Wonderfulicious Wednesday - nuggets of joy

This is the first time the Anthurium plant produced large flowers.

The plant is probably 6-7 years old and normally the pollen laden 

flowers are tiny. Right now I'm suffering from allergies to 

everything in the air! But before I snipped off the gorgeous flowers

I photographed them.

The flowers always remind me of of Elephants . . . .

Layered/blended photo of a window in Amalfi, Italy, 

I was pretty sure this was taken in Orvieto. So much

for memory! But then after all, it

was six years ago.

1974. We were living in Newhall, CA at the time and the summer temps

were hot. I can't imagine being cold enough in San Juan Bautista to have

needed heavy jackets and hats! We eventually lived about 45 minutes from

the San Juan Bautista mission and rarely needed more than a light weight 

jacket when we visited the area. 

This is image is from scanned negatives that are in bad shape.

Much improved with a watercolor effect.

Wonderfulicious Wednesday

 This tiny treasure of a hummer continues to visit the same 

grape vine branch. And I continue to capture

its many poses. 

Of course I have to use filters and textured layers!

Wonderfulicious Wednesday is a time to go back 

into the archives of old photos and try new

things with them.

The Vatican, 2009, Rome.

Textured layers.

Portofino, Italy, 2009.

 Dock at sunset.

Textured Layers.

Roaring Camp, 1974, Felton, CA.

Textured Layers.

Hummingbird Delight

Occasionally, a hummer spends a lot of time perched on a 

grape vine branch. The grapes haven't been successful for

the last few years so I'm tempted to remove the vines. But

then I'm treated to something so delightful that  . . . maybe 

the vines can stay. 

I think I captured a few unique shots, at least

 they are to me. 

The hummer doesn't face me too often, guess 

 the view of the yard is preferable to

the bedroom window. 

The shot below is mostly what I got, backside!

And then the hummer changed spots for about a minute.

Love this shot! Actually, I love them all!

Wonderfulicious Wednesday

I was browsing through the blog and realized that it's been a year since I posted

a Wonderfulicious Wednesday post. Seems that I forgot that I intended to post at

least once a week. Energy being a low commodity around here, both mine and Stacy's,

not much gets done some weeks. We're a sad duo! Lots of good intentions never happen.

 Wonderfulicious is something that sparks joy! And the above photo

does just that. Sadly, the original photo is among the lost ones but

I do have the 110 Instamatic negative. Though, the negative is in

bad shape. Good thing that I'm very fond of a distressed look! 

Layered with 2 textured layers this image is once again a favorite!

Corey was around 4 at the time this was taken. She liked Mac Davis!

The pillow on the floor is one that I wove on a a free standing loom that

my ex built for me. 1974.

On Saturday when I photographed the hibiscus in the last post

I glanced down and saw this! Leaf on Mushroom or maybe it's a 

Toadstool? Nature often arranges things in such perfect ways!

During one of many days futilely searching for the

photos I came across a weaving from

the 80's. Hung it in the hallway to

see if it should be hung. Decided against

it, too much of a dust catcher, but it

did bring me joy to see it again. Though,

looking at it now I see lots of areas I'd

do differently today. 

I probably sold over 100 needle-woven

hangings in the 80's. Two galleries were

in Carmel and one in Monterey. I was

starting to feel like an assembly

line and was relieved when the

galleries went out of business.

The print on the wall is one I

purchased at the La Quinta Art Festival

a few years ago. The Indian Head sculpture

is one a few metal sculptures an ex created. He

had lots of talent but was impossible to live with. RIP!

So, there you have it, some Wonderfuliciousness. . . 

Saturday Photo-therapy

The yard continues to provide me with 

a cornucopia of images, if I take the time

to look!  

There is a hibiscus that has 1-2 blooms every year! The bush never grows

 even though the one next to it has grown higher than the brick wall

and needs to be pruned. Odd! The above

image is of the bloom that greeted

me today. Blended with texture layers.

 A tall very prickly white cactus that was once a part

of small pot full of succulents and cactus has

been planted in the yard and has now given

birth to 6 babies.

The yearly red blooms are always a source of 

amusement. Both of the images have

 been blended with texture layers

Dove blended with texture layers.

Happy 4th!

Some of my favorite fireworks photos. All were taken in the gated 

community I live in. Being part of a crowd 

isn't my idea of a fun time so I never attend 4th

of July events. But when there

is a celebration at the clubhouse that includes

fireworks I grab the camera, set it in fireworks

mode and  show up in time for the 

glorious light shows. 

After decades of not seeing fireworks live,

the first few blasts of lights were quite shocking

to the senses. I certainly understand why some

can never handle the sounds. 

A couple of these images are layered. 

I might once again try getting some photos

during a TV showing. Though, nothing

compares to a live fireworks show.

July 1, PhotoTherapy

Where did June go? Zoooooom! Actually, I know where it went,

 I spent days looking in vain for photos of

my girls when they were young. Somehow nearly all of them disappeared during

the 2006 move. How could that happen?? I will never got over the loss of

those memories. The only thing that has helped me through the despair is that

 in my mother's thing were some photos, small bonus size ones, and I found an

envelope of 110 Instamatic negatives that I've been scanning. But every time I scan one

photo I remember another lost one and the tears flow. My heart has always gone out

to those who have lost households in disasters but the difference is that they know what happened.

The loss of belongings to house fires or natural disasters can't be easy, but I will never know

where the photos ended up. In the midst of the search realization hit. 

I haven't seen any of the photos since the move so I knew that I had to give

 up the search and let go. 

My girls are in the 40's which is a huge shock to me! I feel like I was just in my 40's! 

Anyway, neither of them needs much so I thought I'd create books for their Birthdays this year Moments from birth to current. Thus the search for the photos.

 I've made books from Blub before but wonder

if there is another source that might be better. 

During the rough times I often get lost for weeks

reading book after book. The other thing that helps is

working with photos. So, I'm coining the term PhotoTherapy. 

A sunburned rose, layered/blended with 

textured layers that I created.

Plumeria with a textured layer.

Memories of Rome, 2009, layered with

an image of tree photo taken in Pebble Beach, CA

Palo Verde Desert tree with a texture layer.

Corey at 18 months after proudly painting her face.

Added a texture layer to further distress

 the image. 

Happily, the above photo was in a box

of miscellaneous photos. It's the 

only one I have of a joyous day.

After 14 days in the hospital with 

lung issues, Corey joined her

3 year old sister Stacy.

Textured later added.

At 11 months Corey stood up and walked.

Textured layer added.