2019 The Year of Comfort: Week 5

If you’ve read a few of these 2019 posts you’ve probably noticed each title begins with the same “2019 The Year of” then changes to a short descriptive phrase from the past week.  In the past I’ve tried to keep yearly project titles more consistent but my objective with this new year of photos and weekly recaps is to explore how many times my point of view changes in a year.  I may start a January project with the intention to focus on one motivation but it inevitable slips and adjusts as life happens and months change.  This time around I decided trust and record my first instinct as I began typing each new post.  Some titles may seem a bit odd but it’s been a good exercise to acknowledge what I actually thought of the past week instead of simply noting what I’d planned for it.

The comfort aspect to this week’s photos reflects my last week of quiet rest at home.  I was feeling better but still needed to conserve my energy so you see a focus on soft colors and comfort surroundings.  I went out for short walks and enjoyed some pretty winter sunsets, icy blue water, pretty flowers, boats all in a row and a wintry shot of Finn comfortable in his fleece bed.

Editing choices this week are all from Hipstamatic.  If you like the lens/filter/flash combinations above I usually try to list them in each Instagram post but you can also ask me a question in the comments and I’ll be happy to share the details.

As with past year-long photo challenges I don’t plan to post here every day, I’ll save that for my Instagram and Twitter accounts, but you faithful blog readers will get one weekly recap every Sunday.

 

Lisa8 Comments

My Year In Pictures: March Week 5

There are days when I can focus on the big picture and let little things go by the wayside but then comes a week when the big picture is just a bit to big and I narrow my field of vision searching for small things that make me happy.  I didn’t over think this trend at the end of March but looking through these 7 photos suggests that’s exactly what happened.

My Sunday search for a photo opportunity led me to the backyard and a pretty batch of spring flowers while Monday’s bright spot was a quick run through the car wash.  Tuesday afternoon was spent at Children’s Hospital followed by a stop at Starbucks for some welcome caffeine before driving home.

Wednesday didn’t exactly go as planned but John surprised me with these pretty flowers before dinner and Thursday I asked my Instagram and Facebook friends if they thought looking at the bottom of a glass was a happy or sad moment.  Would they be happy because the Gin & Tonic was so nice or sad because it was gone… results were split 50-50. 🙂  Friday night I liked this view of bare branches in the evening sun and Saturday afternoon Black Widow rode her motorcycle across our deck.

Coming soon I’ve got a great set of new photos almost ready to share here from our latest spring 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.

Lisa15 Comments

A Surprise Everyday: Shaking Up December With Hipstamatic (week 3)

Now that our shopping is finished, the house is almost clean and I have a few minutes of quiet before cooking Christmas Eve dinner this set of photos from mid-month is a reminder of what it took to get us here.  All in all we had a good week and it’s nice to take a breath and reflect before the festivities officially begin and it’s time for another recap.

I’ll jump right into the week since our chicken and green chile enchiladas, fresh salsa and almond cake won’t cook themselves but if I’m really lucky John will start things off early with a sparkling gin and tonic delivery as I type.  We were slow to get decorations up this year and as you can see from Sunday’s photo the light stringing didn’t go quite as planned… Monday night was another trip to the Dr for a check on Ryan’s shoulder and this clump of pretty grass sparkled underneath a street light in the parking lot.   Tuesday afternoon I followed a crowd of photo-snapping people through a department store and saw they were all watching the singer Ciara during her appearance as the brand ambassador for Top Shop.  She is the lovely, tall woman standing at the “V” between the two sides of the escalator.

Wednesday I liked this small detail from a outdoor wall mural and Thursday I finished the Etsy listings for a new set of colorful, linen cocktail napkins.  These little napkins are a wonderful alternative to disposable paper napkins and come in a fun variety of stripes, plaids and solids.  Friday afternoon I tripped over one of Ryan’s favorite puzzles from his toddler days.  I’m still not sure why it was in the middle of the floor but at least I didn’t step on the hard wood handles over each letter, they are almost as bad as a hidden Lego piece.  Ouch!  Saturday’s photo is a touching reminder of how we need to appreciate each day and always do our best to be careful on the roads.  The first winter we were in this house an elderly woman drove her car over this embankment on her way to church.  Every year since someone places a bouquet of flowers in memory and those of us who ran across the street to help and call 911 stop to remember.

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, filter and flash 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.

Lisa16 Comments

A Surprise Every Day: Shaking Up July With Hipstamatic (week 4)

This week’s set of seven photos perfectly illustrate why I love summers in the Pacific Northwest.  The temperatures are generally mild, flowers are in full bloom, gardens are at their peak and the beaches are wide open.  I’m a day later than usual with this recap because Ryan and I just got home from long weekend away but as you can see from the last image we had a fantastic time and my photo files are filled with new ideas and beautiful scenery.

Sunday morning started early but we filled a thermos with hot coffee, picked up a box of donuts and made it to the fishing pier in time for a 7:00 am high tide.  Armed with a crab pot and fishing pole we enjoyed breakfast and good company before heading home with fresh crab for dinner.  Monday night I liked the soft light shining through some heather and Tuesday morning I stopped to snap this little sunflower that’s sprouted along the side of our road.

Wednesday morning Finn and I paused our walk next to this little circle of nut shells and Thursday I finally had a chance to photograph this Intergenerational garden patch next to the Lynnwood Senior Center.  Every year these 4’x4′ boxes are filled with vegetable seedlings and tended by senior citizens and their younger friends as a way to build community and learn about gardening.  Friday Ryan and I boarded the train for a trip south to visit my Aunt, my sister and her family.  Ryan was a great travelling companion and here you see him selecting the perfect playlist to enjoy with some scenery after our lunch in the dining car.  Saturday was a picture perfect afternoon on the coast and we had so much fun it wasn’t until we were on the way home that I realized I hadn’t taken a “random” photo for this post!  My brother-in-law kindly stopped at this scenic viewpoint along Highway 101 and we all jumped out of the car for one last look back at the beach.

I’ve got some laundry to do and dinner to cook but I’ll be back soon to catch up on everyone’s blogs, I can’t wait to see how you’ve spent the past few days!

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.

 

Lisa32 Comments

A Surprise Every Day: Shaking Up April With Hipstamatic (week 1)

This past week was a fun one filled with lots of work, the end of the school quarter, crazy spring weather and Easter preparations but thanks to this “shake it to randomize” series I made sure to stop at least once every day and look for something pretty that would have been overlooked in my rush to the next item on the list.

Sunday night John opened this Seahawk banner that’s been flying over his office building since their 2014 Super Bowl win.  The edges are frayed from a years worth of wind and rain so his bosses finally took it down but they thought Ryan would like it so I guess I’ll be finding somewhere to stash a big flag inside the house for the next few years. Monday evening’s few minutes of sunshine were enough to step outside and see our pretty green Japanese maple starting to leaf and Tuesday morning I found Finn’s favorite blanket unoccupied at the top of the stairs.   He’s a tactile dog and loves cozy fleece but everything he touches is permanently covered in white dog hair…

Wednesday morning I Finn and I walked up our hill at the exact moment the sun cleared the top and Ryan’s school bus passed by.  Thursday’s image is another attempt to capture this part of our neighborhood and all the pretty shades of green but once again Hipstamatic decided to change things up and shoot it in black and white.  It’s a good thing I’m liking all these new black and white combinations. 🙂  Friday is a corner view of a pretty flower shop ready for a rush of Easter shoppers and Saturday found us in a new Antique store.  I wish we had room for a few of these old bags!

Each photo is straight from 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.  I will be away from WordPress next week enjoying some time off with Ryan for his Spring Break but I’ll be back next Sunday with 7 new photos and maybe even a few new favorites!

 

Lisa20 Comments

iPhoneography Monday 9-22-14

iPhone Monday 9-22-14

Another full weekend and another happy party.  I feel like September has passed in a blur of entertaining and schedules but at least the weather has been beautiful, the company has been great and we’ve enjoyed plenty of good food and drink on the deck.

I sat down outside Saturday evening to enjoy a quiet moment after the party but instead of picking up my book I went for my phone to snap a few photos of the flowers on our table.

Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non SLR Digital Photo Challenge:  Challenger’s Choice.

Lisa43 Comments

Weekly Travel Theme: Purple

Purple

My sweet niece, Sophia checking out the amazing flowers on this Butterfly Bush. July 4th, 2014.

Posted as part of Alisa’s Weekly Travel Theme:  Purple.

Lisa29 Comments

iPhone Monday: 3-10-14

iPhone Monday 3-10-14

In response to Sally’s March Macro Challenge I have a second view of the spring flowers from my Nature post last week.

I encourage everyone who is a fan of mobile photography to spend some time with the thoughtful posts at Lens and Pen by Sally.  Her Monday photo challenges include valuable tips and insight into the world of non-traditional photography and each week brings a new page in an ongoing discussion about art and photography between Sally and her readers.

Lisa33 Comments

Travel Theme: Tempting

In honor of Alisa’s newest travel theme “tempting” I have a set of his and hers photos.

Tempting

Grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s is always full of tough decisions.  This morning I stopped in the entry debating if I should get the Bunch of flowers or do I pick up the Bigger Bunch.  Maybe I could make room in the cart for the Biggest Bunch?

My husbands dilemma is a little more difficult as this year he chose to give up alcohol for Lent.  Five days in and he’s doing great but look what’s on his phone…

Tempting 2

His last Manhattan, lurking in the photo roll.

Posted as part of the weekly Travel Theme:  Tempting.

Lisa40 Comments

iPhone Monday: 3-3-14

iPhone Monday 3-3-14

My husband surprised me with these lovely spring flowers Friday night and today I’m sharing them with all of you as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Challenge:  Nature.

Lisa63 Comments