Slowing down

Posted on May 4, 2010 by pearlsandprose

I may have to face the fact that my little Maltese Rocky is slowing down. I just can’t believe he’s 12 now–he looks like a puppy. Total strangers tell me that all the time. The Maltese looks like a puppy longer than any breed. Here’s my little guy….

on the rug

I love the way he looks on my Persian rug. (One of the things I was able to salvage from the divorce.) Rocky’s eyes are soooo dark, like black olives. One of them is getting cloudy, though, and he can’t see like he used to. The other night my husband was walking him when I pulled into the driveway and I had to call to him before he recognized me. I wasn’t that far away, either. 😦

My baby doesn’t like going up and down stairs anymore now. I usuallly carry him because he’s had back problems in the past.

It is going to kill me when Rocky goes. This dog was with me during the divorce and moved all the way across the country when I remarried. Stuffed into a cramped carrier under the airplane seat for over six hours! He also survived a rattlesnake bite. And I should add that I adopted him from a rescue group because he was found on the streets. A tough little guy, but not immune to aging, alas. Rocky is totally devoted to me: he’s either on my lap or at my feet.

I’m just going to enjoy the time I have left with him and appreciate his being there when I was going through the worst time of my life.

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More fun with Photoscape (faux vintage)

Posted on May 1, 2010 by pearlsandprose

I’ve noticed a lot of “fake” Polaroids and vintage photos lately, and decided to give it a try on Photoscape.
Here’s a picture of a great vintage sign in Austin, Texas, for Magnolia Cafe. (They have killer breakfasts, by the way.)

partialmagnolia

I drained most of the color, applied a fun texture, then an antique photo action. Kind of cool, yeah?

Vintage magnolia

It’s funny that now we have digital photography with all its bells and whistles, but the trend is for vintage photos. Nostalgia rules, doesn’t it?
I for one am simply blown away at the immediacy of digital photography. How those pros back in film days shot weddings and then prayed until the prints were developed! Major courage.

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Bleeding Hearts can be fun

Posted on April 28, 2010 by pearlsandprose

I know, I know, I’m getting obsessed with bleeding hearts. But they only last a few weeks and then they’re gone for a whole year. Please bear with me–it’s only my second spring back East.
This one is my very own and ready for planting.

dicentra spectabilis
This is the “fun” I had with the flowers. Played with Photoscape, a really nice photo editing program that’s free.

glowhearts

I have to warn you, it’s addictive. So many options!

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More on the trillium

Posted on April 24, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Trillium grandiflorum

I took this after a storm, so there’s a bit of debris. But it’s a wildflower growing in the wild, so it shouldn’t look manicured, right?

According to Wikipedia, the trillium grandiflorum is “native to North America and Asia. Picking Trillium for their flower can seriously injure the plant. The three leaves (more correctly, leafy bracts) below the flower are the plant’s only ability to produce food stores and a picked trillium can take many years to recover. For this reason, in many areas, e.g. Michigan,[1] New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota,[2] and Washington, it is illegal to pick and/or transplant trilliums from public lands without a permit from the State.”

Who knew?

It also goes on to say that the seeds are spread by ants and mice. Um, ewwww. No wonder they’re rare–we have cats in the neighborhood.

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April in Paris

Posted on April 24, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Just kidding. I’ve been to Paris several times, but never in April. But I have to say, it is pretty hard to beat April in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The azaleas and dogwoods and tulips and lilacs–oh my.

fuchsia azalea cluster

I just bought this beauty and can’t wait to plant it in the garden. There are way too many white azaleas, and with a white house, it can be a tad boring.

Trillium part two

This is a trillium, which I’ve never seen in bloom before. It’s supposed to be difficult to grow and in some states, it’s illegal to pick the flowers. Makes it harder to propagate or something. We have a little patch of woods next to our house and this just popped up one day. I’m kind of thrilled that the photo looks a bit painterly. This was accidental, I assure you! The blossom was brand-new, so very pristine.

lavender starfish

I call this one “Lavender starfish” because it looks like, well you know…. Aren’t the green leaves amazing? I’d love to paint this one day. First I need to take a painting class. Add it to the list.

lavender dotted azalea

Just one more.
I’m off to enjoy this perfect spring day….

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At the Arboretum

Posted on April 22, 2010 by pearlsandprose

We went to the arboretum last weekend and the azalea section was looking great. Growing up, I had never seen an azalea and was amazed when I  first laid eyes on them. So many colors! A flowering shrub that’s evergreen! It just doesn’t exist in the snowy Midwest.

lavender azaleas

I just bought one in this color and can’t wait to see it bloom every year. Such a gorgeous lavender and the petals are so delicate. They look a little like fairies, don’t they?

apricot azaleas on a limb

This is the first apricot-colored azalea I’ve ever seen. It’s from Turkey or China or some other exotic locale. I took a closeup for my banner.

Pink spotted azaleas

Like peppermint candy, non?

pink striped azalea

This is a bit unusual. It’s either the result of grafting or a freak in nature. I love the green in the background.

pinks

I’ve been putting my photos up on Flickr and this one has generated the most buzz. A total surprise, because I thought it was just okay and almost didn’t post it. The accolades have been nice and very inspiring. I’m only an amateur photographer, but I’m a pretty serious amateur.
Oh, I’ve figured out how to link my Flickr photos and this blog, so if you by any chance want to see my “photostream,” just click on one of my photos. It should take you to my Flickr page. I’m not a techie, so no guarantees there!

One more thing about Flickr: there are some AMAZING photographers over there. I am constantly blown away by the photos I find there every single day. I will try to post some of my favorites, but have to get permission first.

Have a great one!

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Hearts and cameras

Posted on April 16, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Can you stand one more bleeding heart? Good! I call this “hearts on the line.”

I guess I’m kind of a bleeding heart myself. I always cheer for the underdog and cry at sad books (Les Misérables) and movies (Terms of Endearment). About the latter: my ex and I went to this movie with another couple, and I thought it was a romantic comedy. Imagine my horror when the mom gets cancer and has to say goodbye to her two young sons! It hit WAY too close to home, as my boys were about the same age as the ones in the movie. I wanted to fall on the floor sobbing, but we were with this other couple. I was literally choking on tears and it hurt . Sigh.

OK, I’m brimming with something else today…. I got a new camera!! Be still my beating heart. I’m a little overwhelmed by this Nikon DSLR, but I’m reading the manual like a fiend and hope to be shooting soon. I will still use my Canon Powershot G10 from time to time, as it’s much more unobtrusive. There are times when it’s just not cool to be pointing a camera at everyone. I also don’t like lugging along a lot of camera equipment when I’m just enjoying a walk with my husband. Balance is good.

I fought the digital revolution for years, I’m embarrassed to say. My ex bought me a Sony digital camera in 2000 and I barely used it, believing myself to be a “purist.” Ha! Once my son took over and showed me how incredibly convenient it was I never looked back. To be able to see your shots instantly and send pictures all over the world right after taking them! It’s just amazing to me, even after 10 years. Kind of like cell phones. I’m still flabbergasted that I can make a phone call anywhere whenever I want. Do you know how disgusting those old phone booths were? There aren’t enough antibacterial wipes in the world to clean those suckers.

All for now. Hopefully I’ll have some good shots soon. Here’s a hosta to hold you over…. I could say hosta la vista, baby, but that would be…corny.

variegated hosta

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Flowering Dogwoods

Posted on April 16, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Aren’t dogwoods just the best?? I love the petals in pink or white. We have a small wild one in our backyard too. I’m so glad to be back on the East Coast to see them again. It ALMOST makes up for all the pollen and terrible weather the rest of the year. ; )

Dogwood Blossom

Pink Dogwood

According to legend, the dogwood was used to make crosses for crucixion. After Jesus was crucified, the dogwood tree was never again big enough or strong enough for a cross, and the flowers were then cross-shaped. Whatever you believe, you have to admit this blossom looks an awful lot like a cross….

dogwood cross

dogwood petals

Up close, these blossoms look almost salmon-colored, but from a distance they look pink. Growing up in the Midwest, I never knew what dogwoods were until one of my best friends went to Minneapolis and bought some paper blossoms at Dayton’s department store. We thought they were the coolest thing! I never thought I’d live where they grow in the wild.

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Bleeding hearts, etc.

Posted on April 15, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Went out and took some pics this gorgeous morning. I love dicentra spectabilis, otherwise known as bleeding heart. It’s so tender and actually appears to “bleed,” albeit in white.
I found two in the neighborhood and positively drooled.

Oh, I missed seeing these guys when I lived in California.

fence hearts

I like the way these are peeking out through the fence.

pink tulip

Stumbled on a tulip too. It’s kind of early for them. I think pink and apricot are my favorite tulip colors.

Tomorrow, dogwoods!

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Giada and cherry blossoms

Posted on April 4, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Giada de Laurentiis at one of her book signing sessions. I have to admit to being starstruck–the whole thing is kind of a blur now. Giada has like twenty million teeth that are dazzlingly white, and perfect skin. She actually looks better in person! I mumbled something about loving her show, then asked her to sign a cookbook for my friend T. Which, of course, she did. The next thing I knew, we were out the door. They really move things along. I hope I meet her again so I can carry on an actual conversation.

This took place at a very nice store, Sur la Table, although they had a guy who was REALLY serious about people not taking pictures in line and not using flash. One guy who did the latter was pounced on by three guys and led outside. We had to stand to the side with a bunch of other people and I had to shoot really fast. They wouldn’t allow pics while standing in line, so I’m really glad I went into the store while my sweet husband saved my place. How many husbands would even accompany their wives to this? I’m lucky, I know.

This is a bit blurry because I had to take it really quickly and didn’t have time to focus. Someone was in front of her constantly, which didn’t help.
So glad we got there an hour early, because the line went all the way around the block. Also glad we thought to bring camping stools because we ended up waiting almost two hours. Worth it? Yes!
After the book signing, we went to a neighborhood near ours that has cherry trees EVERYWHERE. It’s almost better than seeing the blossoms around the Tidal Basin. Fabulous mansions on every block and trees like this.
I love cherry blossoms….

So, a very nice Saturday!
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