30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 8:CLOUDS

My favorite formation of clouds come at sunset when the colors are brilliant and rich and you can't tell where one color ends and the other begins or even how to name a specific color.  Given the fact we have been experiencing one storm after another here in the heartland, I will begin with those cloud pictures taken this week and follow up with some of my favorite sunsets from the archives...

Hayward, Wisconsin

Hayward, Wisconsin

Disneyworld

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 7:EYES

Okay...I admit I can be entertained for several minutes by the CamWow app on my phone.  I don't think it can be said that I am vain just because I can be easily amused by taking distorted photos of my face...but it does crack me up.  I'm sure a much more serious approach could be taken when doing a study of the eyes for a photo challenge...but that just doesn't sound like me.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 6:FAVORITE COLOR

Any shade of purple, lavender, or violet I would say is my favorite color, and has been for a long time.

1. "Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance."

I think a person's favorite color can change over time; however, purple has been my answer to, "What's your favorite color?" for many years.

Thinking back to when I was younger, I believe I may have said my favorite color was red which is interesting since red is one of the two primary colors that make purple.

The hubby and I had a rare opportunity to have an overnight getaway at a Bed and Breakfast last night, and I spied several photo ops with purple hues for Day 6 of the 30 Day Photo Challenge...

All the rooms in the B&B were named after flowers.  We actually stayed in the Magnolia Room, but this picture was taken in the Iris Room which was decorated in rich purple tones and was unoccupied so we were able to sneak a peek.

Four glass shelves in our room held a collection of china tea cups.  This one with the hand-painted iris and gold trim reminded me of the irises that would bloom next to my grandma and grandpa's house every spring.

One of the spa aroma packets was, of course, lavender...and smelled luxurious in the Jacuzzi tub water.

In the bar area of the B&B, a collection of wine goblets were perched on a glass shelf illuminated by a string of purple lights giving a warm glow to the room.

This morning on our way back home, the storm clouds bruised the sky with an ominous bluish purple threatening rain and possible severe weather.

I am so grateful that my favorite color appears in so many shapes and sizes in the world around me for my viewing and photographing pleasure.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 5:YOUR WAY TO WORK

I'm still searching for the perfect job/career/money making venture, but on my way to [finding] work, I have experimented with a variety of cameras.  I could probably say that I have owned just as many cameras as I have coffeemakers! HA!

Many of my cameras I actually still have in my possession as you can see in the picture...including my very first camera which was a box camera that doesn't even have any significant markings except for a "MADE IN U.S.A." label.  I think on some level, I don't have the heart to part with an inanimate object that has captured so many significant moments in my life...they know way too much!

I went through a couple different KODAK Pocket Instamatic's (remember the cube flash bulb and extender feature?), but somehow didn't end up saving either of those.  My PENTAX ME Super 35mm suited me quite well during my high school yearbook and college newspaper days--I even had a sweet telephoto lens for awhile, but must have sold it.

At some point, after my kids came along, I didn't have the time or patience to mess with all the features and focusing required of the PENTAX and acquired the MINOLTA Freedom Dual 60.

"Remember when you could only take 24 pictures, not preview them, then had to wait a week and pay to have them processed?  Me neither."

I devoted part of a blog post about the transition from film pictures to digital images on my Life's to Short to Fold Underwear Blog...click here to read it.  My first digital camera was the SONY Mavica with the floppy discs--I ended up with SEVERAL boxes of floppy discs.  Regretfully, I no longer have that camera.  I graduated to the Nikon Coolpix 5700 after that which I do still have and use from time to time.  When I wanted something more compact to take on vacations, I invested in the Canon PowerShot A510, followed by the Canon PowerShot A580, and finally purchased a SONY Cyber-shot...you know it's all about who has the most Mega Pixels, right?  The A510 is out of commission ever since it got dropped on cement while the lens was out.  But I still like the A580 when photographing my jewelry creations...and the SONY Cyber-shot still accompanies me on long travels.

When it comes right down to it, though,  I'm sorry to say I use my iPhone camera most of the time to capture the memories on my way from here to there, because I always have it with me...(it IS what I used to take the above picture of my camera collection). 

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 4:BLACK N WHITE

For today's photo challenge, I pulled some images I had taken at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines:  "Nomade" and "Back of Snowman."

Some unique photo ops await any camera enthusiast, and the attraction is free...

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 3:FLOWERS

My fascination with fotographing flowers first began forty years ago and has only flourished favorably.

These lovelies are from my own backyard meditation garden.

A rose by any other name would have to be made entirely from Lego blocks!

This particular blog post, like the perennial, could go on for more than two years with all the flower images I have in my collection.  After the 30-Day Photo Challenge has run its course, I will at some point revisit the flowers, and share more of my floral favorites.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 2:WHAT YOU WORE TODAY

What I wore today...

Two words come to mind--frump girl. That's because I had on a baggy t-shirt and an unflattering pair of shorts for the walk I wanted to take.

But standard, everyday attire for walking is shorts and a t-shirt--nothing fancy or noteworthy...clothing and undergarments that wick away moisture is preferable but not always clean.

The shoes, however, are definitely worth mentioning--AND PHOTOGRAPHING.  My KEEN shoes can't be beat!  Sure they make a "thwack" "thwack" noise when I walk, but the comfort is amazing.

I remember packing footwear for my first Disney trip which included socks and good tennis shoes for the miles and miles of park walking that I knew would be on the agenda.  Unfortunately, I ended up with painful blisters and frequent changes of carefully cut and placed moleskin and bandages (even though I felt certain I had properly trained for all the walking).

The last time I went to Disney, it was KEEN sandals all the way!  No shoes and water-ride-soaked socks to cause the ouchies I detest.

My KEEN shoes have lasted over a year and continue to produce the desired comfort level.  No doubt in my mind that when these wear out, I will definitely be purchasing another pair of KEENS!

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 1:SELF-PORTRAIT

This is my favorite time of day...MORNING...sitting in my favorite spot on the couch (next to the window so I can watch the squirrels and robins having their breakfast)...enjoying my favorite beverage--THE FIRST COFFEE OF THE DAY!!  

So, of course this would have to be my selfie.  

As you can see, my coffee mug is tapered which is ideal for sitting it on the narrow window ledge next to the couch.  I'm usually eating a Special K Protein Double Chocolate Meal Bar (which BTW, is only 4 WW points), and surfing the Internet on my phone or reading a book while trying to determine how lazy (or not) I will be for the day.
The only aspect of this moment which would've made it even better, was if I had been able to have the window open.  Given the current humidity levels, the window was shut tight this morning and the hum of the A/C was the only noise.  I did watch the fog become thicker before dissipating in the ever increasing sunlight.