In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
I got up at 9:40am this morning! 9:40am. I remember going to bed around 10pm thinking that I would gift myself the process of waking up and not racing out of bed. I did wake a number of times this morning, but never looked at the clock. It’s funny but I have this old idea, that obviously isn’t so old, that I waste most of the morning sleeping so late. I love the feeling of getting up early and getting lots done before the day really starts. But I must acknowledge I did enjoy waking and rolling over back to sleep this morning.
Ray and I were couch potatoes today. We sat in front of the TV and watched the Masters. I don’t ever watch TV during the day. Again, I’d feel unproductive and guilty not “doing”. But I’d be remiss to not acknowledge I had a ball watching Tiger and Mickelson and Perry.
An hour after the golf Ray and I went for a walk. While on our walk I shot some photos. Here are a few:
This statue always gets me. I asked Ray to pose next to this statue of a man on a bench with an allegator under it. 
See Lane, I may not have sat outside for an hour the other day as you suggested, but I did give myself some “rights” today.
What an incredible message about attitudes, visions, perspectives. I always welcome an attitude adjustment and Dewitt Jones accomplished just for me that in this video he put together depicting what he has learned over the course of his career as a National Geographic photographer. This video is not about photography. The title of this video is what it is about: Celebrate What’s Right With The World. While viewing the video through tears I heard the message I try to practice yet presented in a little different way. Listening to Dewitt it is quite obvious he has had his fair share of psychic changes or spiritual awakenings. What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.
Thanks to you Dewitt Jones for making this very special video.
p.s. To my ladies who read this blog, please watch this video. Make time for this gem and let me know what you think.
p.p.s. Lane sorry you won’t be able to see this video or any other videos until you receive your new computer!
Celebrate What's Right With The World
I had my regular Friday afternoon massage. I was relaxed and in a dream-like state when I pulled in to the Bed and Bath store.
On my way to check out, a man and woman passed. The man, looking at me, said, “I need a nap too.” His wife chuckled. I thought, did I just yawn? Why are they saying that to me. Do I look THAT tired? I was hurt. I was confused. Then I was mad. How dare he!
I thought to myself, let me remember to never say to someone “You look tired. Or, you must be tired.” I kept wondering why he thought I look so tired. I went on a trip in my head about how old and tired I must look to others anymore. I wasn’t a happy camper.
The lady at the check out counter handed me back my credit card. I was trying to fit the credit card back into my wallet when she said, “I need a nap too. That’s a great t-shirt.”
She had no idea why I smiled so broadly and looked so relieved.
Duh. That’s what that man meant.
I snapped off the photo below while waiting in line to check out of Bed and Bath. On April 7th Katya had posted this blog entry about muffin tops. I never knew what a muffin top was before I read her blog.
Once I bought a yellow car. From then on all I saw was how many yellow cars there were on the road.
Well, now all I see are muffin tops.
Reading Carol Leigh’s post on our Yahoo Alumni Group site this morning, motivated me to visit Leslie Avon Miller’s blog.
In Leslie’s “About Me” section on her blog she has written: “I am a collage artist who’s question is “I wonder what would happen if I…?”
Thoughts that came to me after reading the question “I wonder what would happen if I…?”:
1. I don’t have the time to even consider this question?
2. Why try, you aren’t creative.
3. I’ll feel frustrated when I try something and realize I don’t know how to do “it”.
4. People will think “it’s” stupid.
5. I don’t have an original idea.
6. I have to finish my to-do list first.
7. When I’m old and can’t do other things, I’ll try………
Beliefs on the page look very different than they do in my head.
I keep saying I’ll schedule myself into the day….I say, This week I’ll block out 2 hours and actually use the multitude of photography tutorials available to me on Scott Kelby’s website…. Tutorials I signed up for, I’m charged for as they are auto deducted monthly, and I don’t make use of them. That’s just plain insanity because I really want to watch the video tutorials on Adobe Photoshop CS4, Lightroom 2, and many, many other available tutorials.
Leslie’s blog got my attention. People motivate me. I know that about myself. Of myself, I am lazy, an excuse maker, a rationalizer and addicted to reading about others work/art online, instead of doing my own work. I do end up feeling motivated viewing the incredible art others create. I seem to have good intentions and then the phone rings, I get distracted by one task, then another and another, and I’m off and running, forgetting my desires and feeling sad I don’t have more time in the day. You know, the old, poor me.
Time is precious. I deserve. Somehow I have to learn to start saying yes to Linda. I’ve always thought I needed to learn to say no to others. I’ve not ever thought about saying yes to Linda. Hmmmmmm. I wonder if this will work. I’m always telling others, “My happiness is my responsibility.”
To be continued…………(as my friend LR says)
Hiding out from the rain drops before we could get in to Milly’s.
L>R Taye, Linda, Angela and Sandi
In Milly’s living room before our teleconference call to the out of town ladies.
Many thanks to Milly for allowing us to use your living room each month.
While getting in some exercise this morning I detoured off my route as I noticed Ray walking off the practice putting green. He walked over to his buddies. They drew numbers or something to see who played with whom.
They were ready to get on the course but indulged me long enough for me to click off one shot.
Errands are done and I’m dressed and ready to pick up Sandi in 5 minutes. We’re headed in to LA. Waiting and seated at my computer, I noticed Ray walk by the large window. I walked out, kissed him good-bye and heard he was playing well. They played fast. He was already on the 15th fairway.
Off to LA now.
Our photo teacher, Carol Leigh, puts together a gallery of our work following each class. Here is an email she just sent out:
I created an online gallery of your work at my website and it’s up and ready for you to see. Here’s the link (to view class
#7, with lessons in straight lines, spirals, garage art, fish, motion, and symmetry): http://www.photoexplorations.com/Gallery072009/HTML/index.htm
What I did was select three images from each of you, trying to pick what I thought were your best. (That explains the feeble showing in the “Garage Art” section!)
Thank you for making this yet another successful online class.
Carol Leigh
We did good, didn’t we?
May 08 – Here I am crossing the Gila River with Cookie following behind making sure I get across ok.
I didn’t know Paul was keeping count of all the crossings we made while in the steep walled Gila River canyon for a couple of days.
I was looking at Paul’s flickr photos from his CDT 08 hike when I found this photo of me. Cookie and Paul are the hikers I joined for about 5 days after my partner got injured. We are hiking in the Gila River in New Mexico.
I haven’t a clue what type of birds we have building their nest in our front courtyard but I’m thrilled to have some new photo subjects. (A while after I wrote this blog I looked online and found out what type of bird it is.)
I noticed birds flying around in our courtyard and then spotted the nest they are building 2 to 3 days ago. They’re fast home builders.
Their nest is so much larger than the hummingbird nest built last year. Ray asked me if I thought we should tear down this new nest because of the mess the birds will create. Without hesitation I said, “NO”.
I’ll deal with the mess I know they’ll make. This morning I set up my camera in front of the front door (with the front door open). Later, I realized a better shooting angle from just inside the garage.
Shot from inside the front door.
The next four photos are all shot from inside the garage door.
I used my Canon D40 with a 70-300mm lens at 300mm. Morning shooting will be better as the light is low in the front courtyard after noon. I usually shoot with Aperture Priority. The last four photos were shot at a larger aperture than I wanted to shoot at in order to get a shutter speed of 125 to stop the motion of the bird.
Fun.
I just found this on the internet!
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps Order PASSERIFORMES – Family REMIZIDAE
Summary Detailed
A tiny, active songbird of the arid southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the Verdin is the only North American member of the penduline-tit family (Remizidae). Vocal and often conspicuous despite its size, it builds a large enclosed nest in thorny scrub.
Cool Facts
* The Verdin builds nests for both breeding and roosting; roosting nests are much smaller. The outer stick shell is constructed mostly by the male, while the female does most of the lining.
* The Verdin’s roosting nests help it stay warm in winter. Winter roosting nests have thicker insulation, and may reduce energy requirements for thermoregulation by as much as 50 percent.
* The Verdin builds roosting nests all year round. One pair of Verdins in Arizona was observed building 11 nests in one year.
* During the heat of the desert summer, the Verdin rests quietly in the shaded interior of a shrub, sometimes panting or spreading its wings. Nests built in summer open toward prevailing winds, perhaps to aid in cooling.
Description
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* Size: 9-11 cm (4-4 in)
* Weight: 5-8 g (0.18-0.28 ounces)
* Small songbird.
* Gray body.
* Yellow face.
* Short tail.
* Sharp bill.
* Dark lores.
* Dark red shoulder patches not often visible.
* Eyes black.
* Legs dark.
Sex Differences
Sexes similar; male with brighter yellow on face.
Immature
Plain gray, including face. Base of bill pinkish yellow.
Similar Species
* Lucy’s Warbler similar to juvenile Verdin, but bill is thinner and dark, without pinkish yellow base.
* Bushtit has smaller, blunter bill and longer tail.
* Gnatcatchers have longer tails with black-and-white markings.
Sound
Various calls, including loud chips issued in rapid succession. Song is a three-note whistle.
Habitat
Desert scrub, especially along washes where thorny vegetation is present.
Food
Insects and spiders.
Behavior
Foraging
Moves actively and nimbly among limbs of scrub vegetation, in a manner resembling that of chickadees. Often holds blossoms with feet while looking and picking at prey with bill.
Reproduction
Nest Type
Large sphere with a hole usually located near the bottom. Outer shell of sticks, lined with leaves and smaller twigs. Placed in shrub.
Egg Description
Light greenish, with irregular dark reddish spots, especially at larger end.
Clutch Size
Usually 4 eggs. Range: 3-6.
Condition at Hatching
Helpless and naked.
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Conservation Status
Declining across much of range. Land development in southern California has reduced Verdin habitat, and has resulted in the possible extirpation of the species from San Diego County, CA.
Other Names
Auripare verdin (French)
Baloncillo, Párido del desierto (Spanish)