Purple Flowers

Day #56

 If you have been following along, the blog I had posted called "First" was a picture of my first bud, my first  flower in the front flower bed. 
Today's post shows they are up, open and blooming well. So, I will just keep this post simple and show you the photograph.

 Purple Flowers

 In the fall I hope to plant more of these beauties... they are the first up and just brings a huge smile on your face.

Thank you for taking a peek!

See you tomorrow!


Jewels

Motion

Day #55

I have been debating over the word motion and trying to figure out a way to photograph motion. Someone riding a bike, running, a vehicle on the road. 

While sitting outside enjoying a glass of wine, I watched the local neighborhood squirrel and while trying to photograph him. When I downloaded my pictures, I did find one of this furry bird seed thief in motion.

motion 

 

 

 He is a fast mover this little squirrel. He was checking out the usual places where he may find food, esp. from the bird feeders.

Thank you for stopping in and taking a look!

See you again tomorrow!

Jewels 

A Bug

Day #54

 

 

Spring time is garden and yard clean up time. That is when you find lost treasures from last season, new growth, dead leaves and plants that didn't make the winter. While cleaning out the gardens, I saw worms, I heard flies, bees and the birds were singing!

I was cleaning up a flower garden and I disturbed this beetles home. He was a fast mover! I did manage to get this photo... he actually stopped moving and posed for this shot!

A Bug

I was rather pleased that he waited for me to take this picture. I did crop the picture a wee bit, I did use my zoom to get a closer view of this amazing insect!

 

 

 

Thank you for taking a peek!

 

See you tomorrow!

 

 

Jewels 

Vintage Signs

Day #53

When I was packing up my house to move last year, I found a box of license plates. The earliest I have is 1948... there are some rare ones, BC's centennial, Canada's 100th birthday. For awhile, every time you redid your car insurance you received a new set of license plates. These license plates were packed in a box and saved... collector items? Maybe something of value in time? Or a hoardasourus not able to toss/recycle them. Anyways, they are hung in display... and you wonder what kind of vehicle these license plates were mounted, the story, what kind of road trips? 

 vintage signs

I edited the photo in black and white, esp. being mounted on a shed door. It gives it that aged look to the license plates. 

See you tomorrow. 

Thank you for taking a peek!

Jewels 

Chicks and Hens

Day #52

In my garden, always there and surviving the coldest winters, are what I have heard called, Chicks and Hens....or Vice versa!

With my macro lens on my camera, I was on hands and knees getting a close up view. 

I like using this lens, because, you get to see the tiniest details! 

Chicks and Hens

I shall be working out in the yard and gardens this weekend, my camera will not be too far away!

See you tomorrow!

Thank you for stopping in!

Jewels 

First

Day #51

The snow is nearly gone. The flowerbeds are now showing signs of life. The tulips are poking their leaves from the ground. As I inspect a flower bed, I see a glimpse of color! On hands and knees I see it!! So small, tiny and cute! The first!  

First

I am excited, the first flower of this growing season! There will be more to come and lots of chances to photograph! 

I share my first with you all! 

Enjoy! Thank you for taking a peek!

See you tomorrow!

Jewels 

Frozen

Day #50

 

  

 

 Making Turkey Soup from broth I had in the freezer. The lid of the container had all these ice crystals.... and so with my macro lens I took photos of the ice build up. Seeing the ice crystals close up through the lens. 

 

 

 

 

 

Frozen

 The soup smells delicious! 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping in and taking a peek!

 

 

See you tomorrow!

 

 

Jewels 

Foodie

Day # 49

 

 

Home made.... most people love home made. We had decided on bbq chicken breasts for dinner and I made home made burger buns. Such a nice dinner!   

Am I a foodie? I love to make, bake, cook if all the ingredients are available to me? Is food always on my mind? Yes and Yes!  

 

 

 

 

 

Foodie

Chicken burger on home made buns! So delicious! 

Jewels buns!

Thank you for taking a peek! 


See you tomorrow!


Jewels 

I see...

Day # 48

Finally I see my back yard! I see the grass, the flowerbeds ,the vegetable gardens among the patches of snow! In some of my flower beds I see tulips poking out of the cold ground! Yes, spring is finally here in Prince George, we shall bask in the spring sunshine. 

Now I can inspect the garden to see what perannuals will show, and plan my gardens!

Thank you for stopping in and taking a peek!

 

See you tomorrow!

Jewels

I see... 

 

Prince George

Day #47

Today we did the "Climb for Cancer 2018" in support of the Canadian Cancer Society Kordyban Lodge. The climb was Prince George's famous "Cut banks".

I had never climbed up the cut banks. I had been to the top of the cut banks, ( there is another route to get to the top) ! When I first arrived in Prince George, the cut banks were used for the worlds famous "Sand Blast". Yes, skiing down the sandy hill. 

going up

part way up

Prince George, BC, Canada

I made it up, and down with a ton of sand in my runners! Several participants did the climb several times. I was happy to do this climb once. Yes, I will challenge myself and do The Climb for Cancer, next year! 

Thank you for talking a look!

See you tomorrow! 


Jewels 

Funny

Day #46

Have you ever had a day where you are sorta down in the dumps, and you can't seem to make sense of the day? Well, for me it was the morning... so... when a girl is down in the dumps it is either eating your feelings, drinking wine, or shopping therapy!!  

Since today is Friday and its Funday! I thought I would get out and have a wee bit of fun. (Needed a few groc. anyways) My shopping therapy was exactly that a few groc.  but  very excited over some new lip balm, tinted lip balm! 

Funny

At the bus stop, I had a good chuckle! I took the photo with my cell, just to share with you!

A fork in the tree! Fork in the road, forked tongue, but fork in a tree! I had to chuckle! 

The day ended well, window shopping, people watching, the kindness of strangers. 

And so now the weekend begins! 

For the weekend I hope you find something funny to take a picture... or maybe do something for a stranger! It had lifted my mood!

See you tomorrow! 

Thank you! 

Jewels 

Name

Day #45

What is your name? It is your name from birth. A name someone spent a lot of time thinking about before you were born. As you grew, your name may have been short formed, nick named, or not used at all. Some people changed their name for what ever reason. 

Today's photo challenge is name. Since I am currently learning Light Room, I discovered that I can make my own Water Mark. I wasn't sure what handle I should use. 

My name... my watermark.

I decided I would just use my first name, the name my parents called me when I was born.

 Something simple and elegant. 

The robin was sitting in the tree today.. and he waited while I took a few pictures. 

Thank you for taking a peek!

See you tomorrow! 

Jewels 

(back to Light room I go!) 

Bird

Day #44

 

 

Today I had decided that I wasn't going to delay things any longer! I got up, dressed and before I even had my first morning coffee or breakfast. I headed out with my camera I call her Edie, and headed over to Wilson Park. Yes, the  park with doggie bomb bags hanging in the trees!

It's really a lovely park, like I said before, it runs along the Nechako River. It has many walking paths. This morning there was no one parked in the lot. It was just myself and my camera! 

You could hear birds, robins, chickadees, wood peckers, crows singing to each other or calling a warning that I was there.  In the back ground, you could hear the sounds of the city alive and moving. The ground was nice and frozen, the morning sun hadn't warmed up the mud yet. 

Chickadees were flying across my path...and I did try and take a photo of them in the tree, but they had their backs to me and didn't stay long. 
As I turned a corner to head down to the the river..... behold, a Heron, standing on a rock. I think I gasped! I did manage to take a couple of shots, and then he/she flew off! I never had time to check my camera settings, I just snapped away!  

Bird (Heron)

I couldn't decide which photo to post, but thought you'd like to see the pictures I did take before he/she was out of range!



The morning was amazing! 
I think weather dependant, I will venture out before breakfast tomorrow! 


Thank you for taking time to read!


See you tomorrow!


Jewels 

Textile

Day #43

1. Any cloth or good produced by weaving, knitting, crocheting, or felting. 
2. A material, as a fiber or yarn, used in or suitable for weaving.

When I think of textiles, about the weaving mills creating yards and yard of fabric for all sorts of uses. I think about all the fabric that I had created something for myself, my home, my family. 

I am currently working on a knitted project. A sweater for myself. I always just thought of it as yarn/wool. But, the product is almost ready to be sewn together. Each stitch hand made to create something unique, warm and worn.

Textile

I laid my the piece of of my sweater on my dining room table where the natural light could hit it. I used my macro lens to get a closer view of the texture, the cable of my knitted textile.

I am looking forward in having this piece finished. I already of a new idea for a new creation.



Thank you for taking a look! 

See you again tomorrow!

Jewels 

Edit

Day #42

Instead of taking a photo, I decided I would take one of my recent photos and do an edit. I have downloaded a 7 day free trial of Light Room. During this 7 day trial, I would give editing with Light Room a try. This is very brave of me. Learning something new. I love my photographs, and I have used the basic program that is on my desk top/lap top, or none at all. I am always pleased with the results.  

Edit (before)

Edit (after)

I found a tutorial on line and followed along.  I am pleased with the result. 

If you have any tips for me, I would love to hear from you. 


Thank you for looking at my photographs. 

See you tomorrow. 


Jewels  

(photo taken in Nanaimo BC, Colliery Dam Park ) 

Why?.....Social Issue #a

Day #41

 

 

 

We were out for a nice sunny Sunday morning walk at Wilson Park. I wanted to see if the ducks were on the river, or if I can find some Pussy Willows to photograph. 

 

The snow melting away, you can see a lot of winter leaves behind. Excuse me, but what we humans leave behind! Winter had a nice fluffy snowy way to hide our messes. 

There is evidence that people were also walking in the park, enjoying the quiet, the scenery the sound of the river, the bird calls.  Enjoying their time at the park with a cuppa and leaving their empty cuppa! 

You also have to be very careful of where you walk.. doggie bombs everywhere! 

 

I think I am rather confused with it all. With all the litter, environmental campaigns in the media... we still have litter bugs as a  huge Social Issue.That leaves me with a very simple question; Why?

 

Why?

 Yes, why? Why are we being so good at picking up your doggie bombs. Using scented, unscented, black, white, pink, yellow, blue and green  biodegradable, or just small plastic bags, and tossing them into the trees? Why?

  

 

 

 Thank you for stopping in and taking a peek! 

I hope your day was wonderful! 

See you tomorrow! 

Jewels

Ps... it was a wonderful walk! 

 

Moon

Day #40

The moon is a loyal companion. 

It never leaves, its always there, 

watching, steadfast. 

Knowing us in our light and dark 

moments, changing forever 

just like we do.
Everyday its a different version of itself.

Sometimes weak and wan,

sometimes strong and full of light.

The moon understands what it means 

to be human.

Uncertain, alone, cratered by 

imperfections.

 Author "T. Mafi" 

Moon

 

You cannot look up a the night sky on the Planet Earth and not wonder what it's like to be up there amongst the stars. And I always look up at the moon and see it as the single most romantic place within the cosmos.
 Quoted from 'Tom Hanks'




Thank you for taking a peek!

See you tomorrow! 


Jewels 

Rhubarb

Day #39

Rhubarb, one of the first plants to appear from the ground. Ours grows to great height large leaves, stalks as thick as your wrist.. but makes amazing desserts, rhubarb lemonade, pies, cakes...just to name a few.  

Last  year, there was less snow...and I photographed my rhubarb as it was emerging from the ground.

  I entered the photo in Macleans Magazine, Great Canadian Photo Contest, subject: Signs of Spring. To my delight, that photo was one of the top ten in that category! 

Rhubarb

This picture is the same Rhubarb plant, just more snow this year! Early signs of spring! Now just waiting for the rest of the snow to melt away!    

Thank you for taking a quick peek!

See you tomorrow! 

Jewels 

PS, you can follow me on instagram, justjewels56 

Bake

Day #38

 

 

 

 

I love to bake. There is something about baking, flour, yeast, milk. Mixing these ingredients together, kneading the dough. The feel of the dough. Knowing that this bread will be enjoyed. Natural ingredients, creating some bread for the table. 

 

 

 

Bread

After eating home made french bread, you surely want to have more. 

 

Thank you for stopping by, 

 

Until tomorrow, 

 

Jewels 

Fog

Day #37

I was heading downtown today to do some city, architecture, street, window, photography. As I was leaving home, I noticed that it was very very foggy outside. Which if I was on the ball, and had gotten downtown faster, earlier. There may have been some great shots. I took photos of the bare trees in the morning fog instead. By the time I was down town, it was beautiful, sunny.... and I got side tracked. 

Fog

 After down loading the pictures, I had some fun playing with the exposure and color temp. Depending on what story you are wanting to tell depends on what you do  while editing. 

There is something mysterious about fog or mist. 

Thank you for stopping and taking a peek. 

See you tomorrow! 

Jewels 

Ducks

Day #36

Today's walk led me to Wilson Park here in Prince George. The park runs along Nechako River. I wanted to see if there is any signs of spring, I also wanted to see how much snow and ice is left near the river.  It was a cloud covered day with a promise of rain.

Ducks

It was a real treat to walk along the waters edge with no snow.... and seeing ducks on the river. The ducks didn't stay long is this spot... with me around... as quiet as I was... they flew off! 

I plan on going down to the park more often, with my 7D camera, and a my telephoto lens. 



Until tomorrow, 


Thank you !


Jewels 

Gift

Day # 35

We all like to receive gifts, and most of us like to give gifts. The gifts can be from the heart, home made, gift of friendship, gift of time, cost a lot, cost little, gift of life, gift of love.

In the day, when you were invited to someones house for dinner, the guests usually ask, if they could bring something. Most times the host will say, bring yourselves. In the day, the guests didn't want to come empty handed, they brought wine, chocolate treats, or flowers for the table. 

We had a guest for dinner on Saturday, and we said not to bring anything but yourself, and she brought us flowers for our dinner table. 

Gift 

I took a few photos using different back grounds and trying different settings on my camera. 

The cat even poked his nose in to see what I was doing! 

I like this photo, because, I can see a bit of the lace table cloth we used at dinner, and I like the colours and the softness of the flowers. Just looking at this photo will remember our dinner esp. our guest.

I can smell the fragrance of these blooms! 

Thank you for taking a peek at my photo and reading my blog!

Until tomorrow, 


Jewels 

Green

Day #34

Our front lawn still has at least 1 1/2 feet of snow. Finding anything that resembles grass, gardens, green buds when everything is still in winter hibernation.  Along the drive way, where the snow is slowly receding, I found something green, sage colored, but still green! This sage colored plant reminds me of a plant that would grow up in the mountains, past where timbre line, very hardy and surviving the Canadian weather!

Green (sage)

Get out and enjoy the weather! Spring is here! 

Thank you for taking a peek!

Until tomorrow. 

Jewels 

Waterdrops

Day #33

The weather looks promising. The snow is starting to melt and drip off the roof. That means water droplets! In the past, I have taken photos of water droplets,  water drops hanging on branches, leaves, flowers. Sometimes my droplets have an upside down reflection! I have even managed to capture a drop off water just coming off an icicle.

 I think that it is just magical when that happens. 

Today, I have water dripping off my picnic table and gazebo roof. So, I was attempting to catch the water droplets as they hit the puddle on the deck. I think I must of taken over 500 pictures to finally get the 2 I think are passable.  

Water drop  from the picnic table 

Water drop from gazebo roof

I will keep working on my water drop photography.. I am sure there will be a lot of chances to play with water as the season progresses. 

I think it is all about having fun with your camera, trying different things to see what works for you and  your art is all in the eye of the beholder!

Thank you for taking a peek!

See you tomorrow! 

Jewels