Whispers From The Woods
Musings from magikal folk…..
Outside My Window
Outside My Window ~ 5.19.2013
Outside my window…is a rather dreary Sunday afternoon. There is full cloud cover with the sun making a feeble attempt to show itself. I say feeble because I believe it could come out and shine if it really wanted to. I’m not sure what location The Weather Channel dude is reporting from but they are saying mostly sunny and 78°F…not so. Cloudy and 78°F is more like it. We have a chance of thunderstorms after 6:00 this evening, it is definitely humid enough to conjure up a storm when you mix in a little afternoon heat. We have had a weekend of storms and rain that began with a rather powerful thunderstorm at around 3:00 Saturday morning. We did see a little blue sky yesterday but it was quickly taken over by more storm clouds. I think I will keep an eye on the sky and radar to track the upcoming ones ~ I don’t want to be out walking Turbo when the next one hits like I was yesterday evening. I heard thunder, felt a drop of rain or two and we turned around to head home. Of course with storms like this it starts slow and builds up to an eventual downpour….which it did this time. Although we weren’t that far from home and it wasn’t a full on down pour, Turbo and I were soaked all the same by the time we reached the house. I was drenched but I was laughing all the way…it felt wonderful.
I am thinking…I am not going outside if the 17 year cicada invasion is anything like I have seen for a program they are advertising on television. The thought of billions of bugs coming out of the ground is like my worst nightmare let alone crawling all over me or surrounding me as they fly around. My skin creeps just thinking of it. I know some areas are already experiencing the invasion but it is suppose to peak at the end of this month. I don’t remember how bad they were 17 years ago, but I’m hoping that is because they prefer inland locations rather than coastal and they weren’t so bad here.
I am glad…I kept the strawberries that were a little to ripe for my taste and turned them into strawberry preserves. I was almost ready to toss them Thursday night when something told me “not yet”. I put them back into the refrigerator and Friday while sitting at work it dawned on me, make strawberry preserves! I cut them up and covered them with sugar yesterday, let them sit and cooked them today. It didn’t quite make a pint but what did make was quite tasty! I’m definitely going to try and get some more this year so I can have a few jars during the fall and winter when the berries are just a memory. I might try my hand at something new as well. I finally understand how my grandmother felt when she would finish canning something….there is something very satisfying about canning and storing your own food. I only wish I had a larger space to store them.
From my kitchen…is the above mentioned strawberry preserves and a home made brownie recipe I wanted to share with you. These are tasty, easy to make and I’m thinking for less than you pay for a boxed mix. Click the image to open a copy of the recipe in Adobe Reader.
I am hoping…that I can get my flower seeds planted soon. I still have plenty of time but the sooner I get them in the ground the sooner I can enjoy the benefits.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the hum of the refrigerator….Turbo’s tail hitting something as it wags back and forth ~ his way of getting my attention to take him outside….the cancelled Firefly television series. Pity it was cancelled, I like it but only discovered it long after it was cancelled.
Plans for the week include…hopefully getting my flower seeds planted this week….would like to pick up a couple of tomato plants but may wait a little longer on that….finishing up a composite inspired by the movie Silent Hill, a 2006 horror movie….working from home on Tuesday and getting off a half day early on Friday because of employee appreciation day.
One of life’s little pleasures…walking in the rain. 
From my camera…a recent afternoon with my oldest daughter and Turbo at my mother’s house….he loves to run in her extra large yard….and chase sticks….
Outside My Window ~ 5.12.2013
Outside my window…is the closing hours of Mother’s Day 2013. What began as a rainy morning turned into an amazing day with sunshine, blue skies and fabulous temperatures. Our high today was 75°F and a forecast low tonight of 50°F…beautiful! Unfortunately I didn’t get anything finished in the flower bed as I had planned today….the ground was pretty wet from the rain last night and this morning. I couldn’t help but notice on my walks this weekend how lush and green everything is…just the way I like it. Our temperatures will stay in the upper 60′s for highs and a forecast low of 45°F on Monday and 54°F on Tuesday. Wednesday will see the temps climb to the low 80′s and even warmer for the rest of the week with a small chance of isolated thunder storms a few of those days.
I am thinking…that I hope everyone who celebrates Mother’s Day had a wonderful day. Mine was very nice….I got some beautiful flowers and a home made dinner. It was a lovely and relaxing day.
I am glad…that I have such amazing daughters who have made my life complete.
I am hearing…Harry Potter on television….the dog snoring on the couch….me yawning.
A recap of last week…included the calendars for the month of May ~ I almost gave up on getting these on this month, each day brought a new issue and I was to the point of throwing up my hands,but everything worked out so they are there…..and a little tribute to my sweet girl on her birthday yesterday.
Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….making some changes to the photography web site that will eliminate the need for an additional site for ordering prints of my images.
One of life’s little pleasures…a cookie cake for Mother’s Day.
From my camera…not really from my camera, but a little something I put on Facebook today…me and my mom….Happy Mother’s Day!
Outside My Window ~ 4.28.2013
Outside My Window…is a cloudy evening. We started out with blue skies and sunshine but as the day progressed we built up to what is now total cloud cover with some fairly dark skies on the horizon. Our forecast for this evening is cloudy skies with an 80% chance of rain after midnight. At 6:15 we are currently at 62°F which is very close to the forecast over night low of 60°F. Our high today was around noon with partly cloudy skies and 70°F. It was a fabulous weekend overall….perfect for working outside. Yesterday I was able to finish my clean up of the backyard and trimming the two large bushes on the opposite side of my fence. I was a little over zealous with the sawing and trimming, I went right through a branch and into my arm with the gardening saw. Ouch! Fortunately once I hit skin I had the good sense to stop. 
It is pretty gruesome looking today but surprisingly it doesn’t hurt unless I bump it. Today I was able to complete work in half of the side flower bed. I may have tried for the entire bed but since it runs the length of the house, I decided I didn’t want to push myself with the pollen and my muscles. I can tell the pollen has affected my breathing and I’m hobbling as it is so I’m actually glad I listened to myself this time. The day was complete when I did a half-assed repair of a torn shingle. You can definitely tell it was done by an amateur but it is repaired. I can hear the roofers that will one day replace my shingles laughing already.
I am thinking…positive thoughts and hoping my daughter’s old car will be sold very soon. There is a good possibility….if things work out. Fingers crossed….
Did you know…that the Earth passed between Saturn and the Sun today and the best time to see Saturn in the night sky is now. It will be out all night in late April and from dusk until dawn in May. Tonight it is the closest to Earth and the brightest in our night sky. It will be near the bright star Spica. Look to the Southeast after nightfall for the Big Dipper…follow the tip of the handle, it will guide you down to Spica which is located in the constellation of Virgo. Saturn will be below Spica. You will be able to tell the difference between the two because Saturn has golden glow and shines constant….Spica has blue white glow and twinkles. Unfortunately we have heavy cloud cover so I won’t be able to see it this evening.
I am glad…that even though Turbo ran off yesterday afternoon there was a happy ending. I was working in the back trimming the bushes and had him tethered while I was out there. After I finished, I went into the backyard to do some more work so took him off the tether and let him in the yard with me. As I was carrying some old pots and such out of the gate, he followed me one time and lay in the grass while chewing on a stick. I went back through the gate, grabbed a pot and went right back out….no more than 5 seconds. When I looked around, he was gone…nowhere in sight. Of course mini panic set in as I called him again and again. Still no where in sight. My neighbor was in his backyard, heard me calling and told me he would help search. We walked around the neighborhood and no sign of him. My neighbor jumped in his car, I in mine and we drove around various neighborhoods that he may have gotten to….no success. At this point I was getting fairly upset ~ I was pretty sure he would be able to make his way home but my greatest concern was that someone would either take him (of course he didn’t have his tags on) or he would be hit by a car. I had made my way along the course that we sometimes walk on the weekends when I decided to make my way back home. I was heartbroken I couldn’t find my little buddy. As I was pulling in to park my neighbor came running from the rear of the house with a huge smile two thumbs up….he walked the canal again and when he heard a duck squawking, he investigated. There was Turbo, in the nasty canal trying to get a duck. When he saw my neighbor (who was trying to get to him) he took off running, of course still in the canal, and headed for home. I had left the gate partially open when I went looking so Turbo made a beeline into the yard and my neighbor closed the gate. I was elated….I grabbed my neighbor and hugged him then ran into the back to find Turbo. When I saw him he was cowering because he knew he was in trouble….and he smelled like dirty, nasty pond. I don’t think he expected me to scoop him up in a towel and hug him. I was so relieved to see him I couldn’t be mad….but he immediately got a bath ~ twice. Needless to say, he will not be walking free when I work back there again. The time this event covered was probably about an hour and my neighbor never once stopped looking. He comforted me when I was getting distressed and promised that we would find Turbo. He has a rescue as well….Piper, a Great Pyrenees…one of the sweetest and friendliest dogs I have ever been around. I’m so very grateful for him…very grateful. While this is the first time he has helped me search for my dog….it is not the first time he has helped me. I’m very fortunate to have such a wonderful neighbor.
From my kitchen…is a new brownie recipe I’m checking out but not quite ready to share. I have a few others I’m going to test out and will hopefully have some to share with you next week. I may even have a non-toxic weed killer recipe to share as well but I want to give it a test run before I do. I was curious if any of you had tried out the homemade vanilla extract recipe I posted some time ago..and if so, how did it turn out? I made mine when I created the post and bottled it a few week ago. It is wonderful ~ aromatic and tasty.
I am hoping…that I’m not as sore as I am afraid I’m going to be in the morning. I’m feeling some muscles I haven’t felt in some time, mostly upper body and especially in my shoulders and arms. I guess I don’t actually do sawing motions that often during my normal routine….go figure.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the dog snoring in his bean bag bed….the hum of the refrigerator….me yawning quite loudly ~ I’m thinking no one will need to rock me to sleep tonight.
Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….continue work on a new portrait line I will be offering….planting some flower seeds after work on Tuesday….probably finish up the side garden this coming Saturday. In between I will be editing some more images and working on a composite I hope to unveil soon.
One of life’s little pleasures…iced cold sweet tea on a warm spring day.
From my camera…or perhaps I should say from my iPhone….a few images I took this morning during my walk with Turbo. We were a little later than usual getting out this morning…closer to 8:00 than we generally are. As we approached or usual walking route I noticed there was a lot more traffic and parked cars than normal….then I noticed there was a lot more foot traffic as well. Then it dawned on me….the truck I saw in City Center during our walk on Saturday was there for this day ~ Color Me Rad 5k run. In case you aren’t familiar with this, runners are “color bombed” as they run the course. I decided we would walk as well as we could with all this activity….Turbo isn’t fond of people either running towards him or away from him but he actually did quite well. He did grow tired of waiting for our turn to cross the street while we waited for the first set of runners to pass by ~ he barked a few encouraging words to the folks bringing up the rear. They had so many people they staggered the start times for everyone….in the time I was there I heard a countdown for at least four or five different groups of people. These are a few images I shot with my iPhone ~ with the exception of the truck, I took that yesterday with my point and shoot. I brought that camera with me to get some composite photo shots and decided since the truck was not the norm I would take a photo of it. I’m not sure if this was something I would have done even if I was still running.
These two photos were taken as Turbo and I waited for the first set of runners to pass….check out the guy that looks as if he had been dipped in flour in the second image. Sadly I didn’t get my phone out in time to get a photo of Gumby running.
A view of the runners as we were making our way back towards the house….this was probably group four or five…
You can see the runners approaching one of the color bomb areas….the cloud of color dust was larger than this at one point ~ which is why I didn’t venture any closer.
Outside My Window ~ 4.21.2013
Outside my window…is the end of another weekend. At around 11:00 this evening we are at 47°F with clear skies. The weather channel says it feels like 43°F and I’m wondering if I should be worried about the house plants I took outside a couple of weeks ago. I guess it is too late to worry about that now…I hope they will be alright. We had an absolutely beautiful, albeit chilly, weekend. There was a nice overnight soaking rain on Friday and into the early hours Saturday morning that washed the thick layer of pollen away. A cold front moved in with that rain and left the air feeling brisk and clean. It was wonderful to walk the dog and not feel like I had a half inch of pollen dust all over me when I got home. The pollen has been quite heavy this year….I’m thinking all the rain we have had allowed everything that could bloom this year to bloom. The flowering trees have bloomed and turned from beautiful flowers to leaves and even the pines have exploded their pollen everywhere. I know we are far from done with it but if we get a nice soaking rain every few days, it can be tolerable as long as you don’t spend too much time in it. I believe the high on both days was in the mid 50′s but today we had some brisk winds which made it feel even cooler. There was plenty of sunshine and blue skies….as I said, absolutely beautiful.
I am thinking…I am glad this past week is over with. I received some sad news Saturday before last ~ the man I worked for {and still did work for} passed away. I went to work for Mr. Moore as his Administrative Assistant at Moore Realty Company not quite a year after I moved back to Virginia. The woman I was working with had sold her business and I was not interested in working with the new owners. She happened to know Mr. Moore and heard he was looking for someone so she recommended me for the position….the rest is history. I worked with him for nearly 14 years…I had my daughters while there and went through a divorce. He retired in 2004 and I continued as a personal assistant for him and his wife whenever the need came up. We often had lunch together after I went to work for the College of William and Mary since they lived in Williamsburg. As the girls were growing up we enjoyed brunch with them at their country club on several occasions and then relaxing back at their house afterwards. He was a kind man….and he will be missed.
I am glad…I have weathered the pollen fairly well so far this year. Of course I haven’t been totally unaffected but for the most part, I’m doing pretty good.
From my kitchen…was homemade buttermilk biscuits this morning….some leftover sesame chicken for lunch….and a clever way to make meatloaf for dinner this evening.
Prepare the meatloaf as you normally would except instead of cooking in a loaf pan, use a muffin pan. It cuts down on the cooking time plus it creates a single serving. You can “frost” your meatloaf with some mashed potatoes and top with your favorite gravy. I don’t use ketchup in my meat loaf, I prefer gravy.
I also have a recipe for you this evening….homemade taco seasoning.
Have you ever wanted tacos only to discover you have no seasoning for the meat? Here is a recipe that is quite tasty and you probably have the ingredients in your spice cabinet right now.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….a stupid commercial on television….the hum of the ceiling fan. I am not hearing The Walking Dead these last couple of weeks and won’t until October of this year. I may or may not be going through withdrawal.
Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….begin work on a composite I have been formulating in my head for some time….continue editing some photographs I took last week.
One of life’s little pleasures…discovering my passion for some things is still there ~ I just needed to step back and recharge my batteries for a bit I suppose.
From my camera… are a few images tonight. By the way ~ how do you like the new window? I have been picking up the camera a lot more lately….playing with natural light as I toy with a new direction to go with my photography. This first image is some wild flowers growing along a little creek in the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg, VA….
Next up, lunch today…..
And finally….a shot I took at the beach early last week….
Outside My Window ~ 4.7.2013
Outside my window…is the end of an amazing spring day! Finally! Our high today was a wonderful 72°F with sunshine and blue skies…just fabulous! Currently at 10:00 p.m we are at 63°F with a forecast low of only 56°F. Tomorrow ~ mostly sunny and 80°F. The next five days ~ lower 80′s for our highs and low to mid 60′s for the low. We won’t drop back down into the low 70′s until next Friday and then mid to upper 60′s for several days after that. I was anticipating warmer temperatures but I wasn’t expecting the 80′s to be honest. The warmer temperatures will definitely bring the trees to life….and with that will come the heavy pollen. I’m not looking forward to that as much as I was the warmer temperatures. Our last frost date has passed so it is time to get the seedlings ready for planting. I will probably be planting during the next two weekends. I have begun the spring weeding for the flower garden but will need another weekend at least to finish. I started today but the ground is still quite wet. I got most of the ground cover out of the way so the ground will dry out a bit. I don’t mind it wet when I’m weeding, helps the roots come out a bit easier however it is so wet not too much soil is clinging to the roots. While out weeding I noticed the red and black lilies have broken through and the Lily of the Valley is just breaking out of the soil. The day lilies have been out and growing nicely as well as the iris. I discovered cilantro near the red and black lilies…not even close to where I originally planted it but I’m assuming it must have seeded and landed there. The lemon balm is going nuts. I’m going to pick up a tomato plant or two…and some basil. I will be planting seeds for morning glories, moon flowers and my favorites, zinnias.
I am thinking…I’m going to be pretty sore tomorrow. I did so much bending, pulling, stretching, squatting….a lot more than I have done in my normal winter routine. I was feeling it earlier today so I know that I may be hobbling a bit when getting out of bed tomorrow.
I am glad…we are finally getting some warm weather….even though it will bring the pollen. I was beginning to wonder when I woke up one morning last week and it was in the low 30′s. It will be nice not to bundle up to walk the dog when I wake up.
From my kitchen…is not so much recently. I do have a few new recipes but I haven’t had the opportunity to put them in the computer as of yet. I have been enjoying a new twist to an old favorite lately…Caesar Chicken Wrap. If you look at the post you will notice I am now chopping the lettuce, omitted the Parmesan cheese, added feta cheese and some sliced mini plum tomatoes. Delicious!
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the Exorcist on television….the dog snoring on the couch.
Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….picking up a few things so I can add some curtains to the kitchen window ~ the blinds broke recently and I have decided I’m going to go against the norm and put up curtains. I have some fabric now I just need a little bit of hardware and time with the sewing machine to make it happen.
One of life’s little pleasures…planning a garden and anticipating the outcome.
From my camera…I have a couple of images today ~ first one is Turbo wondering why I was following him with the camera I’m also including an additional desktop calendar …. I had the hardest time this month finding something that I liked.
To download a zip file of this calendar, click here. There are six high resolution images available so you can select the one that best fits your screen.
Click the link and choose “save” or “save as”. Make sure you take note where the file is saved. After the download is complete, go to your saved zip file, extract the files by right clicking the downloaded file and selecting “extract all”….choose a location or accept the location the computer suggests {make sure you take note where the file was extracted}. Now you are ready to get your calendar….find the extracted file, open and select the size that will best suit your monitor….right click on image and select “set as desktop background”.
Free for personal use…and as always, if you have any problems ~ please let me know.
Outside My Window ~ 4.1.2013
Outside my window…is the closing hours of a beautiful day on this the first day of April, 2013. Our high today was 73°F…partly cloudy but I can deal with that when the temperature is so warm. Unfortunately I was inside for a better part of the day at work but I was able to enjoy the nice weather while walking the dog this morning and this evening. This past weekend was half and half….Saturday was beautiful ~ not as warm as today, but very nice still the same….Sunday was cloudy and rainy. This was typical spring weather…not the cold that is coming back Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Daytime temps won’t be so bad…in the upper 50′s….but the evening temps will be in the mid 30′s. That means I will be sporting a coat during my walks and dragging the plants back into the house for a few more nights. I knew I would not be able to leave them out when I took them outside on Saturday but I am looking forward to when I won’t have to worry about the cold. I’m officially over winter…..I’m looking forward to complaining about the pollen and the heat.
Did you know…that I only did three posts on the blog last month? I know, not what inquiring minds really want to know but it kind of surprised me. I actually decided to unplug for a bit….not totally unplugged but it was more of if I wanted to get online I did and I didn’t give in to the feeling that I was obligated to get online lest I miss something. It was some much needed time away. I think technology is a wonderful thing….the ability to communicate with so many different people at one time in a matter of minutes is fabulous. For the most part, we are all wired to one another either via computers, tablets or smart phones. But it can also be a bad thing….the constant stimulation….chatter….quiet time is almost non-existent and I need some quiet time. I used this time to pick up the camera more, to take longer walks, to evaluate what direction I want to take my business. I also began my spring cleaning and even had the chance between rain storms to tackle some outdoor clean up. Still quite a bit to go on both the inside and the outside, but I am satisfied I was able to get a start on both. I hope to get back on track with more consistent posts. Be on the lookout for the new desktop calendars tomorrow.
I am glad…the weather is warming up, even considering this cold patch we are going to go through in the next couple of days. We are still getting plenty of rain and the ground is still soggy but the end result is it will be quite lush and beautiful when the temperatures do become steady.
From my kitchen…is a few new recipes that I will put together to share with you in the coming weeks.
I am hoping…to post another photo manipulation in the next few days. I have several things working, just trying to decide which one I want to take forward.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….Criminal Minds on television…me yawning.
Plans for the week include…working from home tomorrow….putting together a new portrait line but I’m pretty sure this is going to take more than a week to accomplish.
One of life’s little pleasures…watching another season some to pass.
From my camera…taken at City Center in Newport News yesterday morning….
Outside My Window ~ 3.17.2013
Outside my window…is a fairly damp and chilly night. Currently at 8:30 this evening the temperature is hovering at around 40°F, but feels like 34°F. It is damp, wet and still feels very much like winter outside right now. I had taken some of the plants out for what I thought would be for a long while but instead I was dragging them back inside this evening. Just wishful thinking on my part I suppose. These temps are too cold for a few of them. We will have a few more of these chilly evening in the week ahead…. and of course, more rain. Sigh.
Did you know…that it will officially roll over to spring on Wednesday, March 20th? Our forecast for that day is 57°F with partly cloudy skies and a low of 37°F. How about your corner of the world?
I am glad…that the stomach bug/flu/virus/whatever I had this past week is a thing of the past. So very happy! Highlight of the week was when I was told that these kind of things tend to last a little longer in older people like me. 
And I thought I was brutally honest…..
I am hoping…that this bitter cold weather will take its leave of us sooner rather than later. I’m very tired of the cold…ready for another season.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the dog snoring on the couch….the ending minutes of last weeks The Walking Dead episode as I wait for the new one to begin in a few minutes.
A recap of last week…is not too much, I was away from the computer a good deal of the time but there were calendars up on the blog….you can get your copies here.
Plans for the week include…playing catch up on all the work I missed while I was out sick last week….continue the culling of items that I would like to get rid of in the house….try a couple of new recipes….pick up the camera a lot more than I did last week ~ especially since there is so much more blooming now!
One of life’s little pleasures…feeling good after a not so good week!
From my camera…as I said, I didn’t pick up the camera much last week so I’m going to grab some from the archives. I hope to get more like these this coming week….enjoy your week!
Outside My Window ~ 3.3.2013
Outside my window…is a beautiful blue sky, sunshine and a bit windy. It is also 37°F but with the brrrr chilly wind it feels like 29°F at 9:45 this morning. You know what, I don’t care if it is cold because there are blue skies and sunshine….for the first time since Thursday morning. I don’t know if I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)…I have never been clinically diagnosed as such….but I can say that after day in and day out of nothing but clouds, it does affect my mood and spirit. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, I want to squint in the bright sunlight, I want to complain about how hot it is! I’m officially over winter….this has to be one of the cloudiest and wettest winters I can remember. But wait, winter is not done with us….seems there could be a snowstorm of historic proportions heading towards Virginia the middle of the week. First we will get rain (because lord knows we haven’t had ENOUGH of that) and then it will turn to snow. How much will stick is still an argument between the meteorological types because of the temperature forecast. We are forecast to be in the 50′s on Tuesday when the rain is expected to begin with a few showers, Wednesday will bring a high of 45°F with rain and wing, Thursday is expected to reach 48°F with rain, snow and wind. The snow depths for our area vary, depending on who you listen to or what site you read it on. Some people are saying it won’t stick because of the warmer temperatures, but the catch is we were suppose to be in the 40′s yesterday and never got out of the 30′s….so will it be colder than they are forecasting? Anyone’s guess so I suppose we will have to wait and see. All I know is I’m going to be getting wet the middle of the week during dog walks. Neither one of us is fond of that prospect. Note: When I began writing this post it was sunshine and blue skies, 30 minutes later it is once again dull and gray with heavy clouds. 
At lease I was able to enjoy the sunshine this morning during my walk with Turbo.
Did you know…that the herb rosemary is said to improve memory? This easy to grow and pest resilient plant is both attractive and drought resistant. While it is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia, it does fairly well in cooler climates. You can use the leaves in both their fresh and dried state. It is typically used to flavor stuffing’s and potatoes as well as pork, chicken and turkey. It is also known as a symbol for remembrance during weddings and funerals. It is said that if you tap another with a blooming rosemary sprig, the two of you will fall in love.
I am thinking…that time does certainly fly by the older we get. We are now into the third month of the new year and it doesn’t seem all that long ago we were celebrating Christmas. And speaking of time flying by, the first of March snuck up on me so the monthly desktop calendars have not been completed. It dawned on me last night that we were indeed into a new month and no calendar has been completed. I should have them up by tomorrow evening.
I am glad…we were able to find a new car for my oldest daughter. She had been driving the old BMW we purchased a couple of years ago and to say I worried each time she headed off for work is an understatement. Her commute to work isn’t a short one and the need for a reliable automobile was obvious. We talked about the pros and cons and after some discussion, she decided she wanted to get a new car. Of course now she has a new car payment for a few years, but it is her first step in establishing credit on her own which as we all know is a necessary evil if your goal is to ever purchase a home or other large expenditure. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone happier to get a new car…a 2012 Honda Civic LX and it was a new one, right off the show room floor with only 4 miles on the odometer. This the same kind of car she bought used several years ago but was totalled when someone ran into the back of it while parked at a friends house. She hasn’t sat still long enough for me to get one with my DSLR, but here is a photo of her I took with my cellphone….
….and now to get rid of the beast.
From my kitchen…is a recipe for Sesame Chicken. Cook it up….serve over rice….grab your chopsticks…enjoy!
I am hoping…that if it must snow this week it will be like the last storm we had ~ only on the ground and even that didn’t hang around too long.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the wind chimes singing me a song….an otherwise quiet house.
A recap of last week…is another slow one. What little time I spent on the computer I worked on another composite created without the use of a tutorial, Beware When The Moon Is Full.
Plans for the week include…The Walking Dead on television tonight….working from home on Tuesday….finish rearranging some things around here at the house. I’m also working on a story board type form that I can use when creating composites, something to make it a bit easier when it comes time to creating and crediting.
One of life’s little pleasures…a clean and tidy desk ~ for now anyway.
From my camera…along with the composites I have been working on, I have also been working on digitally painting photographs. This is one….say hello to Alanna’s little eye…also known as “Eye in the Sky”.
Outside My Window ~ 2.24.2013
Outside my window…is yet another cloudy day. It does appear as if that bright object in the sky that some refer to as the “sun” is trying to make an appearance…it looks a bit brighter outside than earlier this morning. When the dog and I went for our walk around 7:15, it was full cloud cover with some dark ones on the horizon…misty rain…and a bit cool. The pavement is still wet but looks as if the mist has stopped for the time being. Yesterday was rain….I know, shocking ~ we had rain! We will get a couple of days off and then more rain is forecast for Tuesday. I seriously don’t think the ground can hold any more moisture….the water table must be filled to the top. There is standing water all around and the ground squishes when you walk ~ even when a small dog like Turbo walks across it. I was able to weed one part of my garden about a month ago {maybe more} but the rest of it is so muddy I don’t dare walk in it now. Not only will half the soil come up on the roots of the weeds, but I would be a muddy mess in no time. Not my idea of a good time. On the plus side, the grass is green all over and daffodils will be blooming any day now. As I was typing this paragraph, I just looked outside and saw sunshine ~ first time since Thursday. I don’t know if it will manage to break through this heavy cloud cover, but it was nice to see it even for just a few. At 10:30 this Sunday morning, we are at 48°F but feels like 43°F. Humidity is 80%…a bit high…winds are from the Northwest at around 12mph. Our forecast today calls for decreasing clouds and a high of 58°F. The coming week will see temps in the mid to upper 50′s and as I mentioned, a 70% chance for rain and thunder on Tuesday.
Did you know…that I’m going to add this little tidbit to the weekly post? I thought I would include some little factoids you may or may not be aware of. So for the very first did you know ~ we will be “springing forward” into daylight savings time on March 10th. Groan…I don’t mind the “falling back” so much but “springing forward” always seems to take forever to get used to….and the fact that a few years ago they decided to do it much earlier than all those years prior ~ I see some difficult times getting out of bed in my future. Also, did you know that we will be welcoming spring in less than a month ~ March 20th. I am actually looking forward to spring….big plans for the backyard, growing things out there and in my flower garden.
I am thinking…that I’m going to get my butt in gear and do some serious desk cleaning after I finish this post….even though I’m not feeling in the mood. For some reason I feel like I was hit by a truck while I slept last night….not sure why. Could be the weather….I’m so hoping it is not a precursor to anything else. I heard the flu and that ugly norovirus is on the decline and I would be very happy if both of those lovelies passed me over this year. From what I have heard from others that have been sick with one or the other, this is not something I want to experience thankyouverymuch.
I am glad…that I can now look out my window and see blue skies and sunshine. Saaweeet!
From my kitchen…was bar-b-que last night…chicken chow mien tonight….and on the shelf is a jar of vanilla beans infusing in some brandy for homemade vanilla extract. Good stuff ~ give it a try.
I am hoping…this achiness I’m feeling is just my old bones feeling their age and not the beginning to something.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….my wind chimes softly singing a song….Supernatural on television….the dog snoring on the couch.
A recap of last week…isn’t much. I have gone from every day to barely anything….feast or famine I suppose. The only thing I posted last week was the homemade vanilla extract instructions yesterday. I wasn’t on the computer all that much last week…and now that I think about it, I was tired all week ~ couldn’t seem to get enough sleep….now the achiness today, I could be fighting off a bug. I hope I win.
Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….working on the composite ideas I have started but haven’t finished….not too much else planned.
One of life’s little pleasures…seeing sunshine after to many rainy days.
From my camera…a peak at Turbo ~ who looks just as rough as the rest of us when you wake him up…but lucky for him he can go right back to sleep.
Outside My Window ~ 2.17.2013
Outside my window…is a mixture of sun and clouds as well as quite cold and windy. Currently we are at 35°F but with the wind blowing at 13mph and gusting up to 23mph, it feels more like 26°F. Our high today is forecast at 36°F which is not much over our low yesterday of 34°F. We did get an inch and a half of snowfall yesterday however not too much of it stuck. There was a dusting on the rooftops, some on the cars and a few patchy areas on the ground…nothing on the streets and sidewalks. The weather folks had said that what snow we did get wouldn’t stick around because it had been too warm leading up to and during the event….and they were right. Today we are getting the tail end of the nor’easter which means lots of wind and clouds although the sun is managing an appearance here and there. Right now it is here but in a few minutes it could be gone for a bit. We will be clear tonight with a low of 25°F. Tomorrow we will climb back up to the high forties and will stay in that range for the week with the exception of Tuesday which is forecast to be in the high fifties with rain. I saw my first robin Friday afternoon…spring may not be too far behind although we can get some chilly weather even during the spring in this region.
I am thinking…I wasn’t able to manage the post a day this year but I’m not going to fret over it. I decided I would try to do like I did in 2011 and do a post a day but had also decided if it started to worry on me or became more of a chore than fun, I would also give it up. Tuesday night was the night when I made up my mind. It actually begin to feel more like a chore several days earlier but I plugged along, but Tuesday I was tired, I was having a difficult time finding inspiration and was noticed I was getting frustrated….so I let it go. I have enough frustration with everyday things, no need to add to the pile.
I am glad…we didn’t have to deal with mass quantities of snow on the roads during and after this storm.
From my kitchen…is an easy recipes today…a quick and simple recipe for mac and cheese in a mug. I like to have mac and cheese once in awhile without making a large quantity and the Easy Mac stuff is ~ well let’s just say the taste is less than desirable to me. The solution is to grab a large, over-sized mug and make a serving in the microwave. It is quite easy….and tastes better than those made with powdered cheese because honestly, I don’t think cheese was ever meant to be powdered. Here is a shot of some I made recently….for the recipe, click here. Once the file opens, go to “file”, click “save as” and select your location.
I am hoping…since I won’t be doing a post a day I will have more time to work on some composites I have floating around in my head. I love to look at a bunch regular photographs and take bits and pieces of them to make it into something else. I have been working on my processing style and think I’m finally very close to something I really like. I’m also going to be posting more textures here on the blog in the near future as well as work on a method that will allow me to sell some of my prints online.
I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….my wind chimes singing beautiful songs to me…the wind blowing as another gust comes upon us….an otherwise quite house.
A recap of last week…isn’t as much as prior weeks but there was my posting last Sunday which shows the cast of The Walking Dead ~ which by the way had their mid-season premier last Sunday and did not disappoint! I re-posted an older image after time got away from me on Monday ~ it was pretty evident at this point that I wasn’t going to continue with the post a day. And finally on Saturday I posted my first composite that was created without a tutorial ~ something I came up with myself. If you click on the links you will see the images I used to create this with the exception of the fence…that was actually one fence that I made into the double as you see in my image. Try as I might I could not locate the original file based on the information that I had copied down. If I do run across it, I will update the links to include that.
Plans for the week include…The Walking Dead on television tonight….working from home on Tuesday as well as a dentist appointment….hopefully creating another composite or two.
One of life’s pleasures…watching the snow fall from inside a nice warm house.
From my camera…is a shot I took of the moon on Valentine’s Day. I was attempting to get a nice shot of the crescent moon but then a plane flew by…and this is what I got. Pretty cool huh?
Images by Magikal Folk Photography are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License