Cat-a-Blog

Any guesstimates on when Spring will arrive this year? Do you have a groundhog on your farm?

2012-02-01T22:47:00.001-07:00

It's been a crazy non-winter here, so it seems like spring is here already. There's rumor of an inch of snow tomorrow, so maybe that will help with the winter feel. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! Best winter ever!! I suspect spring will be in full swing in March. Tulips and daffodils will once again show their beauty and hope of summer temperatures will abound.

We had a ground hog type creature a few years ago. I think it was just passing through on its way to a less suburban landscape.

Ask me anything

Indecisive

2012-01-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

I took this "bird on a wire" photo yesterday. When I looked out the window from my office, there were literally hundreds of birds on the line. By the time I grabbed the camera ande went out the back door, the numbers had dwindled to what you see here. I think they must have been watching me as much as I was watching them. Ah, well. So, then I had some plain-jane photos. That just won't do, right? So, I manipulated them later yesterday. I like how each of these looks. I couldn't post just one!

OH DANG!

2012-01-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

I wish...wish...wish...that this eagle weren't so shy. I also wish...wish...wish...that my camera would have focused on the bird! one of those "could have been awesome" photos from yesterday's adventure. By the way, look at the size of those talons!

hehehe.

2012-01-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

I love this ewe's pompadour and the defiant face. The "Haters Gonna Hate" just fits.

If'n You Need a 2012 Calendar

2012-01-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

Some photos of Utah that I've taken combined with your basic month view. More calendar than you know what to do with!

Do you make New Year's resolutions? (I don't)

2012-01-02T22:56:00.001-07:00

No, not really. I make some tentative plans and just hope for the best.

Ask me anything

Life on the Hobby Farm

2011-12-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

10 new lambs so far. Probably going to double that before the birthin' season is over. Yes, it's early for lambs, but doesn't it make you think spring is just around the corner?!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

I hope you're all having fun this holiday season! 2012 is just around the corner! Can you believe it?!

How are you today?

2011-12-08T00:30:00.001-07:00

Doing ok. How are you?

Ask me anything

Another Filtering Example

2011-11-28T14:27:00.001-07:00

I didn't take this picture, either Ivan or my my son-in-law did. It's an abandoned structure in a mountain town not far from here. It's a fun picture. I love seeing old ruins. The basic picture is fine although it lacks a bit of focus. Are we supposed to look at the mountainside or the ruin?

With the filtered photo, the mountainside is obscured and the softened edges draw your eyes toward the architectural ruins. The texture adds hints of age and added interest.

Filtering Photos

2011-11-28T14:20:00.001-07:00

This is a buffalo photo from Yellowstone that I took earlier this year. It's ~ok~, but nothing fab.

This is the same photo, on filters. Again, nothing fabulous -- fabulous, but the filtering gives the simple photo some je ne sais quoi. And some mystery in the details. Well, at least for me it does.

Photo Philters

2011-11-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with more Photoshop filters in my spare time. A great time waster if you can get it.

Do you believe in a supreme being (god for example)? If not, do you believe that people are brainwashed (in other words; can't think for themselves)?

2011-11-08T12:05:00.001-07:00

No, I don't believe in an all knowing, all powerful supreme being.

Nor do I believe the faithful are brainwashed. Most people simply choose to believe what they are taught growing up. The negative connotation of "brainwashing" isn't really applicable to most believers unless you choose to believe that cultural education of any kind be considered "brainwashing."

I think it's also a bit shortsighted to think that religious people are brainwashed. I think a lot of people struggle, examine and still choose to follow a particular religion. To me, it's just one of those things that we can't prove nor disprove. Unfortunately, for a lot of religions, they see non-believers as being bad, immoral, hell-bound people. I just see believers as being people who choose to believe something I don't.

Ask me anything

Don't be shy.

2011-11-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

Ok.

Ask me anything

Do you believe in angels? If so, do you believe that they actually have wings like human portray them to have?

2011-11-06T09:46:00.001-07:00

No, I don't believe they exist, but the idea of them is intriguing. I like the romanticised idea of wings, too.

Ask me anything

Halloween Over...now...this...

2011-11-03T15:55:00.002-06:00

Halloween is over. Phew. One of my favorite holidays, to be sure, but for some reason all the work (Zombie Apocalypse party preparations) just seemed a bit empty to me and just more work than fun. I always say this after the big Halloween to-dos, but next year -- pizza from Papa Johns and store bought cookies. None of this homemade crap! Of course, come next October, I'll be planning the baking and whatnot yet again...

I think what made this Halloween's preparations especially difficult is that canning season never ended. It wasn't until Halloween that we had our garden freeze. So, two days before the party, I was still putting up apple pie filling! More kitchen slaving on top of more kitchen slaving! My hands are raw from all of the dish and hand washing. I want to do more apple pie filling with the remaining apples, but after that...I may...actually...be....done?!!? Pretty exciting, for me anyway.

On to the next set of holidays. I'm not a huge Christmas person. It's fun and all. I love the lights and the coziness that comes with it, but the consumerism gets old real fast and pretty much ruins it for me. If I had my druthers, I would do away with gifting within the family 'cept for those under 14 or so.

While I haven't been huge on decorating the past several years, I ran across these Santos figurines and busts in a randomly received catalog from Ballard Designs. (http://www.ballarddesigns.com Specifically http://www.ballarddesigns.com/santos-with-wings/12406 and http://www.ballarddesigns.com/crowned-santos/218775 ). They really speak to me! In a way that hasn't grabbed me in YEARS. I love the simplicity and solemnity on their faces. There's a certain darkness to their primitiveness, too. Ahhhh, good stuff...just thought I'd share. By the way, I found a site that looks to carry very similar articles here: http://http://shop.santoscagedoll.com/ Even more variety. I really love coloring and expression in the bust pictured above, but seeing even more variety is pretty thrilling.

What is your favorite Halloween costume?

2011-10-31T16:59:00.001-06:00

A giant fish bowl costume. It was fab.

Ask me anything

What and whom were your most recent sexual thoughts about?

2011-10-30T23:53:00.001-06:00

Oh dang, I hadn't thought of anything in a while, but now that you asked, visions of Jello baths and...me...popped in my head.

Ask me anything

Any major plans for what I call candy day(Oct. 31st)? Parties, passing out candy, or just eating it?

2011-10-30T23:48:00.001-06:00

Nothing planned for Halloween day, but hosted a Zombie Apocalypse party last night. Lots of good brains to eat!
Happy Halloween!

Ask me anything

Lots of Water

2011-10-13T21:55:00.000-06:00

I go through a LOT of water when canning/freezing this time of year. Luckily it makes for pretty photos.

Plumbing

2011-10-13T21:52:00.000-06:00

Plums in a jar look a bit creepy prior to processing.

Cock Block

2011-10-13T21:28:00.000-06:00

It’s tricky to get the chickens and roosters to sit still long enough to take a photo. I succeeded once or twice tonight with 100+ pictures getting deleted.

Where have you been all of my life?

2011-10-11T23:38:00.001-06:00

Hmmm...I don't know. Where have you been during your life?

Ask me anything

It's almost October!

2011-09-29T00:19:00.000-06:00

What's your favorite app on your mobile phone?

2011-09-13T23:58:00.001-06:00

The flashlight! Brilliant and brilliant!

Ask me anything