Odds and Ends... well mostly just odds.

I really wanted to post a photo story Friday again this week. I'm really enjoying participating. I spent several hours trying to edit pictures from our trip to the Aquarium this past weekend. Do you know how hard it is to get a good shot in a dark aquarium without flash, moving fish in the background under filtered light and small child in the dark foreground looking at them??
Oh you do know? Well then you'll understand how many good pictures I ended up with. I'll post them sometime but I'm not done with the massive editing job just yet.
I'm having a hard time finding the inspiration to blog. Several semi funny things have happened in the last few weeks but I just can't seem to properly put them into words. Like the story of the gift I just received. It's really kind of funny but when I type it out it's just lacking something.
My mother in law brought me back a present from Arizona. It's a purse made from crochet plastic bags. I'll let you all digest that for a moment. Yes plastic bags from stores.
You can sort of tell which ones where from Walmart and which are from Safeway. I suppose it could be considered the ultimate in recycling but I'm just not feeling it. See, only slightly funny.
In other news, I've been super cranky this week. Yesterday husband came home and I told him I didn't feel good, that I had horrible cramps. Husbands response was "Oh that explains a lot"
Note to all men... that is NOT the correct response.
Since I was feeling so crappy I went to the store to buy a bottle of wine after work. I got up to the register and the guy asked for my ID. I hand it to him, he looked at the picture, looked at me and then as he was typing the date into the register he says really loud "OH Wow!"
I thought maybe I'd one a prize until he said "You don't look that old!"
Um... ok I think that was a compliment.

Photostory Friday ~ Marbeling

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A few weeks ago Bug and I went to visit my dad. After loving on the brand new baby goats, mydad, Bug and I went over to watch my dad's friend Marjorie work.

She creates marbled fabric and sells it to other crafts people. They in turn make beautiful things from the fabric. The process of making this fabric is long and I won't go into specifics because, well I don't remember all of the technicalities!

What I do know is that is was fascinating to watch. Bug who has a short attention span watched for about two hours in a cold cramped studio as Marjorie worked her magic.

Bug was entranced....

Marjorie put row after row of dye onto the special slimy liquid.

Then she used a "comb" to smooth out the lines.

Then she used a "rake" in the opposite direction.

Once the pattern is the way she wants it she lays the fabric into the solution.

When the fabric is lifted the die is adhered to it.






She makes multiple patterns and stores every on in her head.

It's was so fun and very inspiring to watch an artist at work. It reminds me that I need to find my bliss!

Photo Story Friday ~ Uninspired

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have been feeling completely uninspired lately.

Uncreative, listless, and tired.

I don't know if it has been the weather or what.

I haven't even wanted to pick up my camera.

When I do I feel like every picture I take is crap.

Then a few days ago the baby lambs started arriving at our neighbors down the hill.

Every morning they when we drive by Bug and I ooooh and ah at their cuteness.

The weather was gorgeous today so I took some time on my lunch break and headed out with my camera. Of course the sun was out and at a harsh angle.

Every picture I took looked washed out. I couldn't get it right.

When I got to the lambs field there were all of two within shooting range. I had to peer over a bunch of dead blackberry vines to try and shoot them. The rest were far away taking their afternoon naps. There was none of the running and jumping in a huge pack that we see every morning.

I walked back up the hill to my house a bit let down.

I had finally gotten inspired by something and it didn't work out.... again.

Then as I walked toward my house I saw this image.

The mountain reflected in my office window.

That's when I decided that there shouldn't ever be a reason for me to feel uninspired when I have this reflection to look at every day.