by the sun / by the moon

T- Nikon

We were prepared and ready to watch the lunar eclipse last night. Going to bed a little earlier and setting our alarm to get up and watch. But here in Atlanta the skies were cloudy and we couldn't see this first and only eclipse of 2010. It was a disappointment. But maybe some of you saw this wondrous site that fell on the early morning hours of our winter solstice - watched as the bright white glow of the moon gave way to a coppery, luminescent orange.

Celebrate Winter!

Banners hand made by Taylor on a cold winter night out of notebook paper.

evening black / winter white

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I don't "dress up" much - the office Christmas party is about the only evening I buy a special dress, get out eye shadow, stockings, and my patent leather shoes. And because Taylor wasn't home to critic my outfit I had to take a photo and send it to her for approval. (wish i could take better self portraits) She said, "it looks cute, especially with the awesome necklace and shoes". I'm not sure cute was what I was going for but I guess it will do. Do you like to get dressed up in fancy clothes? / people always tell me i look too dressed up for the errands i'm running. i just like wearing pretty things and am too impatient to wait around for the perfect event. i've gotten very good at dressing nice things down with thrift store belts and worn boots, haha. i hope i didn't make too much of a faux-pas by wearing white this winter day.

thankful / relieved

L - iphone / T - Nikon

This past week was crazy busy - two very late nights at work - working til midnight. But Wednesday night was especially bad. Not only were we having to work late but the weather was bad. We were hearing stories of how dangerous the roads were getting due to dropping temperatures on top of an earlier rain - the roadways were covered with black ice. So many accidents that the police had reported they would not respond unless there were injuries. But we stayed - we had to get the work done. When I went out after midnight to get in my car it was frozen solid and I couldn't get in no matter how I tried. My dad had to come pick me up. But I sure am thankful - I'm in my 50s and my dad is still watching out after me. There were a lot of stories the next day about the problems people had getting home - ending up in ditches and curbs; abandoned cars; having to ride marta; 2 hour drives; many detours, etc but at least everyone arrived safely. I like the winter but sometimes the weather can bring dangerous conditions. I hope you will all be safe out there this season. / "really, bunny? i go away for ten minutes to make coffee and you've already assumed your typical inconvenient position on top of whatever i'm doing? you look so proud of yourself too.." my finals are finally over and i'm so relieved. athens is so odd, but very peaceful, with everyone gone for the holidays. most people have skipped town the second their exams are over, but i'm taking some time to myself to get some christmas shopping finished and read at the very not-crowded coffee shops. but i won't lie- i'm excited to come home for the holidays.

wreath / tree

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I hope you will not think me unkind for not visiting. I promise to stop by soon. I sure have missed you all. / it's fun, each year, pulling out the ornaments one by one - remembering. dad gives me a new silver "hand and hammer" ornament each year and my oma gives me one each thanksgiving - something representing my interest that year.

warm / cozy

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

As I drove to work this morning it looked like glitter swirling about in the air - it snowed as the sun tried to peek through the clouds. It's cold here in the south - cold enough to turn the water off for fear of frozen pipes. Did you get snow this weekend? /i felt like a child again building forts with blankets and furniture - i created a cozy little hide-away for studying in. finals are this week . if only the snow had stuck it might have given me an extra day to study.

peaceful / restful

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I still haven't gotten my tree decorated. I've had orders to fill - making rings and things late into the evening. Guess I should have decorated the tree instead of taking that little nap. But oh how nice it was - the only sound was the fire crackling and the dog snoring.

In the middle of all the busy preparations for the holidays, I hope you are able to find a moment of calm and rest.

colored lights / white lights

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I'm behind on getting my tree up this year - I just got the lights on it last night. However, it looks like Taylor is very festive at her apartment. She has her little tree decorated and her bike is all decked out for the holidays too. I'm wondering... do you use colored lights or white lights?

warmth of sun... / warmth of home...

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Warmth of friends... for these things I am grateful.

I know many of you will be busy this week preparing for family visits, shopping and cooking and getting together with friends, so I want to take this time, this Sunday night, to express my thanks. I want to say thank you for your visits and your kind words, your inspiration and your support. You take minutes out of your busy day to visit with me and that means a lot - you know it does. So to each and every one of you - I am grateful for the warmth of your friendship.

sunny hours / another year

solo post - L, Nikon

"I count none but the sunny hours"

just a reminder to self : not a good thing to try on skinny jeans on your birthday - just drives home the fact that you are old and maybe you shouldn't get your haircut on your birthday - having the hairdresser say, "you've got a lot of grey hair here do you want me to color it for you? " doesn't make you feel any younger. And hint: self portrait with the camera out of focus makes you look a little younger.

morning / afternoon

L - Nikon / T - phone pic

my view / her view

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

filled / fulfilled

solo post - L , Nikon

That's a lot of ice cream in that bowl – you'd think I was a glutton or something. BUT this ice cream has 36% less fat AND no sugar added! So... I ate every last drop. And it was good.

It's only Tuesday and I am already looking to the weekend – I have rings and things I want to create. How about you?

p.s. I don't usually eat at my computer desk.

crackling / dripping

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

Much of my weekend was spent on my etsy site – opening a new one and adding photos to both. It was a very productive weekend but I was getting rather tired of looking at the computer for so long so yesterday afternoon I took to the outdoors with a book and a cup of hot spice tea, built a fire and just sat listening to the fall of leaves and the birds fighting for berries, and the fire crackling. I didn't read 2 pages of the book - just sat and poked at the fire and listened. And tried to keep Evee from stealing logs off the fire (no, she's not so smart). It was wonderful. / i've spent this whole weekend working on a mural-type piece for the dog rescue center that i've been volunteering at. since the owner knew i was interested in art, she recruited me to design the new storefront and paint it. a bigger job than she knew. but i've really enjoyed this new way to be creative. it's something that's completely not in my style so it's pretty fun to jump out of my comfort zone and do something very different from what i'm used to. today's task took place twenty feet above ground on scaffolding and i'm far more tired than i expected to be for working six hours. taylor's bed-time keeps getting earlier and earlier, haha."

is it early? / is it late?

solo post - L, Nikon

What? It's too early! It's not even Thanksgiving , you say. I know, the autumn leaves haven't even fallen to the ground yet. And no I have not decorated my house (I do my decorating the weekend of Thanksgiving). I'm just doing a little photo shoot for one of my etsy sites – I'm preparing to list a few new items. Do you remember the paper ball ornaments I made last year ? I think maybe I talked about a little bit about a family craft session where we all made these wonderful ornaments out of repurposed Christmas cards. We all get cards that are treasures, ones with special messages from special loved ones, etc, but we also get a lot of cards that have no special meaning to us after a certain time. Through the years I have collected a lot and my mom has collected even more. We are putting these cards to good use by making ball ornaments. They look beautiful on the tree and the best thing is they are very light weight and unbreakable - a great thing when there's a cat around. / It might actually be too late to list Christmas items on my etsy site. Some people think a lot further ahead than I do. But I'm going ahead with it. I am going to list these little journal booklets (Christmas card list, journal, wish list, menu planner, or guest book -whatever you want to use them as) made out of repurposed paper that I get at the office - perfectly good paper that is thrown out for various reasons. I also put a printed 2011 calendar at the front of the books and a few sheets of graph paper just for fun. It's nice to have a little book to jot things down in.

So I guess it sort of is time to start thinking about the holidays whether we like it or not. I bet some of you have already checked off everything on your shopping list? Not me for sure.

P.S. I hope this isn't bad of me to self promote but who else is going to do it right? I moved my ring shop to a different address on etsy so I'm going to go ahead and say it... my rings can be found HERE . They might make a nice gift for someone on your list. wink wink

radiate / quiet

L - iphone / T - Nikon

This week has been what I would say is 'the peak' for fall color in Atlanta. Seems as if the trees came alive through the week – blazing with crimson and gold. This photo was taken with my iphone and doesn't translate the beauty and radiance I see when I walk outside my office to eat lunch – the mass of crimson leaves casting a blush of red on my cheeks. I look forward to getting out for a walk in the woods over the weekend and maybe a stroll on the new Canopy Walk at the Botanical Gardens. What are your plans for the weekend? / autumn has been slow in coming but it's fine with me – more warm days to enjoy the park with my doggies. there's a spot by the pond that i love to sit and read with a dog by my side.

meow / neigh

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

wordless Wednesday for real.

submissive / docile

L - iphone / T - Nikon

It's wonderful to be in the presence of a gentle creature - one that is well-trained and obedient to your command. It is especially important when an inexperienced rider is on a large horse, like I was. My horse tried to make his own path on occasion but a tug this way, or that, to the reins got him right back on track. Because he was well-trained it made me feel in perfect control – it put me at ease and made for a pleasant ride on a crisp autumn day. I loved it. / i am in love with this dog, that i named mason. he is the perfect companion - always at attention for my commands, always eager to please. it's hard to believe someone could have left this dog behind. he has been my joy for a week now. i don't even mind taking him out to pee on rainy days - now that's love.

turning / turned

solo post - L, Nikon

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence

a girl / her dog

solo post - L, Nikon

I know you're probably tired of seeing this dog, but it's all I have tonight. As you may know, over the weekend Taylor brought home a little dog she had been fostering so that my brother could take him to Alabama and give him a permanent home. My brother is so happy with the way Copper is adjusting. I think at first he thought, "what am I getting myself in for?" For the past 10 years he's had a nice routine with his dog Emerson who is very well behaved and settled in as just the two of them... now he's got to train a new dog, and make sure his fence is secured - you know how beagles will follow a scent no matter what. My brother said Copper is doing well, adapting to his schedule and is fun to play with, but almost too much for his older dog to handle. Taylor said that dog was a magnet for her - he really does have a cute puppy dog face with his heavy eyeliner. Maybe my brother will benefit in more ways than he anticipates... in the way of meeting a nice young lady perhaps? I'm wondering, has anyone ever had a beagle?

a sprinkle of color / a scatter of rain

solo post - L, Nikon

This is what our autumn is like so far... mixed of rain and sun, balmy and brisk, summer green and autumn yellow... no wooly sweaters or warm fires burning, no hot cider or chili on the stove. But I know the time is coming and I am so ready.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

adoption update: Copper seems to have adjusted real well to his new life in Birmingham so far. I believe my brother has made him one happy dog.

sweet / happy

solo post - T, Nikon / phone pic

i'm going to miss this sweet boy, but i'm really happy that my uncle is adopting him. my uncle is driving from alabama to meet copper in atlanta tomorrow. i sure hope they bond like we have. he's been my buddy for the last couple of weeks – i've been fostering copper. can you imagine that this sweet dog was on the kill list? all of the dogs at petzone have been saved from the 'kill list' at local shelters. what a wonderful thing kate, the owner, is doing. this is the second dog i have been able to place in homes - and it feels so good.

check out these awesome leather chucks i got at the thrift store (they make my feet look sort of big though - ha).

home / comfort

solo post - L, Nikon

“Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company” - author unknown

It was nice to to see her face, to hear her laugh, to share a cup of tea.. even to wash her clothes - it was a pleasant surprise to have her home.

What surprise did you enjoy this weekend?

hearts-a-poppin / loving

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

In my yard, before the leaves change to red and amber, the hearts-a poppin bushes burst open with red seed pods. I love this plant with it's interesting little bloom - sort of like a flower, sort of like a fruit. I clipped some of the branches and brought it indoors but I better put it away before Bunny comes to visit this weekend – I think it's poison. / i better be careful... i'm falling in love with all the dogs. this is babyface. (i think copper is a better name – remember the dog from the fox and the hound?). he's so freakin cute. i hope someone adopts him soon.

delighted / happy

L- Nikon / T - Nikon

I was out of town, walking amongst formal rose gardens, natural wildflower gardens and through a museum with great pieces of American art - Grant Wood and Georgia O'Keefe, just to name a few – captivated by the beauty around me and I received a photo text from Taylor. It was a painting that she had started working on. I had no idea she was even painting again - and just for fun. Do you know how happy that made me? I was looking at the work of famous artists but the work of this artist is what gave me delight. On the subject of art - I'm wondering who is one of your favorite artist? One of mine is Pierre Bonnard / i had an idea in my head so i got out my paintbrushes. i'm really please with the way it's turning out and i'm enjoying doing it. and guess what else - Lilly got adopted today. so happy.

me / my shadow

solo post - T, Nikon

crazy, but one thing i was most excited about in this apartment was this one wall. when i started doing photography i was often frustrated by not having one spare wall in the house to shoot against. this wall is blank - nothing hanging, nothing setting against it. there's possibilities here.

fullness / complete

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

"Live what you love"... that's what my ring says.

and that's what I did this weekend. What a full weekend I had! I didn't want it to end. It was good from the start to the very end - every moment a pleasure. Started with a great mexican dinner (with enough leftovers to serve me the entire weekend) and going by the nursery for some pansies and mums on Friday night, Saturday morning I went to the local market for fresh bread and cheeses, then a walk with Evee at Big Trees. I've missed that park. The autumn weather certainly pulled me there this weekend. Evee enjoyed it too. At home I set to work photographing my rings to put in my etsy store. I was so excited to finally add them to my shop. I had such fun propping the photos and enjoyed being outside to do it. All weekend I would switch from one thing to the next depending on the sun. When the sun hit just right on the hammock I was out there reading, when it faded I was inside making rings, and at night I was busy posting to my etsy. I didn't watch t.v. at all until last night when I ended the weekend with a uplifting movie - "Letters to Juliet". I sure hope you all had a great weekend too. / i love my apartment. it's like a home instead of temporary living quarters. and to me flowers complete a home so i bought some for myself.

eager / yearning

L - iphone / T - phone pic

I'm looking forward to the weekend. The forecast looks perfect - highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s. Those low temperatures are reason enough for a first fire in my mind - I can't wait. I think I'm being over-eager and should probably wait. What about you - are you eager for cozy nights by the fire or does it have to be much colder? / i've found a new friend and her name is lilly. i think i have taken a liking to her since our hair colors match and the fact that she is really wonderful. i'm volunteering at a new rescue center that has just opened up in athens called petzone and i'm really enjoying myself. it's a thrift store and dog rescue place combined, which are two of my favorite things ever! all of the proceeds from the thrift portion go towards saving and taking care of dogs that are on the kill list of other local shelters. i really want to take lilly home, but i guess i'll have to settle with volunteering every day until she gets adopted [:

autumn breeze / fall color

L - iphone / T - phone pic

Last night we had a bad storm - hail, strong winds and power outage. But was beautiful today - today was the first day it really felt like fall. I came home - on time for a change - and enjoyed a swing in the hammock. In fact, I do this every evening, just for a few minutes, just until the hammock stops swinging, and then I go inside and feed the animals. Tonight I smelled autumn in the air - I was happy. / there was a coolness to the air this morning as i walked to class. i hope it's here to stay for a while – i am so not a "summer" girl. (above photo taken in the grocery store, at the last minute, for mom)

sunny / bright

solo post - L , Nikon

I hope your day is sunny and bright no matter the weather.

lost / found

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I did a lot of walking on the streets of Boston, and a lot of getting lost. But it didn't matter - there were new and different things to see on every block. Things that make you slow down - to take it all in - instead of rush about to the next destination. / my shoes are never where i left them...

pilgrims / patriots

solo post - L, iphone

Do you know now?

This past weekend I spent some time in several very historic towns. Plymouth, MA, Boston and Deerfield, MA. I walked where pilgrims walked... sat where Benjamin Franklin may have sat... opened doors that the famous photographer sisters opened... it was a pretty amazing trip. As is often the case there just wasn't enough time to take it all in. I think I'll just have to travel there again.

by sea / by land

solo post - L , iphone

I had a fun weekend away and of course took a lot of photos. But I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. I took almost as many on my iphone so I'll share a couple of those right now. Maybe you can tell where I was. Any guesses? (No fair if you're friends with me on FB and have seen some hints there) Different towns - both historical.

shiny / bright

L - Nikon / T - Canon

I polished up a few of my spin rings, shiny and bright, and now I'm comfortable to share some with you. I'm still working out designs but I'm starting to feel encouraged that I have something wearable. Have you ever worn a spin ring? They really are addictive - fun to play with, especially if you're a fidget. / this is a week of studying and test - i like to come home and light a candle or two. it makes it calming and nice.

new day / be happy

L - iphone / T - Canon

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." - Eleanor Roosevelt

...so start it with a smile and be happy.

a little pouche / a knapsack

L - Nikon / T - Canon

Metalsmithing is my past time these days (I finally got my studio set up at home) and as a result I haven't been taking photos - I haven't even done any blogging lately. But I did take this photo last Thursday because I wanted to share it with you. Isn't this the cutest little bunny purse? I ordered it from a fabulous designer on etsy. Taylor liked it so much I think she's going to want to borrow it sometime. I love etsy. About this time of year I start looking on there with gifts in mind. I think maybe other people do too... so I'm hoping to add some of the rings I've been making to my shop real soon. Do you do have an etsy site? Do you have any tips for getting customers? / i was looking for my knapsack today and this is where i found it. behind the curtain... with bunny.

show thyself / know thyself

L - iphone / T - phone pic

upstairs / downstairs

solo post - L, iphone/Nikon

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. -Helen Hunt Jackson

This time of year the shadows dance lively as I get ready for work. I see them upstairs and downstairs. I'm lucky that I don't have leave for work before the sun rises - I get to see the pretty light show on my walls. I love how the house has a cool autumn feel in the morning too. We're moving into my favorite season. What about you? Do you look forward to cooler days ahead or are you wanting to hang on to the summer?

sea creature / land creature

L - iphone / T - phone pic

August Break 15

Today was a great day. I met my cousin in Watkinsville to go to the Annual Pottery show -50 potters displaying and selling their work. There were so many wonderful pieces there that I coveted. Then we had a nice lunch and drove to Athens to meet T. She took us to see an exhibit of Edward Curtis' - Native American Indian photography - a beautiful collection his work from the book Shadow Catcher. She also gave us a tour of the art building - there were giant paper mache sculptures of safari animals, huge portraits in charcoal, elaborate color wheels, and 3-D wood sculptures. This one of the seahorse is made out of toothpicks. / mom and my second cousin came to visit so i sort of played hostess of athens. i took them a photography exhibit and to the art building and then to the local coffee joint called jittery joes. we were sitting outside on vintage metal glider chairs in the shade and this little guy came up and surprised me. after my initial skittishness and my cousin informed me that this little guy was harmless - then i wanted to try to pet him. i guess i stressed him out by trying to catch him because his chest pumped up all pink. sure wish i had gotten that shot - against that bright orange chair it would have been cool.

glasses / see-through window

L - iphone / T- phone pic

August Break 14

umm... I have no words... it's what we saw... it's all we had today.

daisy / fresh

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

August Break 13

"Fresh as a daisy". There is something about the simplicity of a daisy - they're just so bright and cheerful. I'm sad that these are the last of the season in my garden. / i straighten up my place because dad was coming to visit. unfortunately i can't keep this coverlet on my couch because bunny has nails.

prismacolor / sharpie color

L - Nikon / T - Canon

August Break 12

We both submitted our designs for the Dolphin Parade and are anxiously waiting to hear back. A celebration for the opening of the new dolphin exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium will feature 5' dolphin fiberglass sculptures painted by artists. We're hoping at least on of our designs will be chosen.

I rendered my design with Prismacolor pencils /i did mine with sharpies.

Funny, these photos were not shot in collaboration for this post but were taken randomly. I just thought they fit together.

the unknown / new territory

L - iphone / T - Nikon

August Break 11

Today I explored a new world - an unfamiliar world - one of total darkness – as if a blind person. Dialog in the Dark is an exhibit in Atlanta - an experience set up to awaken the senses, challenge our prejudices, and deepen self-awareness. A blind person guided us through the exhibit giving us the experience and sensation of different environments - walking through the park, into a city, a food market and a boat ride with only our guide stick and her voice to direct us. It was interesting to try to figure out where we were based on what we could hear, feel and smell around us. I found it very difficult to get around in the dark and was relieved to be in the light once again. If you get to opportunity to go to this exhibit I recommend it. It will certainly give you a new appreciation for what the vision impaired live with every day. / i changed my major. a couple days before class started i came to a realization that the photography major just wasn't were i needed to be... at uga anyway. i have changed it to art history. this will be new territory for me - taking a course-load entirely of academic classes. i'm used to a balance of studio classes mixed with other studies, but i'm excited to take the leap.

dappled /speck

L - iphone / T - Nikon

August break 10

rock / candy

L - Nikon / T - Canon & L - iphone

August Break 9

I did something different with our post tonight. Taylor sent me a photo of the candy feathers she bought at a souvenir shop at Niagara Falls and I 'photoshopped' it together with a photo I took at work of a bowl full of chocolate "rock" candy she bought me. These "rocks" really fooled people at work - good way to keep people from eating your candy. haha

(I think I may have confused some people - in my head it made sense. Just to clarify: the top photo is a real feather on rock pebbles. I wanted to contrast it with the photo on the bottom which is candy feathers and candy rocks. sorry for the confusion)

bright colors / colored bottles

L - iphone / T - Nikon

August Break 8

I was in a bright colored mood today. / i collect bottles. i have too many for my apartment.

kitty in Atlanta / kitty in Athens

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

August Break 7

I think Kodi is somewhat lonely without Bunny picking on her, but she's fattening back up a little. / bunny is crazed... out of boredom? i had to go buy her some toys.

gooey / goodness

L- iphone / T - Canon

August Break 6

I was over at my parents house the other day - I stole some cookies from the cookie jar - homemade soft ginger cookies, fresh-baked - by my dad. At home I put a marshmallow between two and microwaved it for a few seconds - delicious gooey delight. / old standby when funds are low.

slow / fast

L - iphone / T - Nikon

August Break 5

it's Sunday and i take it slow / she goes fast.

(yes, on the weekends I get in a couple of hammock naps)

by day / by night

L - iphone / T - phone pic

August Break 4

i enjoy a relaxing hammock nap / she enjoys a local music festival with friends.

package / post

L, Nikon / T - Nikon

August Break 3

true to August Break - no words required, right?

I'm also participating in August Break on my AutumnSun blog.

a view from the window / a window view

L, Nikon / T, Nikon

Bunny hears Taylor drive up. She doesn't know yet that she will have a new home soon. Will she miss Kodi? Will Kodi miss her? I think Kodi will be glad to be able to eat ALL of her food for a change.
See that book on the table? Taylor and I found it at a flea market in Canada. There were a few pages in it that Taylor thought would make nice pieces to frame. The book is titled "Happy Hours in the Little People's World" - New & Old Jingles & Stories / Prettily Pictured. There's an inscription in the front of the book that says, "Presented to Lawrence Hartman for attendance during the school term 1889-1890, by his teacher August Barries." It was a great find but it's very old and delicate and will need special care. Below is one of the prints that Taylor wants to frame. I think it will look nice hanging above her white bird cage piece she got from Elizabeth. / the weekend was busy - spent moving out of the old and into the new. now I'm back home again to pick up a few more things... and my kitty. it will feel legit - like a home - when bunny is there.