My Year In Pictures: July Week 2

While there are two different ways to view the lack of regular entries on my posting calendar the end result is the same… I’ve fallen woefully behind in my recap schedule.  The good news is I’m keeping up with my daily Instagram/Facebook/Twitter pictures so there are plenty of new images to write about and I plan to do a lot of writing over the next three days so we should be caught up soon!

The second week of July began with a flurry of pre-vacation activity and ended on a driftwood filled beach in a quiet corner of the Pacific Northwest so if you’ve been following me on social media you’ve already seen a lot of pretty Lopez Island pictures but I’m really looking forward to sharing them with everyone here.  Sunday was our day to catch up with yard work and Ryan’s turn to grumble and groan about the fact that this is our second summer with a push-mower.  Monday is a shot of some pretty Mahonia berries in our front yard and Tuesday and Wednesday are scenes from my evening errands to the library and grocery store for books and BBQ sauce.  Thursday morning I shared this super soft throw blanket in our Etsy store and Friday’s picture captured the moment we left clouds behind and sailed out to sunny skies.  Saturday brought a hike along this rugged beach where the kids explored, flew kites and gathered walking sticks.

Coming soon I’ve got a great set of new photos almost ready to share here from our latest adventures and if you’d like to follow along in real-time don’t forget I post my daily photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  If a once-a-week blog read is more your speed my weekly recaps will continue here along with caption notes containing editing information for each photo.

Lisa13 Comments

A Surprise Every Day: Shaking Up May With Hipstamatic (week 2)

Today’s recap is a quick one while I wait for Ryan to finish his math so we can start our Mother’s Day walk to the beach.  It was another beautiful spring week here in the Pacific Northwest filled with plenty sun and very little rain.  We are all a little concerned about a dry summer but it’s hard to complain during days like these.  Temperatures in the 70’s, no bugs or humidity and pretty sunsets late in the evening.  My kind of weather!

Sunday afternoon was my chance to do some yard work while Ryan and Finn played fetch with a beach stick.  Ryan has a stash of driftwood sticks from our walks that are too stinky to keep inside so they live by the back door ready for dog play, light saber practice or even coyote safe walks.   I always like the window displays at the Apple Store and Monday I wasn’t the only one taking photos of these pretty, pink watches.  Tuesday found me in a quiet corner of a parking garage next to this lonely balloon and Wednesday Finn and I walked past this rusty old can in the woods.

Thursday is a peek behind the shipping container/workshop from last week’s photos.  Now I know where campaign signs go after the elections… Friday night was so warm we brought dinner outside and lit candles by each plate.  Saturday found us at Seattle Center enjoying a generous gift from my Aunt and Uncle.  They treated us to Robin Hood at the Seattle Children’s Theater followed by dinner on Lake Union and a day spent in the wonderful company of my aunt Dale, uncle Dick, cousin Sara and her husband, Alex.  A beautiful way to end the week!

Each photo was taken with my iPhone 6 using Hipstamatic’s “shake to randomize” function then posted without any additional editing. If you like a particular combination and want to try it at home just click on the image to see the lens and filter used.  For variety I continue to add new lenses and filters so if you want to try Hipstamatic but are unsure how to start let me know and I’ll do my best to answer your questions!

Lisa14 Comments

A Surprise Everyday: Shaking Up March with Hipstamatic (week 2)

At least once a day I shake my head and wonder where the time went.  I know rushing through weeks, feeling let down because I couldn’t finish an unrealistic “to do” list is a bad habit but one of the benefits of this weekly series is visual proof that I did find time to relax even if I feel like I am always running (or driving) from one thing to the next.  I’m even starting to look forward to writing these Sunday afternoon recaps and the quiet hour spent thinking about where I’ve been and wondering what I’ll find to share next week.

Sunday was another atypical warm winter day in the Pacific Northwest so Ryan, Finn and I drove up north to Bellingham, WA for a visit with my parents.  We enjoyed a nice lunch together then my mom and I worked through the beginnings of a new project. Later Dad, Ryan and I went down the marina for coffee and a leisurely walk around fishing boats and Bellingham Bay. Monday is my latest attempt to capture these mossy trees in color and Tuesday is a shot of our early blooming Rhododendrons.

A big part of my Wednesday was spent in the car driving the round trip between Tacoma and Edmonds and after successfully navigating both work and traffic I still made it to Ryan’s school in time to pick him up after practice at 4:30.  Whew!  Thursday morning I thought the bright green moss on the road looked pretty even though it’s dangerous to walk across with an excitable dog on the leash.  I decided to risk a quick photo and Hipstamatic rewarded me with the BRAVE “muscle arms”. 🙂

Friday the 13th brought the good news that our favorite Fair Trade gift store is reopening and Ralph the guard dog is happy to announce he’s coming back to work.  The week ended with a stormy Saturday filled with rain, wind and a little sun so my photo is an inside the house shot and a little peek into Ryan’s room…the perfect hideout for a teenage boy who loves science, engineering and history.

Each photo is straight from my iPhone 6 and Hipstamatic’s “shake to randomize” function and posted without any additional editing. If you like a particular combination and want to try it at home just click on the image to see the lens and filter used within the app.  I’ll be back next Sunday with 7 new photos and maybe even a few new favorites!

Lisa22 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Zigzag

This week, share a photo that foregoes the straightforward in favor of the twisting and winding.

Ben Huberman – The Daily Post

Zig Zag

I’m using a loose interpretation of Zigzag today and sharing a photo of this small blue sailboat that has chosen to forego straightforward, nautical themed decor and try something new.  If you look closely at the roof and follow the line up you can see a Maple tree growing out of a canvas bag filled with soil on top of the boat.  The back of the boat is also filled with several hay bales…

I will be away for the rest of the week as we zigzag through Olympic National Park in the NW corner of Washington State looking for wide open mountain top views on Hurricane Ridge, beautiful old growth forest in the Hoh Rainforest and quiet places to relax on the rugged beaches of the Washington Coast.  Wish us luck with the mountain goats and many miles of trails, I’ll be back next week with plenty of new photos to share!

Lisa16 Comments

A Word A Week: Frame

Frame

Sue’s latest challenge in her popular word a week series is “Frame“.  I’m pretty sure I could find a new scenic image framed in an interesting way to share but instead decided to post a photo of this old wooden rowboat living its last days as part of a children’s play area on the Edmonds waterfront.  The boat frame is tipped on its side and secured in the sand creating a unique place for little imaginations to run wild.

Lisa27 Comments

Black and White Tuesday: 1-7-14

B&W Tuesday 1-7-14

Winter trips on the Washington State Ferries offer some amazing photo opportunities if you have a warm coat and don’t mind some extremely cold wind.   John, Ryan and I took a beautiful trip on the Edmonds – Kingston ferry a few days ago and I left the comfy, warm bench to explore the top deck and take photos for as long as I could before my fingers froze and my hair tangled into permanent knots.

The bright blue sky against this green roof and white trim on the boat is what I set out to capture in this photo but when I revisited it in black and white and decided I liked it this way even better.  Of course I have plenty of color shots too and if you’d like to see Mt. Rainier at sunset a new photo is up on my Facebook page.

Lisa15 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow

After catching four-year-old Ryan with his third stolen cookie of the afternoon I really needed to take a quiet walk away from our family picnic on the beach…

Foreshadow 2

He was ready for me to leave too and I can still hear him say “I’ve got this beach figured out mom, take a hike.”

Foreshadow 1

Grandpa went out to the boat with his book.

Foreshadow 4

While John and I went around to the opposite side of the island leaving Ryan skipping rocks with my brother.

Foreshadow 3

I should have known better.  Walking back to our picnic site I heard a slightly worried voice saying “don’t tell your mom, ok?”

Foreshadow 5

Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge:  Foreshadow

Lisa23 Comments

A Word A Week Challenge: Boat

In honor of our 4th of July holiday and in response to Sue’s A Word A Week Challenge: Boat I have four photos from a family boat trip celebrating the 4th of July, 2002. These images are scans from old film prints and I like the scratchy texture and vibrant colors from my days before digital cameras.

Ryan and I on Bellingham Bay.
Ryan and I on Bellingham Bay.
Ryan and my Dad.
Ryan and my Dad.
Ryan with my beautiful Grandma Emma who recently celebrated her 95th birthday!
Ryan with my beautiful Grandma Emma who recently celebrated her 95th birthday!
Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July

Lisa6 Comments