House Construction Across the Street

I’ve mentioned to you before that construction has been underway in the empty lot across the street from us. I thought I would give you report on its progress, complete with pictures! The builder got a very late start on it, and the schedule has also been impacted by excessive rainfall. The work crews are really going to have to step up the pace. This house is supposed to be ready for a late September parade of homes show!

Here is the empty lot that has been our visual eyesore for the past three years. Boundary stakes mark the house perimeter, and a few concrete blocks are piled up next to the power transformer. Construction began a day or two after I took this photo.

April 16, 2013

Spending Time with Friends

dancing clouds above rugged cliffs

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’ve been a bit absent lately with posting and visiting your blogs. I’ll be catching up with all of your news this next week.

We had some dear friends from out-of-town visit with us a few days this week. So we were busy here at our cottage and out having fun! We made a jaunt over to Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and also the Museum of Appalachia in nearby Norris, Tennessee. And we left our cameras at home! Yes, we did it on purpose. We wanted to devote our attention to our guests and not be distracted with photographic pursuits. Once I get in the “photo zone,” I’m like a zombie, LOL. And I have to admit that it was quite refreshing to make precious memories without the assistance of a camera.

We met them on the polar bear tour this past November. We were delighted when they took us up on our offer for a visit and decided to come down to stay with us for a few days. The conversations and laughter were practically non-stop. It was such a lovely and relaxing time! 

To have a friend and be a friend is what makes life worthwhile.

~ author unknown~

Wordless Wednesday - Emerging Fronds

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Fairbanks, Alaska

My Latest Photography News

I have been sitting on some happy news for a little while! It’s now time to let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

An image of mine won an online competition by Ilford, the makers of fine photographic papers. Entries are submitted from all over the world, and they are judged monthly.

Which photo won, you ask? It was this one of a puffin, taken two years ago in Alaska. The image is one of my personal favorites. Mister Jim loves it too. It is especially sweet that Ilford’s very discerning judges were also smitten. (Don't forget to click to see it bigger.)

I didn’t win any money or other kind of prize. However, I gladly accept recognition for my hard work! My image will remain highlighted on Ilford's corporate web site for the month of May. And I have also been profiled on Ilford's blog. Perhaps you will want to visit these links and find out a little bit more about your blogging friend, little ol’ me.

It’s been a long photographic journey to actually get to a point like this. And I deeply appreciate all of the encouragement that you routinely give me here. It means more than you will ever know!

Happy Mother's Day!

A Personal Photo Challenge - Flowers

It’s time for A Personal Photo Challenge! “Flowers” is the theme this month.

This is going to be a fun challenge! Blog authors and readers can’t help but smile when flowers are featured in blog posts. Colorful and elegant blooms cheer our souls! Consequently, many bloggers want to learn how to improve their flower photography skills.

I prepared two images for this challenge. One of them is a bit quirky. Yeah, I have to mix it up a little bit for myself! The other photo is more traditional in composition, but I transformed it into something extra yummy in the post-processing step. I am unusually content with my final results. It’s such a rare thing, LOL.

The first photo shows one of my beloved daffodil blooms. It was one of the last of the spring season. I wanted to take a little different approach in the composition. The “simplicity” challenge from last month was fresh in my mind when I set up this shot. I wanted it to be as simple as possible, so I fearlessly added a lot of negative space and offset the subject. Also, I pretended to be another flower in the flowerbed! (Yes, I warned you this image was quirky.) What would be my view if I were a daffodil, sitting in the flowerbed? Why, I would have a sibling partially blocking my view!