Merry Christmas Everyone

We are having a white Christmas
at least for the moment.
Hope yours is grand as well.

FA-LA-LA-LA-LA.....LA-LA-LA-LA!

To Know Your God

We just returned from a family vacation Down Under.
Our middle child, Nick, spent this last semester
at the University of Sydney. We joined him during
Thanksgiving Week spending some time in both
Sydney and at Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday
Islands. Thanksgiving Day was spent snorkeling at
the Great Barrier Reef. WOW! is about all that
comes to mind right now.

The little tiny red roofed building in the photo
was our home away from home for 5 nights.

What a view!

Finally, Some Fiber

The title of this blog is Fiber and Photographs.
Until this moment, it has only been my photos and
Photoshop work. No more, she says...



This is my 2007 Journal Quilt entry,
Land Forms #1, which is hanging at
the Houston quilt show. A description
follows.

Land Forms #1
The inspiration for this piece came while
looking out the window of an airplane. The
patterns and colors evident in farm land
across America are simply awesome. I sketched
for awhile and then later, put fabric to form.

There is an old tree on my in-laws farmland
that has been dead for many years. It stands
as though a sentinel, guarding the property
and family. I have taken many pictures and
include it here as a screen print, guarding
this farm land as well.

How to Make a Difference

Ah, the last entry for the Stand Up contest.
It has been fun and I have certainly tried
on a bunch of different styles. This is one
of my favorites. As life would have it,
I actually did this one twice because
the first went into the Neverland of
bits and bytes. Failure to save bytes
(pun intended) me in the back side every
once in awhile.

But, whatever, do get out and volunteer.

Moody Blues

This week's contest challenge is to tell a story
using a single color which defines the story. I
chose blue which is a very calming color for me
and, I have never really met a shade of blue that
I don't like.

Can you tell?

Apple Picking or Pick Your Apple...

This week, the Stand Up contest challenge was
to scrap something that makes me smile. I think
there are a lot of things that happen every day
that make me Laugh Out Loud.

This is just one of them.

Enjoy my tale!

The Simple Life

I have been away to long.
Very busy, what can I say.
Well, I am involved in another contest,
"Stand Up and Be Counted".
It seems earth related but
our first challenge is to post a dream.
This is my entry:



Always and forever trying to simplfy.
That's me!

Will-am-ette, Dammit

In any other community,
this river would be called Will-a-mette.
Not here.
It's Will-am-ette, Dammit.
And don't you forget it.
LOL

We don't forget it but for a different reason.
It's the heart of our community.
And now you know the rest of the story.

Student Off Discovering the Land of OZ

Nick left on July 2 for a semester abroad.
He will be attending the University of Sydney
as a Civil Engineering student. What better
landscape than the Sydney Harbor Bridge or
the Opera House.

Wish I was there too!

A Walk Among Giants

In April I visited St Louis, Mo, which is my
hometown. A friend and I walked through
Laumeier Sculpture Park. It was a beautiful
afternoon, sun shining, clear blue skies and
good female conversation. What more could a
girl want?



Here is a photo that I took, intending for it
to be a panoramic. My shots did not allow
enough foreground and so when I tried to link
them in Photoshop, I did not get a smooth
lower line. This is how I solved the photo
problem in telling the story.

Round 3: Hawaii aka My Kids Will Probably Kill Me

This is the latest but not the last. Aren't you glad. LOL
It is the funniest.



Need I say more!

Aloha

Flora and Fauna and Trees--OH MY!

Round 2: Hawaii.

My family always accuses me of taking
more pictures of flowers and trees
than of them. They are probably right
but the flowers and trees stand still,
don't make faces and just generally
put up with my camera. These are a few
of my favorites.



Surely you remember this song. It was
not a great one but the tune stays
with you for a long time.



These colors just suck me in.

Aloha, again!

Dream a Little Dream of...

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted
to go to Hawaii. This dream took place in
March, 2004. It was Spring Break for my three
kids. We vacationed in Kauai and it was wonderful.
It has taken three years to get these photos
in order. I am sharing three today. Check back
tomorrow for the continuing journey.

A Beach Scene - Are those whales jumping
from the water?

Next is Caite soaking up some rays. Check
out Drew's flip flops. Beach babes for sure.


And finally, a snorkeling scene. I am amazed
at how well these underwater fish shots turned out.


Aloha!

Graphic Artist?

Class Project - Book Cover

Six weeks ago, I started an on-line
class, hoping to learn something about
Adobe Illustrator. Our final class project
is to design a book cover. The above is
a picture of my finished product. I love it.

I am also a quilter, a fiber artist of sorts.
Strong line and strong color describes
what I like in a quilt, mine or another's.
So this is the book I would write about
my fiber journey. What do you think?

Taupeville

I like to change my path, whether it be how I
do things or when I do things, or how I get places,
because it helps me see new things. Things I
would have simply passed by in a "normal" routine.

Seeing new things is a springboard for me. From
this, I find new opportunities. I gather new ideas.
I try on new hats.

One of my greatest fears about growing older is
becoming inflexible, especially in my thinking.

And so I counter this by taking a new path.

Are You Ready World?

Run Caite, Run

This is the juxtaposition of 2 photos. You see Caite
at the hand off and then powering through in the
same lane. Such strength, such determination on
her face. But I am not surprised because she goes
after what she wants.

She's at the starting gate and her world knows no bounds.
She has big things in store for us. Are you ready, world?

Thoughts on Home

I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. I didn't think I would ever leave. And then one day I found myself in Portland, OR. It took some getting used to but it was good to go. When you live in the same place for a long time, you stop seeing. Moving to a new place takes courage. It requires that you stretch yourself. It can be scary but the rewards are vast. I love it here and don't think I will ever go back... As if one can.

Another Rainy Day in Portland

Today is gray in Portland. Getting tired of the rain.
And so I decided to reminisce about a sunny time.
This photo opportunity occurred on my very first
trip to Hawaii.

Journaling reads:
Kicking back in a lounge chair, feet up, pina colada in hand,
waves rhythmically lapping at the beach, in quiet conversation,
afraid of breaking the mood of this near sacred moment,
a beautiful sunset is the perfect ending to a glorious day.

Hope this makes your day wonderful!

It's Not About the Weight

Isn't it interesting that you can set a goal and see it through but in the end what you accomplish is something totally different, something totally unexpected. That was the case for Drew when he was a senior in high school. He worked out nearly everyday in the gym, to get ready for football, to get ready for track, to get into the Pound for Pound club but in the end, while he accomplished all of those things, his gift to himself was so much more. His gift was knowing that he could see something through no matter how difficult. It was one of self discipline. And that, is a big one!

Happy Birthday, Nina!

Today is Nina, my SIL's, birthday. This photo was taken of her, center, with another SIL, Delse, hiking in Palm Canyon on our recent trip to Palm Desert, CA., as a part of our annual girl's trip.

Nina is the best. She is the ultimate organizer, the one who plans way far ahead, keeping us all on track. She finds the most interesting places on the internet, for Spas or housing or just whatever.

She is an awesome cook. Hearing her describe a dinner item, with a pinch of this and a dab of that, makes my mouth water. She uses stuff I have never even heard of.

She is an accomplished musician.

Our boys are similar in age and we have swapped child raising ideas over the years. We like tennis. We are beading buddies.

But mostly Nina is like a sister to me. She is family that I love to connect with as often as possible. I only wish we lived closer.

Nina,
Have a wonderful birthday.
I love you.

Elaine

My Most Valuable Asset

What is my most valuable asset. That is the question that was posed to me. It is a difficult question to answer. I pondered it for a few days and finally decided that the breadth of my interests is more important than the depth of any one. Here is my graphic representation.

Some Thoughts on Wonderful

A Scrapping challenge -
The task - choose a number but whatever number, there needs to be as many photographs.
This was my entry.

Seven is one of my favorite numbers.

Happy Birthday, Nick

Today is Nick's 20th birthday. Where ever did that time go.
He is away at college so a long distance celebration is in order.
One of our family traditions is for the birthday person to select
the restaurant for their birthday meal. I think he would choose
Stanfords for ribs. Might just have to go there this evening.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Nick.

Repeat: A New Years Resolution Reminder

4 cups of water

I need to get back on the path.