Ms. Cyclone

Worked like a mad woman all day and at a certain point you just can't see straight any more. I took my camera out with me to drinks and dinner because I knew I hadn't snapped a photo-of-the-day yet. These are crappy for so many reasons but rules are rules! Ms. Cyclone invited us and several other friends to dinner to meet her "baby brother" visiting from out of town. This is them...

Bird Feeder

Today, about the only thing I could accomplish in my "free time" was to finally hang a bird feeder in my yard. I have wanted one for a long time (not really a good idea in NYC) and this one has been sitting here since last May when my mom sent it to me as a house warming gift.

My mom and dad love to watch the birds at their feeders at home so I know this will remind me of them every time I look at it. It may take a few weeks for the birds to come though...

J won't notice this in the yard until he reads this blog post.

Window

Just a photo-of-the-day I managed to do today.

Flower

So, you may be wondering where I've been and why I haven't posted as often. The reason is that I have been working so much!! I have been super busy, big things are happening for me and my business, it's all I can do to keep the business stuff up-to-date let alone keep up with my photo-a-day rule and maintain the two personal blogs I do. So, that's all good news but I wish I could update Grumblehog a little more often.

If you haven't done so in a while, go check out the other blog I am trying to keep afloat during a difficult time, to give it a little support: Sea and Sky

West

Because Peter E's apartment faces west, into the sunset. The end of a perfect day.

Afternoon

This was the chilling I was talking about, and the warm afternoon sunlight. Scroll down for two pics.

Records

This was one of those perfect days - a perfect weekend actually even though J had to work on Sunday. After the picnic, we spent the afternoon at Peter E's apartment with the boys cooking, all of us chilling out, listening to Peter's really awesome record collection (the old blues are my faves). Plus, his apartment gets beautiful warm yellow afternoon sunlight since it faces west. Scroll down for two photos.

Three Men and a Red Sauce

So, remember last week when I posted this and said "What could be better than having two men in my kitchen cooking dinner for me?" Well, the answer is THREE men in the kitchen cooking dinner for me. We headed over to Peter E's house to wait, watch, and finally eat his first attempt at a homemade red sauce.

In case you are beginning to think I am completely spoiled (I am, a little, of course) you should know that I did a pretty kick ass job of doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

Barefoot

OK, last one, I swear. I just had to rub it in that I had my shoes off and my toes in the sand.

J

Finally, I got the camera back in the hands it should be in. Isn't he handsome?

Picnic on the beach

Yeah, you heard right, PICNIC ON THE BEACH!!!! Sorry to keep mentioning it, it's just that exactly a year ago today, we were in NY, in a snowstorm, and I wasn't happy at all. Today, I love living here, I am happy, I love going to the beach, it was 56 degrees in February and picnics make me happy. I very rarely ever get my picture taken and I think J did a good job.

Hoodies

All we had to wear to go to the beach for our picnic was our hoodies.

The Beach

Yeah, the beach, in February. That's right. You heard me. While NYers had 7 inches of snow and my parents were covered in ice (not them personally) - Jason and I were having a picnic on the beach. The weather has been absolutely beautiful, warm, and sunny. It was definitely a day to get out there and feel the outdoors.

BIG BLOG NEWS!!!

Hi All,

I have had many requests from many of you about buying some of my prints from this blog. Now, I have good news. I will VERY SOON be opening a little online store where you will be able to buy a selection of a few small items from the blog. Unfortunately, you will not be able to buy anything you want in any size you want because I will have to select a few things that I think most people would be happy with.

I am thinking of doing a couple of packs of notecards (packs of 8 with 2 cards of 4 different images) and a few unmatted prints to start - 4x6s and 5x7s of some of my favorites. I may eventually expand this to bigger and better things but for now I want to just start small and see how it goes.

Please let me know any suggestions or requests you have and STAY TUNED! Or, as the Brits say, WATCH THIS SPACE!

M

Nautical II

More scences from the docks today; there are 3 so scroll down.

Nautical I

Shots from the docks today; there are 4 so scroll down.

Beautiful Day (Bike II)

I've been here before. On my lunch break, since the weather was so unbelievably gorgeous, I took a walk over at the Fisherman's Pier to photograph the boats in the sunshine. I am going to be upgrading my equipment soon so I am testing out some new lenses before I decide what to buy. I had so many great pictures from the day, which you will see on the next pages, but I found this same old bike, in the same position as back in June and I just had to photograph it. The significance of the sneakers?? These are my summer shoes and it was just so nice today that I had to put them on.

Pussy Willows!

Sorry Eastcoasters, but apparently Spring arrives in Seattle in February. It has been in the mid-high 50s during the day and I have been driving around with my sunroof open. :P So there! Come on, you know you want to move now! Besides, if pussy willows aren't a sign of Spring then I don't know what is!

Baby Face

Finally, my third and final shoot of this week. At least I learned how many photoshoots I can physically and mentally handle in one week! The answer is: three if I have to, two if I don't want to lose my mind. Isn't this such a silly baby face?

Photoshoot II

This was my second photoshoot of the week. A super cute almost-two-year-old little boy. We played in the park and I was exhausted at the end of it. No energy to shoot anything else today. If you want to see more though you'll have to go to my real blog and my real website.

Brunch

Brunch with the Cyclones, fast becoming a tradition when Mr. Cyclone is in town. This is my shot-of-the-day and I don't have much more to say about it.

Daytona 500 today, baby!

Dessert

J made just the 2nd most delicious goulash I have ever had in my life (Hello, Cafe Steinhof Goulash Night in Brooklyn = #1) but it was the BEST homemade goulash that I've ever had and will definitely become part of our permanent family repetoire of recipes. It was so good, that I didn't even think about photographing it and we licked all our bowls clean.

This, is Peter E. prepping his dessert of berry crumble (or something like that) which of course became known as fruit goulash very quickly. It was also delicious and I therefore do not have a photo of the cooked version.

After dinner, we all went out to a party in an artist's studio downtown - how grown-up urban are we?

Cooking

Later that evening, Peter E. came over to cook a delicious dinner with J. Peter N. and I just got to be the taste testers! Two men in my kitchen, cooking me an amazing dinner AND dessert - what more could I ask for?

Photoshoot I

I also had my first of THREE photoshoots this week (in case you were wondering where all the blog posting went). I had a great time with this beautiful girl Emily. I think she is my new muse! To see more though, you will have to check out my real blog and website.

Weekend

We had a very busy, very social weekend! First, I went over to see Peter E's apartment. I was really impressed with the art on his walls and his killer record collection - especially of old blues albums. He also has a really comfy couch so we may find ourselves over in the "city" part of the city more often.

Cloud

I hate to break it to you East Coasters, still in the grip of winter, but the weather has been really gorgeous here. The perfect weather for walking around the lake and being outdoors. There was only one little cloud in the sky today...

Working Conditions

My officemate is so inconsiderate!! He is always coming over and laying around on my desk, pushing papers in the floor, standing in front of my monitor, pushing keys on the keyboard. Believe it or not he even does disgusting things like BATHE and CHEW HIS TOENAILS on my desk. It's hard to work in these conditions...

Reflection

If you need help seeing this one, there's a little clue for you near the upper left corner! First person who spots it wins a gold star!

I read many wonderful blogs, and one of them has inspired me to start doing some new things this spring (yes, it's spring now, I swear it is!).

Today I am going to blog about TWOS. Feel free to share any of your own, too!
2 names you go by - M and Marf

2 parts of your heritage - Norwegian and pure Virginian!

2 things you are now wearing - jeans and a cat

2 things that scare you - spiders and snakes!

2 of your everyday essentials - the internet and coffee

2 favorite scents - mint and baby powder

2 favorite songs at the moment - Satellite by Guster and Guest Room by The National

2 of your favorite hobbies - blogging and knitting

2 things you really want - an HD TV (shallow, I know!) and a new president

2 ways you are stereotypically a chick - I like cute baby animals, I love soft fabrics

2 things you are thinking about now - my friend Gilly, visiting the farm again

2 favorite shows - just 2?? I'm a TVaholic. Brothers and Sisters, American Idol, Project Runway, The Daily Show, and this show that's not even on TV any more that J got me hooked on - Firefly!

2 foods you hate - just 2??? Sloppy joes and corndogs

2 favorite things about your house - big windows and deep window sills

2 least favorite chores - vacuuming and cat litter

2 ways you are trying to improve yourself right now - breaking bad habits and...I dunno what else

2 qualities you love about your spouse - he's fricking hilarious, he doesn't get angry

2 reasons you like to blog - because I think about all of you while I am doing it, to get comments!

Sun

Just manufacturing a little winter sunshine since we haven't had much of our own lately...

Not Sleeping

I managed to get my sleep clock all screwed up again! But, it's a good time to gather up some of my favorite things (couch, green blanket, quilt, pillows, poetry books, books, a cat, a cup of tea, and my journal) and practice shooting with my new REMOTE CONTROL for the camera!

Contest Results!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

View the original blog post for the Super Awesome Best Photo of 2007 Contest

Interested in the results of the voting??

RED BOOTS is the winner by a nose with 6 first place votes and 2 more second place votes!!! It does concern me to know I took my best photo on the first day of the year and then nothing else lived up to it...but I will try not to think too hard about it!

January 1st, 2007 - Red Boots:


SHIPS was a close second with 4 first place votes and 3 more second place votes. This one was J's favorite and my Mom's too (surprisingly!).

October 19, 2007 - Ships:


In Third place -
March 11, 2007 - Jones Beach:


In Fourth place -
May 14, 2007 - Self Portrait:


The youngest voter, little Julia, said "she likes all of them, but she keeps wanting to see the 'Lots of Js' photo.
July 5th, 2007 - J:


The (non-prize-winning) best vote of all the votes I recieved was from Cari, a friend and fellow photographer who sent along a lovely long email and a critique. I have included some of her comments with the photos below. Thanks Cari!

"Red boots" is just so simply striking with the vivid contrast of red on deep blue. And the way the trees limbs frame that bright point just sets it off perfectly.


February 7th - Flower:
"Flower" might not have gotten any other votes because people may feel like they've seen similar compositions before. Maybe they have, but that doesn't mean that this one isn't absolutely lovely! This photo is so beautifully balanced and yet not exactly symetric, which makes it even better. The suppleness of the petals' texture blended with the sharpness of focus makes this captivating. It may have felt more raw in B&W, but the sepia creates a soft, quiet tone that draws the viewer in and makes us want to touch it.



June 11, 2007 - Wilting:
"Wilting" is a quintessential M-Art photo: unconventional, hard to describe, and endlessly alluring. You've broken the rules and arranged the focal point up in that very top right corner which leaves the viewer wanting more. I keep wanting to peek around the edge of the photo to see just a bit more of that one flower. The fuzziness of the rest of the composition creates a creamy softness that reminds me of cottonballs or a some sort of dreamscape, which makes me keep looking back there thinking I'll find something new at next glance.


September 16, 2007 - Black Cat:
I love "black cat" because it's almost like he's not there. It's like someone cut out the outline of a cat, leaving a hole, then mounted this photo on black velvet. The textures are wonderful and you just can't stop peering into that wall of vines to try and find what it is that he's looking for. It's like Where's Waldo, or like the cat is seeing into another dimension and we feel left out.

Winners!

Yes, the winners are Stefan and Brian!

Why two winners you ask? Well, because it's my blog and my contest and I want to have more than one winner! Stefan's name was the first name drawn from the bowl so he will get a print of his choice. Congrats on winning the contest Stefan and thanks for voting for myslef-portrait.

Brian's name was the second name drawn from the bowl, which was lucky because I was going to give him a prize anyways for being the MOST LOYAL BLOG READER 2007! Brian will also get a print of his choice.

So, there's a little motivation for all of my blog readers in 2008 - comment and participate because next year's contest is sure to be even better!

And now...

The moment you've all been waiting for...

Yes, this is a bowl with all of your names in it - just waiting to select the winners in the 2007 Super Awesome Best Photo of 2007 Contest and Giveaway!!!

First, thank you to everyone who participated. Look how many votes and bonus votes are in that bowl!!!

A special thanks goes out to my MOM and my sister for being the most common commenters throughout the year.

And the winner is...

Seattle

The Caucus took place in the local school's gym where J and I spent some of our waiting time studying this excellent mural of Seattle. It has a pet store, a Sushi Bar, Hilltop Yarn store (my actual yarn store), TWO Starbucks on either side of a Tully's, the monorail, the Space Needle, a Boeing aircraft, and a sailboat. I am pretty sure that the neighborhood to the far right with all the little houses is where we live, Queen Anne.

Caucus

On Saturday, J and I went to a good old-fashioned Caucus for Washington State. Neither of us had been to a caucus before so we were curious. It is a very strange thing! I can see how this would have been really cool in 1784 but it's a little bit antiquated and confusing in 2008. You literally sit around tables with your immediate neighbors, vote, then try to convince others to change their vote by talking to them and persuading them. It was crazy!

Friday III

I have kind of fallen in love with Barack Obama. I am not typically a very political person, and I don't want this to get too "blog-like" so if you'd like to talk to me about my love for Barack Obama - email me or call me!