52Frames Leading Lines Photo Challenge

Earlier in the week we drove over to the Iwo Jima monument and Netherlands Carillon by Arlington Cemetery. I was hoping to get a “leading lines” image for the weekly 52Frames photo challenge. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out although there was an attempt to make one work. So I knew I would need to find something when we took a weekend trip to UVA to visit our grandson and then on to central Virginia to visit our son and DIL. I was disappointed in the photos around the campus in Charlottesville even though there were columns everywhere. And I have used photos from the warehouse home along the James River. That would only leave the “cabin” along the river as an option. We always take a walk along the property. As luck would have it my husband and son were walking a good distance in front of me and our DIL along the dirt road. It ended up being the submission for the week for sentimental reasons. I really didn’t have the time I wanted to focus on the challenge this week because we were out of town. But this photo reflects the serenity of the place and is a great image  of father and son. 

Dyson Air Filter

It happens about every six months. I get a reminder that a new air filter is required and it’s time to order. That’s what Dyson does. Everything is set with an app and you can control the humidifier/air purifier/fan from the app. It also tells me when to clean the water system with citric acid. There are also many real time air quality reports and humidity indicators. So yesterday the filter arrived and it was time to switch it out. They are quite substantial  - there are two large pieces. You know why it needs to be changed when you compare the used one with the new one. Nevertheless all of these filters get to be quite an expense. I hope it’s worth the bother. I still see so much dust around the house within the week of cleaning. What did we used to do in the old days? 

TeePublic Sales

I have several websites that feature my custom pet portraits and some photography. Those include Amazon Merch, Pixels/Fine Art America, Zazzle, and Redbubble. Apparently Redbubble is aligned with TeePublic but has a different audience worldwide. And because I have a Redbubble site, it was relatively easy to set up the same shop on TeePublic about four months ago. It’s been a real kick to get emails from TeePublic saying I have made a sale. I received one yesterday for a tshirt with an American Eskimo on it. I can’t track where it was purchased - just the size, type of shirt and color. I’ve also had some luck with posting merchandise with the famous cherry tree Stumpy. There was a sale earlier in the month for a women’s v neck tshirt in pink. Of course when the website has sales the commission is even less than on a regular sale. But it hardly matters because I am just so thrilled that someone selects an image I created from all of the thousands of others out there. So I’m thinking I might start to do more with my photos because some of the 52Frames weekly photo challenges have been winners. You never know what someone might like. So it’s good to keep trying different things. It also keeps me busy and learning new ways to create different types of images. So thanks for looking - I really appreciate it! 

52Frames Anthropomorphism Weekly Photo Challenge

The question was whether to submit a photo of an interesting tree or a composite that highlighted a kitchen light fixture or garbage cans in the park. The subject this week was “anthropomorphism” for the 52Frames weekly photo challenge. As soon as I knew what the subject was I remembered a tree in our old neighborhood on Capitol Hill. So we went in to town to get a photo of it. It still looked intriguing- was it a man? Front or back? An elf face? Beard? Was he wearing a shirt? Or was it a donkey face? There were so many options. I edited out the trash can and the hanging wires and the air conditioner to clean it up. It was my husband’s favorite photo. But I also liked the kitchen light fixture that was transformed in to a debutante ball. And in the park there were two trash cans that were duplicated for the “trash talk” vibe. An apple core was painted in for a whimsical touch. I really love doing composite images because it’s just so much more fun that just taking one photo and editing it. So I submitted my husband’s preference - but it just doesn’t have the spark and fun about it. I even tried isolating the same tree in to  a park photo that was taken earlier in the week, but it just didn’t do much for me. So I’ll find out if it’s a hit or not this week. Were they more interested in made up subjects or real subjects that actually look human. One will never know. 

Tidal Basin Floods and Disappearing Sidewalks

I don’t remember it being this bad before. The Tidal Basin flooding has become much worse- especially after several days of downpours. We went in to town for a morning walk and parked in our usual spot. It was the first time we had to walk completely around the Jefferson Memorial because the path that lead to the famous Stumpy cherry tree was under water. We wanted to visit Stumpy at least one more time before they pull him and a lot of other cherry trees out for the large scale restoration/renovation project to secure a new sea wall that has sunk several feet. We hope they pay tribute to Stumpy somehow aside from taking his DNA and creating mini trees. All along the tidal basin the sidewalks are submerged. It makes it difficult to get around it due to the unexpected nature of it all. It’s almost a two mile trek but stretches in to more than that with all of the detours. Even the sidewalks by the Roosevelt Memorial are not passable. I’m sure in the end it will be a lot safer and drier but it’s going to take at least two years and is supposed to start in May. This is one of our favorite places to park and walk. I have a feeling we won’t be able to once the construction begins. 

Neighborhood Azaleas

Spring is so beautiful in the DC area - especially because of the flowers. First there were the daffodils. And then came the magnolias. The cherry blossoms seem to get the most attention. Then came the tulips in all of their glory. But now is the time for dogwood and azaleas. It seems the flowers quickly come and go - so it’s important to see as much as possible as long as it lasts. Unfortunately we missed the wisteria - although there was plenty of it along the GW Parkway. Yesterday as we were walking in the neighborhood park we came across several azalea bushes. What made them interesting was that they were all together and each color was represented - white and different shapes and sizes of pink, purple. They were in all stages of blooming. They look most beautiful when they take their own shape rather than cutting them to a round ball or trimming them so everything is the same length. My mom had a lovely garden in New England. We loved the birds and the seasons. We had several gardens in the Midwest. Now we have a very small balcony and I haven’t even planted any flowers in the baskets yet. I suppose that’s why I’m enjoying the gardens so much every where we go.