Contrast

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Donalyn

These photos are very different, but also very much alike.
The differences are obvious. Spikey vs. soft, dark vs. light, dry vs. wet.thistleBut what about them is the same? Neither of them were taken under ideal conditions. The thistle was taken in mid-afternoon light. Kind of harsh, but it shows through the spines nicely. Conventional photographic wisdom dictates that landscape and floral phototgraphy is best done just a bit after dawn and a bit before sunset, but that isn’t always possible. Daylilies don’t open fully until the sun hits them, by which time the light is really too bright to get a good shot. This near-white, called “Gentle Shepherd” is particularly difficult to capture, but I was pretty happy with this one.gentle_shepherd_rainWhat is all contrasty in your world these days?

Posted in garden, photos | 6 Comments

Things that run

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Donalyn

Like these falls. These are the Fall Creek Falls in Ithaca NY, just a short drive from here. fallcreek

Then there is my nose. Is there anything more miserable than a summer cold? No photos of the nose – one of the advantages of working from home is that I don’t have to see anyone if I don’t want to. And no one has to see me, which right now is a huge benefit to the world, I assure you.

Have a lovely – and un-sick day :)

Posted in photos | 5 Comments

I am mad

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Donalyn

mark_frownNo, really – I am mad. It’s Tuesday right? And what do we usually have on Tuesdays? A recipe, right? All last week I wasn’t worried about what I would post today, because I had this lovely muffin recipe all set to go. The muffins were scrumptious and the photos came out great.

If only I could find them now.  I managed to delete those photos it seems. I don’t know how. I have a very specific work flow that I use every time to make sure this doesn’t happen. But happen it did and now I’ve got nothing. That is why I am mad. mark_frown2And I have a nasty summer cold that is just kicking my butt. Also, summer finally decided to show up, so it is in the 90s. And humid. Not good when you have a cold. Not good for baking muffins either, so I will have to wait a bit to redo that recipe. One hint – you are going to want to get some blueberries.

All of this sort itself out in a day or two though. Then, like Mark, I will find my good face again. [“Okay Grandma, now take a picture of my good face.”] All of his faces look good to me.good_faceFor now though, I am mad. Also sneezy, Probably dopey too. Have a great day my friends!

Posted in family, grandchildren, me, photos | 14 Comments

Migrant Workers

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Donalyn

As you can see from this photo, we have such a huge crop of tomatoes this year, that we have had to hire a gang of migrant workers to help with the harvest.

No, wait. That can’t be right. Like so many gardeners in Upstate NY, we have practically no tomatoes at all. The cold and rainy weather that we experienced for most of the summer resulted in an early “late blight”. We nearly always have some late blight, but usually by the time it gets here, we already have tons of tomatoes in the freezer, so while we hardly welcome it, it doesn’t have such a huge effect as it is this year. We are more fortunate than some – we might get a half bushel or so. From 24 plants. Gah. Most people around here won’t have any at all though. Still – that is the nature of gardening, to sometimes have to deal with adversity, due to the weather. I don’t like to think about what it was like 100 years ago if someone out here lost all of their tomatoes. At least I can buy them in the store through the winter – they just had to do without. I’m not even sure if people ate that many tomatoes 100 years ago, but they ate potatoes, and many people have lost all of those too. Larry got our potatoes in really early this year, so ours were ready to dig before the blight got them. But I digress. Wildly.

So, if this isn’t a picture of migrant workers, what is it exactly? It is our yard at the height of the stampede of relatives we had earlier this month! A huge camper, 2 tents, 6 extra dogs, 6 vehicles in the driveway, 11 people staying here with another 8 wandering in and out, and a shameful number of wine bottles in the recycling bin this week. It was good.migrant

Now, I am off to work – after a month long vacation. How can that be anything but fun? Have a great day all!

Posted in family | 6 Comments

A Winner!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Donalyn

The winner for the July “Comment Love” giveaway is none other than the lovely Kate!july_winnerOddly, as the winning comment is only number 28 for the month, her comment happened to be on the post announcing the winner for the previous month. I love seeing a frequent commenter win, don’t you?

I am going to have to skip this month’s giveaway. We have some financial uncertainty coming up, as the job Larry has been working on since earlier this year is nearly at an end and it remains to be seen if he will pick up another right away. An uncomfy side effect of being a carpenter is that when the building is completed, they expect you to go away and refuse pay you any more. Go figure, eh? It’s circumstance we are used to, but it is cause for caution just the same. On the plus side, I picked up a new project within about 20 minutes of the last of my company leaving yesterday.

I do have lots to tell you about over the next couple weeks – lots of nice shots from the extended visit with all of my family, some nice photos I have been working on and I am finally getting my store up and running. Thanks so much to those who have encouraged me to do this and to those who have already purchased my photos even if I haven’t made it easy up until now.

So tell me – what are you doing this weekend? Hope it’s a good one!

Posted in Blogging, contests | 8 Comments