Cat Yoga

"A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves."

-T. Guillemets

See... it is possible to teach Yoga to your cat! LOL. I taught Elvis, and he would join me on the yoga mat a couple times a week. He really did! LOL. So I am teaching Dylan and Hendrix to find their inner zen. Stretch Dylan... Stretch Hendrix. Breathe in... breathe out. Breathe in... breathe out.

By the way, they are both home from Dr. B's. They are better then just fine, they are fantastic! All that worrying was for nothing, they aren't in pain, they don't hate me, in fact, they slept in the bed with Alan and I last night, and it was bliss! I love my babies so much, it's not even reasonable! Happiness! New mousies all around!

I don't even mind admitting to Dr B. that he was right... YET AGAIN! :)

LOL.

Thanks Dr. B., Mary & Donna...you're the best!

-Carly
"Cat Yoga"
Home
March 12th, 2009
Afternoon

Sometimes It's Life That's Black & White

"If you want to feel rich, just count the things money can't buy."

-Proverb

Bernie Madoff plead guilty in a New York court today, he was immediately remanded into custody to await sentencing on the 11 charges against him. This is one of those rare cases that test my compassion when it comes to handing out justice. A lot of folks saw their life savings wiped out because of Madoff. He's 70 years old, and he will more then likely die in prison... alone. He did to himself.

:(

Take The Long Way Home
By Supertramp

So you think you're a romeo
Playing a part in a picture show
Take the long way home
Take the long way home

Cos you're the joke of the neighborhood
Why should you care if you're feeling good
Take the long way home
Take the long way home

But there are times that you feel you're part of the scenery
All the greenery is coming down, boy
And then your wife seems to think you're part of the
Furniture oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice

When lonely days turn to lonely nights
You take a trip to the city lights
You take the long way home
And take the long way home

And when you're up on the stage it's so unbelievable
Unforgettable, how they adore you
But then you're wife seems to think you're losing your sanity
Oh, calamity, is there no way out?

Does it feel that your life's become a catastrophe?
Oh it has to be for you to grow boy
When you look through the years and see what you could have been
What you might have been
If you'd had more time

So when the days comes to settle down
Whose to blame if your not around?
You took the long way home
You took the long way home

"When I began the Ponzi scheme I believed it would end shortly and I would be able to extricate myself and my clients from the scheme," he said. "However, this proved difficult, and ultimately impossible, and as the years went by I realized that my arrest and this day would inevitably come."

-Bernard Madoff, Thursday, March 12th, 2009

-Carly

Caption This! In Black & White

"Money often costs too much."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am posting all my entries this week in Black & White, to encourage all those who take on the EMPS for this week. If you haven't done this week's assignment, you can find out about it here.

Now, let's have some fun. Write a caption, for the above photo, and leave it in the comment thread for this entry. What comes to mind when you look at the photo?

Captions anyone?

-Carly

Changes

"I love cats because I love my home, and after a while, they become it's visible soul."

-Jean Cocteau

Both my babies are off to their appointment with Dr. B. They are six months old now, and it's time for both of them to be neutered and declawed. It's going to be really quiet without the sound of their bells jingle jangling about the house. They will be at Dr. B's until Thursday afternoon. I am not sure what I will do without my wee babies. Let's see... let's consider that... what to do? What to do?

Hmmm... Maybe I will...

Take a bubble bath alone. (They just love to sit on the tub while I bathe)

Eat a whole meal without the longing stares of Hendrix or the judgemental eyes of Dylan. Yes Dylan, I like jalapeno peppers!

No scooping poopy cat boxes.

No vacuuming kitty hairs off the couch.

No tripping over stuffed
animals. I am teaching both boys to put their toys away the way Elvis did. It's coming along nicely.

On the other hand...

No good morning kiss from Dylan or hug from Hendrix.

No gifts of tiny mice in my slippers.

No games of fetch with Dylan before bed.

No sharing glasses of water with Hendrix

Nobody with paws to cuddle up with when my knee is in spasms.

:(

I already miss my boys.

Maybe I will visit them tomorrow, and bring them flowers... or maybe Tuna.

:)







Dylan on the pillow next to me.


-Carly
Dylan In Black & White
March 8th, 2009
Late Afternoon

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #28: Black & White Photography

"Once the amateur's naive approach and humble willingness to learn fades away, the creative spirit of good photography dies with it. Every professional should remain in his hear an amateur."

-Alfred Eisenstaedt










NOTE: My schedule is getting super busy, and I am about to go into somewhat of a transition with my Internet access, so, I will be visiting your blogs on Sunday afternoons each week. I hope that is ok with everyone. I will still come by to see your entries, it will just be on Sunday. :) Is that cool with you?


EMPS #28: BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY.NOW CLOSED!
Ok everybody, grab your camera, fire up your imagination, and show me some BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY. The subject matter is completely up to you. Do something a little Silly, Fascinating, Spooky, Gothic, or Artsy Noir... it's completely up to you! Just make it BLACK & WHITE.

Extra Credit: Write a little about what it was like to for you to take a BLACK & WHITE photo as opposed to color.


**Please Read**
You have until next Sunday at 9:00 PM ET to take your photo, post it to your blog or journal, and comeback here with the direct link you your entry. REMEMBER I cannot accept a general link to your blog or journal it must be the direct link to the entry specific to this photo shoot assignment. No HYPERLINKS please. Also, please link back here, so folks can find the EMPS and play along with us!

Linking List for EMPS #27: Condiments. 03/02/09

NOW CLOSED!

Now, lets see what condiments we enjoy...

1. Jama... Ketchup & Chili Sauce

2. Suzanne... Pico de Gallo

3. Judi... An assortment of condiment goodness!

4. Karen... Another collection from the Museum of the Weird. This one contains Duck Sauce.

5. Your EG Tour Guide... Hot stuff on the condiment aisle!

6. Laura... Mild Taco sauce please.

7. Mike... As assortment of condiments, including Kraft Tuna Salad Maker.


This Week's Question: If you could photograph any celebrity, who would it be?

Okie Dokie... See you next week! Go Be Photographers, and have some fun with BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY!

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: The Color Purple!

"I think it pisses off God off it you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."

-Alice Walker

RRC: The Color Purple
Suggested by Vicki, of the blog, Maraca

Ahh yes... the color purple. I LOVE purple. I just bought myself a new purple sweater, it is a great color for spring. :) I thought about painting my living room purple a couple years ago because of how calming it is to be around. Alan won that argument, and since he has to live with it too, we compromised on egg shell colored walls, but I got to put some purple accents here and there. Some dark purple shades for our funky lamps, and some big comfy pillows... purple of course. :) We are going to redo the decor in the bathroom this spring, and I have had my eye on a gorgeous purple bath rug and a fabric shower curtain with purple butterflies and dragonflies. Purple is the color of my moment.

Last week, when I visited the Conservatory of Flowers, the color purple was everywhere...

There... that's my experience with the color purple! How about you? Did you play the Round Robin challenges this time around?

Look who did play....


1. Vicki... Maraca
Posted!

2. Monica... Click Shots
Posted!

3. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

4. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

5. Jessica... QuickSilver Dreams
Posted!

6. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

7. Jama Hameed... Sweet Dreams
Posted!

8. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix
Posted!

9. Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!

10. Sandra... Strong Chemistry


11. Gwenlyn... GreenChair


12. Robinella... Robinella's
Posted!

13. Molly Mavis... Visual Dialogues
Posted!

14. TJ...TJ's Photo Expression
Posted!

15. Suzanne R... Suzy Q421's Photo Blog
Posted!

16. Mary... Work of the Poet
Posted!

17. Connie... Far Side Of Fifty Photos
Posted!

18. Marina... Milepebbles


19. Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
Posted!

20. Terri... Ways I See The World
Posted!

21. Julie... Julie's Web Journal
Posted!

22. Linda... Mommy's Treasures
Posted!

23. Marina... Visual Chronicle
**Welcome New Member** - Posted!

24. Teena... It's all about me!
Posted!

25. Valerie... Rosemary's Other Baby


26. Liz... Colour Contrast Continuity
Posted!

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




Thanks Vicki... this challenge was purplicous!

There is still time to play along! Just pay a visit to the official Round Robin blog, and leave us all the pertinent information. You know... those three little things we ask for each time you play! If you can't make it today, you can post your entry anytime between now and next Saturday. Come on and join us, won't you?

- Carly
Shades Of Purple
Conservatory Of Flowers
Winter 2009

Things I Think About While Shopping For A New Bluetooth

"Methinks I see the wanton hours flee, and as they pass, turn back and laugh at me."

-George Villers

It has been a crazy busy week. Alan was off work most of the week, and had a furlough day yesterday, so needless to say time was filled. Well, it's just I like to spend time with him when he is home. We have fun. That's a good thing... but it does lead to very little else getting done, like cleaning, and taking care of chores. Bad man. Blogging comes all the way down the list of priorities lately. Real life has to come first, yeah real life, like finally getting a new Bluetooth device for my cell phone. Sheesh. I was perfectly happy with the headset that came with my Sony Ericsson Walkman (W580i) phone, but Hendrix... bad kitty... ate through the wires. Did I say BAD KITTY!?

Things I Think About While Shopping For New Bluetooth...

1. Hendrix and I are going to have to have a long talk about boundaries.

2. I LOVE the song "Gives You Hell" by All American Rejects.

3. I am going to buy myself a new skirt at Old Navy today. It's a purple color block and it will be just perfect for spring! I might get a couple sweaters too. We'll see.

4. Skinny Cow Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream sandwiches ROCK! 150 calories!

5. My blood glucose level was 117 after breakfast this morning! Cool that!

6. Bernie Madoff might take a plea bargain... JERK!

7. Rush Limbaugh is a big, fat, idiot! Waaaa Waaaa... "I hope Obama fails." Waaa.

8. If Obama fails... we all fail... THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

9. Lalalalala..."Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell."

10. It would be fun to go on a date with Alan to our favorite comedy club, Tommy T's, next Tuesday night. Maybe I will ask him out.

11. Why doesn't Starbuck's deliver?

12. Furlough Friday's are over. Now Alan gets to choose which two days a month he doesn't get paid for.

13. 1 in 10 Californians are unemployed.

14. The Dow Jones Industrial Averages are currently at... -69.13 (11:41 am PST)

15. I tried Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Bisque the other day. It's FABULOUS! 130 calories per serving.

16. When is the X-Files movie going to make it to HBO? I'm waiting Fox... I'm waiting!

17. It must be love. I still love David Duchovny after all these years. It's love. :)

18. I think Janeane Garofalo will play me in the movie.

19. I found a can opener under my cat Dylan the other day. Strange. Very strange.

20. Get well soon Robin Williams.

21. Meredith, I'd like to phone a friend...

22. I wonder how old the Pillsbury Doughboy is supposed to be?

23. Michael Jackson is just weird.

24. I don't think Michael Steele should have to apologize to anyone. Bush never did. Cheney never did. And by the way, how come Rush Limbaugh is now the leader of the republican party? He isn't a politician... be is a talk radio performer. His voice is all about having his way, and seeing failure for this country. What about that says "patriotic" to you?

25. Why doesn't anyone make a pink Bluetooth?


So tell me, what do you think about while reading my blog? Feel Free to share! Just leave your responses in the comment thread for this entry.

Have a nice day :)

-Carly
Stormy Sky
Pacifica, California
March, 2009
Afternoon

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #27: Condiments

"Condiments are like old friends, highly thought of but then taken for granted."

-Marilyn Kaytor

Before we get started, I want to thank everyone who participated in last week's EMPS. You guys have been very supportive of me, and this little photo shoot project over the last 6 months, and I appreciate that very much. I look forward to Mondays and sharing my love of photography with you. A million times THANK YOU!

EMPS #27: CONDIMENTS. NOW CLOSED!
Ketchup anyone? How about some mayonnaise or relish? Yep folks, it's a super easy one this week, simply photograph your favorite CONDIMENTS, doing their thing. Is a hot dog, not a hot dog without relish? How do you order a mustard dog... hold the mustard? You can't! LOL. But is it hot mustard? Honey mustard? Spicy Brown Mustard? Who knows? And what about catsup? Do you say Ketchup, or Catsup? Tricky... very tricky. There are a million different kinds of CONDIMENTS, I want you to show me your favorites! Sweet ones, spicy ones, savory ones... it's all good!

Extra Credit: Show me your favorite CONDIMENT on, or near, your favorite food to have it with.

**PLEASE READ**

You know what to do! Simply go get the photo, post it to your blog, journal, or website, then come back here and leave the link in the comment thread for this entry. Please remember it must be a link to an entry that is specific to this photo shoot assignment, not a general link to your blog, journal or website. NO HYPERLINKS! This assignment closes at 9:00 PM ET next Sunday evening, so you have just about about a week to complete the assignment. :)

**Interesting Reading: Ketchup/Catsup History - Food History

Linking List for EMPS #26: Hit Me With Your Best Shot 02/23/09

Now Closed!

Here's what you had to say about photography...

1. Judi... "I prefer to photograph living things: people, animals, plants as opposed to taking photographs of buildings."

2. Greg... "Since I have been posting a lot of waterfalls lately, I thought that I would switch it up a little for this assignment. While waterfalls might be my favorite subject to photograph, landscape photography as a whole is where my heart lies."

3. Suzanne... "I like sunsets in particular because of the dramatic colors a pretty on will produce."

4. Liz... "I enjoy landscape photography especially when water is involved in some way. I also try to find interest in simple objects."

5. Jama... "I love taking photos of nature, be it the beautiful beaches, stunning sunrise/sunset, awesome landscape, macros of flowers and insects, animals... I want to be able to freeze the beautiful moments forever and I'm able to do that through photography."

6. Karen... "Sometimes I get lucky with a dog or wildlife photo, but there's little question that I'm better on landscapes."

7. Gwenlyn... "This angle shot was found on the Waterfront in downtown Portland on a bleak winter day with my Nikon Sistas!"

8. Paul... "I don't think I really have a certain specialty when it comes to photography. I'm lucky if the shot is properly exposed and in focus. The picture I consider my favourite all-time photo was a lucky grab shot."

9. Tammy... "I have been given the gift of time ti find my style in photography. It has become a passion to capture special moments, places and people. My favorite subject is my grandson T.K."

10. Your EG Tour Guide... "What I like to shoot best are subjects people pass by but don't really "see.""

11. Laura... "Many of the photos I looked at for this entry were blurred or imperfect photos, but they are all photos of my family, friends, pets, or places I've been that I want to remember. Even blurred photos remind me of places and events I might otherwise have forgotten."

12. Terri... "I'm beginning to see art and beauty in places I never expected. I love playing with light and shadow, and I love taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary in the way I photograph it."

13. Connie... "I like to photograph nature... anything outside. Flowers and trees are my favorites."

14. Mike... "I don't really know what type of photography is my favorite; I'm still kind of new to this stuff. I would like to say Landscapes, but that is only because that is the type I like to look at."

15. Duane... "I like to take photos of the natural beauty around Chattanooga. So put me down for" landscapes.""



This Week's Question: Do You Like Having Your Picture Took?

Ok, GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS! I will see you next Monday with an all new assignment!

-Carly
"Condiments"
Alice's Restaurant
Woodside, California
January, 2008
Late Afternoon

Best When Used By...

"It would be nice if the Food and Drug Administration stopped issuing warnings about toxic substances and just gave me the names of one or two things still safe."

-Robert Fuss









If you are like me, you are a label reader! I like to cook, so I like to know what it is I am putting in my food, and what my food consists of. As a diabetic, I have learned to be especially diligent with things. Calories, fat grams, cholesterol... it all counts, but the most important thing of all is the art of dealing with food safely. I didn't learn that from being diabetic, I learned that when a former boyfriend's mother poisoned me, and a few others, with a deliberately mismanaged turkey. If you have known me for any length of time, you have probably heard about my adventure that June 6th, all those years ago! I remember it like it was yesterday, it was probably the sickest I have ever been, and in truth, I don't think I have felt the same since. It was violent, and painful, and it left an impression, both about the guy I was dating, and about food.

Turkey had my respect from that moment on! What I mean by that is that it all became very clear about how things should be done just a certain way. It was about 10 years, or so, after the food poisoning before I ate turkey again, and another 7 years before I dared cook one myself. Turkey and I have made our peace with each other, in fact we are good friends now, mostly because I am so diligent with things. I am pleased to report that as a wife, I have never poisoned Alan or any of our dinner guests, either accidentally or on purpose. LOL. I am a good cook. It's something I take pride in, and do with love. To me, making a good, healthy meal is pretty much the easiest way to say,"I love you."

So I bet your saying to yourself, "what in the world is she on about here?" Ok, getting to the point, I want to ask you if you have been noticing what I have lately? Have you been noticing products left well past the "Use By" date on store shelves? I ask because, I have! And it hasn't been at just one store, it has been at several stores. I bought a Boboli whole wheat pizza crust at Safeway a couple week's ago, and didn't look at the "sell by" until I got home, only to find it was 3 weeks past the date! I dropped the ball! When I realized that, I went through everything I purchased that day to see if I had missed anything else. I hadn't, thank goodness, but it was disheartening all the same.

After that incident I became hyper aware of things, and began checking a little closer. I found some Egg Beaters at a different store in the East Bay that had a "Use By" date of December 31st 2008! The day I spotted that was February 25th 2009! YUCK! I have to wonder if this is yet another symptom of the economy? Are stores willing to push things, and hope we don't notice? I can't believe they are all in some sort of conspiracy to poison us, and yet, how come I am seeing expired food on shelves more and more?

I know that sometimes a manufacturer puts a date that merely refers to the quality of the taste, but sometimes I actually means quality as in the safety of the food. I try to use things well within the recommended dates, but I also know there is a little leeway in some cases. If you follow the USDA posted guidelines everything should be fine, on the other hand, I'd rather toss something questionable then end up...yuck...tossing it! All I know is I thank GOD for the Butterball hotline, but even with it, I don't make turkey in June!

Tell me what you think. Do you always check the date on items before you buy them at the grocery store? Have you ever bought something, and brought it home and then discovered it had expired? Have you been noticing expired products still on store shelves?

Butterball

USDA Food Product Dating Guide

Butterball - Food Safety

-Carly

The Effect Of A Partly Sunny Sky On A Woman From The East Bay

"Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing."

-Albert Laighton

In-between the storms that have drenched the Bay Area lately, there was a day of mild temperatures and partly sunny skies. That day was yesterday. The color is starting to appear again, as are the bees. Yay bees! Blossoms too! Ut oh... I am experiencing spring fever a couple weeks early me thinks. It only took one, nearly sunny day to make me smile.

-Carly

:) "In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head!"

-Emma Racine de Fleur

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #26: Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I've found it has little to do with the things you see, and everything to do with the way you see them."

-Elliot Erwitt





Welcome to the official 6 month mark of the Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot! At the end of this entry I will be posting a fun little question for you guys, so if you feel like participating, just leave your answer right there in the comment thread. :) Ok, now on to this week's photo shoot!

EMPS #26: HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! NOW CLOSED!
Ok, now it is your time to shine! We photographers might tackle a lot of subjects, but we all have one type of photography that is our very favorite. Landscapes, Still Life, Night photography, Portraits, Pet photography, Seascapes, Sunsets, Macro photography... it's all good. For this assignment you are welcome to look in your archives and post your best photo, or you can set the scene sometime within this week, and show off the type of photography you feel you excel at. If you do go with a shot from your archive, try to make it one you haven't posted before, I am really interested in seeing something new if possible. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

Extra Credit: Write a little about your personal style as a photographer. Why do you like a particular subject? What is the most challenging aspect of photography for you?

**Please Read**

You have until next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET to choose a photo, add it to your blog or journal, and then comeback here with the link. REMEMBER... it must be the direct link to the entry specific to this photo shoot assignment, not a general link to your blog, journal or website! NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED! Also, please remember to link back here, so other folks can do the assignment as well. :)

Linking List for EMPS #25: Birds. 02/16/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Judi (Gilded Flicker)

2. Suzanne (White Geese)

3. Tammy (A Clear Swan)

4. Vicki (Two birds in silhouette)

5. Jama ( A black bird and a colorful Cockatoo)

6. Liz (A series of photos featuring a white swan)

7. Karen (Ducks at a dog park)

8. T.J. (A Great Egret and some Pelicans)

9. Nancy has two entries for us (A variety of birds and a Blue Heron)

10. Coy (Snowy Egret, Blue Heron and a Swan) WELCOME BACK COY! :)

11. Em Dy (Eagle)

12. Greg (Pink Flamingos and a "white bodied bird from Alaska)

13. Your EG Tour Guide (A swan family)

14. Terri (Seagulls)

15. Wammy (Robin)

16. Gwenlyn (Red winged black birds)

17. Mike (A Penguin and the Blue Angels)

Thanks so much for the awesome turnout! Because of you, I got to see a wonderful variety of birds! I am hoping we can repeat things this week, as we photographers get to know each other a little better! Let's discuss photography!

This Week's Question: What sort of camera was your very first? Do you still own it?

Ok everybody... GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS! I can't wait to visit all of you this week, and get to know you a little better through your photography! This might also be a good week to invite a friend to join us. Come on everyone... HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

-Carly
"The Lone Cypress"
17 Mile Drive
Monterey, California
July 12th 2006

Are You A Biter Or A Pincher?

"All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

-Charles Schulz

Silly! Get your mind out of the gutter! LOL. I was innocently referring to your style of eating chocolate. Tee Hee. Alan bought me a heart shaped box of Whitman's Chocolate for Valentine's Day, and as we ate the yummy candy, we had quite a discussion about how we determine which candy is which. I am a pincher. I like to know whats hiding in the chocolate before I jump in. Alan bites right in, and if it is something he doesn't care for, he eats it anyway, unless it is coconut. He is allergic to coconut. Bad, bad things happen when he eats coconut. He is so repulsed by it, that he can't even stand to be around the scent of coconut! Which means from time to time an innocent piece of Whitman's chocolate ends up spit across the room. Sigh. It could all be avoided if I could just persuade him to become a pincher, rather then a biter! LOL.

How about you? Do you pinch or bite?

Tell me everything!

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: Light Moves

"We cannot hold a torch to light anothers path, without brightening our own."

-Ben Sweetland

RRC: Light Moves
Suggested by Julie, of the blog, Julie's Web Journal


Julie, I hope I have the spirit of this challenge correctly. I think it is to show the different ways light moves, from reflections to light refracted. If that is correct, then I just had to post this photo once again. It is one of my favorite among might lighthouse series, and every time I look at it I just get a sense of hope. It's like in that moment I am standing in a kind of home away from home. But then again, lighthouses usually make me feel that way. ::Smile:: .

Let's follow the light... shall we?










Dark Clouds, with the hope of light behind them.









I don't know why, but I just really enjoy the light in this one.

Shadows have always fascinated me. In the darkness, a little bit of light makes things seem bigger then they are. As a little girl I appreciated that, as a short all growd up lady, I still appreciate that.

:)










Ahhh... The autumn light reflects through the spicy leaves... it's soul stirring to me.









Julie, of the blog, Julie's Web Journal, came up with this challenge for us in a recent Round Robin Idea Roundup. Isn't it an awesome challenge topic? Thanks Julie, I really had a lot of fun with this one.

There is still time to play along with this week's challenge, just pay a visit to the official Round Robin blog to learn all the details. And be sure to stop by tomorrow to learn what our next challenge will be. I should have it posted a little after midnight. Hope to see you next time!

Round Robin Linking List

Julie... Julie's Web Journal
Posted!

Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
Posted!

Chris... Camera Obscura RRC
Posted!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Gwenlyn... Greenchair
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

T. J. ... TJ's Photo Expressions
Posted!

Robinella... Robinella's
Posted!

Jill... South Bay Soliloquy
Posted!

Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!

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

CVPhotographs... Do You See What I See
Posted!

Mojo... Why? What Have Your Heard?
Posted!

Duane... Meanwhile...
Posted!

Marina... Milepebbles
Posted!

Valerie... Rosemary's Other Baby


Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
Posted!

Sandra... Strong Chemistry
Posted!

MollyMavis... Holly On The Run
Posted!

Monica... Click Shots
Posted!

Terri... Ways I See The World
Posted!

Ourhomeschool... Through the Eye of my Camera
Posted!



-Carly
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pescadero, California
October 17, 2007
Afternoon

Steven's Feline & Furball Friday: I'm Dusty And I Have Boogers

"It's impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens."

-Cynthia Varnado

Steven's Feline, Furball and Feathers Friday



Elvis ( I mean Hendrix... sheesh I must really miss him) and Dylan went to Dr. B's yesterday for their monthly weigh-in, and I am happy to report that they are doing just perfect! Dylan is still a little behind is brother in weight. He is 6 lbs 3 1/2 oz and Hendrix is 7 lbs 12 oz. Perfect. They are just right for their age!

I finally got a good shot of Hendrix's silly gray lip! Isn't it cute? He is a solid black cat, except for that silly lip. :) He is so cute when he pouts, he sticks out that silly gray lip and I am instantly putty in his hands. Just like Elvis, Dylan and Hendrix have me completely wrapped around their paws. Just where I want to be!

If you have a Feline, Furball, or Feathered friend, be sure to play along with Steven's meme, because Friday is the day for pets!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #25: Birds

"I hope you love birds too. It's economical. It saves going to heaven."

-Emily Dickinson

NOW CLOSED!

EMPS #25: BIRDS.
Flying BIRDS. Nesting BIRDS. Gooney BIRDS. Looney BIRDS. Real BIRDS. Stuffed BIRDS, both the toy and the sustenance. BIRDS with winter plumage, BIRDS taking a bath. BIRDS and their babies. BIRDS all alone. BIRDS in their houses. Red BIRDS. Black BIRDS. Bald BIRDS. BIRDS on a wire. Real BIRDS. Fake BIRDS. BIRDS.

Extra Credit: My favorite bird is the Snowy Egret, like the one you see above. I would like to see either an Egret or a Heron, but if you don't happen to have them in your area, any white BIRD will do as well. :)

**PLEASE READ**
You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET to get your photo, post it to your blog or journal, and comeback here with the link. Please remember, it must be a direct link to the entry in your blog or journal which is specific to this Monday Photo Shoot assignment. NO HYPERLINKS. Also, please link back here so others will be able to find the assignment and join us. If this is your first time playing be sure to say so when you leave your link, so I can welcome you properly next week!

Linking List for EMPS #24: The Color Red 02/09/09

NOW CLOSED

1. Greg

2. Suzanne

3. Tammy

4. Jama

5. Karen

6. Duane
1st Time Player! :)

7. Terri

8. Your EG Tour Guide
1st Time Player! :)

9. Mike

10. Wammy

Next week will be the 26th EMPS, which means, we will be at the 6 month mark since Karen handed the reins over to me. Can you believe it? Anyway, I have a special assignment planned, so if you haven't played for a while, next week might be a good time to comeback. Hope to see you then!

-Carly
Snowy Egret
Danville, California
November, 2006
Late Afternoon

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

"When you smiled, you had my undivided attention. When you laughed, you had my urge to laugh with you. When you cried, you had my urge to hold you, when you said you loved me, you had my heart forever."

-Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alan and I are making a cheese fondue for dinner, followed by a chocolate fondue for dessert, then we are going to put the babies to bed, snuggle into each other, with a big warm blanket around us, and watch monster movies, while the rain pours outside. It's not everyone's idea of romance, but it works for us.

:)

Happy Valentine's Day

Love, Carly

Reading Wicked...

"A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it."

-William Styron, interview, Writer's At Work, 1958

The play "Wicked" is once again in San Francisco, at the Orpheum theater, and I would love to see it, but with the two furloughed days being taken out of Alan's check twice a month, it means that we are losing about $400 monthly. It's really not a good time to spend money on the theater, which is sad not just for us, but for the performers who are facing this recession right along with the rest of us. But just for the sake of argument, I took a look at the schedule to see if maybe we could go in a few months, and it turns out that if we went in June, a couple days before my birthday, to a matinee, it would be about $200 for two tickets, plus a convenience fee! We might be able to swing it, if we plan, but it doesn't seem like it is the most practical thing to do with our money, given the present circumstance.

Sigh.

Governor Schwarzenegger is planning on keeping the furlough days on the schedule until June of 2010! That's going to be hard on everyone. It will have the ripple effect of 238,000 state workers having even less to spend, but it's this or face the layoff notices of some 20,000 state employees. Alan has been in his job long enough that it is unlikely that he would be one of those facing a pink slip, but we know folks it could happen to, so everyone is just holding their breath and hoping for the best. Whatever that is. One thing is for sure, no one we know is spending money on trips to movies, let alone trips to broadway shows.

Sigh.

Oh well, I might not be able to see the play "Wicked" but I can read the book... right? I was just mentioning the other day it had been about 2 years since I had visited my favorite little book store, so I decided to drop in there and pick it up. I have always identified with the characters from the Wizard of Oz, particularly Dorothy, so why not jump back into the fantasy, this time as told from a different perspective, so I bought "Wicked, The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West" by Gregory Maguire, the book on which the play "Wicked" is based.

My reading usually consists of biographies, and non-fiction, the last book I read was Valerie Plame Wilson's book, Fair Game, I also enjoy reading mysteries, especially Mary Higgins Clark, and on occasion I read books with a humorous take on things such as "Bridget Jones' Diary" but fantasy isn't really a genre I have been too interested in. I read "The Hobbit" series when I was in high school, but that's been about it, well except for a few books by Alice Hoffman. "Practical Magic" remains on my desk as one of my favorite books of all time, but I think it will be having a little company with the book I am reading right now... I can't put it down.

"Wicked..." is a dark read. I will just say that. It turns out that the wicked witch of the west, and I, have a lot in common. I won't say what exactly, but I can identify... we'll leave it at that. What I will say is that she is a strong woman, who doesn't sit around waiting to be led... she makes decisions. She knows who she is, and makes no apologies. I admire that. :) I am about 2/3 of the way through, and I bought it a little over a week ago. I can't wait to buy more books in the series, because I want to find out what comes next. I always knew there just had to be more to the story. This book has been out for quite a while, and because of my reading snobbery I am only just now discovering it. MY BAD. Take it from me, if there is a genre of book you have been avoiding for whatever reason, take a step out of the norm and buy a book you might have never considered before, you never know what gem you might find!

If you haven't read it yet... go read it! If you have read it, tell me what you think! What was the last book you read? Do you have a favorite genre of book? If you have to choose one book to have the rest of your life, which book would it be?

Tell me everything! Let's talk books!

Wicked, The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West.

-Carly

Kitten? Cat? Kitten-Cat? He's Just Hendrix For Now

"Of all animals, the cat alone attains to the contemplative life. He regards the wheel of existence from without, like the Buddha."

-Andrew Lang



You can sit and watch Hendrix grow. Honestly, I don't know what Purina puts in it's Kitten Chow, but my little ball of feline fluff, it now a sleek, fast, chubby cheek CAT... of about 9 lbs or so. I don't know for sure mind you, he will get weighed in next week, but he might even be bigger then my estimate. He hasn't even reached 6 months old yet! At this pace he will be more panther then domestic cat~ LOL.

That would be a good thing I think. Hendrix is more then anything else... a love bug. He is respectful, and had already learned the words, BAD, NO and LOVE. Like with Elvis, I try to say the word LOVE more then BAD. He knows his name and can make the distinction between his name and Dylan's when I am calling them. He knows when I am trying to get his attention specifically, and responds.

He loves his brother... and drives him crazy. LOL. I have to separate the boys once in a while, but not for very long, as Dylan immediately misses his brother and cries for his companionship. When they are in the yard together, they stay with each other, so I never have to worry about one of them getting lost. It is a huge yard, so I stay with them to make sure they are ok. I am a mommy. :)

Hendrix loves watching TV and sometimes I put on a children's show for him. Just something calm and peaceful like Max and Ruby. The other day he dragged his favorite blanket and his favorite chew toy, Chip the Squirrel onto the bed, and fell asleep watching Max and Ruby. Dylan likes TV too, and usually follows his brother's lead when it comes to playtime. If Hendrix takes a time out, then Dylan does as well. They are brothers.

:)

My babies.

Life is good.

-Carly
"Hendrix The Kitten-Cat"
February 12th 2009

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #24: The Color Red

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way... things I had no words for."

-Georgia O'Keffee

Thanks for all your wonderful WINTER DAYS/COLD THINGS photos this past week. As I type this there is a fair amount of rain falling, with more on the way, and there is also a hint of snow for Bay Area mountaintops in the forecast. Well done! Now, on to this week's assignment...

EMPS #24: The Color RED.
With Valentine's Day next Saturday, and February being Heart Health Awareness month, what better time to focus our attention, and camera, on the color RED. As always, feel free to step outside the box as far as interpretation goes. RED Beans & Rice, RED hearts, RED roses, RED dogs, a RED crayon, RED cream soda, RED meat, RED rubies, RED cars, RED clothing, Rhode Island RED chickens. You get the idea.

Extra Credit: Show me something Valentine's Day related that isn't RED!

**Please Read**
You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET to do the assignment, post it to your blog or journal, and comeback here with the direct link. Remember, it must be the direct link to the entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, not the general link to your blog or journal. No hyperlinks accepted! Also, if it is your first time playing, be sure to let me know so I can give you a proper welcome! And please remember to link back here, so other folks can play along as well.

Linking List for EMPS #23: Winter Days/Cold Things 02/02/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Judi

2. Suzanne

3. Tammy

4. Gwenlyn

5. Jama

6. Karen

7. Greg

8. Wammy

9. Mike

10. Steven

11. Terri

12. Connie


It was a wonderful turnout this week, thanks for playing along folks! Ok, that's it for this week, so, GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS! I will see you next Monday, with an all new EMPS assignment!

-Carly

It's Still A Chihuahua Stupid!

"Ah - good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness."

-Pablo Picasso

Here, as promised, is a picture of my latest artwork gone awry! LOL. I swear, I thought it was a cat. LOL. The lady at the glaze studio was so sweet, she just grinned and admitted it looked a little like a cat to her as well. Tee Hee. I guess the customer is always right. Oh well, the real point to the day out was to have fun, and I did, I enjoyed the creative outlet a lot, so I think I will be going back to make something else soon. Next time I will take pictures so I can share it with you here. I have the perfect piece in mind... a nice vase... at least I think it's a vase... for all I know it might be a candelabra. LOL. Or a horse!

(Insert crossed eyes here)

You can read more about this adventure here.

-Carly
"Zen Chihuahua"
Berkeley, California
February 8, 2009
Morning