a lesson in fo-tog-raffy

At the beginning of June I took a red-eye to meet a boy in Florida.   We had a whirlwind, 48 hour jaunt to the world that is Disney.  Many of you know my appreciation for the LAND that is Disney.  The world did not disappoint (but I'm still partial to my place in Anaheim)

Prior to this trip, I took a DSLR photography workshop.  I still have a lot to learn and a ways to go, but I took my camera to see what gems I could capture.  Here are a few of the shots I kinda like from the camera I still don't know how to use.


now that I see this on a bigger screen, It may be too dark...

 

The fireworks!! 

 

too dark as well?

Here's an action shot for ya...
 Only because I captured what Tiggers do best.  

Speaking of Tigger.  Here's a story...

The Tigger in Disneyland (circa 1988) had a tail shaped like a curly Q.  My parents were somewhere nearby leaving my brother and me up to no good.  It was first thing in the morning and Tigger was hanging out in the same vicinity as us.  With his back to us (engaging with other children, I'm sure) Scott pulled his bouncy, spring-like tail and ran away; leaving me oblivious to what had just happened.  Next thing I know, using his cat-like reflexes, Tigger pounced on me and within seconds, had me in a headlock; giving me a noogie.  I had no idea what hit me and could not convince him that I was innocent.

Why is it big brothers always have an upperhand?    

Here is one I like from le iPhone... Just because the castle looks cool


That's it for now!!


In Tribute

Whew!  
Hard to believe June is coming to a close!  

I've bounced all over the United states in the last 30 days...  My most recent trip was to Nebraska to spend time with family and pay tribute to the man who entered the world on a spring day 88 years ago... my grandfather.  

We checked out  the neighborhood where he lived and the house he grew up in.

A lifelong Nebraska Cornhusker fan, we toured the stadium,

 I'd like to think we left a bit of his legacy there.  

  Or maybe a family portrait

 Or maybe a photo of me

We checked out the trainstation where his parents (or his grandparents - mom, can you confirm this one?) met.


We attempted to watch my cousin's softball game
But we got rained out

 right after I attempted to take a family portrait

We saw beautiful Midwestern sunsets (or is that a moonrise?)

and most importantly, honored a wonderful man

Pondering some fabric

Hi Y'all

 I was raised on an almost annual dosage of Disneyland (the original) in California, and I am about to visit Disneyworld for the VERY first time.  While I consider myself a purist, I am holding out judgement on which park is better until the end of the weekend.  

In the mean time...  Here are a few things going through my design mind at the moment. 
#1 - with the new job I have more flexibility to work from home (at least 20%) which means working from the dining room table or living room isn't always optimal, so I'm in the process of removing wood paneling, peeling off layers of wallpaper and varnish in my third bedroom to convert to an office.  The progression is evolving from this: 


to this: 

and I've lost steam at this: 


I am having nightmares / dejavu from when I first moved in... At least this time I know what I'm up for.  And yes, Despite having recently taken a DSLR photography class... I am still snapping photos with my blurry iphone.  Sorry :) 

#2a - In brighter news, since I've removed the carpet in the living room, my previous area rug found to be too small for the space and the yellow was too matchy-matchy with the wood so I've had my eye out for a bolder and larger rug.  I've been eyeing a specific one for a few months and I (finally) met a price I couldn't resist.  It arrived last week.  Me likey Mucho (my animals too!)


 #2b - and finally see that pink chair in the above?  its a little girl's chair that has pretty much followed me in every move (except college).  With the work I'm doing in the spare bedroom, its hanging out in the living room for now (just for Rico).  


And after it hanging out in public for a few days, I decided a new, distant project would be to reupholster it.  

I'm kinda thinking of going old timey, bold and vintagey...   After some minor research online, I found a couple options, but am not completely sold... These are my top two: 



Just pondering my options and am looking forward to doing more research!

Ok... gotta go find my ears so I can hang with Mickey and the gang!  TTFN

Snow, and its almost June

Hi guys, 

Its Riley again.. guest posting for my mom.   'Member that time my mom's took me to the beach and then let me write about it, well here's another fun one.  

She was in Santa Monica this week for some work event...  hanging out in the sun, doing fun things with her coworkers while I was home in my crate...I had to wait for her computer to come back home so I could write this.


BUT Before she was hanging out in Santa Monica, she and her boyfriend and I went up to the mountains for Memorial Day weekend.  She told me to pack my swim suit and I thought that was ridiculous because I'm a dog and my fur is my swim suit and birthday suit and every-day suit.  

We decided to spend the first day at a nearby lake and on the way, it started to SNOW.... Now... I am a dog and I am also part lab which means I'm pretty happy with anyone and anything... but SNOW!?  OMG... I LOVE SNOW!!  I couldn't wait to get out of the car!!


When we arrived, the snow had stopped and my mom let me out to play, but as an extra treat, she let me go off leash!!  

Now... In my younger years, I was this all out crazy hyper dog, but after Christmas with an unfortunate incident involving chewing through my leash (and jumping on counters and pretty much disregarding any authority) while my granddad was watching me, my moms signed me up with Kyle and Kyle is a Marine and Marines don't let you be all crazy and hyper...  Anyway.. he taught all of us ways to communicate and have a good time and the best part is, they trust me now so I don't have to hang out with a leash around my neck as much anymore.  I also don't hear that word 'NO' as much anymore which is also pretty cool. 

So back to Memorial Day weekend... I totally expected my mom to put a leash on me and tell me to heel and do all sorts of (unnecessary) obedience training with me.  But she didn't.  I had so much fun playing in the snow and hiking around the lake swimming in the water, chasing snowballs... all without a leash!   MAN was it fun!! 

technically I'm wearing a leash here but that is because we were crossing over a dam and there were people fishing and we didn't know if they liked dogs (who wouldn't like a dog like me?)




Totally hard to believe this was all during Memorial day weekend... Um... Note to Snow...  Didn't you know that Memorial day is the unofficial start of summer and snow, summer and California don't belong in the same sentence??