Days 30/31. First Month down

Day 30 - I did take the picture on the right day but exhaustion has finally caught up with me and it was all I could do to stay awake all day. It was an early night for me. So here for day 30 - Purely random and just because I liked it.



Today was an awesome day! We've had our dinning room table full all day. It was reminiscent of when the kids were little. We've had all the kids (Except for Gabriel, who lives in California - I miss him) over for breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner, Dave's mom was here and this evening we had our friends Flora and John for dinner. Then we sat by the fireplace, while we watched David hang my cuckoo-clock, a gift my daughter brought back from Germany.

Sun Set at Miller Beach


David with Reesee, Frozen Lake Michigan in the background.


Me and the dogs running along the shore of the frozen Lake. The dogs had so much fun running out there and you gotta love my hat. Well, not my hat my sons hat - LOL.
It was bitter cold but I really enjoyed the fresh air. Poor D could hardly stand it - Thanks Hun.

Fun Friday Challenge - Self Portrait

Project 365 - Fun Friday Challenge -
the challenge is a self portrait. I needed to include something photographic, hence the studio softbox reflection on my glasses.

This I Love . . .

My Local public library. I visit here at least once a week, sometimes more. I find comfort amongst these shelves. I walk in this place and a whole new place opens up for me, new adventures, new ideas, like hanging out with an old friend.
I enjoy the public library so much I spend many "lunch hours" from work there. Sitting on the floor scanning books. Finding quiet.
Words of Wisdom










The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is by easy reading: but a great book that comes from a great thinker-- it is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and with beauty.
- Theodore Parker

Books are the ever burning lamps of accumulated wisdom.
- George William Curtis




If minds are truly alive they will seek out books, for books are the human race recounting its memorable experiences, confronting its problems, searching for solutions, drawing the blueprints of it futures.
- Harry A. Overstreet

Todays theme is Words/Color

This is an art building in the Downtown Hammond area.
I don't know how long this has been up or who painted it. It's another nice display of Building Art. It has faded pretty badly and has started to peel. I saturated the colors for a nice pop.

This image is actually 4 images "stitched" together so I could get the whole picture in. I've left the road block "horse" on the bottom left so that you can see the actual size of the building.

Angel of Mercy

Today's theme is Architecture and while this is not a building it is a monument that I drive by everyday. The skies are still grey around here. I added lots and lots of textures and colors compliments of Shadowhouse Creations




Original image - oh yeah and that is snow.

Monochromatic Monday

My minature doxy Twix



Ran 4.75 miles goal for the week 13 miles

{Nature} Day 24

Spent the day with Pam Lopez in Genoa Illinois. For my natured theme day she took me to Russell Woods Forest Preserve, this is the Kishwaukee River. DeKalb County. It's pretty high because of the rain and the snow melting.

Nature is still pretty grey and brown around here. Still missing the blue skies.



I did have a great day with Pam and we took alot of images. This stop was only for my themed day.

The 23rd Day - Updated

Saturday's theme
We went out to dinner with our Family, it was my Sister-in-laws birthday. The lighting was not very good - but I had my 50mm. I want to share all of the pictures but I'm tired, so I'm only sharing my Sister in Law and her immediate family.
Happy Birthday Lisa



The ever artistic Lisa, Mike, who can measure, sort and build just about anything and whatever he builds will last forever and their beautiful daughter Sarah - She's grown up way to fast!

These are just some snapshots taken at the restaurant.
Here's the rest of them



My beautiful Mother In law, Jan
My awesome Father in law, Alex
The third is our Fun Aunt Pat (forever young) and her husband Knowledgeable husband Jerry.
The middle one is the whole group (I can't take credit for that image)
Then we have the Mischievous Nephew Adam (it's so funny to watch Dave and Adam together, never a dull moment), Our Beautiful Niece Sarah, who's grown up way to fast and last, but not least our Bother in law Bobby - who can find anything you're looking for, but he does it legally!
We were missing my Brother in law, who will do anything for any of us and Adams wife Laura, who is so much fun to be around and of coarse our children were all missing.

The storyboards are from the awesome Coffeeshop website.

Fun Friday Challenge - {Color}

Day 22 The challenge for this Friday is Color. We pick the color we want and go from there.
I spend sometime today at work - lunch time ;), and after work taking pictures of red items. I have over 12 items but I could not find the story board I wanted to use. So I used two from Coffee Shop.
My color is Red






The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love.
Red is the one color that evokes extreme emotions in everyone. It is a passionate color that can lead to violence and warfare, or the flush can signal a love that transcends time. It is power, the banner that leads the troops to war, and a warning of danger up ahead. Red is the symbol of courage and sacrifice, life and death.

It is Cupid on one end and the Devil on the other. There is more interesting reading on Red. See Squidoo.com

{Me} Day 21

I'm training for my first marathon. I've done 2 - 5K races and one six mile one. In September I will do my first half marathon in Chicago then In October I will do my first full marathon. In the meanwhile I will be doing several other races to prepare for the big one which is 26.4 miles.

Running has not always come easy to me. Even today, I have to make myself move, put my running shoes on and just get out and run. I can talk myself out of a run in a heartbeat. But then I regret it.
Running clears my mind. There are moments when I think I cannot make it another mile, another minute, another second but I keep on moving. I tell myself "one foot in front of the other" and then there comes a clearing. My mind is at peace, the sound of my shoes hitting the pavement becomes comforting and I'm filled with excitement. There is nothing left just me and the air. The air that fills my lungs and gives me the energy to keep running. My troubles are left behind with each drop of sweat and I am empowered.

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner



"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. When you were younger the mind could make you dance all night, and the body was never tired...You've always got to make the mind take over and keep going."
- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General and 1912 Olympian

Day 20! Building Art

Some art I've admired for awhile and I wanted to document it before it disappears or gets covered up. This is the side view of the building.


This decorates a brick building in Gary, Indiana (Alley view)

And if God will send his Angels. . .

This is St Joseph's Catholic Church In Hammond Indiana.
Romanesque Revival, Built in 1914.This church features an outstanding rose window as well as important stained glass window.

The Indiana Historical Society rates this building as in "O" for Outstanding, "which means that enough historic or architectural significance that it is already listed, or should be considered for individual listing, in the Nations Register of Historic Places."
*Lake County Interim Report 1996

This is a beautiful church and it's very active in the community. It has an active soup kitchen and food pantry for the homeless of the area.

I've added two textures from Shadowhouse Creations.



I've concentrated on one small element of this very large church.

Monochromatic Monday

The beauty of winter in Black and White.
No wonder Ansel Adams loved nature in black and white. Not that I'm anywhere near his accomplishments but black and white gives nature a different look. Pure and simple.



and this was my reaction when I realized the weekend and a Monday flew bye . . . so quickly!

this is from an abandoned factory
Cement and pipe.
LOL

Stress relief!

This is yesterdays image

Isabella and I shared a "moment" she was telling me how she wanted to be a princess and her favorite princess right now is Cinderella.
She's wearing a dress that belonged to her mom. Technically not perfect but I love this one. I've uploaded more images of Isabella on my flicker account. See here





I took a jog on a trail today, versus the treadmill, when I was done I realized today's theme is Nature, but everything is still so white and blah. So I took pictures of this winter grass and added textures.

Friday Fun Foto Challenge #1

This is a childhood figurine that a friend gave me in Middle School. My mom has saved it all these years. Yes, it was an "I'm Sorry" gift, for God knows what.
When David saw it he said "what in the world it that?" and "it's really ugly!" LOL
My kids think it's the ugliest and creepiest thing ever.
I had two ideas I really wanted to work on, the first one I could not complete because of the small accident I had the other day, the second I could not complete because what I need is in storage. So it's also an "I'm Sorry" to my Project 365 Family.

Also background bokeh with Christmas lights and a punched out snow flake.

Thursday { She's a part of Me. . .}

My youngest daughter, she didn't really want to pose for me but I told her I was experimenting with something new - the flower bokeh (the background) those are actually Christmas lights.

Wednesday Words

Here's a childhood favorite. Teddy's holding the book.

Architecture

I work In Hammond Indiana and I've long admired these old looking buildings. Today I did a quick research and found that this building, is called the Seifer Building. It was constructed in 1925 and was the Seifer retail furniture company. It's built in the Colonial Revival style. The detail in the facade is what is lacking in the newer construction.
It's located on State Street Commercial Historic District. It's located in what used to be the heart of Hammond's Business District.

The Indiana Historical Society rates this building as in "O" for Outstanding, "which means that enough historic or architectural significance that it is already listed, or should be considered for individual listing, in the Nations Register of Historic Places."
*Lake County Interim Report 1996







It should be noted that this building along with several other "Historical" buildings have been purchased and are being remodeled by a local Baptist Church.

Monochromatic Monday

The sky was a perfect white today. It goes along with my theme for today - Monochromatic.
I used my Beast of a lens for this one. Nikon 70-200mm
I love the detail on this church.

Thanks to Pam for suggesting I add Topaz for added demension.


Just Darn cold!

But

spring is right around the corner

A different look at Gilroy Stadium - Nature

Today's theme is Nature
I went back to Gilroy Stadium with a different lens/lenses and different shoes. I wore boots this time. The snow was 2 feet and more in some location and it was below zero.
I did manage to capture the blue sky though.


I took a lot of other interesting photos - I consolidated them in a story book created by Rita at CoffeeShop.


and some more:


Forgot to mention that I went back to shooting in Raw and the color difference is amazing!

Anything goes Saturday

Tickets please . . .


Welcome to Gilroy Stadium, Gary Indiana, yes home of the original Jackson 5.


To the power tower


I used a little bit of Topaz on the last two images.

These were written by Chris Ramirez. If you are interested in the whole article see here: The Rise and Fall of Gary's Gilroy Stadium

" It sits alone, as if placed in solitary confinement, obscured by neglect on 30 acres of forgotten ground just west of the Indiana University Northwest campus in the Glen Park section of Gary. Opened in 1956 but ignored by the hands of time, today Gilroy Stadium is a reminder of what used to be, and what should have been." . . .

"In hindsight, its clear Gilroy never stood a chance. From poor planning to shoddy workmanship and substandard
materials; from crooked politicians to apathetic ones, Gilroy Stadium is simply fulfilling its destiny.
There is no need for a proper burial for this once magnificent structure. Gilroy Stadium itself is an eternal graveyard
– a rotting brick and steel eye sore that is nothing more than a reminder of what used and to be…and what
could have been."

Friday's post is about Love - Puppy Love

Don't tell me my dogs aren't vicious looking, even ferocious.
Off camera flash that didn't go as planned.


This is Reesee, she's going to be 7 years old in April.


This is Twix, she's gonna be 5 years old in March. This is Miss Personality and the loud mouth.


I couldn't help posting another one of Reesee

Just Me . . .

This is how I started my day


Stuck stuck stuck! Bad weather and accidents along the way I was 30 minutes late to work, but so was everyone else.







OCF to camera right and snooted with home made snoot. LOL I just like saying snoot and snooted.
The reason for the running shoes is that I'm preparing for a marathon. Follow me on my journey. Today almost 4 miles at the end of the day.
Maybe next week I'll introduce you to my trainer.

Words and Ink

The words that I seek after everyday. Just playing some scrabble.
I added a texture, shot with my nifty fifty 50 mm available light F 1.4, SS 80

Texture from Shadowhouse


David had his ink "re-done" and I don't just mean touched up, I mean almost completely changed. Some of the things you see there are old some are new. It still has to heal.

I shot Off Camera Flash and made a snoot. (See Elli, no spill)