tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200814242024-03-07T00:44:54.891-07:00life in the AZ deserta journal of art projects, crazy pets, and our adventures in the Sonoran Desert...crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.comBlogger601125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-72538647972048852652017-09-17T12:30:00.004-07:002017-09-17T12:31:32.054-07:00scrapbooking, SB stuff, and the end of an era<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in no particular order, lol. (click on the photos to make them bigger)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The end of an era: the 'local' scrapbook store that I shopped and cropped at (a 'crop' is a get-together with hours of crafting, socializing, and snacks) closed right after Labor Day weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The owners both have kids in high school now, and it seemed like a good time for them to focus on other things and take a break from the long hours retail sales involved. They did have one last 'blowout' 3-day crop over Labor Day weekend that I attended. Because they had sold some of their store fixtures, they made room for more crafters than they usually had in attendance- there were 32 of us crafting all weekend long! It was bustling with activity, as people shopped the store-closing sale and the owners dismantled the store and fixtures around us as we crafted. I attended on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday (I needed one day to recover and relax before going back to work on Tuesday). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My space is the middle/bottom of the photo below-- my workspace is actually pretty clean in that picture, although you might not believe it, lol. Most of my supplies (my collapsible wagon full of boxes!) are not in the picture, along the wall behind my work space.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycx8QRdn3OYR2AUAK2GFwpYSaoKc_h1HmSaVcgNtt3DAi-REqfo527wgSXiMPccXjsWl9GzfjWMHehFk7BYFX7tXnVIyARvsGmVwFaQgQ3fmZM1Xk92D0l03RDUMMlAhCAsv7Wg/s1600/IMG_2905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycx8QRdn3OYR2AUAK2GFwpYSaoKc_h1HmSaVcgNtt3DAi-REqfo527wgSXiMPccXjsWl9GzfjWMHehFk7BYFX7tXnVIyARvsGmVwFaQgQ3fmZM1Xk92D0l03RDUMMlAhCAsv7Wg/s640/IMG_2905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The photo below is the store the following Wednesday, when they were selling their last inventory before closing their doors later that night. They had sold a good many of the store fixtures, including their worktables, bookcases, tools, slat wall displays, etc. to various individuals and other organizations / stores in the area. It was really odd to see the space so empty. I made one last purchase that included some plastic storage drawers, ribbon, and a few of my favorite paper punches from their classroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Modern-era" scrapbooking has been around for at least 20-25 years, now- I remember when I first got into it in the early 1990s, when there were multiple magazines being published, and you could find a scrapbooking store practically on every corner, it seemed. It was the era of the 'sticker wall' with rolls of stickers to purchase that could be used to decorate your pages, tracing letters using templates to make a page title, and hand-made page embellishments that included 'paper dolls' that you could make from patterned paper to match the people in your photos, lol. (like everything else, scrapbooking has trends that come and go- some are better left gone, haha!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scrapbooking has changed over the years, and the popularity of online shopping, blogs, and other websites has changed the brick-and-mortar store part of the hobby. Not sure if that's a good thing; I like seeing and touching my supplies to buy them, and I do miss the days of getting a scrapbooking magazine every month in the mail. But websites like Pinterest and YouTube have now become my 21st-century 'scrapbook magazine' fix for ideas and inspiration, I guess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, I attended the Shopping event at the 20th anniversary of the Scrapbook Expo, a traveling convention that schedules classes, shopping, and a crop as part of a 2-day event. The picture above is my 'haul' of goodies- some stickers from a company I really liked that's no longer in business (I love small letter stickers!), a whole SEVEN pieces of paper (which is an unusually small number for me, considering I loooove, loooove, loooove all kinds of patterned paper), and some special page protectors that will allow me to add even more photos to my scrapbook pages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The photo above is my current work space- for the time being, I have commandeered our dining room table! At the end of the month, I'm going to be attending a 2 1/2 day scrapbook retreat at a hotel, so I'm trying to get organized so I can be productive during the weekend-- some pre-planning of my projects, editing and ordering photos to be printed, things like that. (basically, I am a messy crafter- it's just how I work best.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The photos below are a few layouts that I have in-process right now; I make scrapbook layouts of our daily life along with layouts that include photos of places we've gone, or things we've done. Scrapbooking / memory keeping is definitely a good way to 're-live' those experiences later; plus, it's fun to play with all of the pretty papers, ribbons, trims, and embellishments and to use them to enhance the photographs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The two layouts above are from a 'gourd show' we attended at the local county fairgrounds back in February. There were decorative gourd artists from all over the country, and a special exhibit from China, if I remember correctly, exhibiting and selling their artwork, along with supplies, idea books, and all sorts of tools. The level of artistry was spectacularly stunning, and my photos do NOT do their work justice. The pages still need a title and embellishments that 'go with' the Southwestern feel of the pages, and journaling to remember the details later. (like the detail about the people and their gourd art from China- I certainly won't remember that later, for sure.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The two 12x12 pages above are also not quite done yet; the brown space on the right-hand page is waiting for a photo I forgot to have printed, and the pages still need a title, embellishments, and journaling. The photos are ones I took in a 'wildflower prairie patch' area at the edge of town where my parents live; I took the photos when I visited them in June. I do love taking photos of places, flowers, and wildlife- landscape and flower photos are 'easier' than wildlife, or people, lol. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So even though the hobby of scrapbooking has changed and evolved over the past 25 years, for us 'paper lovers' it will always include pretty paper, photos, and all the cool, fancy, creative, and neat things you can do with them. </span></div>
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<br />crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-52584525055504498042017-06-04T19:21:00.001-07:002017-06-04T19:21:19.667-07:00playing with my birthday present--<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My birthday was Memorial Day weekend- 48! (eek!!! where DOES the time go?!?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to spending most of the weekend crafting at the scrapbook store, I spent some time playing with my birthday present from Tom, which was a tripod and remote for my camera. I had been talking about wanting one off and on; it's tough to hold the camera still, especially when using the macro lens. Plus, I have a habit of sort of 'jerking' the camera a bit when I click the shutter. The tripod made things so much easier! I haven't used the remote yet, but maybe next weekend (early in the morning, when it's not hot as an oven outside). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our front yard tenant-- the second batch of babies came and </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">went in a flash! </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">They're already gone, as of yesterday... :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">He (or she?) did NOT like me acting all 'photographer-y' out there, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">but would not BUDGE off of those babies- very protective!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">If you click on this photo to make it larger, you can see the tiny, tiny </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">feathers right around the rim of the eye. You can also see the reflection </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">of the trees across the street in its eye! How cool is that?!? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">An 'almost-blooming' lantana-- they have compound flowers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">(I think that's what </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">they're called)-- </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">each individual flower is tiny, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">and each flower head is made up of a bunch of tiny flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">After taking some photos of the dove, I decided to try my hand at the lantanas blooming </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">along our front sidewalk. Taking a photo of a 3D object with a macro lens </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is tough, because only one 'plane' of it is in focus at any one time, so I wasn't getting great photos, but I was having some fun with it, nonetheless. I sat on the sidewalk, made the legs of the tripod as short as they could go, to see what difference the tripod would make. (it made it SO much easier!!) The flower buds above were about the size of, maybe, a quarter? If you take a close look at the center area of the photo, you'll see a very small visitor... </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-mth06YoYOfK3o_L5lT8NWGR8tAi7kgIznUi7g6X06kGGwoOKf1uhdvc0kiFh6UnsK7nshb6zc32W8gPg9_2JkQfXtPc1sC_enKTmyGubJfjx_IX6CVlxkQSAuDij6hZ4inyZw/s1600/1-IMG_8895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-mth06YoYOfK3o_L5lT8NWGR8tAi7kgIznUi7g6X06kGGwoOKf1uhdvc0kiFh6UnsK7nshb6zc32W8gPg9_2JkQfXtPc1sC_enKTmyGubJfjx_IX6CVlxkQSAuDij6hZ4inyZw/s640/1-IMG_8895.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here he is!! In real life, he was maybe, 1/8 inch long? He was quite industrious, looking for who-knows-what... nectar? pollen? Not sure. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghYoqflhoeU18TQMAph8IJZuDz29l8Fb6Jfi08EfymcqcOi-cwqXIp3blIl6WhnKfRNLmBcSQx5Vkb98_qYQfD9Q39vjb7-Fiyu83IORvM1OqQS5OnvoTp9OoKJQpyhM3sOyDTA/s1600/1-IMG_8912.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghYoqflhoeU18TQMAph8IJZuDz29l8Fb6Jfi08EfymcqcOi-cwqXIp3blIl6WhnKfRNLmBcSQx5Vkb98_qYQfD9Q39vjb7-Fiyu83IORvM1OqQS5OnvoTp9OoKJQpyhM3sOyDTA/s640/1-IMG_8912.JPG" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">A red lantana flower head.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> I've never really noticed before how odd these flower buds look- I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">t looks like they almost 'pop' open when they finally bloom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The focus here is on the tightest flower buds, so the rest of the photo is kind of fuzzy, but I still think it makes for a neat photo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lantana leaves are sort of fuzzy (and a bit itchy, when I'm pruning them back in the spring). The photo below sort of shows why. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIFLcOA6u256Y5mxkWtSksZVugar4gIRAIrlAiCeS_JIwu4oWkaZA8a6kCuH15yOQPlXZ9dawZIcstb7-dW4wINkso5tFuDCZl-8_R_sfVDmqqi-prDaJ7x8FJ9wG3UTB6BlopA/s1600/1-IMG_8934.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1215" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIFLcOA6u256Y5mxkWtSksZVugar4gIRAIrlAiCeS_JIwu4oWkaZA8a6kCuH15yOQPlXZ9dawZIcstb7-dW4wINkso5tFuDCZl-8_R_sfVDmqqi-prDaJ7x8FJ9wG3UTB6BlopA/s640/1-IMG_8934.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Make sure to click on this one to make it larger-- </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">you can actually see the individual little hairs on the leaves!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I took about 60 photos in that first session, and I got about 10 that turned out the way I thought they would... that's the way of it, I guess. Thank goodness they're only taking up digital space now, instead of film! At least this way, I only have to print out the ones I want, and can leave the rest of them languishing in digital obscurity. (I should really delete them, but I can't bring myself to do it, lol.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-57026762286454198002017-04-14T23:12:00.001-07:002017-04-14T23:12:22.129-07:00a morning stroll...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">well, not exactly just a stroll. The towns around here oftentimes have a 'letter' on them that you can see from miles away... there's "A" mountain near the ASU campus, there's a large 'Phoenix' with a huge arrow that points west toward the city, there's an "M" on Pima Butte outisde Maricopa, and there's a "CG" right outside Casa Grande, which is the town where we live now. (not sure how they do it, but I'm guessing they paint the rocks in the shape of the letters.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually,<a href="http://www.inmaricopa.com/history-of-m-mountain-a-tall-tale/" target="_blank"> this link</a> is to a local news story about how the M got onto M Mountain... kind of cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, the CG is on a mountain just south of town and it's a large city park (1000 acres) with miles of trails. Last Sunday we got up early and decided to go for a spur-of-the-moment hike. The main trail we saw goes up to some radio antenna towers, and there were quite a few other people out there already; it was a beautiful morning for a hike!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7J7nNzLoGDBbqdhtNhfugWSUX-hmFDlScVLBe2o6AKmy86a0aC6BiUP51bQrqh4ocXUSY7HfE3_rC-HVshd1dg14T8ZvBSG68IOXcwe-Si9aAA181Ylm0WLm4SLf3FITqbBl-Q/s1600/IMG_8733.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7J7nNzLoGDBbqdhtNhfugWSUX-hmFDlScVLBe2o6AKmy86a0aC6BiUP51bQrqh4ocXUSY7HfE3_rC-HVshd1dg14T8ZvBSG68IOXcwe-Si9aAA181Ylm0WLm4SLf3FITqbBl-Q/s640/IMG_8733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the view back down the trail, from about 1/3 of the way up. Our car is down there somewhere!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipi4HlpldefyhGCODk7PGQwO61qqeah2LQbmX8oFFmKispXpOC_hT93QIBOqIdHnFX3HWeFmYP-bc1KatyyNJD84xQT0Q9iyV9h0lcleDuUQ5wQeHhC6g4UIa055HkZLa9ZLMmA/s1600/IMG_8734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipi4HlpldefyhGCODk7PGQwO61qqeah2LQbmX8oFFmKispXpOC_hT93QIBOqIdHnFX3HWeFmYP-bc1KatyyNJD84xQT0Q9iyV9h0lcleDuUQ5wQeHhC6g4UIa055HkZLa9ZLMmA/s320/IMG_8734.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">The radio towers...</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">a good part of this trail is paved, but that didn't really make it any easier- </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">it's a pretty steep grade, and hurt my thighs to walk at an angle like that.</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it was even too steep here for a straight trail the whole way up, so they had to add a couple switchbacks- there are some people down there on the trail, if you click to make it larger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it was a beautiful morning! Once we got up to the radio towers, we thought we were done. But we ran into a couple ladies who said 'oh, no... the flag is about 3/4 of a mile that way-- it's a really pretty trail; much nicer than the trail you came up on.' So we went on...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zBo8mn69aaS4gib2Lb4KmFEV64EEFCy0OVVJZpmrfL-fykZMOYbwowd0yB1KTWzN77jvBr62EtCRmIhR71Sz1wKHVu1euL9etjt4hfadPe1Iu-_IDMi07e7lzMATNW1RopSFjw/s1600/IMG_8754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zBo8mn69aaS4gib2Lb4KmFEV64EEFCy0OVVJZpmrfL-fykZMOYbwowd0yB1KTWzN77jvBr62EtCRmIhR71Sz1wKHVu1euL9etjt4hfadPe1Iu-_IDMi07e7lzMATNW1RopSFjw/s640/IMG_8754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and we found this! the trail goes through a grove (?) forest (?) ...not sure what you call it, if it's cactus-- of cholla cactus. These are the famous 'jumping' cacti, so-called because the segments are really 'loosely connected' and the spines are so thick that all you have to do is brush up against them and they. are. stuck. (notice all the small loose pieces littering the ground around the main cacti plants. It felt a bit like we had the whole place to ourselves for a while, here... there were a few other people now and then, but not too many.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there are other plants and cacti, as well-- blooming ocotillos, saguaro, fishhook barrel cacti (the round cactus on the right with the pink hooked spines), creosote bushes, and other small cacti. (click this photo to make it larger; the fishhook barrel cactus really is neat looking.) It really was beautiful! (although we did have to watch where we were going; the trail isn't wide, and it goes RIGHT THROUGH all of those cacti.) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWPsEAwf9Hjis64u6Od2kNwtK1Lyz3zk2SYKvbzQJH774c1Kv-cZO_OSRPjNZP9BybVbW0QqlMBj0F6MJSd48PPF1htPGjIK683-vHrZPdHrkxqjQYkObSWlzWMpn0hURs6yX_Q/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWPsEAwf9Hjis64u6Od2kNwtK1Lyz3zk2SYKvbzQJH774c1Kv-cZO_OSRPjNZP9BybVbW0QqlMBj0F6MJSd48PPF1htPGjIK683-vHrZPdHrkxqjQYkObSWlzWMpn0hURs6yX_Q/s640/IMG_1792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">once we saw the flag, it didn't seem to be getting any closer for quite a while, lol! But we finally made it there. According to the city parks website, the flag peak is the high point in the Casa Grande mountains, and is 2,350 feet above sea level. It made for quite a view!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrO4kByP0dAtAv1BWSzY0tvdQjCfHzwfW2SDpKuFFONuJ5KyHwmiZAehd3MH-UFh19rG8_Jnqrdb0LwqTlLFAJts0ZApIzBivk-UuJok6DtiF_SFfCtCY5-jB5ZDKT4vwiYnklg/s1600/IMG_8780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrO4kByP0dAtAv1BWSzY0tvdQjCfHzwfW2SDpKuFFONuJ5KyHwmiZAehd3MH-UFh19rG8_Jnqrdb0LwqTlLFAJts0ZApIzBivk-UuJok6DtiF_SFfCtCY5-jB5ZDKT4vwiYnklg/s640/IMG_8780.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tom, at the flag. We finally made it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trails did continue on from there, but we turned around to head back the way we came- it was getting warm, and we really weren't outfitted for an entire day out in the mountains. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAUPtAh1BBuYG5Rmsb9_z3srnVFVrcvAAlF0HMKXHnKSTgCglthX6CUwqY90a6Pnu1PA5dusk1oHf7ntVUZ_MZ1MGiOznNCmj8BP1s2SJO3CKy3-YZRtbOwUtexBgPOm6zh7xgA/s1600/IMG_8785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAUPtAh1BBuYG5Rmsb9_z3srnVFVrcvAAlF0HMKXHnKSTgCglthX6CUwqY90a6Pnu1PA5dusk1oHf7ntVUZ_MZ1MGiOznNCmj8BP1s2SJO3CKy3-YZRtbOwUtexBgPOm6zh7xgA/s640/IMG_8785.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a photo of one of the 'jumping cholla' babies... you can see that the individual segment roots itself into the dirt, and eventually starts to grow another entire plant! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">back down the trail near the parking lot, there was a forest of a different species of cactus, the chain-fruit cholla. It's called that for obvious reasons, lol. The fruit hangs down from the branches like bunches of grapes. This was a really impressive-looking specimen! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqLTJJRehB12-9nWZimZJH_i8UQlpQiXXnTmttZ-TFxA3gUW-bu73RleLrBQPQl2Y9pRLZBKz_V3b3ENO4bNoZDnG3gDwufqB8qmyHGSnjNPwhh3eroUoLueycS2CsrMM0OYLNA/s1600/IMG_8801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqLTJJRehB12-9nWZimZJH_i8UQlpQiXXnTmttZ-TFxA3gUW-bu73RleLrBQPQl2Y9pRLZBKz_V3b3ENO4bNoZDnG3gDwufqB8qmyHGSnjNPwhh3eroUoLueycS2CsrMM0OYLNA/s640/IMG_8801.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">me, standing next to another one of them, just for a size comparison. They're not small cacti, at all! Chollas are sometimes used as living quarters for doves or cactus wrens-- a predator would have to be pretty desperate to go in one of these after eggs or baby birds! This one seemed to be vacant. (Or if anyone WAS at home, they weren't making any noise at all.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabrkMoaie75vN1c3MEUgMhE9jSem2NFHY9Qpr3edkP7Agv-gHg1LPYuNwnk_ZcgTBcSZqWn6udQXepKcP1to2OzcgtiSuRA_Zfef86O8d8KtbLaPZpm-uVb2HBe1TDaEfLT36UQ/s1600/IMG_8802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabrkMoaie75vN1c3MEUgMhE9jSem2NFHY9Qpr3edkP7Agv-gHg1LPYuNwnk_ZcgTBcSZqWn6udQXepKcP1to2OzcgtiSuRA_Zfef86O8d8KtbLaPZpm-uVb2HBe1TDaEfLT36UQ/s640/IMG_8802.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and, one last picture that proves the whole 'jumping' thing isn't just a myth... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I was doing was standing next to it! I got just a<i> bit</i> too close, and one of the loose segments was stuck to my shoe- not just 'to' my shoe, but actually IN my shoe! Those spines are long, and they are SHARP! Tom had to use a couple rocks to very carefully take hold of it and pry it away from my shoe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I was contemplating bringing one of them home to plant in our yard, but not quite like that, lol! And after seeing just how dangerous they are, I think I'll leave them right where they are.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tom did some research after we got home, to figure out just where all we had gone on the trails. According to the info he found, we hiked about 6 miles round trip. (I don't remember what he said about how many hundreds of feet up in elevation... I just know that my ears popped a couple times on the way back down the trail.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a really fun experience, although I did have to do some obligatory whining about how much my legs hurt... and I did have a tough time getting up for the next couple days, lol! We did see a couple other trails we'd like to explore, too; problem is, it's getting warmer pretty quick, so there's not really much time to do it in. We'll see how ambitious we are this weekend! I think the odds are about 50/50, honestly... we'll see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we DO go, I'll be sure to take some pictures! (I'll also be sure to stay away from the jumping cholla cacti!!)</span></div>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-33863550804354397462017-03-23T22:26:00.000-07:002017-04-14T20:12:09.160-07:00tap, tap, tap... is this thing on?? lol!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so... life in the AZ desert has been on a bit of a hiatus! Not really- life's gone on, I just 'got out of the habit' of posting. But I hope to change that. Right now, I'm watching some DVR'ed television, and waiting for a giraffe to have a baby!! (no, really... there's a giraffe in New York state that's pregnant (her name is April), and they have a live cam in her pen, waiting to stream the birth when it happens. I've been checking in on her a few times a day for the last few weeks, now, I think?? Apparently giraffes are pregnant for a VERY long time, and I guess they don't know exactly what her due date is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but, while I wait for that, here's a few photos from last weekend!! Tom gave me a trail ride for my birthday last May, and we finally got it scheduled last weekend while the weather is beautiful (and cool!)... it was at an equestrian center on the Indian Reservation about 20 miles away from where we live.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYia2ddyZeib0E6zVt5T-LnkXjdR-tz0YEjnLij0L8eblZiyQGVh5TxQiw_Y0hyphenhyphen2vubmWkUcDFjvK7zcDp3JLwXWXm_cXPHXu_vwFImbKTpisnqI4UfYCBx-gsKHy6lZPJCXXIWg/s1600/IMG_1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYia2ddyZeib0E6zVt5T-LnkXjdR-tz0YEjnLij0L8eblZiyQGVh5TxQiw_Y0hyphenhyphen2vubmWkUcDFjvK7zcDp3JLwXWXm_cXPHXu_vwFImbKTpisnqI4UfYCBx-gsKHy6lZPJCXXIWg/s640/IMG_1667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tom and me, in front of a herd of wild horses that live on the Reservation... <br />we actually got to walk right up to, and through, that group of horses. <br />it was so cool!! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH-1RDRLJ-sI8JxYL_im50CE2d_vFTktebtD2661pq9kRittHJ68p0jzAydTCe-lyvX6xpCGIsUZtSUwnPE83u2ECTVfxlmNMtMq_z8YFFm_fLdlkfEiwYFHHRC7pYSja0HyEww/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH-1RDRLJ-sI8JxYL_im50CE2d_vFTktebtD2661pq9kRittHJ68p0jzAydTCe-lyvX6xpCGIsUZtSUwnPE83u2ECTVfxlmNMtMq_z8YFFm_fLdlkfEiwYFHHRC7pYSja0HyEww/s640/IMG_1669.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">our guide, BRASS (I had his name wrong). he was really interesting! The Indians keep <br />an eye on the horses, and sometimes do capture some <br />of them to break for riding.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIR8zP-B1yY_gvc8E_2XvepSF5_WpqDzMkjE8O0Sl5rHDS6tN9S_1duB187U_xS5ZOQVxOCYgdFu5Yz_RAcJXMitbXMyIne-Jkxhk68Gfyfcc2EnjXRfW0C5A-BN6phr0SIZfA/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIR8zP-B1yY_gvc8E_2XvepSF5_WpqDzMkjE8O0Sl5rHDS6tN9S_1duB187U_xS5ZOQVxOCYgdFu5Yz_RAcJXMitbXMyIne-Jkxhk68Gfyfcc2EnjXRfW0C5A-BN6phr0SIZfA/s640/IMG_1692.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tom, posing in front of Pima Overlook... a smallish hill made of lava rock. <br />(I guess this area was volcanic? I never knew that!) <br />It was a bit disconcerting, being over all that way up in the air, <br />with the horses picking their way through loose rocks.<br />The view from there- even just partway up- was gorgeous, though! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbSeLBg-luwaxlN3G-Z32Kb2RabMkzNuhh9qUGkY7LpfY9B6Ari5mu8Fe19ZeBCLNc-PyGZPPDXftkSOyKbXp-b8LgM0SeJCRynplsjEoxWHkZYmlXIbiJyW_PkUDVX76nVoEsA/s1600/IMG_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbSeLBg-luwaxlN3G-Z32Kb2RabMkzNuhh9qUGkY7LpfY9B6Ari5mu8Fe19ZeBCLNc-PyGZPPDXftkSOyKbXp-b8LgM0SeJCRynplsjEoxWHkZYmlXIbiJyW_PkUDVX76nVoEsA/s640/IMG_1694.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our horses were pretty well-behaved, but that's the first<br />time I'd been on a horse since high school. While it<br />was pretty neat, I'm not sure about horseback riding as a pastime... <br />it definitely used a lot of muscles I never used before!<br />(and some of them still hurt!!)</span></td></tr>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-44928921489410070472015-10-06T13:22:00.000-07:002015-10-06T13:22:02.643-07:00waaaay old SB layout share: wildflower hike <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have no idea what happened, but this post has been languishing for <em>months</em> in Draft status-- oops! That's embarrassing; I could have sworn I posted it... anyway, here it is, finally:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Way back in March, I went hiking to Picacho Peak State Park (to refresh your memory, the photos are here: <a href="http://crimsoncat05.blogspot.com/2015/03/desert-spring-wildflowers-get-read-to.html" target="_blank">Desert Spring Wildflowers</a>) and took at least 200 photos of the scenery, hummingbirds, and wildflowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had so many really beautiful photos that I remember, it was tough to whittle them down to only enough for a two-page layout, but I decided to choose just a few really nice 'long shots' and some individual flower close-ups to make my layout. Below is the entire layout:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSQXfFzOZgW07tW98CGnDLuIoPXoDBNYST-W_PKtvHU1qxAbAhfLtSJ_6V9y65VzTlHiJG5DxFUtVAguZfO617LPw2lPqMIHkxKsedgBMekUoDfPQMe86tH-lep-B8Mxr4g5w6g/s1600/March+20154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSQXfFzOZgW07tW98CGnDLuIoPXoDBNYST-W_PKtvHU1qxAbAhfLtSJ_6V9y65VzTlHiJG5DxFUtVAguZfO617LPw2lPqMIHkxKsedgBMekUoDfPQMe86tH-lep-B8Mxr4g5w6g/s400/March+20154.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both pages of the 2-page spread. The left-hand page is a traditional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">12x12 layout, and the right-hand page is a pocket page protector.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusOBgzdQ7YwKzVsVW0AaTP3RDmI6FxOGJTV63XmYF1_sRMK6JhDSJxp_WfzLTj_cCuXKv_2O8pPemw_T5Cq2vKedCsmf4_UKRBkBib4V3ALFo_kdeG5eZEVycg8ZxEKZy3ZI8bg/s1600/IMG_5746blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusOBgzdQ7YwKzVsVW0AaTP3RDmI6FxOGJTV63XmYF1_sRMK6JhDSJxp_WfzLTj_cCuXKv_2O8pPemw_T5Cq2vKedCsmf4_UKRBkBib4V3ALFo_kdeG5eZEVycg8ZxEKZy3ZI8bg/s400/IMG_5746blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right-hand page, close-up view.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't do much embellishing at all on the pocket page, because I wanted the focus to be on the flower photos. Pretty subtle patterned papers, just a couple tabs / tags, and two small stamped phrases.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ioLTQNwk_o21D8zFSrgwiQuhUvTsKJM6LvSp2dAXVjZpu-Pvyk4vyzELusIgCUe_LzNEdG-SDVXetK59ICcwR5l-kfSvybu1hawAINUt9hnEVfC6oo87FHdRv6LTOquAzS2JpQ/s1600/IMG_5747b;pg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ioLTQNwk_o21D8zFSrgwiQuhUvTsKJM6LvSp2dAXVjZpu-Pvyk4vyzELusIgCUe_LzNEdG-SDVXetK59ICcwR5l-kfSvybu1hawAINUt9hnEVfC6oo87FHdRv6LTOquAzS2JpQ/s400/IMG_5747b;pg.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upper left corner pocket</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pocket contains a layered background cut with my Silhouette cutter; it's a sunburst pattern, although you can't see to much of it here. After I cut it, I think I used it as a stencil for gold spray ink, and liked the way it looked so much afterwards that I ended up using the 'stencil' itself behind this photo.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbd1lsx-4awwMh-vLwxOgm4YdGV3mZ9Ryy6oP2EZlqnstQTrYkKhseUTX7NYlfTPv4-cGl4K_zPg3hWwJv-KKMgZd9ad40KZ_tOc7BewjFfU2a9B38iDjDYdIUoeqN8ag1yrFkQ/s1600/IMG_5748blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbd1lsx-4awwMh-vLwxOgm4YdGV3mZ9Ryy6oP2EZlqnstQTrYkKhseUTX7NYlfTPv4-cGl4K_zPg3hWwJv-KKMgZd9ad40KZ_tOc7BewjFfU2a9B38iDjDYdIUoeqN8ag1yrFkQ/s400/IMG_5748blog.JPG" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The left-hand page, a more 'traditional' 12x12 layout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the left-hand page, I decided to showcase three of the 'scenic landscape' shots I really like. I used the same patterned papers, did a bit of inking and stamped the title, and while it's tough to see in this photo, the papers underneath the photos have the same gold spray ink on as the pocket on the right-hand page.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4DLIRPRxmJ6buMOaY2CWbehb-Q5d49oMCAGtIskNkcwW_uwEJ3SnWb9Gz9F_hklKVAqJ6SSU57wjshyphenhyphenJyQXYzGIuZBJddvY_YnwdfwAu_LrIqDLyPI4bqKPv5Z1qm1XrHTF_PA/s1600/March+20153for+gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4DLIRPRxmJ6buMOaY2CWbehb-Q5d49oMCAGtIskNkcwW_uwEJ3SnWb9Gz9F_hklKVAqJ6SSU57wjshyphenhyphenJyQXYzGIuZBJddvY_YnwdfwAu_LrIqDLyPI4bqKPv5Z1qm1XrHTF_PA/s400/March+20153for+gallery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a third 'companion' page</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also decided to add in the map of the park, showing the area of the park where I took my photos. It's a bit wrinkled, lol, but I did want to keep it! I simply slid it into an 8.5 x 11 page protector, added my parking pass, and a journaling tag. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Seeing these pictures again after a few months makes me want to go hiking!! But considering it's only just barely gotten down below 100F high temps during the day, I think I'll wait a bit, lol!! </span></div>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-76618056507688035882015-09-17T22:21:00.002-07:002015-09-17T22:21:31.105-07:00cards and crafting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">now that I know the recipients received their mail, I can show the other cards and craft projects I've made recently!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This card started out because I didn't like that greenish-blue 3x4 inch die-cut piece of paper. It has die-cut letters on it saying 'the daily grind' which I knew I would NEVER be able to use... I sat there staring at it for a while, when I had the (simple but brilliant, lol) idea to cover it up with patterned paper! From there, I added more layers of stuff that matched the colors, typed and added the 'hello' and butterfly, stamped the 'xoxo' and tiny hearts onto the Polaroid shaped piece, and glued the entire thing to a card blank. <i>Voila!</i> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyTsmc9OrmAuE-GGiQHqzu3GCMNtxyEdfso1v-83KO6OD4T8TEHjD2A6xKJHBFi8AA1SHFHrppJ4sbWALfQcVwSHbnaF-t5lCi2esAS0iCBErcYNSRMvLulfzPsGksNXaupuzbQ/s1600/IMG_1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyTsmc9OrmAuE-GGiQHqzu3GCMNtxyEdfso1v-83KO6OD4T8TEHjD2A6xKJHBFi8AA1SHFHrppJ4sbWALfQcVwSHbnaF-t5lCi2esAS0iCBErcYNSRMvLulfzPsGksNXaupuzbQ/s320/IMG_1865.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This greeting card also started as a 3x4 scrapbooking card (the orange card with the 'good day sunshine' text on and an open area for journaling). I found the pea and peach die cuts, stamped 'hello' onto a banner, and attached it all to the 3x4 card, popping a couple things up with foam tape. Again, I just attached it to a card blank, and <i>voila!</i> Another completed greeting card! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last time I attended the all-day crop at the SB Barn, I made the following project for sending to my parents. (I couldn't post the pictures until I knew they got it, and there was a bit of a post-office snafu, but it finally got there, so I'm safe in posting it now!) I think I found the idea for this project on Pinterest, made by a blogger who does Tim Holtz grungy-style stamping, but mine didn't end up quite as complicated as the original. (or as grungy, lol!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXAyDM5ORry0w0rnLczOFjD5D1DDqB_BHfFcYpZOSkT5hFkjpuewfVFemCeNjI4umcs-y74i5G-k7JzarTMo0ySBT3_lzgijRnXKf_vbI7OIj9fn0SwARSXPcZPxfIikJkfnbeA/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXAyDM5ORry0w0rnLczOFjD5D1DDqB_BHfFcYpZOSkT5hFkjpuewfVFemCeNjI4umcs-y74i5G-k7JzarTMo0ySBT3_lzgijRnXKf_vbI7OIj9fn0SwARSXPcZPxfIikJkfnbeA/s400/IMG_1867.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used the SB store's die-cut machine to cut 5 medium-sized <br />shipping tags from cardstock, and taped the edges together on both <br />sides with paper tape to make one long accordion folded piece.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr5sSV-I-IB5TsLh4bWSw2J4JmXANP2MPHmng73HSMydVG3r37-FbO8V5A7W7fY7Fs7kR7pZqzmsHK_i3TcqA8jx_b7gX5_kh91_kttehBhyphenhyphencpkFzMFtn9CbusbuYJxKgu4MDwA/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr5sSV-I-IB5TsLh4bWSw2J4JmXANP2MPHmng73HSMydVG3r37-FbO8V5A7W7fY7Fs7kR7pZqzmsHK_i3TcqA8jx_b7gX5_kh91_kttehBhyphenhyphencpkFzMFtn9CbusbuYJxKgu4MDwA/s400/IMG_1868.JPG" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next I decorated the background of each tag with Distress inks and a bit of stamping.<br />(in the pic above, the purple circles and the orange 'splat' shapes are stamped.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M6Gku-PSleJW-X94Po6IA82lh3evK2RQHVXjyzan-5B0tI2eU2rZMPTxwLsANrU-qN8E-HzWssjIZVqPYdrFemwDFTxMftgGUpapdrdqXLvhxTRJVtpYseMebTN7XIx8zXlKXw/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M6Gku-PSleJW-X94Po6IA82lh3evK2RQHVXjyzan-5B0tI2eU2rZMPTxwLsANrU-qN8E-HzWssjIZVqPYdrFemwDFTxMftgGUpapdrdqXLvhxTRJVtpYseMebTN7XIx8zXlKXw/s400/IMG_1869.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, I found photographs of us, the dogs, cats, and<br />some of the yard, and added them to the tags along with<br />a bit of patterned scrapbook paper and typed captions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoJX22aZ87xFJcaQUpUw-s3Cadu3HdVfX9acXGJ3FyKBFh4I2oU0gB6qMm5DjtGo6fbeljh4APdwq0mpin-MnczfKk9gbX48oFBw5w5SunRu_Xqxf-XrrUtVhcss_WHk9ZUbOlw/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoJX22aZ87xFJcaQUpUw-s3Cadu3HdVfX9acXGJ3FyKBFh4I2oU0gB6qMm5DjtGo6fbeljh4APdwq0mpin-MnczfKk9gbX48oFBw5w5SunRu_Xqxf-XrrUtVhcss_WHk9ZUbOlw/s400/IMG_1870.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the top photo is all the cats enjoying their Christmas present- <br />kitty treats- out on the patio on Christmas day!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscpYQ91VPVvBtTnSb7tse3QYtD85tp3ilqWyN0OzlbyOTTRtIgRosfmgvI0NjfITI65_BVhFdY_0KotzF1NhYL643jTexiQZ43v_iyO2l75kV09AOEI1z_BAPdgdUFCHFCUJdWQ/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscpYQ91VPVvBtTnSb7tse3QYtD85tp3ilqWyN0OzlbyOTTRtIgRosfmgvI0NjfITI65_BVhFdY_0KotzF1NhYL643jTexiQZ43v_iyO2l75kV09AOEI1z_BAPdgdUFCHFCUJdWQ/s400/IMG_1871.JPG" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a couple more photos- one of Zola acting wacky,<br />and one of us taken at our last anniversary brunch.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK9WajdYVONTrwxyuuS-7gjiw-x4J09IR2dUDUxYvMGTnqJxYQHRrJz28GFWdx2fgUBfJX4AKoZuTvrGEBWbAkR8XRmdCOJMYoAj2TjFVy5l3ppae_XeBObGiOdwzynSF5eWDrQ/s1600/IMG_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK9WajdYVONTrwxyuuS-7gjiw-x4J09IR2dUDUxYvMGTnqJxYQHRrJz28GFWdx2fgUBfJX4AKoZuTvrGEBWbAkR8XRmdCOJMYoAj2TjFVy5l3ppae_XeBObGiOdwzynSF5eWDrQ/s400/IMG_1872.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the entire album, standing up.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfy66uGh-OjOlYGT22swSuoC4PLhFe6tM7wz6V8Wvnjq5MLkM-3RdQSllCIkc74-vYL454CFNOCgXScw1XBEe2w2CuRQQ__7HJfI4f3kDWsX61qRs0RdpTMmt0Zmx_tGJbYpxTw/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfy66uGh-OjOlYGT22swSuoC4PLhFe6tM7wz6V8Wvnjq5MLkM-3RdQSllCIkc74-vYL454CFNOCgXScw1XBEe2w2CuRQQ__7HJfI4f3kDWsX61qRs0RdpTMmt0Zmx_tGJbYpxTw/s400/IMG_1874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">another shot of the entire album-- I really like the fact that <br />you can display the photos by standing the album up, which <br />you can't necessarily do with a 'regular' photo album. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was my first foray into the world of scrapbook 'mini-albums' but it definitely won't be my last. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many interesting (and intricate) ways to make albums with flipping pages, pockets, hidden flaps, pockets, etc. This one was pretty simple, compared to some that I've seen, but I think if I'm careful with my cutting and my math (no easy feat, for me- lol!) that I should have a lot of fun! (and a lot of the album designs out there have 'how-to' Youtube videos, which is very </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">helpful, since you can rewind and replay things, lol!)</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-84091361816284233142015-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:002015-09-10T10:30:01.473-07:00Labor Day weekend crafting--<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did have a chance to do some scrapping over the Labor Day three day weekend; here's my latest scrapbook layout, using the walk in the woods photos from a couple posts ago. You can either just scroll through and admire the photos (click for larger) or you can read the text, where I explain a bit about my process of making the layout.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxO-2M22DVYpiAMbbWYKii22ENLcyJ2H-Sacvv0JadJucb79ifxUjMyXx6v-muhyphenhyphenKEUUpOVUqFkeU1Qkgsb3akz1GWIVLz28jHbanz2he_0AV3tSERgq1B2HF_trapctOBQZ3_Q/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxO-2M22DVYpiAMbbWYKii22ENLcyJ2H-Sacvv0JadJucb79ifxUjMyXx6v-muhyphenhyphenKEUUpOVUqFkeU1Qkgsb3akz1GWIVLz28jHbanz2he_0AV3tSERgq1B2HF_trapctOBQZ3_Q/s400/IMG_1858.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had about half again as many photos printed, but I just couldn't get them arranged the way I wanted, so I had to make some editing decisions-- I took out the ones that were too similar, and a couple that just didn't make my cut from a photo design / color perspective. I decided to feature all the close-up photos on one page, and chose two of the 'regular' photos of the woods to use on the other page. I had originally cropped all of them in rectangles and squares with straight edges, but I ended up not liking how that looked so I got out my old-school circle cutter and my corner rounder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think cutting the raspberry and thistle photos in a circle echoes the shape <i>in</i> the photo, and the rounded edges on the rest of the photos softens the lines and makes it a bit more relaxed or organic feeling. (hopefully? that's what I was going for, anyway, lol.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is the left-hand page:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-zxQw86qSJ9sKjPSoUdePVOhyphenhyphenNz312Mjndfqe8DqYI4DlBVRKVJxlSXcXPmOByoa1wIb1Sos_HSNXdYX7oW0BWJTdVsUylmy0xn2peb5qLAdrKZb2K-hhmQF7nxvNBQz6rZ2NQ/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-zxQw86qSJ9sKjPSoUdePVOhyphenhyphenNz312Mjndfqe8DqYI4DlBVRKVJxlSXcXPmOByoa1wIb1Sos_HSNXdYX7oW0BWJTdVsUylmy0xn2peb5qLAdrKZb2K-hhmQF7nxvNBQz6rZ2NQ/s400/IMG_1859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">This page is based on a Scrapbook Generation 1-page sketch, with a few changes. The papers I chose are actually a mix of papers-- some from a Pink <a href="http://www.pinkpaislee.com/?p=33157" target="_blank">Paislee Christmas paper pad</a> (the large polka dot, the green horizontal strip, and the blue zig-zag) and some other papers from my stash. I don't scrap Christmas or winter pages very often, but when I saw that paper pad in the store, I knew most of the patterns would be good for 'regular' pages, too!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next photo is the right-hand page (sorry for the bit of glare from the upper left photo):</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWFPeVPGcGgo6gMQqa7XFeOv7u_zBfTieveO5GZSFLWnbe-tZqTpJ6Zwv7u2acnP1ixSConHWpElyX8z8sgonhBWjSs_iYqkLTy2S1KU_Ef3Nwv_gA3Ue4f7PMqm_Ba4cLHL4gg/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWFPeVPGcGgo6gMQqa7XFeOv7u_zBfTieveO5GZSFLWnbe-tZqTpJ6Zwv7u2acnP1ixSConHWpElyX8z8sgonhBWjSs_iYqkLTy2S1KU_Ef3Nwv_gA3Ue4f7PMqm_Ba4cLHL4gg/s400/IMG_1860.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I extended the one-page design across the two-page spread by doing the 'opposite' background paper arrangement on the right-hand page. One other small detail- I decided to ink the edges of all the papers to get rid of the white edges and make them blend a bit more with the darker cardstock background. It was time consuming, but I think it was a good decision.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G2BPswmoJVVGaOTRoxftKtO0BR0GRGYh8jtlLstY-UFiJYxdmjAf1u-XNJIqZlLIMlEACI6itSgm81eZz6hyOqxjOCQ7OmQTWonc3wkqutFwub2g-pLLrXjc_CiJMYv29oW-Ow/s1600/IMG_1861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G2BPswmoJVVGaOTRoxftKtO0BR0GRGYh8jtlLstY-UFiJYxdmjAf1u-XNJIqZlLIMlEACI6itSgm81eZz6hyOqxjOCQ7OmQTWonc3wkqutFwub2g-pLLrXjc_CiJMYv29oW-Ow/s400/IMG_1861.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bottom right embellishment cluster: cork circle, enamel dots,<br />vellum phrase, decorative brad, pink sticker, and a stamped word.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I get all the background papers and photos attached, I start looking for embellishments for the pages. (<a href="http://crimsoncat05.blogspot.com/2015/03/my-workspace-and-calvinball-progress.html" target="_blank">this post </a>shows a picture of the 12x12 Iris cases that hold all my embellishments- tags, brads, enamel dots, stickers, and all sorts of rhinestones, wood veneer shapes, etc.) Page embellishments are little bits and pieces that (hopefully) lead your eye through the layout and reinforce the shapes and colors on the page and in the photos. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ61Fx_7wo-utVlRtu5iJfXeus7E0uGC92ANwtodj8QGfqyyrNPjD72m9REj88a99nqAOixVLogCHhycjZ7sh49-RG086cClkogMHytavp9ytCoHHXg-lA9TfSzSD70jncgBd2w/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ61Fx_7wo-utVlRtu5iJfXeus7E0uGC92ANwtodj8QGfqyyrNPjD72m9REj88a99nqAOixVLogCHhycjZ7sh49-RG086cClkogMHytavp9ytCoHHXg-lA9TfSzSD70jncgBd2w/s400/IMG_1862.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the title embellishment cluster: more cork, wood veneer <br />camera, gold brad, layered paper, vellum phrase, a bit of <br />pink, more enamel dots, and another stamped /cut-out word. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVob7Gs4fH8YAgCV9jPZBluNkRWbB8rIWNUdAJTzD13l75jljsUT4TpNfgb3omBfBxdaRI66Kpwy-OjUzOLASQeS7Y_8X_MIRqDud1WL7jvSLqIYBWOREJNyqX0e7oj4nq0NUxw/s1600/IMG_1859-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVob7Gs4fH8YAgCV9jPZBluNkRWbB8rIWNUdAJTzD13l75jljsUT4TpNfgb3omBfBxdaRI66Kpwy-OjUzOLASQeS7Y_8X_MIRqDud1WL7jvSLqIYBWOREJNyqX0e7oj4nq0NUxw/s400/IMG_1859-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">left-hand embellishment cluster- the same combination of <br />items: brad, cork, enamel dots, stamped word, stripes, and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">blue, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">pink (in the brad), and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">gold, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">which </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I used </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">in each area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Choosing embellishments and deciding how to arrange them is a slow process for me, but it's also kind of fun-- looking through my Iris boxes to see what jumps out at me that could be used on the page, and deciding how to arrange the small items to emphasize colors in the photos and on the page. I decided to use pink in the embellishments so the raspberry photo wouldn't look so out-of-place, since otherwise it's the only pink on the page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Embellishment clusters sort of 'lead' your eye across the layout, too, so I laid them out in a 'visual triangle' arrangement-- since we read from left to right, your eye goes from the lower left up to the title, then across to the right-hand page to the pink in the raspberry photo and down to the lower right-hand corner. (again, that's what I was going for, anyway!) And, even though it took a lot of effort and arranging on my part, the result I was <i>trying</i> for was a loose, collage-style layered look. (I just need to be a bit more decisive to make the process go quicker.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh-- and <i>after</i> all that was on the page?? <i>That</i> was when I decided to add all the gold splatters with Heidi Swapp colorshine spray. I had to cover up the photos and embellishment clusters so I wouldn't get gold splatters all over everything. This is definitely a design decision better done at the beginning, for sure!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now, a switch from scrapbooking to card-making-- which I don't do all that often any more. I made four altogether, but can only show you one right now, since the other ones are on their way to people who I know read my blog, lol!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F1IX2dWoJpKqPiukqT_JbGQCsw5yJIA89spPcWiGrQD8SMPls82Zmq3qJ4K6WA9jgf2QisBt9mpJp93GtMNEvWRzlV_sZNiJrbsTDIpTogw95gU3WHkStbzGnZTDpWjb7eoXXg/s1600/IMG_1866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F1IX2dWoJpKqPiukqT_JbGQCsw5yJIA89spPcWiGrQD8SMPls82Zmq3qJ4K6WA9jgf2QisBt9mpJp93GtMNEvWRzlV_sZNiJrbsTDIpTogw95gU3WHkStbzGnZTDpWjb7eoXXg/s400/IMG_1866.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's five layers total, not counting the card base (which is not<br />nearly so bright in real life... my phone camera didn't capture<br />the color correctly, and I couldn't edit it back to the true color.)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pulled some tags, die-cuts, and other things from my stash, and started layering things together just to see what worked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The butterfly is stapled to the pink tag, and everything else is glued / tucked underneath on the round journaling tag. The glitter on the butterfly wings was supposed to just be polka dots, but-- me and glitter glue? not a good mix-- so after a bit of a glitter glue accident, I had to cover up the evidence by outlining the entire thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a slight obsession with tiny alphabet stamps (I only own 5 or 6 sets of them so far, lol!) so I used one of them to stamp the 'hello' on the blue banner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope the recipient likes it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a 12-hour SB store crop coming up in October, and at the end of September I'm going to the Scrapbook Expo in Mesa-- I haven't attended one of those in years. I'm taking two classes, as well as attending a 16-hour crop, so I'd better get busy editing and printing photos, and designing layouts! :D</span><br />
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-47087184579309962842015-09-08T22:54:00.002-07:002015-09-08T22:54:25.918-07:00it's random photo time, courtesy of my iPhone camera<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have found out that having an iPhone camera means 'random' really <i>is</i> random in terms of the content, when I get them onto my computer and look through them-- lol! Here's a sampling (and of course, click for a larger photo):</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZPE4GsdaDnuae5QBvgL7ME-h5cV8BPwXl9u0Q5H7jimiNzsAs2_rpeKIkh7AX_qQ3emd6UiaoCwQd2HBQv40WT2zoBJqWHkxfu2hbrvGJjBJhqpz5MhMxiYH-C8v1iGR3Xn1DA/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZPE4GsdaDnuae5QBvgL7ME-h5cV8BPwXl9u0Q5H7jimiNzsAs2_rpeKIkh7AX_qQ3emd6UiaoCwQd2HBQv40WT2zoBJqWHkxfu2hbrvGJjBJhqpz5MhMxiYH-C8v1iGR3Xn1DA/s400/IMG_1735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">taken at work, 8/7/15. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cute little lizard that found its way into the building hallway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I let him go outside in the flower bed)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNxoxaZI2kqB7NqUT0c-NlNIcgwDPIKvCrHGvJaG6QVMuh8KCD1SUyOCoZH0uQD6AdaqXmYv9YUoxJpxK2K5f18SfwV4HTZCQWN4kPPpSY2KyYW7-pwJ-ykB3kcQd_UnjRylBhQ/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNxoxaZI2kqB7NqUT0c-NlNIcgwDPIKvCrHGvJaG6QVMuh8KCD1SUyOCoZH0uQD6AdaqXmYv9YUoxJpxK2K5f18SfwV4HTZCQWN4kPPpSY2KyYW7-pwJ-ykB3kcQd_UnjRylBhQ/s400/IMG_1770.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">taken on my way home from work, 8/14/15.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The photo above shows something we've often wondered, but now I have photographic evidence-- we have always wondered whether the storms go around the town, because it very rarely rains at our house. The clouds show storms to the east and west of town, but right in front of me, right over the town?? No clouds!!! HA! We were right! (okay, it does rain sometimes, but not nearly as often as its seems to other places.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtxo73T6J68KRdh1Fus7T_ppPmsSO6hixdpbLaKDO92obphddysEPV6ed_yQjMQPfHOUPjl_w2_Neg0YXhyphenhyphen-qa6wQgCQ1nzF-bAs2aIFd9fOv1T0xF_GypfZaNOZ_ZoUzZVtnKg/s1600/IMG_1773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtxo73T6J68KRdh1Fus7T_ppPmsSO6hixdpbLaKDO92obphddysEPV6ed_yQjMQPfHOUPjl_w2_Neg0YXhyphenhyphen-qa6wQgCQ1nzF-bAs2aIFd9fOv1T0xF_GypfZaNOZ_ZoUzZVtnKg/s400/IMG_1773.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum!! grocery store display, 8/18/15</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqkvRBIhGzTF1_L0_VksKbwtBspkeulX2MlP31OF7zknLhLY3YQBwlatt7qwnCx8WJud6Pi1A4YEJfIqaQT2650Zkdqu9a-SQrs2Y06O0Uc6BHGNxTjLgk-ySmokpE6Xn71BAuQ/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqkvRBIhGzTF1_L0_VksKbwtBspkeulX2MlP31OF7zknLhLY3YQBwlatt7qwnCx8WJud6Pi1A4YEJfIqaQT2650Zkdqu9a-SQrs2Y06O0Uc6BHGNxTjLgk-ySmokpE6Xn71BAuQ/s400/IMG_1774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The appearance of the Hatch chiles mean that fall is coming soon... (eventually).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hatch chiles are grown in Hatch, New Mexico, and are wonderful when roasted, peeled, and added to all sorts of dishes... the aroma coming from this display was heavenly! I did buy some, and grilled them yesterday. After grilling them, you 'sweat' them for a few minutes in a covered dish... then you peel off the charred skin and scrape out the seeds, and they're ready to use in cooking. We grilled out burgers, and the roasted chiles were a tasty burger topping. (unfortunately, I did the peeling / handling without gloves, and my hands were burning even after washing them a number of times, lol!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, to have chiles on hand for topping a cheese crisp, a burger, or to add extra flavor to a grilled chicken breast? I'll do it! (but not until after buying some gloves, lol!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vnFaVBOkVn1M0Fzez7JjBGNvQSjyIMeGP1L2cn1iOmyNKJ856sd1EDLLcGMKf5KJA8hyphenhyphenwrorvth-uyIB-2P7TVdEFeFZLUB1W3Wr4H_ZgeNCS5h8i9Zqou-1jtYv3pQjrX-9aw/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vnFaVBOkVn1M0Fzez7JjBGNvQSjyIMeGP1L2cn1iOmyNKJ856sd1EDLLcGMKf5KJA8hyphenhyphenwrorvth-uyIB-2P7TVdEFeFZLUB1W3Wr4H_ZgeNCS5h8i9Zqou-1jtYv3pQjrX-9aw/s400/IMG_1812.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">apple chicken salad, 8/26/15</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic is of a new recipe that I will definitely be making again-- made with my newest kitchen toy, a spiralizer. The recipe was originally for tuna, but since I don't like tuna, I changed it around to use grilled chicken with romaine lettuce, a spiral-cut Granny Smith apple, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries, held together with a dressing that included mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. It tasted as good as it looked!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">geez-- looking at the next photo, you'd think that the only thing I take pictures of is food, lol! But the camera on my phone is useful for when I'm out shopping...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkBRayrm_D3HwebiA1uk0KjlYHpGlZHoBlCejXUl5TLDYsZMuk5a9jV0UEdafckkUFzT5xfXQ23p6xjxY-TgzVYgZGxuHvJSGsABV263dK48NOH6VJcSBjKSzsUWf_twPQbD1Vg/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkBRayrm_D3HwebiA1uk0KjlYHpGlZHoBlCejXUl5TLDYsZMuk5a9jV0UEdafckkUFzT5xfXQ23p6xjxY-TgzVYgZGxuHvJSGsABV263dK48NOH6VJcSBjKSzsUWf_twPQbD1Vg/s400/IMG_1829.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">German whole-grain mustard, 8/29/15</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually saw this mustard when I was out shopping for scrapbook supplies, if you believe that! Well, sort of-- one of the places I hit up for SB deals is Tuesday Morning, which is a close-out sort of store; you can sometimes find good deals. They also have kitchenware, home decor items, linens, and some gourmet foods. I sent a picture of it to Tom to ask if he thought he might like to try it. (I did buy the mustard, and it is <i>very </i>tasty!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But wait! I <i>have</i> been doing some scrapbooking and crafting too, though--</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKUZOGKKxPopaAZ6Dn35m8F1HqxeQ_uJdt4aE3XEg8YZTPCKW9f9n_uXJdseXB2bDdhxerGZrTFTzawfIrbCXKMRRFnKGn-_3IGat2zwqerPhNscjRazmvAfqe1N77fJYrKp8iA/s1600/IMG_1793-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKUZOGKKxPopaAZ6Dn35m8F1HqxeQ_uJdt4aE3XEg8YZTPCKW9f9n_uXJdseXB2bDdhxerGZrTFTzawfIrbCXKMRRFnKGn-_3IGat2zwqerPhNscjRazmvAfqe1N77fJYrKp8iA/s400/IMG_1793-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SB layout in process, 8/24/15</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have found that my phone camera is useful for scrapbooking, too-- I take pictures of photo placement and paper choices. I've found that looking at them on the phone gives a bit of a different perspective, and it helps me to make decisions. This photo placement picture is also helpful for me to remember for later, since I haven't finished this layout yet. (but I will, soon!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHKFdW1WFZTntKDdPbY13oImAlg1RHS8QgFmvNCRWKqeM99XZp8wGnRwhxHnYNL03j79iXrd82WV4BGcK8mTHbxmhoWkl7NHuiBzKo_UdzCHJmf_aqN564W9yreisbS9uj0lL5w/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHKFdW1WFZTntKDdPbY13oImAlg1RHS8QgFmvNCRWKqeM99XZp8wGnRwhxHnYNL03j79iXrd82WV4BGcK8mTHbxmhoWkl7NHuiBzKo_UdzCHJmf_aqN564W9yreisbS9uj0lL5w/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">distant storm, 8/31/15</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another phone weather pic from my commute home. Even after ten years, I am <i>still </i>fascinated by how far you can see out here in the desert, and especially when you can see a rainstorm off in the distance; it's just cool!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: scrapping and card crafting!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(probably with a dose of randomness in there, too... lol!)</span></div>
crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-78636041445535297642015-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:002015-08-25T18:00:02.913-07:00a walk in the woods, macro-style<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Small details of a late July </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">afternoon </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">walk in the Wisconsin woods, captured courtesy of my macro lens. Looking down (and up) at the small details gives you a different view of things. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click on any picture to see the photo larger.</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmi2qskgtEbrR8C53IlQl7AjgAPTqNS4WtblGNqVbWZt3P7oE3V6RFYTaf8SCiAHLc6ZB0xGqOPPFQ5bjiKizJnjk3YLbt4KndkWceXH44Ym5eDUse7ftWs_eSvR3lbPzNa0zPA/s1600/IMG_7266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmi2qskgtEbrR8C53IlQl7AjgAPTqNS4WtblGNqVbWZt3P7oE3V6RFYTaf8SCiAHLc6ZB0xGqOPPFQ5bjiKizJnjk3YLbt4KndkWceXH44Ym5eDUse7ftWs_eSvR3lbPzNa0zPA/s400/IMG_7266.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wild raspberry (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3LhcbluyICEkWfC2NDraTca8OqWdc-J6XdeYXFNJqDgsO0beLZHT0M8tkCnOcVWjBJ9TOkUF3pJynUGo-I7fOWFyHHTh4U2qm1tT7Xkgqisj0FAg6tMUiljgKfxkxH56zXHcpg/s1600/IMG_7270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3LhcbluyICEkWfC2NDraTca8OqWdc-J6XdeYXFNJqDgsO0beLZHT0M8tkCnOcVWjBJ9TOkUF3pJynUGo-I7fOWFyHHTh4U2qm1tT7Xkgqisj0FAg6tMUiljgKfxkxH56zXHcpg/s400/IMG_7270.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">leaf patterns</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-XDhiVOQtUEOa4uQoaOJuG6F6pCYx11aFlw05zMqh-NQXTqgixPXqi37vbODT04MMFLHC75ZmqffrlMchwP0MfYQLKgDsvZUx_-WjBfee_JEzBUjqd-uTkPwC_uv0C08jzAU5g/s1600/IMG_7276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-XDhiVOQtUEOa4uQoaOJuG6F6pCYx11aFlw05zMqh-NQXTqgixPXqi37vbODT04MMFLHC75ZmqffrlMchwP0MfYQLKgDsvZUx_-WjBfee_JEzBUjqd-uTkPwC_uv0C08jzAU5g/s400/IMG_7276.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">golden light<br />(I did alter the coloring a bit in this photo)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGybG8KoOiPe0leSuTd7LBEjpc-D0gauaGWMMSeUFN3Io-h1pDVXihGZaiflDH7Rvctic5XST9D7gcwR9zVnIAHzwK5YKSFdmb-r10LLfHOl4MNXly2KeZPbQzSVMdGWeJ2Hk1w/s1600/IMG_7282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGybG8KoOiPe0leSuTd7LBEjpc-D0gauaGWMMSeUFN3Io-h1pDVXihGZaiflDH7Rvctic5XST9D7gcwR9zVnIAHzwK5YKSFdmb-r10LLfHOl4MNXly2KeZPbQzSVMdGWeJ2Hk1w/s400/IMG_7282.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lichens and moss (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLjxMag_0ANPPahozjiV2Mrbd4ep4wh-BXmXz4sQkuv6JQPdoWAB3oPxfqSVJXpL0e4rRHHGPKv8ta4F3TKknaLJ75eTdNY7M4yPF8b8qYLxyRjUsvDfWRgEy0PQmv5KnTGsIQA/s1600/IMG_7285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLjxMag_0ANPPahozjiV2Mrbd4ep4wh-BXmXz4sQkuv6JQPdoWAB3oPxfqSVJXpL0e4rRHHGPKv8ta4F3TKknaLJ75eTdNY7M4yPF8b8qYLxyRjUsvDfWRgEy0PQmv5KnTGsIQA/s400/IMG_7285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lichens #1 (macro lens)<br />--reminds me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi203ON8FE2fOUYZibYSHvV5pL7fUvpjxe6TmxPCzf8NIAuBmNpcC0qU_Qwn6divKvNRHOa_RNTqmC8AIiGiLzmTNN6vPFuLqx7_zBavU5vHkxmfG-eDbY5w2O2BMqnnLht8RhWcg/s1600/IMG_7286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi203ON8FE2fOUYZibYSHvV5pL7fUvpjxe6TmxPCzf8NIAuBmNpcC0qU_Qwn6divKvNRHOa_RNTqmC8AIiGiLzmTNN6vPFuLqx7_zBavU5vHkxmfG-eDbY5w2O2BMqnnLht8RhWcg/s400/IMG_7286.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lichens #2 (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXqE9aWyiBPWGRkDZ1weMwkpSWeZg_raafgPyyLd6erSnlhPl3T-Kgs41bShGl0QQsJowbp_ey3c74qxWvmdhsTPwX0mUnA_VoWOU0NfXW4j-x21DqtR1XTbWhFZQvRZBi5AIaA/s1600/IMG_7292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXqE9aWyiBPWGRkDZ1weMwkpSWeZg_raafgPyyLd6erSnlhPl3T-Kgs41bShGl0QQsJowbp_ey3c74qxWvmdhsTPwX0mUnA_VoWOU0NfXW4j-x21DqtR1XTbWhFZQvRZBi5AIaA/s400/IMG_7292.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lichens and tree bark (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix97uvoRmr1_CJEb8vnj9cpmyFVSW6GWHoPEawDysq6E-HEINgQUnls0V2SqJPDF_WqtGujirCmdyPDiEdKlDB0ijeTNzUIyaAnAB0m6uANKNeyqBZT8hj0qqkwpiVmlwBEJVeUg/s1600/IMG_7299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix97uvoRmr1_CJEb8vnj9cpmyFVSW6GWHoPEawDysq6E-HEINgQUnls0V2SqJPDF_WqtGujirCmdyPDiEdKlDB0ijeTNzUIyaAnAB0m6uANKNeyqBZT8hj0qqkwpiVmlwBEJVeUg/s400/IMG_7299.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">forest renewal...<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaqkOBuAz9jFE_a5QAD9lUB1CzUcC53n_j-ozBZn1CE1USPKoHgzPOM-TPBeeig8VTxaPTOu8iL32qlHEC119aZPj6YGpgf6Yor6Gu0TUjg6gwVxjo1tIOW6IJ4XVbdakgDwuew/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaqkOBuAz9jFE_a5QAD9lUB1CzUcC53n_j-ozBZn1CE1USPKoHgzPOM-TPBeeig8VTxaPTOu8iL32qlHEC119aZPj6YGpgf6Yor6Gu0TUjg6gwVxjo1tIOW6IJ4XVbdakgDwuew/s400/IMG_7304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">thistle (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwYB1FO1wsXE25o2ACsxvju42aRBUbgg5QAP091ZjKMG7VGG3ni_sdheqDKOU5TmI4pqfgSgW7kvake0_4c4Yz3-G7evU1fr07iJ0RmjVeIdRM-0yf7LZsTSk-6bSPkPclYK9uA/s400/IMG_7306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="267" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">unknown forest plant (macro lens)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBTLhGX3lvCDgPFWsk8PpyPqpKiYFDTBneiM6fO3NBgpol992xifDt5-ZBEm-Kx5BtoHe6IbRuq_-xPtwgMe_QygX22PPXj-x1JJujfIfKepzL3JhNN4nz3-49bA1xLPJjD8yLw/s1600/IMG_7279-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBTLhGX3lvCDgPFWsk8PpyPqpKiYFDTBneiM6fO3NBgpol992xifDt5-ZBEm-Kx5BtoHe6IbRuq_-xPtwgMe_QygX22PPXj-x1JJujfIfKepzL3JhNN4nz3-49bA1xLPJjD8yLw/s400/IMG_7279-001.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">late afternoon sun<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed my trip through the woods! </span></div>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-63991590455440582272015-08-24T19:00:00.000-07:002015-08-24T19:00:02.255-07:00in other news... the random edition<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am finally starting to feel like myself again after being sick with a cold. I had a cough that started in the middle of July when we took a 3-day road trip to Denver (to see the band Rush in concert-- it was great!!)... the cough didn't subside, and turned into a full-blown cold when we were back in Illinois and Wisconsin. The cold symptoms were starting to go away a little more than a week ago, but the cough was still lingering... and a week ago, I either <i>broke or dislocated my rib </i>from coughing so hard! The doctor says the cough is getting better, and he gave me some medications to help quiet the cough so that my rib can heal. <br />(only <i><b>I</b></i> could do something weird like that...)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At my work, we recently had a visit from inspectors representing the Health Ministry of the African country of Sierra Leone, because some of our products are sold there. It's amazing to think that this job allows me to meet people from places like that-- it was fascinating to talk with them.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We recently made a bulk purchase of 40 lbs of super-lean ground beef, so I've done a couple bulk cooking sessions- meatloaf, sloppy joes, that sort of thing. It's nice to know the freezer is stocked with menu options that I can choose from without having to cook a meal from scratch. Now, to work on menu-planning for the entire week! (that will allow me more free time for the next bullet point... plus, we're out of room in the freezer, lol.)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've started scrapping again. It's my seasonal shift in crafting, I think... the scrapbook store in Gilbert has 12-hour crops once a month, which I attended a couple weeks ago, and I just attended a Saturday night session from 5:30 to 11:30 pm. Now that I have my scrapping mojo back, I want to keep it! (gotta make some SB layouts of the Honey Museum we went to, before I forget even more of the information!! I also have some ideas in mind for Christmas presents, and it's never too early to start working on them... it is, however, too early to see Christmas decorations out for sale in the stores- ick!)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this is about the time of the year I get truly SICK OF the endless hot weather, and just wait for the temperatures to cool down. Fall doesn't come to the desert until about the end of October, though-- unfortunately, the 100+ F temperatures are not coming to an end anytime soon. (more time to spend indoors scrapbooking and crafting, I guess... lol!)</span></li>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-25627440605693221882015-08-23T22:16:00.007-07:002015-08-23T22:19:02.868-07:00A honey of a museum-- ha ha!! (just a BIT of a pun, there...)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, it's not really MY pun, it's the museum's pun... When we were back in IL and WI, I spent the afternoon with my older sister Judy, who lives in southwestern Wisconsin... we had a really nice lunch out, and visited a local museum she knew about in the town of Neosho, Wisconsin, about 1 hour from Milwaukee and 1 hour from Madison. Who knew that honey had its own museum? It's associated with Honey Acres, a family-owned business that's been around since 1852 (the Honey Acres website is <a href="https://honeyacres.com/" target="_blank">here</a>).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1Ebr0htWsN7AJvcIeoqreKwtuIH4OobUQA9-Kyxx3ifaV_pXE2W-ok3JoJWDG91b3NSh-AGLz0G5fcsZSeVx0sgJ3MOtT5-a7VuYIlA-Xc6A5qKugMZnLaZehkKCwB9Xdw3i4g/s1600/IMG_7321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1Ebr0htWsN7AJvcIeoqreKwtuIH4OobUQA9-Kyxx3ifaV_pXE2W-ok3JoJWDG91b3NSh-AGLz0G5fcsZSeVx0sgJ3MOtT5-a7VuYIlA-Xc6A5qKugMZnLaZehkKCwB9Xdw3i4g/s400/IMG_7321.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">notice the bee boxes in the background, there??</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a gorgeous day for a drive through the country... it looked to me like the museum might be in the same building as their corporate offices? There was also a small sales area where we (of course) bought a couple items...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxhmBSLRPGM4Y6-eJkSyd6NB-UqeltoQmt1VsCcz9WQV1Tq90HvmxTBGyzphvgbly_bZhegOCvMt5vUpIrg2wTZJ1g2koWJx3OaqfXqpf-D4Fkx0k-ITab9PvqwsELKGYMTz8PA/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxhmBSLRPGM4Y6-eJkSyd6NB-UqeltoQmt1VsCcz9WQV1Tq90HvmxTBGyzphvgbly_bZhegOCvMt5vUpIrg2wTZJ1g2koWJx3OaqfXqpf-D4Fkx0k-ITab9PvqwsELKGYMTz8PA/s400/IMG_7325.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my sister Judy in front of the first exhibit, about bee-keeping in ancient Egypt.<br />I love the sort of retro honeycomb glass wall that's part of the doorway to the museum!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as museums go, it was typical of small quirky museums (in that it was a <i>bit</i> dusty and a <i>bit</i> 'aged' and 'kitchy') but it was also pretty neat, in my opinion. It showed bee-keeping in different periods of history and in different countries, and then went into the history of the family who founded the Honey Acres company.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDCZk78XEo0PFJhGpCwdt1uJ2jZZwZWWL3bz2FMI_WDuaYeMeOjqEN8ZyyTAeHY4CC8o1-KgitBVp6bKe9Du19B8Y8KGpo9bkGTfv5nXA_B8YGGW3XBnABv4BZZfy1_QIRUETTg/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDCZk78XEo0PFJhGpCwdt1uJ2jZZwZWWL3bz2FMI_WDuaYeMeOjqEN8ZyyTAeHY4CC8o1-KgitBVp6bKe9Du19B8Y8KGpo9bkGTfv5nXA_B8YGGW3XBnABv4BZZfy1_QIRUETTg/s400/IMG_7334.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a painted wooden bee-box used in Yugoslavia during the 1800s.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">According to the literature, the painted murals 'helped the bees return to the correct hive.' Not sure whether I believe that or not (can bees really see those kind of details? Or, do they really have that poor a sense of direction?) but the decorations on it were folk art in their own right.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOpog2e0q6IUvM8Iw9eWEx7PL8eeoOk18W8vRkHFw_ObfQE26f6gwM8h1VwLbOQwvVeMtsjV9ob4ilV7AjbjQn3UhL6o2eml3LWGKmpjYA6XflOqiH4vWtBHfUT404BH2WtmiDQ/s1600/IMG_7336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOpog2e0q6IUvM8Iw9eWEx7PL8eeoOk18W8vRkHFw_ObfQE26f6gwM8h1VwLbOQwvVeMtsjV9ob4ilV7AjbjQn3UhL6o2eml3LWGKmpjYA6XflOqiH4vWtBHfUT404BH2WtmiDQ/s400/IMG_7336.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a close-up of one of the bee-box murals... <br />not sure whether this bear is going to win, or lose!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Like usual, I took a ton of photos, and am only showing a few of them here in this post.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the exhibits that caught my eye was a display of postage stamps from all over the world featuring bees and honey... (they'd look good on a scrapbook or art journaling page, wouldn't they?? lol!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wmAQ7g1bWqPPHgn8Ewkth1lF1SIjbttorbuhhLklRmQ28Yp8RilDvSYQD3CRVbDe3Zl6Z-oWBykozxNvICrFWzsVpjWrecH_Rd5lrS88gGDK4BcICap6eBjbFAAbGFZEhlyvzg/s1600/IMG_7339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wmAQ7g1bWqPPHgn8Ewkth1lF1SIjbttorbuhhLklRmQ28Yp8RilDvSYQD3CRVbDe3Zl6Z-oWBykozxNvICrFWzsVpjWrecH_Rd5lrS88gGDK4BcICap6eBjbFAAbGFZEhlyvzg/s400/IMG_7339.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a small selection of the bee and honey related postage stamps<br />(you can click to make any of the photos larger, of course!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BG6b5wdfKgUiA6AAuVnagb2qLywvoAcUCZP2ciNzV692e37KhV_wxez-S49qOI40TxOTHQ4cevE1nE38CK0v-zFHBdm5H796U5av37CNyCyz2p4HydmlKtpzuPnWBh0MsLM_5w/s1600/IMG_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BG6b5wdfKgUiA6AAuVnagb2qLywvoAcUCZP2ciNzV692e37KhV_wxez-S49qOI40TxOTHQ4cevE1nE38CK0v-zFHBdm5H796U5av37CNyCyz2p4HydmlKtpzuPnWBh0MsLM_5w/s400/IMG_7342.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I confess, I don't remember exactly what I thought was so neat here to take a photo of it--<br />possibly I liked the different shapes of the woven bee skeps? Or possibly the fact<br />that bee-keeping is done all over the world, even in Japan?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In looking through my photos, I apparently didn't take as many photos as I thought-- or my memory is worse than I thought-- because I don't remember all that much of the information about the museum exhibits. I do remember the exhibits explained the life cycle of the bees, how much work they have to do in order to produce honey, and that they produce an enzyme that changes the flower nectar into honey in the hive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A few bee and honey facts (from their website): one bee typically visits between 50 and 1,000 flowers per day but it can visit up to several thousand; to produce 2 lbs of honey bees fly a distance equal to 4 times around the earth; bees do not sleep but they sometimes will rest in an empty cell inside the hive; microbes can't live in honey, so it has been used as a topical dressing for wounds; bees are the only insect to produce food for humans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the displays is a window that opens into an actual bee-hive, where you can watch bees coming in and out, and working inside the hive... it was tough to get any good photos, partly because there was so much activity in one area-- perhaps the queen was underneath that pile of bees? (no idea.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vb_yJ1GFcltdY4p0IcxJCRWWRRyNGjF3_9dEDENNmAL5uF06mQ_3DgWphtHJ4CEhahn_ShVDFRFpFxwETCanBx5LCQeiTXwjzYmDx9jF3rd-EVIHHy0PRzQL7MC3cciVA2ksEg/s1600/IMG_7352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vb_yJ1GFcltdY4p0IcxJCRWWRRyNGjF3_9dEDENNmAL5uF06mQ_3DgWphtHJ4CEhahn_ShVDFRFpFxwETCanBx5LCQeiTXwjzYmDx9jF3rd-EVIHHy0PRzQL7MC3cciVA2ksEg/s400/IMG_7352.JPG" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is neat- seeing the shape of the honeycomb as they build it</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVbOmffdHAcRhIPjqMY0jo-tOoEDn-RIpqkFkjQ0lgVRtI2xyOfvQfv2JOoj45-42Yfxy05z8cDjdbCQ5ITpsgtP5ljixlWi7duL8ndMzZhGkObcatHd5pCRGi0_ye22aifMkEg/s1600/IMG_7355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVbOmffdHAcRhIPjqMY0jo-tOoEDn-RIpqkFkjQ0lgVRtI2xyOfvQfv2JOoj45-42Yfxy05z8cDjdbCQ5ITpsgtP5ljixlWi7duL8ndMzZhGkObcatHd5pCRGi0_ye22aifMkEg/s400/IMG_7355.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a kind of bad photo, but this is the doorway into and out of their hive to the outside.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was also a thermometer in there-- the bees generate a lot of heat with all their industry and working, because their website says the average temperature inside a hive is 93.5 degrees. (just like home in AZ, lol!!)</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgCtEpujNGBt59CeywJa823hzjSczY0hw_B5cP9__YbqF3xHZUiMLjLzm6-yWzJ7R1v18IFvjX4n3fzi9CgV7HU8oIQPbLJMpG19_nob7OxkzQ4y8Rk15FsMIvxLSuEZHbd8xrQ/s1600/IMG_7384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgCtEpujNGBt59CeywJa823hzjSczY0hw_B5cP9__YbqF3xHZUiMLjLzm6-yWzJ7R1v18IFvjX4n3fzi9CgV7HU8oIQPbLJMpG19_nob7OxkzQ4y8Rk15FsMIvxLSuEZHbd8xrQ/s400/IMG_7384.JPG" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a gorgeous stained-glass window displayed in their sales area</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWeOkK9QOlDzRBgOa34zrXb5SbWiE98egMTQL-ioQccMJoR5gVtPqmzWJ8XHKQ_FVFLBqYstcoOxqoVlwMkaMyCyXfM_smR4uHsHtncqE2nSciMk7d7KOnfUjuDiLDQGpEWf7UQ/s1600/IMG_7344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWeOkK9QOlDzRBgOa34zrXb5SbWiE98egMTQL-ioQccMJoR5gVtPqmzWJ8XHKQ_FVFLBqYstcoOxqoVlwMkaMyCyXfM_smR4uHsHtncqE2nSciMk7d7KOnfUjuDiLDQGpEWf7UQ/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of the bee-keeping history displays showing some antique equipment</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7ijRNHzqrzAJsKi-n8BHnxYKfH0e2r9LK7icWjkvljjs0MzxXTW52XtW0wan7kmwnecPgfMQ2DlSgE_KOheQwoLzrEc82M1Rj9GJi_6bfP1ywh0SOXcBDlmMMOyyEDIbUghyphenhyphenBQ/s1600/IMG_7349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7ijRNHzqrzAJsKi-n8BHnxYKfH0e2r9LK7icWjkvljjs0MzxXTW52XtW0wan7kmwnecPgfMQ2DlSgE_KOheQwoLzrEc82M1Rj9GJi_6bfP1ywh0SOXcBDlmMMOyyEDIbUghyphenhyphenBQ/s400/IMG_7349.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The American Bee Journal </i>publication, from 1873<br />(I can't imagine it had a large readership, but maybe it did...??)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfXB0j2Jjgs6HBbY2_yYTy9ILou4-DkgjLfxdnB7fekDBuEC5Nyh0xqm8gWh98V0stxh1lmNeA-bnGknO01QaNGPjTt5SmdmVC3eqK7yM5qsL3qBKKuYqZosquRKE11FG6fb6_Q/s1600/IMG_7384-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfXB0j2Jjgs6HBbY2_yYTy9ILou4-DkgjLfxdnB7fekDBuEC5Nyh0xqm8gWh98V0stxh1lmNeA-bnGknO01QaNGPjTt5SmdmVC3eqK7yM5qsL3qBKKuYqZosquRKE11FG6fb6_Q/s400/IMG_7384-001.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Close up of the upper section of the window-- gorgeous designs!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A number of the exhibits showed honey-extracting equipment, patents, and improvements made to the honey-making process that were made through the years by the the company, starting with C.F. Dienholt who came from Germany to Wisconsin, and his son August, who also worked in the business. Today, the company is run by 5th generation family members, and they distribute their products all over the world.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ13v7_2q13kgWfoaP88mh-rz0x66fL9Qnx1mWtU6_l7Kdb0r_Th9G4mCWpVRzLpsFKPEFGxtv_qlvrrYhkbTJKLVJgL5jwgDSMj0osNRE7gB9l_ufHtj3ZwOJpwtEn0ewPaGbAA/s1600/IMG_7384-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ13v7_2q13kgWfoaP88mh-rz0x66fL9Qnx1mWtU6_l7Kdb0r_Th9G4mCWpVRzLpsFKPEFGxtv_qlvrrYhkbTJKLVJgL5jwgDSMj0osNRE7gB9l_ufHtj3ZwOJpwtEn0ewPaGbAA/s400/IMG_7384-002.JPG" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">close-up of the bottom of the stained-glass window</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never really thought I liked the taste of honey, but their sales room had tasting jars of different varieties, and a couple of them were really tasty! I had to buy some, of course-- I bought a honey-dill mustard, and a couple other varieties, including some dark chocolate coins with orange-flavored honey inside-- yum.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Jx94Mg4rOpFwMOu5MR1egApNuNbcYeK5GwZ8m9p5YEJMHKbT_jx4lZQ-pjIdtI7wHEbMZboaoz67r5aHe8u9yFCfNvJEPR4Kgi0OtoTePUuo1-3A3IedX4K-uG2UYEJ_6_l9Q/s1600/IMG_7387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Jx94Mg4rOpFwMOu5MR1egApNuNbcYeK5GwZ8m9p5YEJMHKbT_jx4lZQ-pjIdtI7wHEbMZboaoz67r5aHe8u9yFCfNvJEPR4Kgi0OtoTePUuo1-3A3IedX4K-uG2UYEJ_6_l9Q/s400/IMG_7387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bee boxes outside the building-- I'm thinking there are a lot more somewhere else...<br />This can't possibly be enough to sustain their whole operation, lol!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9ehhkMU90JSQf7Eb54MlHToLkZ8nuOp0MATePyNpCtSrK_M_babY1j2OsrF5k_8d4AwF7EcHhPOgKaGHfARxRt5MKqLx0XK9iy6i6etcG4HmCVmEKamunSmQpqdHX1LTAFsmew/s1600/IMG_7388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9ehhkMU90JSQf7Eb54MlHToLkZ8nuOp0MATePyNpCtSrK_M_babY1j2OsrF5k_8d4AwF7EcHhPOgKaGHfARxRt5MKqLx0XK9iy6i6etcG4HmCVmEKamunSmQpqdHX1LTAFsmew/s400/IMG_7388.JPG" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one lone clover flower I found outside the front of the building-- <br />alas, there were no honeybees visiting it when we were there.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think there was also a nature walk outside the building for even more bee-keeping and honey-making information, but we didn't have enough time to do that; we had to get going so I could get back to Wisconsin Dells by dinnertime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did manage to get a couple honeybee photos, though:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOUZLvzHIPv7v9ECCkh0ks0wPsn3Q6-8H5z8ltSFHgwte4eZuFO-E3p3ymCSVobbhHG8mdPl4GImjKGu9IEZAkz0-9Oc8jwJALRtdYpirC-tjxnPiCkJIFPPHfNqSPF7XmV4BUg/s1600/IMG_7447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOUZLvzHIPv7v9ECCkh0ks0wPsn3Q6-8H5z8ltSFHgwte4eZuFO-E3p3ymCSVobbhHG8mdPl4GImjKGu9IEZAkz0-9Oc8jwJALRtdYpirC-tjxnPiCkJIFPPHfNqSPF7XmV4BUg/s400/IMG_7447.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">busy as a... a honeybee stopping at Judy's Russian sage plant</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOS1iwthaynjEkhgSAAQprvVlNmxdGYc0N7DUVjlQgpi7Zhr3rAa36LGpxyGQSnv7_YnBDX-YbqqDC20k9JoBuqDhahvZf9PoTWbHn28tgZXNDqsfnmesVb4-iqJ7w2xx8dnd7w/s1600/IMG_7451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOS1iwthaynjEkhgSAAQprvVlNmxdGYc0N7DUVjlQgpi7Zhr3rAa36LGpxyGQSnv7_YnBDX-YbqqDC20k9JoBuqDhahvZf9PoTWbHn28tgZXNDqsfnmesVb4-iqJ7w2xx8dnd7w/s400/IMG_7451.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it makes me tired just thinking of all the work they go through to make that honey!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As small as bees are, and as fast as they flit around, I will still keep trying to get good photos of them when they visit the flowers, because I'm fascinated by them. (unless there's, like, 10 or more of them buzzing around one of our night-blooming cereus flowers-- then I just step away slowly and leave them be... lol! no pun intended!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a really interesting (if somewhat dorky and nerd-ish) museum, and I would love to go back when we had more time... maybe on the next trip! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then again, there's also the <i>Circus World Museum</i> in Baraboo, WI... and the <i>Lead Mine museum and tour</i> in Shullsburg, WI that I went on years ago but would like to see again... and Frank Lloyd Wright's house and studio at<i> Taliesen</i>... and the H<i>istoric Cheesemaking Center</i> in Monroe, WI... and the <i>narrow-gauge funicular railway</i> in Dubuque, IA... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whew-- I think I need to make a to-do list! :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-58079097530823053092015-08-12T21:12:00.000-07:002015-08-12T21:21:47.681-07:00the golden hour: light and shadow (and spots)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a couple weeks ago we were back in WI and IL to visit our families. One day, I drove from the WI Dells area to spend the afternoon with my sister. Driving back from my sister's house to the Dells late in the afternoon cross-country, I drove around a corner and came upon this beauty... I grabbed my camera and opened the passenger side window to snap a couple quick shots. (As always, click on any of them to make them larger!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on the edge of sunlight and shadow--</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A2Rfvx1MeG-5MIzUQCwVWj70icb81B9m90Y3Tk76zFE47kwjZi1r7Z7SF2ubKVII29f85AT5umhHU8vPh0-SPgMdbbZGfvH2ZROi8IbQKMBham39NLNUCbrwHjLA5heJo-GepQ/s1600/IMG_7504-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A2Rfvx1MeG-5MIzUQCwVWj70icb81B9m90Y3Tk76zFE47kwjZi1r7Z7SF2ubKVII29f85AT5umhHU8vPh0-SPgMdbbZGfvH2ZROi8IbQKMBham39NLNUCbrwHjLA5heJo-GepQ/s400/IMG_7504-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">zoomed in-- turns out it's one of this year's fawns</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(fyi, according to the internet, fawns have an average of 300 spots)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gone! (two white tails-- can you see both of them?)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">zoomed in-- they run in leaps and bounds!! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's too bad this time of day lasts for such a very short period of time... from looking at these pictures, it's clear to see why photographers call it the 'the golden hour' for the golden quality of the light it brings to the scene.</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-5752725248089432722015-08-06T23:25:00.000-07:002015-08-06T23:25:51.829-07:00tonight's blog post is brought to you by the letter 'B'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a few photos from our recent trip back to the Midwest to visit my parents and Tom's family. I have tons more, but here's a few. (Click on any of the photos to make them larger!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Butterfly</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bumblebee (he's busy!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bumblebee's butt (they were tough to get pictures of, lol!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birdhouse (in the prairie grass / flower patch)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(the little red) Barn... along with Mom's flowers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These photos were all taken in Mom and Dad's yard... glorious summer weather (except for the humidity, which I can't handle anymore, lol!), wonderful company and lots of conversation with Mom and Dad, and a bit of Midwestern sightseeing, along with Mom's homemade pasty. (always a treat!!) It was a really nice time, although the time went by much too quick!</span></div>
<br />crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-75906853575064323242015-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:002015-03-31T05:00:02.613-07:00Calvinball- SB layout share<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQU5ew60i2j7_LN5FyY-xb3pXp9XpGHJk-B7Ths45lmeficRW0414M-Y9s6Q42ciGa71iEs6C13a0H8zKrzh7HJQ-oBpgSMY1fTcUmeoxrZy_l-nEs_qh8dsMnqyBzWxFbi8tRg/s1600/IMG_5735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQU5ew60i2j7_LN5FyY-xb3pXp9XpGHJk-B7Ths45lmeficRW0414M-Y9s6Q42ciGa71iEs6C13a0H8zKrzh7HJQ-oBpgSMY1fTcUmeoxrZy_l-nEs_qh8dsMnqyBzWxFbi8tRg/s1600/IMG_5735.JPG" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">close-up of chipboard embellishment</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever I scrap, even if I get the page started fairly easily, there's usually some detail or part of the page that just seems to take forever to get done. If there's buttons on the page, I need to put thread in the holes; if there's sequins on the page, it takes me forever to decide just where to put them-- things like that. I always seem to think of something that takes extra-long to do, or is extra-detailed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As an example: the idea for this layout came together really quickly; I saw a layout in the Calvinball gallery <a href="http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?app=gallery&image=27545" target="_blank">here,</a> and knew I wanted to scraplift the page design. I even found the photos I wanted to use and chose the papers I wanted fairly quickly. Then, I had to decide how to embellish the page. I settled on chipboard swirls- like the one you see above. Only problem was, the chipboard swirls I had were silver and glittery. And that wouldn't work on my page, at all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what did I do? I <i>tried</i> to find something else in my stash of stuff that would work, but once I get fixated on something like that, nothing else looks quite 'right' to me. In the end, it took me a couple hours altogether, but: the chipboard swirls were gessoed, painted brown, then sponged with antiquing gel, all to make them fit with the vintage look of the papers I chose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's the final completed page (click to enlarge):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYrEYjkxBe0HF-sC8OgLBZV-OIC8rT9IBdN2RgcwfdRncp2r-REIQnS7rWrL6LLcRpXlCjY2E2ZqkrxS44DDyw3p5vtElVDHgr-U9oTWfiPzP2IidIlLIDeBzP_eChmP4o0Hcrg/s1600/IMG_5737.gallery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYrEYjkxBe0HF-sC8OgLBZV-OIC8rT9IBdN2RgcwfdRncp2r-REIQnS7rWrL6LLcRpXlCjY2E2ZqkrxS44DDyw3p5vtElVDHgr-U9oTWfiPzP2IidIlLIDeBzP_eChmP4o0Hcrg/s1600/IMG_5737.gallery.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About an hour for most of the page; plus about another hour all together for the chipboard. But the chipboard swirls look <em>perfect!</em> (well, now, they do, anyway-- lol!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This page showcases one photo (2 copies) of a Costa's hummingbird that I took a couple weeks ago when I was hiking. I happened to see this hummingbird landing on 'his' tree-- hummingbirds pick a vantage point to land on and sort of 'survey' their territory-- so I set up shop right next to this shrub to see if I could get any decent photos of him. I managed to get a few 'okay' shots, but nothing too spectacular. An older gentleman saw what I was doing and waited for me to finish so he could get a few shots of him, too. He said he photographs hummingbirds at the Botanical Gardens and can sometimes take two or three hundred photos and only get maybe ten really good ones out of the whole bunch. So now, I don't feel <i>quite</i> so bad! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For this page, I printed the photo in color then turned it to sepia-toned and printed it again. The sepia photo shows a bit more detail of his feathers and how many (tiny, tiny, tiny) feathers he actually has-- which is crazy, considering these birds only weigh 2-3 grams total!! With a wingspan over 4 inches and a total length of 3.5 inches, they're practically <i>all </i>feathers! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll post a few of the better photos I got of him in my next post; meanwhile, you can click <a href="http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/botw/costas_hummingbird.html" target="_blank">HERE </a>to see what a Costa's Hummingbird looks like close up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-72226439978699810642015-03-30T21:00:00.000-07:002015-03-30T21:00:09.192-07:00SB layout share- Golden Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvjzlIvMFtoZlAFp6W2U-fBkMqLs4GOiKLrJuvuVlcOBOh4oyR49viccoMAGyqW3w1RqjpIVaNII63DhnMINQtJUATJg71q1z8rVUEO4SCkOKW4YIqXcx4HrVTiPMKLwOOd8W4w/s1600/IMG_5683for+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvjzlIvMFtoZlAFp6W2U-fBkMqLs4GOiKLrJuvuVlcOBOh4oyR49viccoMAGyqW3w1RqjpIVaNII63DhnMINQtJUATJg71q1z8rVUEO4SCkOKW4YIqXcx4HrVTiPMKLwOOd8W4w/s1600/IMG_5683for+blog.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is another layout with photos from 2003 and my house back in Round Lake. And it uses another 'ancient' (ancient in scrapbooking terms, anyway) embellishment. The decorated tag I used on this page is from at least 10 years ago; I'm<i> fairly</i> certain I made it when my sister and I went to a scrapbook convention together, and I've lived in AZ for just under 10 years now (wow, how time flies!). This tag is another one of those 'how have I managed to keep it for all these years' kind of things. I guess I'm more organized than I thought! (haha!! Just kidding-- more like just lucky, I think.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This SB page showcases two photos of the leaves from the maple tree in my backyard. That maple tree made it difficult to grow plants in my yard, but believe it or not, I did actually love raking leave in the fall. It allowed me to enjoy the crisp cool snap to the fall air, the clear blue of the autumn sky against the golden color of the leaves, the earthy smell of the decaying leaves, the crackling sounds they made as I raked, and the smoky aroma when I burned them-- and this page reminds me of all that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another page that probably still wouldn't be finished if not for the Calvinball challenge-- yay! for completed SB pages!</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-45440073491211185552015-03-30T14:00:00.000-07:002015-03-30T14:00:01.912-07:00more scrapbooking-- layout share: BFF's<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>and, </em>an apology-- I realized that one of the layouts in the last post was one that I had shown you before-- sorry about that! I guess it was because of staying up really late... :D</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjiYmavm9m1syupDyNK08KIlLXupN3oG84NXCRslzqLHNbPK1iEdURdgthD7M7I0l0tB8RZtANyTXB4n2tqn2gNby1H2xO1MjWk__sw8V-2IUH3FMxmiurHazkN0GjAjuVeMNOw/s1600/IMG_5738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjiYmavm9m1syupDyNK08KIlLXupN3oG84NXCRslzqLHNbPK1iEdURdgthD7M7I0l0tB8RZtANyTXB4n2tqn2gNby1H2xO1MjWk__sw8V-2IUH3FMxmiurHazkN0GjAjuVeMNOw/s1600/IMG_5738.JPG" height="376" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Valentine's Page Kit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last time I scrapbooked at the Scrapbook Barn in Gilbert, I got a page kit as a make-a-take, to make the page above. It's a nice-enough page, and all the supplies for it were included. In the course of the last couple weeks of scrapping, I used the word paper banner for another page so I needed to make a couple modifications to the kit to actually use it. When I looked at my photos, I decided to take my page in a slightly different direction... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtB-ZaaUEIkFRfrfS1Vh3lHnQwLlnxfSgLKPKE8o_qFofnidFNfiQEu68BH51cI2ZeYLBscPSkxYkyAL1CB4T8ixp1sYbvq6Zzpxd3Z9okEKKjxZZUgYRmxxyDg6LtyYm8Dvo6A/s1600/IMG_5734blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtB-ZaaUEIkFRfrfS1Vh3lHnQwLlnxfSgLKPKE8o_qFofnidFNfiQEu68BH51cI2ZeYLBscPSkxYkyAL1CB4T8ixp1sYbvq6Zzpxd3Z9okEKKjxZZUgYRmxxyDg6LtyYm8Dvo6A/s1600/IMG_5734blog.JPG" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">corrugated heart with my page title: bff's. (I dispensed with the <br />computer printed title in the kit in favor of glittery Thickers)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So as you can see from the photo above, I decided to make a page about Prescott and Bisbee. They really<i> are</i> BFF's... wherever one is, the other isn't far away. After Bisbee had her teeth cleaning and extraction, she had to stay quiet for a week so she could heal. Keeping quiet was tough on her, but it drove Prescott crazy that they couldn't play together! When one of them is inside and the other one is outside, the inside dog stands in the doorway and whines... and so on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro6rfEDa3q8_u_cLF5kAWSVPwguJm61hX43WprYygGSr6cVaWJx2UBg8V8TB1dIlw8HR7a06e48TtVcgWk_FkDJOjcde8euHomnHyX2im1gcpcNvpUV7c9u0mjQUccybQjDP-Jw/s1600/IMG_5733blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro6rfEDa3q8_u_cLF5kAWSVPwguJm61hX43WprYygGSr6cVaWJx2UBg8V8TB1dIlw8HR7a06e48TtVcgWk_FkDJOjcde8euHomnHyX2im1gcpcNvpUV7c9u0mjQUccybQjDP-Jw/s1600/IMG_5733blog.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The finished page</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used some of the words from the leftover banner paper to add to my now <i>floral </i>banner, moved the heart title, and used two larger photos instead of one large + 3 smaller ones, but otherwise, the page was made pretty much like the kit. I think it turned out pretty nice, it's a topic I've wanted to scrap, and now I have!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Calvinball for the win!)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-75045927551034078152015-03-29T21:54:00.002-07:002015-03-29T21:54:12.419-07:00a quick weekend update<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">scrapping and sleeping in-- I stayed up late (2 am!!) on Friday night making scrapbook pages; I slept in on Saturday till 10 am. The Salsa Festival in town was on Saturday afternoon, but both of us having been up late, we decided to stay home this year. (Plus, the temperatures here have been horrible for this time of year-- 10-15 degrees above normal for highs. (The salsa wouldn't have been the only thing that would have been hot, for sure!)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">working around the house-- Tom worked off and on pretty much the whole weekend. Things at his job have been crazy-busy ever since the beginning of the year, and he was trying to catch up a bit before the next week's craziness began. We both also did things around the house like laundry, watering some of the plants outside, doing some cleaning inside, etc.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">doggy day of beauty-- the dogs have needed to go to the groomer's like, forever, and I finally called a few days ago for an appointment. Thankfully they're open on Sundays too, so they fit all three of them in this afternoon. Their appointment was for 1 pm, and they got done about 6:10 pm. We gave Sedona a bath a few times years ago, and while it is do-able, I wouldn't want to do it with three of them (!), and the groomers do such a better job at it than we ever could. They look like different dogs when the groomers get done with them!! (now if only it would last... lol!)<br /></span></li>
</ul>
crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-47333184209472377652015-03-29T11:00:00.000-07:002015-03-29T11:00:00.811-07:00a few more layouts to share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems like I always have more ideas for SB pages in my head than I can ever get completed (that darn job, and having to make a living, lol!) but Calvinball has been the kick in the pants I've needed to actually make some of them and get them completed.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntnY16FoKMqsH1Tjs_W_IK7nqktw0s17QMumceyU_rrxHYmg6hSvWrO14Not7hWaq2SF9uzIL_-X4inSmSAChknXNxHh_YZ9y12kS8HXDRht983OxRSxtx-gVxiyN4PyCR9ygYg/s1600/IMG_5715forblog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntnY16FoKMqsH1Tjs_W_IK7nqktw0s17QMumceyU_rrxHYmg6hSvWrO14Not7hWaq2SF9uzIL_-X4inSmSAChknXNxHh_YZ9y12kS8HXDRht983OxRSxtx-gVxiyN4PyCR9ygYg/s1600/IMG_5715forblog.JPG" height="212" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home Improvement- my house in Round Lake, IL<br />These pics are from 2003, and I have had this layout idea<br />in my head for at least 5-10 years. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been carrying that paper-pieced dump truck around with me for at LEAST the past 8 years; I made it myself, from scratch, a<i> loooong </i>time ago. I'm pretty amazed I still knew where it was!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1MhVZxOatThiVpkoYHbNBzxMRSohebsMyF4OpA0brcdffKuDwoXeMesDKtUnt2JBfyJdUZ_yPlQ_OSzGhKdJKSMzCCywNwrEMRkK0q6XXuq6k6wqyuP-rI8uUCWR-cmWp9wGDw/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1MhVZxOatThiVpkoYHbNBzxMRSohebsMyF4OpA0brcdffKuDwoXeMesDKtUnt2JBfyJdUZ_yPlQ_OSzGhKdJKSMzCCywNwrEMRkK0q6XXuq6k6wqyuP-rI8uUCWR-cmWp9wGDw/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG" height="398" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Scrapping Essentials-- a visual representation of all the things I<br />need (or like to have, anyway) for scrapbooking.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This page is another one that I started at least 5-7 years ago- I drew and cut out the pie chart by hand, and never got any farther than that. I finally finished it! My Scrapping Essentials include: snacks and soda (Diet Dr. Pepper, Raisinets, and Hot Tamales are my current faves); space to work in; stories and photos; paper (I looove patterned paper, and have more of it than I will ever use- it's just so pretty!); music or TV to listen to; inspiration; and embellishments. That's the fun stuff- glitter, brads, sequins, punches, enamel dots, etc.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8JPHf0jQmb6lKMoIUpgSjB13eUBZ2erTIfWKUbQN_8rYOAb_R_xyEFm3M0AlKwU4ugTZ2WkFoBcZcecl4UmHfNqqYnwBRzy0tXPweNrqeUqGFhnqLh-69VLWgJc3kv-UnzrXFA/s1600/IMG_4938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8JPHf0jQmb6lKMoIUpgSjB13eUBZ2erTIfWKUbQN_8rYOAb_R_xyEFm3M0AlKwU4ugTZ2WkFoBcZcecl4UmHfNqqYnwBRzy0tXPweNrqeUqGFhnqLh-69VLWgJc3kv-UnzrXFA/s1600/IMG_4938.JPG" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 'embellishment' section of the pie chart-- I kinda went overboard<br />when I decorated this piece, but I do like the entire page.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite often, I have photos that don't really 'fit' in with anything else to make an entire page or layout about... I decided to make a page that was just 'random' photos that I like for whatever reason. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK68UZEYc-x9-7Q_KdHTWI_2rd1rF3aHlby4qIz1PDUGHFSodGoQNbrW-eRsj9jhXdR70feFRXwb4cwXaIeRKfANJxVMCXYmfhjH2IJWHSwspzof-M5kodhdBLkJGYSePTm95TyA/s1600/IMG_5728blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK68UZEYc-x9-7Q_KdHTWI_2rd1rF3aHlby4qIz1PDUGHFSodGoQNbrW-eRsj9jhXdR70feFRXwb4cwXaIeRKfANJxVMCXYmfhjH2IJWHSwspzof-M5kodhdBLkJGYSePTm95TyA/s1600/IMG_5728blog.JPG" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Close-up of the 'caption' section of the page- typed with my estate sale typewriter. <br />(See below for the entire page.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwXtFydOykSQbytLcb2JQh2z6bouOCpGsi0NN66zUXA2d7xsZ4YYOp3WDSniOcm7HKaboKb0nJMFuvMZjS8oA0o8-tCJ-EEYokTYllVs-vSHOSwEOVn_3jKJLJNpLxvGe277pdQ/s1600/IMG_5727blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwXtFydOykSQbytLcb2JQh2z6bouOCpGsi0NN66zUXA2d7xsZ4YYOp3WDSniOcm7HKaboKb0nJMFuvMZjS8oA0o8-tCJ-EEYokTYllVs-vSHOSwEOVn_3jKJLJNpLxvGe277pdQ/s1600/IMG_5727blog.JPG" height="400" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Random Snaps, entire layout-- <br />another one that I started ages ago.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cut the glittery polaroid-style frames from a patterned paper and temporarily stuck them (empty) to a background paper when I first got the idea. The page stayed like that for about 2 years, till I finally decided I was going to make this page no matter what, so I added more papers, and chose photos for it. I do quite like it-- there's plenty more 'randomness' in my photo files, so I'll probably make a page like this occasionally from now on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The photos on this page truly <i>are </i>random-- a rooster I saw when I was bird-watching at the Riparian Preserve (you can't get much more random than a rooster at a wildlife preserve, right??); a snail I saw right outside the front door where I work in Phoenix (snails living in the desert somehow still seem 'wrong' to me); us up in the hot air balloon; the restroom sign at the Honolulu airport (I loved that that they have the symbol wearing a dress and lei); and a 'shadow selfie' I took a few years ago at Mom and Dad's garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've got more pages done that I'll post soon, but right now it's getting hot out here on the patio (it's supposed to be in the mid-upper 90s all week- yuck!), and there's scrapping to be done!</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-45376540099194913692015-03-28T12:38:00.000-07:002015-03-28T12:38:34.648-07:00my workspace-- and a Calvinball progress report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one of the topics being discussed in the Calvinball forums, like with all scrapbooking, is "what does your workspace look like?" Here is my workspace in the middle of a page... I always say I think I conform to the laws of scrapbooking physics and the universe when I fill up all available space with stuff. Sort of like the saying 'Nature abhors a vacuum.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I abhor vacuuming, too, but that's a different topic, lol!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwNNqxkPaoNzUdD7thj21PF8ZrO51AfYBDzO1YeErEXD3DTmlwUHaCPjFBXCytrwFvnaJrOVtfzA31HNDdBiYtXkEbdc2bBK8Y976eTdDEj1VplGQ5FWCHSlF83qVhxv7lIaIDQ/s1600/IMG_5724forcalvinball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwNNqxkPaoNzUdD7thj21PF8ZrO51AfYBDzO1YeErEXD3DTmlwUHaCPjFBXCytrwFvnaJrOVtfzA31HNDdBiYtXkEbdc2bBK8Y976eTdDEj1VplGQ5FWCHSlF83qVhxv7lIaIDQ/s1600/IMG_5724forcalvinball.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the middle of working on a page. This table is pretty big (it used<br />to be our kitchen table) but there seems to never be enough space on it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LhoBuCIbE8eqEmDGuT8GN1cqjERc2KPpPONWhzqekLDKoSfxG4hRocDs1TELcRESR2SNOTaAm7np1gh2uMCSJhC5OXIK3W7VaOMrfAqPc0KWtHecTsGiR3uHPhXqy92s-b6wqw/s1600/IMG_5725forcalvinball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LhoBuCIbE8eqEmDGuT8GN1cqjERc2KPpPONWhzqekLDKoSfxG4hRocDs1TELcRESR2SNOTaAm7np1gh2uMCSJhC5OXIK3W7VaOMrfAqPc0KWtHecTsGiR3uHPhXqy92s-b6wqw/s1600/IMG_5725forcalvinball.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my elfa shelves, directly to the left of the table.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These elfa shelves (from the Container Store) have been in every craft room I've ever had. They've moved everywhere we've lived, and this is the fifth room they've lived in. I love them! You can rearrange the brackets to whatever shelf height you need, and there are different depths of shelves available. The very bottom shelf is the newest addition, when I realized I still had hanger space available. It's not a large space, but it's perfect for holding my post-it notes, paper trimmers, and a few smaller things that I was keeping right on my desk before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those four 12x12 Iris boxes hold: 1) small letter stickers, 2) my Thickers, 3) journaling tags and label stickers, and 4) shaped stickers and border stickers. This way they're easily accessible and I can rifle through them right when I want. I also have 12x12 Iris boxes for bling / rhinestones / wood veneers / chipboard shapes, and one that holds all my stencils/masks. I have tried other ways of organizing my supplies, and this way seems to work the best for me of all of them so far. Plus, since they're plastic boxes, they're portable when I go to a scrapbook store crop or my 3-day hotel crops.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSVxC_WcfzabRJGgH8DnjFPH7ZK-7Sny-nGMLLk41VQ8DcTf7EV2BLBkAmGs1H1tox8mhjWdKHcwf_mDYQkcm75gCtU8YjV3pBUvXG18T2uugzcAeNjODQNvCP6NlXKMfvJXS5Q/s1600/IMG_5743blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSVxC_WcfzabRJGgH8DnjFPH7ZK-7Sny-nGMLLk41VQ8DcTf7EV2BLBkAmGs1H1tox8mhjWdKHcwf_mDYQkcm75gCtU8YjV3pBUvXG18T2uugzcAeNjODQNvCP6NlXKMfvJXS5Q/s1600/IMG_5743blog.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my stack of completed Calvinball layouts so far</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far this month, I've made 15 scrapbook pages (counting both pages of a 2-page layout individually). That's not much compared to some people-- there are some very prolific scrapbookers out there-- but for the way I scrap, it's tremendous. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I can't wait to do it again! (maybe not soon, but counting points for doing certain things on a layout makes it more fun to use different supplies and techniques that I wouldn't otherwise think about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about Calvinball here: <a href="http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?showforum=478" target="_blank">Calvinball at Get It Scrapped</a> and check out more Calvinball layouts in their gallery, <a href="http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?app=gallery&category=466" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-17214878605350483212015-03-23T22:23:00.004-07:002015-03-23T22:23:58.688-07:00desert spring wildflowers- get read to scroll!! (photo heavy!!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a couple of weeks ago, I got up insanely early </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on a Saturday </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(insanely early for me on a weekend, anyway-- before the sun rose) and headed south to <a href="http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/index.html" target="_blank">Picacho Peak State Park</a>, about 1 1/2 hours south, on the way to Tucson. I wouldn't ordinarily do such a thing but I had heard reports on the news that the spring wildflower bloom was the best it had been in the past 10 years due to the rain and winter temps we've been having. So, I figured I could sleep later!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'd been to this state park once before, in 2007, I think (?) to hike to the top, but this time, I was going to meander around, look at wildflowers, and hopefully get some good photos. I took over 700 in the time I was there; you'll have to tell me what you think of them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(and by the way, as always, click on any of the photos to make them larger- and hopefully even more impressive!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b> Enjoy!!</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErePBUNEA5_lqKwLUll2ey0hv8LkzfRcFyj0C3UZn98IjJALwnqrc6RapV_7eSFoUbbtAQ0XbxIKMTGIXBbveiOx9fBx6FdPp9CBS3jlgN5wSYpDVtze9tUXu5s3gatqVuNk-ag/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErePBUNEA5_lqKwLUll2ey0hv8LkzfRcFyj0C3UZn98IjJALwnqrc6RapV_7eSFoUbbtAQ0XbxIKMTGIXBbveiOx9fBx6FdPp9CBS3jlgN5wSYpDVtze9tUXu5s3gatqVuNk-ag/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7:30 am, the sun just hitting the north edge-- <br />this is looking towards the "Sunset Vista Trail Head" I believe. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7fUOv07p8X2000fHrAiVui54hmTaQzts9YnGpYcOU3NGwmrQoSPxmeqtcIxqQGE11a4NumSOm3zaaqrsXfvHlrgSpCGch377avVv8bc88hv2m8wPfODRsWTPzz0XOd2sOQtdUw/s1600/IMG_4951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7fUOv07p8X2000fHrAiVui54hmTaQzts9YnGpYcOU3NGwmrQoSPxmeqtcIxqQGE11a4NumSOm3zaaqrsXfvHlrgSpCGch377avVv8bc88hv2m8wPfODRsWTPzz0XOd2sOQtdUw/s1600/IMG_4951.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">looking south, towards the peak. The left-most tip is actually where the longest trail goes to.<br />(Hunter Trail: steep and twisting, difficult rating.)<br />You should have gloves, because you need to pull yourself up via steel cables in a few places.<br />(I didn't make it all the way to the top when we hiked it, but Tom did.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TX9EcyT9gVBQbb1lWIQVofVoQcy1aOJpq07AaJlA2lvw1oYzQeTUvgBQQHUNJ_ftQsIuCspy3ymwdFYERUB2W-PLvv3sv9WK2BZEplmiVBU7PP5TFd_hN_04eAz1bsNIbsvO-A/s1600/IMG_4955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TX9EcyT9gVBQbb1lWIQVofVoQcy1aOJpq07AaJlA2lvw1oYzQeTUvgBQQHUNJ_ftQsIuCspy3ymwdFYERUB2W-PLvv3sv9WK2BZEplmiVBU7PP5TFd_hN_04eAz1bsNIbsvO-A/s1600/IMG_4955.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saguaro & 'nurse tree' ocotillo. Saguaros grow sheltered underneath or around another plant <br />or tree till they get big enough to handle the wind, sun, etc. Eventually they will<br />outgrow the nurse tree, or even outlive them, in the case of a mesquite or Palo Verde.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oTMxbKfwPrYhiwHrZdU0Wlkce5CoKPKoNVwiq10lUdJ9-nSMz-7CD44kIxLbddH7QWNdn_2bBhg6e2-9V31SzIMKsMW5gmifjr7IBFM71KG8eaAS47njZutyf-uMabtUo-sNcw/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oTMxbKfwPrYhiwHrZdU0Wlkce5CoKPKoNVwiq10lUdJ9-nSMz-7CD44kIxLbddH7QWNdn_2bBhg6e2-9V31SzIMKsMW5gmifjr7IBFM71KG8eaAS47njZutyf-uMabtUo-sNcw/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't see too many birds (I heard a few), except for a couple hummers--<br />they were quick, but I did snag a few (poor) photos. Not sure what kind<br />this guy is; the sun is on the wrong side of him to get a good look.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXnxjy1IuwqysjTEzFoF_ehtGM4MPxkkkSphqOvzBpBdfVoHJbg-8io_COnh6VopZHM2iooE78_A-VnE0ni-_qMGUhuDzhTBNyqRZCuoc_zgXojpP1_r87wHmkQrda3NAar5W3A/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXnxjy1IuwqysjTEzFoF_ehtGM4MPxkkkSphqOvzBpBdfVoHJbg-8io_COnh6VopZHM2iooE78_A-VnE0ni-_qMGUhuDzhTBNyqRZCuoc_zgXojpP1_r87wHmkQrda3NAar5W3A/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saguaro forest in the morning sun-- isn't it magnificent?? (9:00 am)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-j_X9zVUmjxM7OVWRsXlT4M_UVeO5LfqwSVl6zjYv8MkgkjD6aUroWq22pS2Bp7nWasXa8AYIxg0hcNEF6A9C3C3Dg4wvYqYW03bYB73AaZXSfAlD6C4D6nBYIgMrSpMfr8qITA/s1600/IMG_5066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-j_X9zVUmjxM7OVWRsXlT4M_UVeO5LfqwSVl6zjYv8MkgkjD6aUroWq22pS2Bp7nWasXa8AYIxg0hcNEF6A9C3C3Dg4wvYqYW03bYB73AaZXSfAlD6C4D6nBYIgMrSpMfr8qITA/s1600/IMG_5066.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">desert lupine, close-up.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdjO4TU3zO473LwCygot-C-OyITGRIZ5WOmkHNrCBoV8BoYNVV9SZm0yOCIt5kvCTRPyZdCw73e0WrzBXwT3ncAr3DeTAG8Z65iRA2N95DbDzcAFWjOsFhlbFm3FXWrovoBHMHw/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdjO4TU3zO473LwCygot-C-OyITGRIZ5WOmkHNrCBoV8BoYNVV9SZm0yOCIt5kvCTRPyZdCw73e0WrzBXwT3ncAr3DeTAG8Z65iRA2N95DbDzcAFWjOsFhlbFm3FXWrovoBHMHw/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saguaros in a field of California poppies and desert lupines</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGS-roJtiVp-uAkoelWA_rEtAJI25NGsGMZrxf4cH5_tjMcLS5J_Xt821ZSiylrtU6JzAImzJjGOIutuFAs3RUbO7U2F_jfjIPs7AqrQDJSH3v31VVXgnPlYuYYw3J2Ora0JqYg/s1600/IMG_5076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGS-roJtiVp-uAkoelWA_rEtAJI25NGsGMZrxf4cH5_tjMcLS5J_Xt821ZSiylrtU6JzAImzJjGOIutuFAs3RUbO7U2F_jfjIPs7AqrQDJSH3v31VVXgnPlYuYYw3J2Ora0JqYg/s1600/IMG_5076.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Desert globemallow, pink variety (I think). Usually these are orange-r than this, <br />but I think it's the same species. The flowers are small, about as big as a 50-cent piece.<br />Reminds me of hollyhocks. You can see these (bushy) plants along the highway, too.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzHkVCnbli1YDENO0n06PGpHt1U7YXKsnTsOennY1Hbw7XtQvEa_J7eyjxqmGnkaGEyp7A_4h9LyrMENK6ttj3aA12lpv2sLBArXqTF8pDzN2aFSlJIqgLN74BYC2OYyvanax5w/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzHkVCnbli1YDENO0n06PGpHt1U7YXKsnTsOennY1Hbw7XtQvEa_J7eyjxqmGnkaGEyp7A_4h9LyrMENK6ttj3aA12lpv2sLBArXqTF8pDzN2aFSlJIqgLN74BYC2OYyvanax5w/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not a flower, but flower <i>buds</i> on some sort of cholla cactus.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs_nIh9PpxQlp3x3ky0Pna4BmQ2LwXn09yqiNDHSXgOKym-J7VrQRyxlxe7DFnT9188jIU0HZEeb1hHh0UifIx4p0NI63NuwvEhpn4Rai6BuNENlCrGoWLUDTp1T9sz8ghvSSdw/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs_nIh9PpxQlp3x3ky0Pna4BmQ2LwXn09yqiNDHSXgOKym-J7VrQRyxlxe7DFnT9188jIU0HZEeb1hHh0UifIx4p0NI63NuwvEhpn4Rai6BuNENlCrGoWLUDTp1T9sz8ghvSSdw/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too bad I was too early to see the flowers-- this cholla is just <i>loaded</i> with flower buds.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdEVQqyqz7AijKaaPQqfx4le26g_raEdF-Wx_pR2vAWbbQjlyN44q95AsczBro-wowpVqZ1-aZ2dZf4FPtU9yJOH_OMbL7B5bwNXhQ5JT7ogIvmhmjPeWQ8noEfQWcJngClUsQ/s1600/IMG_5139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdEVQqyqz7AijKaaPQqfx4le26g_raEdF-Wx_pR2vAWbbQjlyN44q95AsczBro-wowpVqZ1-aZ2dZf4FPtU9yJOH_OMbL7B5bwNXhQ5JT7ogIvmhmjPeWQ8noEfQWcJngClUsQ/s1600/IMG_5139.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a scenic vista, looking southeast. <br />(actually, this state park is right off the interstate, so you can actually see traffic on I-10 <br />from the park. The horizontal line in the background is the interstate.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBe2Vp6XzLZ2u_lCDnJ6zxxF5HaQmWsYJk9eWorgkX28aTUMUVbNv0dR44LLcmL49iPeZCpvvNzAUJcYvzCQdDxBm_pdVauFTa1hhCGAK8WBVP2wUd0buikXKZ6xMnDsoMvJeUg/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBe2Vp6XzLZ2u_lCDnJ6zxxF5HaQmWsYJk9eWorgkX28aTUMUVbNv0dR44LLcmL49iPeZCpvvNzAUJcYvzCQdDxBm_pdVauFTa1hhCGAK8WBVP2wUd0buikXKZ6xMnDsoMvJeUg/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" height="400" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really like this one.<br />At the left, you can see just a bit of a Saguaro <br />skeleton sticking up out of the brush.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttR8s9olDWQu_flVywc_6yQ0Rhl-3g3wIlZTxUBDwByh_ArbXuJz0aruYAtIB5xh6WIudbs1SGsjk53ZYjzwah3g-rHbm7bSXxdqeHRoexgVxrKRHCjQw5oAYZD8GhGMD56FrLg/s1600/IMG_5141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttR8s9olDWQu_flVywc_6yQ0Rhl-3g3wIlZTxUBDwByh_ArbXuJz0aruYAtIB5xh6WIudbs1SGsjk53ZYjzwah3g-rHbm7bSXxdqeHRoexgVxrKRHCjQw5oAYZD8GhGMD56FrLg/s1600/IMG_5141.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gorgeous views-- my photo composition skills couldn't do them justice.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5MzM3jsHzb8ehkE9zCECoJNmNZYyeK9dAvzku_L4day8gnvlQiWUXTH1XXZd2pDwC__5jTM4xXJm23f2GJdttyy1PGVyDOEwjubrdCHd8KM4HNn9gER3Wm1BAB0mk_mp42_PRw/s1600/IMG_5167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5MzM3jsHzb8ehkE9zCECoJNmNZYyeK9dAvzku_L4day8gnvlQiWUXTH1XXZd2pDwC__5jTM4xXJm23f2GJdttyy1PGVyDOEwjubrdCHd8KM4HNn9gER3Wm1BAB0mk_mp42_PRw/s1600/IMG_5167.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yup, it's what you think it is- a snail shell. In the desert.<br />I was off the marked trail a bit, heading down a dry wash that had<br />obviously held water at one time or another. (thankfully, there<br />was NO rain anywhere in the forecast that day.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBO9lfSCgHJiVd7rNGij2FnHEWD8AuF2A430jl-tqDH_qEUZ4j9qChR12PZozpczGh1TV1xGPJgNq75jDmgi7SGfyFnC6_PwHEvFv5dGhddXnxEhkmK4lNSi-tHhvJDiP74J4bQ/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBO9lfSCgHJiVd7rNGij2FnHEWD8AuF2A430jl-tqDH_qEUZ4j9qChR12PZozpczGh1TV1xGPJgNq75jDmgi7SGfyFnC6_PwHEvFv5dGhddXnxEhkmK4lNSi-tHhvJDiP74J4bQ/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing in that wash, looking uphill... another Saguaro skeleton.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY-JqkLWBipAnpwMhyphenhyphen4eR99xeZNlMS_byFS9qWS1S_Ih_e0foyhddr4d15KtUgWx7rHV0oKBa0_hRex70RQVwxKD-7_dHJN7D_ieXt14wPhV9b0RHRM0Bzteq8I6vXDt6sz7YXQ/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY-JqkLWBipAnpwMhyphenhyphen4eR99xeZNlMS_byFS9qWS1S_Ih_e0foyhddr4d15KtUgWx7rHV0oKBa0_hRex70RQVwxKD-7_dHJN7D_ieXt14wPhV9b0RHRM0Bzteq8I6vXDt6sz7YXQ/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">again, I couldn't do the scenery justice, but I quite like this one--<br />it says something to me about the 'renewal' of nature, with the ephemeral<br />wildflowers alongside the hundreds-of-years-old Saguaro skeleton. <br />(sappy?? maybe. probably.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROe4JpcB2idFsIba3G5mqhizZK3AkNGgQDqQWpg-Mbl8elVhyy0gwXkPmtrQ3SDwVOKWOrJPbU9fESZQnD6UEppfQVHyQXaYOTuvgWHEWv3t7oezvcugOeeiv8epXJIY9rsCA-Q/s1600/IMG_5182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROe4JpcB2idFsIba3G5mqhizZK3AkNGgQDqQWpg-Mbl8elVhyy0gwXkPmtrQ3SDwVOKWOrJPbU9fESZQnD6UEppfQVHyQXaYOTuvgWHEWv3t7oezvcugOeeiv8epXJIY9rsCA-Q/s1600/IMG_5182.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">another view of the hillside.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5E7YwOPWLo_lD-TA4RRxBid1h4pYKhJFvWbGJrMOytDDwLfas_reC2eo3wInCJJ_f0RgfHgVFxpuQI_A3_rYmbky1dyd9cAa07kIgopKFilQHT0Xh8bDtDtbVNJKcRKBpL3FJA/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5E7YwOPWLo_lD-TA4RRxBid1h4pYKhJFvWbGJrMOytDDwLfas_reC2eo3wInCJJ_f0RgfHgVFxpuQI_A3_rYmbky1dyd9cAa07kIgopKFilQHT0Xh8bDtDtbVNJKcRKBpL3FJA/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found GOLD!! (haha!! I couldn't resist.) isn't it gorgeous??</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uQIJiUhE14j25_v64fb5LSR3t_Q_iEe76dmviQYQvEFWGFp5NLSxCsbIL6wErVSjfYG3QaanhjI24T59dQPmOzaQ-PkD4cTg1l8xgl1LtTol5DlmDyy7JdwF5PEet5GbUwMZCA/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uQIJiUhE14j25_v64fb5LSR3t_Q_iEe76dmviQYQvEFWGFp5NLSxCsbIL6wErVSjfYG3QaanhjI24T59dQPmOzaQ-PkD4cTg1l8xgl1LtTol5DlmDyy7JdwF5PEet5GbUwMZCA/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These poppies are delicate looking!! <br />(I'm sure they're tougher than they look, <br />though, to make it in the desert.)<br />It was a bit breezy, so they didn't want to stand still.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, the marked hike I went on (then went off of) to take all these pictures was only miles long, lol!! It took me, oh, maybe, 4 hours to piddle around in, on, and around that trail, and I took 245 photos in that time. (of course, quite a few of them aren't worth anything, photographically speaking)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All this is to say, I have quite a few more photos to post yet, so check back again soon. I've printed quite a number, too, so I can make a few (okay, <i>quite</i> a few, lol!) scrapbook pages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">thanks for accompanying me on my wildflower walk!</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-79511661531091277702015-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-17T08:00:04.616-07:00Calvinball- "birthday bourbon"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A two-page layout based on a sketch from a Scrapbook Generations sketchbook (really cool sketch books that give photo sizes, background paper dimensions, and suggestions for how to personalize and adapt the sketches to your needs.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This layout is Tom's birthday a couple years ago, when we went to a Phoenix restaurant that served a brand of bourbon he had wanted to try for years that we first heard about in a television show we watch that's set in Kentucky. It's quite a highly-sought-after and very limited release bourbon (called Pappy Van Winkle), and I found out quite by accident that this particular restaurant / bar actually had all three vintages of it (aged for 15-yrs, 20-yrs, and 23-yrs). So, this was his birthday celebration, trying all three varieties. And eating some wonderful food, too...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNpFKBQRGsrUo2MIij8gbl_7rg5wuEk_aFhgmwxt0hyphenhyphenF0bK2eaE92u56jCzY8WTFAJIsmQmByU-oWDv60akg7uFdPy6tfEUkg5TuTToDOuMi9ib-sthutHvVouYocP2vPjBFf-g/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNpFKBQRGsrUo2MIij8gbl_7rg5wuEk_aFhgmwxt0hyphenhyphenF0bK2eaE92u56jCzY8WTFAJIsmQmByU-oWDv60akg7uFdPy6tfEUkg5TuTToDOuMi9ib-sthutHvVouYocP2vPjBFf-g/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibKFXco7XBuY7mGr-YtztD9jPZTnPSNgx4e6NhBheiepkkw2yWvNwFbKEBZvlxYxgJEV0r-YcFSjda2TpLIqV8-F5lFBZHXnpjomfgZJUZpETjn-Xbg8ndXD-yjdFJMdcIZnT_Q/s1600/IMG_5708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibKFXco7XBuY7mGr-YtztD9jPZTnPSNgx4e6NhBheiepkkw2yWvNwFbKEBZvlxYxgJEV0r-YcFSjda2TpLIqV8-F5lFBZHXnpjomfgZJUZpETjn-Xbg8ndXD-yjdFJMdcIZnT_Q/s1600/IMG_5708.JPG" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P2Ok6AdCeVvdgFinCUuIBPGNwZTwfKWyhGmEs_Ss-HzmcrkAR8SooQpYJDZExUWg0ns2rZz3yxX7tmtSm71r-fvIYCAKEnjaaq7OslqYDcjIJeu0VlLzlWHR7GIIlPV1porucQ/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P2Ok6AdCeVvdgFinCUuIBPGNwZTwfKWyhGmEs_Ss-HzmcrkAR8SooQpYJDZExUWg0ns2rZz3yxX7tmtSm71r-fvIYCAKEnjaaq7OslqYDcjIJeu0VlLzlWHR7GIIlPV1porucQ/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually saved the napkin from the winning variety, and included it on the left-hand scrapbook page. This layout also includes two banners made from patterned paper and crafting floss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Memories of a good time, even if the food photos aren't the greatest. I guess that just means we'll have to go back sometime to get some better shots, lol!</span>crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-56144749882765042322015-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:002015-03-16T21:00:06.472-07:00cute pet photo interlude<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8cJFdwsZnuDEw9fV_o5C2PZ8rIAHR_x4aLdAoTuKfHp6tfi5SqagUpX0IOBw_ZPr3SPEVUz48iqPL4sLWhapZqmpe4q1jhRweaj5FT08JYL_Kj9BwINwDf_yijetZS1jYOnfPg/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8cJFdwsZnuDEw9fV_o5C2PZ8rIAHR_x4aLdAoTuKfHp6tfi5SqagUpX0IOBw_ZPr3SPEVUz48iqPL4sLWhapZqmpe4q1jhRweaj5FT08JYL_Kj9BwINwDf_yijetZS1jYOnfPg/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">me, totally zonked out on the couch, covered in cats.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">(This photo is from early January-- I was extra-tired from staying up for New Year's, I guess-- lol!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmF5bLKGeu93wiOo6AxQTD333wCb3CRTuo3MhCp8XyHZxcaPiShH0nK0NEcFvnRvmHupXoEdKF7Dkk89uaJTHpKrQmK1E-pTP9S2QWbgeUnHW8EzzTcptFLighqadHtz_GeDghQ/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmF5bLKGeu93wiOo6AxQTD333wCb3CRTuo3MhCp8XyHZxcaPiShH0nK0NEcFvnRvmHupXoEdKF7Dkk89uaJTHpKrQmK1E-pTP9S2QWbgeUnHW8EzzTcptFLighqadHtz_GeDghQ/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prescott, totally zonked out on the couch, a couple days later.</span></td></tr>
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<br />crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-32659421377625925262015-03-15T22:30:00.001-07:002015-03-15T22:30:49.032-07:00Calvinball update- "Seed Catalogs"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sorry in advance for the horrible yellow tinge to the photos- I've been scrapping pretty late at night, and the lighting isn't the best for true-to-life photos.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that being said, the positive thing is that I've been scrapping! This Calvinball contest is getting me to complete layouts I've had halfway done for ages, or ones that have been just marinating in my head... (attending a 12-hour crop at the local SB store yesterday helped, too... haha!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This layout has no photos at all, and is one I've wanted to do for years but couldn't figure out quite 'how' to do it. I got the vintage seed catalog cover images from the internet, and left myself plenty of room for journaling my memories of gardening and the excitement the seed catalogs would garner when they came in the mail. (Sadly, Mom says they don't send print catalogs anymore-- it was always fun to read through them, read the cool names they came up with for the new varieties, and see the pictures people sent in of their 5-lb tomato, 150-lb pumpkin, carrots that looked like faces, etc.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This page talks about the kinds of things I remember eating from the garden-- rhubarb, strawberries, fresh peas, green onions, radishes, apples, currants, plums, and pears from Grandma and Grandpa's yard... and Mom's process for selecting what new seeds were needed by going through the box of left-over seed packets she had stored in the kitchen cabinet from the previous year. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqPGu83moeas6WfUBHH2RKQKDFkBogITasloXZggDKQTMjLfcBUKJkn_IAPWxb5g11CF_gdxVLnuOOat2n6jXKHuOWMd2J4e9Q4xidbAE281LwjAVSgGefffecH9Koqh3eXT02w/s1600/IMG_5695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqPGu83moeas6WfUBHH2RKQKDFkBogITasloXZggDKQTMjLfcBUKJkn_IAPWxb5g11CF_gdxVLnuOOat2n6jXKHuOWMd2J4e9Q4xidbAE281LwjAVSgGefffecH9Koqh3eXT02w/s1600/IMG_5695.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this page used only patterned paper, journaling cards, and vintage buttons</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I got that page done, I realized I hadn't said everything I wanted to so I made another one (see it below). I started out with a 6x12 yellow background and added canning jars that were cut out from a different piece of patterned paper. I added the canning labels from a third piece of paper and started writing. Again, I didn't have enough room... so I added a 3-inch strip of lined paper to the right side of the layout to give myself <i>plenty</i> of room to write. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second page talks about my memories of helping out in the garden, starting with helping to plant the seeds in the spring (and putting the seed packets on a stick at the end of the row so we could remember what was in each row), thinning out the plants when they came up to give them room to grow bigger, pulling the weeds, and picking the vegetables when they were ready. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was nothing quite like going out into the garden with a bowl and a paring knife to pull the first green onions and radishes from the garden, then eating them at dinner only 5 or 10 minutes later, or picking a dozen ears of sweet corn, taking off the husks, and dropping them right into the boiling water to have that 'just picked' freshness and sweetness that didn't even need butter.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdKKgUPUy5hJ38uuKAS5SPWKJ-VfCJtBVB6U6mZ0xaul3CfXq0NoOTkZfHbs0ACAPmkkk6GN4oITTU5Owcu0ugw5bhzIoOoO9P0_TzTd-3zcx1XGyeS_I68EJHIFHmmj_pW6coA/s1600/IMG_5709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdKKgUPUy5hJ38uuKAS5SPWKJ-VfCJtBVB6U6mZ0xaul3CfXq0NoOTkZfHbs0ACAPmkkk6GN4oITTU5Owcu0ugw5bhzIoOoO9P0_TzTd-3zcx1XGyeS_I68EJHIFHmmj_pW6coA/s1600/IMG_5709.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cutout canning jars for adding my journaling, and more vintage buttons </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This page also talks about how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to grow up the way I did: to learn how my food is grown, and the effort and work that goes into getting food for your table and preserving it for the winter. So many people nowadays don't have any idea of the labor involved in getting that bunch of green onions to the grocery store, or what type investment of time, effort, and faith / hope in the weather and growing conditions you have to have to be a farmer, or just to cultivate some of your own food. I am truly grateful I had that experience, and that my mom and dad (I love you guys!!), by giving me the experience of working outdoors in the garden, instilled a love of plants and nature in me that I will always have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though I <i>still</i> don't like cooked peas, lol! (private joke-- I hate cooked peas, so I would always get a small bowlful of raw peas instead of having to eat the cooked ones... )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post took way more space to write than I thought, just to talk about one layout. (but it's worth it-- it's a layout I really like, even though there are no photos on it at all.) So keep your eye out for more Calvinball scrapping posts soon! And, I went hiking last weekend to see some of the very ephemeral spring wildflowers we have here in Arizona-- the flowers were gorgeous, I got some fresh air, and I got a few good pictures out of it (along with a bit of a sunburn!), so I'll post some of those photos soon. </span><br />
<br />crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-29435879029614713692015-03-02T22:10:00.000-07:002015-03-02T22:10:04.023-07:00a quick post-and-run!! Calvinball 2015!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I apologize for the crappy color quality of these photos- they were all taken pretty late at night in my scrap room. Yes, I still do scrap (occasionally), and hopefully I will be scrapping a lot more in the next month or two! I signed up to take part in a fun month-long scrapbooking challenge called<i><span style="color: #674ea7;"> <b>Calvinball</b>,</span></i> on a scrapbooking website. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you remember the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes? (I do, since I grew up in the 1980s... it was one of my favorites). Calvin and his stuffed toy tiger/best friend Hobbes would play Calvinball, a game where the rules were made up as you go along. This scrapping contest is for the entire month of March, to encourage fun, a bit of smack-talking, and scrapping. The rules change as you go, and you get points for making layouts, cards, posting about Calvinball (one point for me, haha!!), and bonus points for meeting scrapping related challenges- like a page with more than 3 photos, for example, or a page using specific supplies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you'd like more information about Calvinball, you can go to the Get It Scrapped website and read more about it-- click <b><a href="http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?showtopic=10139" target="_blank">here.</a></b> Come join in! Anyway, to the layouts-- they were photographed late at night, hence the crappy colors. I did what I could to fix it, but really would like to re-take them sometime. (after Calvinball ends, when I have more time, lol!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>--click on any of the photos to make them larger--</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A layout about my scrapping essentials, which include patterned paper, inspiration, photos and stories, and Diet Dr. Pepper! This page has been partially finished for at least 1 1/2 years, and I never would have finished it without this contest. yay, me!! :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A page with a pretty nice photo of Ariel, hanging out on 'her spot' on the back of the couch, looking out the window. I always wonder what she's thinking, if anything... watching the birds (does she think she can get them?), or is she just wondering when dinner will be served?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFLf6Blaw801aXgPtY5bUErq-mFk-sqkd04hJQdV7F2TL72Vaa8nka6NBXI24njWCOK4QbEBPrAPtRZeDL7PXEHKSYI32ZlUjTtTrUqOGb0xXlzyIjpnyNsq5zxwFeA9w6QGSmg/s1600/IMG_4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFLf6Blaw801aXgPtY5bUErq-mFk-sqkd04hJQdV7F2TL72Vaa8nka6NBXI24njWCOK4QbEBPrAPtRZeDL7PXEHKSYI32ZlUjTtTrUqOGb0xXlzyIjpnyNsq5zxwFeA9w6QGSmg/s1600/IMG_4931.JPG" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The embellishment area at the top right- sorry for the glare; that banner is made of plastic. The letter stickers are teeny, and have to be at least 2-3 years old. (yay, me!! for finally using up some of my older supplies!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This layout showcases photos of our Saguaro cactus's very first flowers!! We wondered how many years it would take; we bought it in 2006 when it was 5 feet tall, and in June 2014, it got its first flowers! (a whole three!) I did the best I could trying to get pictures of them, but the Saguaro is at least 10-11 feet tall, so it was kinda difficult-- I didn't want to fall into the cactus while I was doing it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2OT9PEcUy48qRt2tPGcqqKLEDYNA8b-Xuj5Ne_zthyphenhyphen9B8D_TujPh4BxDPF99SV69KJonRqdZEC7O8I9ZkQ1owkNsRA7L9E4mAQqoOKI6rRTcagC4zthzFOTTljIluotDYd96Ig/s1600/IMG_4926-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2OT9PEcUy48qRt2tPGcqqKLEDYNA8b-Xuj5Ne_zthyphenhyphen9B8D_TujPh4BxDPF99SV69KJonRqdZEC7O8I9ZkQ1owkNsRA7L9E4mAQqoOKI6rRTcagC4zthzFOTTljIluotDYd96Ig/s1600/IMG_4926-001.JPG" height="308" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and with that, I'm off... I want to see if I can sneak in at least a few minutes of scrapping before I head to bed! I'll be back soon, with more photos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(and sadly, we haven't seen the owls anytime recently... Tom says he's heard them occasionally, so maybe they're still in the neighborhood- I hope so!)</span></div>
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<br />crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081424.post-19679108875351045142015-01-18T21:38:00.000-07:002015-01-18T21:40:01.391-07:00our prospective new neighbors are a hoot!! (lol!!)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in the past few weeks we've heard some new, rather noisy neighbors around our house. They're not around very much; it seems like they're most active in the late afternoon / early evening time-frame, but I've also heard them a number of times<i> very </i>early in the morning-- when it's still dark out, even. I haven't complained about them, though, because really, they're more fascinating than annoying- at least to me, anyway. They sit in the oddest places, too-- we've seen them on the roof of our house, even! I have taken some photos of them, too, when I've been able to catch them in the act-- they stared, but didn't seem to mind it too much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About now, you're probably wondering why I would do such a thing, think I'm extremely rude, and that we have really strange neighbors, right?? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, you can judge for yourself... here they are: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxwXmzCOpyPasb99vCLrF1OvlnHehQsKhIW2nND7YBt_KAKJFX3DFAY33qrZr6_0u91iQxIDZ0fCv2dXM1qFDf3ohN1tuT7ytyNmOYrY-fdesb00Pv0p6wmEcyWLiXJm8ku_0Mw/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxwXmzCOpyPasb99vCLrF1OvlnHehQsKhIW2nND7YBt_KAKJFX3DFAY33qrZr6_0u91iQxIDZ0fCv2dXM1qFDf3ohN1tuT7ytyNmOYrY-fdesb00Pv0p6wmEcyWLiXJm8ku_0Mw/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hahaha!! Did I have you going at all?? (probably not; I'm no good at jokes or telling stories...) It's a pair of great horned owls!! We started hearing them about a month and a half ago, just once in a while, but couldn't see them. Then, for a few days, they were around every afternoon just as it was getting dark. They would pick a vantage point on the peak or corner of one of the roofs, including ours, and do their hooting back and forth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ceNz4uiyvahx8ZnB6wzMYF3nNTUg_0mFAw7pnEFS-q9V-0KMYM-fYxSjK8PaXu14joJliVUUTeAud8FhBjUvp-5GRMsmWLUizbscqmD1TjXa4Bv29WMtWGC8hOVXatvCF26JA/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ceNz4uiyvahx8ZnB6wzMYF3nNTUg_0mFAw7pnEFS-q9V-0KMYM-fYxSjK8PaXu14joJliVUUTeAud8FhBjUvp-5GRMsmWLUizbscqmD1TjXa4Bv29WMtWGC8hOVXatvCF26JA/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At first we only saw the one-- Tom saw it more often than I did, because he usually gets home from work earlier than I do, but I managed to see it/them a couple times, and even get some photos. (they're not the greatest, but hey-- at least it's photo proof that they were there!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was really cool to see them, and fascinating to actually watch them do their hooting... they sort of flip up their tail and puff up their chest as they do it, and it was kind of funny to see! Tom actually got a video of one with his tablet computer, I think... I'll have to see if I can edit and post it. (never done that before, so I'm not promising anything.)</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsaVha2nrbSvbQJYsb3FGOyxf38oklaYGNcnoLMt_FIMreHBdyA6vf1v9p2_dn5BuChm6qMhS4yNhR9bFBa7uMJa-mtfmxK7LKixZ74h9mzMA4T3in-4L6MaY8_7o3hcvMq1RQg/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsaVha2nrbSvbQJYsb3FGOyxf38oklaYGNcnoLMt_FIMreHBdyA6vf1v9p2_dn5BuChm6qMhS4yNhR9bFBa7uMJa-mtfmxK7LKixZ74h9mzMA4T3in-4L6MaY8_7o3hcvMq1RQg/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" height="398" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They're quite beautiful birds; very majestic looking. I read a bit about them in my trusty Roger Tory Peterson bird book, just enough to find out that the female is bigger than the male, and that they typically nest in January / February. Perhaps they were scoping out our neighborhood to see if they wanted to move in. (that would be so cool, if they did!!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvWF1sAJmBXdpkjq3CoiuQ9CXudSv-FB5fquT4bOTkItn0Tm3chyphenhyphenuZTRbdJLIcyZAvEtudzzrP5n4R4oIuYBCSKtUO0YjokuuUgdQoej2mOvKJOLj6Mg3X4evn2FxS0t9zQ_QNA/s1600/IMG_4485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvWF1sAJmBXdpkjq3CoiuQ9CXudSv-FB5fquT4bOTkItn0Tm3chyphenhyphenuZTRbdJLIcyZAvEtudzzrP5n4R4oIuYBCSKtUO0YjokuuUgdQoej2mOvKJOLj6Mg3X4evn2FxS0t9zQ_QNA/s1600/IMG_4485.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a photo of the female (I think) in mid-hoot, two rooftops away from our house. They would talk to each other (and to Tom-- he had to see if he could get them to answer him, and they did) for quite a few minutes at a time, moving around from house to house. A couple times they were both very well hidden in one of the neighbor's trees, and if we hadn't seen them fly into the tree, we wouldn't have been able to see them at all. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixddY16hwBocKILogyXttU2mYdfaGC-iKklABwvLw8qB8wdfBogokEDON7HA5qIo1dLPFlJxE-2tD1_GjB9_KlzXIA5xvszOZ9-lji0DYv4zwdgp5e-jy_BI5_0RvJxS5Lo8QqJQ/s1600/IMG_4481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixddY16hwBocKILogyXttU2mYdfaGC-iKklABwvLw8qB8wdfBogokEDON7HA5qIo1dLPFlJxE-2tD1_GjB9_KlzXIA5xvszOZ9-lji0DYv4zwdgp5e-jy_BI5_0RvJxS5Lo8QqJQ/s1600/IMG_4481.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here he is, right after take-off... blurry, but you can still tell that's what it is (at least I can, anyway, since I <i>know</i> what it is). It's pretty fascinating in an eerie sort of way to see them fly overhead, as well- their wing feathers are designed so they make little-to-know sound as they fly, so as to be better hunters. (A couple times they seemed to swoop kind of low over our heads, too, which was a bit unnerving!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, we haven't heard them around for about a week or so-- maybe they didn't like our neighborhood after all-- maybe I was too much of a nosy neighbor! Or maybe that means the female is sitting on a nest; I'll be optimistic and hope for that. Either way, it was pretty neat while it lasted! (and it will make a neat scrapbook layout for the photo album.) </span></div>
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crimsoncat05http://www.blogger.com/profile/00857197135858767320noreply@blogger.com3