Texture Tuesday - Aurora

Before: After:

The Formula:

ShadowHouse - Bokeh1 - Soft Light 100% - Layer mask to reveal portions

Color Fill - White - Soft Light - 100%

Aurora - Multiply - 100%

Its a photo of my silly cat who likes to sit on the edge of the tub if someone is in the shower/tub. The idea in my head was cute and simple and the photo turned out, blah. I do like it with the textures though. My Harley, saved by the texture.

55 - Mugged

My little bear's mug.

Love him more than candy.

43 - My Love

He has those days when he just won't leave my side. It doesn't matter what I am doing, where I am walking or sitting, he's there by my side, rubbing on me, cooing, purring, pawing me, soaking up the bits of attention I have to spare and/or lavish. This was one of those days. His warm, sweet and cute little personality is touched on here in this photo. Love him more than candy.

Harley 02-28-2011

I don't think you've seen him in awhile. He is as cute as ever.

243 - LOL; 244 - Argo; 245 - Timothy Lake

This mobile hangs in my hair stylists salon. I don't know what it is supposed to be, but it always reminds me (NO idea why) of Jason and the Argonauts. I liked the shadow it cast.

I caught Harley yawning. I'm often trying to catch him at this, well, you can see why, its hilarious. I usually don't catch him, so this is a rarity. He seriously cracks me up.

Spent the long weekend at Timothy Lake on Mt. Hood. It was a much needed relaxing time. The lake is beautiful. Next year, Mister and plan to actually spend some time in/on the water. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

180 - Harley through the Japanese Maple

He's always an easy subject.

155 - lovecup; 156 - Harley

a very cute shop in our neighborhood. i've never been inside. i really want to though. but, (there's always a but with me isn't there...) i don't do icecream, i really don't do coffee from coffee shops - less expensive just to make coffee at home and i live so close to here that if i'm hungry, i can just go home and eat. *sigh* am i the most boring person ever?! i like to think i'm just frugal, but, frugal can be so danged boring...

my little harley. followed me around the yard on saturday in the sun as i look for photo opportunities. he won out in the end.

124 - My little sneaker

I adore my little Harley. He is very posessive of Mister and me and I love it. It starts when I get home from work. He's usually been camped out on one of the dining room chairs for a large part of the day. This intel is from Mister. When I get home, he hops down and sits next to his food bowl as if I'm going to give him a treat. I usually do. But its usually just a fresh shake of his dry food which he then snacks on. He'll then follow me outside, then back inside then into the sunroom where I work out on the elliptical machine then the next thing I know he's in one of his many beds next to me as I answer email or pay bills or play with my photos in Photoshop. The other night, he did all this and then he followed me into the bathroom and sat around as I soaked in some dead sea mud which was given to me to try to help my currently crappy skin. He waits for me when its time for bed then curls up in a ball next to me as we sleep. If I get up in the middle of the night, he slips into my spot where I've kept it nice and warm. Mister watched him one night and from the other room I hear laughter. Seems Harley sat up and watched as I left the room. As soon as I turned the corner, he slipped into my spot and curled up without delay. Ok, enough about my cat. How have you been?

365 - 87

When the weather is cold and rainy, you (I) take photos of the cat. I go outside, or I look outside and I'm just not that inspired or maybe just cold. Photo totally (obviously) played with and processed to death. But, had fun. And I thought it might make an ordinary kitty photo, more, fun.

365 - 21

As promised, a cat picture.

Its blurry and too dark and too light all at the same time, but I like it.

It feels like sneaking a look at something you might not be supposed to see. Wow, that was voyeuristic, wasn't it.

I think what I mean is, it feels like witnessing something that the subject has no idea you are witnessing. Ok, not better.

Like walking in on an elderly couple holding hands, or witnessing a mother cat nursing her kittens.

Does that make sense?

I sure hope so.

365 - 19

I apologize: First for the cat pic. Sorry! But I adore my Harley. Second: The quality of the photo. Let's face it, I have no excuse, I needed a photo for yesterday, low light, quite patient cat - but still wasn't going to hold still for a full-on photo session. Yada yada yada. You know the drill. Here's my Harley in my new stocking cap. I *love* stocking caps!! So glad I live in a place where I can wear them for several months of the year. So, 19 photos posted so far, huh. I guess that leaves me to find and or take 12 photos between now and Sunday. Gauntlet retrieved, Challenge accepted!

Harley's Wild Ride

This is what happens when Mister has too much time on his hands. Actually its great, Harley loves hanging with Mister and also has always loved riding around on things. It seemed a natural progression. CLICK HERE - YouTube

a prelude, fall color and a kitty

My friend Alison, of Discovering San Francisco, has inspired Mister and I to do some urban hiking. I've always loved the idea of urban hiking, but have had a bit of a difficult time talking anyone into doing it with me. Why walk around the City when the wilderness is just over there... Alison has a book of San Francisco "City Walks". She's been blogging about her adventures as she makes her way through the book. #1 - Alison's a writer, so her posts are interesting and make sense and are cohesive. Not necessarily something found here on my little site. #2 - I found it wonderful that she moved to a new city and found a unique way of discovering interesting things about it that she might not necessarily have discovered on her own. #3 - I bought a book of City Walks in Portland and am very excited to tell you Mister and I did our first Walk recently and I plan to copy (the sincerest form of flattery...) Alison and blog about our adventures. Here are a couple prelude snippets of our first walk, which just happened to be on a spectacular Autumn day in our city.

So, there you go, a prelude to a story... are you enticed?

Now, some fall color. I've been negligent in photographing and subsequently posting fall color photos here. These were both taken on walks Mister and I regularly do around our neighborhood....rosehips.... do you *love* them!And my sweet Harley. He's blissed out next to Mister on the cozy crocheted afghan my mother made me. Its Harley's favorite blanket to snuggle on.And... again Harley with his crazy, cocked ears and reflective eyes. He lays on the back of the chair sandwiched against my back as I use the computer at home.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Dharma

This is Dharma.

She's my mother-in-law's cat. Well, my mother-in-law (MIL) is Dharma's human. That would be a more accurate statement.

Dharma belonged to the neighbors several years ago. But Dharma hung out in my MIL's yard all. the. time. Not a big deal. MIL is allergic to cats, but, what are you gonna do. So, a few years ago, the neighbors moved away. Not a state away, but miles away. The next thing MIL knew, there was Dharma, in the back yard again. MIL called former neighbors, former neighbors came to pick up Dharma. This happened a few times. Then the former neighbors gave Dharma to some other friends because Dharma just didn't like the two new kittens the former neighbors had gotten. Those friends of the former neighbors had problems with Dharma too. They give Dharma back to former neighbors. Dharma hi-tails it (pun intended) back to MIL's yard. MIL, again, calls former neighbors who explain their dilemma at which point MIL agrees to keep Dharma.

I'm so glad MIL kept her. Dharma is a cranky, mouthy, squirmy beast who I have grown to adore, adore, adore.

She *loves* me too, I just know it.

Pearl Melon

This is a pearl melon from our CSA food box. The rind and the insides are the exact same color. Its similar to a cantaloupe, but more melow and perfumy - in a good way. I look forward to them each year. If you have the opportunity to taste one of these delights, you should.

Here's Harley watching me try to capture some melon beauty outside with natural light. He got bored with the process very quickly.

I like frogs...

Photo by Mister.

Mister found little froggy in the catnip pot which hangs from the fence. It hangs, you see, because Harley LOVES his catnip and will climb and scramble and paw his way to it, no matter where it is. So, it hangs from the fence, near nothing on which Harley can jump from.

Anyway, Frog in Catnip. He's a cutie!

The Boy

Just because.

Harley and the Ivory Tower

Here is the Ivory Tower built by Mister for Harley. This is something like the 19th rendition of the Tower. It was placed in different locations in the yard with varying shelf heights and placement. This turned out to be the one that Harley utilizes most. There is a ramp and shelves and its right next to the fence. Lots of climbing potential here.

Oh, and there is Harley, perched on his Tower.The Tower sits in the corner of the property giving Harley complete surveillance of four yards from one vantage point. How crazee is that?!

The top tier has a little roof so he can enjoy the out-of-doors and stay a bit dry even if it decides to rain in our fair corner of this country. It also provides a bit of shade on warm days. As you may be able to discern, Mister put a short 1 inch lip around the perimeter of the top tier so Harley can feel safe if he decides to nap there, which he does. We wouldn't want the little scamp to accidentally roll off the shelf. He is so not spoiled.

Just loved.

Lots.

And lots.

Christmas Cat

These really are not the best photos, but I was working with a cat as subject and had to work fast. Not unlike what I imagine working with children must be like. Only with children, maybe, you can make them sit there on the spot longer than an animal.

Harley sat there in front of the Christmas tree for nearly 10 minutes, which is probably a lifetime in cat minutes, while I snapped away and kneeled down and focused and set the auto timer.

In that last shot of Harley, Mister walked in. Harely loves his Mister, dotes on him, follows him around and plays like a puppy. Hide-n-seek I think would be his favorite. He also likes to sit on the top step of the basement stairs and paw at Mister as he goes by. I don't think Harley ever even puts out his claws, he just wants the attention.

Oh, I wasn't going to post these of the ornaments, but, what they hey. In my mind these would be fun, sparkly, bright and colorful shots, I just didn't and don't have the energy or ambition to get out the tri-pod to make them actually in focus. I also don't have the photoshop skills to edit them to make them what I want them to look like. I should take a class. Most of my photos as SOOC (straight out of the camera). In todays digital age where everyone and their sister has a digital camera, a compute and the software to edit and 'fix' photos, SOOC isnt' the norm. I prefer it myself. Seems anyone can take an ordinary photo and Photoshop it into a master piece. Well, I guess everyone but me that is. I prefer to try to get the shot in the camera. Maybe that's why I'm not a professional and have to have disclaimers about my photos on my own blog. (Onward, I've spiraled here for a moment.) So, squint your eyes and pretend you don't have on your glasses or your contact lenses and you'll maybe see the "pretty" that I see.

Pretend the lighting is soft and diffused and glowy rather than just dim. I found these vintage recreation Christmas bulbs this year and *love* them. My parents have one of these, originals of course from years ago, left from all their years of Christmases. As a child, it was always my favorite ornament. I liked the stripes and even as a kid I was always a bit too sentimental for my own good. I always felt a bit sad for the last lonely ornament in the box. Missing its partner ornaments, wondering when its time to fall to the floor and shatter or just be found one December evening in the packing boxes, broken to bits without anyone knowing why or how it had gotten that way.

I told you I was a bit more nostalgic than the ordinary girl. OY!

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Ok, because I'm... well, anal was the word that comes to mind but doesn't sound like I want it to, maybe I'm focused (not in a photography sense, but a general sense) no, maybe its because I'm obsessive (yes, that's it) here are some edited ornaments. Better? I'm not so sure, but, the attempt was made, so there you go.

Happy Wednesday to all.

Giving Thanks

i like it when my life, my goings on, my surroundings, friends, family, job, are all on an even keel. who doesn't like that? i like when my little blog here is all light and air. when i'm not feeling like the world is sitting on my shoulders and getting larger by the minute. its so easy to immerse myself into the happy while its here and forget about the bigger picture. i'd much rather be in that mellow, all is good space. its easier. today, thanksgiving, i want to remember a bit, not in a melancholy way, but in an accepting sort of way that life isn't always a bed of roses and pansies. i might be more inclined toward teeter-tottering than most, but that's me. and i live with me every day and night.

i have a tendency toward *big* emotions. i love and hurt in big ways. i feel things on a level that i think so many people don't. its not necessarily a good thing. i call it my obsessing or my digressions but what it really is, is me. i do my best to paint over it, to hide it, to keep it to myself. i don't really even journal about it here on my personal journal for fear someone will actually read it. its not something that most people know how to deal with. its not pretty.

in the last year, i got married to a fabulous man. from day one of this relationship i have been me, the real me like i've never been before in any relationship. i was tired of the 'game' that is played at the beginning of most relationships... you know the one... i'll be what i think he wants until he's hooked and then i'll slowly roll out my true self and by then, what's he going to do, he'll already love me... blah blah blah. don't tell me you don't know what i'm talking about. both sides of the relationship do this. but this time i was my self, as true to myself as i could be, and he loved me anyway. that was a first for me. its been amazing. unfortunately for my mister, i've been growing and learning about myself, which i have a tendency toward, but this last year has been leaps and bounds. i've learned things about myself that i thought were only little bits of me, but have turned out to be big parts of me. you don't need details, but for example, i need space. my space, my time, my big empty alone with no one there space and i need more of it than what might be considered normal. we've been working through this, its not easy. anyway, this with a few other things like getting married for the first time and giving up my own home have been tough on me emotionally. i've never really turned to an outside source for solace, comfort, ideas, hand holding. but true to my loner, don't give an inch, don't really let anyone very far "in" personality, i've found the world of blogging.

over the last year, or so, i've found a community of bloggers (i'm sure there are many of these types of communities, i've just found one that fits me) and i read these women's blogs and i feel like i want to know them, in person. its not a real live stalking thing. but it is a strong desire to associate with women who are real and have depth and hurts and lives and who are living, really living. i often don't feel like i'm doing much *living*. these women open their hearts wide open and share and in return receive (at least what i perceive) so much support and prayer and solace in their community, which spans the entire globe i might add.

i can't explain what i'm trying to say.

what i'm trying to say is, today and tomorrow the next day and the next week and year, i am thankful for the inspirational blogging community of women out there who don't even have a clue about how they have uplifted me (and i'm sure many others) and given me hope and sanity and clarity at times when i felt there would be no more of those types of things. thank you for sharing your tribulations and pain and joy and compassion and caring.

thank you.

and a thank you from harley too.