Still having fun

August Break - Three

Today's photo for the challenge were these pigeons that my grandsons pointed out to me as we were running errands.  Since they were so excited about them I stopped the car so they could get a good look at them and I could, of course, photograph them.

This was the original photo, not exactly going along with the theme of three, but still in need of some fun I again went with Photoscape to produce the photo on the top.   I used the editor>filters>distorts>3, which is where the three came in.  I know it's a bit of a stretch but it was the best I could do.

I'm not quite sure which I like better.  What do you think?

This last photo is just one I took at the same time.  So glad my grandsons pointed them out to me.

☺☺☺Enjoy☺☺☺

Johnina

Bleeding orange and having fun

August Break- Orange

I've had several hellacious days, hence no posting.  Even though my health is improving I am still disabled and as anyone who has chronic health problems can tell you there are days when you do not function well.  If I had still been employed I would have been calling in sick.  Anyway more on dealing with chronic health issues at a later date.

When I saw the theme for the August Break challenge was orange I thought I would have a hard time until I walked into Wal-Mart.  It had slipped my mind that I was in Tennessee and the college football team here , the Tennessee Volunteers, have orange as their team color.  When I got home after taking these photos Laura said she thought that if they could the town folk here would paint the whole town orange they would.  After seeing all the orange around including all the apparel on those same towns folk I would agree, in fact I would think that they would bleed orange if they could.   

Since I am not a football fan and I difinitely needed a just for fun break, I decided to play with a photo editing program I recently downloaded.  Photoscape is a free photo editing program that I downloaded from cnet.  It is a fun program that I have used in the past but due to computer problems I have not used in a while.  Now that I have a new computer, well new to me anyway,  I've reinstalled it  and now have to remember what all the filters and enhancements do, so I'm having fun playing with it . 

The original photos on the left side where kind of ho-hum, but after I played with them and had a great deal of fun with them, I like the abstract pieces of art.
Hope you enjoyed my little excursion into photoscape filters.  If you have any questions on what filters I used and how I applied them please leave your question in the comments section.
☺☻☺Enjoy☺☻☺
Johnina

Back to Kingsport Tenn

Rest area on I-75
All in Bloom

Took a break from visiting my daughter to continue working on my health, but I traveled back last week during the heat wave.  I made it back to Kingsport in record time.  Last time even though I thought I left at the right time to miss Atlanta traffic it still took me 2 1/2 hours to get from Locust Grove through Atlanta to Marietta.  This time it took 45 minutes.  It always amazes me at the time difference that can occur while driving in the city. Sometimes for no apparent reason your time can double or triple.  How do those who commute everyday figure this out?

Blessed shade on a hot day

The other thing that continues to surprise me is the different personalities of the rest areas.  Each has it's own beauty.  The difference between rest areas between states is even more remarkable.  Georgia's tend to have lots of wide open spaces with minimal landscaping mostly around the main building and they are not staffed except at the main You have entered Georgia Rest Area.

Georgia rest area picnic site

Tennessee has smaller rest areas with more landscaping spread across the entire area.  They also have the bonus of being having an attendant on site.

Beauty at the rest stop
Art edit

At one of the Georgia rest areas I saw some evergreens that where in some places dead, dying, and other places growing and thriving.  I loved the textures and color combinations so I snapped a shot.

Life goes on

I have been looking at a lot of abstract photos and art lately so since I really liked the colors and textures I decided to try my hand at turning this photo into an abstract art piece.

  I edited it in Photoscape (available for free on CNET) using the swirl filter then I added a lens flare.  I added three lens flares in three different colors and turned down the opacity on the flares.

I then transferred it to Gimp and layered the edited version with the original. (Gimp is alsoavailable for free on CNET). This was my first attempt at using layers. I then cropped it to emphasize the center flare and came up with this:

What do you think?
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Rose Garden

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.
Oscar Wilde

In my last post I gave you one of the reasons why I have been missing from the Internet and in this post I will give you another one.  This is more personal.  Those who have followed me know that I have multiple health problems and they got to the point where between the instability of the Internet and my health deteriorating combined to make the Internet experience more frustrating than I could handle.  I did however miss the friendships and the relationships that I had formed here which is why I am back.  Thank you all for your support.

While I was away I did continue to take photos and edit them.  I did not do as many as I had done in the past as my health would not permit it.  The roses pictured in this post are a few of my photos that I had fun editing.  Hope you enjoy them.

Serendipity stepped into my life once again when the Internet went down as it gave me the impetus to improve my health.  I did much research and have been able to make some lifestyle changes that have done much to get my on an upward spiral of improving health.  More on this in a later post.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy the beauty of the roses that bloom in my front yard.

  

Enjoy

☺♥☺Johnina☺♥☺

Abstract Photography Contest



My Abstract Art Contest entry on MyShutterSpace

I belong to MyShutterSpace a great photo sharing site- my favorite.  Last sunday I decided to enter the contest in the Abstract photography group (they have a wide variety of groups to join).   The contest was to photograph a common household object but to focus in on the color and texture, so I searched for something interesting to photograph.  I found my knife set in its butcher block holder; took lots of pics from different angles and different lighting.  Got one I really liked and then inverted the colors to come up with the above photo.  Some of the other photos are below.

Abstract Knives

It always amazes me what a difference the lighting makes in shadows and even in the coloring; which shows up in these photos.

BTW: I got second place; there was not many entries but; hey, second place is still second place.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

AEDM Day 7- Red leaf- 400th post

Wow i was surprised when I looked at my stats for this blog to realize this is my 400th post.

I also realized today that when I signed up to do Art Every Day Month yesterday that since I am in the hospital I don't have access to my scanner so I could post my artwork.  However there are other types of artwork that I can create because I do have my computer and my photos. 

I had signed up to do a new note card swap on Swap-bot which was a scavenger hunt for three themes  on three cards.  The themes are leaves, red and nostalgia, so I went on a scavenger hunt through my photos to turn into cards.  I have a purchased Georgia O'Keefe (love her art) card with one of her leaf paintings on it which I will send, but in going through my photos I found this wonderful red leaf photo to edit.

I edited it to look more like a note card drawing and that edit is on the top of this post.

I also found this photo which fits the nostalgia theme, it was already edited, but one that I love.

Or maybe I'll send this one- which I also edited earlier but love the way it turned out.  What do you think?

When I get home I will be able to print them on textured or lightly patterned card stock to finish this art project.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Oh no- fall begins in Georgia

In the last couple of days it has become obvious that autumn is getting a head start this year in Georgia.  In the last couple of days I've had to locate my jacket, turn off the air conditioner because the house was to cold with it on, and this morning I was able to open the windows so I could check out the heater and make sure it worked.  Every year when it starts to get cool at night we turn on the heat to make sure it works and to make sure any dust accumulated in the system during the summer is gone.  I hate that first time start up smell.  I would also be very unhappy if we needed it one night and it didn't work.  We've lived in this house for over 20 years now with the same heat pump.  The last time we had to have the air-conditioner part of it fixed, we were told they don't even make parts for our heat pump anymore.  Happy to say it works wonderfully.  I really don't want to have to replace it right now.

I am enjoying the cooler weather especially in the morning when I walk the dog and work in the garden.  I am really getting excited about planting my fall perennials, clearing out and changing around my gardens.  I am not looking forward to the leaves falling and this has already started.

This picture was taken in my front yard this morning.  Amazingly the photo above is the same photo as the photo at the top of this post.  I am still learning the nuances of Photoscape and having lots of fun.  I have been organizing my photos and in doing so  I have discovered that I do not feel that a photo is finished until I either put a frame around it or do some kind of art editing to it.  Discovery # 1 in my journey to decide what direction to take my art.

Please remember the giveaway of the book Creative Awakenings. I am working on my journal and will shortly have some photos of my progress.  Click here for details.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Making the most of mistakes

 
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“I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.”

Pablo Picasso quote Today while I was going out the door to take some pictures I accidently took a photo as I was turning to go out.  I didn't realize I had done it until I downloaded my photos of the day. I liked the movement in the photos so I just played with them.  As you can see my mistakes became artistic renderings.  I was pleased; what do you think?

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺
PS remember the giveaway mail art will be awarded later this morning

Relief



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day
Art edit

 It was drizzling outside but it had also cooled things off a great deal. What a relief! Just standing outside a couple of days ago would make the sweat drip down my back; I'm still getting wet outside but it feels so cool and refreshing.



Blanketflower in the rain




Blanketflower in the rain
In the star lit sky
Art Edit

 I still can't go out in the garden and work so I am practicing with picnik.com and having quite the good time. Some people might complain that today is cold and dreary but I think it is absolutely wonderful, cool and refreshing; a relief from the heat. You just have to know how to make it fun. I took some delightful water dropped photos then came in and played with them.


Leaves in the rain



Leaves in rain
Art edit



Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Playing with my garden photos

It is so hot and muggy here now that even getting up early and playing in the dirt is very hot sweaty work.  Not something I tolerate very well so I do the minimun, only that which keeps the garden going, and will continue that  until the morning temperature starts to drop again.  In the meantime I am playing with my flower pictures and having fun with them.  I hope you enjoy them too and they cheer your heart.

Good Morning



Dazzler Blanket flower

Dazzler blanket flower



Balsam flower volunteer



Balsam flowe volunteer



ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Winds of Change 2

I redid the video, I had a hard time downloading last time.  It took forever and when it it did download it was so much more fuzzy than what I started with.  My signature was even fuzzy and even though my photos may not have been tack sharp due to my learning to use my new camera there was no reason for the signature to be fuzzy.  I also realized that it would be so much better with more photos so yesterday morning; another bright sunny cold morning I took more pictures and edited them.  I had a lot of fun editing them doing both standard edits and art edits.  I hope you will take another look as it almost a completely different video.  I am learning.

ENJOY☺☺☺

Johnina  :^A

~~~Sorry still fuzzy from download-any suggestions~~~

Troopers

These are my flowers that have managed to survive the frosts that we have had and continue to bud and bloom.  My blanketflowers continue to add a bright cheerful invitation to my front door even when they are surrounded by the fallen brown leaves of the autumn trees.  These late fall troopers from my garden continue to gladden my heart.

These tiny daisy like flowers were tucked up next to the concrete of my driveway.  Tiny as they are they are somewhat sheltered by the little heat and protection from the lip of the concrete, one more flower to brighten my day.  I noticed it because when I walk with my dog I look around for the beauty of this world.  This photo reminds me of a quote I found  a couple of days ago while reading.

"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.  (or your sense of wonder)"   

~Aldous Huxley~

~parenthesis added by me~ 

There are times when I am able to capture that sense of wonder as I look around as a child might.

I try to be a Trooper too, bringing a little brightness into the world with my photos.  I also try to be a Trooper in a different way, in spite of the set backs in my life where I can't always post, I always come back.  In our house we have had the autumn crud going through those who inhabit this house.  Even Tom took a day off work today.  I think this was the 4th time in 30+ years of marriage that he has taken a sick day for himself (with the exception of surgery).  He has to be extraordinarily sick to stay home.  Jeremy has been sick and dragging for weeks and finally gave in, took the day off and went into the doctor.  I, myself have not felt good either and have had to contend with IVIG and other Doctor visits.  One of the reasons I had to go to one of my doctors shows up real well in my artwork.  I did a zendoodle of my hands, both my right and my left hand. 

 

I went to the neurologist because when I reached and grabbed something with my right hand I would get shocks down my arm and sometimes drop what I had just picked up not just from the pain but because my muscles let go.  I was suddenly losing strength in my hand.  I was no longer able to lift lids or twist lids off.  Sometimes when I hold something light and get distracted my hand 'forgets' that I am holding it and down it goes.  Not cool.  My fingers were getting curled and my hand will no longer lay flat and they are kind of lumpy and twisted.  I pushed my hand down to trace it but I think you can see the difference between my hands (the lumps around my wrist on my left hand is my watch).  The fingers are shorter, don't separate, are lumpy and look for the shape of the fingernails and you can tell my fingers are twisted on my right hand.  A lot of this has happened over the last couple months as I have worked so hard to build my blog and develop a network I truly enjoy. The doctor told me that we can test to see how bad the damage has gotten but we already knew I had peripheral neuropathy and carpel tunnel so unless there was a new underlying problem there was not much that could be done that we were not already doing.  I was really quite bummed and turned to prayer.  'Why be given these gifts and loves if I am not able to develop them?'   I kind of felt like Yentl in the movie.  I know that the Lord wants us to develop our talents and to share them to make this world a better place and to help build up the Lord's kingdom on earth.  I felt like I would be led to what I needed as has so often happened, my serendipity, and it will come.  Sure enough that night I saw an ad for voice recognition software that I think will help me tremendously.  It is now on my Amazon wish list.

  Dragon Premier 11.  I researched on Amazon, CNET, Best Buy to get what I think will be the best for me and my system.  Windows7 may have a lot of advantages but the program has to be Windows7 compatible because it is picky.  

I AM A TROOPER, A SURVIVOR,  

I'll FIND A WAY

PLEASE KEEP LOOKING OUT FOR ME

YOU NEVER KNOW 

WHEN I WILL SHOW UP
    ON TOP OF THE HILL.     

☺☺☺ SMILING☺☺☺ 

AND WITH PHOTOS.

Johnina

Apparently it works

 

I have been doing art for fun and relaxation and as my previous posts have said this has helped with pain relief.  Apparently doing this art has helped in more ways than temporary pain relief; it has helped me chill on a regular basis.  Last Friday I had a serious asthma attack and just happened to have a doctor's appointment.  Normally when I am having an asthma attack and go into the doctors I am hyperventilating, my blood pressure has been at stroke level and generally there is no doubt of the severity of the attack except because I am hyperventilating my O2 level is usually not to bad (but that is real bad because when I get tired of hyperventilating my blood gases are REAL bad,  I've heard  doctors swear in the hall as they read my blood gas report).  However this time my blood pressure was normal, I looked and acted normal and I was NOT hyperventilating, unfortunately my O2 levels were low due to my lack of hyperventilating.  The PA who examined me was startled when she listened to my lungs and couldn't hear breath sounds in the bottom of my lungs.  She has been treating me for years so she knows me and my lungs and reactions very well.  She was very pleased with my more relaxed  reaction, despite the lower O2, as it tends to keep the attack for getting more severe.  Very good for me!!!!

Today, I had to be driven through Atlanta to a doctor on the north side and for the first time my blood pressure was normal when I got there.  The meditation aspect of the Mandalas, zendoodle, and photo-edits just for fun has certainly made a difference in my physical well being as shown by my recent doctor visits.  I am becoming more and more a firm believer in the benefits and importance of adding art to my life.  To making it an absolute priority!

Now I would like your help and suggestions- please leave comments here or on my e-mail.  I have a daughter that gets real stressed at college and a couple of years ago for Christmas I did up an art tote bag to keep her art supplies in, so they were always handy, organized and ready to go, so she could do her watercolors, relax and decompress.  She does not use very often.  How do I convince her of the benefits that can come from taking the time to use it when she does not feel that she has that kind of time?  I would appreciate any help I could get, maybe personal experiences.  Thanks

Johnina  :^A

New Editing Program

This is going to be a short post.  Bad night last night.  Dreamed and then pain in my dream and I started crying in my dream from the pain only to wake up crying and in pain.  I hate nights like that.
Yesterday was not all bad I got a new editing program from a friend.  At first I accidentally downloaded the wrong program, but it was free so I left it and went on to find the correct program which was a free trial (bummer).  Anyway I tried out the programs and played with them without any particular idea in mind.  I did come up with this picture which I do like.  I hope you enjoy it ,too.
Johnina :^A 

Autumn Roses

My roses are the only flowers that are still blooming well.  A couple of my blanketflowers are still blooming, but they are looking a little straggly.  Last year I had a lot of my annuals and most of my perennials were still blooming well, but with the heat this summer most of my annuals died.  I bought some pansies that I need to plant.  I think I will investigate some other plants for some color and start some perennials so next spring I'll have strong new plants.  Meanwhile I'll enjoy what I have.  I took some pics of my roses over the last couple of days and included them here and some of the lesser quality photos I took and did art edits.  It was fun to do and I enjoyed the results.

Hope you ENJOY too

Johnina  :^A