High Five from Seal Choir

Have you ever been in a kayak going down a wild river? I guess some of the ocean kayaks are hollowed out inside with a seat, designed to sit on the top, like this group of pretty blue ones. I've always wanted to try this. I'm putting it on my list of things to do! Maybe some paddle boarding, too.

I walked down to the edge of the harbor and found this happy family of seals giving us a "high five."

So cute and funny. Photos for Blue Monday. Saying goodbye to September!

Photo Effect: Yesterday Filter

Photo Effect: Soft Focus, Lomo

Photo Effect: Paint Texture

Photo Edit: Paint Texture, Water Overlay

Photo Edit: Orange Tint

There's just something soothing and so relaxing about resting on the dock! Like a September song on this last day of the month... introducing "Seal Choir" with a high five and a bark-bark!

Photos for Mandarin Orange Monday

So long September!








“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Goodbye Summer: Hello Fall

I had two back-to-back outings last week as seen here in the photos. Made it to Oceanside Harbor to experience a cool sea breeze, drink in the water sites (Sea Trek, local surfer) and embrace many warm memories of our grandson playing in the sand... Goodbye Summer. What a wonderful season of sizzling temperatures and fun in the sun moments with family!

At the San Diego Safari Park there is a special Botanical Cactus Trail. The orange blooms and leaves reminded me of a new season approaching in all its orange splendor. It's a different contrast from Poplars, Liquid Amber trees and such varieties. I suspect the grouped Aloe Vera were burned by too much sun. I found the middle photo to be somewhat "corky" and funny. Silly blooms, yet marvelous creations found in nature. Hello Fall!

Here's my photo edit with lightning trails effect!

Photos for Blue Monday and Mandarin Orange Monday

How is it where you are?







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Occupy Pie

Photo Credit: Tom Haddon

On the Flying Dutchman Ship, there was a guy with his beard of tentacles called, Davey Jones. This pie dough crust shaped like an octopus reminds me of the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.


This Friday is Pirate's Day. I was remembering awhile back with my post in 2011, International-talk-like-pirate-day. There was so much traffic to my site and the only thing I could figure out was that pirate books, puzzles, costumes and songs must be very popular on the west coast! How is it where you are? Do you have any special events going on or perhaps over the weekend for the special event?

Peek-a-Boo Heroes: Pirate Buy From Art.com

Well, this year I wanted to do something a little bit different. For Blue Monday, my daughter visited an aquarium in Maine and snatched this awesome photo of a seahorse. I love the glare and distortion in this shot and yet the seahorse remains the focal point. I LOVE to watch a seahorse glide through the water, similar to the way of a hummingbird... so graceful.

I chose this photo edit with a fire overlay and radiance for Mandarin Orange Monday.

I admit this octopus-looking pie is pretty creepy and you'll probably be running into all kinds of Halloween costumes with similar effects and maybe even Davey Jones but in a way the details provide such great artwork, don't you think?

I'm not really fond of these kind of things, a bit squeamish and on the sensitive side but having 4 grandsons has thrusted me into the boys world and oh, how these guys love to run around with an eyepatch and a rubber sword!

If you get a chance, stop by my Pirate Pinterest Board and enjoy this video of slides I made in 2010!

Books I Recommend:

Pirate Boy
Pirate Pete
How I Became a Pirate



Arghh!






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Grandparent's Day at School

Photos for Blue Monday and Mandarin Orange Monday

GRANDMA'S FLOWERS
Each time I go to Grandma's place
To spend some summer hours,
She lets me pick a big bouquet
Of pretty garden flowers.
I've learned the names of almost all
The flowers Grandma grows:
Carnation, iris, pansy, phlox
Petunia, and rose.
The sweet pea is my favorite;
It has a lovely smell.
The flower Grandma likes the best
Is Canterbury bell.
I think my Grandma's wonderful
And hope that when I'm grown,
I'll have a "green thumb" just like hers
And flowers of my own.
~By Pauline S. Walker~

Basic Photo Edit: Yesterday

Photo Edit: HDR

Photo Edit: Lomo 

Photo Edit: Light Weave Texture

Photo Edit: Subtract

Photo Edit: Paint and Board Texture

Last Friday we celebrated Grandparent's Day at our grandson's elementary school. We were warmly greeted by this brightly colored sign!

Inside the Kindergarten classroom, I noticed "I Can" sight words on the window, along with these cool computers for school.

Ryan is in a Bilingual class with 33 fellow classmates. He's learning so much  and we are very proud of him.

We did an art project together. I traced his hands and Ryan wanted to cut them out. This is serious scissor's practice! Below you can see Ryan using the whiteboard for printing his letters.

Back inside the classroom, I was invited to come up front and tell a story about Ryan. Being a piano teacher and former kindergarten music teacher, it was easy to do. I mostly talked about all the lovely tomatoes in the garden and Ryan coming over to play the piano and the guitar with his grandpa. We ate lunch together and had a lovely time.

Hope your day of celebrating was special, too. Of course... everyday is grandparents day for me!






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Little Mechanic on Duty

Big wheel activity in Maine!

My grandson is enjoying his big wheel with some outdoor play in the summer time. He discovers that his bike is on "empty." Noah is so cute in his blue shorts and railroad hat! Photos for Blue Monday

Photo Edit: Orton Effect with Water Texture

So, Noah does what every good mechanic would do... "Fill 'er up!"

   
                                               Photo Effect: Space Overlay Texture

I love how the spacial lighting creates a summer-looking "fireflies" effect. 
Do you have lightning bugs where you are? I've seen them in Chicago but not here in SoCal.

                                        

 Photo edits for Mandarin Orange Monday

Special thanks to Sally for hosting her 5 year old blog-anniversary party and to Lori for showing me online so many fun tips to photo editing! xo

Happy Labor Day to the U.S.A. and Canada!











“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis