Category: Landscape Photography

Copyright © 2018 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Alpine Glow on the White Mountains over the high desert taken on last months Wild Mustangs trip.

I had a long 3 day week-end to go back to look for the Wild Mustangs with 3 girl-friends. We found some, and made a new friend too! I got home early evening Monday. After the long drive home I showered, relaxed, and caught up with the family then went to bed.

Today, (Tuesday July 17h) as I write this for tomorrow’s post rather than working on the new images from the week-end I spent it with #1 Grandson, and doing a bit of housework,  laundry, and making a head start of cleaning out my artsy-fartsie and hobby stuff from the retreat, and cleaning Box’s room….most would call it his habitat.  I’ve still got a sink full of dishes to get to this evening. It never ends does it. 🤨

Big Baby Boy is coming home tomorrow for a week! We’re so excited! So, I’m sharing an image I made last month, and a tease about this past week-end. It was amazing and I can’t wait to share some images, and tell a story or two about it.

What’s going on at home?

He-Man and I are finally going to do the Wine Train in Napa Saturday. Baby Girl gave us this gift for Christmas.  Big Baby Boy said he’d stay home to feed, and medicate the animals. Which is such a blessing! Baby Girl, and #1 Grandson are planning to come over to keep him company. We’re only going for the day so we’ll be home the same night. We’re both looking forward to it.  I hope I can take photos.  I’m already saying I have nothing to wear! So, that’ll be the rest of my week. Hanging with fam, and agonizing over what to wear. Nothing to fancy, but nothing too casual either.   He-Man cleans up real nice. I hope I get a nice image of him lookin all handsome and hot.  Yes. I did say that.

I’m sorta kinda doing the Fitbit 30 day challenge,  that Amy over at https://bedlamanddaisies.com/ blogged she’s doing. She inspired me to up my game with my morning stretches a bit with it, but I wasn’t to faithful to the challenge over this past week-end. I’ll get back to it seriously tomorrow.

Just so you know… I can’t do a “real” push up…never have been able to, so I do a modified one using the counter to push off of, or while on the floor I am on my knees, and I use a stair step whatchamacallit to push off of. It’s been awhile since that got any use. Since it’s higher than the floor I can lower myself. Lowering myself all the way to the floor I. Can. Not. Do. Never have been able to so modified it is.  I’m feelin it. The squats, push ups, and planks are a work out. I added sit ups one day. I need to do those more often. Since doing the 5 minute Plank Challenge a year ago…or was two years ago? I can do a 30 second Plank…it’s not easy…my arms shake, I need to breath through it.  It’s a challenge to hold my own body up, but I can do that!  Who knew holding ones own body up would be. so. hard? Ants hold 50 times their weight carrying stuff back to the nest.  50 times in those little itty bitty antlers and jaws, and I struggle for 30 seconds holding up my own body.

Ants will always have my respect, and fear of them figuring out to rule humans. I know I watch and read too much Sci-fi! 😀 Speaking of reading…

I’m reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien to #1 Grandson. His request.  We start and stop a lot because he’s asking for a lot of word definitions. I LOVE THAT! Some kids probably wouldn’t stop to ask. I hope the words are sinking in and his vocabulary grows.  Which is already really good…lots of $0.25 cent words. Today’s words he stopped me to get definitions for were: forded…as in forded a shallow river,  heather; the flower, the bank was steep and slippery; bank was the word that brought him to attention.  We go to the bank for money stuff he thought,😊 and shallow.

He also stopped me to tell me Hobbits are much taller than him, “like your height Grandma.”…Right! I’m 5ft, 6 + 3/4 inches people!  He’s not convinced they’re only his height and shorter.   He’s just hitting the 3ft 6 inch mark. It’s Bilbo…he’s a HUGE character. For a Hobbit that only wants to eat, and stay in the Shire he’s HUGE! He’s taken on the roll of Burgler to save Middle Earth quite seriously. Who does that? Only the bravest of the brave! He’s my favorite of the Hobbit characters, and Sam is my 2nd favorite. #1 Grandson hasn’t met him yet.  Anyway,  I’ll be  reviewing the words he’s asked for definition, and emphasizing the height of Hobbits the rest of month so it does sink in. Sheesh! Hobbits over 5 ft 6 inches. What is he thinking?

#1 Grandson can’t wait until we get to Smaug, and Gollum.  We’re early on in the book. It’s so far advanced for him that after a few pages we need to stop so he can absorb it all, but Gandalf, the 13 Dwarves, and Bilbo have made it safely past the 3 trolls, and have just arrived in Rivendell to give you an idea of where we are in the book. Chapter 3 now.

Oh and #1 Grandson, 5 years old is constantly correcting my pronunciation Gandalf. I say Gandalph with a short “a”. He says Gandolph with a short “o”.  My argument is if it is meant to be Gandolph it should be spelled that way, and the way it is spelled in the book is alph so that’s the way I read and say it.  I think the movie says Gandolph so that’s where he gets his pronunciation, but I have always pronounced it as I’ve read it. I’ve not seen the movies. How do you say it? English Majors please chime in, and give the grammar rules for the pronunciation!

I have started a summer project- painting rocks. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen a couple already. I left two out in the wild to be found, and I hope to leave several more this week. You’ve also seen a few images from the week-end. (my IG account is private. Send me a request if you want to follow me.)

I am having fun painting rocks.  Who knew? I’m also really enjoying acrylic paint. I bought a 10 pound bag of river rocks so there would be plenty to paint this summer.  Unfortunately, #1 Grandson isn’t interested in painting any himself. He’ll happily hunt for rocks with me, and put them out to be found, but not paint any. Hopefully that changes.

I picked up a couple pieces of what is probably slate this week-end…not a great rock for long term to paint on. I may not use them, but I want to paint a horse on a rock for a souvenir. A rock from the actual week-end would be perfect I thought, but I couldn’t find “the perfect rock”.

I’ll probably use a river rock, and keep the slate in the garden. I’m afraid it’s too fragile.  Can you say or think of the word fragile without thinking of “Old  Man”, the crate,  or the old man saying, “Fra-jill-ee” , and the Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story?  I can’t. 😂  I’ve been collecting those Hallmark Christmas ornaments for quite a few years. I hope I didn’t miss Randy in his snow suit fallen in the snow saying, “Help! Ralphie, I can’t get up!” I want that ornament.  I hope I didn’t miss it!

Speaking of #1 Grandson. I’m a bit of an emotional wreck concerning #1 Grandson. He starts Kindergarten in a month. A MONTH! Where did the time go? Our time together now is even more precious, and fleeting, and I’m battling that urge to keep him with me, and letting him go…and to another teacher. Sigh…It’s not so easy being a Helicopter Mom/Grandma. I know I need to let go, but it is so hard!  I wish I could pause so many moments, hold on a little bit tighter, a little bit longer.  I can’t.  So,  I’m enjoying every day we’re together, and this song is in my head a lot now.  Don’t you love Rush?  He-Man introduced me to their music shortly after we met…oh so many decades ago. I love it!

But, my soul; my spirit sings Puff the Magic Dragon.  I am Puff. I have sung this song to #1 Grandson since the day he was born. Knowing what was coming I’m sure.  My scales are falling like a drizzle right now, but I know what’s coming….pouring rain.   This is my favorite version of the song.

ARG!!! TMI!!!

I’ve  shared too much! I should write less and process/develop more images! Y’all know I’m Chatty Cathy just to delay doing those dishes in the sink right? 😊 But, it’s getting late and I won’t be a happy gal, or cheerful Chatty Cathy in the morning if I wake up to those so, off I go to get that done, then I’ll watch a Midsomer Murder episode I have recorded and call it night.

I hope you all had a lovely week-end, and the rest of your week goes easy, and you find or make time to frolic along the Cherry Lane too.  I’ll be catching up with your blogs throughout the week! xx

Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2018

more to come…