Signs of Spring

So I think my recent enhanced interest in food photography is dwindling a bit. I'm not sure what sort of kick I was on in the first place... I started out thinking it would be a neat idea to use the photos as a reference to go along with our menus that we still have yet to make... but then I realized it might be a bit tedious in the long run. I'm not sure, I might still do it that way, because it's always nice to have a mouth-watering photo of the meal when planning? Let's just say that's the reason I was so adamant on getting photos of every meal.

I still got a few photos though, not nearly everything, but I'm also only taking photos of the foods/meals that we actually prepare with some effort, not the kind where you just take pre-packaged food out of a bag and cook it. We had an amazing steak and mashed potatoes (with sweet white corn) tonight, but I didn't catch a photo of it.

This past Monday, I noticed that we have a cherry blossom tree right outside our house! This is the first time it has bloomed since we've lived here and I love cherry blossoms, so I was excited to see it. And of course, first thing I do is run inside and grab my camera to get some photos. The sky was bright that day so these are the best close-up shots I could get.

Oh and I also got this shot of the sidewalk running along the front of our house...

Those flowers are so NOT pretty in person, but given the right angle, they made a pretty picture.

Food... for Thought?

Today, I decided to start experimenting a bit with food photography. I'm not really sure where the inspiration came from with this, but the best guess I can come up with is the fact that I'm stuck in the house every day (until we figure out the car situation, which is a whole 'nother story) and I just really had a strong urge to take some pictures. I'd started out taking photos of the dogs [because they're always entertaining and I love photographing them] and other random things around the house:

Nappy, looking cute as ever!

Guinness and Nappy cuddled up with each other.

Happy Valentine's Day!

So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, here's what I've been doing all morning... :]
(Full-view recommended)

And now I'm off to lunch because I'm STARVING!!
Hope you all have a very happy v-day!

Empty Promises & a Pinterest Virgin

So the "something special" that I mentioned in the last post that was supposed to happen today isn't happening. We were going to go to the Chinese New Year Parade over in San Francisco's Chinatown. I'm really bummed about not being able to go because it would have been an experience that was both fun and new for me. Plus, it would have been a great photo opportunity and a reminder of the times when we used to use weekends for fun trips like that. Damn the financial instability! Oh well, maybe next year?  -sigh-

Other than that, there's not much else to report. I'm hoping to possibly start on getting the garage cleaned out today or tomorrow... but we'll see how that goes.

Oh, I did start up an account on Pinterest though.  I'd seen the site before but never had the desire to get into it, then I received an invite yesterday from a friend who figured it would be something I would like and I couldn't resist. So to start off, I went on a (mini) pinning spree from Kirkland's... I love each and every decorative item that they have!! I would seriously buy the whole store if I had the funds. I'm using Pinterest mainly to bookmark recipes that I want to try, to help us focus on saving money by not eating out as much. And also pinning stuff for the house; decor, furniture, anything and everything I see that I like. I have to admit, it's addicting and kinda fun!

Scare + Sickness + Randomness

So 2012 didn't start out easy for us.  We had a scare with one of our Irish setters, Mari, towards the middle of January when she started acting a little off: not wanting to eat (which is very unusual for her, since she usually tries to eat the other two dogs' food) and being more lethargic than usual, plus some blood in her stool.  We apparently arrived at the vet too late for them to keep her overnight (more like, they just wanted to get home since it was closing time -.-) so we kept a close watch on her and weren't really sure if she would make it through.  But she did... and shortly after all of that, Jacques got violently sick for a couple days.. then a few days later I got violently sick.  Everyone's okay now, but it took about 2½ weeks for things to get back to normal around here.  And now I can't believe that it's already the beginning of February!

Anyway, since I last updated I haven't really had the chance to take any photos.  We've been busy with the sicknesses that came upon us, plus we have also been trying to save up to buy furniture for the new house so we haven't really gone out and done anything besides for that.  And with me not working at the moment, it's going to take longer than planned.

So I've kind of gone through my photos from 2011 and picked out a [VERY] random selection that never made it past my "editing room."  Until now, that is!

Plane taking off in the snow in Pittsburgh, PA.

Random sunset... I think this was around Tracy, CA.

Snow-covered flora in Bethany, Oklahoma.

There's a First Time For Everything...

...although some of those firsts, I would have been fine living without.

I'm taking these last couple days of 2011 to reflect on the year.  And I've come to the conclusion that it has been a year of many firsts for me.  Starting with a very sad first at the beginning of the year--saying goodbye to my sweet pup of 16 years.  Along with my first trip to Pittsburgh to visit my dad.  First BFD concert with Jacques.  First time whitewater rafting and falling absolutely in love with it.  First "dot com" website for my art portfolio.  First original logo designed completely from scratch for my dad's company.  First house hunting adventures--good and bad.  First HOUSE.

As for the year overall, I have mixed feelings.  There were definitely some ups and downs, and by that I mean ultimate highs and ultimate lows... and there were times when it seemed that the year just dragged on and other times where I blinked and the year was gone.  The end is incredibly bittersweet for me though, since I am dealing with the joys of the new house, but the loss of my job and having to start over at the same time.

As for New Year's resolutions... I usually don't bother making them but I will this year:

• First is to keep up with this blog more often... take more meaningful photos, of anything and everything that I can.  And actually get them posted up here instead of being a procrastinator.  
• Another is to get back on track with finishing up college and finally getting my graphic design degree that has been delayed for far too long.
• Find a job doing something I absolutely love. [Though I realize that this may take longer than 2012 alone]
• Do these more often.  Every single one of them. 

That's a good start, I think.

 [Old-ish photo, btw!]

[The Redheads--Mari & Guinness]

I'll end this post with the tribute video collage I made of my sweet Brandy whom I still miss more and more each day.  I can't believe it's already been a year.  Thinking about it just makes me want to hug these
←  three big balls of fur  →
 that I currently live with even tighter.

( Song credit: "Wonderful Life" by Alter Bridge )

Oh and Happy New Year to anyone who took the time to read this!

Day On the Rocks

Jacques & I posing on the rocks!

So my dad came out to visit at the beginning of this month, mainly for business, but he also wanted to come see the new house and everything.  So after he took care of that business, we spent a few days together.  We traveled up to the top of Mount Diablo here in the East Bay, though we were not able to go out on the observation deck because they had it closed off. I really wish my dad and Laurel could have seen the view from that deck area because it is truly breathtaking. Ever since I'd been there last August, I knew I had to take my dad to Rock City, seeing as he's a geologist and I knew he'd love it up there.  So here are some photos that I took this time around.

Capturing the sun on a hazy day.  With a slight hint of color.

My dad walking along the trail at the top of the mountain.