A Closer Look

In my last post I shared the wonderful Me & McGee Produce Market I found.

I thought you might like to see a little closer look at the many displays.

Every where you looked there was a pumpkin peeking out.

This was one of my favorite displays.

I really like the metal flower in the middle of an old window frame.

There were pumpkins in every shape, size and color,

veggies,

Arkansas black apples,

 and flowers too!

These didn't even look real, but they are!

The pumpkin I brought home was a smaller one.

I loved it's color and it's bumpy texture.

This cut little guy came home with me because of it's wonderful little stem!

My rule: When buying pumpkins you must always find at least one with a curly stem!

I love autumn!

I love the colors,

the smells,

and

the cooler air!

I sincerely hope you are enjoying your autumn!

Something New

I can take picture of nature over and over again. I delight in spending time outside discovering the beauties of things like mushrooms, rocks, water, trees, and such. There's always something new each day to discover. But, taking pictures of nature limits my experiences, so I tried something different. Something I have never done. I took my camera to the grocery store and enjoyed the beauty and smells of fruits and veggies.

If you know me very well, you know this is totally NOT ME! I am one of those people that never wants to call attention to myself. I definitely don't want to stand out. Just let me be a wallflower and I will be happy. Taking my camera out in a grocery store and taking pictures was very hard for me to do. I was uncomfortable and slightly nervous. The thought that circled round and round in my head was "what will people think?" There was one lady that looked at me very strange several times, but I just smiled, ducked my head, and kept taking pictures. I honestly expected a call over the store's speaker any moment "security to the produce department!"

After a few pictures I did become more relaxed strolling down the aisle looking for color, shapes, and textures.

I survived the experience. No one confiscated my camera or sent me running for the door. As I walked outside to my car, there was a smile on my face. I'd done it! I'd been brave and I had pictures to prove it! 

Changing up what we normally do, might be scary, (this certainly was for me!) but new experiences can refresh and inspire. That's not only true in photography, but in everyday life. We need to get away from our ordinary and try new experiences. It could be as simple as driving a different way to work or reading a book in a genre that we normally don't read. 

I not only came home with a better attitude about myself and a few pictures, I came home with some delicious looking fruit!  

* * * * *

I'm working through Kim Manley Ort's book Adventures In Seeing. This week's assignment was opening ourselves up to a different type of photography and experience.

Be Still - Weeks 32 & 33

Still life photography requires numerous decisions.

What props will I use?

How much, how little?

Composition?

Backdrops?

Backdrops were the focus of this Be Still exercise. 

I decided to use a top down shot with different surfaces.

I gathered a few items that I thought complimented each other

and then added a piece of crochet and a piece of sheer fabric.

 First, I arranged them on two pieces of dark floor tile.

Then switched to a piece of floral scrapbook paper.

On the third one I went with a light square of floor tile.

In the last one I used a piece of burlap.

I think I'm leaning toward the first one.

I like the way it brings out the warmth of the seedpods.

Last week's assignment was to use citrus, white space, and staggering heights.

I thought on this long and hard.

I know I've said it before, but I'm not a pretty, soft type of photographer.

I like warmth.

I'm also sentimental.

I finally came up with props I was excited about,

my son's lunchbox and thermos, probably from kindergarten.

The perk of this shoot,

I got to eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwich

and the mandarin orange.

I had more fun and relaxed with this exercise.

Why?  Because it is me!

Be Still 52 and 30 Days of Gratitude - Day 5

Grateful for the fruits of the season.

"Live in each season as it passes;

breathe the air, drink the drink,

taste the fruit,

and resign yourself to the influence of the earth

~Henry David Thoreau."

The assignment for Be Still 52 this week was to include a pear and a bowl. Simple things, yes, but doing this is not simple for me. I bought three pears and collected a few bowls. After several attempts of composing a nice image, I frustratingly plopped the pear I was working with in the clear bowl. Voila, that was the combination for me. Simple items, simple composition.

Sunday Sundries - Edition 33

If it be not ripe,

it will draw a man's mouth awry,

with much torment, but when it is ripe,

it is as delicious as an apricot.

Those are the words written by Captain John Smith  in 1624 describing persimmons. I've only tasted one persimmon and it did draw my mouth awry. I couldn't get to a glass of water fast enough! I can't imagine them ever tasting like an apricot! When I see persimmons I think of winter weather predictions.

In order to find out the prediction for winter weather you much split the seed in half.

If there's a spoon shape it stands for a shovel to dig out of the snow. A fork shape means a mild winter, and a knife shape indicates a cold icy winter, where wind will cut through you like a knife. I opened ten seeds and eight were definite spoons and two could have been spoons or fat knives.

Looks like those of us in Arkansas had better be getting ready for snow and ice!

You can read more about persimmons and other weather folklore on my blog post from last year if you'd like.

Friday Finds & Randomness

My find today is a little unusual. It's not as if I were looking for these two historical columns. I just happened to bump into them...not literally though! Our downtown library had a book sale and being the lover of books that I am, I went with my sister. As we approached the library I noticed four old columns that I've never seen before. You pass through them from the parking lot to the front door. Of course, being a lover of historical things, I had to check them out. Engraved in marble below them was their story. The four columns supported the portico of Little Rock's first public library which was constructed in 1910 with funds from the Carnegie Foundation. The library was demolished in 1963. Oh, how I wish it was still there!!! During the demolition Carl Martin, from Mabelvale, recovered the original four columns. In 2009 the columns were given back to the library and this beautiful display was erected. What makes this an even better story is that Mr. Martin and his family lived right across the street from my husband. Even though the columns were in sections, I asked him where Mr. Martin could have kept such large pieces. He said that Martin had a huge building on his property that was full of just about anything you could imagine. That blows my mind, that an old building nearby had the columns to a Carnegie Library! Below is a picture of the first Little Rock library.

(Carnegie Library:  this media file is in the public domain in the United States.)

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

That was rather long, so I'll try to keep the randomness short!!

#1

Going to the book sale has always been a treat although it's rather hard on me. It's held in the basement of the library which is crammed with books and people. My social anxiety overcame me the moment I walked in. I looked straight ahead and there was the photography section. I was hoping for a great find and to calm my panic. A few minutes later with no great find and not calming, I searched for my sister. I followed her around for a few minutes, took some deep breaths, and began to calm. I did find a few books by an author I like to read. I don't buy many books any more. I would rather check them out from the library. Someone found a way to brighten up the basement by painting fairy tale characters on the columns. Pretty cool. Okay, so that was not short...I'll try to do better on the next four!

#2
While my sister and I were downtown we also went to the River Market to check out the delicious looking fresh produce. Oh, how I wish we had fresh fruits and veggies all year long!

#3

One way to preserve those fresh fruits is to make freezer jam. So far this year I've made strawberry, peach, and cherry. There is nothing better on an English muffin, toast, or pancakes than homemade jam. It's also pretty tasty to put a large dollop on top of vanilla ice cream!

#4

Check out this cool shadow I found on the bathroom wall. I have this tin flower poke that is in my philodendron right across from a sunny window. I don't know why, but it just makes me smile!

#5

Lastly, I give you a close-up picture of my doorstop. Every time I walk by it and see it in the north light, I want to take it's picture. This week I did just that! My daughter and her family gave it to me for Mother's Day. It's a heavy ball of some sort covered with rope that is woven into a design. It has a really nautical look to it, which reminds me of our vacation at the ocean.

It's been a good week here. The weather has been unbelievable.  Absolutely perfect for someone that doesn't like summer.  Yesterday's high was only in the low 70's! Normally this time of year we're right at 100 with a heat index of 104-106!  I don't know what's caused this milder summer, but...

I. LOVE. IT!

Friday Finds & Randomness

 

Summertime usually means at least one family reunion. We traveled to south Arkansas to visit with some of my husband's family. We were a little early so we drove through the small town. When we passed the county museum, I knew I'd found a way to kill some time. Ten historic buildings depicting a typical  farming community had been moved near the museum. Among them was the Sam Terry Log house built before 1850 from cypress logs. Along with the two story log house, there was a separate kitchen, blacksmith shop, doctor's office, a general store,  potato house, and a sharecroppers house. One never knows what one might FIND when they arrive early!

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

Randomness

 

 

#1

Since the museum was closed on Sundays, I had to be content with peeking in the windows. I've always wanted a spinning wheel. Not that I'd ever learn to spin wool, but I just think they're beautiful. Space is the only reason I don't have one.  Where would I put it!

 

 

#2

Traveling through the delta region of southern Arkansas may seem a little boring to some, but to me it's fascinating and has it's own beauty.  Miles and miles of farmland stretches as far as you can see. Crops like rice, soybeans, cotton, grain corn, and wheat all laid out in precision under gorgeous blue skies.

#3

Speaking of crops. There's a little crop of wild blackberries behind the house. I waited patiently for them to turn black and then snipped off a couple to eat. Yuk!  Bitter!  I'll just buy mine from the grocery store from now on!

 

#4

There's a connection between me and sycamore trees. When I was in the fifth grade another student and I read a book out loud to the class. I remember being so nervous each day as we stood in front and read. She'd read a page then I'd read a page. I don't remember the name of the book, but I do remember when I couldn't pronounce the word "sycamore." I said "sike-a-more." I also remember the teacher was not so friendly in her correction. I may not like the reminder of it's name, but I do like their seedpods and their rough bark! Well, mostly I like their bark. It falls off once and year and makes the most horrible mess in the yard!

 

 

#5

I did it! I drowned my flowers. I'm used to hot and dry June's, so while we were on vacation I placed several pots in plastic containers with a little water in the bottom to keep them hydrated. How was I to know it was going to rain everyday and drown my little flowers!  I replaced them this week and am now enjoying the pretty portulaca flowers. They're usually hardy, maybe I won't drown these!
 

 

Enjoy your weekend!

Keeping It Simple

 

How many times have we wished for a simpler life, especially when everyday tasks seem to drag us down.  I sometimes think that the Amish or Mennonite sector have the right idea...keep things simple.  Get rid of the extras, the clutter, and the time-stealing pursuits we think are so important.  Well, maybe not my computer...I do really like to meet you here!

I'm just finishing a class, Keeping It Simple, with Kim Manley Ort. In her classes she encourages us to simplify not only our photography, but our lives. Our first lesson dealt with simplicity and minimalism. You know me, I look things up in the dictionary...just a fun habit of mine...so I looked up simplicity and minimal.

• Bing dictionary defines simplicity as "a lack of complexity, complication, or embellishment."


• Bing dictionary also defines minimal as "very small in amount."

To apply this to photography, I need to stop before clicking the shutter button and focus on what it is I really want to include in the photo; what is the subject, what will bring attention to the subject, and what needs to be eliminated.

 

 

I must say, I've taken several of Kim's classes, enjoyed each one, but for some reason this one really resonated with me. I finally "got it!"  I finally took my time and let my eyes discover what to photograph and my heart discover how to photograph it.

 

 

 

Friday Finds & Randomness

 

Meet my latest find and newest edition to my photo props.

Sometimes things are just right in front of my nose and I don't see them. This chair was. My sister and I recently went to a flea market, where I picked up a few small things for photography; a vintage piece of lace, a small blue cup, and a wooden bowl. There was a wire basket that I looked at and then put back. Later I wished I'd bought it, so I decided to make a return trip. I picked up the basket and started to walk away when I saw what it had been sitting on!  This sweet little child's chair. I love it...pealing pain, wobbly legs, missing pieces of wood, and all! I finally got a chance this week to photograph it for a class (Be Still-52) I'm taking with Kim Klassen. Our focus was on allowing room in our photos and our lives so that we can breathe.

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

Randomness

 

#1

It's rained every day this week. In fact, it's raining as I type! The rain has left the pasture damp and with the warmer temperatures the mushrooms are sprouting.  I have never seen one like the one on the bottom right.  It looks like a marshmallow sitting on the ground.

 

#2

Some days I don't know which way is up!

 

#3

Arkansas strawberries are in and they are delicious.  I made strawberry freezer jam this week. I refuse to tell you how much sugar the recipe calls for!  We'll ignore that fact! I'll just have to walk an extra lap or two when I eat any!  I love to make pancakes on Sunday night and strawberry jam is the best topping there is!

 

#4

One of my azalea bushes has just now bloomed. It's never done this before, bloom later than the others. Did it want to be noticed so it bloomed by itself or was it just waiting to soak up all this rain?

 

#5

I found some different seedpods yesterday.  In each of these bell shapes there are several tiny black seeds just waiting to be scattered by the wind!

 

I'm going to be a little scarce for the next week. I'll be spending time with family. I hope each of you have a great weekend!