Babysitting..

I had fun babysitting this cute little boy today. Four years old is a great age.

Sunrise at S.B. Wharf

Couple days after Christmas went down to the Wharf to see the sunrise. Peaceful.

Love my feathered friends ..wherever I can find them:

Pretty much deserted 6:30 in AM:

Images for Print Show in Feb. '14

I printed these 2 images up for the Print show we (Channel City Camera Club) are having in February at the Meisel Gallery here in Santa Barbara. I was happy with the way Sammy's camera printed them for me. I'm framing them without glass...no reflections or color distortion.
 I took them in Tuscany last May.

Lovely Lady..Cubist style oil painting

I have a wonderful new painting in my home, from local artist Brian Baker. I saw his work at the Oakleigh art show last weekend..couldn't get this one out of my mind so I had to have it!

This is Brian and his paintings at the Oakliegh art show:

"Pot Wars" Art Show 12-13

Art Show the past Sunday in Montecito, Oakleigh community, was a magical place.  Set back on a private road it seemed to be a gathering of lovely, artistic folks in a beautiful natural setting.  I got to meet Jeff Shelton and his family.  I've admired his local architecture since moving here to Santa Barbara. His whimsical, beautiful structures use local craftsmen to carry through his unique designs (see Cota Street Studios, Ablet House, Vera Cruz house and much more).
I used HDR software and Nik 'glamor glow' to bring out the magic of the afternoon at Oakleigh.

 

 

My 2013 Christmas card

It's a little early but I want to share this Xmas card I made on Walgreen's Photo site. My beautiful grandkids!
I changed the photos into black and white, from the pics I took when I was there in Sept.

Enjoyed the meet up tour of John Given's organic farm on ocean N. of Goleta.  Gerri French organized it. Interesting to hear the fortitude it takes to bring a crop to market. So many decisions he has to make as a farmer. Enlightening.

beautiful dog on property..part australian shep I believe

Beautiful clouds at the Santa Barbara Harbour yesterday.  This is a "winter sky".  usually blue skies here. temp in the mid 60's in November is not hard to take here in the Central coast CA.

Saw this while driving along Portosuello Rd. in SB..Not sure why it really spoke to me. I like the sepia tone version..dreamy quality to it.  Some people might not like it..but something about the overlapping rounded shapes grabs me...and the trees and path outlining the rounded shape.

Driving to Solvang Thursday as part of my RN work I stopped to take a few pics along the way.
Beautiful country here..

The turning leaves beautiful contrast against the dark shadowed mountain.  The acres of grape vines I passed were also changing colors this fall..a lovely view.  Also passed an ostrich farm!

 

Drivning through Mountain pass on way to Solvang...

 

Photography workshop with Joyce Wilson

The 5 day workshop with Joyce Wilson was an amazing creative experience. It was packed with new techniques and I came out with a large body of work..from collages, engravings, a small handmade book

Lovely afternoon rim lighting

and prints from our photo shoot at Knapp's Castle:



our model..top of the mountain



hiking the mile to top of the mountain..beautiful Santa Barbara county

I've been back in My hometown, Buffalo, NY the past couple weeks..wonderful seeing family and friends..some pics of my beautiful grandkids:

"Poodle Parade" French festival 7/13



This was my fav. dog at the Oak park Poodle parade. Look at that face! So sweet and devoted.

The MC did a good job..with a sense of humor and wit. 



My neighbor, Nina with her dog Cha Cha (who I "baby sit" occationally):

Solstice Parade, SB

Such a creative event in Santa Barbara.  People go all out in their costumes and floats. They spend months putting it together.  My friend Dave Brown's float:

Great Blue Heron SB harbour 6-13

I came across this rather tame heron at the harbour the other day. I shot him at close range for about 20 min. till I got tired! He never did fly away!  Love these beautiful creatures.

S.B. Jacaranda trees in full Bloom..6/5/13

Lovely clouds of purple at every turn.  I love the purple blooms cascading onto the ground as much as I love the blossoms in the trees:

5/25/3

Back home in Santa Barbara again..recovering from jet lag from a great vacation. I finally made it to Europe.  Italy and France were beautiful..a great experience, but it's great to be home too. Nice to be back with loved ones, and back in touch by phone, able to read the signs, talk the language and get around in familiar teritory. The weather has been beautiful here, sunny in the low 70's and the blue Jacaranda trees are in full bloom.

One of my favorite images I was able to capture myself in Paris. It was quite a thrill to see it for the 1st time in person:

The swallow at San Gimignano

Yesterday at the restaurant in S.G. we had a close encounter with a wild swallow.  He seemed almost tame, sitting for a long time on the top of the door in the restaurant..about 10 feet from our seats.  We soon discovered he had built his nest on the ledge over Dave's head. Dave decided to put his hat on!

The door the bird perches on..A beautiful view of the mountainside through this door.

 The view is the amazing outside the restaurant.  A view of Tuscany countryside from the wall around San Gimignano.

The swallows nest was right over Dave's head!

.Linda and I are both bird lovers so this was an extra special treat for us to have the swallow working on his next at close range while we dined.   A grapevine arbor is to my left  in the couryard,with sunlight filtering through the leaves.  The swallow is able to gain access to his nest this way when the door is closed
.

This beautiful view was a little further down, on the walkway, outside the restaurant.