team up thursday - "NIGHT"

I'm posting this a tad early today because I have a busy night tonight. So here you are!

COREY choose our theme for this week AND did a great job getting her photo (top) in such a low light situation - nice and crystal-clear and clean! Corey said her photo was boring - "I don't think so!" If anything is 'boring' take a look below . . . .



I didn't even leave my home for this shot (now that's a tad boring!) - last week 'someone' in the world passed on their cold germs to me and I felt like hibernating the entire week especially with our 'balmy' weather we've been having (see below). "This" lamp does brighten up my life especially when it gets dark at 5:30 p.m. these days. Every time I turn it on I marvel at all the color that greets me - it's so cheery!

Head over to Megan's place AND Christina's place for more CHEER and Team Up Thursday!

Just as a side-note, this snow (above) DID melt and we have MORE heading this direction this week with temperature HIGHS in the 30's - so, this next batch will NOT be disappearing anytime soon . . . ahhhhhh, April!!!!!

team up thursday - "MONEY"

Our theme this week is "MONEY". I look at Corey's photo (left) and remember when I was a little girl I would constantly look to the ground with great anticipation in finding a penny! My parents did it and consequently, I did it. Today I've seen not only others but myself ignoring such a small amount and walking past it! I love the simplicity of Corey's photo and the shadows add such interest and mystery!!!



The dollar, origami-style was sent to my hubby for his birthday from his sister. She sent (3 of them) and I just couldn't believe my eyes!!!! It was folded in the shape of a heart and so intricate and amazing I took a double-take! To me, the heart doesn't suggest "the love of money" - just the "love" of an amazing talent and such patience!!!!!

Drop by Megan's for more TUT events!

team up thursday - "SMALL"

Corey choose our theme this week and that would be "small" ! ! ! OM-gosh, I am in love with her "small" furry baby bunnies! They are so cute and so very tiny - just look at those little paws and ears. Lucky little Sugar Bear - that's for sure. Nicely done partner!




Both of our photos are reminding me of SPRING rather than FALL! My photo captures a honey bee - something I haven't seen around our home for sometime. Within one week I saw two - one on this flower and one laying on my window sill (dead). I used to dislike these little creatures (I was stung too many times to count) until they disappeared from our area due to "colony collapse" a disease that wiped out the honey bees in our area! I actually missed them when our yard was taken over by wasps - now I really have to say I'd take the honey bee back any day, any time! I have seen a few this summer - but not many. I hope they're on their way back but I guess we won't have to worry about that until next spring. For now, I'm going to enjoy me some FALL!

Visit Megan's site for more fun!

team up thursday - "FALL"

This has to be my favorite season by far - still warm enough to go without a coat yet cool enough to smell fall/winter in the air and closing in fast! However, this year the temperatures have been unusually warm for our neck of the woods so the trees are a little confused! Either the trees have lost all of their leaves OR the leaves are still green and hangin' out! So, I had a dilemma as to what to shoot. I choose to shoot inside my house and anyone can tell it's "FALL" because I've been to the store and we now have the latest and greatest scented candle and the ever-nauseating candy corn that I love to eat but subsequently always get sick on (is that a run-on sentence!?). So, basically the top shot shows "FALL" at our house!

Corey's shot is gorgeous - the red leaves against the gray of the rock! See! That's what our area is missing this year (for some reason) the brilliant reds - we do have the yellows and oranges - but red is definitely missing. I love how she got ever-so-close so you can see the veins in the leaves - just great. It's amazing she had time to even walk out side with all the editing she's doing on her photo shoots/weddings. Way to go girl!

team up thursday - "ROCKS"

Better late than never, ha!

Our theme this week is "ROCKS". My photo (left!!!!) is a vase I filled with "ROCKS" and water because I went out and cut the last rose of the season and wanted to enjoy it inside the house! I wasn't thinking when I shot the photo - as I should have included the rose also!!! Oh well, it was 'purdy' (that's western for pretty).

Corey's photo is adorable, as usual. I have to confess, the day she sent me this photo I had a case of the flu bug (didn't last long) but I was queeeeeezy and sick to my stomach and when I looked a Sugar Bear in the boat my stomach and head just turned and I felt like I just got off a merry-go-round, felt like I was spinning (sorry Corey) ! ! ! ! ! BUT, I LOVE the spin she took on this theme - thinking out of the box is always fun.

team up thursday - "MY WEEK"

I thought it would be interesting to do a mosaic of OUR WEEK for our diptych theme – choosing (1) photo per day that would represent what’s going on in our life! Easier said than done and a lot more work than just (1) photo!

Corey's "WEEK" is:

Happy and filled with adventure - I can tell by the photos. Is Sugar Bear anything BUT happy? I'm sure she has her days but this week looks like it's filled with excitement and furry snuggles! I'm guessing there were travels involved OR just local scenery - the beach I'm coveting right now! Thanks Corey, that was fun to peek into your world and lovely as always!!!

Upper row photos:

Note: these photos are random order – not necessarily as the week progressed!

THE BIG '40': Let me begin by saying when your ‘oldest’ son turns 40, you KNOW you’re getting dang-old! Well, he did and it seems like yesterday I was rocking him and changing diapers!

LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: Worked on a logo for our (my daughter & I) photo business. It seems as though the business ‘found us’ rather than ‘us looking for business’ - it just seemed to happen by word of mouth!

iMAC MOUSE: As I was editing (sitting LONG hours sitting on my ever-widening butt) TONS of photos this week, I noticed and really started appreciating the miracle I was holding in my hand – my ‘fairly-new cordless mouse’ – an amazing feat of engineering and love it’s simple-clean lines. It’s saved me a lot of time as opposed to the old mouse.

RUNNER: Saturday, my daughter, a friend and I shot over 600 marathon runners – it consumed almost our entire day. I choose this photo because this girl was a lot of fun and I loved how she received “#1” for her number!

Middle Row Photos:

PINK FLOWER – was driving by my neighbors yard, saw THIS flower and when I got home went for my camera because I thought it was so delicate and thought it’s life-span would not last much longer – so thought I would appreciate it and honor it’s existence!

MAKEUP BRUSHES – this is my ritual every-single-day and as I watched my husband get ready for the day I thought how UNFAIR it was that I had to resort to ‘this ritual’ when all he had to do was shave and brush his teeth. I’m not sure I ever even see him wash his face – what’s up with that?

Lower Row Photos:

CANDLE – when I can ‘smell’ fall in the air, the candles come out in full force. It’s a ritual every year – I adore wonderfully scented candles – maybe it’s because I have (3) semi-smelly dogs in the house!?! This MANGO-PEACE SALSA Yankee candle rocks! Oh BTW, I smelled fall in the air this week – dang!

Drop by Megan's for more FUN and DIPTYCH-CREATIVITY!

team up thursday - "NATURE"

nature |ˈnā ch ər|

1 the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations : the breathtaking beauty of nature.





nature |ˈnā ch ər|

2 [in sing. ] the basic or inherent features of something, esp. when seen as characteristic of it : helping them to realize the nature of their problems | there are a lot of other documents of that nature.
• the innate or essential qualities or character of a person or animal : it's not in her nature to listen to advice | I'm not violent by nature.

That being said, Corey captured perfection in her NATURE photo (above) - so clean and clear. The sun shining makes me happy right through her photo - her creation is breath taking just as described in the definition above! Corey has a talent of capturing whatever she's photographing in a distinct way. I think it's beautiful in every way - and BTW, so is she!

I too, automatically, was going for the outdoor theme -nature at it's finest - what could be better than Idaho and nature? It goes hand in hand. In most of our themes I always try and think if there is a dual-meaning, a way of thinking of the word in a different way. This week's theme did fit into that category. My daughter and I were doing a photo shoot for a playground equipment company when this little girl went down the slide (below) - perfectly 'girly' in every way. The boys playing in the yard were just as 'boy' as you could get (see photo below) - both were doing what was in their NATURE. I couldn't get over it - how it's inborn in both genders - a perfect balance to make them who they are AND who you and I are as well. Ha!

Drop by Megan's for some interesting and delightful Team Up Thursday!

See what I mean (photo above) - the true nature of boys!

SPECIAL NOTE:

I'm having to break up our DIPTYCH as they just don't fit right in this new blog templet going on here! Hope that doesn't offend anyone - haha!

team up thursday - "WORDS"

Okay, I want you all to FOCUS on this diptych and tell me what you see? I'll leave you alone for a few seconds to see if you can figure it out!!! (***whistling sounds in the background****fingers tapping on the table, just to drive you crazy***)



Did you figure it out? I couldn't believe what I saw when Corey sent her fire-red photo! Well, actually I didn't spot it until I put the two photos together! Corey's "WORD" FOCUS and my photo with an EYEBALL! That being said (***oh Berta, who cares***), our theme this week is "WORDS".

I love Corey's word - it looks 'retro' to me even though it isn't - love the chrome lettering - so clear and clean. It reminded me of the car show we went to in Reno several weeks ago and am wondering if this car is sitting in Corey's driveway OR something she found around town? Perfect job, partner.

My photo is of a book I have sitting in the office - it's an amazing book - the photos are so earthy, so real. The book is called "WISDOM" by Andrew Zuckerman.

The book has small WORDS, big WORDS, interesting WORDS . . .

Sometimes it has no WORDS at all . . .

Every page has fabulous photos that speak volumes without speaking one WORD . . .


Sometimes I want to fill in the blank spaces with something - but then again, maybe not . . .

Sometimes the WORDS that speak in my book tell me to get back to reality and get on with life!

Now, put down that book and head over to Megan's and check more TEAM UP THURDAY STUFF!

team up thursday - "CLASSIC"

What is your favorite something that NEVER goes out of style or stays 'the best' forever - a book, a sweater, a movie, a song? Our theme this week is "CLASSIC" and both Corey and I came up with something that's "CLASSIC" to us.

Corey's photo (left) is, most definitely, a classic - been around for a long, long time. In fact, I remember it well - as if it were yesterday when my hubby and I were doing the same thing! I love the photo, love the colors - it's a "CLASSIC", for sure! Corey has a talent of capturing soft, subtle colors and feelings to her photography. I just love Corey, she's always up for any theme thrown her way and always hits a home run - great job, partner!



My photo is a "CLASSIC" as well - a paneled surfing wagon - the kind we had on the beaches of southern California where I grew up! I shot this gem in Tahoe while at a car show - my mouth was watering for this beauty! I always dreamed of owning one but it never happened. The closest I ever came to one is my 'back-door-neighbor' who has one in his garage as we speak - and in Idaho!!! When I see this wagon, my mind immediately goes back in time, like a time-machine, to the 'good ol' days'! I could stay there forever, except I snap back into reality when my dogs bark and want to go outside to pee! Oh well, reality strikes again!

Stop by Megan's for more diptych fun!

Here are some photos I took in Tahoe at a car show - "Hot August Nights". These photos are ROOC (right out of camera) - no alterations what-so-ever! The lighting was so brilliant the colors came out amazing! I wrote in an earlier post that I LOVE hot rods and classic cars - I really do! Click any photo for a closer look - my favorite, the flames!

team up thursday - "EXCITED"

Corey choose our theme this week - and what a GREAT theme it is! Who, in this world, can not get EXCITED over summer and all it's magical moments - moments that turn into memories that last a life-time?

Corey's photo (left) brings back tons of memories as I was growing up - diving into Yosemite's lakes and streams just like the girls pictured! I love everything about this photo - the cooling water, the EXCITED anticipation as they leap . . . ahhhhhh, that's summer!

My photo (right) is a catch - the kids were playing "tag" with their uncle and thinking he would never catch them - they got pretty EXCITED and one HUGE SURPRISE, he did catch them and pretty much tortured them! If you look close, you can see their fingers holding grapes ready to throw at him - taunting him!!! Lesson here: "NEVER under-estimate the SPEEEEED of your ELDERS!!!"

Want to play along - choose a partner, choose a weekly theme, grab your camera and have some fun - THEN, head over to Meagan's blog-spot and see what everyone else comes up with! "Hey, and get EXCITED about something today!!!"

team up thursday - "SASSY"

I had the auspicious duty of choosing this week's theme! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!! LOL! Seriously, what was I thinking? Well, my mind combed everything I saw this week just trying to make it fit this word, to no avail! I could just see Corey with a million poses of her adorable Sugar Bear looking 'cute & sassy' - now how on earth am I going to get my dogs to show such a thing? My hubby is a lost cause - now 'hot and bothered' would be something he could pull off! FINALLY, it happened! Our family got together to have some weekly fun together and thank goodness I had my camera because the magic unraveled right before my eyes!

Nicole, my daughter-in-law, had her hair pulled tight in a band when she jumped into the saddle for a little spin around the coral. When she headed back in our direction she spontaneously pulled the band out of her hair and shook her head to release her golden locks! My camera was on 'fast shutter repeat' (sounds like a machine gun going off) and I was able to capture her SASSYNESS start to finish! When I showed her the photos - she was so embarrassed! I guess she's like me and doesn't like photos of herself! I think she looks adorable, as well as, Sugar Bear looking all SASSY in her hot shades and cool car!



For MORE fun drop by Megan's blogpad for more Team Up Thursday FUN, FUN, FUN!

Here's the SASSY-SHOW start to finish - she was laughing so hard, I thought she was going to fall off the horse - especially when she noticed everyone was looking at her and I was getting all this on digital 'film'!

team up thursday - "WHITE"

Well, let's just LOOK at these photos and call it 'good'!!!! J/K! Corey picked our theme this week and that would be "WHITE"! Now, if we would have picked that theme in the winter time, I would have tons of subjects to choose from. This week was a huge challenge for me as I was sitting in our recliner almost 24/7 with a really bad back! I thought, "How on earth am I going to get this assignment done in time!?" Now that I think about it, I could have just opened up my prescription bottles and dumped pills (white) all over the table and called it good - I had some mighty-fine meds this go-around! I do have to confess something, I hate feeling doped-up so I have a lot of meds left! They took me to my 'happy place' just like these photos do when I look at them.

White water by Corey is my idea of delicious! Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE waterfalls and water in any form. Corey's take on this theme was 'out of the box' and I LOVE that! Petunias are in abundance in our yard this year as Bob brought them home for Mother's Day - and I LOVE that so, considering my condition at the time, this was a good find for me.

Drop by Megan's place for some more "Diptych" fun! You can play along too - just find a partner, choose a theme and go on a fun adventure!

DESSERT - team up thursday

How was your holiday celebration? Ours was soooo great that I ended up in the recliner Sunday night with a bad back and I've been there ever since!!! Holy-ouch! I've been watching a lot of TV lately - especially the FOOD network and lots and lots of desserts (among other mouth-watering things)! I settled in, got my notebook and thought I would glean a lot of recipes from my chair-bound experience. Well! I've slept through them all as the doc prescribed some muscle-relaxers (I've never had before) and little did I know they put you to sleep!!!

Leave it up to 'me' to pick DESSERT as our theme - but, you have to admit, they are a delicious sight.



Visit Corey's fun site!

Drop by and visit Megan and HipMama's site for fun, fun, fun!

HELP ME HERE:
After three days of being laid up, I do have to admit it feels like more than up-tight muscles in my back - could it be disc problems? Has anyone been through this and can give me some insight into how long it takes to get over and how you treated it? All our beautiful weather is just beyond my reach but I have nice clean windows to look out! Darn!

team up thursday - "UNDER"

UNDER! Under what? That's what I thought about all week: under the table, under the covers, under the microscope, under the weather (forget about that one!), under a tree? What could I choose - definitely not under the weather! I was thinking 'water' but how could I get under the water without an underwater camera? Well, long story-short, I was going to have trouble with the water-thing because our town (believe it not) does not have a swimming pool! Ours got so old they filled it in with dirt!!! So, the next best thing - the water park! So, how about "UNDER the water bucket"? . . . That's fair, right? Morgie did just that and got hit full force standing UNDER the red water bucket and she didn't mind it at all - ahhhhhhhhhhhh, so cool! (note: opps, sorry for the signature on the photo - didn't notice it until I posted it!!!!)



Corey and I were both thinking water this week - 'so' seasonal!!! Look! Sugar Bear is going under for the first time (according to Corey) at her swimming lesson. BTW, I love the cool, calming colors and geometric design in the pool. Sugar is just as cute UNDER the water as she is above it - she isn't even holding her nose! Bravo, little-miss Sugar and great job, partner!

Be sure and SWIM on over to Megan's and HipMama's for more Team Up Thursday!

PLEASEEEEEEEE, check YESTERDAY'S post and help vote for my photos I entered in the "Reasons to Love Idaho" photo contest!!!! Thanks so much! Hugs to everyone!

team up thursday - summertime adventures with kitty & haba

This week, I chose our theme, "Summertime Adventures with Kitty and Haba"!

Corey has been DELIGHTING her readers with the craziest "Adventures of Kitty" for several years. I immediately got sucked into the adventures the first time I saw them! Corey has a great imagination and a little fury critter fits right into that world with her. You have to drop by and see all the places Kitty has been - very funny and her creativity continues to amaze me. Kitty's adventure this week is one I would love to share - peacefully sitting on a piece of driftwood by the ocean! Oh, how I would love to be there right now and just look at those blue skies! I'm hoping Corey will write a Blurb book one day and sell it - cutest idea ever!

Corey inspired me to adopt a little friend, Haba! Haba happens to be my little grandson's toy - and I now live with a guilty conscience as I promptly stole it from him!!!!! I thought he would make the perfect little companion for me so we could go on a few adventures - just like Corey and Kitty (one family member thinks I'm nuts). He currently resides in my camera case and goes wherever I go. I haven't been as diligent as Corey but Haba has had a few adventures and I will continue to find more for him this summer!

This week, Haba is trying to REMIND all of us to slow down with our crazy schedules and take time to "SMELL THE FLOWERS" - s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n. and enjoy the beauty around us.

If you'd like to team up with a friend and play along go by Megan's and HipMama's for some fun - and it's FREE - that's always a bonus. Helps you 'think outside the box'!

affection - team up thursday

I have an AFFECTION for the word AFFECTION!!! I'm just an affectionate person - touchy-feely-type. When some of my kids grew up and weren't the huggy-type-person like I was, I was surprised - because they 'got it' when they were growing up - hugs, kisses - the works!

Corey chose the theme this week and totally cracked me up with her photo (bottom)! Now, I AM an animal person (certified pet-sitter, that's me!) but I thought I'd die when I saw her shot - I even wiped my face (haha) a little with my hand - not to mention reaching for my Clorox-wipes! It wasn't until I paid attention (as an adult) to where those little tongues go that I began to have an aversion to being licked by my fury-family-members! Go to her blog and read her explanation of the photo, it's pretty cute and I might add, a pretty timely capture! My 3 little fur-balls sneak "affection" all the time and they usually win! BTW, Corey is the BEST partner - so fun!

My entry (top photo) kind of speaks for itself! Bob was helping Cooper ride his bike on the gravel road. I loved (didn't notice it when I took the photo) how the road curved a bit - taking your eye for a little 'ride' (a little play on words!) Bob isn't exactly relaxed as he released the bike - his stance suggests he might dart at any second to catch the "Toop" in case he started to fall - what are grandpas for anyway?

Stop by Megan's and Hip-Mama's for more themes and fun.

bokeh - team up thursday

This week's theme is "BOKEH"! Have you ever heard of that before? It's a photographic term. Corey just happens to explain it very well on her blog - definition and all! Drop by if you're not sure what it means! It just means, in everyday terms, all the blurry-stuff in the background!

Left photo: I took this photo out in our front yard when all the trees were blooming. The sparkly/blurry-stuff on the left hand side is BOKEH yet you can see the blossom I was focusing on. The sparkly/blurry-stuff on the left is the sunlight shining through the leaves. The lens I used to get this effect was an 50mm f/1.8 and the ISO was 200 & I spot metered the branch on the right! Here's another example of BOKEH taken on my kitchen sink with Christmas lights in the background.

When I first started taking photos, that was one of the first things I wanted to learn - fun!

Right photo: Corey's photo is b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. in every way - color, BOKEH, shape and texture!!! So soft and so pretty! She certainly researched the subject and explains it so well on her blog. I love the greens in her photo and just a touch of purple in the background - love, love, love! Always fun to see what she comes up with.

down low - team up thursday

Corey choose this weeks theme, "DOWN LOW" - this was indeed a challenge for a senior citizen (me) - haha! Being the sport that I am, I ventured out into the wild Idaho weather (rain, sleet, wind, cold) and actually captured a photo (not pictured) on my stomach, sprawled on the ground. A neighbor walking by did give me CRAP about my "DOWN LOW" form OR lack thereof - it wasn't a pretty sight! AT THE LAST MINUTE (this is becoming a habit) I changed my mind and decided to use a shot I took of my most cluttered dresser and ended up liking it better! I did get "DOWN LOW" on this necklace shot - I had to bend my knees and bend over at the waist - oh man, somedays that's as far as I can go!!! Hey! Don't laugh, just wait until to get to be a senior citizen!!!!!

"DOWN LOW"! Honey, Corey got mighty low on this shot - good thing she's young - I'd still be down for the count - haha, oh yeah! How cute - little toes with feet attached. I think they're adorable and I really miss them around our house. I love seeing them, tickling them, bathing them - well you get my drift! Nicely done, Corey and Sugar Bear.

team-up thursday - HAIR

I had the illustrious honor of choosing this week's theme and had some ideas in mind - dog hair, fuzzy hair in the artichoke we bought at the store, hubby's lack of hair (!!!) - but it was going to be something hairy! Dah!

Left photo:

Corey's photo is so feminine and sweet - anyone who follows her blog can immediately recognize Sugar Bear's cute little neck and hair! Who can resist the sweet little neck of a child - love the way hair sweeps across - something I can't relate to anymore - as my hair is as short as it can get! Thanks Corey for this darling photo - perfection as always.



Right photo:

Little Cooper came for a visit and found out his beautiful, long, little-boy hair had a wad of gum the size of . . . well, it was big . . . fused to his head! So, the gum had to come out - operation 'gum removal' began! My daughter, who's a fabulous hairstylist, came to the rescue with her skilled hands and razor-sharp scissors. Little Coop grew up fast this day as he looked like a different kid when operation 'gum removal' was over!

(click mosaic for a closer look)



Be sure and stop by Megan's blog-pad for more "Team Up Thursday" - YOU and a partner can join in the fun - really, you can!

sleep - team up thursday

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!



Upper photo: by Berta
Lower photo: by Corey

This weeks diptych speaks for itself - how can I possibly elaborate on such a sweet, beautiful scene? Sometimes less is better!

*****whispering voice:*****

If you want to join in on the fun each week, visit Megan's blog-pad and join in with everyone - no special invitation just start shooting with a partner.