Basketweave Thursday, Nov 30 2006

29 November 2006

Basketweaving–the term conjures up images of easy college courses designed just to fulfill requirements, when actually it’s an amazing art!  I think I probably have a bit of a basket fetish–I own more baskets than I ought to, that’s for sure.  But, they are beautiful and useful.  And, they are the epitome of texture, texture, texture.  And in this photo, I really like the light shining through the weave.

The most remarkable thing about this photo, however, is that I had time to take it!  It’s Dickens Eve for us–we leave tomorrow for our big weekend in Galveston.  For most of the eleven years we’ve been attending this event, this evening would be an endless night of sewing–racing against the clock, pushing every deadline.  One year I made three ladies’ outfits and thirteen waistcoats!  One year we had a sweat shop in our hotel room with three sewing machines, two ironing boards, and a worker bee not only at each of those stations, but two people pinning things together as well!  It was awful!  And it was a turning point.  I swore never again would my holiday weekend be like that.

Ever since that year, my deadlines have been met earlier; my workload has been better planned, and my procrastinating tendencies have lessened a bit.  This year, I had a few additional projects I could have tackled, not the least of which is any one of the four new outfits I have planned for myself.  But, as it was, I promised very little, and I exceeded my own expectations!  The truck is mostly packed and ready to go, and I am basically stress-free. 

So, I’ll celebrate the tenth season with the same pretty red dress.  And I have time to contemplate basketweaving.

~MB

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Jack of all Colours Wednesday, Nov 29 2006

28 November 2006

I’ve spent most of my time lately, in my workshop, so the camera is there, too.  Not much opportunity for exciting action shots in here, but there’s plenty of texture and colour!  This one is funny, ’cause I didn’t even notice Jack was in the photo at first.  Once I noticed him, I must confess I moved him to his current position so he could help keep the focus of the photo, rather than staring off into the distance.

 I can’t even remember how long ago I stuck him on top of that vintage thread tree, but he makes me smile.

~MB

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The Fox & the Hound Wednesday, Nov 29 2006

Another bar (again, a smoking bar) that is almost, but not quite, on my way home from work. This is always a destination bar for me because it’s just a little too out of the way, and just a little too yuppy for my general taste. However, when your boss (soon to be ex-boss) decides to take you out for a good-riddance farewell happy-hour you do not turn it down. And to top that off Tuesday is apparently $2.00 pint night. So, $2.00 Guinness for me, that I didn’t have to buy. How’s that, wot?

~KR (day twenty-eight - 28 November 2006)

Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 58 mm

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Rob’s Billiards Tuesday, Nov 28 2006

Many days, ok most days, I stop after work for a pint (or two). I’m blessed in that I have numerous options on my way home, with this being the one (currently) most frequented. There are other better bars, but I like this one for numerous reasons. Trista is an excellent bar-tender and is always ready with the beer as soon as I walk in. She knows us, calls us by name, and never treats us poorly. Secondly, and probably more important, the clientele is friendly. At No Frills Grill - North, which I actually prefer as a bar, the clientele as of late has gotten rowdy, rude and unruly; so much so that I will choose a “lesser” place so as not to contend with that factor. So, yesterday as I stopped, I realised that I’d never taken a photo of the joint.

To ramble on a bit, I read in our weekly rag, The Fort Worth Weekly that the “No Smoking” ordinance in Ft. Worth is about to become considerably more strict. This is something for which I have been campaigning a long time. I wish to be able to go and have a drink or two and not leave smelling like I’d just taken a bath in an ashtray. The smokers, of course, are saying, “if you don’t like the smoke, go somewhere where it’s not smoky.” A fine sentiment if there was such a place. I wrote above that I’m spoilt for choice on my drive home. Well not a single one of the numerous options are smoke-free. So, I say, “if you have to smoke do it in private or outside.” Apparently, the state of Texas has that same viewpoint as in January there is a motion to turn Texas into a non-smoking state. Come on forward-thinkers, get behind this.

~KR (day twenty-seven — 27 November 2006)

Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 45.7 mm

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Rusty Machine Tuesday, Nov 28 2006

27 November 2006

Kyle sent me “purpose” in an email today!  And I took some of the best photos today, that I’ve taken in over a week!

Photo assignment:  “RUST” was just enough of a theme, for my brain to latch on to, and get a little bit creative.  Much better than the random pet shots I’ve recently been guilty of, today’s shots had a reason for being–”raison d’etre!”  I much prefer this flavour of photo!

This rather picturesque old machine has been a garden ornament for me for quite some time.  I love the juxtaposition of the cold, metal machine surrounded by nature, as if the faeries come here to sew!

~MB

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Shiny Dice Tuesday, Nov 28 2006

26 November 2006

Oh crap!  Another case of “It’s bedtime and I forgot to take a photo today.”  At least we’re getting very creative with our still life and household object shots!  I was trying to get this shot and couldn’t hold the camera still enough.  Kyle said I needed more light, so he held the flashlight, creating the wonderful golden glow in one spot.  The natural light in the room did the rest.

~MB

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Candle III Tuesday, Nov 28 2006

25 November 2006

Third in a series where I am trying to learn to photograph candles.  This is one that’s nearly served its purpose—there’s not too much left of it.  It was nearly 3 a.m. when I took this shot.  I like the pie pan-shaped candle dish.

~MB

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Artemis Tuesday, Nov 28 2006

24 November 2006

It has begun to be obvious to me that anybody else who watches this project over the course of this year, is going to get really tired of my photos of two beautiful dogs and a cat!  When all else fails, and the camera hasn’t been a part of my day–the household critters are right there with a photogenic pose or an amusing antic.  Thanks, Artemis.

~MB

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No Smoking! Monday, Nov 27 2006

This little guy hangs on the wall in my office. It’s a print from Randy Spangler that I purchased many, many years ago at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. He was a primary influence in helping me quit smoking some 7 (or so) years ago. I look at him and thank him several times a day.

~KR (day twenty-six - 26 November 2006)
Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 58 mm

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Blown Glass Monday, Nov 27 2006

One of Marita Beth’s hobbies is the blowing of glass. Over the past little while, she’s become quite adept at it. The above photo is a close-up of a piece done by Marita Beth’s gaffer. It’s a lamp globe that sits proudly in our living room.

~KR (day twenty-five - 25 November 2006)

Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm

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