A rose is a rose...

Even though these roses are destined to be tossed out, I think they are beautiful.  Yellow roses have always been a favorite of mine.

Oh Christmas Tree...

Someone had fun celebrating Christmas on the beach.  I discovered this sweet little tree as the sun was coming up today.

It's Christmas Time...

My Christmas cactus is blooming!

catching up...

Getting ready for the holidays has kept me from blogging, editing photos and the like.  Finally, the gifts have been made/purchased, wrapped and sent - yippee - time to get back and work on photos once again.

My original photos taken with my i-phone 6s.

A cairn found on the walk up to Sanson Peak, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Night view of a vine growing on the side wall of our hotel in Banff.  I particularly like this photo!

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World
Digital Art Meme
Natures Footstep

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Friday My Town Shoot Out
Friday Photo Journal
Weekly Top Shot
Photo Friday
sARTurday

Ginger

Something has been eating away at the ginger plants outside my door.  The plant is beautiful just the same.

Topaz Lab filters added to original photo.

Linking to:

Friday My Town Shoot Out
Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal
Weekly Top Shot
Photo Friday

For the birds...

My Sunday morning  beach walk was glorious.  It was dark when I arrived but by the time I was half way back to my car the sun was coming up.

Original photo taken with i-phone5 (birds added in PSE).

Linking to:

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World

Two Amigos

Original photo of these handsome men taken in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.  (They prepared my lunch one day.)

An artistic action run over my original photo.  Actions can be real time savers!

Mouse Over to see Original Linking to:
Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal
Weekly Top Shot
Photo Friday

Brownies...

From time to time, my husband suffers from vertigo.  It happened again this weekend.  He's feeling better - but I thought brownies would be the perfect comfort food (not only for him BUT me too!)

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Keeping It Simple

It's amazing how something as simple as a brown paper bag can make a photo look special!

Some gourds and a pumpkin from our local market.  I made my own bokeh brush in PSE and added it to the photo.

Flowers in a water glass placed inside the paper bag and tied with baker's string.  Two versions of the same bag shot in different light.

Linking to:

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

Hair of the Dog...

This sweet poodle was lounging on the sidewalk at Starbucks while her owner enjoyed a Sunday coffee.

She was more than happy to allow me to take her photo with my i-phone!  Pretty wild hairdo on that poodle.

"Lullaby" texture courtesy of Cheryl Tarrant.

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Texture Twist
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Crazy for Spoonbills...

I had the incredible good fortune to join a new friend, Diana Calleja,  at the Little Estero Lagoon.  A variety of birds were around at the crack of dawn.

I took a gazillion photos.  These are the few that turned out well.

Linking to:

Friday My Town Shoot Out
Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

The Last Hurrah...

Quite by chance I espied the last amaryllis bloom in my garden.  Surprisingly, there was virtually no stalk supporting this flower.  The blossom was tucked away towards the bottom of the plant.

Linking to:

Friday My Town Shoot Out
Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

All Good Things...

All good things must come to an end...I'm not sure why, but they do.

I love my shoe tree - but with our upcoming move, it was time to dismantle it.  We've had plenty of rain and while the shoes look good from a distance, close up one can see the weather has taken it's toll - colors faded and shoes quite dirty.  The tree created quite a buzz - lots of people wanted to know the back story.  Often I would look out the window and see people staring at it, scratching their heads while others took photos.  I'll miss that shoe tree of mine.

I doubt that I can decorate another tree in this fashion when we move - too many rules and regs in the new neighborhood.  I'll think of something...

"Canvas Grunged" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Texture Twist
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

All in a Row...

Fridays seem to come up so fast - where did the week go?  On my way out to take my morning walk, I snapped a quick photo of the hats hanging in the laundry room.

Linking to:

Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

Patchwork...

Being a quilter, this is NOT the type of patchwork I like working on.  Why is it that behind every picture there is at least 2 holes - sometimes more?!

Taking apart my studio, repairing the walls, etc. is the biggest job of  our upcoming move.  I'll be so glad when this is over.

"Granny's Cupboard" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.

Linking to:

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Texture Twist
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

Boxed In...

I'm addicted to the smell of corrugated cardboard!  I'm obsessed.  Everyday I find myself on the prowl for more boxes.  Will I ever have enough?   If you see me hanging around Walgreens Liquor Stores, please know that I am there for the boxes NOT the booze - although the booze might be a way to calm me down.  This move is stressing me out.

"Partings" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.  Addition of Topaz filters to original photos.

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Texture Twist
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers
Wordless Wednesday

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Boy oh Buoy!!

An unremarkable photo, taken with my I-phone early on Sunday morning, of a buoy which was mostly disintegrated.  Adding some texture, brushes and masks makes it more pleasing to the eye.


Mouse Over to see Original "Sonnet2" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen. Linking to:

Texture Tuesday
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Texture Twist
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers
Wordless Wednesday

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Boxing Days...

We sold our house (in 1 day!) and have also found a new place to live.  It's an exciting and stressful time around here.  We're moving about 2 miles away - a relief because I didn't want to leave my friends.  Smaller digs though - that will be THE challenge for me!

Even though our closing date is mid-June, I'm getting the upper hand on collecting boxes to use.  I found that the local Walgreens Liquor Store always has empty boxes piled up in a corner free for the taking.  I load the car up every time I go up the grocery store.

Linking to:
Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

Sunday Snapshot

Clutter...

We're putting our house up for sale.  One piece of advice our realtor gave us was to declutter - oh my!  So many of my little treasures are considered clutter - who knew (besides my husband - goes without saying - right?!)  This galvanized tub is filled with shoe forms, wood stamps and metal batik stamps.

I've already thrown a ton of stuff away; filled boxes to donate to St. Vincent de Paul.  Still there are some things I cannot part with.  I sure hope no one feels the need to look in the closets - they will be crammed...with good stuff...

Linking to:

Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot

Sunday Snapshot 

You are beautiful....

Not all art is found in galleries.  ART can be found in the most unexpected places, if one's eyes are open to the possibility.

Original photo taken in Savannah, GA.

On the other hand, I went gallery hopping with friends last night knowing I'd find some wonderful artwork.  I was not disappointed.  The Art Alliance Naples holds an Arts Alive! event twice a month.  It was great fun meeting new artists, seeing their workspace/galleries.  I came home totally inspired.

Linking to:
Friday Finds
Friday My Town Shoot Out
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot
Super Sync Sunday
Simple Things Sunday

Sunday Snapshot