Catching up

I realized over the weekend that I miss blogging. It's been too long.

I haven't been up to much but the usual. Work, puppies, the lake.........

I have decided to enter a photograph in our fine arts show at the fair. I only have a 1 in 10 chance of being selected for the exhibit but you never know till you try.

It was an interesting process to choose the photograph. I sent the photos to my parents as well as a few friends and asked them to pick their favorite. Everyone picked something different. So I expanded my viewers. I narrowed down the choices to the favorites and then printed them so that the next group of people had the actual photos. Two of the people I asked were avid photographers themselves. Their feedback was very helpful but also a little difficult. They were my first true critics of my work. They were very supportive and they gave me great feedback. But it was also a little humbling.

I have the photograph chosen so the next step is framing. I found what I hope to be the perfect frame so now it is a question of matte, no matte, etc................

Regardless of how this turns out I am so glad I did this. I put myself out there like I never have before. And I feel like I can be a better photographer for it.

Much like any target shooting I have to learn to breathe, I have to learn to be patient. Quantity is not always quality.

I recently took family photos for some close friends of ours. I got some great shots but I know I could have done better. I learned a lot of things about my style when I reviewed the shots. And I know I need to work on my staging. I don't do a good job of taking my time and waiting for the perfect framed shot. I just shoot like crazy and hope that one of the shots is a good one. That for a good photographer it does not make.

A few of the photographs that I am not entering for the fair I am going to submit to the Smithsonian photo contest.

More to come......................

Weekend Recap

So, who out in blog land remembers when watches had to be wound? I thought of this Saturday night when I was putting mine on. And I wondered how many people remember it and then how many people didn’t know that at one time you would wind up your watch?

Of the 3 options for Saturday night I opted for the museum. The exhibit, “Passion for Paintings” is located in their new wing which is incredibly beautiful. Among other exhibits open for the evening was a photography one. What they put on display was two images from the same negative. Each developed slightly differently or at a different time.
The purpose being to show how much art is involved in developing the images on film.
It was fascinating.

Then this morning on MPR they were talking about the fact that film cameras are going the way of the dodo. Or that only the very high end cameras will still be produced. Yes this was inevitable in today’s instant gratification society but also it was a little sad to hear. I like film cameras. And I still feel that they take better pictures. But I know that digital has come a long long way. It’s just a little sad…………….Of course it took a few years but the phonograph made a come back when people finally figured out that music just sounds better off a record. I wax nostalgic.

Back to the museum. Surprisingly even the hubster enjoyed the exhibit. He thought the paintings were beautiful. It was also nice to be entirely among adults. Dressed up adults no less.

Which brings me to another thought. When the invitation – mailed, not emailed. Says “Cocktail attire” what would you wear? I did the little black dress and the hubster did suit and tie in muted fall colors. We were dressed appropriately. Suits, LBD’s, sequence covered tops, pant suits and even a few full length gowns were worn. But also present were jeans and sweaters – dressed up mind you, but jeans. The other interesting choice were the “hippy artists” for lack of a better description that dressed in the cargo/baggy cords, with grungy shirts. Of course the most interesting attire for the evening was the security guard in a dark suit with the Mohawk.

The only downer for the evening came when we ordered wine. Served in little plastic cups mind you. We got our wine and watched a $20 go across the counter with no change coming back. Most expensive glass of wine I have ever had. And it didn’t even dance with me. Or take me to dinner for that matter. The whole time we were drinking out little glasses of wine we thought “We are supporting the arts, we are supporting the arts………..”

All in all it was a wonderful evening. We got to dress up, spend an evening around adults with like interests, beautiful music filled the air as we walked around, and we got to see an amazing display of artwork.

Sunday was a quiet day. I put on a pot of coffee and then settled in to switch my blog to the new beta version. It went smashingly. It was easy. And I love some of the new features. It took me a bit to figure out where in the html code I could stick my personalized banner but several tries later I finally got it. I don’t understand html in the slightest so it is all done with a wing and a prayer.

I also worked on some bracelets that may get sold to a local jeweler. He asked me to bring in my work. He will either put it in his store or take it to a boutique at a casino. I was surprised and flattered by his offer. He noticed the bracelet on my wrist when I was in there on Friday and when he found out I made it the conversation just took off from there.

We watched a new Midsomer Murders last night and I must say I had a hard time following the story. Or, I should say, I had a hard time following who was related to whom. It was a great show as usual just a little more confusing than normal. Of course it probably didn’t help that I was embellishing a bracelet at the same time. Mysteries are not a good thing to only have half your attention on. Oh well.

Monday Mayhem

RUSH RUSH RUSH

Have to get to work for a meeting at 8. Has anyone ever tried to get MY hubster out the door early? It’s impossible. I even dragged my sorry ass out of bed at 5:30 this morning to try to help the process along. I was shooting for a 7:15 leave time. We got out the door at 7:35. I arrived at work at 7:50. So I had just enough time to go up to my office, change shoes, de-fur my clothing and run upstairs for the meeting.

This did not give me time to get REAL coffee for a four hour meeting. Yes 4 hour meeting. All I had was the swill in the pot here at work. And that is NOT a good thing.

DAMN DAMN DAMN

How is it that I have nothing to do 364 days a year. But then there comes one day, one night actually in which all good things that I would love and enjoy doing all happen at once.?????

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is giving this amazing concert of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy this coming Saturday at the absolutely incredible St. Mary’s Basiclica in Minneapolis. We bought tickets in February. And it has since sold out. It’s one of those once in a lifetime sorts of concert spectaculars!

But then I was looking at when I could go see a new gallery show at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. And they are having a gala evening with wine, food, dancing, etc. all surrounding this art show. It’s after hours. It’s all adults. And because we joined the museum it wouldn’t cost us anything. A perfect adult evening. But, yes, it is on Saturday night.

And now, my boss just emails me and asks me if I wanted to go to the Wild game. There are two tickets available. And these aren’t just tickets. They are seats in the company box. The very exclusive, very good view, very NEVER going to be offered again to me club seats.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

At Victoria’s secret they have these nightshirts. It’s a long sleeve sleepshirt and I am in love. I got one a few weeks ago and I have been living in it. I picked up another one last night and let me tell you, it was very hard to get out of bed this morning. Go out and treat yourself girlfriends! They are $22.50, they are located on tables right when you walk into a store. They are wrapped up with ribbon. And they really are FABULOUS!
Oh, and they run big (too big). So go a size down from what you normally wear.


CALEB CALEB CALEB

My little boy decided to revert back to day one this morning. We couldn’t go near him. And he wouldn’t go near us. I have no idea what caused this set back. He has been doing so well. I am confident that he will be okay when we get home. But this morning he didn’t want to play ball. And he always plays ball with me in the morning. And he wouldn’t go outside to go potty. Nor would he come in once we got him out. It’s very odd. But just like Lily bounced back from her weird day I am sure he will too.