30 Days of Photographs IV - HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

There once was a geek named Reffie.  She lived with her Hubby, her Cat named Oreo Kitty, and her Evil Twin, named Evil Twin.  Reffie lost her sanity and participated in this 30 days of photographs event hosted by the sizzling, cheese-hating Ziva and the mischievous, funnel-cake-loving MIKEWJ.  

On Day 1, Reffie screamed for ice cream.  On Day 2....

What?

They don't want a day-by-day review.

Oh, ok.  Finally, on Day 30, Reffie photographed her backside, posted Day 30, and exited stage left, happily ever after.    I bet the others are just as happy!

THE REAR END!

30 Days of Photogrpahs IV - Circle

I had several ideas for the circle prompt but as I stopped to look at my figurine collection a few days ago, ignoring the dust (Achoo!), I noticed a little cutie playing with a crystal ball.  I couldn't resist. 

I'll admit photographing a shiny gold thing with a crystal proved to be beyond my novice photography skills.  I'm reasonably happy with this first photo as you can actually tell that it's a cat.
The second photo may have a bit more color in the crystal but also offers another circle, the backside of my wedding ring.  My ring was another idea for today.

Shiny kitty with round shiny thing!

This is a handy play area!

What a sweet kitty this is, so quiet, and never gets under foot.

Now go see what's spinning over at Ziva's merry-go-round today.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Lover

These little guys have been with us since Hubby and I were married.  Our parents put them into position for us while we were away on our honeymoon.

They wuv each other beary, beary much.

That's right.  Our PARENTS did this.  Sigh.  And, no, we did not leave them this way.  We told them to get a room and they jumped into a basket.  Wait.  Maybe they can stay.  They don't have claws and don't wake us up during the wee hours.

See the others and their lovers over at the sizzling Inferno.

30 Days of Photographs IV - NSEW

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It might be a freight train but as long as it takes me to one of my favorite places, it will be ok.

Jellystone (Yellowstone National Park!!)  Notice the photo book I made!

When we go to national parks, we try to get one or more of this type of map.  I like all the pretty colors.  Hee Hee.  Kidding.  The maps are colorful but they help get us oriented to the area.  They show elevation so I'll know if I need my parka for the turnaround point on our hike or if I need to take oxygen with me.   They can also tolerate getting wet which seems to happen once or twice when we go hiking.

Evil Twin just asked if it shows Yogi and Smokey.

Sheesh.

The other maps in the photo are from Glacier National Park and a couple from Colorado National Forest areas.

Be sure and get lost over at Ziva's today.  Oh, and make sure you stop in at MikeWJ's place and have him take you to Mt. Evans.  Mind the bear activity nearby.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Rising

I want to make State Fair Hot Rolls.  What do I do?

Evil Twin, you're the best!  I love those.  I could eat the entire pan in one sitting!  You'll need a rising agent.  Start with a package of yeast and some sugar and add warm water.

WAIT!  Don't pour the water just yet.   OPEN the package.....  Good, now we're getting closer.

While my bread rises,  go check out the early, and not so early risers over at the Inferno. 

30 Days of Photographs IV - Poison

Sigh.  I'm tired of lecturing you, Evil Twin.  This is not the first time your poison pen has got us in trouble!  Now, sit down and do your punishment and be glad I'm not Professor Umbridge:

Ah, geez.  That's hideous.  You're going to have to start again.  I'm going to need some of my own poison to deal with you today:

Kahlua over ice cream anyone?

Hiccup.  Somebody may have a poison apple over at Ziva's today.  Whatever you do, don't give it to our other host, MikeWJ.  That wouldn't be very nice.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Carnival

"Will there be rides?  What about snow cones and corn dogs?"

Sorry, not today, Evil Twin.  I'm showing them my ships, my Carnival ships.  I have been fortunate enough to have gone on several Carnival cruises.  Fortunately, none of them were on ships that stranded folks in the middle of the ocean!

Bonus!  Reffie shows some arm. Click to see her bicep in all its glory!

Back in the day, Carnival used to give you a print of your ship as a souvenir.  My mom and I went on our first cruise in 1984 and the black-framed print on the right is the Mardi Gras, a classic old ship that was retired ages ago.  It had some gorgeous woodwork.  Hubby and I took our first cruise on the Celebration (black frame on the left).  I won the 4-day cruise in a drawing at my former employer!   The other ship is the Conquest, a ship we sailed on in 2002 back when it was still new.  It was so pretty and shiny.  Cat would have loved it.  And Tweety?  Well, who doesn't love Tweety?  He's a cruisin', too.  Oh, and Cat would definitely love him.  Burp.

Join the Carnival fun today over at Festival of Ziva!  Take her some cotton candy but leave your cheese at home.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Tolstoy

"In the name of God, stop a moment, 

cease your work, look around you."  

Leo Tolstoy

 Boxed Cat surveys his domain and waits impatiently for his evening meal.

Evil Twin and Cat have re-written this quote:

"In the name of Cat,  stop what you're doing and feed me."  

Go see what the others have done with Mr. Tolstoy today.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Frustration

Cat has presented me with his source of frustration:

I see a kitty.  Hee Hee.  It can't get me.  Hee Hee.

Crooked-Tail has been hanging around for awhile.  A couple of months ago, his tail was much shorter.  It is growing back with a kink.  Cat is frustrated because he can't get him, no matter how many times he jumps on the window, trying to latch onto the the glass and then sliding down.  Cat also doesn't understand why I won't get that lizard for him.  After all, I am the chief fooder around here!

My frustration?  Well, it's my not-so-kind friend, Arthur Itis, that beastard.  These concoctions help ease the pain in my knee allowing me to continue to run like a bear was chasing me.  Actually, I think the bear would probably get me:

Take that, Arthur!

For more frustrated people and their cheerful photos, go here.  Oh, and I have failed to give enough encouragement of gifts for MikeWJ.  How frustrating for him.  I think he may need some aspirin by now.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Anatomy

Evil Twin sings "The head bone is connected to the foot bone.  The foot bone is connected to the tailbone..."  Hiccup.

Oh dear.  I wonder what species she is talking about or maybe I need to take that bottle of wine away from her.

Let's look at human anatomy.  How about this?

Nice middle-aged thumb! Need manicure much?

Yes, it's my thumb or as I like to say, it's my fifth finger.  It's straight instead of curved at the end.  Perhaps I am not human.

Now that I've thrown you a bone, go see some anatomically correct photos over at the hot place.  Be sure to shower Ziva with gifts and thank her and MikeWJ profusely for hosting this insane photo event.

Sarcasm much?

30 Days of Photographs IV - Transparent

For transparent, I present you with a painting by the late D. L. Valdes.  He lived in New Mexico.  We love Santa Fe and visit when we can.  A favorite activity was visiting his shop just to see what cool paintings and prints he had done since the last time.  We have several of his prints, all reflective of the high desert and/or animals of the area.  It was a sad, sad, visit when we learned he had passed away.

How many wolves do you see?  Oh, and doesn't it look great over our fireplace?

I bet they don't have transparent wolves in Finland but you might want to check.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Never

Never say something never happens to you, or you never this or that.  Ha!  It's a trick.  It allows Fate to say "Watch me! PFFFFT!"

For today's topic,  I chose the never-ending, circular pie:

Blueberry - fresh out of the oven!

Oh, wrong pie?

Oops.

How about this one?

The real, never-ending pi courtesy of some rotting firewood!

 

Take that, Fate.

I'm sure you're exclaiming, "Well, I never!"  No?  Well then, you'd better go straight to the Inferno.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Always

"There's always tomorrow......

Reffie spots a a beautiful Texas September sunrise at the local recreation center.

and if there isn't, it won't matter." - Reffie

You can ALWAYS go see Ziva for more.

30 Days of Photographs IV - My Junk

Oh my. I'm not sure I recommend googling "my junk".  The results could be rather interesting.  Fortunately, my junk is not x-rated.  It was just recently re-organized, though.

Baseball caps, Diving, Paint, Golf, Fitness, all in one corner

Hm....most of this is Hubby's junk but that newly mounted cabinet has my fitness DVDs which I view on that TV, and if you look in the mirror, you can see the piano and some of my running medals and photos.  Oh, and an empty growler.  Did anyone have to google that?

See more junk here.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Biblical

Yes, Evil Twin, I do have a Bible.   I will even show you my very first Bible.  My parents gave it to me when I was four.

Illustrated!

Yes, I know there is purple crayon on page 10.  Sigh.  I'm sure my brother did that.

Yes, I see that the illustration is supposed to be Adam and Eve, and yes, I do think they are a bit over-dressed.  No, I don't see the snake.

Click here for photos of Jesus on toast, Jesus in the coffee, and other creative interpretations of the Biblical prompt.  Or visit Father MikeWJ for an explanation of what this 30 days stuff is all about. 

30 Days of Photographs IV - China

Forever ago when I worked in the IT industry,  one of the programmers in my group was from China.  She was a sweetheart and gave me this scroll as a gift when she left the company.  It's a Chinese love poem:

Wait.  Where's the panda?

Evil Twin is smirking and suggested that it isn't a love poem but actually says "May you drown in your own piss, you bee-otch!"

Oh dear.  Sniff.  I thought she liked me.

Evil Twin apologized and then suggested that this "Asian" scroll was probably made in Mexico.

Sigh.

Visit Ziva for more China.  Maybe you will see a panda or two.

30 Days of Photographs IV - NSFW

Oh my.  I hope the kiddies, kitties, and puppies aren't nearby.  What a naughty, naughty, cat to flaunt himself like this:

Evil Twin can't stop giggling.  Cat has no idea he's such entertainment for us (and wouldn't care if he did).  For more, um, entertainment, go to Finland.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Wrong

If you're seeing this later in the day or missing my comments on your rightly wrong photo, it's because I'm being poked, prodded, and up-periscoped at the outpatient surgery center.

Yes, the little pills are smiling.  That's very WRONG and most naughty!

If you don't know what procedure requires a prep with the items in this photo, you are too young.  Move along.  This isn't the blog you are looking for.

Kidding.  Evil Twin couldn't resist.

Everybody is wrong over here, right?

30 Days of Photographs IV - Tremor

Evil Twin begins to sing the chorus....

Shake, shake, shake.
Shake, shake, shake.
Shake your camera.
Shake your camera. 

Pfffft.  It's shake your booty and it was an earthquake, Silly.  There's been a lot of fracking in the area. Or maybe I was shaken up by the storm that made that mess in my driveway.

I'm going to go find my disco outfit now.  Shake things up a bit and visit Ziva for more of this madness.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Girly

Evil Twin and I almost came to blows over this topic.  She wanted to paint the cat's talons, er, claws with some trendy polish and I wouldn't let her.  Cat wouldn't let her, either.

I wanted to see shoes.  I don't have very many "girly" shoes but I think these may qualify:

Reffie walks down the runway with her shiny girly shoes.

The runway lights are bright.  Reffie need sunglasses!

These shoes were made for.....date nights and drinkies with the Hubby!  Click here for more girly.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Close-up

So, um, I bet you didn't expect to see my cat again so soon, did you?

Yeah, well, sorry.  He's just so SWEET when he's asleep and that's the only time I could get this close.

At least it's not a bird, MikeWJ.

For more closeness that you may or may not want, see Ziva, who lives far, far, away.....at least from here. 

30 Days of Photographs IV - Disguise

You're back?  You must be nuts!  Good.  You'll fit right in with the rest of us.

You have now entered an asylum disguised as a blog.  Evil Twin heard about today's prompt and immediately staged this lazy critter hiding its identity:

For other guises and disguises, visit Ziva.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Texture

Since we do a lot of home projects and our friends are undergoing a major home renovation, my first thought was wall texture.  Exciting stuff, right?  Um, no, not around here.  You are fortunate.  I will not be presenting a photo of our wall or ceiling texture, much to Evil Twin's disappointment.  What I do have for you is a photo of one of the SEVEN pine trees growing in my front yard that I did not plant.  They came from my neighbor's pine tree, as far as I can tell. After I took the photos for yesterday's prompt, I realized that because everything is green (YEA!), they just disappeared.  This photo, though, shows a little depth, a little texture, and will have the honors for today's prompt:

This is the largest of the pines.  I'm so proud of it!

For other textures, wall or otherwise, go to Ziva's house.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Seven

I had the best intentions:  a Triple-7 jet landing at D/FW,  the triple-7s on my mom's slot machine when she won a jackpot (It would have been a photo of her photo as YES, she did win a jackpot recently!), or seven of this or that to woo you with my photographic skills. 

Ha!

But, um, no.  Here's what you get:

 Yes, there is a cat flying a goose and a cat wearing red boots.  What more could you ask for?

Cat likes it.

Oh, and, no, there aren't many appointments on this calendar.  Cat is usually laying on it. 

If you want more sevens and maybe some lucky sevens,  you'll have to check-in with Ziva.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Two Birds, One Stone

I was pulling my best nosy neighbor impression (think Mrs. Cravitz from Bewitched) and what do I see but my stone birdbath......with customers!

Yea!  Yea!  Two Birds, One Stone is done!  Cat missed the bathing and drinking party.  He was looking for his pet squirrel.

I was lazy and took the photo through the window screen on a bright, sunny afternoon.  I had to use a bit of sepia to give it some interest.

Other birds and stones can be found here.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Mushroom

Evil Twin tried to get me up early this morning so we could post our mushroom photo.  I wasn't so inclined.  She found this "treasure" in my display cabinet.  I can't remember where I got this thing but I think I was a child at the time, and, apparently, already showing signs of all-things-geek.

Um.....it's shaped like a mushroom!

Here's the top:

Click on that ugly face and see it in all its glory.

I'm thinking Aztec symbols.  As for the mushroom shape, coincidence?

Sigh. 

Stop laughing Evil Twin.

You want more?  Seriously? 

Ok-dokey.  Mushroom madness.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Backwards

I may be getting desperate already.  I'm presenting you with a photo of a door today.  Yes, a door.

Some say I'm backwards.  The kitchen is to my left.  

A window and then an outside wall is to my right.  

The grill lies just beyond me on the back porch.  

Why must I open into my homeowners carrying food?  

I think I should open the other way.

UPDATE:  My "backwards" is the left vs. right opening door, rather than in or out.  Yeah, Evil Twin is trying to confuse you.  I think the door should have the knob on the left and open right.

Sigh.

You want to join this madness?  Read about how Mike and Ziva blame each other for the topics.

Other photos:  Ziva's Backwards.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Soft

Me. Me. Me.  This event is about ME.

Well, at least today it is!

I saw the female put the soft cushy things 

in this large container.  I shall guard them.  

Oh, and I'm soft, too.

Sigh.  Yeah, soft in the head.

You want to join this madness?  Read about how Mike and Ziva blame each other for the topics.

Other photos:  Ziva's lair.

30 Days of Photograhps IV - Illuminate

It was a nice walk on a hot day.  She was grateful for the shade of this huge pecan tree.  Then she realized she was the target and the light marked the spot........

She melted into a giant blob (I had originally typed blog), absorbed by the earth in a matter of seconds.

Oops.  It is not safe to be the enlightened one.

I hope you will forgive Evil Twin.  She comes from the dark side and has a warped sense of humor.  For awesome photography, go see Ms. Ziva.  Her post will direct you to the great ones.

30 Days of Photographs IV - Ice Cream

Who wants ice cream?

Cat nods.

Evil Twin, well, um, here's what she did:

"I SCREAM!  I SCREAM!  I SCREAM FOR......."

Yeah, we get it, Evil Twin.

Sheesh.  What a little pill.

For more photos, and details on this tortuous endeavor, visit Ziva and Mike.