part. It's just healthier to focus on what went right, and the thing positive things that helped shape who I am now.



Pets...




My mother taught me about animals from a very, very young age. She got me an incubator and some fertile eggs, and I got to see some baby chicks come from the eggs. We had all kinds of pets. Cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, bunnies, we even had a Road Runner for a short time. I learned how to love from those animals. :) One of my favorite pets was a cat named Chloe. She was a simple Gray Tabby, but she was the nicest girl you would ever want to meet. She was quiet, and very friendly, and she was my constant companion for a long time. I miss her gentle cuddles. :)

Stuffed Animals...


OMG... I LOVE stuffed animals to this day. As you might expect, I had a very large stuffed animal collection as a child. Now, as an adult lady, I still find them hard to resist. I collect bears from Boyd's Bears. The one you see above I named Arlo. I am not sure why, but he just looks like an Arlo to me! LOL.



Politics...

From Ellipsis

My dad and I used to talk for hours about politics. He was a Liberal/Democrat and he shared those ideals with me, so you can imagine how amused and HORRIFIED he was when I became a republican for about 6 months in my youth. LOL. He knew it wouldn't last long, much like the love I had for a certain ex-boyfriend, who just happened to be... wait for it... a minister. Sheesh. That guy was the last person in the world who belonged being a minister! WHAT WAS I THINKING? LOL. I kept my faith and dumped the minister. Something I have never regretted! I sure miss my dad. I would love to have a long conversation with him about the current political climate in America. I bet he would find Sarah Palin particularly amusing and horrifying!




The Art of Observation AKA Photography...

From Ellipsis Editing Journal

As a child I read all the time, and I spent long summer afternoons, with my favorite dog, up in the big plum tree we had in our yard, eating fruit and listening to music from a great little radio my dad bought me. I drew pictures, and played barbies and eventually I took pictures. I didn't talk much as a child, I preferred to observe. I wanted to know why things were the way they were, and I did that best by observing. Little did I know how handy that skill would become one day, when I fell in love with photography! :)

Thanks for the fun idea Monica! :)

Now that you have seen my entry, be sure to visit the other participating Robins. Just follow the links...

1. Monica
Posted!

2. Carly
Posted!

3. Suzanne
Posted!

4. Karen
Posted!

5. Kara


6. Linda


7. Ellen
Posted!

8. Nancy
Posted!

9. Quiltworks
Posted!

10. Jama
Posted!

11. Sandy
Posted! 02/14/09

12. Gattina
Posted!

13. Ruth
Posted!

-Carly

Side Effects

From For Ellipsis

"If toast always lands butter side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it."

-Steven Wright

From For Ellipsis

Earlier this week, Hendrix and Dylan had their 1 year visit to get the once over and receive their kitty vaccinations. It was the first time for their shots, in that we have only had them a little over a year. Everything went well, they are in pretty good shape. Healthy... Happy... boys. :) Everything seemed fine after we got home, but as the day went on things began to change. Hendrix stopped playing, and Dylan got a bit grumpy. By the time the evening came around neither boy would eat their food or drink water. I couldn't get Hendrix to nibble on his favorite crunchy snacks "Friskies Natural Sensations" or his favorite baby food, Gerber #2 Turkey in Gravy. Dylan was hissing at everything, including his brand new "Monster in a Bag" toy. I couldn't have picked a worse day to give it to him. It scared his so bad, that he went and hid for most of the day, refusing to get on the bed even for his nightly belly petting. THINGS GOT STRESSSSSSFUL when I tried to pet Hendrix, and he cried out in pain from my simply stroking his fur. I was convinced my cats were both at death's door at this point.

But thank goodness I had the Internet at my fingertips and I did some research. I found out that some kitties have this type of reaction to the shots they received earlier in the day. It's normal for some cats to have some discomfort. My cat Elvis, who I am still convinced to this day was NOT a cat, but a human in a cat suit, never had experienced any side effects of his yearly shots. At least not so as anyone would notice. So, it never occurred to me that what was happening to Dylan and Hendrix could be perfectly normal. I kept reading the information at the website, but I was still convinced that they were dying in front of me. Dylan settled down on his favorite carpet went to sleep, Hendrix got on a chair next to my bed. He and I fell asleep, holding each other's paw.

When I called Dr. B's the next morning, his nurse "D" told me that yes, it was normal, and that her cats also experience a similar discomfort, but by the end of the day, they are usually back to normal. I guess it's just a matter of riding things out. Sigh. You see, I did it again, I said after Elvis I was going to rethink the "Mommy" approach to having pets. I would treat these boys as pets, and not as my babies... yeah... right. I am soooo a mommy to these guys. They are my babies, and I couldn't be happier about it. I LOVE THEM, and lucky me, THEY LOVE ME BACK. So, as you might imagine, when they hurt, I hurt.

:)

As the day went on, they did get better and now things are pretty much back to normal. From now on I will know that there will probably be some side effects to their yearly shots. I wish they didn't have to go through that, but I want them to have long, happy, healthy lives. I love them. 11 1/2 years wasn't long enough to have with Elvis. He was... special. He was a cat in a million. I miss him every single day. I think about him all the time. I suppose I will never get over him, but I know he is happy where he is right now. I always picture him at the Rainbow Bridge helping new friends crossover. "Hi, I'm Elvis... I am here to help you and be your friend." That's the way he was in life. He had a million or so friends, and I know some day, in about 50 years if I have anything to say about it, he will have 2 more... but like I said, it won't be anytime too soon.

:)

From For Ellipsis

A Joke...

Q. Why did the cats sell their homes?

A. Because the neighborhood had gone to the dogs.

:) Thanks again, Mary, Donna and Dr. B! :)

Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine; Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks.

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #306: You're A Famous Author, What Is The Name Of Your Book?

"If there is a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must write it."

-Toni Morrison









Hi Folks. :) Listen, just to get things off on the right foot, I do a couple things slightly different from Karen, so please read the full entry. :)

Weekend Assignment #306: You're A Famous Author, Whats The Name Of Your
Book?

Sounds easy, right? Oh, but hold on, there is a catch here folks! The book you are famous for writing must be from a genre that you aren't known for. As an example, if you really enjoy writing horror stories, make this assignment about a romance novel or a biography, or anything other then you usually relate to. If you don't dabble in writing very often, no worries, simply come up with a title for your fictional book from the genre you read the least.

Extra Credit: Write the opening paragraph of your best-seller!


If you are new to the Weekend Assignment, here are our guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time.

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. (NO HYPERLINKS!) Because I will be sending your links to Karen for posting with her assignments, I need your link typed out, rather then put into a hyperlink. Doing so will save me a little work, and is very much appreciated! Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?

Linking List for WA #305: Suddenly the Senses 02/06/10


1. Carly (Yep, I participated!)

2. Julie said (via comment)...
Good question. And I'm having trouble coming up with a good answer. Sometimes it's not one of the senses, but just a feeling - something I can't exactly quantify. And I have this feeling if I could I'd be a bestselling author. And I'm not, so that must tell you something! ;-)

3. Karen

** We know it was a shorter then usual time frame for you to complete the last WA, so if you need a little extra time, feel free to post your response along with the week's assignment. :)

Okie doke. That's it. You will find the Linking List for this assignment over at Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, along with your next assignment, next Thursday, February 18th! And I will see you right back here in 2 weeks, with an all new Weekend Assignment!


-Carly

From For Ellipsis

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #76: Valentine's Day

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon."

-Unknown










EMPS#76: Valentine's Day. NOW CLOSED!
My goodness, where has the time gone? Next Saturday is Valentine's Day, so lets go out this week and find some reasonable representations of the day. Hearts, flowers, decorated boxes of candy, stuffed animals, boxer shorts with hearts on them, little boxes of conversation hearts...you get the idea. Show me the love! No archives for this one m'dears... I want to see the love from this year!

Extra Credit: Create a Valentine's Day greeting for your fellow photographers, using your photo editing software. :)

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes at 9:00 PM ET next Sunday evening. Please submit your entries by that date and time by getting your photo, uploading it to your blog, journal or website and coming back here with the direct link back to it. Please folks, the link you provide 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 WILL BE ACCEPTED OR ADDED TO THE LINKING LIST. Also, please include a link back to the assignment.

Linking List for EMPS #75: Peaceful Places 02/01/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Spiderdama

2. Greg

3. Hannah - Zukan**Welcome To The Monday Photo Shoot!

4. Sherrie

5. Suzanne

6. Sandy

7. Martha

8. Jama

9. Carolyn Ford

10. Nesa

11. Mike

12. Karen (Via Email)

Thank you for your continued participation. I will be looking forward to what you come up with for Valentine's Day! I will also be playing along, so please look for my entry later this week!


**Just a reminder, beginning this Thursday, Feb 11th, I will be sharing co-hosting duties of the Weekend Assignment with our friend Karen. I hope you can join us. If you haven't participated before, please consider giving it a try! :)

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #305: Suddenly The Senses

From For Ellipsis

"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains."

-Diane Ackerman

Weekend Assignment #305: You're going about your day and then you sense something - a sight, a sound, a smell, perhaps even a texture or a taste. Whatever it is, it evokes a treasured memory of the past. What did you see, hear, touch, smell, or taste, and what did it remind you of?

Extra Credit: Are there any sounds, sights, or smells you actually seek out because of the pleasant associations?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Scent...

Hmmm... nothing sets my mind at ease, and reminds me of fond memories quite like the scent of Cloves. I LOVE the spicy scent, and how it reminds me of autumn and the holidays. Alan and I have a lot of fun cooking together, and we seem to do most of it during autumn and winter. My cat, Elvis, loved the smell of cinnamon and cloves so much, that he would always insist on sniffing the cloves and cinnamon when I baked around the holidays. Just the other day, I was using an Cinnamon/Clove scented fabric spray, and I had to smile as I thought about how Elvis would snuggle into the pillows, curl up, and go off to sleep, whenever I used it. He loved flowers, and perfumes. I planted some Stock, because of it's spicy cinnamon scent, in the garden, and that is where he could be found most summer afternoons, sound asleep between the Jasmine and the Stock. He was quite a cat! :) Whenever I smell something deliciously spicy, I think of him.

Extra Credit: How many do I seek out?

1. Jasmine

2. Clove

3. Cinnamon

4. Popcorn

5. Lavender (I have a lavender sleep mask. It's great for relaxation)

6. Oranges

7. Paint... I LOVE the smell of paint! LOL.

8. I used to love the smell of a fresh roll of film, gosh I miss those days.

9. I love the sound of wind chimes

10. Almost any kind of music makes me think of fond times. I love music.


-Carly

**See you all on Thursday, a little past midnight, with assignment #306!

Weekend Assignment #304: Frazzled! How Do You De-Stress?

From For Ellipsis

"The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse a little later on."

-Elbert Hubbard

Weekend Assignment #304: How do you de-stress when feeling frazzled?

Extra Credit: The Weekend Assignment may soon have a co-host. That okay with everyone?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

De-stressing...

How do I de-stress? Well, Valium works pretty well! LOL. Nah, I can't even take a whole one, I have to cut mine in quarters. I am a little bit allergic you see, and not only do I become the mouthiest person on the planet, but I also become the most honest, which lets face it, only leads to additional stress when the pill wears off. LOL. Now I ask you... who needs that?

My favorite way to de-stress is pretty simple actually, I like to take pictures!

From For Ellipsis

But then I also have to give some de-stressing credits to my kitties, Dylan and Hendrix. They keep me laughing. Pets are so healthy to have around. I know I am as sane as I am because I have these little people to help keep me happy.

From For Ellipsis

But, when all else fails, I have my love of cooking. I cook every day. I like making my own meals. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love a night out once in a while, and I am a junk food junkie, but I love getting in the kitchen with the goal of creating something amazing to eat. What you are seeing in the picture below is a simple dish, Vadalia Onion Chicken. Macaroni & Cheese, and Carrots in Orange/Ginger sauce. So easy, so delicious!

From For Ellipsis

Photography

Cats

Cooking

The best ways I know how to shake the stress! :)


-Carly

Now My Mood Is Yellow

From For Ellipsis

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want... oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

-Mark Twain

It's raining. I love the rain, but I am so ready for winter to be over. Sigh. Oh well, I can sit around feeling blue, or I can focus on the yellow moments in life. If spring has an official color, I am pretty sure it's yellow.

-Carly

Black Phoebe

From For Ellipsis

"You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair."

-Chinese Proverb

Lately, these pretty little birds have been visiting our yard. I haven't seen this particular type before, and after doing a little reading, I see that they are usually a shoreline bird, although during the winter they will take up residence in city parks and chaparrals. My cottage is on a nice piece of acreage, and I have often described it as a small park, so I guess the birds agree! Isn't it a pretty bird?

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

-Carly

I'm In A Purple Mood

From For Ellipsis

"Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as well pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint their own hue each shows us only what lies in it's own focus."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am in a purple mood. A little blue, but with just enough red to make me not completely hopeless. LOL.

How about you, if you could assign a color to your mood, what color are you right now? Share if you feel like doing so. I am curious to see what your response might be!

-Carly

The Good News And The Not So Good News...

From For Ellipsis

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

-Mahatma Gandhi

The Good News...

There are a couple new things to tell you about. Let's start with what I think is the good news. Beginning next Thursday, February 11th, I will be sharing co-hosting duties of the Weekend Assignment with Karen. We will be alternating weeks for at least the next few months, in order to bring Karen some much needed rest. She has hosted the project since John Scalzi handed her the reins of the Weekend Assignment in January 2007. I can't blame her for wanting a little respite, from time to time, and for wanting to be able to participate. I know how much she enjoyed the Weekend Assignment when John was hosting. Hopefully, this will give her the break she needs, and perhaps we can gain a some new participants. It would mean a lot to me to do well with this project, so, it goes without saying that I would really appreciate your participation. Please consider joining us for the fun!

:)

Now for the not so good news...

:(

I have decided to activate the Comment Moderation option on my blog. I know, I know... it's a pain wondering if your comment has gotten through. I am not especially happy with having to do it, but there have been a lot of SPAM and unwanted comments getting through lately. Sigh. I hope you understand. I watch my email pretty closely, so unless I am out, your comment should appear pretty soon after you leave it. In any case, it will appear by the end of the day you post it. Hopefully the unwanted emails and comment SPAM will stop soon.

Okay, that's just about it. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about my doing the Weekend Assignment with Karen. Feel free to leave your thoughts about that, or anything you see or read on my blog. :)

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #75: Peaceful Places

"If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a human being, we can do it."

-Eleanor Roosevelt






EMPS #75: PEACEFUL PLACES NOW CLOSED!
Let's enjoy a photography assignment this week that celebrates the PEACEFUL PLACES in our lives. Parks, libraries, any place you would be able to experience some peace and quite will do nicely for the assignment. Archived photos are fine for the assignment.

Extra Credit: Show me your favorite way to experience PEACE AND QUIET.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. You have until then to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, your link must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment, a general link to your entry will not work. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link back to this assignment so your readers will be able to find the assignment and play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #74: Houses Of Worship. 01/25/10

NOW CLOSED.

1. Spiderdama

2. Jama

3. Sherrie

4. Sandy **Welcome To The Monday Photo Shoot!

5. Greg

6. Maria Berg

7. Suzanne

8. Nesa

9. Nancy

10. Carolyn

11. Gena

12. Carly Yep, I played Too!

13. Duane

14. Mike

15. Karen

Well done! You guys continue to amaze me with your talent. I saw some really beautiful examples of this week's assignment! You guys ROCK! See you next Monday, with an all new assignment! :)

-Carly

EMPS: Houses Of Worship

From For Ellipsis

"All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of spacethat contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space."

-Phillip Johnson

Isn't it beautiful? That is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Oakland Temple, in Oakland hills. I have been looking at that church since I was a very little girl. :) When I was a child, I imagined it was a castle, and inside was a beautiful princess waiting for her prince. You can probably imagine how big I smiled yesterday, when I went to the temple to photograph it, and saw a bride and groom posing for their photos. If you look really close, you can see them right in front of the temple. :) Perfect timing.

This gives you a nice look facing back towards San Francisco, and Oakland which is in the forefront.

From For Ellipsis

And from the archives I bring you...

From For Ellipsis

First Presbyterian Church of Virginia City. In Virginia City, Nevada.

Virginia City is such a wonderful town to photograph. It is so full of history, and as you can see, beautiful churches! :)

-Carly