I Wasn't In Kansas Anymore...

View from hotel room lanai
Maui, November 2012

I went to Maui in November with my mom, my sister and a very close family friend.  A girls' getaway.

We stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani.  You can see my review at Trip Advisor, if you're interested. (My link will get you close, but I'm not sure that Trip Advisor will let me link directly so look for Susan Barnes Garten, review dated December 18.) 

I highly recommend the Fairmont.  Gorgeous hotel and grounds.

This is a cell phone capture with some post-processing in Topaz software.

I'm ready to go back....

Our Stormy Girl

... Nikon D60

... Topaz Black & White Effects, Infrared I

Sometimes it's so hard for me to get decent pics of this girl.

She always wants to be right.next.to.me.

In this case, I think my friend had the right idea for her photo.  I love this view of her.

A Return To Skywatch Friday

Storm Cloud over Pond

Week of January 6, 2013

Nikon D60 with Topaz Simplify post processing

I was a lucky girl and got the entire Topaz Labs software suite for half price on Cyber Monday in November.

So far I've used Adjust, Simplify and B&W Effects, and I love all three of them.  I can't wait to try the other software programs that came in my package deal!

Here's the original photo, before post processing in Simplify.  Pretty dramatic straight out of the camera, I think.  But I rather like the mean edge that Simplify gave this photo.

Original photo, unretouched

Which version do you like better?  The original, #2, or the processed version at top, #1?  I think they both have merits, it's just a matter of personal preference.

I haven't joined the Skywatch community for a few years.  It's fun to be back.

If you've never heard of Skywatch, head on over and check out all the beautiful skies that other bloggers have submitted this week.

Ringo Loves the Camera

... Nikon  D60 camera

 ... Topaz Adjust ~ Vintage Grunge II

Kansas Sunset Via Cell Phone Camera

I find it hard to believe that a cell phone app took this photo.  Not bad for a cell phone!

This was a quick snap since I was working a small toll booth at the Kansas turnpike, and I was relatively busy with traffic.  I had a brief 60 second lull in cars, and ran outside of my booth to grab this shot of the sun rays peeking through a hole in the clouds.

How cool is that?!  :-)

After the Storm

Photo taken May 29, 2012, after a thunderstorm

The boring and busy minutiae of life always get in the way of what we truly enjoy each and every day.

Over the past year, the business of living has sucked many things out of my daily existence.  I only had time to get ready and go to work almost every.single.day.

Now that I have finally relinquished one of my two jobs, I hope to once again find the joy and the beauty that surrounds us here on the ginormous and wide open prairie.

Slinging my camera over my shoulder always slows me down.  Just when I think I am going to "hurry up" and take a quick picture, I find that an hour has passed.  Taking my camera outside with me causes me to lose track of time and to savor the beauty that is all around us.

And slowing down like that is not a bad thing, hmm?  I'm looking forward to many more days like that in the near future.

I think I heard my blogs softly say

"Welcome Back, we've missed you!"

Rainy Day

I love this interpretation of a rainy day in black and white.

I think black and white conveys the dreariness of a rainy day exceptionally well.

Of course, anyone who knows me, knows that I love the black and white photo.  No surprises there.

However, I feel far from dreary today.  Instead, with the windows and door screens open today, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain outside invigorates me.

I think it's time to get the guest bedroom spring cleaned.  :-)  I can't sit on the back porch, so it's the perfect day to clean and organize!