A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 50~ RRC-Keys

"No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys."


~Doug Horton


RRC: Keys Hosted by Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin






The current challenge subject for the Round Robin Photo Challenge is "KEYS." It's an ironic subject, because for the last month or so it has been a subject that has played LOUDLY for Alan and I. Keys to our cottage, keys to our cars, keys to our fence, keys keys keys. I was going to tackle this assignment by posting a little about all the different KEY situations we have found ourselves in, but at the last minute I decided to choose one situation to share. The quote above serves all the situations, and I know that someday it will all seem funny, but I am preferring not to dwell... for now.


So, how about we talk about my car Lilith...


 


We bought Lilith in late September of 2006. My old car Angelica, aka a 2001 Saturn SL1 had lived a good life, but was now ready to move on to her final resting place. Alan's car, was also tired from having served him well, so off we went to the Saturn dealership to find two new rides.


We both chose 2007 Saturn IONs. Alan chose a gold one, and I picked one in Cypress green. Well, actually, I had chosen a candy apple red one, but after further consideration finally took the green one. I love the color of my car. In the sun it is either green or gold or a combination of both when the sun hits it just right. Lilith is a confortable car, and we were both happy, until 3 weeks after my warrentie expired... and you guessed it... Lilith broke down.


The estimate was about $4000. It was two years after I bought her. She had 3 more years of car payments. And it was going to cost $4000 to get her running again. $$#@*&^! Coincidentally, Gov. Schwarzenegger had just decided to furlough state employees by taking 3 days pay out of their checks per month, and Elvis was becoming ill. It was a perfect storm of stupid. So, Alan and I made the decision to continue to make the car payments, and deal with Elvis's illness. The car is not a living, breathing thing, but my boy was.


So, though all the various ins and outs of the last few years. Alan and I are once again on an upswing. Don't get me wrong, we don't have endless piles of cash lying around, but we were able to get my car fixed, finally, about a month ago.Now, how does a key fit into all this... well... you see... Lilith ran well... for about a month, and then suddenly a couple weeks ago, the mechanism that the key fits into got stuck. We couldn't get the key out of the car. UGGGGGGGG! No worries, 2 days and $400 later, she is driving like a dream. Half waking NIGHTMARE and half SURREALIST COMEDY.

 

In that Lilith wasn't driven for 4 out of the last 6 years, she drives like a brand new car. And that's great because I always loved her, and while she might be a 2007, she is a gal with low miles. LOL. I am a happy camper. I wouldn't have wanted to get rid of her, and she should have a few more really good years left in her. She only has 30,000 miles on her, and besides, she takes me to see beautiful things like Golden Gate Park and the Monarchs in Pacific Grove. I love my car. She's my Lilith. So the key you see above... that is the key to a lot of happiness.






Although I did read not too long ago that the Saturn ION is one of the worst cars ever made. But I don't think I will dwell on it. LOL.


~Me :)

** Today's APAD Link...
JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-50-51.html
 
**If you would like to see what the other Robins came up with for the challenge, just click here.

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 50~If lincoln Were Here

"Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well." 

 ~Marcus Valerius Martial

If Abraham Lincoln were alive today, I think he would be happy with today's ruling by the Supreme Court, but would he still be a Republican? Would he be a Republican by today's standards? Would he support torture? Would he be for or against Healthcare Reform? In that some want to think he actually did hunt vampires for God's sake, would he stop there? Just so we are on the same page, HE DIDN'T HUNT VAMPIRES. But if you look around online, you will find out that some absolutely insist that he did. God, it sounds like something Sarah Palin would say while doing a photo op at the Lincoln Memorial. LOL. But if he did, why would he stop there? Wouldn't he want folks to be healthy? I know what I think... but what about you?

 I have to admit that I was expecting the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Car Act, aka ObamaCare. After the ridiculous ruling of Citzen's United, who wouldn't feel a little cynical that Supreme Court would once again bow to the will of the GOP? But as it turns out, they did the right thing. Was I completely happy with PPACA? No. I wanted to see the Public Option included and wasn't happy to see it negotiated away, but the fact that America might just be a healthier place in a 100 years makes me feel like finally we are doing something positive for future generations. There is a lot more that can be done, but for now, this is a start.


Keith Olbermann originally made this Special Comment back in 2009, while he was still at MSNBC. It was a passionate, focused observation about the necessity of Health Care Reform. Valid then. Valid Now. If you haven't seen it, do so.



 ~Me :)


Today's Link...


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-49.html

Kat
 http://inmydreamssfk.blogspot.com/2012/06/terns-at-nickerson-beach.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months:Day 49~ Beaches

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

~Henry Beston

Surprise! An early post of all new photos! I took all of these photos on yesterday at Crown Beach in Alameda. Beaches, are another one of those subjects I am determined to tackle this summer. The Bay Area has no shortages of amazing beaches. San Francisco, San Mateo County, Marin County. Santa Cruz. And if you want to push it, the Mendocino coast to the north Carmel-By-The-Sea . Lots and lots of beaches, all with their own unique vibe. I chose Crown Beach yesterday, because I was also interested in doing a little bird watching, and at the south end of the beach sits the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. We got skunked on the birds, they were otherwise engaged apparently, but the beach itself was quite lovely, and we pretty much had it all to ourselves. It was nice, well, except for all the sand I brought home with me. LOL. Oh well, sand happens... right?

:)

The mountain range in the background of the photo series is Mt. San Bruno in San Mateo County. And yes, another place that's on my photography Bucket List.

:)






~Me :)

Today's Link...

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-47.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 48~ Palace Of Fine Arts

"There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, architecture is art you can walk around."

~Dan Rice

 

The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco is one of my favorite places to do photography. The grounds are so lovely and peaceful, I have found myself getting lost in the beauty of the place many times. When I am not enjoying it for it's trees and plant life, I am often amused by the birds. I have photographed many ducks, egrets and a heron or two, but the swans are the royalty of the palace. Its a lot of beauty to appreciate. It has a rich history in that it was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition, as a place to display works of art, and later becoming an and a 966 seat Exploratorium theater.

"Architeture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul."

~Ernest Dimnet

The earthquake retrofitting that was being done a few years back was finished in 2009, so now it's time to go back over to the city and revisit the palace and do some more photos of this amazing place. I CAN'T WAIT. As I have been revisiting all these photos from my archive, I had a really good idea where I want to jump back in with my photography. San Francisco has NO end to the wonderful places to take the camera. I completely love it here. Gas prices are stabilizing. My health is doing better, and I am ready to get my groove back. So, the first week in August is it. New Photos. New experiences to share. New adventures. No more excuses. Hold me to it... okay?


;) 

"The mother of art is architecture. Without an architecture of  our own, we have no soul of our own civilization"


~Frank Lloyd Wright

My friend Steven, who I miss very much, every day, once told me, that if I couldn't get out daily to do photography on a grand scale, then try backyard photography. Flowers, bees, birds... . He said it would help me keep moving forward. He was right. I wish I could tell him. I wish I could say THANK YOU. I hope wherever he is, he knows how much I appreciated his advice and friendship.


~Me:)

Now, here is where you can find JR and what he is seeing today...




JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-47.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 47~ At The End Of The Day

"Each morning sees some task begun. Each evening sees it close. Something attempted, something done, has earned a night's repose."


~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


I took this photo about 7 years ago, on the way home from San Luis Obispo, California. SLO for short. I don't remember the exact area or town, it was just a tree that caught my eye. It had been a long day of mostly coastal photography along HWY 1, which started here in the Bay Area and ended in Santa Barbara.About an 18 hour trip start to finish. I don't know exactly why this tree caught my eye, but it I think it was the sight of it standing on the side of a hill all alone. It had such a lovely shape, and as the sun went down behind the hill, the tree took on such a calm presence to it. 

 I took the photograph from the car as we drove past it, and it was the last photo of the day. After hours and hours of photographing coastal splendor... it just felt good to end with something really lovely, that I had no idea would be there. It was nice. When I put the camera down I felt really tired, but very satisfied with what I had accomplished.


~Me :)


Now, go see what my pal JR has come up with for today. He's awesome with a camera!


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-46.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 46~ Crossing Bridges

"We build too many walls, and not enough bridges."


~Isaac Newton


I have posted a lot of photos over the last few years of the Golden Gate Bridge, and don't get me wrong, I love doing photographing it, but I need to start taking more photos of the other Bay Area bridges, such as this one... the San Francisco/ Oakland Bay Bridge. It's a gorgeous bridge, and I always love taking this one into the city from the East Bay. It is the most direct route to the downtown and the Embarcadero. I have done a few photos, but I think I will devote a lot more time to it in the near future, and the thought of that makes me happy. I am finally getting my brain and my energy back... and my creative spirit is ready to go on an adventure again. Sigh. Happiness.



:) Here, have a look...





What do you think? Isn't it a lovely bridge?

:)

Today's Links...

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-45.html
 

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 45: Waterfalls

"A cheery relaxation is man's natural state, just as nature itself  is relaxed. A waterfall is concerned only with being itself, not with doing something it considers waterfall-like.


~Vernon Howard


It's been a while since I worked on my photography on a daily basis. I am slowly getting my groove back though, so I am already planning ahead for the autumn by deciding what subjects I want to concentrate on. I know I will more than likely head up to the Sierra, so I am thinking I might do some water shots along Lake Tahoe. Alan wants to head up the the Redwood Forest and photograph the amazing trees, and of course you already know I never met an autumn colored tree I didn't love. 


As lovely as all those can be, I think my biggest challenge is going to come from moving water. There are some waterfalls in Plumas County, but there are some amazing ones in Yosemite as well. It will be a toss up. Either way, I think it will be good to exercise that part of my creativity. We'll see. 


How about you? Is there a particular subject you would like to spend more time working with in terms of your photography? If so, please share!


~Me :)


Today's Link...


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-44.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 44~ Rose Garden Update

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."

~Dale Carnegie

Julia Child

 

Time for an update regarding the rose garden. I purchased a new rose, the Julia Child. I was wanting a splash of yellow to enhance to colors of my garden. I also had a pretty good reason to chose yellow roses this time around, you see, Alan brought me yellow roses the weekend he proposed to me. So I have always been partial to them, but it has taken me quite a while to find the one with the exact depth of yellow color, and the perfect fragrance combination. But today, I finally decided on the Julia Child.

Hot Cocoa

 

The rose you see at the top is called Hot Cocoa. It is A-MA-ZING. It has the most unusual color. At times the deep purple stands our the most, but then a couple moments later it will show as more of a deep rose color, with bright pink highlights. I have photographed this rose at different times of day, with a different result each time. It's stunning!


I am not sure if I will add another rose to the garden this year, but I know there are still two I would love to see in person, just to get a feeling about perhaps adding it next year. Pumpkin Patch and Honey Dijon. I have actually seen the Honey Dijon rose in the Golden Gate Park rose garden. It is lovely and soft, and it has a real full honey scent. Not as spicy as most roses, but unique in it's sweet scent. 


I have loved every moment of building this rose garden. It brings me an immense sense of happiness.So  yeah... I'm having fun.  :)

~Me :)

Now, go take a look at what my talented friends Kat and JR are photographing today. I just know it's something wonderful. :)

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-43.html

Kat
http://inmydreamssfk.blogspot.com/2012/06/fridays-seem-to-roll-around-so-quickly.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 43~ The Power Of Positive Thinking

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road."


~Henry Ward Beecher


I got my silly on today. I am in a much better mood. A little humor, and remembering how short life is, can help one focus on what's really important. A little humor goes a long way. If you are needing a little humor, I found a few cute websites worth a look. Check them out when you can...


Twainquotes.com


Psychology Today


Gimundo Good News... Served Daily


:)


~Me :)


Today's Links


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-42.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 42~ Mumphf

"Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile."


~Unknown


MUMPHF. And I mean it to... MUMPHF. I am not in a good mood tonight. I wish I wasn't upset, but I am, and there it is, and ... just... MUMPHF. Is it just me, or does everything seem a little off. People, including myself lately, get mad a little easier. People don't seem to be interested in being reasonable, including me according to some people... lol... and who knows they might be right. But I don't think so. You know?

That movie coming out with Steve Carell is intriguing me. "Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World." Would I want to make a special friend to ride out the end of the world with? Nah... don't think so. Maybe the world will end six months from today, or maybe December 21st will simply usher in a new age. Either would be good. After all, we can't control either, right? It's all good. If it is that new age as some predict, maybe it will be an age of understanding. That would be good. Let's just hope for that. Understanding will happen in it's own time. With some work. Right?


MUMPHF. Just MUMPHF.


~Me :)


Jeepers... I must be tired I completely forgot to add today's link. Sorry JR. :( Here you go...


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-41.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 41: Hello Summer

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fullfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that's it's fresh young beauty will ever fade."


~Gertrude Jekyll


Summer begins today at 4:08 PM PDT. And, being that it is the first day of summer, it is also the longest day of the year. Good! Now it can start getting dark early again! I can't wait for those short, darkening days of autumn and winter. I love those days. Everything is so beautiful. To me, summer is just a thing I have to put up with while I wait for autumn. I long for autumn. Happiness... sigh. Smile.


~Me :)


By the way, the photo above is another angle of Bird Rock, on the 17 Mile drive in Carmel/Monterey. I took it in July of 2006. Isn't lovely?


Now that you have visited my post, please stop by and see what JR and Kat have posted. They are awesome photographers, I love their creativity.


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-40.html


Kat
http://inmydreamssfk.blogspot.com/2012/06/four-blackbirds.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 40: Snowy Egret In November

"Don't shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like."

~Alan David Harvey

As an amateur photographer, I do find myself doing a lot of editing with light and angles, and yes, at times with my photo editing software. In a perfect world I try to look beyond the obvious in front of me, to the impression behind it. It probably comes from my love for Impressionist art. If you ever visit me, you will find book, after book relating to Impressionist art. How about you? Do you prefer the raw image, without a lot of editing? Or do you find yourself going beyond the immediate with photo editing tools? Do you plan out each shot carefully, or do you shoot by instinct? Tell me, what motivates you to do your photography?

Opinions please.

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months Day 39: Common Interests

"Many realities hidden behind wall of perception."


~Toba Beta, Betelgeuse Incident


I love this picture. I had the best time watching these two... then I saw it... the rhino and the little brown duck are kind of similar in appearance. The coloration and the spots. Both weren't moving very fast, and I noticed that they pretty much stayed close to each other the entire time I spent observing them. I couldn't help but wonder what the two were thinking.


Were the rhino and the duck best friends? Was the rhino the bigger, older, sibling the brown duck had always wanted? Was the brown duck the understanding pal the rhino always wanted? The friend who was secure in their own identity? Maybe the duck and the rhino were both dreamers who wondered what life was like on the other side of the zoo? 


In the end, who knows. I guess I am thinking a lot about family and friendships because of this season of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. The underlying tone of the show has always been about relationships, both the ones we choose to have and the ones we are born into. Some say a friend is better than a family member because you cant pick your family but you can pick a friend.


Yeah... that's true. But sometimes friends can hurt you every bit as much as a family member. I have had my experience with both dynamics. I suppose there is no relationship that doesn't bring the risk of hurt, which is why I tend to go very slowly with relationships. It's an odd feeling to look back over those who have come and gone and know how much I still miss them. Some have passed this world, some moved and some went yelling and screaming in a mad dash out of my life. (Like Mr. November) LOL. I exaggerate... but it kinda felt that way at the time.


I don't know. It's just what it is. I know I like watching animals and their interactions. There is a lot that can be learned I think. Watching the RHONJ has some lessons in it to. I am just sad that those lessons are such devestating ones. I feel bad for the ladies. Life is too short. If only we all had a little brown duck, or a big protective rhino. Right?


"The question is not what you look at, but what you see."


~Henry David Thoreau


~Me :)


I can't believe I have already arrived at day 39! I think it will be easier than I originally thought to reach my goal. Well, so far so good anyway. The key to reaching any goal is to begin with something realistic. I did and then added a month to it. LOL. So, we'll see. 


My pal JR has been posting along with me, and it would be great if you want to join us! Go see what he has posted for today, it's always something great, he is an awesome photographer. Oh, and by the way, coming some time this week, I am going to post some photos of my cameras and the equipment I use in my photography. That would be a great way to join in, so please feel free to participate! Thanks again JR for the inspiration!


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-38.html

A Photo A day For 6 Months: Day 38: Bird Rock

From For Ellipsis

"Home is not where you live, but where thy understand you."


~Christian Morganstern

 

Bird Rock, located on the 17 Mile drive on the Monterey Peninsula, is one of the most striking stops along the route, which eventually winds down to Pebble Beach, is always one of my favorite stops along the route. It is a lovely place to stop and take in not just the beauty Pacific ocean at your feet, but also get in a little bird watching as well. No matter how many visits I make to this stunning vista, I am always amazed at just how many birds cover the rock. 


On this particular day, back in October of 2007, there seemed to be mostly cormorants, but on other visits I have seen pelicans, pigeons, and I believe an odd sandpiper or two. But it's not just birds that sun themselves on the rock, as you can see here, harbor seals apparently enjoy lazing there as well. And why not? The 17 Mile drive is among the most beautiful stretches of California coastline, and to them its home. Lucky ducks... and cormorants... and pigeons... and pelicans. LOL.








"Home is where you can say anything you please, because nobody pays any attention to you anyway:"


~Joe Moore

~Me :)

This is day 38 of my personal challenge of posting A Photo A Day For 6 Months. If you would like to join me, please feel free to join in! There is no theme, no worries about what you post. Just upload your photo, and come back here with a direct link back to it. I will include your link with my post for tomorrow. Its that easy! See, like my pal JR...


JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/apadf6-37.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 37~ RRC~Clouds

"There air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? It is the same the angels breathe."


~Mark Twain, Roughing it.


APAD and RRC: Clouds. 

Clouds, By Percy Bysshe Shelley


After a long absence from blogging and posting my photos, I am easing myself back into the art of the daily blog update. Last year, as 2011 moved along, I was finding myself edging off the cliff of inspiration. I wasn't happy with my photography, or the things I wanted to talk about. At times, it felt like I was literally jumping out of my own skin. I was putting it all down to a series of unfortunate events which had taken place earlier in the year, and my subsequent exhaustion from it. I figured it was my Fibromyalgia adding to it all and making everything seem worse then it really was, and as much as I kept trying to remember that intellectually, my body was simply too tired to feel inspired creatively. Come to find out, it wasn't just the Fibromyalgia or the events that took place, it was the fact that I now have an under active thyroid or, Hypothyroidism. Fast forward, and a silly little pill later, my energy and over all well being is getting back to normal. 


So, long story short, this is my second time playing with the Round Robins since my hiatus ended a little over a month ago. And I couldn't be happier to play along during a challenge that highlights one of my favorite subjects... CLOUDS. I was only able to capture one new cloud photo, the one you see above, because the Bay Area has been experiencing some really clear, lovely weather of late, but I did do a little tip-toe through my archives to show off some photos I haven't displayed in the past. Well, most of them are anyway. Some have been posted previously, but there are a few that will be seen for the first time. 


Enjoy!

A Mixture Of Clouds And Fog Looking Towards Angel Island

 

Twilight Near The Marin Headlands



As the Sun Goes Down Near Hearst Castle



After A Spring Storm Facing The Marin Headlands



As The Sun Sets On The Year... December 31st, 2007



An Autumn Dusk On The 17 Mile Drive Monterey California



Twilight In The Summer Of 2008



Stormy November In Sacaramento



A Mixture Of Snow, and Fog and Clouds Skyline Blvd Woodside California






Angry Sky May 2012
 


White Coudy Sky Mount Hamilton






And Finally, I took this last one while visiting Cambria, California in 2005




Okay, that's my Cloud Gallery. Now, go see what other Round Robin participants have posted. You can find the full list of participants, as well as all the information you need to play along, at the official Round Robin Blog. Just click HERE.




See ya tomorrow! :)


~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 36~ Bird Logic

"Why Compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being your than you."


~Unknown


Okay, so tell me, does that pigeon want to be a flamingo? Does he think he is a flamingo? Or do you think he just likes seeing what life is like in their... ahem... neck of the zoo?


Thoughts?


~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 35~ Sunflowers

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do."


~Helen Keller


As if by magic, or good timing at the very least, I have been spending the week planning, and getting ready to plant Sunflowers... lots and lots of Sunflowers, when what should appear in my inbox... my Farmer's Almanac, and in it was a fascinating article all about... you guessed it... Sunflowers!


I was so happy to read the article, that it inspired me to take a look through my archives for inspiration before planting this year. I love the large yellow Sunflowers, but my heart belongs to the exotic colors as well. The black and purple, and especially the fiery reds. I love that Sunflowers turn their faces toward the sun, then follow it as it moves throughout the day. It's a great reminder not to dwell on the cold, dark, side of things. 


Soak Up The Sun.


Enjoy!
Farmer's Almanac: Sunflowers To The Rescue!





















See ya tomorrow!


~Me:)