Week Four 2011

What a difference a week can make. Last week I noted that it seemed many had cabin fever and were anxious to get out of the house. There were as many, if not more out and about this weekend, but for a much different reason. It was an unseasonably warm 70 degrees! Even as I sit at the bar in Leilani's Aloha Lounge at 5:30pm on Sunday with the doors wide open, it is 69 degrees. Thanks to the Big Man for this break in weather as it is very much appreciated.

My 'Favorite Photo of the Week' is an amusing one. Our house is united in love and often divided in Football. In this picture you'll see two of the main factions represented for the game this past week between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. And as we all know, the Packers were victorious, so we'll be rooting for them on Super Bowl Sunday..... or will we? We also have family representation in Pittsburgh....

So, what's new this week? 
Learn something new -
I just watched a 45 minute review of CS5 by Terry White that I learned about on the Weekly Photo Tips blog by Scott. I've already been using some of the new Photoshop CS5 tools that I learned a couple weeks ago, but learned more about refining edges and using the healing brush with content aware to take out telephone lines as well as power cables on a stage.
Go somewhere new -
Robert & I went to Vinyl, a fun venue in Mid-Town, to see The Lefty Williams Band this past Friday.  
Treasure Hunting for things new to me -
For those of you who really know me, you already know that I am a huge fan of thrift and antique shops. Everything old is new again..... So, as I left the nail salon on my way to Hair by the Square to pick up a bottle of my very favorite hair spray ever - Aquage Working Spray, I stopped in at the Thrift Center on Roswell Rd across from the First Baptist Church. Something was calling my name, as I historically haven't had much luck there. As I walked in the door, directly to my left was a booth, 'Retro in the Metro' in the process of being set up. Imagine my delight when I saw this 'Therm Ware' carafe by David Douglass and four retro cafeteria trays.

Signing off until next week. What wil you do that is new?

Week Three 2011

What a busy week this has been! Seems as if many had a case of cabin fever from the crazy weather last week, evidenced by the multitude of people everywhere you turn.

So, this week's 'Favorite Photo of the Week' was quite accidental as the boys (our grandchildren Nathan - 6 and Elijhah - 4) were hanging out with me on a lazy Saturday morning. As I sat at the computer editing the photos from the prior evening, Elijah leaned over the back of the couch chatting with me and I simply couldn't resist picking up the camera.

So now on to what's new with me this week. I've always been a big supporter of local business, but am now formally committing to The 3/50 Project. The premise is to spend a total of $50 each month with three local, indepent businesses to save our local economy. For anyone who really knows me, this is already true of my habits, but I want to encourage you, my friend, to consider committing to The 3/50 Project as well.

Marietta Square (GA) is by far, my all time favorite place to 'hang out' and what fabulous places there are to shop and eat! Oh, and let's not forget entertainment, there's plenty of plays, live music performances and movies too. My January 2011 3/50 Project purchases are:

• Love this Life t-shirt from Limelight on the Marietta Square
• Necklace from Go Fish on the Marietta Square
• Funky child's step stool/chair circa 60's or 70's from A Classy Flea

Until next week, consider the challenge presented by Craig Tanner of The Mindful Eye. "Being now who we want to become."

Week Two 2011

There's been many photos this week to choose from, but this one has to be my 'Favorite Photo of the Week'. Snow began falling on Sunday evening here in the ATL, and we woke Monday to a winter wonderland. This picture was taken on Tuesday afternoon in back of our house. Such a small lake, manmade at that, with a large dose of beauty. If you look closely, you can see the kids old and young alike having fun in the snow.

And what, you may ask, have I done 'new' this week? I am so excited to have learned a few new functions in Photoshop CS5. To those of you who know this program, it may not seem like a big deal. To those of you who don't know Photoshop, let me amaze you with these magic tricks!

• Content Aware - lets me (OK, and others too) remove cymbals from in front of Jonathan's bass and telephone wires from in front of a building. Whoa!
• Smart Objects - keep their original resolution/pixels. I just hate when I lose them, and this will help prevent that.
• Puppet Warp - sounds kewl, huh? This one will let you curl the trunk on an elephant and take the muffin top off of your jeans.

Excuse me while I go to my Photoshop Playground......

Week One 2011

So, here we are at the end of Week One, and you may wonder how I will start my 'New' list.  Well, I missed out on the ever popular 365-Photo-a-Day, so I thought that I would begin my 'Favorite Photo of the Week' collection.

This first one was taken on a Thursday morning, January 6th while my grandsons were getting ready for school. In these days of electronic games and TV, it warms my heart that children still play with stuffed toys and weave stories to go along with them.

Aloha until next week, when I shall post another 'Favorite Photo of the Week', and something 'New' for Week Two......