summertime

It is not yet summer, but I have been using the air conditioner quite often these days anyway.  I really can't tolerate any level of heat.  It hinders my ability to breathe well, and just puts me in a bad mood.  If I am able to swim in a pool or ocean, then I do not mind it so much, and can even enjoy laying out in the sun, if I know that kind of refreshing relief is nearby.  But, generally speaking, I hate the summertime.
The other seasons are wonderful; each in their own way.
There is that welcome relief of autumn, when the weather beckons you to put on a jacket or sweatshirt.  The air is dry and crisp, and there is that lovely display of colorful trees,  and dried leaves crunching under your footsteps.
Winter is most spectacular with its howling winds, and flurries of snow.  A fierce blizzard can keep you holed up inside, but there is nothing like the peaceful silence of an insulating snowfall.
Spring is welcoming with its newly blossomed crocus, and the sprouting of pale green buds on the trees.
I enjoy living in a place where all four seasons are available to me.  Enjoying three out of the four of them isn't too bad.
Despite my dislike of summer, I have probably had some of my best times during that season, since it is typically vacation time.
Hiking in the mountains of Cuyamaca (in San Diego), or camping out in upstate New York.  Going cross country with Tree and Melis, and enjoying oh so many beach days in my youth.
I went to Finland (Lapland) during the spring/summer, and experienced sunlight virtually all day and night during that time.  Wish I could've experienced it during the dark days of winter, though.
I was just looking at some pictures I took this past winter, after a snowfall.  Those days cannot come soon enough, if you ask me.
  I have hardly been outside at all this year, especially since April when my breathing became so bad, and body pain increased.  It's a good thing I'm such a home body type, or I'd surely be going stir crazy by now.  I would like to take a nice walk, but just going from one room to another can render me short of breath.  I have to be careful of that, lest I use up my rescue inhaler before I can get another.
When Melissa was little I would often sing the song, Summertime, to her, in a sort of operatic voice that would just crack her up.  Great song.

on high

Been having trouble with the autofocus on the 50mm lens I've newly been using.  Trying it out now on manual , which makes more sense in my head.  Haven't been in the most photographic circumstances, so I am still testing things out.
It was a gloomy evening, grey clouds heavy with rain, cold skies.  Took a few shots without checking any images to determine whether my exposure was any good... and it wasn't.  The shots were just plain underexposed.  Added enough contrast in PP that I brought up a bit of something, but I was way off.  Had the fstop at 14 for a couple, and maybe would've been fine at f8.  Could've upped the iso from 200, but I don't often mess with that.  Speed was as slow as I could get it (1/60) and still be ok handheld.

"marathon route"

color under grey skies

Just images taken from the window.  Some leaves have changed, some remain green.  I like the colors of the private houses.
Depending on the skies, I will go to the roof soon, and hopefully shoot the bridge at sunset.  So many contraptions (mobile phone crap) on the roof that it is hard to navigate.

Two Haiku for Autumn

Sun sets in the south
Rimmed with orange light
Seasons are changing again

                  *

The leaves hold on tight
Change comes from within
Letting go comes hard these days

autumn haiku

On this day of 97 degree weather (and still 90 at nearly 11 at night), I think of better days to come.  Maybe by September, but definitely by October.  I don't want to push the months, but those are among my favorite, and as you know, Summer definitely isn't.
So here's my autumn haiku....

               *
fall creeps in slowly
on a leaf that scrapes the walk
dried remnants of green
                *

autumn's on her way

Last night the wind started to change. It gusted and roared, and pushed all of that dreaded humidity away! Today it is a fabulous 58F, and I can feel that beautiful season of Autumn arriving.

(click pic to view larger image)

crone revisited

I have added some trimmings to the Crone, and she is called The Amber Crone (an Autumn Crone).
The eyelash trimming reminded me of colorful leaves, and the trimming on bottom reminds me of tree roots.
My friend, evie ,
has also completed her doll for our Equinox project...it is her first polymer clay doll...please go take a look, and comment if you'd like.

autumn crones

I started on an Autumn Crone for my Equinox project. Very unfortunately, the clay burned and cracked in the oven, even though I had correct temps (verified w/thermometer). Very disappointing.
Well, anyway, she is a very rough figure, I only spent a couple of hours on it. ... clay over a gourd and a mini flower pot turned upside down.
I like her despite her burnt appearance. I don't think she's done though, and I don't know her name yet.

I may start another crone for the project, since this one didn't turn out so well.

friday morning

Can't sleep tonight. It happens. Got my monitor delivered today, as my other one died on tuesday night. Never had that happen with a monitor before. Anyway, I was without the internet for a couple of days, and truly, I didn't know what to do with myself half the time. Such is my life. Having the connection is important. I want to talk to my niece while she's at work via instant messaging; I want to connect to the trivia game I play with lots of other people; I want to read blogs, and look at my own again; I want to go to my forums and post with good old internet friends. These are things I'm used to doing throughout the day. Oh, and of course looking over pictures, editing pictures, watching videos of Logan,
So, anyway, I got my monitor, and I guess I am catching up on lost time by staying up all night like this.
With the help of my friends, Dinamarca, Mim, and Tammie, I was able to get polymer clay, which is the basis of my dollmaking. Thank you all again. I am thrilled to have materials. But, with the weather being so hot and muggy, I haven't had much inspiration to start on any works yet. Hopefully soon. Me and my friend, evie are doing a challenge together to create an Autumn doll by the Equinox, so I have some thoughts of design swirling through my head. From what I'm envisioning, it would also be something I could enter in the Polymer Clay Central monthly contest in September, the theme being "Leaves".

What thoughts are swirling through your head? :)

some autumn color in the neighborhood

one year blogging

It has been one year since starting my blog. I think I've kept up with it pretty well (despite deep lulls, like lately).
The sky has been grey, and not yet the crystal blue and white October sky that I love so well.
The leaves are yet to turn, though a few have started. The green is fading from all of them. (photo from an earlier autumn, taken while driving upstate)