Month in Numbers and Glue it Tuesday (all rolled into one!)

Julie Kirk hosts a monthly round-up of people documenting their month in numbers. I've watched others do it and thought it was cool. But I never figured out how to do it (even though Julie has this wonderful tutorial). The idea of tracking numbers throughout the month simply felt overwhelming.
But then, this month, someone did a very nice month in numbers lay out which featured five numbers. Just Five. And that seemed do-able. And Fun.
About the same time, I was busy cutting and tearing and gluing paper onto a page in my sketch book for Aimee's Glue it Tuesday. I started with a doodle I had created during a work meeting and then taken home to water color. I added some complimentary papers. 
There seemed to be a nice expanse for some journaling. So, I took the leap and decided to record some numbers from April. I decided to organize my numbers around travel, since that seemed to fit with my little compass doodle.
Here's what I came up with:
"24 miles to work - 13 classes taught;  2 finals written
2400 miles to Detroit, Mich. - 55 minute taxi ride downtown in traffic
58 miles to Santa Cruz for training - 13.2 miles in a half-marathon; 14 bunnies seen on the Coastside trail on a recent run
439 miles to Eugene, Oregon - 10 applications, 7 acceptances, 1 Duck."
This was a lot of fun, and I'm sure I'll do it again.
To see other people posting to Month in Numbers, check out this link.
For other folks playing in the Glue it Tuesday lounge, click here.

Hello Monday

Hello Monday . . . a meme started by Lisa Leonard
Hello 18 Year Old Henry . . . his birthday was last Thursday, and we had a quiet family dinner with his girl friend and his Godparents at Sam's Chowderhouse.  We're giving him a surprise on Thursday evening, as well.
Hello University of Oregon . . . Henry decided that he will be going there. We all agree it's the best choice for him.

Hello last week of the regular high school baseball season . . . there's a chance the boys are going to the playoffs, and we're keeping our fingers crossed.
Hello new running shoes . . . for me and Clara. The coach said we would need a fresh pair for our June 2nd race and now is the time to buy them and break them in a bit.
Hello sore hamstring . . . as the miles have added up, I have my first really sore muscles. I hope it's something I can treat with a little ice and rest.
Hello exam grading . . . it's the only bad part of my job, but it's what I'll be doing this week.
Hello DSLR Camera . . . I'm really enjoying taking photographs with my big camera this month, and I'm still enjoying picmonkey, especially for matching photos with quotes. I realize it's difficult to read the quote on the second photograph, but I like it regardless.  
***What are you saying hello to this week?***

Storytelling Sunday: Cruising to Alaska

Good morning, and welcome to Storytelling Sunday, a monthly round-up hosted by Sian of From High in the Sky. For 2013, Sian has suggested we tell stories of our precious keep-sakes, and for May she asked for something outdoorsy.  Since May always floods me with thoughts of my parents (they were both born in May), I thought I would share the story of my Lladro polar bear and the cruise to Alaska we took with my parents. You can read other storytellers's tales for May by clicking on this link.

One summer, shortly after Paul and I were married, we couldn't decide where to go on vacation.  At the last minute, we decided to go on a cruise to Alaska.  My parents were planning to take a similar cruise that summer, but we decidedly did not want to go at the same time.  Yet, through some mix-up which I never quite understood, we ended up booked on the same cruise!

Which turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened.  For the first time since I had moved away at the age of 17, I spent relaxed, quality time with my parents. It was the first time that we ever spent time together after I became an adult. And we found that we really enjoyed each other's company.  We did not eat dinner together and did not book the same shore excursions, but we found many other excuses to be together.  We met for cocktails almost every night, and several mornings we played bridge with my dad. We went shopping with my mom in Sitka and arranged to go to the midnight buffet together one night.   But the best day was the day we cruised through Glacier Bay.  Paul and I arrived in the viewing lounge early and grabbed a table by the window.  My parents arrived later, and we kept the table for the entire day. We had lunch there and many, many, many cocktails. We chatted and played cards and enjoyed the awesome scenery.  Later that day, my mom and I visited the ship's gift shop and we each bought a Lladro polar bear to remind us of the wonderful time we spent together on that cruise.

Both my have since passed away.  They are gone, but definitely not forgotten. And, whenever I look at my Lladro polar bear, I remember how our relationship changed for the better, and for good, after we spent time together on that cruise.

Messy Little Details: A few thoughts

Carolyn, over at Mess, Muddle, and Fun has started a weekly photo meme she calls Messy Little Details, where photographers can share those photos of little things that catch our eye. You can see this week's photos and learn more about the project at this link.
I was attracted to the project because I often do find myself captivated by messy little details.  While out back, for instance, I found myself drawn to these two images:

I like the garden weasel photo because of the color and shape, as well as what it suggests about activity in the garden.  I like the tennis ball on the grass because it suggests a story as well, but it is not clear what the story is. It's a bit of a mystery, isn't it?
When I first read Carolyn's description of her project, I think I focused too much on the term messy little details and thought my photos had to be dirty, grungy, etc. After having seen Carolyn's most recent stunning photo of a rope tied to pier, I realize that the emphasis is really on life's messy little details and the "messy" part is just a cute tie-in with her blog name. 
That freed me up to work with the rhododendron photograph at the top of today's post.  It is a little messy, a little soft-focus, but I really like the light and the details and the depth of field (as always, you can click on any image on my blog to see a larger, clearer version).  I used pic-monkey to add a frame and a quote (thanks again to this fantastic list of quotes published by skinny artist). I went back and reread Carolyn's post about her project and loved it when she said that she "just wants people to enjoy their photography."  I am enjoying reflecting on and writing about why certain details catch my eye. It's a lot like what I do with my "My Photographer's Eye" series, but with photos beyond those taken on instagram.
This week made me realize how much I enjoy working with picmonkey to do something a little special with my photographs. These creations feel like a departure for me; something new; an evolution in my style. I used the same process to create the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt badge, which, to be honest, I kindof  really love. Carolyn's messy little project really is helping me discover some details of my secret self. Just like Godard suggests it should. How cool is that?
Have a great weekend, and maybe I'll see you tomorrow for Sian's Storytelling Sunday.

PPF: Sketching During a Budget Meeting

While at work the other day, I found myself sitting in a Budget Committee meeting. Lots of numbers; news somewhat discouraging. I started sketching on my notepad and came up with this simple pencil drawing. I liked it so much that I tore it out and took it home. I water-colored it and stuck in my sketchbook. I went back to this bookmarked post from The Skinny Artists (filled with tons of great quotes) and grabbed a quote that I thought went well. It says, "Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them." And that's my offering for Paint Party Friday.
To see other works of painterly goodness, check out this link.

PHC: Limitless

When I looked through my photographs for this month, searching for the one which most touched my heart and my soul, I realized that I never once took out my big camera.  All my photos were on my iphone camera roll. But that's okay because I found this shot, taken looking up into the Eucalyptus trees in the open space by my home. 
There's something about the shape of the tree branches and leaves, 
the perspective, 
the layers of near to far, all reaching out to the sky. 
I imagine myself lying on a blanket, gazing upward, 
and I feel . . . 
limitless.
****************************************************************************
Photo Heart Connection is a monthly self-crit photo practice hosted by Kat Sloma. 

To see the selections from other photographers and/or to play along, check out this link.

Look Up//Look Down #17: A Dog Day

Just hanging out in the backyard today, and I found this wonderful look up photograph of the dogs.  Aria and Gypsy are fast friends - when they aren't snarling each other.  I searched around in my photos for a complimentary look down photograph and found this paw print from a walk in the nearby open space. I don't know what varmint left the track, but I'm sure the dogs would love to find out!  I've been playing along with Helena's look up//look down meme for just over one-fourth of the year and this is the first time I've looked around my photos to find a good match. I think my approach to this meme is evolving.  I really want an aesthetically pleasing pair or a pair that tells a story.  So the photos don't necessarily have to be taken at the same time, in the same space. If you've been playing along with an annual photo meme, have you noticed that your approach has evolved as the year has gone along?