Again, bored with trying to take a normal picture, I decided to play around a bit. I wanted a picture with some "action" in it and tried to get some shots of tree branches blowing in the wind using the tripod. I wasn't really happy with any of those so I started walking around the yard taking pictures and moving the camera around. This is the result. I like it, it's got a neat texture and I like the colors a lot too.
I mean the weather. I wish I had a thermometer in my room. With no AC, I'm pretty sure my classroom was almost 100 degrees today. That would explain why all the kids were quiet and working. None of them wanted to expend any unnecessary energy. The forecast had better be right, tomorrow needs to be cooler. I can't take being stuck in my classroom on another day like today.
I was feeling a little bored with my pictures over the last few days so I decided to play around a bit. I usually see this style referred to as selective color black and white. It gives an interesting look to the picture and you can really make the focus of your shot pop out. I think it's interesting at least, but not something I'll do over and over. Heidi doesn't like it too much as it reminds her of the weird prints of kids dressed like adults, see here.
We drove down to Silver Falls State Park today. Growing up we use to camp there a lot. But, it's been years since I've been there and Gabe's never been. Jen and Craig came with us too and they had never been. (Although, Jen's mom says Jen's been there, she just doesn't remember it!) It's a great place for a day hike. The complete loop is almost 9 miles and it takes you by 10 waterfalls.
That's what they claim anyway. This afternoon we went down to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. It's an entire city block of plants, buildings and a "lake" in a Ming style garden. Heidi had never been, and I hadn't been since they opened a few years ago. I guess their motto is true, it definitely was different since I was last there. The plants have grown in nicely. Heidi and I had tea in the teahouse, which was nice. I don't ever really drink tea, usually only when I'm sick. I'm more of a black coffee kind of guy.
Thursday morning when I left the house, I saw 3 nice fresh mounds of dirt in the grass. For a second I thought they were something else, and I didn't think we had any dogs in our neighborhood who were big enough to leave those kid of surprises. When I woke up enough to figure out what they were, I knew we were in trouble. Then yesterday there was another on the opposite side of the yard. The mole is back!
My dad and Joanne were up in Portland this evening getting ready to fly to Mexico in the morning. We picked them up at a hotel near the airport and went to dinner. We chose McMenamins Edgefield since it was a beautiful evening. Having a couple drinks and some good dinner out on their patio sounded perfect. In typical McMenamins fashion, it took forever, but the greyhound's (drinks) were perfect, especially with the cajun tots.
Sorry to those of you who are vegetarians...but I really had no energy to take a picture today. It was everything I could do to take a shot of what I was about to put in my mouth.
Too bad we didn't have macaroni for dinner. I wandered into the back yard to check and see how things were looking and to see if anything needed watering. I noticed this feather laying in the grass and thought the contrast of the grey and white was interesting against the green of the grass. I can't believe I'm skipping Lost to blog this right now, but Heidi and I are tired and headed to bed. I had to get my post done for the night, the last half of Lost can wait till tomorrow.
Jupiter always gets CRAZY when Gabe gets home. He must be thinking "Oh, boy...he's finally home! Someone who will play with me." I don't like getting attacked and bitten, so I don't really "play" with Jupiter. I'm more of a nurturer.
To some people, they might be as understandable as hieroglyphics, but to rally people, these are plain English. These are Jemba style stage notes that describe every corner, bump and hill on a stage. As a codriver I am literally reading these continuously to the driver so he can know where to go. Paying attention to where we are on the road so I know I'm in the right spot in the book is a challenge, but a rewarding one. The more in sync the driver and I are, the faster we go. The book on the bottom is the instructions I use to tell the driver where to go to get to the next stage, usually over public roads. As you can see, they get abused and dirty. As Heidi mentioned, we got second place in our class on Saturday and won our class on Sunday. Not a bad result if you ask me.
Just playing around today. I made monster cookies yesterday and had some leftover M&Ms. They make a colorful, and tasty, subject.
The warm weather this week almost destroyed my salad box. I didn't have any dirt so I couldn't plant my lettuce when we finished building the box. And when I looked at the lettuce Thursday evening I was afraid I might have lost it all. So, I gave it a good drink and then just decided to hope for the best since I couldn't plant them Thursday...still no dirt.
Jupiter and me. This is me waiting for Gabe to call this evening. I felt like I was in high school again...waiting for that boy I really like to call me. No, I didn't check to make sure the phone was working. Yes, I may have been tempted a few times.
I decided to share a photo of the iris now that it's in bloom. Iris are one of my least favorite flowers but I actually do like this one. Gabe got the bud last week...here it is in bloom. I couldn't figure out how to get a good picture so I just decided to lay down in the grass. The cherry tree the iris is next to looks better. Oh well.
Heidi found a fun project in Sunset Magazine earlier this year that she really wanted to try out. It was what they called a "salad box", basically a planter box that you plant your lettuce in. We liked the idea of not having the lettuce in our raised bed garden area because it takes up so much room. Hopefully it will also cut down on the lettuce that we lose to slugs too. I got all the pieces cut and then Heidi helped with the assembly. It turned out really well, you'll probably get to see it once it's all planted up.
Jupiter and I were patiently waiting for Heidi to get home this evening. I was sitting on the front porch with my finger on the shutter release and Jupiter was in the window on the lookout. We had a few false alarms, just other cars driving by, but finally she got home. Jupiter knew it too, he meowed as soon as she drove up.
We have "the Best Moms in the World!"
Today we went downtown after coffee and a quick breakfast. We were down at the PSU campus (my alma mater) at the Portland Farmers Market. We were shopping for things for our Mother's Day meals and plants for the garden. We're making a brunch for my mom and then dinner for Heidi's family, should be a busy day. For most of the time there I couldn't even get out the camera since my hands were full of plants. I managed to get a few after we took the first load to the car. I really like the farmers market, but why does everyone in Portland have to bring their dog and a stroller? Are we the only ones with neither? At least, we have a Subaru though...
Or should I say shoes!
It seems like everyday lately when I walk into the back yard something else has sprouted or is about to bloom. Today it was the iris. This is a particularly neat one because it's scented, or it's supposed to be. I've had the plant for years but it never had a chance to actually grow and bloom. At the old house, it never really made it in the ground. Good thing they are so tough.
I rushed home from work. The book I have checked out from the library is due today and I'm only half-way through it. So, I wanted to get out in the sunshine to try and finish it up. I didn't make it. Guess I'll be paying a late fee.
Finally! Us girls got to play some tennis. It was the perfect evening. Almost a little warm if you can believe it!
As you saw yesterday we got a new tree for the back yard. It's a ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga' which is a male variety of the tree. The female trees produce a seed that has a fleshy covering that smells like rancid butter when they fall off the tree. I've always really like the tree knowing that it has been around since prehistoric times. The leaves are a unique fan shape that turn an amazing gold color in the fall. They are also neat in that they are generally not bothered by any insects or diseases. If you want to read up more click here.
That's the best way to describe Gabe when we're shopping for plants. We went to the Clackamas County Spring Garden Fair this morning. Our list included veggies and herbs, and maybe a Japanese Maple. We came home with some of that and more, of course. The prices for plants were unbelievable. Gabe ended up getting a Ginkgo tree (his favorite) instead of the maple. It was only $25! We were a overwhelmed when we first got there because there were sooo many plants. But, we'll be back next year.
I had gone outside with the camera this afternoon to see if I could get some neat reflections from the sunset we were having when I noticed them. The ants, little annoying sugar ants. There was a trail of them from our walkway, up the front stairs and then over to the corner of the porch where they were headed to the basement. I'm not sure why they were moving, but they were carrying their larvae, so it was a big move. I took pictures until I was grossed out by them, remembering them trying to move into our kitchen a month ago, then I got the Raid.
During "laser play time" tonight Jupiter was hiding from the laser behind our bromeliad. When he pounced, guess what happened to the plant...
I've seen lots of cool shots of water drops either coming out of the faucet or splashing in a glass. I decided tonight to try my hand at one of them. For my first try I think it came out pretty decent, not bad for taking about 30 pictures to get this one keeper. I like how you can see the reflection of the other drops in the big one at the bottom.
I really wanted to play some tennis today. The girls came over to my side of town to hang out but it was too cold, and potentially rainy, for us to play. So, we worked on scrapbooks instead. Don't get me wrong. I love to scrapbook. But, I'm ready to put my winter hobbies and crafts away. Oh well, there's always next week.
