Twiggy

Twiggy has been appearing nightly on my screen door.  To get a photo of her is a bit tough since it's usually around 10 pm (no light) and there's only the porch light when she comes over to dine on bugs drawn to the light.  And she's camera shy and always walking away from the camera lens.  But I've not had a chance to take any photos lately and I was missing it, so Twiggy was it.

Hopefully there will be better efforts later this week.

TTFN.

Old Buildings

I like old buildings.  It's rare to find an old building being rehabbed in downtown Atlanta.  One of the reasons is the cost is prohibitive.  Spacing of columns in old buildings prevents the 'open' floorplans so popular today.

But look at the brick work on this guy.  It's so much more attractive at its core than today's I-beams and concrete.

I really hope that the slow economy prevents this one coming down before someone with some imagination and a passion for old buildings can figure out a solution that both makes money and preserves history.

And that's a rare combination.

Small Town

No story here - just liked the small town street scape.  Wish the barrels on the sidewalk had been elsewhere, though.

I didn't get on the Glee train when it first came out.  But I rented the first half of season 1 from Netflix and can report that I am a fan.  The musical numbers are fun.  I like watching a program because it's fun.  I'm also hooked on Rubicon from AMC, and love that the on demand feature from comcast means I don't have to be tied to the broadcast time.  Particularly since it conflicts with another program I like - when I remember to watch it.

Anyway, this sounds like I'm tied to TV more than I am.  I usually punt all week and catch up using on demand on the weekends.

How about you?  Any favorites on your small screen?

Busy Work

I haven't had much time for photography or anything else me-related.  It's very busy at work just now, and when I get home I am really tired.  It matches what kind of work is going on at the time. You know, things that are in my skill set sweet spot are not draining.  Things that are not a natural fit can be draining until I get them mastered.

 Also, I have an uncle who is gravely ill, and the family and the decisions they are making are on my mind.  It's remarkable how very innocuous and momentous life can be at the same time.

The Beginning

I've been following Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's Art Journaling week.  This weekend was the first time I had to spend on trying some of her tips and techniques.  Below are some 'base' pages I've created using water colors, acrylic paints and the beginnings of collage.

It's pretty fun, really.  I find that if I let myself think too long about it, though, I freeze.

I don't want to mess it up. But I keep telling myself that with layering, I can just coverup something that I'm not happy with.

And anyway, it doesn't have to be perfect.  I can embrace the imperfection.

iPhone fun

I have the Scout Mob app on my iPhone.  A part of that is a camera option that lets you pick a mustache and then take a portrait shot of someone with the desired mustache.  My niece thought that was so much fun, she wanted to model with all the 'staches...

My other niece actually smiled for a photo with another app I have - the Hipstamatic app.  I love this one because of the smile, but also because it looks as if it could have been taken back in the 1970s.

About the time the photo fun was waning, the food arrived. 

So, there you have it:  how to make time pass when you're waiting for your order to arrive.  Play with an iPhone or equivalent!

Rainy Night in Georgia

Rain is falling again, lighting is popping like a strobe and thunder rumbles in the distance.  I have to admit I love the cozy feeling I have from being inside during a rain storm.

Unfortunate Tradition

I took the day off to get my emissions test and my tag, something that has become an unfortunate tradition.  Originally I would always put off this task until the time to do it by Internet had passed.  Now, I just plain forget. 

I slept late, despite howling from one dog and barking from the other.

Then we had breakfast and went for a long walk.  It was nice to be out in the middle of the morning. 

Late in the morning, I indulged in chili cheese Fritos.  I got these a couple weeks ago for something and the entire bag wasn't eaten.  It is now.  Chili cheese Fritos remind me of my brother.

Chili cheese Fritos make my dogs bounce up and down while they try to sit still to see if they will get a bite. That's why the photos are blurry.

The fern I didn't think would survive the summer has done just fine through the heat this summer.

Then I quit stalling and got my emissions test.  Then I spared myself a trip to downtown Atlanta by filing online and printing out the receipt to put in my car.  I figure I'm good until September 1 this way, and my sticker should be here before then.

TTFN,

Molly

Something Old & Something New

These are mostly unread books, hence the something old in the title.  I grounded myself until I could get the backlog I have read.  And then I heard about Cutting for Stone.  But that's the only new one, I promise.  And the ones in the back are ones I've already read.  And I finished another one from my backlog this weekend - The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankel.  He's Swedish and has been writing books long before we ever heard of Steig Larson or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

I've picked up The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane twice and haven't been able to sink into it. But I heard good things about it, so I'm going to try again. Has anyone read Tinker's?  It came highly recommended. And Cutting for Stone got good reviews, and has been touted frequently on Books on the Nightstand (a books podcast).

In the back on the left is a stack that includes a book about the Mississippi Flood. And one on Mania, Panics and something that I bought to read on the strength of seeing it on BookTV. That was before the market fell apart last year.  I've skimmed it enough to find that markets are cyclical. 

This is my something new - my mom made me a camera strap for my birthday.  Isn't it great?  It slides over the standard issue Canon strap and jazzes things up a bit.

TTFN,

Molly

Flip

Yesterday I met my friend Maria for lunch.  I wanted to get caught up on the wedding plans.  We met at a cute new-ish hamburger place called Flip. It was hip, trendy, fun and the food was terrific!  See the farmer burger listed below?

Here it is...and those are okra fries on that plate. 

Yum.

And here's Rosanne Cash...I guess I should point out all the photos today are from my iPhone and I think it did a pretty good job.  She was delightful to listen to, and I had the added bonus of finding that I recognized her music - and liked it - based on a couple of the songs she sang.  My free tickets came with a book, and it looks like it will be enjoyable, too. Her most recent album is The List, based on a list of the 100 country songs her father thought she needed to know. 

Someone asked her if she'd ever publish the list, and she said no, that much of the personal things about her dad were public and she was keeping that to herself. Good for her, I say, though I confess I'd also be interested in seeing that list myself. It's a wonderful legacy, though, because her daugther has entered the musical world and just as her album was getting published she asked Rosanne 'where is my list?'

I Get PostCards

These are the first 3 post cards I've received.  The two on top are images made by the ladies who sent them - and I love them both, rich with color and evocative.

The second is from a writer, and she spun a tale of two pen pals meeting, making the image her own by giving that image on the card a story.

These cards provide much inspiration.

In related news, the post card that once was lost now is found.  A certain blond, 4 legged cohabitant must have pulled it out of my bag only to drop it behind a piece of furniture.  I located it this morning while looking for something else.  It is outside in my mailbox, the red flag on the box raised so that it can make its way to the intended.

Tonight I am going to see Rosanne Cash - she will talk about her new book, sing a few tunes and autograph books.  I won the tickets from the AJC, and the event is sponsored by the organization that puts on the annual book festival.  I won the tickets! 

TTFN,

Molly

From the Vault

I took this photo in 1992-ish.  I was in Boston for a week long seminar, and any time I had away from the classes I was walking around Boston soaking it in. 

I went to the bar Cheers was modeled on and was celebrated for my southern drawl, went to see the swan boats, Harvard Yard, saw the old north church, Paul Revere's house, little Italy, Fanueil Hall, ate at Jimmy's on the water, shopped at Filene's basement (the original one), took a boat tour...and the list goes on. 

But the image that I've carried with me from that trip is this one.  An older, elderly couple walking together down the walk on a tree lined street. 

AI lost the original print, but when I sent a box of photos to Scan Cafe, I included the negative. And like re-reading a favorite book, I was apprehensive about looking at it again in case it had gotten exaggerated in my memory.


It's not a perfectly executed photo, but it is one of my favorites. 
 
TTFN,

Molly

Trio of Disappointment

Below are 3 Brandywine tomato vines.  Brandywine is an heirloom variety that is quite tasty - if you are fortunate enough to have a tomato.  These vines have grown and bloomed all summer. And not one tomato has set. Not one.

None.

This is a little Juliet vine that produces grape/cherry sized tomatoes.  Note the multiple tomatoes on this vine.  This vine is located about 5 feet from the Trio of Disappointment. You just never know, do you?

I caught this sunset as I sat waiting to turn left.  And look - sun flare.  And this was on my iPhone. Like the man said, the best camera is the one you have with you.

Post Cards

I think I mentioned that I signed up for two pen pals on the Shutter Sisters site, and one of my interweb friends wanted to be a pen pal also.  That was the impetus to have some of my photos turned into post cards.

The arrival of my order from Moo gave me such a lift.  I had sent cards in the first round of snail mailing because my postcard order got held up; but when the postcards came in, I promptly wrote 3 of them.  At work Monday, I walked down to the post office and bought post card stamps.  And found that somewhere along the line I had lost one of my post cards.  So, ME, the one that I wrote to you is on the lower left side - the impatien ballerina ;)  I put a replacement in the mail to you today, and so regret that I lost the post card!

Coming home to check the mail is so much more fun now. 

In one of my art magazines, I found an idea for making letters from junk mail.  I have an idea to blend that and some of my photos...

Make someone's day - mail a card.  It's so much more than an email.

Impatien

Have you ever noticed that impatiens have an iridescence on the petals?  I hadn't until this weekend.  And I love impatiens.  The first time I remember seeing them was in a small concrete planter next to a friend's front door.  They were all a fuscia color.  Later I found a dark coral color that I love but can't seem to find these days.

I don't think there's been a year since that time in the late 80's that I haven't had impatiens in a pot or border. 

It's amazing to me that this bloom has been battered by the wind and thunderstorms and burned by the heat, but continues to blaze away.  Jon Katz would call this putting your lips to the world, I think.

Hope you find some sparkle in your day.

Western Sky

The best camera is the one you have with you.

And do you see the heart shape?

The Farmer's Market Goes to the Dogs

Look delicious, don't they? You can clearly see the carrots. Mmmm.  Carrot cake.

Yep, these are carrot cake muffins...for dogs!  There is a dog baker who frequents my farmer's market.  Today I stopped by for low fat cinna-bites, and got a couple of these as well. 

"Muffins are for eating, not talking about. Right, Gus?"

"Mmmmfff, mphh chmppff...

aaah snrggh gulp."

Throw Open the Windows!

It's still hot here, how about with you?

The Broken Ones

I like the broken shells -  the insides are as beautiful as the outsides.

Yucca

Anticipation

One of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  The scene where they are panning down a NY neighborhood street and extolling the virtues of Fall, and Meg Ryan's character says something about "bouquets of sharpened pencils" captures how I feel about Fall and school supplies.

This sign in downtown Atlanta reminded me of that movie. Her book store, The Shop Around the Corner and this lunch stand, Just Around the Corner are both tucked into their respective neighborhoods, waiting to be discovered by passersby on foot.

The movie also talks about email, and how the characters look forward to that AOL announcement "you've got mail" when they log in.  That's how I feel right now waiting on mail from my pen pals.  I wonder if mine have arrived, if they lived up to the first time anticipation.  I have two orders of fun cards and postcards on their way to use and then I can send a second round of mail to the first two and a first round to a new pen pal.

Hurry up, Ms. Postal Carrier!

Pottery & the 1913 Silver Ghost

Today my sister, nieces, Mother and I went to paint pottery together to celebrate Mother's birthday.

I believe it was a success.

This is our youngest artist at work.

The birthday girl is in the gold blouse.

After the hot, dry work of painting pottery, we walked up the block to Paolo's Gelateria.  I learned you have to eat gelato quickly in 100 degree heat or you wear it.

As we were headed back to the car, we helped a gentleman parallel park his antique car.

Not just any antique car it turns out.

A 1913 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.  I thought those only existed in romance novels.

Photos of Friends

Two friends and I tried a new restaurant last night.  I took my camera planning to get some portraits during our meal.  Something about the restaurant made me uncomfortable about snapping away.  It might have been the note in the menu that said limit cell phone calls and picture taking.  I limited myself to getting a few food photos.

So below is a salad I shared with Signe.  Tomato, olives, walnuts, dill, fennel, cilantro, green onions, romaine and feta were meant to be put on a piece of pita and dipped into the olive oil and vinegar. 

Can't you see this on a big platter for guests at your home?  And how much more simple could this be? 

I ended up smearing some feta on the pita, placing a walnut on that and topping with greens and a tomato wedge.  Then I dipped the edge into the vinegar.  Yum.

Above is my lamb kebob entree.  Tasty.

Cindy ordered a couple more mezza for her main meal - this is the falafel which had an unusual spice that was quite tasty as well.

Good friends, good conversation, good food...good time.

In other news:

• The cardinal is still bald
• Hummingbirds have now put the GHSoA (Good Hummingbird Seal of Approval) on my feeder and are currently conducting territorial disputes
• Summer is my least favorite season.  My favorite is Fall
• My birthday is in the summer so I never had a birthday party at school
• I survived no birthday party at school

Gratuitous golden nap shot: