Lynn's Project 365

2012 016/366: Knowledge is Power

2012-01-29T21:47:00.001-05:00

Day 016

27 JAN 2012

Day 16 brought a conference with my son's teachers that, although I heard nothing surprising, still left me in tears. My son has Nonverbal Learning Disorder. Because it's not well known, most people have no clue how to deal kids like my son. And despite the warnings and information I give his teachers at the beginning of every school year, I always get called in and asked for suggestions of how to deal with him.

It's beyond frustrating.

This is one of the books I've had since we first got his diagnosis. I haven't read it in a while. After that conference, I decided to pull it out and read it again. When I'm not studying, of course. Maybe I'll find something that will ease his struggle.

2012 015/366: More Fog

2012-01-29T21:20:00.002-05:00

Day 15

26 JAN 2012

Don't say I didn't warn you! While this particular photo, on the surface, may not appear to be school-related, appearances are deceiving. I was driving to school when I took this photo -- you'll probably see quite a few "on my way to school" photos over the next year, as well.

More fair warning. Just sayin'.

On Day 15, we had more precipitation. And more fog. So much fog, it was hard to see the new overpass currently under construction until I was almost right under it. Scary, that.

2012 14/366: Up His Sleeve

2012-01-29T20:55:00.001-05:00

Day 14

25 JAN 2012

The photo's slightly out of focus. I know, and for that, I apologize. But it was just so stinkin' cute, I couldn't resist using it!

This is one of our gerbils hanging out in the sleeve of my son's Tae Kwon Do uniform.

2012 013/366: To Learn

2012-01-29T01:28:00.000-05:00

Day 13

24 JAN 2012

Since this project is essentially my documenting every day of my life for a year, I'll be posting a lot of pictures from, of, and about school. Fair warning.

This is the Open Student Lab. Computers are provided, and we're permitted 10 pages of printing per day. Last semester I spent hours in this room at one of those computers. Hours.

I don't see that changing anytime soon.

2012 012/366: Rainy Days and Mondays

2012-01-29T00:51:00.000-05:00

Day 12

23 JAN 2012

First fog, then rain. It's been a very wet few days. Most people complain. Not me; I love the rain. I love the sound. I love the smell. What I don't love is the traffic it creates.

2012 011/366: Down the Road

2012-01-29T00:12:00.000-05:00

Day 11

22 JAN 2012

We've had a lot of foggy days around here lately. It's been warm, particularly for January, but foggy. Usually the fog burns off by mid-morning. Not on Day 11. On Day 11 it was still foggy at one o'clock in the afternoon.

2012 010/366: Puttin' in the Time

2012-01-21T23:08:00.000-05:00

Day 10

21 JAN 2012

The week before the semester started, the Biology Department sent out an e-mail advising new students to re-evaluate their schedules to ensure they would be able to devote the outside-of-class study time necessary for success in Anatomy & Physiology I. According to the e-mail, successful students study at least three hours per day, seven days a week.

Three hours.

That's 21 hours per week on top of school time.

21.

Thank goodness I followed the advisor's advice and only registered for seven credit hours this semester.

Admittedly, I have put in at least that amount of daily study time so far. Without even trying. Including when I took this photo on Day 10.

2012 009/366: Listen to the Rain

2012-01-21T22:35:00.000-05:00

Day 9

20 JAN 2012

It was the rainy night before a rainy Saturday. As my daughter and I came out of the grocery store and I pulled my hood up to protect my hair from the rain, I marveled at how much, when viewed against the parking lot lights, the rain resembled snow.

Wow, that was one helluva sentence! Let me try that again.

My daughter and I were at the store. We came outside. It was raining. It reminded me of snow. I took a picture.

The rain doesn't look like snow in the picture. Disappointing, that. I like it, anyway.

2012 008/366: Last First

2012-01-20T22:11:00.000-05:00

Day 8

19 JAN 2012

Day 8 was the last day of my first week of my second semester of college. It was also my first day in Anatomy & Physiology I Lab. I arrived early and grabbed a quick shot before the room filled up. Later during orientation, the lab coordinator told us we weren't allowed to take photographs of the models for study. She said they were copyrighted, and they didn't know where the photos would end up. For that reason, there's an obscured blob in the center of the photo. It's a torso model. I wanted to include the photo, but I didn't want to get in trouble with my school.

So...this is one of the labs I'll be spending my semester in. There's a lab table in the foreground, an eye wash station in the background, and a blob in the center.

2012 007/366: New Home

2012-01-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

Day 7

18 JAN 2012

I'm in my second semester of college, and the week of Day 7 was my first week of second semester. Day 7 was a first, as well -- my first day of Anatomy & Physiology. Pictured is the new Life Sciences building at my school. It's the building that will essentially be my home for the next three years. I say it'll be my home because even when I'm not in class, chances are I will be in this building, either studying the medical models in Open Lab or hitting the books in the natural light of the beautiful lobby.

You may have noticed I said three years. That's A&P I this semester, A&P II over the summer, Microbiology in the Fall, and after that, I WILL be in the ADN program. I'm being optimistic, and not allowing for failure.

I WILL.

2012 006/366: Wrestling Practice

2012-01-20T20:33:00.000-05:00

Day 6

17 JAN 2012

While sitting at my son's wrestling practice, I put the camera on a flat surface, set a low ISO, a long shutter speed, and got this cool photo.

2012 005/366: Gimme

2012-01-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

Day 5

16 JAN 2012

My son was sitting on the couch eating some chicken. Our dog wanted him to share. He wanted it so badly, he stared at him intently while resting his head on my son's leg.

He didn't get any.

2012 004/366: When isn't it?

2012-01-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

Day 4

15 JAN 2012

An all-too-familiar sight for me these days. Atmospherically enhanced by the CrimeScene filter in VirtualPhotographer and a little masking in Photoshop.

2012 003/366: Taking it to the Cleaner's

2012-01-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

Day 3

14 JAN 2012

Doing business at our favorite neighborhood dry cleaner.

2012 002/366: Defrost Me

2012-01-13T16:41:00.001-05:00

Day 2

13 JAN 2012

Our local temperatures plummeted overnight, and we awoke to a cold house. My husband built a fire in the fireplace to warm me up.

It worked. I'm a Lynncicle no more.

As a bonus, here's an extra photo I found on my camera. An outtake. I don't know what it was supposed to be; I don't even remember taking it. I find it somewhat mesmerizing.

2012 001/366: $341.85

2012-01-13T08:27:00.002-05:00

Day 001

12 JAN 2012

Sucker for punishment and failure that I am, I've decided to take another run at Project 365. I let it fall by the wayside last year and blamed my being overwhelmed preparing to start school. I don't know what makes me think I'll succeed this year; I'm about to start my second semester at school, and this promises to be a tough semester. Let's just say I'm hoping to find some downtime and relaxation in photography and leave it there, shall we?

Of course, my first Project 365 photo is school-related. On Day 1, my financial aid allowance for books became available in the bookstore, so I drove right in to take care of the books I knew I'd need. Pictured are my books for Anatomy & Physiology I and Lab. It's a small pile, but quite heavy. And it cost me $341.85, including tax.

2011: 58/365 Shape Up

2011-04-15T23:09:00.000-04:00

30 MAR 2011

Last time my wonderful mother came to visit, she bought me a pair of Skechers Shape-Ups. Since I want that toned butt and less weight, I've taken to wearing them quite frequently. This is a close-up of one of them. I'm surprised by how much I like this photo.

2011: 57/365 Yum

2011-04-15T22:44:00.001-04:00

29 MAR 2011

A bad cell phone photo of my dinner on Day 57. This is another family favorite: Penne Sausage Bake. When I want something yummy that's quick to put together and make, this is one of the recipes I go for.

2011: 56/365 Flaky

2011-04-15T22:36:00.000-04:00

28 MAR 2011

I love trying new recipes. Not because I enjoy cooking, but because I love eating. New flavors. I love finding and cooking a dish that becomes a brand new family favorite. On Day 56, I made a chicken recipe that called for a crushed corn flake coating. It was my first time to cook with corn flakes.

That recipe is now a family favorite. Yum.

2011: 54/365 Neptune Blue

2011-04-15T22:25:00.002-04:00

26 MAR 2011

We were at the local Y for my son's Webelos den meeting. In the corner of the room, atop some cheap white plastic shelving, were a couple of shoebox dioramas. Remember those? Waaaaaay back in the old days we'd take a little glue, some styrofoam, and a couple popsicle sticks and built scenes from the Old West. Or Amish Country. Or the solar system.

These were dioramas of the solar system. A couple of the boys studied them and one nonchalantly answered a question another asked by saying, "Pluto's not a planet."

It still makes me sad that Pluto's no longer considered a planet. Maybe it's because of my affection for the little guy. Not Pluto in particular, but the general Little Guy. The underdog. In this case, Pluto.

Anyway, this photo is Neptune from one of those dioramas. Not very exciting, but a nice shade of blue.

2011: 51/365 Bumpity Bump Bump

2011-04-15T22:15:00.000-04:00

23 MAR 2011

More clouds. At least they're cool-looking clouds. They look like you'd go bump bump bump if you tried to drive across them.

2011: 50/365 Alone

2011-04-15T21:55:00.002-04:00

22 MAR 2011

I had wanted to get a picture of the last leaf on the tree in my front yard. I jumped the gun on it—got tired of waiting. Instead, I tried to take a picture with a single leaf in it. I was almost able to isolate one. If you would, just ignore that other leaf in the background.

Less than a week later, all the leaves were gone. And now just a couple weeks after that, the entire tree is covered in brand new leaves. Funny how quickly these things happen.

2011: 49/365 Studious?

2011-04-15T16:01:00.000-04:00

21 MAR 2011

When I took this photo, I didn't intend to use it as a Project 365 photo. In fact, I didn't even plan to keep it. I just wanted to see what I looked like in my reading glasses! But when I uploaded the pictures from my camera, there it was. And it was the only picture I took on that day. Sooo....Project 365 shot by default.

It wasn't the best photo of me, so I used one of the Virtual Photographer filters to help me out a little.

2011: 47/365 Doodie Duty

2011-04-15T15:47:00.001-04:00

19 MAR 2011

My son's Webelos den went fishing at a nearby state park. As I pulled in, I saw this sign at the edge of the parking lot. It made me giggle, and I knew it would have to be my Project 365 photo for the day.

It still makes me laugh. It's your doodie. :-D

2011: 46/2011 Renovations

2011-04-15T15:25:00.000-04:00

18 MAR 2011

This is the old courthouse in my county. A few years back, a new courthouse was built across town, and everything moved over there. I could be wrong, but I think only the sheriff's department remains in this building. Because (I assume) of the historical significance of the building, the county is working on long-neglected and desperately needed renovations to bring this beautiful old building back to her former glory. They've already done a bit of work, but it still has a long way to go. I hope they continue; I love the classic appearance of this old building.

2011: 45/365 Spiral

2011-04-15T14:16:00.000-04:00

17 MAR 2011

More school stuff. Yes, I know it's boring already. I needed a picture and the notebook was there. With its pencil buddy. And unlike my children, they actually wanted to be photographed.

I obliged.

2011: 43/365 Wet

2011-04-12T22:29:00.001-04:00

15 MAR 2011

I love the rain. I love listening to it. I love watching it. I love playing in it. I love taking pictures of it. I love jumping into the puddles it leaves behind. Which probably explains why my husband won't walk near me when there are puddles on the ground. He's no fun.

2011: 41/365 Snout

2011-04-12T22:17:00.000-04:00

13 MAR 2011

My big old dog was sleeping, so I took a picture of his snout. I only got a few shots—snout, paws, ears—before he woke up. For some reason, he didn't want anything to do with the camera.

Silly doggie.

2011: 40/365 Pretty/Infuriating

2011-04-12T22:07:00.000-04:00

12 MAR 2011

They seemed to pop up out of the blue. One day, our backyard was brown and forlorn. The next day, it was covered in a sea of purple flowers. I thought they were pretty until I realized they were a weed. My husband thought chickweed, but I just did some research, and it turns out it's henbit.

Regardless of what it is, it doesn't belong in my backyard.

2011: 39/365 Foot

2011-04-12T21:51:00.002-04:00

11 MAR 2011

An uninspired photo for an uninspired day. It's my foot. At least I left my sock on.

2011: 37/365 ARGH!

2011-04-12T21:45:00.001-04:00

09 MAR 2011

Yes, more school stuff. From the book I'm using to brush up on math. Word problems are the bane of my existence. They're the bane of many people's existences. Like the books says: nemesis. No matter how you slice it or what descriptive word/phrase you use, they drive me nuts.

2011: 36/365 College

2011-04-12T21:28:00.001-04:00

08 MAR 2011

A couple of my previous Project 365 shots had to do with my intent to go to college in the fall. This one does, too. It's the 100 building (where recruitment, the registrar, and financial aid are) of one of the schools I'm considering. I had just dropped off my application. Exciting, no?

2011: 35/365 Purple in the Morning

2011-04-12T21:20:00.000-04:00

07 MAR 2011

When I opened the door to send my son outside to meet the school bus, this is the view greeting me. Of course, I ran and got my camera. I just love purple in the morning.

2011: 33/365 Ahem...Colorful

2011-04-11T16:19:00.000-04:00

05 MAR 2011

I was cooking. It's been long enough that I no longer remember what I was cooking, but I'm sure this was a mixture for a sauce. I thought the colors looked interesting together. My husband didn't agree at the time, but later he thought it tasted good.

2011: 32/365 Sharp

2011-04-11T16:06:00.000-04:00

04 MAR 2011

Until I take that placement exam, my life is pretty much studying. Math and studying. My book, notebook, pencil and sharpener have become close friends. This is my sharpener. He doesn't have a name, but as you can see, he thinks It's Academic.

I agree.

2011: 30/365 Math

2011-04-11T15:49:00.000-04:00

02 MAR 2011

Once I finished elementary school, I wasn't a big fan of math. Nowadays, as long as I understand it, I'm good. For Day 29 I posted a photo of my study books. For Day 30, it's my study notebook. See? I'm working hard.

2011: 29/365 Study Time

2011-04-11T15:25:00.000-04:00

01 MAR 2011

These days, studying for the COMPASS exam takes up a lot of my time. I've forgotten a lot of Algebra (as in almost all of it) in the years since I graduated high school. So I bought a book to help my brush up. It's become my nearly constant companion.

2011: 28/365 Otherworldly

2011-04-11T15:00:00.001-04:00

28 FEB 2011

Have I mentioned my fascination with clouds? Yup. Fascination. I has it. I got this photo while waiting for my daughter in front of her school. It was a stormy day, but we finally had a break in the rain. The clouds were still so very angry, and I took a number of photos. This one was the coolest. It almost looks like the landscape from another world, doesn't it?

2011: 27/365 No Longer an S

2011-04-11T11:38:00.000-04:00

27 FEB 2011

Two years ago, this same spot looked like this:

I used this photo for my post on Day 14 of 2009. A couple days before Day 27 2011, my daughter and I saw the trucks and workers taking the letters down from the old storefront. The forlorn no-longer-an-s that you see at the top of this post is what it looks like today. Isn't it sad?

2011: 26/365 Derby Day!

2011-04-11T11:22:00.001-04:00

26 FEB 2011

It's Pinewood Derby day for my son's cub scout pack! This is my son's car, which he and his father built together. He had another car that he made all by himself, but this was the one he wanted to use in the race. It got him 2nd place! He was one proud little cub scout.

2011: 25/365 Landscape

2011-04-11T11:15:00.001-04:00

25 FEB 2011

There are a few things I'm a sucker for when I have a camera in my hand. Sunsets. Cute animals. Clouds. Landscapes. From Day 25, I have a handful of photos of the clouds that caught my eye. But it was this picture, the one that included a pretty landscape, that worked the best.

I don't know who lives in that house back there, but I do envy the setting they have.

2011: 24/365 Dinner's in the Crockpot

2011-04-11T11:07:00.000-04:00

24 FEB 2011

It's one of my go-to meals. It's quick to put together, cheap, and my kids eat it up.

2011: 23/365 Statement of the Economy

2011-04-11T10:59:00.002-04:00

23 FEB 2011

On my way home from buying study aids at the bookstore, I passed through a small town not far from my own. This Mexican restaurant caught my eye, and I stopped to take a picture. I couldn't help but think about how we're constantly being told we're coming out of the recession, yet here sits this empty restaurant with the sad sign, still closed because of the recession.

Funny story: I took two pictures of the restaurant before I was approached by a sheriff's deputy. He asked if I was okay, and I told him I was taking photos for a project. I told him I thought the restaurant made an interesting subject. He walked away muttering something about interesting, so I skeedaddled out of there quick as I could.

Okay, so maybe the story wasn't so funny. I still wonder what that lawman thought I was doing.

2011: 22/365 Corn Pile

2011-04-11T10:50:00.000-04:00

22 FEB 2011

While my husband and I were at our local Wal-Mart, I spotted this pile of deer corn bags. Repetitive things tend to catch my eye, and I thought this pile stacked with everything in the same direction would make an interesting photo.

It looked better in my head.

2011: 21/365 Sucker

2011-04-11T10:35:00.000-04:00

21 FEB 2011

The post title doesn't refer to the photo so much as it refers to me. I'm a sucker for a gorgeous sunset. And if I have a camera nearby when I see a gorgeous sunset, you can bet your biscuits I'll be taking photos of it. I saw this one when I came out of the grocery store.

2011: 20/365 Sugar Rush

2011-04-10T22:08:00.000-04:00

20 FEB 2011

My daughter's friend celebrated her 16th birthday on Day 20. My daughter, my son and I enjoyed the privilege of joining the festivities. After pizza, we all went to the park where the kids beat the snot out of a piñata then played games.

Yes, this group of 15 and 16-year-olds played with a piñata then ran screaming through the park. What fun!

Pictured here is the piñata snot—er—candy.

2011: 19/365 Arbor Day

2011-03-02T09:35:00.000-05:00

19 FEB 2011

On Day 19, our local state park celebrated Arbor Day, and my son's Cub Scout pack celebrated with them, planting trees. A lot of local groups -- not just the Cub Scouts -- showed up to help out. In fact, a park official told us they had more people show up this year than they expected, so the park did a little scrambling for extra trees and mulch. But they came through in the end.

Our Webelos den dug a hole, put the tree into the hole, filled the hole, and finally, covered the ground around the newly planted tree with mulch. Since only two of our boys remembered to bring shovels, there was a little bit of arguing. 9-11 year old boys don't always share well.

After planting the trees, we worked on our cars for the Pinewood Derby, ate a picnic lunch, and shot off model rockets. It was boy nirvana!

2011: 18/365 Turn Left

2011-02-22T23:12:00.000-05:00

18 FEB 2011

I don't know why I like to whip my camera out and take photos when I'm stopped at traffic lights. Maybe it's because the scenery is different from that at my home or my kids' Tae Kwon Do class. Maybe it's because the potential subjects are ever-changing. Or maybe it's just the challenge and thrill of getting the shot before the light changes.

Regardless of why I pull my camera out at intersections, this is a photo of exactly that. Traffic signs against the sky. Simple.

2011: 17/365 Letterman

2011-02-22T22:32:00.000-05:00

17 FEB 2011

When I first started processing this picture, I wanted it in color. I wanted to see the rich, deep red of the patch against the black leather of the sleeve. Until my daughter pointed out that in the photo, the rich, deep red of the patch wasn't a rich, deep red. It was orange.

Orange.

For some reason, I couldn't correct the color. Even worse, my daughter's hair looked green. I don't know what happened, but nothing worked. Luckily, there's always a fallback.

Black & white.

Orange patch -- gone. Green hair -- fixed. And it all looks good.

2011: 16/365 Lines & Curves

2011-02-22T15:26:00.001-05:00

16 FEB 2011

Lines and curves. That's what this photo is all about for me. Lines and curves. I was leaving the pet store when the bench up against the outside wall screamed, "Look! Look at me! I'm all liney and curvey!"

It wasn't the first time I'd seen the bench. It's been there forever, sitting right in front of my favorite parking spot (yes, I have a favorite parking spot at the pet store). But it had never called to me before. Had never screamed for my attention. In the past, it had simply been a bench up against the wall.

On Day 16, it was Lines and Curves.

2011: 15/365 Iced Oatmeal

2011-02-22T09:46:00.001-05:00

15 FEB 2011

Here's another close-up photo shot with the lens wide open. My evening snack on Day 15. The cookies I shouldn't have eaten but did. Gleefully.

Methinks I need to pull back and start taking more wide angle shots.

2011: 14/365 White

2011-02-22T08:57:00.004-05:00

14 FEB 2011

I know this picture isn't very valentiney, but I really didn't want to take yet another heart-themed photo on Valentine's Day. Besides, I had lots of fun taking this photo. I also had lots of fun processing it.

There'd been a lamp sitting on my counter for a week -- since we brought it home from the rental house. It had been on a timer there to keep the house from looking empty. Anyway, it was sitting on my counter, and it was naked. Naked meaning the shade was sitting on the counter next to it. The shape of the bulb, the curves, even the color caught my eye on Day 14, and I decided to see what kind of photos I could get.

I started where it sat on the kitchen counter, but I was unhappy with the result. Then I remembered the sheer curtains covering my workout room windows. Perfect! White background, filtered natural light...I grabbed the lamp and headed to the window.

The first shots in the workout room were still disappointing -- too many shadows. I wanted maximum white for this photo. I tried a few different angles, but when I physically held the sheer behind the light bulb, that's when everything came together.

Once I had the shot I wanted, I pulled it into Photoshop. Most of the things I tried brought the shadows up and put too much gray into the photo. Even my attempts to lift the shadows introduced too much gray for my taste. So I reduced noise, did a little light sharpening, and tried converting it to black & white. No go. Still too much gray. I added some brightness and brought the photo into Virtual Photographer. That's when I struck gold. The Dreamy filter almost gave me what I was looking for. I applied the filter, dropped the opacity to 68%, and voilà! The photo I wanted.

I had my A-Team moment: I love it when a plan comes together.

2011: 13/365 Sock it to Me

2011-02-21T23:18:00.001-05:00

13 FEB 2011

Yes, the title's trite. Then again, so is the picture. It's another one of those failed experiments that had better results in my head. But the title, oh that title. I was having a Laugh-In moment as I looked at the picture, so naturally, that's the title that came to me.

Even though I'm too young to remember Laugh-In. Much, much, much too young. ;-)

I present to you my laundry basket after finishing a load of whites. Maybe I should clarify: after I finished washing a load of whites. The laundry basket isn't capable of doing that on its own, no matter how much I beg.

2011: 12/365 Work Never Stops

2011-02-14T10:25:00.001-05:00

12 FEB 2011

The tenants have moved into the house, but the work continues. We did finish the interior...obviously. And it came out beautifully if I say so myself. But we still have the exterior to go.

We got it started this weekend. My husband is replacing some old and damaged siding. Before long, we'll be painting. Will it ever end?

Anyway, meet the nails. They'll soon be part of the house.

2011: 11/365 Faux

2011-02-14T08:58:00.001-05:00

11 FEB 2011

Day 11 was my birthday, and my original intention was to take and post a birthday-related photo. When a different opportunity presented itself, I abandoned that idea altogether. I should probably add that abandonment of the birthday idea wasn't a disappointment. These days, I still have a love-hate relationship with my birthday, though it's not as bad as it was a few years back. But I digress.

Whenever we go to the Home Depot/Target/Petsmart side of town, we always pass this little abandoned building. I've wanted to photograph it for quite some time, but have never had the opportunity. Until Day 11.

It wasn't a great photographic opportunity. It wasn't like traffic magically lightened and allowed me to park and get out of my vehicle to carefully plan and execute the photo. Oh, no. That would make things too easy. What I got was a red light that put us next to the building while I was in the passenger seat of the car. When that happened, as quickly as I could, I opened the window, pointed the camera, and got a couple shots off. I only had time for two shots before traffic began to move again.

One of these days I'll find a way to stop over there, dodge traffic like a game of Frogger, and get a real photo session with that building.

When I looked at the photo, my first instinct was to convert it to black and white. I mean, doesn't it just scream old-timey black and white photo? But since my plan with Project 365 has always been to expand my horizons, I decided to go outside my comfort zone. The result you see is an attempt at faux HDR processing using Photoshop CS3 (hence, the post title).

I say faux because the process wasn't done with bracketed photos -- heck, it wasn't even done with RAW photos. I took a JPEG file, manipulated it three times in ACR, then used those files to follow the tutorial I found here.

I'm not entirely happy with the result; I still think it would have looked better in black & white. I may reprocess just to see. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the tutorial, which was easy to follow. I blame myself. But...good or bad, right or wrong, I'm posting it here for all to see.

2011: 10/365 Snowy Morning Sun

2011-02-14T00:07:00.001-05:00

10 FEB 2011

Atlanta has seen a lot of snow this winter -- more than we've seen in recent years. Most people seem to hate it; not me. I'm like a kid again when it snows.

When I know the snow is coming, I find myself watching out the window for it. And when it does arrive, I can't hold back. I'm outside, staring at the sky. Enjoying the snow in my hair. Loving the way it covers my yard. It's exciting.

This snow didn't keep the kids out of school like the prior one did. It stuck to the trees, the yard, my car... It left the roads alone -- for the most part.

These are the trees across the street from my house. The snow coating the branches made them look magical. The morning sun lighting the treetops added to the Wonderland quality.

2011: 9/365 Baby Plarn

2011-02-13T23:14:00.001-05:00

09 FEB 2011

This was a much more interesting photo in my head. I just wanted to say that up front.

After the success of my first recycled grocery bag bag (see Day 3), I thought it'd be fun to make another. I haven't started on the crochet portion yet, I'm still making more plarn. Hence, this photo.

Plarn, in case you're wondering, is made by folding plastic grocery bags and cutting them into strips, then tying those strips together. Pictured here is the inside of my strip box, my plarn after it's cut into strips and before it's tied together and crocheted.

2011: 8/365 Down the Drain

2011-02-13T22:51:00.001-05:00

07 FEB 2011

We were still working on our rental house. In fact, work would continue on the interior through the week until our new tenants moved in on the weekend. This is the drain basket in the sink. Not as clean as I'd like, especially since it's brand new. Water spots tend to happen when you use a sink, though.

2011: 7/365 Steam

2011-02-07T23:26:00.001-05:00

07 FEB 2011

I'm still working on the rental house; the deadline is quickly approaching. Today was shampoo the carpets day. Well, the carpet. Specifically the living room. Not only will I have to go back and do it again (those carpets were really dirty!), but I need to do a couple of the bedrooms, too.

It's become obvious to me I don't do that steam cleaning thing enough. My left arm is killing me (I'm left-handed). Hey, that water is heavy!

I'll be popping a couple ibuprofen and heading back to do it all again tomorrow.

2011: 6/365 Perspective

2011-02-06T22:26:00.002-05:00

06 FEB 2011

We've been working hard on our rental house, trying to bring it back to inhabitable condition. It seems like we've been working forever, and our bank account would agree. But there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel, and after sitting empty way too long, the house will finally see new renters move in next week.

For me, that's news worthy of happy butt wiggles AND the happy-happy-joy-joy dance.

We spent Day 6 working on the exterior. While SoundGuy pressure-washed out back, MiniMe and I were slapping a new coat of bright white paint on the front porch. And, it seems, on my jacket, as well. But I digress.

This is the handrail for the front steps. That's the front door in the background. And that red thing in the center of the frame? I have no idea. And I don't care. Somebody's finally renting the house!

2011: 5/365 Hot & Sticky

2011-02-06T21:52:00.000-05:00

05 FEB 2011

My daughter's a sophomore in high school, which means almost everybody she knows will turn sixteen this year. On Day 5, one of her friends was throwing a Sweet Sixteen Masquerade Party. After a trip to Wal-Mart for supplies, MiniMe sat down at the kitchen table with bags of feathers, sequins, jewelry findings and this hot glue gun to build herself a mask.

Her result (yes, I did get pictures) is very reminiscent of a Mardi Gras mask. Just beautiful.

2011: 4/365 Take Two & Call Me in the A.M.

2011-02-04T23:32:00.000-05:00

04 FEB 2011

We have two dogs, affectionately known on my blog & Facebook wall as OldDog and LittleDog. OldDog is fourteen years old, and a much-loved member of the family. LittleDog is just as loved, but OldDog is the subject of this post.

OldDog has always been very healthy until recently. His latest ailment included itchiness and hair loss. Pictured here is the medication the vet prescribed. One and a half pills a day. He's not itchy anymore and his hair is growing back, but he's losing weight.

He's happier, though, and that's what matters.

2009: 340/365 Ain't Easy Being Green

2011-02-04T18:06:00.001-05:00

06 DEC 2009

I must have been short on inspiration in December 2009, because the photos I had to choose from on that day were... Well, they were less than inspiring. This is the garland, the fake stuff, that I wrap around the railing on my front porch every Christmas.

2011: 3/365 How Creative!

2011-02-03T23:20:00.001-05:00

03 FEB 2011

One of my favorite ways to pass time (besides photography, of course) is crochet. A few weeks back, I came across an interesting pattern on the internet, so of course, I had to try it out. It's a grocery bag crocheted entirely from grocery bags!

You cut grocery bags into strips, tie them together, then crochet. And on Day 3, I finished my first bag. Yes, I said first, because I'm definitely making more. It turned out so much better than I expected. It doesn't look like it's made of grocery bags. It doesn't feel like it's made of grocery bags. And it gives me something more to do with my grocery bags than taking them for recycling.

This picture is a closeup of the bag I made. Cool, right? I thought so.

If you're crafty and interested in the free pattern, you can find it here: The Ultimate Grocery Bag pattern.

2009: 339/365 Main Street Celebration

2011-02-03T22:16:00.001-05:00

05 DEC 2009

My daughter marches in her high school marching band, and one of the events they march in every year is the local Christmas parade. It was hard for me to take pictures that day; the weather was overcast and freezing. The overcast made it tough to get clear, focused photos, and the freezing temps kept killing my camera batteries. The people around me became quite amused watching me trying to warm my camera. And there were a lot of people around me. In our small town, the Christmas parade is a huge event that packs the streets of our downtown district every year.

This photo was about fourth or fifth in the series of photos I took as the band marched past me.

I converted the picture to black & white in Photoshop, then added Virtual Photographer's Bygone Era filter and a grunge texture to age the photo. I love the way it turned out.

2009: 338/365 Granite Hotel

2011-02-03T11:25:00.001-05:00

04 DEC 2009

I had originally taken this photo while sitting at a red light to show the festive decorations of my town's downtown district. But as I went through the pictures, I ended up choosing this one for an entirely different reason.

That building there in the foreground on the left is known around these parts as the Old Granite Hotel, and has been the subject of controversy over the last few years. It all started (as far as I can tell) when plans were made to demolish the old building, which is admittedly falling apart inside and entirely unsafe, and put in some much needed parking.

So what's the problem?

The building has historical significance. It was originally built (according to reports) in 1899 from granite quarried locally. The only building of its kind. The local historical societies want it preserved.

Different developers have come in with grand plans, but none of it has stuck. Arguments continue pitting history against cost. Of course I'm over-simplifying, but that's the base.

I've been watching the stories, watching the building, because I love the history. I love the significance of the building. But I also understand the viewpoint of the opposition. It'll be interesting to see where this all lands.

2009: 337/365 That's a Wrap

2011-02-02T23:02:00.000-05:00

03 DEC 2009

The length of time between the capture date and processing date of some of these photos has made descriptions quite a challenge. This would be one of those photos. When I was evaluating the pictures I took on day 337, I stared and stared and stared at this one. I rotated it. I zoomed in. I zoomed out. I squinted. I crossed my eyes. And I muttered.

What the hell is that?

It took some time before I finally figured out it's a lamppost wrapped in garland for Christmas. Once I figured that out, I could actually remember taking the picture. Isn't that funny? Not funny ha ha but...

Okay. Leave me alone. It's been a long day.

2009: 336/365 Echo in the Water

2011-02-02T22:35:00.001-05:00

02 DEC 2009

Echo in the Water. Quite the angsty teen title, is it not? I was looking for an alternative to the predictable Reflection, but everything seemed slightly cheesy. Which meant, of course, I had to go for the entire cheese wheel.

About the photo -- clearly it was a rainy day, and I took this shot in the parking lot at my local grocery store. I seem to spend a tremendous amount of time at my local grocery store, so it's only fitting I have photos from there. ANYHOO...as I returned my cart to the cart corral (because I'm a good girl and I always return my cart to the cart corral), I noticed the puddle and the partial reflection there. It looked interesting to me, so I shot it.

Since the only real color in the original shot was a couple brown leaves, I decided to go ahead and convert it to black & white. And since I was already converting it, why not go ahead and overdo it just a tad? Cheese wheel post title, cheese wheel conversion? There's a tremendous amount of contrast in the photo -- helped along by the Virtual Photographer 50's filter -- but that's what I like about it.

We all need a little cheese in our lives.

2011: 2/365 A Little Pinch

2011-02-02T21:33:00.001-05:00

02 FEB 2011

Isn't that what medical personnel always says before they stick you with a needle? Just a little pinch.

This morning, my husband had a test, a procedure, at our local hospital to complete his checkup. He wasn't allowed to drive afterward, so I went with him. Not only as his chauffeur, but as his moral support as well. Turned out he didn't need the support so much; it was all less traumatic than he expected it to be.

Pictured here is the I.V. bag that hung from the back of his hospital bed. Drip, drip, drip. I had hoped the lines of the window blinds (and their dark green color) next to the squishy of the fluid bag would make for an interesting photo. It worked out much better in my head.

Happy ending: my husband was declared healthy after this morning's test.

2009: 335/365 Finger Walking

2011-02-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

01 DEC 2009

Let your fingers do the walking; it's a snap!

Remember that old Yellow Pages commercial? That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this photo. I could be showing my age, though.

Despite what came to mind, this isn't a photo of the Yellow Pages. It is a phone book. And an experiment with depth of field and the macro setting on the camera. Nothing fancy, nothing exciting.

Hm. I guess it was just the yellow banner on the page that made me think of that commercial.

2009: 334/365 Food?

2011-02-02T16:08:00.002-05:00

30 NOV 2009

Here's the first of my catch-up Project 365 posts. This one is from November 2009. It's been long enough since I took the photo I don't remember many details, but I can tell you this. It's a bird. In a parking lot. Probably looking for food amid the trash. On a rainy day.

From the photos I had to choose from, it's apparent to me I was having a bad photo day. This wasn't the best quality of the bunch, but it was the most interesting. Between the overcast day and the distance from the subject, the photo wasn't the clearest, so I tried using a Lomo action to fix it. I kind of like the way it turned out.

2011: 1/365 Winter

2011-02-01T14:39:00.000-05:00

01 FEB 2011

Here we are, a month into 2011. I first tried Project 365 in 2009. A hard drive failure prevented me from posting all my pictures, even though I really did take a photo a day (most days) through the end of the year. I tried again in 2010, but lost interest four months in. Can I go the distance in 2011?

I'm going to try.

My first pictures is called Winter. A large portion of the U.S. is paralyzed by snow and ice. Here in the Southeast, we're expecting rain. Maybe some thunderstorms. While I love the snow, today I consider myself lucky.

As I sit here typing, I can see out my window. It hasn't started raining yet, but it sure looks like it's about to. A blanket of fog covers the ground as far as I can see. There's no fog in my Day 1 photo, though; just a leafless tree of window silhouetted against a cold, cloud-filled sky.

------------------

As soon as I figure out the day numbers, I'll post the Project 365 photos I have (that aren't trapped on the still non-functioning hard drive). In order.

2010: My Clementine

2010-04-15T06:59:00.006-04:00

2010 Day 33

02 FEB 2010

This was my first year to buy those little Clementines when they hit the stores, but it certainly won't be the last. They were kind of expensive, but oh-ehm-gee, were they yummy! We ended up buying three little containers of them before they disappeared.

Pictured here is the orange plastic netting that held those succulent little babies in their tiny wooden crate. Look closer and you'll even see some of the fruit beneath that netting.

2010: Welcome Friends

2010-04-14T22:13:00.003-04:00

2010 Day 32

01 FEB 2010

I forgot to take this welcome sign down when we moved out of the house. So did the next people -- it's still hanging right next to the front door.

Converted to black and white using the Front Page filter in Virtual Photographer.

2010: In a Whole New Light

2010-04-14T20:54:00.004-04:00

2010 Day 31

31 JAN 2010

We were renting our old house to some friends... I'm not going into detail here -- suffice it to say that we are now in the process of a total rehab. What you're looking at here is the dining room light fixture. Since we've always had a table in our dining room, I've never really looked at the fixture from the bottom. But on Day 31, I photographed it that way.

Can you see my reflection?

2010: Is That All?

2010-04-14T19:39:00.004-04:00

2010 Day 30

30 JAN 2010

The weatherman promised snow. We don't get a lot of snow where I live, so when we hear there's even the most remote possibility, we get excited.

I keep saying we here. I probably really mean I.

Anyway, the weatherman promised snow. So with bated breath, I waited. And I waited. And waited. Finally, the first flakes fell. I cheered. My children cheered. My husband made faces at us. But then it stopped.

I took a picture of the post on my front porch to show what our snowstorm amounted to. What a disappointment!

2010: Glowy

2010-04-14T15:38:00.003-04:00

2010 Day 29

29 JAN 2010

I had gone to the local grocery and picked up a bouquet of flowers to brighten my kitchen. Nothing big, certainly not expensive; just a little $5 bouquet of dyed daisies. I thought the green ones were so pretty I decided to try and photograph them. Unfortunately, the flash was blowing the color out and adding very harsh shadows (I hate the pop-up flash on point-n-shoots) so I tried doing it with what little available light I had. Which led to high ISO (1600) and lots of grain. Rather than fighting it, I ran the photo through a softening filter in Photoshop and added a little film grain. It's not my best work, but it'll do.

2010: Moonlit Night

2010-03-15T22:27:00.002-04:00

2010 Day 28

28 JAN 2010

The full moon lit the night sky, and the clouds rolling in front of it made it eerie-cool. Sometimes, even a bad moon picture is hard to resist.

2010: Red Light

2010-03-15T20:46:00.003-04:00

2010 Day 27

27 JAN 2010

Nothing much interesting to say about this photo -- it's one of the taillights on my truck. There are some pretty nice reflections in the lens, though.

2010: Pop Top

2010-02-19T13:11:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 25

25 JAN 2010

"It's Day 25. What should I take a picture of?"
blink , blink
"The day's almost over. What should I shoot for Project 365?"
blink, blink
"Oh, look! A can!"
camera clicks

Converted to black and white with Virtual Photographer.

2010: Cold Front

2010-02-19T10:20:00.006-05:00

2010 Day 24

24 JAN 2010

It seems the sky, clouds, and sunsets have become my fallback shots. When I don't have another Project 365 photo, I always seem to shoot the sky. But it really isn't a fallback -- I wouldn't take so many shots of what's going on in the sky if it didn't all look so cool. And easy to grab a photo of with my cell phone.

I love the hard edge on the clouds. The definite distinction on the weather front is very cool.

2010: Open for Business

2010-02-19T09:24:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 23

23 JAN 2010

Once upon a time, this itty bitty cell phone store was the police department for a small town. Eventually, the police department moved into a large building and this shop took over this tiny building. For some reason, this place has always fascinated me. Maybe because it's so tiny.

I've always wanted to photograph this little place, and I've often tried, but the pictures never came out very well. This time was no exception, but it's the only photo I got for Day 23.

In addition to my normal processing, I converted this photo to black and white using the Linen filter in Virtual Photographer.

2010: Leaving the Light On

2010-02-01T22:12:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 22

22 JAN 2010

I love the lights on my back patio. They have a very Main Street feel to them, and they're dusk-to-dawn lights. That means I don't have to do anything. And they flood my patio with light.

The family and I came home from being out running around, and for some reason, the lights caught my eye. So I took a picture.

2010: An Apple a Day

2010-02-01T12:06:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 21

21 JAN 2010

Day 21's photo is a revisit to the apple bowl on my kitchen counter. I'm trying to get my family to eat more fruit -- what better way than to have it more readily accessible right there on the counter!

I considered calling this photo "Apple Butts" as it seems there are more of those in the picture than anything else, but thought I'd go with a nicer title.

2010: Scooting Along

2010-02-01T09:24:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 20

20 JAN 2010

Soccer season is upon us once again. We haven't hit the actual season yet, but we are in the midst of the ramp-up to tryouts, starting with a couple weeks of conditioning. While sitting in the high school parking lot waiting for my daughter, this scooter was in the parking space directly across from me. I thought it had some pretty cool lines and curves, so I grabbed a few shots.

2010: Saucy!

2010-01-31T12:20:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 19

19 JAN 2010

Another day, another trip to my local grocery store. And look! I'm on the spaghetti aisle!

Seriously, I do love the way stuff is lined up on the grocery store shelves.

2010: Fluffy and Absorbent

2010-01-31T11:35:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 18

18 JAN 2010

My mother gave us towels for Christmas. Bath towels, hand towels, face towels -- towels galore. This wasn't a bad thing; believe me, we needed towels. Especially at the rate my children have been going through them lately.

Even though my children's towels were washed immediately (like I said, they really go through them quickly), I was a little delayed in washing the ones for my bathroom. But they were eventually washed and dried and folded, taking their rightful place in my bathroom in all their purple goodness.

2010: Nomnomnomnom

2010-01-31T11:18:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 17

17 JAN 2010

Ginger the Gerbil nomming some cardboard. Daughter was holding her, and I pulled in as close as I could with the camera.

Isn't she cute?

2010: Playing Innocent

2010-01-26T11:45:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 16

16 JAN 2010

The dogs are always the fallback shot, right? When all else fails, and you can't get a good shot to save your butt, the dog is always there to make things better.

Once again, the older of our two dogs. He's trying to look innocent, but I know better.

Since I've yet to see a really good method for getting rid of glowing animal eye, I chose not to even try on this shot. Sorry if it bothers!

2010: Nooooo!

2010-01-26T10:12:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 15

15 JAN 2010

Not the best of photos, but it's goofy, and I like goofy. This is my daughter wearing one of the t-shirts she got for Christmas. Obviously, the focus is on the t-shirt because: 1)daughter and I were discussing the shirt at the time; and 2)daughter wouldn't have let me take the photo if I was including her face.

When I saw this shirt at our local Wal-Mart, I knew I had to have it for my daughter. Not because she's a huge Star Wars fan, but because I knew it was just odd enough to make her smile.

Not only does it make her smile, but I giggle every time I see her wearing it, too.

2010: It's a Blowout

2010-01-26T09:04:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 14

14 JAN 2010

While at my son's Tae Kwon Do lesson, I looked up and saw the coolest clouds. I took several pictures, and some even came out without the blowout in the clouds on the left side. But blowout aside, this was the best shot. I had part of the parking lot, etc. to ground the photo and more of the sky showing the different types of clouds. The other photos were more tightly framed and didn't show the whole picture.

Please ignore the blown out clouds on the left.

2010: Cornerstone

2010-01-21T00:06:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 13

13 JAN 2010

One of the elementary schools in my county has quite the lengthy history, dating back to 1892. It's even got an historic marker in front of it! Pictured here is the cornerstone of the pedestal holding the marker. Well, one side of it, anyway.

2010: Where Your Treasure Is

2010-01-20T23:27:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 12

12 JAN 2010

A couple years ago, I saw something in a catalog that I've always regretted not purchasing. It was a wall decoration. Vinyl lettering. A quote from The Wizard of Oz. I'd put off buying it, thinking I could go back and pick it up later. But when I went back, it was out of stock. I'd missed out.

My mother and I recently went shopping in my local Hobby Lobby. I was looking for a red flower vase and my mother was looking for a good deal. Anyway, as I wandered the store, I came across an endcap filled with -- yup, you guessed it -- vinyl lettering quotes for wall decoration. And they were on sale!

SCORE!

Of course, they didn't have my Wizard of Oz quote; that would have just been over-the-top coincidental. I went through the containers, reading all the quotes, hoping to find something that suited me. I wanted something about home or family that wasn't too mushy or cliched, and I was surprised to find what I wanted in a Bible quote: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. It's not preachy, and it tells what kind of people my family and I are.

And it's the first thing you see when you walk in my front door.

I like it.

2010: Warm Tootsies

2010-01-19T23:41:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 11

11 JAN 2010

I picked these socks up last month at Vogel State Park in Blairsville, GA because they looked very cute and very warm. On Day 11 we were in the middle of a cold snap -- actually, I think the entire country was in the middle of a cold snap -- and my poor little feet were suffering. I pulled out my cute little socks, and I'm pleased to report they are as warm as they look.

Too bad the photo had to be a horrible on-camera flash photo.

2010: I Am Not Amused

2010-01-19T23:10:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 10

10 JAN 2010

It's another doggie shot!

Our other dog (LittleDog) often moves very slowly in cold weather; we fear he may have arthritis. The kids and I decided to try getting him a couple doggie coats for Christmas to see if they helped him. On Day 10, daughter decided to torture OldDog by putting one of the coats on him.

There's a 5-10 pound difference between the two dogs, and it really showed when OldDog wore LittleDog's coat. In fact, that little coat made OldDog look like a black stuffed sausage. Apparently it made him feel like one, too -- he high-stepped whenever he tried to walk and looked generally uncomfortable.

Once Daughter stopped laughing, she took pity on OldDog and removed the coat. Good thing, because OldDog really wasn't amused at all.

2010: Snoozin' in the Sun

2010-01-19T14:41:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 9

09 JAN 2010

This is the oldest of our two dogs. He thinks he's a person. He and my daughter grew up together, and as far as he's concerned, they're brother and sister.

My daughter loves to drive him crazy. Not long before I took this picture, she was making him sit like a person. He wasn't pleased. He was wiggling and talking, making my daughter torture him even more. Then suddenly he gave up. He laid his head down on her leg and went right to sleep.

From snarling to snoozing in seconds flat.

2010: Big Ol' Letdown

2010-01-19T14:03:00.006-05:00

2010 Day 8

08 JAN 2010

For days, we'd been warned about an impending snowstorm. One to two inches, the forecasters said. Not a whole lot, but enough to have a little fun in. People rushed to the supermarkets, bought bread and milk. I got caught up in it all. No bread or milk, but I did make sure I would be able to prepare at least three days of meals...just in case.

The day arrived, and as the day wore on, I saw other locals on the internet reporting snow in their area. I watched as the weather radar indicated the snow coming closer and closer. And when the first flakes started to fall in my neighborhood, my son and I cheered. Then my son promptly put on his coat, hat and gloves and went outside to play in the snow.

It didn't last long. Look at the photo from the day after the "storm". The snow barely covered my yard, and in no time it was gone from my driveway. But my kids still got a day off school -- we didn't get much white stuff, but in the morning the roads were slick with ice.

Who wants to play in ice?

So much for snowmen.

2010: Handychick

2010-01-19T09:16:00.003-05:00

2010 Day 7

07 JAN 2010

My washing machine had been making horrendous noises. I mean wince and wait for it to explode kinds of sounds. I mentioned it to my husband, who told me to call the repairman. But he also said that when he re-leveled the machine, the noises backed off a bit. So the next time I heard the sounds, I got up right next to my washer to try and figure out from where the noises came.

Once I pinpointed an area of origin, I did a little investigation, a little research, and decided to try and fix the machine myself before putting out the money for a repairman. That's my hand in the picture as I hold the tiny hose to drain my washer's pump.

It turns out I was successful! Bits of plastic had made their way to my pump filter and were rattling around like crazy during the spin cycle. Not only did I save money, but I gained a bit of self-confidence and won the right to do the I'm So Awesome happy dance whenever my husband walked into the room.

2010: Low's?

2010-01-19T08:47:00.004-05:00

2010 Day 6

06 JAN 2010

One of my biggest pet peeves is misused apostrophes. It makes me absolutely crazy to see errant possessives, signs that read Employee's Only, and contractions where contractions don't belong. Am I just a wee bit anal about this? Possibly. But if that's my worst trait...

Imagine my horror when I turned the news on one afternoon and saw what's pictured here. I can almost understand (note I didn't say condone) it in a little mom & pop restaurant or on a high school student's party flyer. But on the NEWS? I'm sorry -- they should know better.

Note -- I did what I could to fade the reflection of my lights in the picture, but I didn't do a very good job. Please ignore that part and just share my horror for Tonight's Low's.

2010: Rush Hour

2010-01-18T23:21:00.002-05:00

2010 Day 5

05 JAN 2010

My mother spent Christmas with my family, and Day 5 was the day she went home. On our way to the airport, we hit rush hour traffic. As it is in many metropolitan areas, in Atlanta that means you come to a full and complete stop (keep your seat belt fastened and your arms inside the car). So while we were sitting in stopped traffic, I quick-like grabbed this photo of the sun setting behind the information sign telling me how long it would take me to get to a place I didn't want to go.

I'm happy to add we got to the airport on time.