Spike’s Neighborhood

OK not the first sunset of 2010 but a real nice one and it is only Jan. 4!  When I first started getting into photography the sunset photos were my favorites.  Now I hardy ever take a sunset photo...oh I took one or two last week..but I hadn't taken any in a while. 

I've missed taking sunset photos and the sun is going down a little later now.  Tonight, I was watching the clouds and as it looked like we could have a great sunset.  After I feed the horses, I checked the setting sun and decided to take a road trip.  I drove down on of the main roads that runs west to east. 

As I drove, I was looking towards the sunset and checking out good views.  I pulled over and tried to see if there was a shot and no there wasn't.  Tried again and no lucky.  I think people on the road thought I was having car trouble or was a little crazy.

The third try was a good one...so I got out of the car and took a couple of shoots.  I liked this one the best.  It was shot at F 8, IS0 100, White Blance of Tungsten and here is what I got.

 

Then I got back in the car and looked for another good spot.  I tried a few more and then found this great giant saguaro and got out the tripod and took a few more shots...this was one I liked. Shot at F 8, ISO 400, WB Tungsten.

 

I sent both photos to the TV news...the last several photos I've sent haven't been shown on the weather....maybe these will make tonight's show.

 

I'm not sure how long I've done the Photo Quest but it has been awhile.  Each week I search the web and my photo books to find a topic that I think will appeal to all the members.  For this quest I would like you to tell me what you would like to work on for 2010...any thing about photography or your camera you would like to learn or practice.

Do you want to learn about layers in Photoshop?

Would you like to practice cutting out photos and changing the backgrounds?

Are you interested in photo enhancing your photos to improve focus, blur, colors etc?

Do you want to do some collages?

Are  you interested in learning to resize photos, cropping photos?

Tell me what you would like to learn etc. so I can work them into the Quest for 2010.  Have a wonderful New Year and be safe.

See you in 2010!

Oh my gosh the Questers out did themselves for this Christmas Quest!  We have entries from Germany, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Oklahoma, Montana, Tennessee, and Georgia!  Sorry Amy Sue I think you are located in a far north state but you don't have it in you profile so I don't know where you are located.

This quest is a new record with 11 entries!  Here are my picks for the Christmas Photos. The photos all tell wonderful stories of family, food, decorations and great times.

• My favorite family tradition was Darcy's children moving the The Journey. 
• My favorite gift was Jacolily's family Cookbook. 
• The most creative photo came from Amy Sue with her photo of Christmas 2009 Taylor's School Performance.
• The best Christmas landscape came from Cap'n Stephel with her wonderful photo Dscn0030 of the Christmas snow and lights.  This should be her Christmas card for next year.
• Best photo of getting ready for Christmas goes to Freedom Smith with her photo of her two Sons making chocolate house.  Great captured of these boys working hard on their house!
• Oh the best photo of Christmas goodies is from Spike of her cookies IMG_7318s.  If you have ever tried to take photos of food you will be able to appreciate the great job she did on this photo.  Nice focus and great presentation of the plates of cookies.  Oh I sure wish I lived closer so I could have a taste!
• We had two members do collages.  My favorite collage from Maiu was Christmas collage with frames and text.  Very creative with the background. 
  Antrogrrls collage of her Christmas ornaments is wonderful Christmas decorations collage, I'm sure she will treasure this collage for many years.  What a great idea for all of us to take photos of our favorite ornaments to keep.
• Then we have Yancunyong who is in a style of his own!  Yan's photos of his Christmas parties are great!  I like the one of the three ladies singing  IMGP9208.  This photo shows great emotion and fun.  All Yan's photos seem to show us what a fun guy he is.  Yan shows us the fun in his life through his photos.
• Best Christmas tree goes to Realworld for his photo of Oh Tannenbaum!  Beautiful tree!
• I'll end with the wonderful photo of the candle  IMG_0217.JPG - Vox and her lovely description of how the photo represents Christmas!

All in all I so enjoyed seeing Christmas through your eyes..thank you all for this year of terrific photos and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

1 pound beef round steak, cut into 1" squares
2 cans beef broth (14 - 15 oz cans)
1 cup barley (not quick cook)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms, quartered
1/2 cup (pound) carrots, julienned

Brown the beef and onions.  Put into the slow cooker.  Lightly toast the barley.  Add to the slow cooker.  Add all the other ingredients.  Stir to mix.

Cover and cook 3 - 4 hours on high or 5 - 6 hours on low.  Barley should be "exploded" when done and there will be some liquid left in the bottom.

Notes:

I use the baby carrots and cut them into quarters lengthwise and then in half.  Adjust the onions/carrots/mushrooms to your liking.

Sear the meat well to get some real flavor in any slow cooker dish.  Yes, you can put it into the mix without cooking it at all but I find it comes out rather bland.

Here goes, some photos that Country sent me to post so she can see how they look.  We are trying to find out why her photos aren't posting as clear as they should.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been a tad on the distracted and negative side lately and anyone who knows what's going on is being pretty understanding.  For those who don't know just bear with me for a while longer and I'll be my normal cheery (hah!) self again.

Today was an unexceptional day.  I got some stuff done, I gave away some things (the last one is still sitting on the front stairs waiting for a new home), I packed up the car so I can stop at the thrift store on the way to work and give them more stuff, got the shopping done, and then came home to make cherry jello, brownies and tidy up the kitchen afterward.

Doesn't sound like an exciting day, does it?  Well that's kind of what I'm after for a while.  I've set myself a deadline for getting things done around here and that's done a surprising amount to perk me up.  I think having a goal to achieve is going to help.

I'm still not doing any hobby stuff but I'm ok with that for a short time.  With any luck I won't have to use down time to do hobbies since it will be UP time.  I know that doesn't make much sense but trust me, it will.

On a funny note one of the dogs has finally learned how to 'play'.  Mimi never really seemed to know how to play but in the last couple of weeks she's started taking squeaky toys away from Muffy.  Then the two of them play together seeing who can take the squeaky toy and run away.  It's fun to listen to but I can't go watch because as soon as Mimi sees me she stops playing and wants me to pay attention to her.  Hearing the squeaking, the growling and the skittering feet makes me smile.

I know this is not a big surprise for this week's Quest!  This quest runs for 2 weeks so you have time to get some photos during this busy season.

Photos can be recent or old...you are free to use any photo enhancements, color or b & w or sepia tones. Make a collage, a Christmas card, a poster or just a single photo.  Post how you took the photo and what enhancements you used.

If you haven't ever posted before just jump in and have some fun.  No worries we are all learning here and enjoy seeing everyones photos.

Get creative and show the Photo Quest Group what Christmas means to you.  Is it about the ornaments, the tree, the cookies, friends, children, parties (this is for Yan), pets, nature, church...what makes a Christmas special for you.

Since this quest runs through Christmas...I want to take time to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

 

Maureen

This was the first time for this subject, shoes on Photo Quest.  It was fun to see what you creative minded photographers posted for this quest. 

First to post was Realworld with his Cat Shoes.  I want to know how he stuffed that kitten in the shoe?  OK so that probably didn't happen but what a cute, candid photo!  Nice job Realworld as it is hard to get the cat's eyes clear on a photo...mine sometimes look orange or a strange green.

Next post was from Maju, with her purple sneakers trying to run away from the boring black shoes.  Great composition with the purple shoe in the ROT spot.  This photo really made me laugh...nice work Maju!

Then along came CountrybyDesign with a very mystical photo of her shoes in the stream of light.  WOW this is a very cool photo and I think you should use this technique again with other subjects.  I like the slightly out of focus shot here as it makes the photo have a more mystical feel.

Not to disappoint, Cap'n Stephel brings us some very Jazzy, Saxie shoes.  Very nice play on dark and light and lines.  I liked the second photo the best as it has just enough light to make me want to check it out closer. 

Finally Yancunyong brings it home with party shoes.  Japan must be a lot more fun than I ever thought.  Yan seems to be parting it up big time.  Loved seeing the shoes of his fellow party goers.  I like the last photo the best...the red lighting and the reflection of the shoe was very cool. 

 

Thanks again all for a great quest...hope to see you again next week.

The purging process I've been going through has been mostly good.  All kinds of things I've been hanging on to for so long I really don't need.  I've found boxes that haven't been touched since we moved into the house 7 years ago.  And many, many things that I kept out of habit.

Craigslist has been my friend in all this.  I've gotten rid of so many things to deserving new homes and it's still going on.  The free items have been quickly snapped up and the other ones are moving well.  Work has an internal posting board as well which generates a lot of interest and a few sales.  Some things do hit eBay if they seem like they need a wider audience and can be shipped relatively easily.  The rest of the stuff goes into the garbage or to the thrift store I like.

The no-kill cat shelter (where we got Popeye) got 2 garbage bags of unneeded linens since they do need them.  I can't contribute much but I know that they can always use towels and the like.

I've also found long-lost items that have made me smile.  I'm taking almost all of those with me even if they are completely useless except to make me smile.  Purging can only go so far before it becomes regretful.

One really odd thing that has come out of this is a slightly better relationship with my brother.  He stopped by this weekend to pick up an old radio and I gave him a few other things he'd appreciate.  Then he offered to help me move things to the garage and into the moving truck if I need him.  I think this is the first time he's ever offered to help me in any way.  It made me feel good and I'm going to take him up on that, looking at the stack of boxes in the dining room.

I'm progressing on packing little by little.  All the easy stuff is done and now it's more a case of trying to keep the items in the boxes similar and actually filling the boxes.  Balancing packing with what needs to be out for daily use is also interesting.  Slows stuff down now and will make for frantic packing later.  That much I know.

 

I bought this pair of shoes ages ago to use as props for photos and I've never done anything with them.  Today, I took them outside for their first photo shoot.

Because they are black and shinny...not I didn't polish the

m...I set my exposure down from 1/2 to 2 steps depending on background of the photo.  I used my 28 - 105 mm lens, ISO 100, F stop from 3.5 to 4.5, WB set at sunny, focus on one-shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shoes and I had some fun today and I learned a lot about backgrounds and lighting.