30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 6: Pair of Shoes

I will forever be grateful that I do not have to wear wooden shoes!

The hard, solid clogs worn by the Dutch in days of old have no cushion and no comfort. Can you imagine the blisters and splinters bestowed upon the wearer as a result of this lacquered footwear faux pas?? It makes my toes curl just thinking about it! They must have served some specific purpose in their time, but I am so thankful for the myriad of choices in my closet that are practical, stylish, comfortable and NOT made of wood.

I am the first to admit that I probably own too many pairs of shoes, but that's just a woman thing, right?

Several pairs of shoes have been donated within the last couple years, but I still have at least 15 pairs in my closet. Again, I reiterate that none of those 15 pairs are wooden shoes which makes me extremely happy! 

That being said, I do own the above pair of wooden shoes, but those are purely for decoration and unfortunately, I can't seem to get rid of them. Oh, I have tried, but they found their way back. Wooden Shoe like to know why I can't get rid of them?? Well, we will just have to save that story for another post ;)

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 5: Place

When thinking about a place I am thankful for, several places came to mind. One place I have visited three different times now kept coming back to me as I contemplated today's prompt. In Orlando, Florida, a little over 1,400 miles from where I reside is "the happiest place on earth." I am, of course, talking about Disney World.

Disney was never a vacation destination for my family when I was younger. So when the first opportunity arose to go while my daughter was just 8 years old, I was more than a little excited--not only for my daughter, but for myself as well. Mickey Mouse and the gang in addition to the Disney Princesses were the hit of the trip and a princess makeover was on the list of things to do as well.

Thinking this would be a once in a lifetime trip, we also managed to incorporate several off-site shows, Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, and Universal Studios into the mix. However, just two years later, we would get to go again. That time my daughter was big into the Hannah Montana show and her Miley makeover was definitely included in the experience. In 2013, Disney World would be on our radar once more, and this time, the American Idol Experience was one of the many featured attractions we made sure to take in.

Each visit to Disney World was different and each was memorable. There is definitely something magical about being at Disney and enjoying all the incredible moments and amenities that are unique to that special place. Seeing the castle is one of those highlights that take your breath away. And the end-of-the-night fireworks display at any one of the parks is beyond words and unable to be captured on film as accurately as seeing it in person.

I am so grateful for not only getting to go to Disney World once, but having the opportunity to visit on three separate occasions. None of those trips would have been possible without the planning and knowledge of my cousin, Beth. Beth was employed at Disneyland when she lived in California, and she has researched and gone to quite extensive lengths to put together a package of outstanding travel tips and advice for anyone wanting to go. Her Disney Travel guide is available for a small fee and is well worth the price if you follow her expertise on cost-saving planning.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 3: Cozy Place

For todays thankful prompt I will refer you in part to a post on this blog from June of 2014. 

My cozy place I am thankful for is also my favorite place to sit and relax in my favorite room of the house...so naturally I have written about it before.

What makes this place I am thankful for a cozy place? It's familiar.

What makes an old broken couch in a small cluttered room a cozy place? Sitting there is quite predictable actually. There are no surprises in my cozy place.  It puts me at ease, and does not create stress.

It's a place I can go and relax and feel safe, and I am grateful to have a place like that. 

I have napped in my cozy place. I have even slept through the night in my cozy place.

My cozy place allows me opportunities to journal or read or watch television. 

Setting up a tray in front of my cozy place, I can dine on takeout while watching any FRIENDS episode. 

In my cozy place, I can hear what's going on in any other part of the house and know what the noise is, where it's coming from, and who is making it. 

From the warmth and security of my cozy place, I can gaze out the windows and watch the wildlife in my yard or monitor my elderly neighbor as she weeds the flowers around her house. 

By just looking out the window from my cozy place, the weather or perhaps the time of day can be assessed without ever glancing at my phone.

Other functions of my cozy place can include but are not limited to: a spot to rest or recuperate if I've been ill, or a place to do my crafts like my rug hooking, or the chair where I can sit and talk on the phone.

During the Christmas season, I can relax in my cozy place in my pajamas under a blanket and admire the glow of the twinkle lights on the tree while listening to carols.

At the current moment, I have my laptop in my lap typing this blog post while sitting in my cozy place.

I am very grateful for my cozy place and do not take it for granted. I appreciate the fact that I do have a place I can call cozy when the winter winds are whipping or the heat and humidity of a sweltering summer day keep me inside. This cozy place that I am thankful for is a cozy place for all seasons, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 2: Animal

BEWARE OF DOG! ... for he will leave lasting paw prints on your heart!

I will forever be thankful for the love and companionship our Golden Retriever provided. We adopted him in the summer of 1998 after moving back to Iowa from Missouri. My son who was just turning nine, was a fan of the "Buddy" movies wherein the dog ends up being a member on various sports teams--the first one in the movie series was basketball-themed and titled "Air Bud." So, of course, our dog's name would be Buddy!

Since this Buddy was AKC registered, we listed his name officially as Buddy O' Love. (You see, another favorite movie of ours at that time was "The Nutty Professor" with Eddie Murphy where the professor's second personality was named Buddy Love)...guess you can deduce already that we like to watch movies in our house! Even though Buddy had Golden Retriever papers, we unfortunately never met his parents (a mistake I won't make a second time if and when the time comes that I want to adopt a dog again). With his darker red coat and longer nose, we always felt Buddy must have been part Irish Setter. Whatever he was, he was definitely a smart and unique creature, and my son loved him very much.

Our Buddy O' Love was born in July 1998, so he was still a young puppy when he became part of our family; and like most puppies, he chewed on EVERYTHING...sometimes even my very last nerve. He also barked at everything incessantly! But he also faithfully gave us his full attention and sincere affection that kept us from being mad at him for very long.

As you can see from the video above, Ross and Buddy were inseparable. The bit where Ross is on roller blades with Buddy pulling him down the sidewalk was nearly a daily routine for the dynamic duo, and the neighbors took great delight in watching the spectacle. I cringed everyday wondering if my son would take a tumble and be dragged for several hundred feet or if they would not get stopped in time and careen out into oncoming traffic at the end of the block.

A simple game of fetch or a more strenuous rope tug-of-war or wrestling play were Ross and Buddy's favorite pastimes. Ross would not allow the 'puppy' inside of Buddy to ever grow up.

Ross and Buddy attended a dog training class as part of a 4-H project early on, and Ross received a trophy for most improved dog handler. When my son moved to Texas after attending community college, Buddy went with him. And when Ross later moved to Northern Minnesota, Buddy moved back in with us and became my companion for walks and car rides and just sitting and watching movies.

In his senior years, Buddy lost most of his hearing. He never lost his trust and love for us; however.

After his passing at the ripe old canine age of 15, we all delighted in sharing some of our favorite memories of our beloved pet...

"He would howl longer than any other dog in the neighborhood when the noon siren blew."
"He once ate a half of a bag of chocolate candy."

"He once ate the middle out of a sour cream cake that was cooling on the counter (which we later frosted and served at a family potluck)."

"He devoured $100 worth of groceries...in the form of a supermarket gift certificate LOL."

"He stuck his nose up the judge's skirt at an obedience show."

"He could roll around on the ground just right to undo the clip on his rope setting himself free."

When Mary was little, she was asked what kind of dog she had, to which she replied, "An Orange one."

"There was a time when he could heel, but in his later years, he really just wanted to get places quicker."

"He was deaf as a post, but his smeller still worked."

Pets do indeed become part of the family, and Buddy was no exception. It was heart wrenching to watch as he became more and more feeble, and I could not imagine ever going through that again.

Two years have gone by since Buddy left us to cross over the Rainbow Bridge and I am now at the point again of contemplating adopting a dog. I guess if you've loved a dog once, you could love a dog again.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 26:BOKEH

Day 24 of my first 30-day photo challenge was also "bokeh" where I had to admit not knowing what the term meant and even fabricated a few photos using a bokeh effect in a photo editor.  

The following images are a couple from my photo stock.  They probably don't embody the bokeh effect perfectly, but they are close enough, and two of my favorites from our Colorado trip this year.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 25:EARTHY

Going for a walk on this beautiful fall day, everything around me seemed earthy.  The smell of the wet leaves and decaying foliage after the dense fog and mist this morning provided an especially pungent fragrance.  Stepping off the beaten path, my foot came in contact with squishy, slimy mud giving me that feeling of sliding and sinking into the ground.  My senses were assaulted with earthiness...but to actually capture those sensations in pictures seemed like an impossibility.

At the end of my walk, I opted for the moistened leaves on the ground and sidewalk and a dew-kissed rosebud contrasted by its dying counterpart to showcase earthy...and what is more earthy than an earthworm??

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 24:RED

SEEING RED...

The burning bush has the most brilliant color this time of year, and they can be seen all over.  The images shown here were captured in East Park in Mason City.  The red is such a striking contrast against the blue sky.

The sunny, warm temperatures made the hunt for red October enjoyable and easy.

 STOP!  In the name of RED!

 It was easy-peazy to slide right into the mode of capturing all things red.

Even the cars around me cooperated in my search.

I left no leaf unturned. 

My daughter's art teacher came to my aid by adding some props from her studio.

 I hope you don't think me Twisted to say that I had fun finding red in the most peculiar places for this challenge.

 The right tools for the job are a sharp eye and a fun imagination.

I think this challenge was well red.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 22:UPSIDE DOWN

This may not look like any spectacular photographic challenge, but the physical aspect was definitely a test of my yoga training.  Let me just say that there was no editing of this image aside from rotating it.  The glass of ice water was not photo-shopped in--it was firmly on the floor as I tipped myself upside down from the sofa cushions and snapped the picture with my iPhone's self-timer.  The red backdrop was a blanket I placed on the couch and floor so as not to detract from the subject of myself and the glass.  Let me also just say that the blood rushes to your head at an incredibly rapid pace in this position.

The other idea I had for the upside down challenge today had to do with reflective properties.  Taking the photo of the quarry from the Day 16 photo challenge, I cropped it and turned it upside down so the reflection of the trees in the water is now right-side up.

cropped and flipped

original

The thought crossed my mind to just take any image from my stock of photos and flip it upside down, but I didn't see much of a challenge in that.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 19:BROWN

And I didn't think I would have any subject matter for today's challenge...

Brown, browning, brownie...

Here is some random brownness...

Brownie Target

.22 Browning Buckmark

Brown Ale

Brown Cows

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 18:SHADOW

An image I captured last fall at East Park in Mason City immediately came to mind for the "shadow" photo challenge.  In my recent pondering on what makes a good photograph, I have decided that lighting has way more to do with image likability than the actual subject; and this particular picture proves my point.  On its own, this is a decent composition, but the shadows of the trees pack that extra punch setting a good photo apart from a great photo.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 17:DETAILS

De-tails on the ends of the kites were colorful and fluttered gracefully in the wind over Clear Lake. 

Every February, a kite festival is held at the seawall in Clear Lake, Iowa.  I have attended several years to photograph the event.  Some years are sunny and bright, but last year, it was cloudy and snowing.  It still made for some spectacular pictures.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 16:REFLECTIONS

Epcot in Disney World at Orlando, FL

Reflecting on our vacation last year, I remembered an image I snapped with my iPhone of the monorail track and the Epcot icon mirrored in the water.  So many great photo ops in the happiest place on earth.

This is one of my favorite milestone shots of my daughter.  I took a special picture to commemorate each month of her first year of life.  Being a stay-at-home mom and getting to know all the fun nuances of Photoshop, I enjoyed doing something fun and creative for each picture.  For this seven-month-old photo in 2000, I took a mirror and put it on the floor, and then laid my girl on the mirror...her cute facial expressions did the rest.  Doctoring up the background a bit and adding the text, I had created basically what I was hoping to achieve.

This early morning shot of the sky reflecting off the glass-smooth water of Big Round Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin is one of my favorites.  The sunsets are spectacular in this area, but after capturing this shot, it's a toss up as to which time of day is more breathtaking.

Kuennen's Quarry is located in Worth County Iowa.  Now a beautiful picnic spot, this former limestone quarry was the resource site for rock that was used to construct Interstate 90.  I am really liking the contrast between the blue sky reflection of this image and the grayish sky reflection of the image above from Hayward.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 15:BOOKS

Studies in Reading...what's on your bookshelf?

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 14:FOOD

Over the years, I have taken countless pictures of the food on the plate when it arrives on the table in a restaurant.  My Sony even has a "food" setting for making the image look more appetizing.  Most of the time, I would take dessert pictures, as they always seem to have the most outstanding presentation.  

Instead of looking through the myriad of food images, I decided to showcase some shots of some pre-processed morsels...

Chicken Nuggets

AND...

Fish Schtick

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 13:PINK

The Magic Kingdom Castle at Disney World in Orlando, Florida
lit up in pink for the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks display.

There are only 72 days until Christmas.  Do you always decorate your tree the same way with the same colors?  Do you have a tree in every room that gets trimmed with a certain theme?  For many years, I never gave it another thought than to just put the same old traditional ornaments on year after year.  Some years we would get a real tree, but we kept an artificial tree on hand in case of laziness.

One year, I had done some website work for a local florist in trade for her coming out to deck my halls in the latest fashion.  There are color trends for every year.  The above pictures for Christmas 2010 show that silver and pink were hot hues for the holidays.

The color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid.  I'm looking forward to checking out the latest in Christmas tree design with that in mind.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 12:CLOSET

Are there any skeletons in YOUR closet???

Most of the closets in my house don't have room for skeletons or much else for that matter.  

In fact, after living in our current residence for a little over 16 years, the amount of excess crap that has now packed my closets is quite overwhelming.

My daughter, who recently got a bedroom makeover, is the only one in the house with a fairly uncluttered closet area.

 


I decided to get some pictures from inside her closet from the perspective of a mouse hiding in the closet.  

Unfortunately, she caught me in the act, and...

       ...I had to come out of the closet.

October 2014 - 30 Day Photo Challenge - DAY 11:GREEN

I took these images on a photo shoot project with my daughter and her art teacher last year.

The variations of scenes and foliage are endless in this conservation nature center area, and the time of year with the extra fall colors just added to the easy compositions.

Devoting our entire hike to capturing nature in photos was a perfect way to spend an hour.  I would love to take the time to do this several times a week.

I am green with envy over those people that make a living out of taking pictures.