Photography fun

I got up at the crack of dawn and spent three hours shooting mother nature in the face until I was exhausted.

I came home, took a nap and fell asleep. Woke up a good five hours later.

Anyhow, here's some of the shots from today. I'm getting to know my equipment a bit better, and I'm having a LOT of fun viewing the world through the lens of a camera.

December Challenge - Joy

I couldn't make up my mind as to what brought me most joy today.  (Yes, I know I'm an hour late, I got caught up crafting.)  So there are three photographs.

Wrapping presents. I love this.. and I always look for random excuses to do so. I don't know what it is about wrapping a present but I enjoy it a lot. It makes me smile and giggle like a school girl. I've been known to use Sunday funnies, regular printing paper, butcher paper, etc. The more -out there- the wrapping, the happier I get and the more I have fun with it. And I don't like to just *wrap* it, I like to get fancy with my folds. I was running out of paper and the one that I did have also had guidelines in the back so I couldn't do my usual folds. (I like to fold Vs along the paper and then put the bow where the folds meet. I'll have to photograph the next batch I wrap.) 

Funny story, I found out there was no Santa because of my fondness of wrapping paper. I threw a fit one Christmas and insisted on helping my mom wrap up the presents. It was her fault, she taught me the Nordstroms/Macy's folds (It was her first job waaay back in the day) and once Santa came at midnight... I recognized that wrapping paper. And the folds. And the bows. I was crushed. 

Maybe that's why I enjoy wrapping presents in funky wrappers. If there's contrasting colors, front and back, the more intricate I can get on the wrapping. And everybody KNOWS who the present is from just buy looking at the wrapping and folds. My favorite part of using undecorated paper is decorating it myself. 

I've been having fun wrapping presents for more than 18 years now and I *still* can't hold a candle to my mother.  

Crafting. 

I don't like to buy presents for people and I try to avoid it as much as I can. Sure, I can buy someone something magnificent and I could have put a lot of effort into the thought but nothing makes me more proud than to make something for someone and they enjoy it. This is the middle of a present for someone... or the beginnings of it anyway. 

I've already finished about 1/3rd of the presents I'm sending out on the Winter Swap for the LHC right now. (I won't post them here just in case someone gets sneaky and tries to see it!). I don't know what else to make and that's fine. Just because I don't like buying presents for someone doesn't mean I won't buy them. A store bought present is a surplus to something I have hand crafted. 

And while that red yarmulke wanna-be looks boring and unappetizing, I can assure you it is going to look awesome.  Should I have time I may make a similar thing in green and white. That's all the hinting anyone's ever going to get from me on that regards. 

Tending for the discarded and forgotten. This little sucker was left behind at my previous work place and was more than half dead. there was but a single leaf on it and I couldn't tell what the hell type of plant that is. While there is still damage (Thank you, Watson for the nibbles and travel damage from office to home! >.< ) it is doing so much better. And... I think Rand may be a pathos vine after all. 

And do not worry, gentle reader-- I made sure the cats loose their appetite to eating the toxic leaves/vine. I rubbed habanero oil on the leaves. Watson took ONE BITE and never touched it again. He hasn't even come close to it anymore.  Patches never bothered, simply because we'd already done this song and dance with Devil's Ivy except my punishment of choice at that time had been cayanne pepper. 

Disclaimer: the cats have running water at all times in the form of a water fountain. While I may rub spicy stuff all over my plants to keep them from being eaten, there is ALWAYS water and food to tempt the children away from said hot stuff. Regardless what the perpetually starved Watson may have to whine about. 

December Challenge - Red

I swear, this needs to be a meme. Something about not doing catnip very often but when she does, even Charlie Sheen gets jealous of the action.

December Photo Challenge

I got an early Christmas present from the hubby this year. He had me open it to check and make sure it was working, and since it is and there's a challenge going on for this month that pertains to said present, I might as well not pack up my new camera and wait until Yule.

I mean, I got to get used to what this baby can do and I figure taking a few shots here and there on my free time may get me better acquainted with my camera.

Now, while I edit my first two images (i.e. crop them to size and what not), I figure I'd post at least some of the ones I've taken so far. 

Featuring my favorite models in the existence of models, the ever sullen Patchers and the kitten that smizes like no one can, Watson