Monday, June 07, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #93: Fire







"Love is the fire of life, it consumes or purifies."


-Unknown








EMPS #93: Fire. NOW CLOSED!
BBQ anyone? LOL. This week's assignment is all about FIRE! FIRE engines, FIREplaces, bonFIRES, FIREtrucks, FIRE fighters, you get the idea... FIRE!

Extra Credit: Show me a FIREman! :)


**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 # 92: State Flowers 05/31/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Carolyn

2. Freda

3. Jama

4. Karen

5. Greg

6. Hip Chick

7. Nesa

Thanks for playing, see you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly

Saturday, June 05, 2010

RRC: Garden Portraits



"A photograph is a portrait painted by the sun."

-Unknown

RRC: Garden Portraits
Suggested by Sherrie, of the blog, Sherrie's Stuff

Above you see my garden, which is actually, a garden in progress. I decided earlier this year to create a Zen Garden for myself. Just a little place of beauty and peace, where I can go an sit and read and just be surrounded by beauty and light and life. You know what I mean? It's going to take me a while to get it the way I want it. I want to add more roses, and some new wind chimes, and maybe some pretty colored lights. I know for sure I want some small white picket fencing on the outside and perhaps some colored stepping stones. We'll see. Money is tight right now, but like I said, it is a garden in progress. But that's okay... I have patience. :)

Here are the roses I am most proud of this year...

I submitted this one for the New York Times "Moment In Time" project.


The colors on this rose makes me smile. It's lovely!


Here are a few more from gardens past...




Now that you have seen my garden portraits, be sure to visit the other participating Robins! I am sure you find some wonderful Garden Portraits! :)

Linking List, as of 8:56 AM PT, Saturday, June 5th
**Welcome Back Old Friends!
***Welcome New Participants!

Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Linda... Mommy's Treasure
Posted!

Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

Rich... Richimage
Posted!

***Janette... Net On The Net


**Tara... A Long Road Home**WELCOME BACK**
Posted!

Sandy... From The Heart Of Texas
Posted!

Monica... Shutterly Happy
Posted!

Suzanne R... Suzyq421's Photo Blog
Posted!

Freda... Day One
Posted!

Maryt... Mary Tomaselli's Photos
Posted!

Ellen b. ... The Happy Wonderer
Posted!

Ruth... Scrabblequeen
Posted!

**Jill... South Bay Solilquy**WELCOME BACK**
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Manang Kin... My Life s Journey In Focus
Posted!

Fhaye... Photodito
Posted! (Link Corrected) :)

Peggy... Holmespun Fun Memes and Themes
Posted!

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

-Carly

Friday, June 04, 2010

A Day On The Bay



"If you're alive, you can't be bored in San Francisco. If you aren't alive, San Francisco will bring you to life."

-William Saroyan

Last Wednesday, Alan and I decided to take a cruise on the San Francisco Bay. We had a free ticket, so we only had to purchase one! It was amazing! So much fun. I love dating my husband! After the cruise, we had lunch on Pier 39 at the Wipeout! I love the bay, I could have stayed out there on the water all day!


We sailed passed Ghiradelli...


Next the Palace of Fine Arts and the Marina Green...



Next Fort Point...


Onto the Golden Gate...

Past the Marin Headlands...


Next onto Alcatraz... "The Rock"


And finally... back to San Francisco at Pier 43


I LOVE it here!

:)

I LOVE dating my husband!

:)

-Carly

Monday, May 31, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #92: State Flowers








"Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze most softly lulling to my soul."

-John Keats







EMPS #92: State Flowers. NOW CLOSED!
Time to celebrate the flowers. Get out there this week, and so me your state's official flower!

Extra Credit: Frame your photo, using your photo editing software program.

**PLEASE READ**

This Monday Photo Shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the link. Please remember, the link you leave must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, and you are responsible for it's accuracy. Please double check it. NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link to the Monday Photo Shoot in your entry so your readers will be able to find the assignment and join us for the fun.

Linking List for EMPS #91: Ready, Set, Go 05/24/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Greg

2. Sandy

3. Jama

4. Suzanne

5. Freda

6. Mike

7. Karen

8. Duane


I can't wait to see all those beautiful flowers! See you next week!

-Carly

Monday, May 24, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #91: Ready, Set, Go









"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action."


-Napoleon Hill





NOW CLOSED


EMPS #91: Get READY, get SET, GO! Show us something this week, that is READY, something that is SET, or something on the GO! Or, if you like, put them all together! GET READY, GET SET, GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Extra Credit: Show me your subject in both black &white, color!

**PLEASE READ**

This Monday Photo Shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the link. Please remember, the link you leave must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, and you are responsible for it's accuracy. Please double check it. NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link to the Monday Photo Shoot in your entry so your readers will be able to find the assignment and join us for the fun.

Linking List for EMPS #90: Sides 05/17/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Carolyn

2. Freda

3. Greg

4. Jama

5. Sandy

6. Karen (Here) and (Here)


Very nicely done everyone! You guys ROCK! See you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly


Saturday, May 22, 2010

RRC: Statues



"Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of every sculptor to discover it."

-Michelangelo

RRC: Statues
Suggested by Karen, author of the blog, Outpost Mavarin



Meet Charles Lee Tilden. He is the man that my favorite park in the Bay Area is named after. This statue to the man, is located at the Brazil Building, in Tilden Park, here in the Berkeley Hills. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I spend a lot of time in this park. I love the Botanic Garden, especially in the fall, and you can find me at the Little Farm quite often as well. My favorite area of the park is a toss up between the Carousel and Lake Anza. I can't decide, but I have also spent many a quiet afternoon here at the Brazil Building, bird watching or just enjoying the peace and quiet. It's lovely here. :)

Here, looking down on the Botanic Garden...


And a better look at how Mr. Tilden's statue is displayed in front of the Brazil Building...


Now that you have seen my entry for this Round Robin outing, why not visit everyone else? Just follow the links below to see some great photography by the other participating Robins!

Linking List (As of 10:44 AM PT, Saturday, May 22, 2010)

**Welcome New Participants! :)

1. Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

2. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

3. **Rich... Richimage
Posted!

4. Dawn... Dawn Elliot Photography
Posted!

5. Ellen b. ... The Happy Wonderer
Posted!

6. Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!

7. Freda... Day One
Posted!

8. Suzanne... SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Posted!

9. Sandy... From the Heart of Texas
Posted!

10. **Erin... A Hardcore Life
Posted!

11. Carolyn... Ford Family Photos
Posted!

12. Peggy... Holmespun Fun Memes and Themes
Posted!

13. Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

14. Maryt... Mary Tomaselli Photos
Posted!

15. Manang Kim... At my Tabletop
Posted!

16. Hip Chick... Hip Chicks Photos


17. Ruth... Scrabble Queen
Posted!

18. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

19. Duane... Meanwhile...
Posted!

20.** Cheryl Ann... Desertsouthwest and Deserts and Beyond
Posted!


Don't forget to check the official Round Robin blog tomorrow, to learn the subject of our next Round Robin Challenge!

-Carly

Monday, May 17, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #90: Sides









"In seeking the truth, you have to get both sides of the story."

-Walter Cronkite







EMPS #90: Sides. NOW CLOSED!
A couple weeks ago we photographed things that were UPSIDE DOWN, so this week, let's check out the SIDES. Left SIDE. Right SIDE. On the SIDE. Off Sides. SIDE salads. TAKING SIDES. Interpret it as you see fit, just remember, this week the SIDES have it!

EXTRA CREDIT: Show me a collage of SIDES.

**PLEASE READ**

This Monday Photo Shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the link. Please remember, the link you leave must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, and you are responsible for it's accuracy. Please double check it. NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link to the Monday Photo Shoot in your entry so your readers will be able to find the assignment and join us for the fun.

Linking List for EMPS #89: Nautical 05/10/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Freda

2. Carolyn

3. Jama

4. Spiderdama

5. Greg

6. Karen

7. Suzanne

8. Hip Chick

Thanks for your continued participation! Nicely done one and all! See you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly


Monday, May 10, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #89: Nautical







"A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm."

-Henrick Ibsen





EMPS# 88: Nautical. NOW CLOSED!
Ahoy Mateys! Boats. Ships. Life Preservers. A Captains Hat. A Captains Chair. The Plank. The Poop deck. Sailors. Sails. A statue of Poseidon. A Compass. Anything related to NAUTICAL pursuits will do.

Extra Credit: Show me three NAUTICAL things that go together.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot entry closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have until then to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with a direct link back to it. NO HYPERLINKS. The link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. It is a good idea to double check your link, as the one you leave me is the one I will use for the Linking List which is posted next Monday with your next assignment. Also, please include a link back here, so other folks can find the assignment and join us for the fun. :)

Linking List for EMPS #88: Upside Down 05/03/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Jama

2. Spiderdama

3. Suzanne

4. Greg

5. Freda

6. Mike

7. Karen



Note: I am on vacation for the next two weeks, so I will be in and out during that time. I will try really hard to get around to see your entries. Just be patient with me, and play amongst yourselves, I'll be by, I promise! ;)


See you next Monday!

-Carly

Saturday, May 08, 2010

RRC: Land or Sea



"The three great eternal sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of rain in a primeval wood, and the sound of the ocean on an outer beach."

-Henry Beston

RRC: Land or Sea

I but you could guess what my choice would be! Yep, it's the ocean for me. The Pacific Ocean to be exact! I could spend all day just staring at the ocean, and not tire of it at all. It's beautiful!

See...
Isn't it amazing?

:)

Now that you have seen my choice between Land and Sea, go check the entries of the other participating Robins!

Linking List (As of Midnight, Saturday, May 8th)

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Monica... Shutterly Happy


Carolyn... Ford Family Photos
Posted!

Hip Chick... Hip Chick Photos
Posted!

Freda... Day One
Posted!

ellen B... The Happy Wonderer
Posted!

Suzanne R... SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Posted!

Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

Ruth... Scrabble Queen
Posted!

Sandy... From The Heart Of Texas
Posted!

Mary... Mary Tomaselli's Photos
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Kat... In My Dreams I Can Fly
Posted!

Peggy... Holmespun Fun and Memes
Posted!


Please Note! Alan and I are on vacation, and this weekend is REALLY BUSY! CRAZY BUSY! Please be patient with Karen, she is updating and handling all the RR responsibilities without any help from me. Be nice. She will keep things updated as soon as possible. Thanks again Karen! :)

-Carly

Monday, May 03, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #88: Upside Down











"Laughter is but a frown turned upside down."

-Unknown











EMPS # 88: Upside Down. NOW CLOSED!
Here is an easy assignment. Simply find something that is UPSIDE DOWN and photograph it. It's all up to you what the object is. Big. Small. Old. New. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Extra Credit: Show me a collage of different UPSIDE DOWN objects.

**PLEASE READ**

This Monday Photo Shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the link. Please remember, the link you leave must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, and you are responsible for it's accuracy. Please double check it. NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link to the Monday Photo Shoot in your entry so your readers will be able to find the assignment and join us for the fun.

Linking List for EMPS#87: Lamps 04/26/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Jama

2. Suzanne

3. Greg

4. Carolyn

5. Mike

6. Nesa

7. Wammy

8. Karen (submitted by email)

Thank you for playing this week! See you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly

Friday, April 30, 2010

WA #316: National Poetry Month



I love poetry. I always have. I don't know that I have a particular favorite, but I must say, I enjoy the simplicity of a Haiku. I have written some from time to time, mostly as the spirit moved me. At times, something will happen, either in my life, or the world in general, and I will try to put my feelings about it, together with one of my photographs, in a coherent way. The essence of an Haiku is about linking nature to human nature, and that's what I have gone for here. I don't know, I think I am much more of a visual person, than a competent writer of poetry or prose, but sometimes one has to stretch out the creativity muscle. What do you think?

Reform
By Carly Gordon

Reform is the new word
Looking to make life better
NO is the new reform

Have you joined us yet at the Weekend Assignment blog? If not, this might just be the assignment for you! You have until next Wednesday to share your appreciation for the art of poetry!

-Carly

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LINKS IN THE COMMENT THREAD HERE, YOU MUST LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENT THREAD AT THE WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT BLOG! JUST CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

Weekend Assignment #316: National Poetry Month

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

By The Light Of A Nearly Full Moon



How like a queen comes forth the lonely Moon
From the slow opening curtains of the clouds
Walking in beauty to her midnight throne!

-George Croly, Diana

It's rather easy to let the mind wander on nights like this. As I looked out the window, just to the right of my desk, I saw the moon, nearly full, with wisps of clouds dancing a ghostly ballet for the Man-In The Moon's pleasure. He smiled and turned away, as he kept to his schedule. I always half expect on nights like this, to see a ghost look back at me, as I raise my camera to capture the moment.

Do ghosts wander on nights like this? When the moon is nearly full, and the last chilly rain of the year covers the earth in tears?

Tell me what you think!

-Carly

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Connoisseur Of Sticks



"Cats are the connoisseurs of comfort."

-James Herriot

Hendrix is such a fun cat. I sat in the yard Sunday, just watching him explore and sample the sticks. LOL. I swear he is more dog, than cat! I love him so much! He's mighty nifty with his new Peace sign, isn't he?

-Carly

Monday, April 26, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #87: Lamps










"Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence."

-Buddha












EMPS #87: Lamps.
Desk LAMPS. Table LAMPS. Book LAMPS. LAMPS. Street LAMPS. All LAMPS. All good! Show me some LAMPS.

Extra Credit: Show me your favorite LAMP. Tell me why you like it so much!

**PLEASE READ**
This assignment 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 then comeback here with a direct link back to it. Please remember, the link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment. NO HYPERLINKS. If you don't leave me your link, I cannot add you to the Linking List which is posted with next week's assignment. Also, please include a link to the assignment, so other folks can find the assignment and play along.

Linking List for EMPS #86: Stairs 04/19/10

Now Closed!

1. Spiderdama

2. Jama

3. Suzanne

4. Carolyn

5. Sandy

6. Duane

7. Karen

8. Mike

Thank you for playing along with us this week. See you next Monday!

-Carly

Saturday, April 24, 2010

RRC: Anything In Threes



"I take photographs with love, so I try to make them art objects. But I make them for myself first and foremost... that is important."

-Jacques Henri Lartigue

RRC: Anything In Threes
Suggested by Marie, of the blog, Photograph & Memories

Above you see a photograph I took way back in 2005. It is one of my favorites, because I was aiming to do a Monet themed photograph. I think it came out well. When I read what this challenge was all about, I knew I could go to the archives and come up with some special photographs that I didn't have a chance to do much with. So up first...

3 Water Lilies


My second favorite subject is the Golden Gate Bridge.



3 Bridge Views


And finally... Jelly Fish!




This was so much fun, and it brought back some wonderful memories! Trips to my favorite bridge, and the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, and lastly, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Beautiful.

Now that you have seen my photographs, be sure to visit everyone else. We have some magnificent photographers among us!

Linking List, as of midnight Saturday, April 24th, 2010
**Welcome New Members!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

Linda... Mommy's Treasures
Posted!

Freda... Day One
Posted!

Sandy... From The Heart Of Texas
Posted!

Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
Posted!

Carolyn... Ford Family Photos
Posted!

Monica... Shutterly Happy
Posted!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati


Suzanne R... SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Posted!

Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!

Ruth... Scrabble Queen
Posted!

**Dawn Elliot... Dawn Elliot Photography
Posted!

Kat... In My Dreams I Can Fly
Posted! (Welcome Back!)

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Manang Kim... My Life's Journey In Focus
Posted!

**Janice... Jabblog
Posted!

-Carly

Friday, April 23, 2010

WA #315: The Thief Of Time



"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."

-Harvey MacKay

Weekend Assignment #315: It seems that we're all too busy these days to get around to everything we'd like to do, even if we had the money and means to do them. Is there a particular activity that takes up far too much of your time, and thus prevents you from getting around to other things?

Extra Credit: What is the #1 activity you wish you had more time for?

-Karen

I almost didn't do this week's assignment, because it doesn't really apply to me personally. I am okay with how I time manage things, and for the most part I manage to do all I would like to do, but there is an exception... time with Alan.

If you go back a few years, everything was flowing relatively smoothly, then came the forced furloughs by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The money we have lost has created a time loss as well. First of all, Alan doesn't get a day off without pay as other state workers do... that would create more time for us...because of his job, he still works the same amount of time, the state simply pays him less. Sigh. That creates the need for him to accept all the overtime he can find, and because of the of the original pay differential, it doesn't even make up for what we have lost. The fact is, we spend a lot less time together because of the forced furlough situations.

We make up for it the best we can, but it has been a long time since we could just get up and go on photo jaunts like we used to. We haven't been over to San Francisco since late December. There was a time, just a few years ago, when we went there every week and walked along the Marina Green, or biked in Golden Gate Park, or just window shopped in Union Square. We love San Francisco, it's beautiful, and there is always something to see or photograph. Hopefully, we will be getting over there soon, now that summer is soon approaching. I hope so. I miss it so. We also enjoy going to comedy clubs in different parts of the Bay Area, because lets face it, who doesn't enjoy laughing? Anyway, you see, it's not my time that's being stolen, it's Alan's, but then again, when you are married, what affects one, affects the other. That's just marriage.

:)

Extra Credit: As I said, we love to laugh. I wish we had more time to go to the comedy clubs. We have a good friend who is a performer and he gets us tickets, it's just difficult to find the time.

-Carly

PS... We had a wonderful turnout last week, I want to personally thank everybody who made our first week on the new blog a success! I hope you will continue to join us. It's easy, just click on the link above to be redirected to the Weekend Assignment blog!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #86: Stairs







"Never look backwards, or you'll fall down the stairs."

-Rudyard Kipling









EMPS #86: Stairs. NOW CLOSED!
Going up? Coming down? Either direction is fine. This week, I simply want to see some stairs! Archived photos are fine, but as always, new photos are encouraged. If you do decide to go with an archived photo, please try to make it one we haven't seen before, or at least in the last 6 months. :)

Extra Credit: Show me some stairs of historical or cultural interest.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entry by that time, by leaving the full link to it in the comment thread for this Monday Photo Shoot assignment. The link you leave, must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment. Also, please include a link back here, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED!

Linking List for EMPS #85: Strange or Unusual Sights 04/12/10

NOW CLOSED!

1. Jama

2. Carolyn

3. Sherrie

4. Freda

5. Sandy

6. Karen (via email)

7. Duane (via email)

Ok, that's all there is to it. I will see you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly