Elsa's Stuff and Nonsense

Oh, my! I can't believe it...

2012-02-02T19:57:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon hundreds, and I mean hundreds, of American Robins landed in our yard. They are still here this evening. I guess they are migrating up north, but I have never seen so many at once. We have a lot of Sugar Hackberry trees that have berries on them and they are having a feast. I hope they stay around for awhile.

A Multi Purpose Cookie box

2011-08-31T17:52:00.000-05:00

I finally photographed Dana's box. It is such a useful box. It is perfect for individual gifts of cookies or even candy. Although you can't see it very well, I added some frosted acetate to cover the window cut-out. I love the window, but this could be eliminated. Then the box could be used for a multitude of other things.
One of the ladies on the forum changed the window into a shape of a fish and put cat food inside. A bone for the window and dog food inside would be adorable as well.

Way Behind!

2011-08-26T08:41:00.003-05:00

There was a challenge on the Blackcat Forum....Christmas in July. There were a ton of excellent projects created for the challenge and I mananged to finish 4 or 5 of them within the time constraints of the challenge. Hardly a drop in the bucket. I did vow, however, to finish them all. I am still plodding along.

The last one I worked on was the cutest cookie box by Dana. I haven't gotten it photographed yet, but when I do, I will post all of the projects I've completed so far.
I am behind on that as well. It has been so hot here, I've not had the energy for much of anything.

I wanted to create a tag to add to the box I made and got kinda carried away. So, until I get the box photographed, I thought I would share the tags.

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

Here's a 300DPI version

I Called It Quits

2011-06-20T19:20:00.005-05:00

I enjoyed the last ATC card exchange that I participated in so much, I decided to do another one. That was my first one and I kept my card pretty simple. I tend towards the large and minimal anyway and am having a little difficulty with small, more heavily embellished designs. When I received my cards from the first exchange, I was absolutely amazed at the amount of stuff these ladies were able to put on one 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card. And, they looked great!!!

I thought I would give it a shot this time around. There were two themes for this one...The Year You Were Born...and Where You Are From. We had to do 14 of each. One of mine is embellished more than the other, but they both involved many very small cuts. My Black Cat Cougar did not let me down.

The Year I Was Born:

In real life terms, the ribbon in the girl's hair is 1/8".
The bikini was cut using a technique called contour cutting or Print and Cut.
You print the design on your printer, put the print-out into your cutter and the cutter cuts around it for you. No scissors involved.
The bikini bottom is approx. 1/4" high, and the top approx 1/3" high, including the straps.
I so wanted the "bottom" of the bikini to wiggle. I was able to make a spring thing, but it was all just too small to wiggle.

This is the back of the card.

Where I Was Born:

This one sorta speaks for itself.
The bottom of the boot was a print and cut. I made some snake skin texture in Photoshop to fill it with. The top was cut from some paper that looks like leather. The spur is not even 1/4" wide. At this magnification, it looks like I need to straighten the spokes.
The hat was cut from some fuzzy paper. By the time I finished cutting a number of very small pieces from it, I was flossing fuzz out of my teeth, but I love the paper and would do it again.
The longhorn has burnt orange glitter applied to it. Something else that I have some difficulty with. That burnt orange is really beautiful, but, man, it gets everywhere. I have other things that I plan to do with it, though. Things that won't be so messy.
The barbed wire is actually rusted, and the Alamo was done from a picture that I took.
I could have done a lot more. I wanted to, but working with that many small pieces over 28 cards gets time consuming so I just had to call it quits.

This is the back of the card.

Guess What? He Likes It

2011-05-18T19:55:00.001-05:00

Remember the star box? The one my husband didn't want the flowers on.

Well, I did it. I put the Yellow Rose of Texas and a few Indian Blankets on it.
I didn't put the flowers in the center like I thought I might. I have a bit of trouble with symmetrical things except in certain situations. What those situations are I don't know until I get there. This wasn't one of them.

I used the same procedure on this rose as the ones shown earlier with 2 exceptions. I used some 20lb 100% cotton paper that I found at Office Depot for the rose. I also created the starting center from a cotton face cleaning pad, not cotton ball, and some glue instead of clay. It was raining cats and dogs and I did not want to go outside to my studio to get the centers. Improvise!!

Guess what? He likes it.

Uh, oh. Look What I Found

2011-05-16T23:29:00.002-05:00

These are the first two things I ever did with Make-the-Cut. They were cut with the Cricut. They are also the first cards I made.

The chef on this card matches the one I painted for a class. We painted him on a huge ceramic platter.

I added the blackboard for this card. I think it can be an invitation for just about any event, not confined just to a dinner invitation, by what is listed under the menu. But, I think it would be fun for me to send it out for a dinner invitation and serve the entree on my platter. I need to add a "your invited" embellishment of some sort, I think. Maybe in the upper left corner.

This is a spinner card. I handbuilt the rose from air dry clay. It slides back and forth in the slot when you tilt it.

I've decided I am a minimalist when it comes to paper crafting. I am not sure that is a good thing.

Straddling the Fence

2011-05-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

This is one of our cats. She became a member of our family like all of our other cats, with the exception of two. She was dropped off and wandered up to our house. She was very friendly and would jump up and touch your hand to get you to pet her. She had to have been around people for some time, unlike some of the feral or semi-feral ones that have ventured onto our property. She is the second smallest full grown cat I have ever seen.

She is sitting on the fence between our wildlife park and the yard. Does she want to delve into the jungle of wildflowers, tall grass and trees, or chase bugs on the freshly mowed lawn?

Her name? My oldest Granddaughter named her Dark Shadow. I told her she is more medium value than dark. So, someone stuck that to her name. Medium Value Dark Shadow. One of my students says she is precious. So, she stuck that to her name. Precious Medium Value Dark Shadow. What a big name for such a small cat. We call her Shadow.

The Wildlife Park is Open

2011-05-07T08:38:00.003-05:00

My husband finally got to mow the trail through my wildlife park. I know that sounds odd, but we do have 2+ acres designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. It is small, but it benefits the animals, insects, flowers, and humans. We have a fence separating it from our yard with an opening at the beginning and ending of the trail. Other than the narrow path that my husband mows through it, we don't have to do anything to maintain it. That's the part he likes best.

He built a couple of benches along the path so we can sit and watch whatever wildlife happens to be active at the time. The dogs, the cats, the grandkids, their friends....we all enjoy it.

The photo opportunities are great, but vary from year-to-year and season-to-season. That's the part I like best.
This is a Texas Thistle with 2 of my favorite bugs.

Ride 'em Cowboy

2011-05-02T23:03:00.000-05:00

Spring is often very windy here. This cutie was holding on to the Bluebonnet leaf for dear life. I had to lie down in the grass and wait for a lull in the wind to get this shot.

Star Box

2011-04-29T22:20:00.005-05:00

Kasandra from The Paper Den asked on the Make-the-Cut forum for suggestions of shapes to make into boxes. She and her husband, Matt, design very unique boxes and 3d paper sculpture cutting files for use with electronic die cutters. You Must Go See

Anyway, I asked for a 5 pointed star box. A very simple shape, or so I'm told. Compared to some of the ones they make, I can see why they would classify it as simple. You Must Go See
They graciously made the file for me, and I have completed a project with it. It looks like I am going to have to do another one, though.

My vision was to do it in a Texas theme. It is, after all, part of our flag. I designed the Bluebonnet paper to cover the top of the box along with some paper Texas flowers. Most especially, the Yellow Rose of Texas. Because of the shape and the size of the box, my intention was to use one flower in the center to look like a knob. So far, so good.

I made the box. I cut it from thin chipboard. Cutting the chipboard actually ended up causing my first day of frustration with my Cougar, but I got it done. Everything else went fine. The box is great. I created the cut files for the top and bottom covers myself. I had to do the cover files, at least for the top, differently than the box file because I do not have a 12 x 12 printer. I cut the custom designed paper for the top cover, the bottom cover from cardstock, and got everthing assembled together. I added some ribbon trim and was ready to add the flower when......

Screeeech! My husband likes it just as it is. No flower. Far now, it will remain that way. I'll either add the flower later, or make another box.

The Beetles of Our Lady

2011-04-27T23:42:00.000-05:00

In Europe, during the middle ages, insects were eating all the crops. The Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. The ladybugs arrived and saved the day by eating the crop destroying insects. The farmers started calling them The Beetles of Our Lady. Later the name was shortened to Lady Beetles. It didn't matter if they were male or female. I have always called them Ladybugs, but I have heard them called Lady Beetles. All species of Ladybugs are beetles, but not all beetles are Ladybugs. I just know that they are very beneficial to have around.

May You Touch Dragonflies and Stars

2011-04-25T09:23:00.000-05:00

Dance with Fairies and Talk to the Moon.

Butterflies are Self Propelled Flowers

2011-04-23T08:26:00.000-05:00

I read that somewhere. It just seems so appropriate.

Not my Grandmother's Rose

2011-04-20T20:54:00.002-05:00

When I was little, my Grandmother made flowers out of nylon stockings. She would bend and twist wire to the shape she needed for a flower or leaf then stretch a piece of dyed nylon stocking over the wire and tie if off at the bottom. She would make a bunch of petals or leaves and put them together to make a flower. They were beautiful. She taught me how to do them.

Awhile back I had this idiotic idea of trying to use her technique with paper sans the wire. Ha! It didn't work. At least, not for me. So, I adapted her technique to something that would work with paper.

If you would like to try them, the Make-the-Cut file and the Assembly Instructions are listed below.

MTC Rose Digital Cut File

Rose Assembly Instructions

Red Corn Poppy Re-Visited

2011-04-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

This is the version I have decided to use. It is not anatomically correct nor does it really have to be. That is one of the things I like about paper. Its purpose is decorative and you can be very creative with it.

However, I wanted the center of this one to be closer to the realistic side. As a result, it is a little fussy. Fussy can be very relaxing to me at times and a royal pain at others. I usually watch TV and make several things at once creating a stockpile of stuff. Then, when I need something, it is already done.

If you care to download the Make-the-Cut file and assembly instructions, the links are listed below.

MTC Poppy Digital Cut File

Poppy Assembly Instructions

Red Corn Poppy Prototype

2011-04-07T19:59:00.001-05:00

In an earlier post, I explained how I was enamoured by the Red Corn Poppies in our neighborhood when I was a child. We planted some in our flower beds last fall and they are starting to bloom. I think they are beautiful.

I also want to create some in paper. I used my graphic program to draw one and MTC software to create a cutting file. This is a prototype. For the first cut, I don't think it is too bad. The file itself cut like a dream, but I have some changes to the assembly I would like to make IF I can figure out what to do. I also need some deeper red paper. Next time I will not highlight the edges of the petals so much. On the real flower, there are just two back petals. In order to have the paper ones drape a little better, I may have to use some artistic license and make several smaller ones. This flower and the leaves are huge. Easier to work on the design, but pretty useless otherwise, I think. Thankfully, it can easily be made smaller in MTC, and the Black Cat Cougar will have no problem cutting it.

Anyway, I think I am getting there. When it is finished, I will share the file should anyone want it.

ATC Trading Cards

2011-03-25T18:57:00.007-05:00

Some of the members on the Make-the-Cut forum are making and exchanging Artist Trading Cards (ATC). The theme is Spring. I have never done one and thought it would be fun to join in. I hope the recipents of these are pleased with them. Alot of the participates have been doing paper crafting for a long time. I have just started sticking my toes in the water. I often have to research the tools, terms, and etc. to even know what they are talking about, but I love paper. Always have.

Anyway, here we go:
I used this photo as my inspiration. It is a Queen butterfly. I think they must have stopped to rest in my wildlife park one year because there were tons of them.

I manipulated the photo in Photoshop to create the final image. I know it looks nothing like the original, but that was my intention. I prefer something a little less realistic for my paper embellishments.

As usual, after I do something there is always something I would do differently. Not gonna say what, though.

This was cut with my new Black Cat Cougar. Two of the pieces, the butterfly and the background it sits on, are print and cuts created in Make-the-Cut with my manipulated image. The layers with decorative edges were also designed in Make-the-Cut. The rest are just layers of various sized paper. The butterfly is only glued down the middle so that its wings can be slightly raised off the page. I am not too sure about the rhinestones, but my husband and daughter love them. And, no, that is not what I would have changed.

I also used the original photo to create the tag for the back.

Testing a New Machine

2011-03-18T13:11:00.012-05:00

Make-the-Cut Software no longer works with the Provo Craft Cricut machines. Thankfully, it does still work with an ever growing list of machines.

When I was a computer programmer, people often asked what computer they should buy. Now, this was back in the day when desktops were just becoming available to the home and small business user and canned programs were few. Most of the software was written for industry specific purposes or business needs. My answer was to find the software package that would meet their specifications and purchase the machine that it ran on.

That is what I think about the increasing number of diecut cutters on the market. For me, the major differences between the machines involve the size and thickness of material it will cut, the ability to cut very intricate designs, and customer service. There are several excellent cutters in each range of ability. So, that leaves the brains behind the equipment, the software that drives it. I would rather give up, or not even purchase, a machine that will not work with my choice of software than make do with any other option.

As a result, I bought a new cutter. A Black Cat Cougar. They offer spectacular customer service and it works beautifully with Make-The-Cut software.

This is my first test cut.

The fish and all of its little pieces, as well as the hook, were cut on the Cougar. The set up was a breeze. I received my machine via FedEx in the afternoon and cut this that same evening.

I applied an acrylic bubble technique to pale blue card stock to create the base card. The eye, lip highlight, and the dots on the eyelid and stripes of the fish were all handpainted with acrylic paint.

I am not finished with the card. I need to add a liner with a sentiment to the inside and may add something more to the front.

I plan to use this as a birthday card, but it could just as easily be a Valentine card. Something like, "hooked on you" or "Catch me if you can". I don't know. I just think it is cute.

Spring Top Box

2011-02-09T19:46:00.002-06:00

I really enjoy making homemade cards. The more I play with my cutter, the more I really like doing it. Besides the cards, I like the idea that you can make your own boxes and gift bags. Today, I decided I would try my hand at a box. This is what I came up with.

If you would like to make one also, you can find the MTC digital file for the box and the instructions in PDF format below.

MTC Box Digital Cut File

Instruction File

Down on the Farm

2011-02-07T10:17:00.007-06:00

On of the challenges on the MTC forum was to create a card with the theme Down on the Farm. It was to comply with a challenge on another website.

Well, I didn't read the rules before making the card. It does not fit within the guidelines for that challenge. Lesson learned. Don't put the cart before the horse.

I have a lot to learn about making cards. Not just the artistic aspect or the software that I use, but also the postal service guidelines if the cards are going to be mailed.

In the mean time, back at the ranch, here is the card that I designed.

I created a black and white "digistamp" of the cow scene from a photograph I had taken several years ago at a living history museum at Sturbridge, Ma.
It and the plaid background were created in Photoshop. I re-sized and printed both on white cardstock. I hand colored the cow scene with watercolor pencils. I used a straight edge and a craft knife to cut both of them out. The rest of the card, with the exception of the base, was cut using Make-the-Cut.

Cow Digital Stamp

Plaid Background Paper

MTC Digital Cut File

A Birthday is Coming Soon

2011-02-02T13:55:00.002-06:00

My youngest daughter's favorite flower is a daisy. Her favorite color is green.
I used a picture that I had taken of a Shasta Daisy as inspiration for this card for her birthday.

I drew the petal layers in Xara Designer Pro 6, my favorite graphic drawing software. I imported the vector drawings into Make-the-Cut software and created a file that my Cricut Expression could cut.

The curly outside layers of the the center are graduated circles with slits cut from the outside edge toward the center. I used a quilling tool to curl them.

The very center is green and yellow glass seed beads fused together in a kiln. Any number of things could be used and look great, including glitter, but I am experimenting with various techniques. The yellow and green "button" is one of those techniques gone awry.

MTC Daisy Digital Cut File

Rose Print and Cut

2011-01-10T15:43:00.016-06:00

I have a Cricut Expression Die Cut Machine. It was originally purchased for my daughter. She said "we" really needed it. The machine is designed to be used with other's pre-designed cartridge elements. This works great for my daughter. However, I found it limiting for my use. But, with software...Make-the-Cut... I am able to create my own designs. With the release of the latest version of the software, I am also able to add textures and pictures to shapes. So, I guess "we" really did need it.

I resently joined the forum for Make-the-Cut. In addition to being extremely friendly and helpful, they have challenges in which members can participate in order to become familiar with the many aspects of the software.

One of the challenges was to get inspired by an outfit and create a card or scrapbook layout. I don't scrapbook, but am very interested in homemade cards.

I found a piece of batik fabric that hasn't yet been made into a garment to use as my inspiration.

This is the card that I made. The snippet in the corner is the batik fabric I used for my color palette.

With the exception of the base card, I used the basic shapes that are integrated into Make-the-Cut to size all the paper layers to my dimensions to create the rest of the card. I designed the textured heart layer in Photoshop and used Make-the-Cut's new print and cut feature, which is fabulous, to cut it out with the cutter.

I painted this rose on a porcelain vase using a photograph that I had taken of a friend's rose as inspiration. I used Photoshop to extract it from a photo of the vase to use it as an element in my print and cut design. Is that cheating?

Here's a 300DPI version for those that might like to use it in their print and cut design.

Say Ahhh...

2011-01-08T22:19:00.000-06:00

For some reason...

2011-01-08T22:16:00.000-06:00

I thought most birds only had their babies in the spring. I have seen barn swallows have a nest of babies in the spring and again in late summer. But, this year, I have seen fledging Mockingbirds and, now, this nest of young Sparrows. Just goes to show you how much I know about birds.

She's back

2011-01-08T22:11:00.002-06:00

This is exactly why we planted these flowers. The male honored us with his presence earlier, but he did not stay around long enough to get a photograph.

In the Nick of Time

2011-01-08T22:07:00.001-06:00

It has been so hot this summer I have had no desire what-so-ever to get out and find something to photograph. I have been taking pictures of my dog, Allie, and was going to post one of those. But, as luck would have it, I was sitting outside with my camera while watching my granddaughters swim and along came this hummingbird.
I went out to my studio the other day without my camera, and a male flew around these same flowers for 20 minutes, at least. While I enjoyed watching him immensely, I would liked to have taken his picture as well.

Jumping Jacks

2011-01-08T22:04:00.000-06:00

I like to go out in the morning to watch the mockingbirds. For some reason they like to jump up off their perch, spread their wings and land back on the perch in almost the same spot. They all do it. This is not unique behavior for just this bird but, on this jump, it went a little higher than it had been. I wonder if they are catching bugs or just doing their morning calisthenics?

Did she...or didn't she?

2011-01-08T22:01:00.000-06:00

The question is....did she really pass her test? The answer is....no! At least not at test time. Don't get me wrong. She can do everything she was supposed to do. Look, sit, lay down, come when called while leaving a very tempting treat on the floor. She can do all of these perfectly plus many other things. The most important is knowing her boundaries in her 4 acre playground, coming back and/or staying when she is told and not jumping on people. But, when she gets to her training class she turns...well.... mulish might be a mild word. So, she did none of the things she was supposed to do at test time. If I said "look" at me, she looked away...and on it went. My granddaughter and I had decided Allie was going to be the only one that did not pass, but for some reason the trainer decided to pass her anyway. Later, when all the attention was not directed on her, she did perform all the test steps perfectly. I guess you could say she earned her diploma after the fact. She just can't go to the next class. :-)

Remember the Alamo!

2011-01-08T21:59:00.000-06:00

I took this photo of the Alamo on a trip to San Antonio last December. The wind was blowing briskly and it was getting dark. That made for fairly long shutter speeds. I was able to get this one shot with the Texas flag extended with minimal motion in the upper corner of the flag.

Dragon

2011-01-08T21:57:00.000-06:00

Another sign of spring.

Uh Oh!

2011-01-08T21:54:00.000-06:00

Every year during the springtime we lose a small corner of our property to the overflow from a tank on our neighbors property. We like it because it becomes home for many different species of wildlife....crawdads, bull frogs, toads, and several varieties of herons. Shhhh...and snakes. Allie likes it, too.

A sucker for Daisies!

2011-01-08T21:52:00.000-06:00

We planted these in a bed at the corner of the shop deck. I love daisies. I was lucky. It had rained the night before so I was able to photograph the flower with some drops still clinging to the petals.

Cactus Flower

2011-01-08T21:50:00.000-06:00

I find it amazing that something so prickly can have such dainty looking flowers. The inside of this one reminds me of a strawberry icee. All you need is a straw....or a spoon.

A New Variety

2011-01-08T21:48:00.000-06:00

A Powder Puff. This is the first time this particular flower has bloomed in our wildflower/wildlife garden. We did not plant it. The birds or the wind must have. Its leaves remind me of some type of fern. There is another plant that looks similar to this one. It is called a Sensitive Briar. Both flower's leaves are "sensitive" and will curl shut when touched.

Spring is here...summer is coming soon

2011-01-08T21:45:00.000-06:00

The spring flowers are starting to fade. The summer flowers are taking their place.

All work and Blah! Blah! Blah!

2011-01-08T21:43:00.000-06:00

Everyone needs to take some time off from chores to play. Especially, when you have a very curious puppy that enjoys watching bubbles. She is growing fast and losing her "puppy" looks but not her excitement at discovering new things.

Butterflies in the Garden

2011-01-08T21:40:00.001-06:00

The Fort Worth Garden Club, Fort Worth Botanical Society and the Botanical Reasearch Institute of Texas presented Butterflies in the Garden this past month. They let approximately 12,000 live butterflies from Asia, Africa, Central, South and North America loose into the conservatory. It is a very popular exhibit and the lines are long.

Lippizaner Stallion

2011-01-08T21:32:00.000-06:00

In February, The Lippizaner Stallions brought their show to the American Airline Center in Dallas. They are truly magnificent animals.

Around the House

2011-01-08T21:29:00.000-06:00

I went out the other morning to transplant my sage bushes. They are taking over my herb garden. I had no idea that they would get as large as they have. When I got there, the bushes, I have two, were covered with bees. We have not seen a lot of bees around lately so I did not want to do anything to disturb them. Instead, I went back inside and grabbed my camera and had an enjoyable morning taking their pictures.

A Different Viewpoint

2011-01-08T21:24:00.002-06:00

The bee in the other shot was deep inside the sage plant. The sun just happened to be penetrating the foliage where the bee landed giving it almost a spotlight effect. This one was in the open light.

Doin' Texas

2011-01-08T21:22:00.001-06:00

The good ole US of A is beautiful. I have been to all of the states except Alaska and Hawaii. I would love, love, love to go to Alaska. Just not by cruise ship. Hawaii.....not so much. Don't get me wrong, from every picture and movie I have seen, it is lushly beautiful with magnificant sunsets. I guess I just haven't heard the siren call.

Some states I have been to more than once and would return many more times if given the chance. For others, once is enough.

This year we decided to stay in Texas for our vacations. The spring and fall are the very best times of the year to travel locally. We have a pop-up tent trailer and like to camp out while enjoying the weather and scenery as well as visiting any near-by attractions. The summer is way too hot for me and the winters are kinda bland; no snow in most places for winter aesthetics and too much in others for safe travel. Of course, there are exceptions, but mid to late summer and winter destinations usually have a sole purpose and come complete with a motel room.

Texas is a geographically diverse state with several completely different regions. Some are magnificent and others are just some place to get through in a hurry so that you can get to the good stuff.

We took our spring trip in April. The first region we went to was the Texas Hill Country. It is located in Central Texas. The land is rolling to hilly grassland. It sits on the Edwards Plateau. Alot of people think of Texas as being flat as a pancake with roads as straight as a string going on as far as the eye can see. And, a good part of it is. But not all of it. This photo was not taken on this trip. It was taken in the Hill Country on an early fall morning.

This year, however, we went for the spring flowers. Specifically the Texas Bluebonnet that grows prolifically along the roadsides and in the fields. They grow all across Texas, but they do love the Hill Country. When seen from a distance, massive fields can often be mistaken for bodies of water. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't entirely cooperative, and I was unable to take many landscape pictures to fully show off this phenomenon without getting gray skies.

Ignoring the Rules

2011-01-08T21:15:00.000-06:00

"They" say you should not paint or photograph a gate that is closed. "They" say it sends a message...stay out!...and effectively blocks your eye from travelling through the space.

I am quite certain that is the message the owner of this property was sending.

While I did ignore the artistic rule, I had no problem complying with the owners implied wishes. I thought the scene on my side of the gate was very pretty, indeed.

Childhood Memories

2011-01-08T20:49:00.002-06:00

When I was a small child, we lived in a neighborhood with rather small houses and yards. We could walk through it fairly quickly and safely, which we did quite often. One of our neighbors a few streets over lived on a corner lot and planted their front and side yard solid with these beautiful Red Corn Poppy flowers. I still remember them today.

The Red Corn Poppy has escaped cultivation in Texas. When seen along roadsides and highways as well as in fields, it displays a profusion of brilliant red. I bought some seeds at the Wildseed Farm near Fredericsburg, Texas and plan to plant them this fall in my backyard.

This photo was taken on our excursion through the Hill Country in search of wild flowers.

Bouffant Hairstyles and Mini Skirts

2010-02-01T22:30:00.000-06:00

Does anyone remember them?

My husband has been busy the last few days building organizer systems for both our closets. In the process, he found some old photos he had tucked away. This one was taken on our honeymoon in New Orleans.

Fabric Painting

2009-12-14T13:41:00.010-06:00

My beginner's fabric painting class painted this piece right before
Christmas. I painted the sample on a T-shirt because my daughter wanted the shirt to wear after my class was over. Some of the students painted theirs on light colored shirts. One student painted a grouping of these all over a table runner for her Grandmother for her birthday. I painted the demo in class on a square of bleached muslim which I later made into a pillow to be displayed at Christmas. We all had a great time.

The Making of a Traditional

2009-11-20T22:24:00.003-06:00

When I was little my Granny used to make homemade noodles every year for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. When I got old enough, she taught me how to make them, and I have carried on the tradition. They are very easy to make and really quite yummy so I don't mind. Besides, I just know that if I skip making them my nose will fall off. And, truth be told, I am a sucker for traditions.

When my Granddaughters got old enough to hold a rolling pin, I started teaching them how to roll the noodles out. They are now 7 and 9 and have literally helped since they were each old enough to stand in a chair and roll. Next year, we start learning how to make the dough. But, I digress.....

Their Mother has learned to make them as well and does a very good job for the Christmas dinner. I still do them for Thanksgiving, and the girls make a special visit just to make the noodles. As we were rolling them out this year, the girls started talking about how they were making a traditional....My "Granny" taught me to make them. Their "Granny" is teaching them to make them and, to keep the traditional going, how they will teach their grandkids.

That's a long way off and times change. I don't know if they will. I do know that the memories of time spent with their whole family is the real traditional and that they will pass on.

P.S. I get really sappy this time of the year.

If you look carefully, you can see that she has finished rolling out her noodles and is now studying the properties of flour.

She has not started rolling hers yet. She's working up her mojo.

Rooster and Poppy Bowl

2009-02-26T14:10:00.005-06:00

Bowl painted with fired ceramic colors.

Fall is a wonderful time of the year

2008-10-03T09:47:00.003-05:00

Certainly in the Tetons.

Aren't They Beautiful?

2008-10-03T08:59:00.003-05:00

What more is there to say? This was taken along Mormon's Row.

Isn't she sweet?

2008-10-03T08:09:00.005-05:00

We saw her on one of our many drives through the Montana/Wyoming countryside.

Sand Bath

2008-10-01T16:32:00.009-05:00

There were herds and herds of buffalo around the Tetons. Mostly, they just stood there eating grass. They were fun to watch, but a little action at times was appreciated.

Mmmmm, Supper

2008-09-30T18:02:00.004-05:00

We were visiting the Tetons and stumbled on this black bear feasting on an elk.
She/He didn't look like he was going to invite us to dinner.

What fun

2008-09-30T15:33:00.001-05:00

We were camping in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was during the fall, and the weather was beautiful. There was a Dairy Queen in town. We would drive in to town, get a dipped cone then pull into a picnic area to watch the ducks. My husband wants to know if I have ever take a "normal" picture of a duck. I think they are so funny.

Oxbow Bend

2008-09-30T09:25:00.004-05:00

The Grand Tetons are magnificent! There is no doubt about it.

A Common Sight

2008-09-28T07:54:00.005-05:00

The buffalo must really like the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. You could always be assured to see one near the springs. Sometimes it appeared to be the same one in the exact same spot.

Good Morning

2008-09-27T07:13:00.011-05:00

I have seen a ton of coyotes. Living in the country, I have gone to sleep listening to their yipping many nights. I had never seen one actually howling. This one was walking through some tall grass in Yellowstone National Park and decided howl for us. I think it was saying good morning.

Move, I am coming through!

2008-09-26T20:11:00.004-05:00

I had a telephoto lens on my camera. Once it came out of the woods, it ran so fast and came so close that I could not get a shot of anything but its head.

Get out of my Way

2008-09-26T08:10:00.008-05:00

We were in Yellowstone National Park when this grizzly came out of the woods. It wasn't going to be deterred. It thought it owned the park! :) Imagine that!

Female Elk

2008-09-25T15:52:00.003-05:00

This is the cause of all the ruckus.

Bull Elk

2008-09-25T15:51:00.004-05:00

Elk rutting season in Yellowstone National Park. It was amazing to sit and listen to them bugle.

Allie's Playtime

2008-09-23T16:38:00.015-05:00

This was a small but beautiful, stream fed pond close to our camp. Allie wasn't used to being confined to only certain areas to play. We would take her to this pond so that she could run around whereever she wanted. She still had to stay on her lease, which meant we got to run around also, but she enjoyed it. She loves water and pulled my husband into the stream that feeds the pond before he even knew what she was going to do. They both got wet.☺

All work and no play...

2008-09-23T10:39:00.002-05:00

These were just playing out in the field.

A Campin' We Will Go

2008-09-22T22:22:00.000-05:00

Except for short trips around town, which she loves, Allie had not been in the car alot. She had never been camping with us. She is a country dog and not used to being confined to a lease. We were apprehensive, but she did great. She loved the camper and made herself right at home. It took a couple of days for her to get used to "going on a lease" when we stopped, but that came, too. She loved running untethered when we got home, but I am sure she will be ready to go on another trip.

Tools of the Trade

2008-09-11T18:00:00.010-05:00

I taught hobby ceramic techniques for a particular ceramic color manufacturer. The owner of the company requested a project depicting a "garden" theme. This was painted on ceramic tile bisque with fired ceramic products then glazed with a clear gloss glaze. I had to make the sunbonnet so that I had something to use as a model.

2008-02-26T14:04:00.000-06:00

Handpainted on bisque with fired underglazes...hand modeled clay embellishments

Bluebonnet Vase

2008-02-26T13:38:00.011-06:00

The Texas state flower. Tube-lined (outlined and detailed with a dimensional paste) on a matte glaze surface then painted with matte glazes.

One and Down

2007-03-22T08:21:00.001-05:00

In the business of barbecue, 3 1/2 and down is a meat industry classification that refers to the weight of a slab of pork ribs...3 1/2 pounds or under. In this series of flowers, One and Down, I am refering to Texas wildflowers that are 1 inch or smaller. I am surprised at how many there are, and how complex they are when magnified large enough to see the details.

Just a swangin',

2007-03-13T08:29:00.001-05:00

This little gal had built her web between two branches of the Mexican Plum trees. She was just a swangin' in the breeze. The breeze made it a little difficult to photograph her as she kept blowing in and out of focus. I wasn't sure if I got anything useable at all...but...I do like this one.

Mmmmm....

2007-03-11T14:04:00.000-05:00

Lunch. Isn't that the cutest bee!!?

The Epitome of Spring

2007-03-10T22:55:00.000-06:00

The wild Mexican Plums are starting to bloom. These, along with Forsynthia, Bradford Pear, and Redbud trees, are some of the first plants to bloom in the spring. Add in the bees and the sounds of the Texas Toads and you know spring is well on the way. The weather has been simply gorgeous.

If...

2007-03-08T07:35:00.000-06:00

he keeps coming back and sticking around for awhile, I am bound to eventually get the photograph I have visualized.

Mrs. Cardinal

2007-02-28T21:58:00.000-06:00

While the female is certainly not as flamboyant as her male counterpart, she is pretty nevertheless. A beautiful golden tan. I wish she had been standing on the end of an outside branch. It would have made for a better background. Oh well! Picky! Picky! The weather is getting nicer and I expect to see them more and more. If the wind would just stop blowing so hard.....

Hibiscus

2007-02-26T14:06:00.002-06:00

Tube lined and painted on bisque with fired ceramic colors.

They are also back...

2007-02-26T10:09:00.000-06:00

As spring gets closer and the weather gets nicer, more and more of our "staple" birds are making an appearance. These small birds are really pretty.

He's not been back....

2007-02-18T13:08:00.000-06:00

This is just a different version. This is also one of the reasons I like living away from the city. It is a shame that the city is moving to us.

A little early...

2007-02-16T10:19:00.000-06:00

We have a confused peach tree. It's not a variety suitable for our area regardless of the what the tag said. It's a variety for a warmer climate. As a result, it starts to bloom very early in the year, and the fruit always gets killed by a freeze. But, the bees enjoy it and I enjoy the bees.

Predator...

2007-02-15T23:39:00.000-06:00

This is a red-tailed hawk. Some must migrate from the northern states to this area during the fall because their numbers increase greatly. They can be seen all over the open countryside but are harder to find come late spring or early summer. I have tried on numerous occasions to photograph one. They will stay perfectly still in the top of the same tree for hours while cars go by. But, stop close to one and it is gone. Later, you can see it perched in the very same tree again. This one must have made its home nearby. I have seen it flying around, hunting, several times. On this day, it was perched in a tree in my front yard. I stood in my doorway and took pictures of it. Unfortunately, the tree is not so close and I couldn't fill the frame.

It's a girl!

2007-02-11T13:55:00.000-06:00

I think. At the moment we have red-winged blackbirds infiltrating our feeders in rather large numbers. Still, this is the only photo I've been able to get so far. It is a female red-winged blackbird....I think. I still want photos of the males. I think they are pretty even if they are eating us out of house and home.

They're just so cute...

2007-02-10T09:54:00.000-06:00

Here is another shot of the Carolina Chickadee. They are just so cute, I can't resist trying to photograph them. Not to mention, he just sat there while I took several shots of different poses. A rarity indeed.

They're here again...

2007-02-09T00:12:00.000-06:00

Early last fall the cardinals seemed to disappear. We would spot one only occasionally. We were used to seeing several males and twice as many females. Since they are usually around, even during the fall and winter months, we were getting concerned. Maybe they were here all along but just not particularly active. I don't know which, but they are back. Since this is one of my favorite birds, I am delighted to see more of them again.

Another pose...

2007-02-08T00:08:00.000-06:00

This particular day he came to the tree several times. This is the only other image I was able to take. Most of the time he stayed behind the branches even more than in this shot.

It's a start...

2007-02-07T09:08:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to get a good picture of this guy for a long time. Usually he flies in and out so fast that I can't get a shot. Sometimes he will stay and play, but I never have my camera when he does. He stayed around for a little longer on this day but still was pretty quick to leave.

I promised myself...

2007-02-06T08:49:00.000-06:00

I have tried for a couple of years to get a decent photograph of these tiny, tiny birds. With the equipment I had up until now, I had to do a lot of cropping just to be able to see the bird. The resulting image was not the best. I finally purchased a lens that will help me to achieve that goal. This image is also heavily cropped. Just not as much as in the past and the image doesn't appear to be overly degraded. I think it is a good start.

Oh, yes!!

2007-01-31T23:28:00.000-06:00

It's THE FAUCET again. I am still, unjustifiably, enamoured with it. I applied a technique to this image that gives it an old-time feel to me. Maybe that's what I like about it. It just looks homey.

Meet Cat

2007-01-29T19:20:00.001-06:00

Last year a momma raccoon started bringing her babies to the porch so they could eat out of the cat's bowl. We, Papa, Granny, Aunt Chel, and the 2 granddaughters, used to peek out the glass in the storm door to watch while arranging ourselves in a stairstep fashion so we could all see. The raccoons probably enjoyed our antics as much as we enjoyed theirs but they were more leery of us than we were of them. They would never have let me out to photograph them.
This year we have not seen the momma, but at least one (and we think more) still comes to the porch to eat. This one is not as leery as he once was and does not seem to mind my stepping out on the porch to take his picture while he is enjoying his dinner.
We named him CAT!

Update: One night we went to look out at the raccoons..stairstep fashion as usual. Imagine our suprise when we saw they were standing on the porch on their hindlegs staring into the door at us.

A Small Thing...

2007-01-17T09:17:00.000-06:00

When I turned the back porch light on, I noticed the icicles. I went inside to get my camera. By the time I got back, the heat from the light had started to melt the ice on the reflector. The water rolled down the icicles and I caught this drop just as it left the tip of one of them.

The same day

2007-01-16T11:16:00.000-06:00

This photo was taken the same day as Ice Glow and was also featured on our local Fox News channel's website.

What a difference....

2007-01-14T11:47:00.000-06:00

a day makes. Or, for that matter, a few minutes. On Friday, when my granddaughters and I were taking my daughter to work, it was 65 degrees outside. On the way home the cold front rolled in, literally, and the temperature dropped to 50 degrees in a matter of seconds. By the time we got home it was 46 degrees. It had dropped almost 20 degrees in a couple of miles. The next day, this is what it looked like.
Our local Fox 4 weather station was asking people to send in their photos of the weather. They featured this one and another one on their website and showed them on TV during their weather forecasts.

WARNING!!

2006-12-08T18:25:00.000-06:00

With all the opportunities for excessive eating and drinking that many of us are exposed to this time of year; then the mad dash to get any weight gain quickly under control after the New Year, I just wanted to warn you that...
Exercise:

Can kill you:

How Close?

2006-11-13T17:49:00.000-06:00

We finally got away for a few days. Lake Livingston State Park, in East Texas, is a really nice park. The squirrels are abundant and friendly...obviously used to people. This one climbed up on the picnic table when he realized I had some peanuts.

Last Stand?

2006-10-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

The weather is going to be changing soon. (I hope) I guess they know it because they are out working the flowers that appeared after the recent rains.

Change of Pace

2006-10-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

Not a bird and no pun intended. He was literally pacing back and forth along a top rail of our deck. I like the colors in the image.

The Male

2006-10-11T07:36:00.000-05:00

They are a brilliant, beautiful red. Their life expectancy is less than a year. It is unusual to see one over that. They have 2-3 broods of young a year. Cardinals are nonmigratory, but some movement does occur in the later summer and fall. That may explain why there are more juveniles, but fewer total birds, around right now.

The Female

2006-09-29T20:33:00.000-05:00

The female cardinal is nowhere near as bright and showy as the male. Nevertheless, when the sun hits her feathers they are a beautiful golden brown.

Prolific

2006-09-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

The female House Sparrows are out in great numbers. They are about the only bird that I have been able to photograph.

A Rarity

2006-09-25T23:01:00.000-05:00

Not the House Sparrow as such. They are prolific. But, this is a male one. And, it is a male regardless of the fact that his mouth is open.

The Whole Family

2006-09-23T17:35:00.003-05:00

Airbrushed ceramic ornaments personalized for a family. They were airbrushed with fired ceramic color.

Another Juvenile

2006-09-23T11:07:00.001-05:00

This is another juvenile cardinal. Whatever the reason, most of the grown males are absent. We see one only occasionally. We see the female and juvenile ones more often, but not as many as there were in the spring.

Another Dove

2006-09-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

Actually, it could be the same one. I certainly can't tell. This was taken on a different day. I sorta like the fluffy dove. It was warming itself in the sun by fluffing out its feathers. Others, like my husband, prefer this more sleek version.

The Doves

2006-09-21T08:40:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it seems like the doves are taking over our feeders. They are better than the grackles, though. At first we were not too pleased. But, after watching them for awhile, we have decided they are really quite fun.