Creating The Real Me

Making the Switch

2011-06-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

In this attempt to start the blog again within the life I now live, I am finding that I needed to change to a blog service that was more compatible with my iPad.

If you choose to continue following - I am now at

jenniferpeavey.wordpress.com

Creating the Real Me

2011-06-18T21:18:00.001-04:00

A lot has happened over the last year. I started a new career two states away, and that change in life has introduced adventure after adventure. Each one has taken all the time and focus I could muster. I'm glad to say the new career is going well. The move between states went relatively smoothly considering the economy. There has been a lot to adjust to and many surprises along the way that have demanded our attention. I've noticed over the last month that a line must have been crossed. I am finding time to practice on the harp. I even now am in the process of warping my Le Clerc loom for a runner. So now, is there time again for the blog? Does it fit in this new life? There's only one way to know. It is to try.

I saw this quote on the front of a friend's fridge a couple weeks ago.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."- George Bernard Shaw

I started this journey searching for myself hoping to find who I am. There is some truth in that where one let's there be freedom to be who we are. With each bit I've learned, there is also the opportunity of creating a life where I can be free to be who I am.

NZD 12282009

2010-08-15T10:14:00.001-04:00

Seaweed

I love the organic shapes of each of the bulbs in the chain and how they simply curve about. I love that they are not all one color and the burgundy even seems to fade into the neutrals. I like how the sand in the back does not distract. I have cropped and turned this photo on it’s side. I love how the image drops off from right to left like a wall moving away from me. I wonder how to recreate that depth in a 2D image.

NZD 12282009

2010-08-14T17:49:00.001-04:00

I like the hard straight lines of the stone and even the ridges of the shells in contrast to the curves of the overall shell shapes. My favorite is the little pop of blue on the shells in the upper right in the shadow. To me it looks like a good opportunity for me to use all those natural colored yarns I bought in New Zealand!

NZD 12282009

2010-07-17T16:16:00.001-04:00

Gotland Sheep

I love the feeling of home and comfort in this one – the content sheep, the grass, and the bright yellow flowers behind the fence. I love the black faces and legs of the sheep to contrast the grey of the wool. I love the strong horizontals of the fence and the verticals of the flowers, the posts and the legs on the sheep.

NZD 12282009

2010-07-15T08:42:00.001-04:00

I love the haze and the shadows in this one, but also the gleam of the light on the water. I love the texture of the rock in the foreground and the small splash of blue in the sky. I also love the vertical of the land versus the horizontal of the clouds and the sea. Then there is the layers of the islands in the background that draw my eye to look further out.

NZD 12282009

2010-07-13T08:33:00.001-04:00

Walk on the Beach

I love the starkness of this picture. I love the ripples and textures in the sand for themselves, but then how there are strong verticals and horizontals in the greater pattern. I like how the seaweed breaks up the sand in the foreground. I love how the seal is on the move “on-all fours”.

NZD 12272009

2010-07-12T07:27:00.001-04:00

Hidden Beauty of Keas

The kea is the only alpine parrot and is covered mostly in a dull yellow brown. But then in flight on can see an entire rainbow under the wings. Here is just a hint of the color of a folded wing.

I love the varied directions of the feathers and the definition of each feather. I love the bright colors of the blue-green and the shine on the yellow/brown.

NZD 12272009

2010-07-11T14:52:00.001-04:00

Moon Rising Over Bluff

I am in SC this week and may actually be able to do a bit of blogging. In any case, I’ll take whatever happens and each entry as a gift!

I love the half moon breaking up the solid blue of the sky. I love the break up of the land as well with the darker blue of the water. I love all the buildings being highlighted the the setting sun behind us. I like the clouds adding interest to the sky close the to the land.

The Forms of Tile

2010-07-06T10:10:00.001-04:00

Do you ever feel the closer you get to something, the further away it seems? With the major construction complete on the house, one would think that we are close to being able to get that assessment and listing, but alas the list is still dauntingly filled with smaller tasks that can be tedious and require a lot of time just gathering the supplies and tools. Still at this stage, the results are quite satisfying because when the little task is complete, there is nothing left to do, but enjoy the finished product. Sadly, this is the most beautiful our house has ever been and we’re moving….

Here is the nearly final for the den that is attached to the kitchen. The dogs are so exited to see the couch again. Slipcovers on the furniture are a lifesaver! Across from the couch is the see through fireplace we had installed last month. This past week James took some of our left over slate tiles and tiles the hearth and surround. If you look closely you can see the coffee table in the living room through the fireplace! I show you that to see how pretty things can be around here, but also to point out they don’t last long. The very next morning everything was changed to store large items from the kitchen. Ah….. This was all done for those boxes in the foreground. James is planning on installing the kitchen floor. Here’s a before picture…. We’re putting in a resilient plank/tile flooring called allure by trafficmaster from Home Depot. We chose it for the speed of installation and the price did not hurt either. It’s a floating resilient floor where the planks have adhesive strips that glue one piece to another. The biggest issue is making sure the substrate is flat – for unlike laminate floating floors, these planks will show every bump and crevass along the way. Fortunately, like laminate, it goes down quickly. In half a day, it was finished. No curing, no waiting, voila! Now don’t think I was simply watching – while James was on his hands and knees, I was working on the living room side of the fireplace. The old fireplace had a stone hearth and partial stone surround. We did keep the hearth and were able to salvage much of the stone from the surround, but there was not enough for the new. There was no more stone to be found that matched, so we settled on strips of small stones to fill in gaps. Here’s the before…It took some hands on attention and a flexible sense of playfulness. It was really rather fun – like playing in a mud puddle and working on some summer camp arts and crafts project. The stones themselves turned out better than I expected, but the grout really finished the job. And the after… Much closer and a number of items crossed off the list. Now the big hurdle is to clean out the James’ shop!

NZD 12272009

2010-07-06T09:06:00.001-04:00

Tourist Landscape

In one gallery, an artist painted abstract landscapes in an effort to balance the number of artists who painted “tourist landscapes”. I smiled, but I still prefer the more realistic in this case. The landscapes are so different than what I know.

I love the number of colors of green on these mountains and how the ridges are emphasized by a run of dark evergreens. I like the clouds following the peaks and wish the sky had come out a deeper blue. It is hard to see in this size, but I love the horizontal green bands of the fields in the foreground that counter the vertical heights of the mountains.

NZD 12272009

2010-06-26T08:38:00.001-04:00

Just the Two of Us

I enjoyed how the seals were lounging in “Vogue” poses on this morning. I love the rich dark browns of this one’s coats and the long whiskers cutting lines across the fur. I love the greens on the rocks and how they become smaller, more broken and more textured as I look into the background.

Just Us Girls

2010-06-15T21:19:00.001-04:00

Sunday I brought Raven up with me to Tennessee. I had thought that I
would be able to have some one on one time with her and maybe even get
her confidence up. Monday was not what I had hoped. She didn't eat.
She even started talking to me.

Today is better. We played tug with a rope and even went for a walk on
the Greenbelt. We just take it one day at a time.

When is a Bedroom and Bedroom?

2010-06-13T12:42:00.001-04:00

There is still a lot going on with the house. These finishing touches are always the death of me! In any case, in between coats of paint, I’m back in the rest of the house looking at how to declutter and create bedrooms. We have what we would call 3 bedrooms, but only use one as such. One good friend made a suggestion that the other two should be converted into bedrooms so there is NO argument on the definition. He also gave suggestions on how to do so. I’ve taken his advice using what was readily available. I’m pretty proud of the results – and there’s even a bit of a weaving angle to it. If I offend any of the weavers out there – I humbly apologize and my only defense is WE MUST SELL THIS HOUSE!

We have these modular barrister bookcases that fill one of the rooms. Somehow they must also disappear – or at least part of them. There’s also two wooden file cabinets that need to find a home. The file cabinets became the headboard.

I then dismantled them and placed four sets at the four corners of the box spring. You can also see the queen air mattress along the wall. I also now had this wonderful space in the center. Hmmm, what shall I hide there?Ah, the loom! And then the cross beams can span the gap to keep the air mattress from sagging! With the air mattress in place, a bedspread and a few pillows, I think we are well on our way! Now to find an armoire fro a closet….

NZD 12272009

2010-06-06T17:18:00.001-04:00

Glacial Valley

After all the rain the day before, the blue sky was welcomes. This is the same road that was monochromatic and today full of such color. I love the daisies in the foreground and the field that fills the valley floor. I love the clouds that crown the peaks and the bit of snow still on them as well. I love the curve the glacier has formed and the graceful curve the ranges form as well.

NZD 12272009

2010-06-05T15:34:00.001-04:00

Sunset over Stewart Island

I love the intensity of the light of the sun. How often can one look even at it sideways much less head on? I love the horizontal clouds versus the vertical reflection. I love that there is still some blue sky to be seen. I also like that the water’s horizon is not clearly defined – because of Stewart Island.

Raven's New Friends

2010-05-29T21:28:00.000-04:00

We are spending the Memorial Day Weekend in Kingsport, TN and driving around with the dogs we have discovered that Raven wants to bark at cows. We thought we were safe when we headed into town, but these guys still got her going!

Life’s been a blur….

2010-05-23T15:38:00.001-04:00

Here’s the latest on the kitchen. We have countertops and appliances in place. If you haven’t checked out Craigslist we highly recommend it – we were able to outfit the kitchen for $1000 and that includes a range and microwave combo that have never been used! Sorry this picture doesn’t show the appliances but the old ones are in the center of the room awaiting their sale on Craigslist!

I must say I was thrilled to get a kitchen sink back and the dishwasher was a great boon, but once I had a range, fridge and pantry in the same room – I felt like I’d dies and gone to heaven!

Most of the push is because I have taken a new position and we will need to move to Tennessee. I start tomorrow and have decluttered all that I can. It really quite therapeutic. I can officially say that I have removed college from my life – particularly all my college notebooks!!! Fear not all that could be recycled has been!

Tomorrow is a new adventure and today is aimed at getting there. i have no idea the next time I’ll have personal access to a computer – but know that I’m thinking and hope to catch up one day!

In the meantime – know the puppies are doing well. They look wonderful in the new kitchen. Black really dresses up the gateway gray. The last two weeks between jobs and being at home has been precious. I will miss them terribly!

NZD 12272009

2010-05-23T15:15:00.001-04:00

Unfolding Ferns

I live the curves and curls in this one that reminds me of grapes on a vine.I love the sunlight shining through the open leaves and setting the highlights off.

I will do my best to keep these going, but I may miss a few days and have to catch up later. I am starting a new job tomorrow in another state and have no idea what computer or access I will have for the first few days and even the first week. Know I’m thinking about you and wishing you a happy Memorial Day weekend!

NZD 12262009

2010-05-22T08:56:00.001-04:00

Milford Sound

This is one of the “permanent” set of falls of Milford Sound that exist rain or shine. Of course, it was MUCH Larger due to the rain! I have other pictures that are not so visual of the helm of our boat entering the mist of these falls and James right out on the end getting soaked!

I love the turbulence of the water and mist it creates out into the sound. I love the relative scale to the boat. I love the darkness and the sharpness of the mountains plunging into the sound that allows for these falls.

NZD 12262009

2010-05-21T08:49:00.001-04:00

Glacial Valley

I love the flowers lining the river – the cool colors against the turquoise of the glacial waters. I love how the river leads the eye from left to right across. I love the opposing forest line and mountain range that gives the opposite diagonal to the river and flowers – almost like it’s an arrow pointing to the higher alpine range.

NZD 12262009

2010-05-20T09:02:00.001-04:00

Alpine View

Again I love the mystery. How far do the mountains go up in that mist? I love the three layers that I can see, the three values of the gray and the opposing diagonals. I love the bit of snow that allow me to recognize the mountain. Any less or any more and the surface would likely be lost in the mist.

NZD 12262009

2010-05-19T09:19:00.001-04:00

Fly on the Wall

This is an artists depiction of the Blackfly or Te Namu. Maori legend is this nasty biting fly was created to remind people who visited New Zealand of their mortality and to drive people from lingering too long in this paradise. It worked….

I like the stark black on white. I like the details of the fly since this one is larger than one’s head (while the real is nearly invisible to the eye). I like the slight shadow on the wall and the matte sheen on the fly.

NZD 12262009

2010-05-18T08:35:00.001-04:00

Falls in Milford Sound

Most of the falls in Milford Sound only exist when it rains. These were one of those peeking through the mist the rain also brought. I love the mystery of the picture. I love the break in the mist to show the falls, and the steadiness of the falls and the water of the sound. I love the basic monochromatic picture, but found there is a great deal of blue lost if I let it become B&W. I think the blue give it a depth.

NZD 12262009

2010-05-17T21:03:00.001-04:00

Giant Mountain Buttercup

I love the raindrops all over this buttercup. I love the pure white and the fresh yellow. I love the slight hint of green of the stems. The background was far off and indistinguishable, but distracting, so i let the shadows take it away. (In case you are wondering – giant in this case is about the size of a daisy – 1.5” in diameter. For a buttercup, that’s giant!)

NZD 12262009

2010-05-16T10:34:00.001-04:00

The Chasm

The Chasm itself is much larger than this waterfall, but is impossible to photograph for where I was permitted! The rains were heavy this day which allowed for even dramatic side waterfalls.

I love the fantasy world of ferns and moss. i love the high volume of water that fills up a great deal of the picture and is even able to show movement even in a still photograph. I like the moving “diagonal” of the falls, the soft verticals of the ferns and the hard horizontals of the rocks.

NZD 12252009

2010-05-15T11:20:00.001-04:00

Yellow Rose of Queensland

I love the range of yellows for nearly pastel at the highlights to a deep orange in the shadows. I love the many curves of the petals and the out of focus continuing in the background. I love the three petals cupped in the “bowl” of another. This being the main focus in this world of yellow. I love the softness.

NZD 12252009

2010-05-14T09:28:00.001-04:00

Iris

I love the combination of cool colors – green, blue, purple – with the highlight of yellow. I love the depth of the shadows. I love the texture of the leaves that almost give it a hardness like something permanent made out of stone.

NZD 12252009

2010-05-13T11:46:00.001-04:00

Stones on Lakeshore

I love the color combinations and how the water has brought them out in all their richness. I love the different shapes, textures and layers of rock. Then there’s a child in me that begins to see a nose in the large rock towards the bottom. Could that be a cheekbone and downcast eye to the left? What else could I hide in a field of stones?

NZD 12252009

2010-05-12T13:21:00.001-04:00

Fjordland Canopy

I love the feeling of stained glass that leaves can give as the sun shines through. I love the cathedral height of the trees and the strong vertical lines of the trunks to draw my eye higher and higher. I love how all the lines seem to bend towards one another like I’m a child looking up a a number of circling adults who are looking down at me.

NZD 12252009

2010-05-11T10:29:00.001-04:00

Water Lilies

I love the depth of the green and the occasional pool of water changing the face of the leaf. I love the triad of flowers not quite forming an perfect triangle. I don’t like the brightness of the flowers – but I’m sure with the right software that could be dealt with. Now if there were just two eyes poking through that one bit of deeper water – a frog or a fish?

NZD 12252009

2010-05-10T10:28:00.001-04:00

Kepler Track

I love connecting the “dots” with the trees. The path gives one meandering line to follow off in the distance, but the trees do as well – except in a different direction counter to the path. It allowed me to take in more of the picture and find the ferns to the left. I love the ferns and the moss. It reminded me of Appalachia.

NZD 12252009

2010-05-09T17:21:00.001-04:00

Rose

I love the richness of the color and the delicacy of the edges of the petals. I love the highlights of the edges that give softness and movement. I love he slight texture of the petals and how they overlap. I’m undecided about the one bright highlight in the center, but I do love the raindrops on the lip of the most central petal.

NZD 12242009

2010-05-08T15:42:00.001-04:00

Lakeshore

I love the number of colors and textures on the shore in the foreground. I also love the shape of the mountain – the folds and slope down to the lake. I love the blues of the mountains in the background and the turquoise of the lake. I do like the interest of the clouds in the sky, but I’m sure if the sun were out, these colors would be even more striking. I also love the winding road on the foreground shore and the highway on the background. It gives a bit of scale!

NZD 12242009

2010-05-07T09:20:00.001-04:00

Glacial Creek

I love the deep clear turquoise of the water. I love how the rocks break it up with the gray and cause the turbulent white. I love the different lines in the white – the swirls, the curves, the vertical drops and the straight lines on the surface. I also like how some of the rock can be seen under the water. Now there’s a weaving challenge!

NZD 12242009

2010-05-06T19:38:00.001-04:00

Reflection on Lake Paringa

I love the stillness of the water and the nearly perfect reflection. I like the layers of the mountains. I love the rocks in the foreground. I wish for a more interesting sky and the corresponding reflection in the lake.

NZD 12242009

2010-05-05T19:34:00.000-04:00

Sunset on the Lake

After the picture from the campsite, we just had to go to the lake. Here is the experiment with the sunset setting on the camera.

I like the darkness of the mountains with the occasional pop of snow at the ridges. I like the diagonal lines of the clouds and the shading from the sun. I also like the other lower clouds that frame in the mountains.

NZD 12242009

2010-05-04T19:26:00.000-04:00

These were simple flowers on the shore of the lake at Wanaka. I likes the coolness of the blue and the heat of the pink. I also like the black and white of the background to allow the flower to stand out. The evening was overcast and there is the feeling of cold and calm on the shore.

NZD 12242009

2010-05-03T19:24:00.000-04:00

Sunset on the Mountains
This was taken from our campsite – I’m not sure it could have been better anywhere else!
I love the drama of the light and shadows. i love the lake peeking through with it’s blues. I love the trees in shadow poking up periodically.

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the Cupboard

2010-05-02T22:22:00.001-04:00

Here’s where we left it last week – thrilled to see rebuilding to a point of changing the atmosphere…

We were preparing for the cabinets that James had built and were at a furniture refinishing shop being painted. The clock is ticking… The cabinets showed up on Wednesday and it’s been a week of installing them, making measurements for the countertop, and glory be – putting in the plumbing for the sink and dishwasher. In fact, I am just now hearing for the first time in weeks – the hum of a dishwasher! Here’s a better picture without the overhead light to see how the ceiling, crown molding and cabinets all come together. Another big news for the week – while in New Zealand we commissioned a sculpture to make a crèche for us. It came in this week. This is by Ian Anderson who lives in Oamaru in North Otago on the South Island. Ian works in limestone that is from the local quarries. The crèche stands nearly a foot tall and is out of the multicolored stone. There are reddish hints that run through it and add a new dimension to the folds in the robes.

NZD 12242009

2010-05-02T15:04:00.001-04:00

Thunder Creek Falls

The picture does not tell everything. This set of falls is 28 meters high and does it thunder!

I love the lush green of the vegetation, the brilliant white of the falls and the darkness of the wet rock. On top of that, I am amazed by the bright turquoise blue of the pool of glacial water. It seems to tropical of a color to be there, yet there it is. I like the texture of the trees and shrubs and the number of smoothed rocks at the bottom of the falls.

NZD 12232009

2010-05-01T14:36:00.001-04:00

Alpine Waterfall

These are hard to capture – where do they begin and end. This was not one of the largest at Franz Josepf, but was at least one we could fit most of in the lens. Still there is a bit of white far up to the left pointing to a source much further up.

I like the combination of the green, gold and gray. I like how the water has carve a niche further into the face of the rock and hidden itself there. I love how the white of the water doesn’t allow it to be lost. I love the curves of the water, the multiple sets of free falling water and the fact the free falling water has it’s own direction rather than straight down.

NZD 12232009

2010-04-30T17:02:00.001-04:00

Wall of Ice

I appreciate the texture on this wall - the number of divots of various sizes and shapes created by the wind melting the ice. I can see weaving a number of random shapes to create these. I love the veins that remind me of stone.

a day of change

2010-04-30T16:35:00.001-04:00

Today was my last day of employment at a great company. It’s a day filled with all sorts of emotions with a few goodbyes, but a number of see-you-laters. I was grateful for the day. There is something therapeutic about cleaning out one’s office and looking back through all sorts of memories. There is also something precious about finally telling people exactly how much you appreciate them. I am glad for the opportunity and I think I’ve learned that one should never wait until the day of change to do and say these things.

This was my choice. I have been offered an opportunity I just did not think I could pass up. I look forward to seeing how far I can take me and I really hope this new position is something that I was meant to do. You know – something that comes naturally and is really not work. I told one today that it’s my hope that it will be something that is an extension of who I am. I could be dreaming up a fantasy, but dreaming is what I do best!

And with the change comes moving. Yes moving! We may get to enjoy the kitchen for a whole summer. Of course, I would only be at the house on the weekends! It’s a whirlwind and all I can do is take it one day at a time.

As for today – it is one I will always cherish.

NZD 12232009

2010-04-29T20:57:00.001-04:00

Uncharted Path

I love the layers of ice almost like a mountain range. I like the smooth areas on the surface of the ice, but then there are areas full of divots where the ice has melted and the wind has swirled in eddies. I like the more occasional splotches of black dirt that remind me of the definition but don’t scream it at me.

NZD 12232009

2010-04-28T19:57:00.001-04:00

View from Glacier

looking back from our hike, it seems like forever to the bottom – and his is not even 1/2 into it. I love the U – shaped valley glaciers form. I love the gray bottom with the river of water meandering through it. I love the sudden green up the sides. I also love the small black line of people about 1/3 of the way up towards the left. I love the layers of mountains in the distance and also remember that all of this was formed by this glacier as well. It’s humbling to consider the scale and age.

April Showers? No April Flowers!

2010-04-27T20:54:00.001-04:00

Here in SC we have finally seen spring – see in March we had a wave of heat that made one think that we went straight from winter to summer. That also means the pollen count went through the roof since everything opened at once. It’s been a beautiful month – and can be appreciated if one can handle the pollen without sneezing!

Start with the wisteria in tree form and the Carolina jasmine in the back… Petunias Sedum Marigolds Coral Bark Japanese Maple and the azalea that was planted to remind us of our Shih Tzu, Kahnie While we only started the April showers this week, we’re already enjoying May’s flowers!

NZD 12232009

2010-04-27T18:54:00.001-04:00

Glacial Flow

It was summer so the glacier certainly had areas that were melting. This was one of my favorite formations. I love the soft scooping of the left side of the channel and the curves of the final stream at the foot. I also found it interesting how the blues became so intense when it was hidden from the the direct light – like a treasure.

NZD 12232009

2010-04-26T21:11:00.001-04:00

Climbing through the Glacier

Again, I love the definition of the dirt on the ice to show the details. I love the values of the ice blue. I love showing the scale of the guide ahead on the “trail” as two from our group enter a hole to follow him.

Walled In

2010-04-25T21:34:00.001-04:00

So here’s where things ended last week. That much hated orange red is almost gone!More sheet rock up this week, mudding sheet rock, nail holes and gaps caulked in the ceiling, mudding sheetrock, sheet rock primed and even most of it has a coat of paint! Then the corner will be mudded!It’s called Gateway Grey from Sherwin Williams, but we bought Valspar from Lowe’s. It covered so well, we just kept going down the wall to the other corner into what will be the den. It’s amazing what sheetrock and paint will do – we are so motivated at this point feeling like we’re almost there (even though we aren’t!)

NZD 12232009

2010-04-25T08:41:00.001-04:00

Franz Joseph Glacier

Prepare for an icy week of pictures….

This crevasse is easily 30 feet deep. The drama is lost without the reference of scale. Still I love the “flow” of the walls to the bottom. I love the deep colors of the stone ground into the surface that highlights that flow and each little divot, hole and bump. I love the purity of the pale blue even if the air entrapped in the ice doesn’t allow it to be transparent. It gives a softness. I see in the background the fog lying low on the black stone mountain. I wonder what this would be like in the sunshine. Would it glisten?

NZD 12212009

2010-04-24T15:37:00.001-04:00

What???

After so many seals just lying around, it was great to catch some action in the morning. I like the basically monochromatic scene. The seals are sometimes hard to find among the rocks and logs. I’m sure that’s the point! I like the call going out and the little one coming to attention. There’s a children’s story somewhere in there. I like the hard white of the whiskers and the dark of the ends of the flippers. I appreciate the white dot on the flipper, but don’t know what it is…

NZD 12192009

2010-04-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

Shell on Beach
I like the texture of the sand and the grains of yellow granite that pop out. I like the yellow of the shell that coordinates with it, but love the deep purple that contrasts it.

NZD 12162009

2010-04-22T18:03:00.001-04:00

Mount Ruapehu

What I liked best about this landscape was the desert road in the foreground and the snowcapped peak in the background. Of the many that I took, I enjoyed finding the pronounced yellow flower in the lower left. It was everywhere, but not easily captured. I like the clouds forming a ring about the mountain. I think it would be better with a little less to give distinction to the peak.

NZD 12192009

2010-04-21T18:01:00.001-04:00

Tidal Currents in Abel Tazman

I love the random patterns in the sand and the shadows of the ridges that give great definition to the ridges. I like the color changes and I love how the water defines the value of some of those colors. I also like the occasional shell that brings a pop of white and the occasional debris that adds the pop of black. Like Tommye brought out on the Pancake Rocks, this could be eccentric weavings, but I might need to look into some 3D techniques as well.

NZD 12192009

2010-04-20T19:47:00.001-04:00

Split Apple Rock

The day I’m focusing on this week was the day at Bonz and Stonz where we spent the whole day carving jade. The pictures are fun, but not visually appealing. So I’m going back through other days. Split Apple Rock was from our day at Abel Tazman sailing out to the kayaking sites.

I love the long reflection of the rock in the water. I love the softness of the clouds in the sky. I also like the left to right diagonal of the cloud versus the right to left diagonal in the water. There’s a silence in the picture.

NZD 12222009

2010-04-19T19:07:00.001-04:00

Scrap

Today was the day of carving in the the studio of Bonz and Stonz. Jade, paua shell and bones were available for creations. One station housed all the scrap that could eventually be moved into jewelry or worry rocks. The pile was as random as the colors and shapes.

I like the hard lines of the jade against the curve of the shell. I like the various colors and blending of colors. I like the various directions of the straight lines. I like the 3rd dimension portrayed in the smallest piece.

It's finally gone...

2010-04-19T18:54:00.000-04:00

Here’s where we left the kitchen in the last entry two weeks ago – The cabinets were out, the side wall taken down to the studs.

Since then there’s new insulation and electrical in that wall. And the sink cabinet was taken out. We did keep the sink by propping up the countertop with 2x4s…

In the ripping out, we found a vintage bottle cap…

The cabinet had to go so we could take the flooring down to the subfloor. I may have mentioned it before – so excuse the repeat if so – but that was a layer of linoleum on 1/4” plywood, then three layers of linoleum that had been tarred to the heart of pine flooring. All was unusable, so out it goes.

And in goes 3/4” plywood. Here’s a tip for all your DH. This furniture grade plywood was $5 a sheet. It came from the dunnage pile at the local distributor. These sheets made it there by being dropped to bumped by the forktruck. I honestly couldn’t find what was wrong with them. In any case, the new subfloor will be cherry, mahagony, birch, and figured maple…. Raven is pleased with the first two sheets of cherry…

During the week, James was able to put up the sheetrock. The next Friday all the flooring was taken up and plywood was down. Saturday was time for the ceiling. Here’s my father and James putting up 4 x 4 foot sheets of beadboard in an alternating pattern to cover up the blown ceiling. Oh and no more dishwasher…

Then Sunday was the removal of the sink. I’m therefore declaring the kitchen gone! We rebuilt the back wall and put in a new window. You may be able to see that the left window is partially blocked by an exterior wall. Why? I have no idea, but it’s fixed now!

The puppies are still being great troopers – especially when they have to spend the day in the backyard away from pneumatic tools. Here they were able to get a moment inside and chose it to admire the flowers I’ve been planting in the front…

NZD 12222009

2010-04-18T11:07:00.001-04:00

Jade

There are many colors to jade or greenstone. This one shows not only what one would expect, but now expect.

I like the swirling veins of white among the blueish green. I like how the swirls are independent of the shape and direction the stone lies. I like the dark background to not distract. And then I also like the bit of red in the corner.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-17T08:12:00.001-04:00

Truman Track Beach

This view shows some of the erosion the sea has made on the sandstone and the pebbles below the rock. This may seem confusing since I’ve skewed and rotated the picture.

I like the colors of the sandstone – some dry, some wet. I like the graceful curves the lines take and the chunky shapes of the rocks at the top right. I also like the streaks of drops that are falling from the rock. I also like the smooth of the rock against the texture of the pebbles.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-16T06:33:00.001-04:00

Pebbles at Truman Track Beach

This is just a handful of likely a half acre bed of pebbles created from the sandstone at Truman Beach.

I love all the various sizes, shapes, transparency and colors of the pebbles. The only thing is common is they are all smooth. I love the shadows and the pinpoint highlights to show how wet and polished these are.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-15T18:52:00.001-04:00

Fern Frond

There are many parts of this one that I love – the furry brown stems, the different angles of the two stems, the spiral of the frond, the background of much taller fern leaves that are blurry, but distinguishable – like distant family surrounding the toddler. I dislike the broken stem in the foreground – and yes if I had better software, I’d see if I could remove it. Still, it’s a real part of the forest floor.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-14T17:36:00.001-04:00

Truman Track Beach

This picture is taken while standing below sea level. Our eyes are looking straight on at the bottom of the crashing wave. It was spectacular to behold and frightening to consider where we were relative to it.

I love the excitement of the wave crashing on the rock sending streams flying in all sorts of directions. I like the chaos of the wave in contrast with the stability of the rock. I like the layers of rock and the shapes the water has carved in it’s faces. I like the foreground of foamy water showing this view is not beneath me.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-13T18:09:00.001-04:00

Pancakes at Pancake Rocks

We couldn’t pass these up at lunch.

I love the texture of the whipped butter and the powdered sugar. There is even a bit of texture on the pancake. I like the simple, neutral colors – butter, browned edges, pure white. My eye does look around a bit, likely not as much as other images, but I like this one because it makes me smile.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-12T21:34:00.001-04:00

Tree Fern

I love the asymmetry of the view from right and left. The right allows the sky to peek through, but the left likely has another branch in the background adding more green. I like how the smaller leaves overlap giving areas of darker value. I like how the main stem is not perfectly straight, but seems to wind back and forth.

NZD 12212009

2010-04-11T08:27:00.001-04:00

Pancake Rocks

It is unknown how these formations came to be. What is known is the rock is limestone and miles of the west coast of the South Island are made of it.

I love the strong stacking the the horizontal, but the building in the vertical. I love diagonals worn within the rock, but then the opposite diagonal from one formation that fell. I also love the occasional curve and hole.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-10T07:52:00.001-04:00

Cliffs at Tauranga Bay

It must have been the lighting at the end of the day that caused me to choose so many landscapes from Tauranga Bay! We did see many other sites the rest of the day, but these were the better photos for me.

I like the shadows cast on the side of the cliffs from the prior cliff. I like the texture of the cliffs in the foreground and the number of layers of color. I like the trees popping up occasionally, but particularly the one bend into the wind on the edge of the cliff. I also like the worn stone the near foreground reminding me that these cliffs will not stay this way forever.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-09T21:13:00.001-04:00

Tauranga Bay Nearing the Sunset

I like the contrast of the strong bright light against the dark sand and stones. Yet there is some blue still seen in the sky. I like the texture of all the clouds still being there as well. I love the haze that allows me to see the rays of light from the sun and that one space on the sea that reflects this light back upward. The sun is very strong, but there are other elements supporting it without losing themselves.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-08T18:12:00.001-04:00

Tauranga Bay near Sunset

Somehow I’m fascinated with taking some pictures directly into the sun. I love the shadows and the washout of color it creates. I love the shine of the water from the setting sun. In this one, I like the texture of the channel and on the beach in the foreground – the rocks, the side of the channel. I like how is meanders out to the sea. My eye follows it from right to left and back again between the rocks to the right. If I am slow enough in this meandering, I’ll see the people on the beach and realize the scale.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-07T18:06:00.001-04:00

Bleeding Hearts?

Not quite, but these flowers reminded me of them with the colors and the drooping downward.

I like the brilliant red and greens with the splash of white. I like how the deep background is black to not distract from anything. I like the details of the leaves and the unopened flowers. I like the curves in so many places that end in hard points.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-06T17:58:00.001-04:00

Rainbow over Tauranga Bay

The rainbow was quite magnificent. I love the fact that it shows the entire spectrum. I also love the number of colors and textures within the sky even without the rainbow. There is also the landscape itself. I like all the cliffs on the beach in the middle ground, but also the mountains in the background. There is much to look for in the details if one can get past the rainbow.

NZD 12202009

2010-04-05T17:59:00.001-04:00

Seals at Tauranga Bay

This picture is near sunset on the most blustery day I’ve ever experienced. The waves were violent along with the gust of wind. I could not imagine how one could rest in such. But here she is with her pup.

I love all the colors on the rocks – yellow, red, blue, green and gray. I love the number of rocks and the number of directions the edges create in the piece. I also love the seals are different colors such that one can define the pup against the mother. That allowed for an intimate photo moment to be recognized.

Down to the Essentials

2010-04-04T20:34:00.001-04:00

A few have asked how Raven and Shadow are getting along. And my answer would be. “Quite well considering the amount of changes that they are being put through.” We’re about to hit week four since Raven came to live with us. She learning all sorts of things and so are we. I couldn’t pass up this one of them “holding hands”. They really do have some sweet moments – and then there are others, but overall they both seem happy with the deal.

So what have we been putting them through? A kitchen renovation – might I say a complete kitchen renovation. I mean complete in the terms of take it all out and start all over. I’m afraid I don’t have a photo from the very beginning – but you can at least see how we’ve started today. You can see a hole on the end. There was a set of top cabinets there above the range and freezer.I can tell you I’m so ready to get rid of that burnt orange. I was cleaning out the attic and found pictures from my high school home with this same color. I figured I must have lived over 20 years with a kitchen this color – it must something from the 70s or 80s. One layer of linoleum has been taken up with plywood on the back. We found there are another 3 layers before one gets to the pine wood flooring. Above is layer number 2 from the top.Back to today’s work – first we took out the bottom cabinets. These had been built in place, so the only recourse was to take them out piece by piece – see the pile of wood waiting for me to remove the nails????Then we took out the top cabinets on the wall and around the sink. I just loved the parallelograms James was making as he worked them off the wall. Then sheetrock was removed and the blown insulation bagged up to be placed in the attic. We’ll replace these with pretty pink rolls – you can see how the blown insulation sinks leaving gaps. Oh and there used to be a window in that wall!Here’s how we ended the day – leaving one grouping of bottom cabinets so we can have a sink and dishwasher as long as possible. Shadow is inspecting the work, but Raven is satisfied and let’s us know with an enthusiastic tail wagging.

Shadow comes to give his report that it has been a productive day – but where’s dinner??? (I love the perspective in this one – his feet look so tiny compared to real life!)

Tomorrow James builds the cabinets and takes them over to a refinisher who will paint them for us in his spray booth. Hopefully we’ll be ready for them when he delivers them. We’ve got to get the floor and the remaining walls down to studs, then rebuild back up to start putting in cabinets. If not, every room may be graced with a cabinet awaiting their turn to be installed!

There you have it – I feel like I’m living in that campervan in New Zealand again – trying to figure out how to live on very little!

NZD 12202009

2010-04-04T10:23:00.001-04:00

Truffles

Happy Easter!

I am not pleased with how washed out the white truffle is, but I am pleased with the various textures of the truffles – from smooth to rough. I even like the corrugated edges of the paper to keep them in their own separate homes. I love the matte, but rich finish of the milk and dark chocolates. There are just too many highlights on the white!

NZD 12192009

2010-04-03T08:48:00.001-04:00

Little Green Crab

Another awaiting the tide to come back in.

I like the darkness of the crab against the golden sand and the white shell. I cropped a number of times in different ways and settled on this closeup that includes a bit of “channel” along the granite rocks that leads to the crab. I like the details of the crab – every line of every joint and those beady little eyes., but I also like his front claws being tucked underneath just out of view.

NZD 12192009

2010-04-02T07:38:00.001-04:00

Skyscape

With the cells of rain moving through, the sky could be rather dramatic out at sea. Occasionally, we could see a bit of sun depending on the direction one faced.

I like the patch of blue being framed by the white and crossed by the grey clouds. I like how the land is brought into shadow. It’s brings interest, but then isn’t too interesting since the sky is what I was going for. I had taken a number of picture of just sky and just sky and sea, but this one stuck me by putting it into context.

NZD 12192009

2010-04-01T18:32:00.001-04:00

Waiting for the Tide To Return

Again I was shocked at how dramatic things become with the tide out. I liked how these boats were simply marooned on the sand, tilting this way and that. These actually are stabilized rather well. I like how out of the water facing them straight on, they look like happy faces. I like the channel of what is left of the tide curving the the foreground. I also like the “shelves” of sand in the background.

NZD 12192009

2010-03-31T17:42:00.001-04:00

Muscle Beach

I was amazed by the large mounds of these on the beach as we came back from kayaking. These were underwater when we left.

I like that this shot catches multiples sizes to add interest. I like the curvature of the lines on the shells to define each one. I like the blue, black and gold with just a few hints of red and white. I like how there is a hint of lines or rows that the muscles formed, but then again curves and completely random areas.

A New Approach to Gardening – For Me

2010-03-30T18:03:00.001-04:00

I have discovered something this spring I thought I would share with all my right brained friends out there. Maybe you already knew this and can suggest more to take this a step further.

I’ve always loved the creation part of any project – you know – dream, design, envision, etc. I am not really good with the maintenance part of things. Yet I do realize that nothing gets accomplished if that’s my way of life!

Because of this, I have generally been an on again off again gardener. If the creation bug hits, I’m all over designing and ride the wave of energy for installation and just forget about maintenance! What I discovered the last two weeks is that if I do not plan the gardening and create as I purchase and plant, I suddenly have made gardening a bit of an art media for me!

It started with sending James to Lowe’s and asking him to pick out a three flats of annuals. He brought home three flats of petunias – two purple and one white – and then one of dwarf yellow and red marigolds. I had a space to fill and only so much to work with, so I started creating organic shapes and curves on the fly. The next week there were two more flats of pink petunias and one of snapdragons. There will be more next week, but here’s it so far… Part of the “beauty” is my lack of maintenance also adds areas open to this creation. For example, one “should” separate irises every 2-3 years otherwise they crowd themselves to oblivion. I know this - do I do anything about it???? So I started painting in that void with another half flat of marigolds to counter with the first in the far corner in the picture above. What intrigues me is that this could be a dynamic thing – a blank sheet of paper each year that changes size and shape. My short attention span has a chance not to get bored with this!

Now Raven and Shadow have taken up their own style of gardening in the back yard this spring as well. Has anyone seen a new gardening style that attempts to mimic the Grand Canyon with holes, caverns and ditches???? Shadow typically only would dig to bury a rawhide or to dig it up. In any case, these were shallow, even discrete holes. Raven on the other hand LOVES to dig. She goes until she finds cool dirt spreads it about and lies down in it. Then Shadow is simply fascinated by the new smells so deep in the ground and opens up the hole – you can see where he took the bricks out below – but there’s Raven starting a new hole! Yee Haw! Fortunately they are labs who clean up easily. They took to the couch immediately that night – no room for me, so I’d am left to get some weaving done (Oh darn!) I did get one more wedge finished!

NZD 12192009

2010-03-30T07:46:00.001-04:00

Oystercatchers

The tide was going out and the parents were heading across this inlet to search for more food. The chicks were not so sure about being left behind – especially with so many people who had come to cross while the tide was out.

I like having the complete family (even if it is an even number!) and the parents looking in opposite directions. It speaks of a story. The deep sleek black of them and the fuzzy gray of the chicks. I also love the flash of orange. I like the turn of the green inlet going back and forth twice. I like the change of the sand from the soft foreground to the rocky background.

NZD 12192009

2010-03-29T19:26:00.001-04:00

Mist in Abel Tazman

We were on our way back from a day of wet kayaking. The rain and mist came in cells and this was another moving across the land. After being so close to the shore in the kayak it was quite amazing to get out to sea and gain some perspective.

I again love the layers of mountains and the drama of the mist. I love the small bits of light that bring out the texture of the mountains. I love the the size of the mountains against the sailboat on the sea. I like how it is basically grayscale except for the bits of green to remind me that this picture is in color!

NZD 12192009

2010-03-28T19:53:00.001-04:00

Is it or is it not flax???

I love the differences in colors in this. There are so many bright and dark colors along with the expected green. I like the layers and the depth, the different degrees of focus and the raindrops on the leaves.

NZD 12182009

2010-03-27T08:55:00.001-04:00

Cherries

I must be hungry…

I love the number of values of the red and the occasional green stem to break it all up. I love the gleam of the highlights that defines the curves and shape of the fruit. Oh to wait until June for these to come…

NZD 12182009

2010-03-26T17:45:00.001-04:00

Vineyard

I was intrigued by the orderly rows of vines as we drove down the road in this one. So straight and regular compared the chaos of the clouds and the rolling of the mountains in the distance. I love the that the mountains are not just one shade of green. I know it’s because of deforestation, but I like the texture visually. I also like the periodic signs of man in the buildings and the trees. Nature and man cannot ignore one another – and can live together beautifully!

NZD 12182009

2010-03-25T20:00:00.001-04:00

Cook’s Straight

Crossing from the North to the South Island takes about 3 hours. I am not one who handles the sea very well, so we found our seats and I settled in. James went up on deck. I glad he did so I could see his pictures.

I love the layers of the land and how the one closest is the shadow of the cloud and the those further back are in the midst leaving the one in the middle to be brought out. I like how the sea and the clouds remain straight to frame in the land to draw my eye in there. I like the promise of sunlight on the tops of the cloud and slightly on the sea.

NZD 12182009

2010-03-24T18:36:00.001-04:00

Succulent

This succulent was one of three that graced our table at lunch this day. It’s only about as big as the palm of your hand in all, and this portion is likely about half of it.

I like the softness of the shapes and the curves of the edges. I like the number of colors from yellow to green to blue. Maybe three is even a hint of orange at the very edge. I like the slight fuzziness un the top half from the sun highlights and the distance – almost like the petal are opening and the movement causes the fuzziness.

NZD 12182009

2010-03-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

The Tide is Out

I am not accustomed to such a dramatic change when the tide goes out. I cannot even find the sea in this picture, but I do find the "channels” it has left behind. I like the waves in the sand and how the wisps of clouds try to follow the waves. I like the rocks that bring in texture and the light gleaming to bring out those rocks. I also like that the horizon is still defined by land. It gives me something to look at far in the distance.

NZD 12182009

2010-03-22T18:48:00.001-04:00

Grape Leaves

These vineyards were set up such that the vines were trellised up at least 7 feet in the air and then branches would reach across the rows to form a canopy. It was quite magical in a way. I loved going underneath. It reminded me of being 4 years old when I would crawl under my father’s grapevines to pull out clusters of grapes – except this time the cave was much larger and the floor much cleaner!

I like the intense greens, the details of the leaves and the light shining through from the top to show even more texture of the leaf. I like the hint of the vines coming up in rows in the background.

NZD 12182009

2010-03-21T18:12:00.001-04:00

Black Cherries

What’s not to like about cherries??? There are many more cherries in the original picture. In fact as a whole, it was the one that caught my eye out of all the ones I took. Then I started cropping and cropping until I came into just these 5. I like the tight grouping and the intensity and range of values of the reds. I love the shine of cherries against the flat of the leaves. I even found my reflection in the foremost cherry when I really looked and used my imagination. I also like the sunshine coming in to touch just a bit. Oh it’s a few months before we’ll see these here….

Colors on our Walk in SC

2010-03-20T20:34:00.001-04:00

I have seen many colors this month for Sue at Life Looms Large, but I decided this time to give you what is growing here locally while I walked Shadow and Raven this morning. You can tell things are looking up here if I can find color just any ol’ place! What a great thing on the first day of Spring (and a high of 75!)

Little flowers can be found like these in the cemetery…. Here are the violas at Raven’s feet…the vinca is about five times bigger….Daffodils may be found in plenty on a sunny corner… Here’s a star magnolia showing off with another set of daffs And then here are the tassels starting on the maple tree with the Bradford pear in bloom behind and a unidentified bush starting to bloom in yellow. It’s not forsythia, because that starts with blooms before the leaves like this… Oh I want to share one more. This guy wasn’t on our walk – thankfully – can you imagine 180 pounds of bird dogs on the end of leashes with him around???? He was actually in a parking lot near a back road I take on my way home from work. Don’t worry I’m sure he knows the way home…

NZD 12172009

2010-03-20T10:24:00.001-04:00

Flower in the Forest

While I have the digital macro on the camera, one still fights the wind moving the branches of a bush or stem of a flower. I was drawn to this purple flower in the sea of green of this wildlife sanctuary. I took quite a few pictures waiting for the wind to stop the swaying. I did get a few that show good detail of the flower. Still in reviewing them all, this one is the what was chosen – the blurred moving one with the flower moving off camera.

I like it for the light coming down strong from above, but then through the petal tot he point of washing the color out. Even the green of some other plant is highlighted and backlit in the background. I like the soft curl of the petals with the hard lines of the stamen. (Is stamen right? I really should look that up!) I like the BIG flower in the foreground with all the background lost in burst of color.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-19T21:59:00.000-04:00

Intertwining Leaves
I apologize that I don’t remember what plant this is. It was leaves of a vine-like plant that grew mostly at the foot of trees. I like the many different lines going in all sorts of directions, I like the regular bumpy texture that follows the outline, and I like the layers of depth. Despite all the “chaos”, I think the cool green brings calm.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-18T21:51:00.000-04:00

Tuatara
The fill light is a bit bright in this one and with a more advanced software I could probably do something about it. I like it anyway. The texture of his skin, the shadow on his head and the size of this foot relative to his head. I think he could readily be made into a cartoon character, but has too much dignity in person.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-17T13:02:00.000-04:00

Fern Leaf Unfolding

Something green for St. Patty's day. I like how the background leaves are in the same direction and curvature as the foreground leaf - almost like the young one is trying to emulate the older ones. I like the tight spirals of each part, the bit of fuzz at the final head and the occasional sharp highlight. I also like the bit of blue of the sky peaking through.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-16T18:52:00.001-04:00

It seems redundant, but I still get a kick out of these pictures that have some aha! moment. You don’t have to look at hard in this one to see the bee, but for me it still bring a smile. I not only like the bee, but the brilliant white of the petals against the dark background. I like that there is a cluster of three of these daisies together and then a smattering of the yellow flowers in the background.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-15T20:21:00.002-04:00

Pied Shag

The shag has no oil on his feathers, so his body tends to float just below the surface of the water. It also means he can dive rather deeply. When he's finished fishing he often will sit out in the open air with his wings spread to let them dry off. I really wanted to capture that, but no good ones came of it. Still I like this one for the great look on his face, the detail of the feathers on his back and the his being set off by the green background.

NZD 12172009

2010-03-14T17:29:00.001-04:00

Tui in the Harakeke

For me, the fun of the picture is the Tui turned up on his head to feed the nectar from the harakeke (flax). I like the bright yellow blooms, the yellow nectar on his beak, the bright green of the flax in the background – all contrasting this dark iridescent bird and the dark stalks of the bloom. I like the flax and his tail feathers laying from left to right while the stalks are right to left. The shame in the pose is that his distinctive mark of a white pouch under his chin can be lost in the blooms

NZD 12162009

2010-03-13T10:55:00.001-05:00

Violas

I love the bright colors of this one. I also like the one in the foreground in focus and full of detail compared with the blurred background. I chose this one for the surprise of the small bug. I gasp when I first saw him!

NZD 12162009

2010-03-12T20:41:00.001-05:00

Kohua Poharu, Mud Pools

Boiling pools of mud and geothermal fluids. I like the shapes the pools create and the color of the fluids against the neutrals of the mud. I also like how the bubbles give texture to the surfaces. The wall also creates a nice curve across the picture.

NZD 12162009

2010-03-11T18:51:00.001-05:00

Duck on Lake Ohakuri

If I remember correctly this is one of the native ducks to New Zealand, maybe the blue duck. In any case, this lone one was swimming his way across the wind swept lake. I love the texture of the lake, the sky reflecting in the water and the dark bird to contrast.