Celebration

submitted to Thursday's Challenge - Theme: Celebration

Winter Wonderland

This is what it looked like last year at our hideaway in the sierras. This year...not so much. Our neighbors who live there full-time prefer less snow. Since I don't, I treasure every inch of snowfall.
I'm not sure if I'll get out this winter to do any snowboarding. Yep. I snowboard. But I have to qualify that by saying that I stay on the green slopes. But I do pretty well on the green slopes! I'm still chicken to move onto the blue slopes, though. I haven't been snowboarding in 2 years tho, so I seriously need a refresher. I'm not even sure if the ski resort near our hideaway is open yet.

Lady Godiva

I probably ate that little piece of fuzz under the horse's reigns. I didn't see it till I decided to use this picture for the photo challenge.
submitted to Macroday - Theme: Candy

Shiny

Main Street Christmas tree, Disneyland.
submitted to Pxite - theme: shiny

Reindeer games

Happy Holidays Everyone!!
Submitted to Illustration Friday - Theme: Holiday

Festive

Even lawn lions like to celebrate.
submitted to Lensday - Theme: Festive

Snow cones

Christmas lights, after a fresh snowfall.
submitted to Thursdays Challenge - Theme: Lights

The Trickster

The coyote can be wily and sneaky but also insightful.
~~
As happy as I am that I got this photo, I was sad that he was so close to us. Obviously, he was't afraid of humans, searching for handouts. I suspect food is a lot harder to find in the cold winter months in the Sierra Nevadas, but if humans keep feeding them, they'll never survive on their own. Come on people, It isn't cute to feed wild animals Cheetos. Especially in Yosemite. We're in their environment, not the other way around. And while I'm on my soapbox, throw your water bottles away...don't leave them in the forest! Hello...you're out there enjoying nature and you want to pollute it? Where's the logic in that?

Super Genius

Coyote in Yosemite.
This is the original photo I used in my surreal submission to Pixite.
I'll post details of how I superimposed him onto the snowy road in the comments of that picture.

What Flower Am I?

You are a Lily:

You are graceful, gentle, calm, and pure and
perhaps a little shy (though your shyness is
part of your charm). You are a very honorable
person who always wants to do the right thing.
Your calm attitude has a soothing effect on
others.

Symbolism: The lily has long been used as a symbol
of majesty, honor, chastity, and purity of
heart.


Which Flower are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Depth of Field

The depth of death and sacrifice in this field of graves is...overwhelming.
submitted to Photo Friday - Theme: Depth of Field

Surreal

Visions on a snowy road in Yosemite.

submitted to Pxite - Theme: Surreal

Imagine

submitted to Illustration Friday - Theme: Imagine

...I'm not the only one

It's been weeks since I've submitted anything to Illustration Friday. After being sick for over a month (and still not quite 100%), I just lost all of my creative energy. But today's theme inspired me to create. This was my immediate reaction to the theme "Imagine". But I'm not submitting this to the site. First off, there will be a lot of other wonderful submissions with this idea...it is afterall an amazing and moving song, but also, my 'illustration' isn't very personalized. The drawing is rendered, and everyone knows the lyrics. But the song moves me, so I felt inspired to create this simple graphic, just as it is.

Shopping at the farmers market

in Campbell, CA. One of my favorite places to be on a Sunday morning.
submitted to Thursdays Challenge: Shopping

Holiday Funnies

Received these from one of my girlfriends and they made me chuckle so I had to post them!

Reflections on a smooth Wall

Submitted to Moody Monday - Theme: smooth

Lawn Lion

submitted to Macroday - Theme: Best of 2005

Dew drops or pixie dust?

Poinsettia at Disneyland, early morning.

Weight

Submitted to Photo Friday

Labor Intensive

There can't be any other fruit more labor intensive than the pomegranate. I just spent 20 minutes de-seeding one tonight. Midway through, Jimmy asked me a simple question and I just about bit his head off. The funny thing is, this is the 1st year I've ever really eaten a pomegranate. They're delicious. Especially in salads. And in martini's from what I hear from Oprah.

I made a dinner salad with mixed spring greens, chopped Bartlett pear, crumbled gorgonzola, sunflower seeds w/ a light vinaigrette topped with pomegranate seeds. Mmmmm. Also made beef stew and gnocchi for No-Beef-Boy. That about maxed out my cooking for the week.

Orange Dragonfly

Submitted to Thursdays Challenge. Theme: Orange

Nature

Black bears in Juneau, Alaska. The pilot of our seaplane spotted these black bears so he landed the plane in this lake so we could watch them fish. The gulls are waiting to scavenge leftovers.
Submitted to Lens Day. Theme: Nature

California Adventure

A rainy night at Disney's California Adventure.

Experimental

I've wanted to try this collage technique for several months. It took a lot more time than I thought it would have! But after 2 hours of experimenting and futzing, I'm happy with the results. I may have become addicted to another technique!!
Submitted to Photo Friday. Theme: Experimental

It's a Small World

I haven't been on this ride in 20 years. So to ride it during the holidays was a very special treat! The decorations were completely over the top...exactly how it should be!! And instead of singing "It's a small world" over and over, the animatronic dolls sung Christmas songs. Pure sensory overload in a good way!

The Happiest Place on Earth

Just got back from Disneyland, happy but very tired. This year we had a double treat - Disney is celebrating its 50th birthday and the park is completely decorated for the holidays. It was a very special time of the year on a very special year to be at the Happiest Place on Earth. 

I'm going to Disneyland!

Please oh please don't rain this weekend. As my dear friend Phin said:
"I wanna see the Electrocution Parade!" 

Sweet

Submitted to Thursday's Challenge - Theme: Sweet

December

Let the season begin!