April showers....???

Oh, dear.... February funk?! That's possibly what's happening to me.

Life is wonderful - lots of good things happening. In fact, I'd say that the family is moving forward through winter better than we usually do. The three biggest men went off winter camping, this week, no less - talk about drive and determination!!! Not for me, though.... I want to stay by the fire, fuddle around the house or work on photography.

I mean, anyone know what I'm a-talkin' about?!

And speaking of photography.... I do appreciate these quiet winter days. What a great opportunity to improve my post processing skills and to work on indoor photography (food and flowers in the 'studio')! But, do you ever feel like you could be pushing yourself harder? Like time is slipping by and it's so golden, you don't want to miss a bit of it?

and, yet....even though I feel like I could stretch farther, I've learned so much, this month.

But, there came this moment when the technical got too much for me. I probably should have just taken a break and walked away but I thought I'd go work on something else and the technical kicked me there, too. I went on to another frustration and, finally, decided I'd do a niiiiice and eeeeeasy flower. A simple flower! That's the ticket!

I put on Pandora radio to my cheery vintage station and the first song that came up was this:

It brought such a smile to my face...

...and I worked on my flower and didn't care and played and played and breathed and... I learned SO much...

...and it was FUN!


Stormy weather is past... even though,

it just started to snow again.

'don't be bluu-uuuueee, dooby, dooby doo...'

xo

Hugs and smooches to all! ;)

Okey-dokey! Here's a drippingly romantic poem from 'Songs from the Portuguese' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning!

=D

XXXVIII

First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

The fingers of this hand wherewith I write:

And ever since, it grew more clean and white,

Slow to world-greetings, quick with its "Oh, list,"

When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst

I could not wear here, plainer to my sight,

Than that first kiss. The second passed in height

The first, and sought the forehead, and half missed, 

Half falling on the hair. O beyond meed!

That was the chrism of love, which love's own crown,

With sanctifying sweetness, did precede.

The third upon my lips was folded down

In perfect, purple state; since when, indeed,

I have been proud and said, "My love, my own."

sigh! ;)

I've been having a lovely day.... out to lunch with my guy, coffee and macarons and money to spend on my garden have come my way and, then, to top it all off.... I got a new Kitchenaid salad spinner! (I know.... it's really wonderful, isn't it?! =D) Life is almost just perfect. The late winter sun is slanting through the windows with a warm glow and we're going to go open the package from Nana and eat some chocolate. Then, life will be absolutely complete!

Happy Valentine's Day to you all, too!!! =]

xxo

Moving right along...

You can't steer a parked car!

(I've been saying this to myself a lot this week!)

"If you want to become creative, you need to continually become a beginner."

 ~ Julieanne Kost

I got Photoshop cs6 for Christmas, this year.

LORDY! Just when I felt like I was really swinging along with Lightroom - I'm totally lost again. And, yet! I can't think of anything better to do than to challenge oneself and grow - to shake things up! It's just.... how many things DO you think one can learn in one day?!

Well, very deep thanks goes to Kim Klassen and her skinny-mini intro to Photoshop! My eyes were crossed when I first opened it up - complete panic! =P But she is very soothing and clear and helpful! Below, you will see an image that I may have completely ruined but.... well, I'm driving that car and moving forward!

(chuckle! =])

There's something else that I've been fiddling with... free lensing! Fun but hard! It kind of gives the feel that a lensbaby does.

I gave links to two very helpful tutorials on my new Facebook page...

it would be so fun if you would/could join me there!!! =]

Katy Noelle Photography on Facebook

 

This is from my first attempts at free lensing. I call it 'the french tea room' because, somehow, it reminds me of a tea room with a definitely gritty french flare that I went to, ages ago, in New York City.

Well!

Moving right along... =]

xo