Full hands...

There is an African proverb that says "Hold a true friend with both hands".  

But if that is the case, then...

...how could we ever eat birthday cake with our friends?

Full hands, full heart, full stomachs....happy birthday Thing #3.

--Kathy

There is a season...

 "Turn, Turn, Turn"

State College, PA

If I had no winter blankets of white to cocoon me, spring would not awaken me.  If I had no summer drowsiness and heat, autumn would not burst forth so vibrantly for me.  I adore living in the northeast because I NEED the change of seasons.  I've never understood those who are content to live their lives in a perpetual state of anything....even if that state is one of sunshine and warmth.  As thrilled and ready as I am to pack up the winter coats, scarves and mittens to make room for tank tops and shorts....I am as equally delighted  and READY to pack them back up to bring out my leather boots and sweaters once the temps dip and autumn glows with every leaf looking like a flower.

Turn, turn, turn.  Why be hopelessly in love with one season, when being mesmerized by the changing seasons is such a happier state of mind....AND wardrobe possibilities.  Which reminds me, I need to go shopping for new leather boots.  Yep, I do love my change of seasons.

AND, I do love how the changing seasons of my life (how is THAT for a segue'?) have lead me to blogging.  For many reasons, but one is that I have found the most incredible blogs to follow and have met the most interesting and talented peeps who inspire me daily.  So I was thrilled to be recognized by one of those who inspires me so often...Deanna at Snippets from Springdale with a "Versatile Blogger" award:

Talk about a change of seasons, Deanna is on a new journey of her own and I so enjoy her view of the trip.  If you get a chance please take the time to check out her blog.  And Deanna....thank you so much.

There are a few stipulations to this award:

**  Thank the blogger who awarded me and link back to their blog.
**  Share 7 things about myself so you get to know me better
**  Nominate 15 blogs you feel deserve the award

Seven facts about me:

1.  I know more about baseball than most guys, and dang proud of it!

2.  I have the ugliest hands in America...MAYBE even North America

3.  I twirled fire batons in high school and therefore went thru those formative years with no hair on my arms....at least I had eyebrows.

4.  My goal is to be on "Househunters International" which means....honey, I need to buy a house in Italy.

5.  I despise milk!  I have such a dislike and even a fear of it that I am sure I will finally meet my maker due to a milk truck crashing into me on the highway.  I try to get away from those trucks as fast as I can when I see them on the the road.

6.  I have posted this before, but it is worth repeating...God played a joke on me and made me German, even tho I KNOW I should be Italian.

7.  So many shoes, so little time, not enough outfits


This is really tough coming up with 15 blogs to nominate for Versatile Blogger.  I am soooo new to the blogging world.  Therefore, I am going to only list three.  I picked these three because they are my  personal holy grail not only of blogging, but of photography too.  So if you have a chance PLEASE do yourself a favor and check out these wonderful blogs:


Chasing Rainbows

Picking Poppies

The Dusty Cellar


Participating in this award post is purely voluntary, but I think it's a great way to learn more about our blogging friends.  Plus, it's a great way to let those know that their words and photos do have an impact.

Whew!  That was a LONG post.  So much to cover, I had to change my shoes and outfit part way thru (kidding! maybe).


--Kathy

Out of the (Penn State) Blue...

 Hope you are ready for some blue overload!
 Penn State style....

If ever there was a place custom made for capturing "blue"....it's Happy Valley.  Just one look at the blue and white sky, and you know God has to be a Nittany Lion at heart.  A bitter acknowledgement I'm sure for you Ohio State peeps.  Football weekends?  We bleed blue and white. When we lose....we are blue (and grumpy). Yes, we are a Penn State family.  I keep telling Thing #3 she doesn't HAVE to go to Penn State ....like EVERYONE else in the fam. I hope she realizes these are shallow words with no meaning behind them.  Akin to "I wish you would just TELL me if these pants make my butt look big!"

Of course, NO WAY do those flannel pj pants with the lion paw on each butt cheek make your butt look big.

No, it's not mandatory you arrive at Beaver Stadium via a blue vehicle, but the team does.  And apparently so do some of the fans...

Welcome the house that Joe built.  Beaver Stadium,
second largest collegiate football stadium behind that
"other" blue school, Michigan (boo hiss!)...

Sometimes, it's hard finding the perfect place to catch a view of the Nittany Lions...

OR, the best way to show your Penn State pride...

OR, your Blue & White spirit...

Happy Valley has the bluest skies, when it's not raining or snowing.  We are #1.  Maybe not in the football polls, but definitely in our hearts.

For the Glory of old State!

--Kathy

I love to laugh EXCEPT...

...when milk comes out my nose.

(Woody Allen)

"What's So Funny?"

State College, PA

However, ANYONE who knows me knows that milk makes me GAG! My milk paranoia is so deeply instilled I didn't even kiss my kids when they had "milk lips".  But I HAVE been known to shoot a Snapple out of my nose when an unexpected laugh catches me off guard.  By the way....it BURNS! The older I get, the more I realize a day without laughing is a day wasted.  Sometimes you just HAVE to find the humor in a situation.  It is so much better than crying over spilt Snapple.  

Which wasn't so hard to do this past weekend when someone grabbed my camera and took a snapshot of  moi with my beautiful Things #2 and #3.  Not sure who actually took this, but they caught us in a good nose snorting guffaw. So thank you to whoever captured this moment in time. It contains many things that I love....Penn State football and tailgating, spending time with my family (especially my mini-me's), and laughing. It just doesn't get much better. It also includes a "surprise", which sometimes I like and sometimes I don't. But this one was pretty cool because Thing #2 drove from Cincy to State College to surprise me for the weekend. Gosh I miss my reality television fellow junkie!

Linking up to Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesdays.  The theme for this week is "Love" and the use of her textures.  Even tho I didn't take this photo, I did do a bit of editing:

1.   Convert to B/W
2.   Cappuccino tint
3.   "Yesteryear" texture, overlay blend mode at 25%.
4.   "Crackerjack",  multiply blend mode at 74%.
5.    Erased "Crackerjack" from my familial unit...because
      I spend enough money on beauty products so  that I
      DON'T look "cracked"!       
6.    Lightened up the texture on the corners.

Gosh, it doesn't look like I did that much, does it! Hmmmm, that's the secret to good makeup application too...are you listening to me Thing #3???!!!???


--Kathy

P.S.  Breaking news:  my Better Half has informed me that he was the one who captured the women in his life.  I'm sure he felt he needed to document a moment where NONE of us were causing him any angst :)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#9)...

Woot!  Woot! It's Sunday which can only mean two things: the Eagles will probably lose again, and it's time for Scavenger Hunt Sunday with Ashley at Ramblings and Photos. When I first laid eyes on this week's prompts I would have bet my Better Half's Jethro Tull CDs I'd never get a capture for each.  Let alone photos I actually liked! Well, it looks like I will continue rolling my eyes everytime "Aqualung" comes blaring thru the car speakers. Dang I hate losing a golden opportunity AND proving myself wrong all in one fell swoop!

And on to this week's prompts:



1.  Circles (consider a self portrait)

UGH, a self portrait?  So many more interesting things to capture.  I see me ALL the time.  Interesting how so many photographers I know disdain having their own photo taken in direct correlation to how much they love photographing others.  So I stepped out from behind the camera...sort of. Okay, I PEEKED out.  Now I know what I must look like to all my family and friends the majority of the time.

2.  Phone

"Can You Hear Me Now?"

Rome, Italy

Sometimes you just can't do any better than what you already have.  ALTHO, I will deny that vehemently if my Better Half decides to use that logic on me when I tell him I have nothing to wear! As soon as I saw this prompt I knew I was going to use this photo from outside the  Colliseum in Rome, Italy.  Not one, but TWO phones in this photo. I'm guessing the gladiator is either phoning Chariot directions to Octavious OR phoning in a pizza order to "Little Caesar's".  The tourist????  Well, I HOPE he is looking at a photo someone texted him of what his butt looks like in those jeans!

3.  Low Key

Just me, myself and "eye" in a no make-up, yoga pants, low-key kinda day.  Apparently when I step out of my comfort zone with self-portraits I take advantage of it!   Debating whether I want to leave the house and subject the public to my "low-keyNESS".  Does putting on lip gloss bump me out of low key and up to first class?  Haha, I'm not kidding ANYONE...I've NEVER been described as low key.  I'm putting on lip gloss.....AND eye make-up.

4.  Scarf

...these fringes

...go with these scarves.  Loved this prompt.  Why?  Because I bought the coolest pair of finger-less gloves while I was in the shop!

5.  The Color Wheel

In a perfect world Monochromatic Kisses would have less calories than Chromatic Kisses.

Okay, okay, okay I can not tell a lie.  I do not HATE Jethro Tull.  I just really like giving my Better Half a hard time occassionally.  But I WILL keep rolling my eyes because....I'm good at it and taught Thing #3 everything she knows about the technique.  Thanks for stopping by and I do love comments so feel free to leave some!

--Kathy

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Thursday's Child...

"Thursday's child has far to go."

Instead of looking at how far I still have to go, this typical Thursday's Child is using Thursdays to stop and appreciate where I've been....and where 

I am at the moment.

"Taking Root"
Ambler, PA

Haven't written a "Thursday's Child" post for awhile. Shouldn't be too surprising considering my natural inclination is NOT to stop and smell the roses, but more likely to be researching what type of rose bush I want, debating where I want to plant it, visiting various nurseries to find the perfect shade of pink,  finding a good price (haha, included that just for my Better Half). I just never seem to have time to do it all. Basically, everything that prompted me to TRY to make the effort to stop and appreciate past moments as well as present ones. As long as they aren't future ones.

So WHY a photo of pine cones?  Actually, this is the view outside my bedroom side window.  That pine tree is just loaded with cones.  So much so that branches bend underneath the weight of the multitude.  Every morning I catch a glimpse of these pine cones out my window and mentally mutter "very cool" as I grab my keys, change my purse, reconsider my jeans and head out the door to tackle my to-do list.  

It's just pine cones.  Nothing spectacular.  But this is all new to me.  We moved to our current house a year ago. Almost 30 years married and we had always lived in new construction homes.  Which means, no mature landscaping. Yep, we always installed landscaping post-haste to give the home a not so barren curb appeal.  And it would have worked except for one problem.  I'd always get bored and want to move on to another house.   Those trees just never had the time to mature while under our guardianship. My poor Better Half.  He IS a very patient man.  And I am an expert at packing.

Last year we made the ultimate move.  Somewhere I've wanted to live since I left it 30 years ago. Back home.  Which to me is the Philly area.  It's only a one-hour drive from our old homes, but to me it's a whole new world and outlook. Not to get too philosophical or melodramatic here, but I am comfortable in my surroundings for the first time in our married life.  And those pine cones?  They ARE significant.

I notice them every day because I've never had trees as mature as what surrounds our home.  It's a whole new concept.  Our home is 18 years old, they've had time to take root and grow.  Unlike me, who never before had the desire to stay in one place to mature. One of my greatest joys is taking a glass of wine out to my backyard, plopping in my Adirondack chair, and gazing up at the huge trees. My Better Half often finds me there when he gets home from work at the end of the day.  Looking up, I think those huge trees are awesome. But I now realize they are also awe-inspiring.  We are home.  Time to take root.

Happy Thursday,

--Kathy

Don't Fence Me In...

Let me ride through the wide open 

country that I love,

Don't fence me in.

-- Cole Porter

"Don't Fence Me In"
Berks County, PA

I would cycle past this farm on my daily biking routine pre-move to Philly.  I have yet to find a biking route at my new home that even comes close to the rolling hills and farmland of Berks County that provided both great workouts and scenery. Too much traffic and killer pot holes to dodge here.  So I've switched to spinning classes, much safer and no helmet hair when I'm done!

I was aiming to transform this photo to resemble an old and cracked canvas painting. I used two layers of Kracker Jack. One at 40% soft light, and the other at 75% multiply. Then I added one layer of Autumn Burst at 30% hue to take out some of the vibrant color and to tone it down to give it an older subdued look.

I must have done okay with my textures on this 'cause
Thing #3 peeked over my shoulder and said "not bad".
It just doesn't get much better from a 13 year old!


--Kathy

Out of the "little boy" Blue...

Trucks, scooters, dirt

and shades of blue,

But little boys can be angels too 

(sometimes).

"Little Boy Blue"

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia

All consuming panic, disorder and chaos.  There were many tiring and frustrating days (maybe even months!) I spent wishing time would move by quicker when Thing #1 was a young boy.  In retrospect, I unfortunately got my wish and learned....never wish away time, no matter how difficult some of those times might be.  Thing #1 has morphed into  a 26 year old man I am so very proud of.  But before they can be men, they must be boys.  And the job description calls for fatiguing their moms.  So I couldn't help but laugh "all-knowingly" when I saw this little boy blue scooting by in Rittenhouse Square....with his mom trailing waaaaay behind in pursuit, eating his dust.  I miss those days AND my nicely toned legs that went along with all that chasing I had to do!

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#8)...

I had such high hopes for this weeks Scavenger Hunt Sunday when I first saw the prompts last week.  But before I knew it, Friday was here and YIKES.  I am realizing there is a direct correlation between my increasing desire to learn more about photography and my increasing dissatisfaction with my current camera.   It's basically a glorified point and shoot variety.  I think I've done pretty well with it up until now, but there is so much more I want to do and learn.  AND....I am loathe to admit this but it seems for every decent photo I take, I probably have 25-30 that are flawed in various ways because my camera just can't handle what I'm asking of it.  And I ask so nicely too! UGH...efficiency thou aren't my name.  Instead of taking as many photos as I would like, I spent much of my week researching cameras.  Any suggestions?  My birthday is coming up in November and mama needs a new camera (and my better-half needs to be aimed in the right direction).

And on to Scavenger Hunt Sunday and this weeks prompts!

1.  Liquid

I got home from dropping Thing #3 off at the bus stop the other morning (did I mention I use to walk up hill BOTH ways to school in blinding blizzards, yet Thing #3 can't manage to walk a couple of blocks in the sunshine?), when I noticed that my holly berries were starting to turn red already!  No, that isn't rain on them, but the morning dew.  Yep, VERY dewy this morning.  Apparently TOO dewy to walk to the bus stop!

2.  From a Distance

So let me just explain, last year my better half acquiesced to my 25+ years of pouting and moved us from the hicks to suburban Philly.  And the result?  I'm apparently living in a Disney cartoon the way nature frolics around my backyard.  This particular morning I looked out back and there were 5 deer and 2 red foxes playing in my backyard.  The most I saw in the hicks was my neighbor's dog Mikey who defied electrical currents to escape his invisible fence and take refuge in our yard! I'm pretty sure my Bambis expressions say "One more step and we're outta here!" So I kept my distance, even tho I'm SURE they were strikin' a pose.

3.  Sunday

I thought this was a much more interesting photo, than a photo of the other activity that takes up alot of my Sunday....me sitting at my computer with a cup of coffee looking at everyone's "Scavenger Hunt Sunday" photos.



4.  Behind

Whole Foods had the most beautiful hydrangea bunches this week.  I posted some photos earlier, but kept this one aside for now.  A shot from behind.

5.  Street Photography

Oh man this REALLY took me outside of my comfort zone.  I always feel very awkward about shooting photos of people I don't know, especially if they see me doing it.  So I'm very leery and go into stealth mode, haha.  Yesterday I ventured to downtown Philly and the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Festival hoping to see LOTS of interesting things to photograph.  It was suppose to be a gorgeous fall day.  But the clouds quickly rolled in, and the photo-ops just weren't materializing for me.  I stalked this couple strolling for a few booths.  Turned out to be my favorite photo.  I know that technically it isn't great...but I really liked converting it to monotone except for her skirt and shawl, and the texture of the old city bricks.  Stealth mode baby!

Hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday.  If you get the chance, please check out Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday at  "Ramblings and Photos".  And as always, thank you for stopping by and I do love your comments so feel free to leave some!

--Kathy

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2 + 2 = 5...

This week has been a struggle between creativity and moi. Epic failure on my end. I've hit a stretch where I am sooooo uninspired that nothing seems intriguing. I've always viewed creativity as noticing the obvious, but looking at it from a different angle.  Like 2 + 2 = 5!
Which might explain why I never could understand the logical thought process of math, OR it's importance in 90% of my daily life.

I've also learned that over thinking is the enemy of creativity. The more you reason, the less you create.  Paralysis by analysis. I equate this to Thing #1 and his batting average. Every ball player goes thru batting slumps. Thing #1 was no exception. He got frustrated, he analyzed his batting technique, he changed his stance, he altered his swing, he messed with his mechanics.  And you know what? It only made the slump worse.  I remember my better-half's wise, wise words.....STOP THINKING!!!!  Yes my friends....I'm in a batting slump.

So, in the immortal words of Scarlett O'Hara "I can't think about that right now, if I do I'll go crazy". Instead, I'm just going to enjoy my bundle of hydrangeas I picked up at Whole Foods today.  So Scarlett, just STOP THINKING and.......SWING!  Haha, I did just combine "Gone With the Wind" and baseball (those who know me shouldn't be too surprised, fiddle dee dee!)

A few shots with a white background (my  handy dandy piece of white poster board):

And a few with a black background (my handy dandy piece of black poster board):

I'm not sure which background I like better, what do you think?  And as for the creativity slump...."I'll think about that tomorrow. Because tomorrow is another day". Music crescendo, roll credits.

Hope you all have a creative Thursday!



--Kathy

My Toilet Tank Runneth Over...

I have a new "Murphy's Law":  If you make it thru a hurricane and flooding unscathed, just leave it to your toilet tank to get ya!  It appears our newly remodeled powder room has a leaking toilet tank, which has left our newly installed hardwood floor heaved and buckled (let me emphasize I have "Mount freakin' Everest" rising in my foyer!). So I was on a blind mission in the basement investigating how far the water had spread throughout the house. With apologies to my better-half....I know NOTHIN' bout fixin' no toilets!  But I DID uncover a hidden treasure on the basement shelves while dodging cobwebs, boxes of Beanie Babies, and long abandoned American Girl dolls and accessories.  A vintage typewriter covered in a serious build-up of dust and dirt. You know, that leak can just wait a little while longer...

I wonder if Thing #3 even KNOWS what this is!  I should tell her it's my childhood computer.

I really shouldn't wait for a possible home owners insurance claim to discover what forgotten treasures are lurking in my basement.  And to think I was ALMOST stumped as to what to photograph next.  The photography Gods work in mysterious ways, if only they came baring (bearing?) plumbing supplies.  Okay, back to swearing at my toilet.

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#7)...

September 11, 2011....hard to fathom a decade has passed since that horrific day that changed America.  But life has a tendency to return to some semblance of normalcy no matter how dire the circumstances, and each year that passes the events of 9/11 get buried a bit further into our memories. I know I will take a moment today for reflection and thankfulness for all the brave men and women who gave their lives that day.  My dad was a police officer, and we were taught from a young age to always say hello and thank you to our men in blue.  I will make a special point to do so this weekend. God bless all those who serve and protect in whatever capacity, and a big THANK YOU!

And onto Scavenger Hunt Sunday...


1.  Remember

Because we can not afford to forget.

2.   Flying High

Going around under an umbrella interferes with your ability to look up to the sky...unless you are Mary Poppins of course.

3.  Bokeh

I can not tell a lie.  I have NO idea how to do a Bokeh on my own.  I spent alot of time this week googling "Bokehs for Dummies", but apparently I fall below the dummy learning curve.  Soooooo, I had to resort to a bokeh texture EEEEEEK! (sorry).  But I am pleased to report that I DO know how to get great joy out of my wine.

4.  Statues

Rolled up khaki pant legs, Nike sneakers...who IS this fashionable dude?

THE one, THE only, THE Penn State living legend Joepa (aka Joe Paterno) outside of Beaver Stadium pointedly proclaiming "We Are Number 1!!!!".  Okay, okay ACTUALLY.... we are number 23 and dropping after losing this weekend, argh!



5.  Process of Elimination

Sometimes less is better.  UNLESS we are talking chocolate.



I really want to thank everyone who has been so kind to stop by my little blog and leave comments.  I have met some truly inspirational people and have stumbled upon some fantastic blogs as a result.  Sometimes I feel as if I am talking to the air, but then someone will write a keenly timed comment that gives wind to my sails.  It truly keeps me motivated...well that AND my need to learn to accomplish the dreaded Bokeh!  Stay tuned!


--Kathy

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