COMING HOME FROM COOS BAY

Today was actually warmer then it looked, regardless of the threatening skies. This first photo was taken in Charleston down at the marina. I've taken this before but am always attracted to the moss-covered pilings and their reflections......especially when the sun isn't so bright as to wash out the colors.
And this second shot was taken from one of the bluffs along Beach Loop in Bandon. My Photoshop is acting up tonight and I don't care too much for the way they both look a little washed out to me. I figure it out tomorrow.

We had that wonderful golden eye snapper tonight for dinner........It was SO good!! And we have enough for another meal!! Thank you, Doug!!

And I bought all the ingredients I need to make up some posole this weekend or early next week. I'm looking forward to it! Pesto making tomorrow and I might still get another couple of pickings from our basil in the greenhouse. Enjoyed lemon cukes tonight on our salad......they should have been producing a good couple of months ago, but I guess the summer has been cooler than I realized. Makes them doublely good now!

This is a short one tonight........much still to do and one of those things is to get my editing software back where it's supposed to be!

You're coming up Friday and then another great late summer weekend. Make it a good one!!

A BIT MORE OF NATURE

The clouds parted, the rain stopped and we saw sun again. But I love those big thunder-bumpers that were seen all around our area this afternoon.
I thought we'd take one more look at some sights along Vista. There are many certain areas that I love to look at during my walk but for something that's hopefully interesting via the camera, I chose a couple of forest roads that aren't really used by much traffic (unless you count deer and such). I guess I'd better mention my opening rose here first. It was so beautiful that I thought I'd just throw it in for you flower-lovers........wonderful fragrance too. OK.....the forest paths........I enjoy the mystery of where these paths might lead. This first one, I've never explored too far up. It's private land with signs to stay out. It's for sale and has been forever. I'd love to walk a little ways up and see where it might lead. There are a number of bear dens around up here and I suppose I've been leaning towards being cautious. Maybe one of these days I can convince Norm to come with me.

This second one I have been up. There is a reservoir up there for the many homes that were supposed to be built that haven't. So instead of being well cleared and with a beautiful view of the town and beyond, it's now completely overgrown in a tangle of shrubs, bushes and young trees. But the look up from Vista still holds that mystery of ????

We had a wonderful dinner with friends tonight and tasted something new for us.....Posole which is an (American) Indian stew......with the most delicious cornbread I've had.......Norm even came home with a big beautiful golden-eye red snapper.......which we'll eat tomorrow night. HE took care of the filleting! HA! I cook and I don't clean fish. And do not want to learn.

Made up some new greeting cards for Siren's which Diane liked......Yaaa! It's always so nice when someone appreciates your work. So, if you're in Siren's any time soon, take a look at a few new additions.

Tomorrow is Wednesday (not Friday??) and the week has again hit the half-way mark. Make it count by laughing a lot and enjoy the day.

OFF CENTER TUESDAY

Anyone else feel like today should be either Sunday or Wednesday?? And I think Norm has asked me about three times today if it was Tuesday? I don't know if I'm the one he should be asking........

And we have had our 30% chance of rain today..........over and over and over. Let's see; that makes it about 90% doesn't it? Sound right to me! A nice steady on-going soft rain. So.....it was again a good day for a big pot of ham and beans and I baked a nice loaf of crusty bread. And tonight we watch the final episode of Doc Martin on Netflix. Funny coincidence......I mentioned the Doc Martin series in my blog a few days back. One of my friends read what I wrote and she looked it up on Netflix, then realized that the town the series takes place in is a little village in Cornwall just a village away from where her husband's grandfather came from. They're now watching the series and loving it. Fun, huh? Since it's raining that 30% today I thought it might be nice to show a flower from our place. This zinnia is really pretty large and I love the way the petals grow off in all kinds of crazy directions.
I also posted this shot on Flickr. I titled it 'Zinnia From Down Under'. I just now got a comment from one of my Flickr contacts that she listed this as one of her favorites........she's from Australia. 8-)) Love it!

This other photo is of the one and only Willie.........Princess of her domain in our household. Her wish is nag....nag.....nag, until one of us finally gives in. Here she is enjoying her due with a royal rub under her royal chin. You can really tell she actually hates it, huh? Eyes clenched tight in pain and disgust. Poor mistreated little beastie.......

We had a delightful visit this morning with some friends that we hadn't gotten to know very well previously. They now live in Arizona but come back to Port Orford every year to enjoy their old stomping grounds and get together with old friends. Norm and I very much enjoyed getting to know them a little more.......Class I people that make you want to stay in touch.

So ends another day in Port Orford..............I hope everyone has a nice evening and a happy Friday........Oh!.....I mean Wednesday.

CARRIE GRANT PHOTOGRAPHY

In the off chance you haven't met Carrie or seen her advertising in the local papers, here she is. Carrie is such a natural, real person and as sweet as they come. Her new venture into her own photography business is off to a roaring success by the looks of it. Her own style of photography is vintage old west, complete with beautiful dress up gowns and jackets, hats, etc. for the authentic look and then the photographs, which she prints herself, are toned in sepia. I've seen via Facebook that she also does a wonderful job in more contemporary shoots.....graduation and weddings for sure. At the Curry County Fair, Carrie set up a tent, lights, camera and action for the wandering public.......and she up to the many late summer and fall festivals around the southern coast. I might be leaving some of the up and coming events out but I think it's safe to say that whenever you see a fair or festival, Carrie is probably there and ready to shoot. In her Port Orford studio, which is the old Campbell Realty building, there are bales of hay and other old timey props, as well as the stand in hero of all westerns, John Wayne. Johnny Depp is there too, dressed as the Mad Hatter from Alice In Wonderland. Think I'll go with John, myself.
The dresses are beautiful!! Many colors and all richly vintage looking as well. These are a few for you to get an idea of some of the choices offered.

This last dress is Carrie's latest and really has to be seen by the naked eye to be appreciated. It's a dainty old rose color and this photo doesn't capture the true quality of it. I loved the old lace of the bodice.

If any of you are into thinking early about Christmas gifts to give, think of one of Carrie's portraits.......something different and very special........just like Carrie! When she's not in her studio or off on some photo shoot, you just might find her at Siren's Coffee. A very busy lady!
And I think her new business is destined to be a very popular success! Way to go, Carrie!!

MORE VIEWING VISTA

One of my neighbors thought I should include a photo of our new dumpster for my blog. So....here ya' go. Here on Gold Run Road, this is how we're handling our problem with the bear.
I guess there might have been a trap set but after hearing of the horrible experience with trap and bear up on Hensley Hill a year or so ago, I don't think any of us wanted this problem handled that way. So.....a dumpster!! I think it looks a lot better than the row of garbage cans, each with it's own plastic bottle of amonia and maybe some other determents.........all of which seemed to have not worked the last time. I think the bear now knows that if he throws the cans out onto the street, the yummy pickin's will spill out and the amonia + won't be as much of a problem. Well, he can't get into this!! We're hoping that we can keep this dumpster all year long........although I think CTR only wants to let us use this until the bear goes into hibernation.
But for now, this is the most humane way to handle this and (knock on wood) it seems to be working very well.

I went to the Art Walk with Nancy last night.......it's become so well attended! I don't know what the count is but I really think the tourist traffic this year is above normal........Good for the town. And some of the new art in town is always fun to check out, along with various friends that stop and chat. Lois Miller has some new work in Point B Gallery.....Wow! She is so good!! Great photos!! The Candle Shop had various artists work for sale..........I picked up some super reasonably priced beaded bracelets for some of my younger female relatives...(can't give too much away here). I've been wanting to stop in Carrie Grant's increasingly popular photography studio, which I did. More on that tomorrow or Tuesday but let me say her studio is full of great creativity! .........Then there was Redfish, which is always super wonderful! That's my 'Look and dream" gallery!

This photo I call "Light". Especially when viewed large, the light coming through the soft yellowing leaves was beautiful. And the dark tree trunks just give dimension and contrast. Very simple but it works for me.

Now, it's Sunday and I think we're off to Rotary's Show and Shine. I've never attended one before.....I know, I must be alone in that........but it's a good day to see something different and get there before the wind gets blowing much stronger.

I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend.............

WALKING ALONG VISTA

Thankfully it's more humanely cooler today than yesterday. I'm not used to that kind of heat anymore.......And as sometimes the best-laid plans do go astray.....I had spaghetti bubbling away and the oven baking bread, adding more uncomfortable toastiness to the hot house............Finally, around 4 o'clock I asked Norm.........."Hey! We do have air conditioning, don't we?" That's how often we have to use it, when I don't even remember that we have it!

A couple of days ago I went walking and brought my camera.......these are a couple of sights that caught my eye. My niece, Lauren, had taken some photos recently of peeling madrone trees and I thought they were very good. I saw a couple of the smaller manzanita trunks that looking interesting and that's what this first shot is all about. I might try cropping in even closer and see what effect that gives. As for now, I like to look at the play of light and shadow in the background woods. BTW.....on Wednesday I received my flu shot up in Coos Bay at the North Bend Medical Clinic. I don't know if other doctors or clinics have them yet, but if this is something you do then it might not hurt to ask and see if you can't get one now. A friend recently came down with the flu. It might or might not be the same strain that might be visiting us this winter, but just be aware.

This photo was showing how the ferns are turning color and the grass going to seed. Another sign of the approaching fall. How did you like our little moisture Wednesday? Not as much as last week but enough to really make you scratch your head when Thursday brought heat of 85 degrees, at least at our place. Course there was that cooking I had going on.......

Another side note.....if you have 'instant play' with Netflix you might enjoy the English series, Doc Martin. Norm is really enjoying it on nights that we don't have our Netflix movies that have been mailed to us. I think we have only 1 more series until the end.....and after that, I'd like to re-watch All Creatures Great and Small. I used to enjoy that series so much and there are many similiarities to Doc Martin. I might have mentioned previously about how the scenry in Doc Martin looks like our area. Tonight we watch The Bounty Hunter...........chic-flick, as Norm calls it.

Have a fantastic Labor Day weekend........lots going on!!

Stay safe.

WACKY WEDNESDAY

I haven't quite left the Elk River behind just yet. We were up in Coos Bay most of the day and I haven't downloaded new photos I have yet. I felt like playing around and this first one is the result of today's play. I've done a little bit of 'artistic' editing with this particular tree. Looked at as the camera took it, I felt, was as dull as dust. When I start to play around with all the 'toys' in Photoshop things start taking on a little interest. Branches that were nothing but tangled masses of limbs and leaves, start to look a little mysterious and intriguing.........to my eye, anyway. Some of the strange colors gave depth and softness instead of chaos. Fun. I saw a neat thing today on the highway on the way north. There was an older car in front of us and one in back. After driving a little while, I noticed a car off on the side of the road, broken down I assume since the driver's seat held some young man. As we approached closer the car off on the side of the road blinked his left rear blinker. Immediately the car in front of us, as well as the car following, pulled off the road to give help to the stalled car. Obviously all three young men knew each other and I assume the broken one had put in a SOS to his buddies.........and there they were. I just thought to myself how this isn't something you might see in a larger metropolitan area, although I'm sure this isn't just delegated to rural southern Oregon. I don't suppose it's really any big thing, but for some reason it warmed my heart........people helping people.......and most not expecting any real reward for their kindness. It's more of an appreciation of self and others........a respect for each other as well as empathy. And as for the rest of the day in Coos Bay........ Norm's doctor's visit was fine........he's always comes out grinning when he gets a good "report card". The shopping was a nightmare though. It was humid and WalMart was so crowded. So.....if you don't like crowds......stay away from the 1st of the month to the 5th......I was told that by an exhausted checker. A few other stores weren't quite that bad........but maybe that's way WalMart's stock went up today!

OK.......here's my last bit of play for the day. I did this a few days ago. I think this is one I was showing a friend how I like to tinker around with the editing. Maybe you might recognize the scene from one I posted a few days ago.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday........that time of the week again to start making weekend plans. This is Labor Day weekend coming up and I'm sure many of you have plans already made......days spent with family and friends and enjoying a few more of the last days of summer. Have fun and stay safe!!

RETURN TO THE ELK

I keep hearing about how low the water is this time of year on the Elk River. Being a former California gal, and having lived in the Sierra foothills, I'm used to low-really low. I haven't spent very much time viewing the various seasons of water levels on the Elk River so I can only imagine what it must be like in winter or early spring. Yet another excuse to get back up there. It's not like it's a day's journey away............about 15 minutes should do it! I just need to not get distracted. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much.............

This morning Norm and I went to a political talk by a Republican candidate. I don't do political campaigning and am not going to use this space to even start.......just let me say that if any of you in the Oregon area who might not like the route Washington is taking these days, you might want to check out what Art Robinson has to say. And if you are happy with the government, well, so be it. Luckily for all of us, it was nice that it was such a beautiful sunny morning. The sun felt good and the air smelled wonderful. Far different from yesterday. There is a very definite cool nip to the air now though. My favorite season coming up!!

I'm showing two different type of photos here of the same area. The first was where water was coming down from the hill and the next is tumbling over rocks on it's way to join the river. I particularly love the second shot, myself.

I can hear the news from the other room............can you believe that Zsa Zsa Gabor is 93 years old!!!?? Wow! If she's THAT old, why is it making ME feel ............ well, less than young??

Wishing everyone a wonderful Wednesday!! Keep grinning.......... 8-D))

RAIN ON MONDAY

Personally, I appreciate it about now. I'm sure it's only for a short time but it helps to dampen
down the fire danger. Maybe it cleans up the air a little, although I hope that doesn't take away from the beautiful sunsets we see in the fall and winter. I read somewhere that much of the sunset's color is actually caused by pollutents in the air. Mixed blessing, that.
I thought you might like a little change of pace from the river scenes. I haven't posted that many flower shots this summer. These gorgeous blooms are from the large green next to Tim Belmont's Beauty Spa in Langlois. It's
a small but beautifully tended garden and both these two plants had colors so rich they begged to be photographed. There was a 'country fair' there over the weekend and there
were a number of tables set up. I bought a pretty pair of yellow earrings. The money earned from those sales were going to a young woman who died fairly recently from breast cancer and left children behind. I remember her face as being down here in Port Orford, but I was told that she worked at Sterling Savings in Bandon. A sweet young woman........gone, too soon, for sure. I was impressed that Angela from Art
101, who has her own banner of good-will flying regarding the pollution of the oceans with plastics, had donated some of her own artfully inspired earrings for Brandi's benefit.

Those of you who might have read my blog from yesterday will remember that today was the day I was going to get the article written for the local newspapers. Yaaa!!! I did it! And I let nothing interfere with my purpose!
For those who live around here, you might see it this week and/or next week. It's regarding something near and dear to my heart. A program called Help-Portrait but I thought it should be renamed "the Ruth Jamison Gift Project". I hope others will feel the urge to join with me and volunteer their services or talents.......I'm not going to expand on it here. It would take too long but if it stirs your curiosity be sure to look for it in the paper......I titled the article "GIVE A GIFT - RECEIVE A GIFT". It feels very good to have this first leg of what hopefully
becomes a yearly program, finished and on it's way
OK......hope the beginning of this week is brighter than the skies right now......Laugh a lot in spite of the gray! And wishing you a Happy Tuesday!!

SUPER-SUNDAY

A couple more photos from my Elk River trek with Karen and Emily. I think I mentioned last week that I was trying to get that silky water, slow exposure effect. I'm getting there, huh?
This river really is a beautiful one!! Except for trying to walk on them, I really love the rocks. They add one more element of texture.

I went for an early (well, for me, anyway) walk this morning with my camera. I really doesn't take me long to shoot 200+ images! I probably throw away most......or should! I'm going to make our own Christmas cards this year so I'm starting to look around now for possible shots that will work into something I find appealing. My l+ mile walk usually takes about 30 minutes. With camera it's close to an hour. I'm finding everything is a possibility for a lens view!

Norm and I went to a friend's birthday party this afternoon. A lot of fun! The sky was overcast but for most of the time there really wasn't much wind so the (new and beautiful!) deck was pleasant. The deck overlooks a beautiful cove and the water was so flat it would have been the perfect time to be whale watching........but Alas! I didn't see any. Apparently, Rick got a number of really good shots shortly before we arrived.........so he says........some of us have our doubts....8-)
Some of the other guests I hadn't seen in a while and it was great catching up with old and new friends. And excellent food! I even grabbed a couple of chocolate chip cookies and they were SO good, Norma.......!!

Got home in time to do a little photo editing and get my head thinking towards an article I just have procrastinating on long enough that I need to get into the local papers tomorrow. So....tomorrow it is!! No distractions! No camera!! No computer play!! All these will be my treats for when I finish the article. No one or nothing will get in my way.....No temptations will deter me!! And as an additional helpful factor........I cross my fingers and toes.
This second photo is view of a more tranquil part of the river. I enjoy that little orangy reflection in the upper right. We weren't able to stay too long, but wouldn't that little beach across and under the trees be a great place for a picnic??

OK.......the start of another new week faces us. Let's look for the best of every situation that comes our way, laugh at our own goofs and overlook other's. Have a great day!!

A BIT OF MORNING UP THE ELK

It was surprising to see how much more the maple leaves were turning up Elk River valley way. I was only up there last week and such a difference already!! These are a couple of shots I took. Karen mentioned how low the water was, but it was still bubbling along. I imagine it is exciting when it's really running in the spring.
The water in the second photo is so clear that if it wasn't for the foreground, you wouldn't know that there was a river there. I have another I took without any rocks, greenery or land being seen, and it looks just like a lot of rocks lying around. I'm still experimenting with my slow shutter speed to get that silky looking water. I got closer today but still need more work. A definite reason to return, huh? As if I needed one. The sky was slightly overcast, which I prefer to the bright sun. No glare and not too hot.
Next time I go up, it's heavier and sturdier shoes! A wee little bit of navigational challenges over the rocks today! I have no excuse for my 'gazelle-graceful' imitation when I very softly landed, rear first in poison oak while trying to shoot a tree... 8-( Then there were the 'attack dogs' that greeted us at our first photo stop. Lovely and happy little devils. Teeth were ever so bright and sharp looking. I just stopped moving when they ran out and was trying to remember which pocket held my pepper spray. (Wearing cargo pants with a lot of pockets) Then realized quickly that by the time I figured that out and had it ready with the nozzle pointed AWAY from my face........well, I'd have lost a limb by then. Better to freeze and send a quickie prayer. The owner, I assume it was the owner, came out and called them off........a COUPLE of times since the dogs were clearly enjoying their roles as predators. Nasty little beasties!!

After we did our shooting we headed for Redfish for another great lunch. We could see a whale blowing off the rocks. I kept looking out the window and a woman at the next table thought I kept looking at her for a while. She then realized we were looking out to the ocean and asked what we were looking at. I almost told her that I was studying her left earring, but thought better of it and told her that there were some whales out there blowing. She got pretty excited when Emily told her when one blew and she spotted it, too.........said that they had seen some up in Depot Bay earlier. I think her accent was English so I was glad I hadn't teased her about her earring. You never know. 8-))

And thanks again to Rick and Emily.........you know what for/s.

Well, that's it for this week! I hope your plans for the weekend are filled with lots of fun...........take photos!! You never know what new adventures will come your way!!

WALKING THE TRAIL

Doesn't this first photo look like you'd be stepping into another room or maybe like Alice, stepping through a door into who-knows-what. Through the dark silhouette of trees in the background you can see the blue of Nellie's Cove peeking through. Not a spectacular shot but the mystery it could represent appealed to me.

Today was a fairly quiet day. First thing this morning I heard Ray next door getting after his yellow dandelions with his mower. Well, I can't have my yard looking like the Beverly Hillbillies, so out came my ever-nifty weed whacker. Done within the hour. I'd like to think that it will last until the rains but I know better. The growth and flowering of our most prolific yellow flower is at it's peak right now........ and feeling vigorious! Darn! But for today and tomorrow there are no dandelions to mar the beauty of the deep tan where green grass used to grow. This is summer after all!

This second photo was taken of one of those flat rocks that can be seen toward the north end of the Heads trail. This might have been the one where I photographed a year or so ago that was full of basking seals. I always seem drawn to take yet another shot of it every time I go up there. All that wave action around changes constantly as well as the sea colors. I love it!!

We watched the movie tonight......."It's Complicated". There were some funny lines in it, although to tell you the truth, I did get a little tired of Meryl Strepe constantly laughing, laughing and more laughing. I don't think I spelt Meryl's last name right back there, but I don't care enough to look it up. I am enjoying watching the Doc Martin series on Netflick's Instant Watch. The scenery is beautiful and there are some scenes that do look so much like our own south coast! Beautiful!!

And even the odd cast of characters reminds Norm and I a little bit of some of our own 'local color' of Port Orford.

So, tomorrow I'm off with the gals to do some Elk River shooting, then lunch at the constantly wonderful, Redfish.

And all of you have a great Friday!! You've been waiting ALL week long for the day to come and it finally has.......Be truthful, isn't Friday's anticipation almost better than the actual weekend??

Which ever it is for you..........have a great and safe weekend!

A COUPLE OF VIEWS FOR THE MEMORY BOOK

Well, our heat wave was a little short, huh? The day was sunny but definitely cooler than yesterday. That autumn chill can be felt again and that crazy vine maple that turns so early every year? All but a few of it's leaves have fallen already.

We had guests for dinner tonight so I was sticking close to home today and had some really nice communications.....phone, email, phone again.......all good stuff.
Rick was showing me how to post this blog onto Facebook and I'll be trying that tonight while it's
(hopefully) still fresh in my mind.

In the meantime I'll tell you about these photos I'm posting here tonight. They were both taken on our walk up on the Heads........This first one is my favorite of the two......have you ever seen a dead tree (I call them ghost trees) looking so beautiful? That silver of the tree and rocks against the blue sea is very appealing to me. I like the perspective of this second one........the reef close to the horizon, then a couple of the larger rocks in the foreground of the sea......I'm sure these rocks have names given them, at least the cone shaped one, but I don't know what they are. And I don't know why you sometimes see these distinct lines of blue color in the water. Whether they are water depths or changing tide lines......... I know they weren't caused by clouds. Maybe one of you readers know the answer and would like to fill me in.

There is still a lot of summer left although not too warm this year.....We're going to plant another crop of lettuce. Unless the rains start very early this year, I think we can still enjoy the fresh from the garden salads. Tomorrow it's pick the basil and make more pesto. I like garlic so well that my pesto could also be called The Vampire Deterrent! Well, it works for me!

Have a wonderful Thursday and remember to laugh!

WILDFLOWERS OF THE HEADS

These are a couple more shots from yesterday up on the Heads. I thought the two on the same page made for a nice contrast of complimentary colors. I don't know what the first one is...........the second is the ever-beautiful but Ouch-inflicting purple thistle. I like that particular photo, too.

I had a very neat day..........visited Tim, the Hair Magician! He cut and accomplished wonders and I left smiling widely!! Course, I do when ever I spend time with him......Wonderful man!

And I finally met Maria, his delightful daughter. Maria has a massage service and I've heard nothing but rave-reviews from friends and others..........many looking very much like they just crawled out of bed, sleepy eyes, hair looking maybe not so neat and dreamy smiles on their faces and walking in a particular rubbery way..........The Sign of Maria!
Speaking of the salon, they of Jefferey's will be holding a market there on the green beside the salon. I don't know if they even know what might be offered yet, but there were a couple of table's hinted at that have me planning on going up either Saturday or Sunday. And in Tim's salon I found a very beautiful something for my sister Pam's birthday......she reads this so I can't tell the rest of you what it is........just that it comes from Tim's New York buying spree he went on a few month's back. He's going to buy back there about 4 times a year I think he said, so the merchandise will be fresh.

On another note and a complete opposite topic, we on our road had delivered today a great large dumpster to out-maneuver the local bear that has been giving us grief with his appitite for our leftovers and his very poor table manners........like ALL over the street lies the strewn garbage. Our neighbors who picked it up last time were able to tell me what prescriptions I took!! I'm sure that this dumpster will keep him out of our garbage cans.

And I want to take just a second here to personally thank Stephanie of New York for her encouraging and kind comments she sent about the postings of yesterday and other things. She's a wonderful photographer and professional artist and I especially valued her taking time out of her busy schedule to write me...........Thanks again, Stephanie.

OK, everyone go have a great Wednesday..........you know you've almost made it half-way through another week and it's time to start planning for fun over the weekend..........Think of going to up to Langlois (all of you who live nearby) to Tim's market sale!

TREES

In looking around the forest up the Elk, I started really looking at the trees. Various splashes of light would contrast with the darker shadows.....some almost black. Maybe I'm preparing to be thoroughly "Wowed" by the fall colors that will be showing up soon.......even as I type. I was working with this first photo in Photoshop and to tell the truth, it was a little more blurry than I could use......and, I think that most people would look at my photo of the trees and not really feel or understand how I was viewing it. I started fooling around with the many tools in my editing program, of which I've haven't explored the full extent as of yet. It was fun seeing the many different effects and how they looked.........So, that is what you're going to be seeing today. I think I like the first one the most. Little color but a lot of contrast and when viewed on large, the unusual detail is worth the time to look. The second here is warmer in tones...........again, a little more interesting than just a photograph of a couple of trees.

Today Norm needed to have a blood test so we ate breakfast out.......more food than we needed, that's for sure! On the way home Norm, who really hates to walk, was lamenting that he just HAS to do it today. I suggested walking the Heads trail instead. He's never been there, amazingly enough. I told him that it didn't have a lot of hills to climb and was a fairly flat, well tended trail. Oopps! I just walk when I walk and spend most of my energy looking around and taking in the beauty that surrounds you on all sides up on that trail. I became much more aware of the climbing Norm had to do and it was just a wee bit more than his calves were comfortable with. But it was one of those days where the wind was down, it was fairly warm and absolutely gorgeous views were around each and every corner! I did see a whale but first only the spray out of the corner of my eyes......then it looked like it was spyhopping once or twice and down he went. No photo, darn!
Hope everyone's Monday went well and Tuesday is even better. I think it's supposed to be fairly warm tomorrow here on the south coast. Enjoy!