***MOVED***

It was getting overwhelming to keep up with three blogs, so I combined my personal and photography blogs together. Please visit me here. Thank you!

Day 235: Crepusular Light

I went looking for a synonym for Sunset and discovered quite a few interesting ones:

Crepusular Light
Gloaming
Eventide
Dimday
Dimmet

This shot was taken outside my front door. I was actually able to be outside without suffocating. Even the radiant sky was smiling in approval at the break from the oppressive heat.

Processed with a preset in Lightroom called CSI Miami. I've been wanting to use that one for some time but never had the right photo until now.

Day 234: Just Peachy

Running out of ideas...opened the refrigerator and saw the beautiful peach that I need to eat before it gets too mushy. Processed with Kim Klassen's "She Loves You Yeah" texture using the Vivid Light blend at 43%. Also used PW's "Define and Sharpen" action. The green part of the photo is a bottle of Dawn dish soap and the lighter color on the upper right is part of the faucet. The texture really enhanced the shadow beneath the peach.

Day 233: Best Buds

It's so hot I feel like I'm just phoning the photos in. We're supposed to get a break on Wednesday - only 95 degrees. :/

Used Kim Klassen's Break Free texture and the Sunset Boost part of Coffee Shop's Magic Sunset action.

Day 232: Trumpet Vine

Shot outside my son's apartment complex. I chose this one because of the bokeh and because the flowers looked like they were glowing. Minimal processing in Lightroom.

Day 231: Hipstamatic Hibiscus

Out of energy and out of time for today. My iPhone had to pinch hit with help from the Hipstamatic app.

Day 230: Izzy doesn't care if it's 100 degrees outside

She's got to have her security blanket and be in a lap. Never mind that her humans are on fire with her AND a blanket smothering our limbs--she wants what she wants and will not be denied. She's a demanding little toot.

Sorry for another Izzy photo, but I was feeling horrible after work today. Shot 20 photos of Izzy and 2 of my bare feet from the sofa. I'm finally starting to come out of it.

Day 229: Kodacolor

This is the film that was inside the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye that I bought from e-bay. I cannot wait to get it developed. I found a lab locally that can do it, but it's in a bad part of town, so I'll have to wait until hubby can drive me there on Saturday. According to Wikipedia, this film was introduced in 1972, so it might be 38 years old. Not as old as me and not all THAT old, but still. I think it's just the mystery, the unknown.

Day 228: Female cardinal #2

This is a front view of my reclusive little visitor. She's very modest, preferring to feed when there is a lull in the activity. I don't think she cares for all the doves and sparrows that tend to take over.

Day 227: Brownie Hawkeye

This was the first camera I ever remember using. My mother handed it to me and showed me how to hold it at waist level and look through the top hole. I was fascinated. Recently, I started reminiscing and decided to do a google search on it. I found this on e-bay, won the bid, and it was delivered to my office today. It still has undeveloped film inside of it. I can't wait to get it developed and see if there's anything on it!

Day 226: Leonardo (Leo)

Leo was my second rescue when I worked at the emergency animal clinic. He was brought in with a serious head trauma by a family with three very small children. Who knows what had truly happened to him. The parents didn't seem to know...or didn't want to tell. Anyway, they had no money to even get him through the first night, much less the kind of care we thought he was going to need, so the doctor and I convinced them to sign him over to a "rescue group" because the other option on the table was euthanasia, and I could not let that happen.

Leo made it through the first night and I took him home after that. He was so wobbly he could barely stand up straight to do his business. I thought, "What in the world have I gotten myself into." After about a week or so he became stronger. Before I knew it he was bossing all my other dogs around. And bark! Oh my dog, this boy has a set of lungs!

For the last 5 years he has lived happily with my youngest son. They are inseparable.

Day 225: Female Cardinal

This afternoon hubby and I went to a bird specialty store called Wild Birds Unlimited. Before I knew it the clerk had convinced me to buy 4 different types of seed and 2 new feeders. I didn't really look at the prices because they appeared to be nothing fancy; a wire mesh feeder for peanuts that would attract cardinals and another functional looking metal stand for "seed cakes".

When she announced the price hubby said rather loudly, "Did she just say $101.00?" I shook my head yes and gave him a look that told him not to say another word. We were in a ritzy area of town and I didn't want to be embarrassed.

When we got in the car I told him that I would forgo DSW Shoes and Macy's. He said, "Good, let's go get something to eat." I also said I was sorry that all my hobbies seem to be so dang expensive.

I'm still in shock over that price tag!

Day 224: Amo l'Italia!

This is my favorite tee. Actually I have 3 of them, each with various Italian graphics. Now that I've lost 20 pounds it fits so much better! I've got 20 more to lose, and then I won't be able to wear it, which makes me sad to think about. This goes great with black or white capris.

Day 223: Inferno

I said to hubby earlier this evening, "I think I'll go feed the birds and sit on the patio for a bit." He begged me not to go. Told me it was 114 degrees earlier in the afternoon, that I would most certainly slow cook from the outside in. So I grabbed the camera to document this hell hole we call Texas and saw it had dropped 2 degrees. I got my shots and went immediately inside, feeling like I was on fire. That was 30 minutes ago and I'm still hot! Next week we're supposed to get a cool spell: upper 90s. Yay us?

Day 222: Juvenile Blue Jay

I kept wondering why this particular Blue Jay's head wasn't blue and had no crest! I wondered if it was female, or if it was deformed. Finally figured out that it's a juvenile, thanks to Google.

Day 221: Textured Zinnia

Used Coffeeshop Mocha black & white in Lightroom, then added texture in PS. Not sure what the name of the texture is.

I seriously need a break from 365. But I'm not giving up yet. Once I start on a project I always see it through to the end, even if it kills me.

Day 220: Ruffled

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
Psalms 55:6

Day 219: Hummingbird

Finally got him!

Day 218: Anniversary ring

About a month ago I picked out a ring for our 20th anniversary, which is October 27. Normally, I would wait--as difficult as that would be--but the ring was only on sale until Sept. 2. Hubby decided to go ahead and get it for me early and boy was I thrilled!! It's really much prettier than it looks here. I have got to set up some sort of lightbox contraption for shots like these!

Day 217: New to the mix

Not sure what this bird is; he/she is a new one on the scene. Looks like some kind of crow or grackle.

Day 216: Garden cherub with texture

Having a difficult time with 365 lately. Maybe it's the stifling heat. Well, I'm tired of stressing out; this is supposed to be fun, after all.

Processed with Paul Grand's "crackled glazed paint on dresser" texture, using the soft light blending mode at 100%. Removed texture on the angel with the Smudge tool.

Day 215: Sunkist Sky

Pressed for time once again. I spent a good while shooting after work and realized after I uploaded them that my ISO was still on 1600 from last night. I checked every setting before I started shooting except for the ISO. *sigh* So I had to go back out to try to get something, and this is the result. The sky reminded me of a Sunkist orange drink.

Day 214: Izzy

My son needed me last night so I didn't have time for 365. Got in bed, bumped my ISO to 1600 and started shooting. Izzy was being semi-cooperative.

Day 213: Fresco

Made garlic lime chicken fajitas for dinner tonight. I really didn't care for the dish that much; however, I did enjoy the onions and peppers. My hands are still burning from chopping the jalapeño.

Processed in Lightroom using Gavin Seims' "Super Hero AUTO" in combination with the general Punch preset.

Day 212: Peace texture

"An eye for eye makes the whole world blind.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

Processed using Kim Klassen's "Peace" texture and Coffeeshop's Golden Vintage action. I love Kim's textures; they are the best!

Day 211: Frisco

Had dinner at Gloria's restaurant in Frisco. It is located in a nice shopping area with several bronze statues of longhorns and cowboys. I liked the way the sun was bursting through the tree branches on this one.

Minimal processing in Lightroom. Sunburst is real. :)

Day 210: Don't you MOCK me!

I don't know if these two were having a lover's quarrel or what, but the mockingbird on the left (female?) was really going after the one on the right, squawking and carrying on. To me, his look said, "What's your problem?" It was pretty funny.

Day 209: The Elusive Cardinal

Finally!!!!! Not the best shot, but I'll take it since I've been waiting weeks to get this.

Day 208: Male House Finch

Day 207: Textured Zinnias

A heart in love with beauty never grows old. ~Turkish Proverb

Processed with Kim Klassen's Scripted texture using the Color Dodge blend at 27% opacity.

Day 206: Canna Lily

Minimal color processing in Lightroom and cropping.

Day 205: Texas Rangers

Yesterday was my oldest son's birthday. We took him to see the Rangers play the Angels and he had a blast. That boy is a sports nut!

Nelson Cruz is at bat.

Can you spot the famous couple in the crowd?

Day 204: Sunset

Spent most of the day cleaning, then shopping. Didn't really have a chance to do anything for 365, so while we were waiting for dinner last night in Frisco, I snapped some pictures of longhorn statues with my iphone, thinking that would have to do. When we got home it was right around sunset; walked out the front door and shot this. The colors and light were amazing.

Day 203: Blue Jay

I woke up at 4AM, unable to get back to sleep. Around 6:30 I got out of bed and grabbed my camera, wondering if there might be any different bird varieties at that time of day. First I spied a female cardinal; her mate was across the alley in a tree. She looked pretty ragged, so I started hoping for a blue jay. The stubborn male cardinal refused to visit. I was about to give up and go back inside to take my shower when this striking blue jay landed on the fence. I held my breath and started shooting. He didn't stay around long. I wish this was a little clearer, but I'll take it.

Day 202: Weeds are nature's graffiti

Found this thorny growth protruding from my front hedges this afternoon.

Sorry, I don't know the name of the texture I used.

Day 201: Sophy's Rose

The cardinal let me down this afternoon. I waited and waited to no avail. I feel like a jilted lover. Ah, well! He can't stay away long with four feeders filled with his favorite seed. He'll be back, and I'll be armed and ready!

I really like the way this shot turned out EXCEPT for the fine hair which has somehow found its way around the flower's stem and leaves. I suspect it's my dog's fur, but I'm not sure. My eyesight must be getting really bad because I didn't see this through the viewfinder, even while zoomed in at 250mm. :/

Day 200: Just like the white-winged dove...

Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Whoo... whoo... whoo...

Look who joined the party! We actually had several white-winged doves, along with the usual mourning doves and sparrows. The cardinal made a brief cameo this evening, but as soon as I picked up my camera to point it at him he was gone. And he didn't come back—I waited for over an hour. :(