Have you ever noticed that your style of processing photos on any given day, depends on your mood.  I'm not a professional photographer doing work for hire, so my "style" can change on a any given day.  Today was not an exceptionally happy day.  The photos in today's post were taken at the same greenhouse, my happy place, as yesterday's post, but processed this afternoon.

Today I had to go into my parent's home and remove some of my Dad's bedroom furniture and clothing.  He is now on the "First Available List" for a safe place for persons with Alzheimer's.  He's still in the hospital where he'll remain until a suitable place is available.  My Mom is still living at home with dementia and has not come to terms with the fact that he will not be coming home.  Moving his things with her in the house would have been tramatic for her so it was done while she was visiting at the hospital.

I must say that I felt like a bit of a thief when I was there, wondering who was watching me.

And who might be giving me the evil eye from behind their curtains.

But it seems that there's always those neighborhoods where no one really sees or cares what is going on next door.  Today I was lucky I was in this type of neighborhood.

I must say after being with my parents today and seeing how well he's doing in the hospital with proper care and how much she's failing living at home alone, I feel much better about working towards having them live together in safe, assisted living.

Pack Up Your Troubles

"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
And smile, smile, smile"

Following this advice from an old WW1 song it's just what I did this morning.  Our camera club had an outing at Salisbury Greenhouses, which just happens to be one of my favorite places.  The worries and troubles are left at the door the minute the warm air and the scent of flowers greet you.

I had originally planned on picking a few favorite photos from the morning for today's blog and I know that a few photos should be able to tell the story.  Unfortunately, a new set of flower pots in the greenhouse stole my plans and my heart.

I also know that one photo of a subject should be enough, but I couldn't stop.  I'm not sure if it was the rustic feel to these pots or perhaps the delicate painted flowers that drew my attention, or both.  Perhaps I'm a potaholic.

And the more I photographed them the more I was drawn to them.

Sanity finally took over and I grabbed this square pot, put it on my pile of things to buy and it now sits on my kitchen table.  I'm thinking that next time I'm going past Salisbury Greenhouses, a nice pot of basil would look lovely in it.

Sometimes the cup is just empty

Sometimes your cup is half full, sometimes your cup is half empty and sometimes it's just plain empty.




Today was one of those days, just plain empty. Earlier this week, I was told at a "family" meeting at the hospital, where my Dad has been since January that he has Alzheimer's and will not be returning to his home of the past 55 years.  A little bit of a shock to actually hear the words, but not a total surprise.  To make matter's worse my Mom's dementia is worse than my Dad's.  She's now living in their home alone and placement in a facility will also be done for her.

My first reaction to the news was to find them an assisted living apartment so they could be together.  Turns out the dementia is to far progressed for either of them to live in assisted living, they will both need to be in a "safe" facility, which simply means "locked".  At least they would be taken care of, feed and safe.  So the cup is still half full.

In talking to Homecare, who is providing services to my Mom, I was advised that they would start the placement service by putting her on the list for available spaces.  Turns out this is not the same system that finds my Dad a place, as he is still under hospital care.  I thought that it would be one person, doing both their placements so that they would be in the same facility.  Well not so.  Seems it isn't a priority for a couple who has been married for over 60 years to remain together.  Thus, emptying the cup.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a new day to start with a full cup, make some phone calls and see if I can find someone who will help to keep them together.

Creating with Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate

The day started in my pyjamas thinking about the one word that would describe my year. "Create" seems to be the word, creating images with my camera, trying my hand at creating art, creating a healthy home and meals, creating family memories and the list could go on and on.

First on the list for today was creating art with a Gelli Arts, gel printing plate given to me for my birthday along with the new paints.

Today's theme would be round and here's a few round object found around the house to create textures.

After much playing, this is the print I became quite fond of.

My old scanner would not work with Windows 7, so I did a photo of it.  While in photoshop doing a little adjustments, I wondered how it would work as a texture. Opened up a couple of photos taken last week to give it a try.

I'm kind of liking the way my first creative art project turned out.  If anyone would like a copy of this texture, just let me know and I'll send you a link.

On a side note, the day has ended with me in my pyjamas.  What a great way to spend the day.

Linking with

Shooting Grosbeaks through the window.

During the winter we have a little bird feeder outside the window where we feed the Chickadees.  They've become little piggies and spill as much as they eat which has been a good thing as it has attracted a family of Pine Grosbeaks.  This afternoon they arrived for their feeding while I was near the window with a camera near by, so I did the natural thing and stated shooting.

Lafayette Cemetery - A Picture Tour

Words aren't necessary when touring this cemetery in New Orleans.

 

Northern Lights at the Farm

During the past two years while photographing the Northern Lights, I often thought about what it would be like to see the lights while visiting the farm.  The farm belongs to my brother-in-law and his wonderful wife, my sister.  We spend a few weekends there each November which can be prime Northern Lights season.  Chances of being there on a weekend, with the lights and clear skies can be slim, but last weekend it all came together.  The white snow reflected the yard light and with the near full moon and long exposures the scenes looked like they were taken in daylight.

Their beautiful red barn was the perfect fit with the lights.

Open pasture provided a clear opening to the skies.

It really was a cold and nasty night but I didn't have to wonder off too far for fantastic views of the farm and the Northern Lights

I did take a little walk down to the barn where a couple of horses came to greet me.  Trying to get them to pose still for a 20 second exposure was difficult but we almost got it right after a few tries.