Photo Phunk

For the past couple of weeks it seems that I have slipped into a photography funk of sorts. Part of it is the amount of time I have been spending on the Made For Keeps side of my business, but a lot has been this dreary, colorless winter.

Today we await a winter that could bring up to an inch of ice to our area. A little further north they will get snow. Given the choice, I would take the snow. Snow doesn't stick to power lines weighing as much as 500 pounds from pole to pole, creating a sure threat of power outages. Snow scoops more easily off the streets and roads. Snow also makes prettier photos!

So, while I don't have photos today for Macro Monday or Thematic Photographic, I will be visiting every one's blogs, as well as the Phabulous Photographers. I know that looking at every one's blogs and wonderful photos will be the inspiration I need to get back behind the camera. That's what is so great about the blogosphere!

10,000 HITS!!

10,000!!

Woo hoo!! The hit counter just rolled over to 10,000! It appears that a visitor from El Mirage, Arizona takes the honors. I'm not sure who to thank personally, though I've had visits from there many times and I am very happy they visit so often. So, just two days after my 1st blogoversary I am stepping into next phase of my blog, to grow and make this an even more fulfilling experience.

Thank you to everyone who stops by. Don't be shy, leave a comment!

1st Blogoversary!

Wow! My 1st Blogoversary! This past year has flown by! I started this blog just after our move to Missouri from Arizona as a way to keep in touch with everyone and to report about new home and experiences. Within a few months I found myself in this incredible community of fun, creative and supportive people from all over the world.

Here it is a year later. Blogging was not top-of-mind for me before, but now it is a part of my day that I look forward to. Here's why:

• I have met so many wonderful people that I hope to meet in person some day.
• It has helped me develop writing skills and to open up more
• Sharing photography and participating in challenges has stretched my imagination and the way I look at the world around me
• I now have four blogs!
• Finding out that there are others like me, and others who aren't, and that's ok!

So, stop by, have a piece of cyber cake and a cup of coffee. Tell me about why you started blogging, what you like about it, and what surprised you most about blogging.

Thank you to everyone: blog buddies, blurfers, lurkers, commenters, and Google searchers, for making this a very fun first year in the blogosphere!

100th Post!

This time last year I hadn't even read a blog --- now I have three of my own. I began blogging in November 2007 as a way to relay pictures and news to family and friends, especially after we moved from Arizona. This blog is still dedicated to all the folks we left back in Phoenix --- we miss you guys!

In looking back at the early posts it would be safe to say that this blog has evolved. That it is also a reflection of some of the ways I have evolved since beginning this new period of my life.

Blogging has put me in touch with terrific people who are writers, photographers, crafters, artists, comedians, poets, and regular folks. This is the best part.

Through blogging I am acquiring the tools that will help me with the online business that will become my full time job. It's a pleasure to make contact and receive feedback from those I meet online.

This blog, Picture This, At Last, has taken on it's own identity as a forum for sharing and showcasing my photography. So, as a tribute to my 100th post, the mosaic above is just a small sampling of some of the photos that have appeared here. It was fun to go back through the older posts and see the photos and stories. Trust me, all the photos in this blog so far represent only a fraction of the photos in my archives! But soon these and many more will, hopefully, be available to anyone who wants them.

Thank you to my husband for understanding the hours I have spent with my blog and for supporting it by reading it faithfully every morning (because he is usually sound asleep by the time I get done writing in the wee hours of the morning).

Thanks to family and friends who started reading from the very beginning and are still with me.

Thanks to everyone who stop by regularly and leave those much appreciated comments.

Thanks to the lurkers out there who visit once, twice, or more. Even without leaving a friendly "Hello". I'm glad you keep coming back.

If you are seeing this for the first time, thank you for reading down this far. Come back again!

I'll see you all in the blogosphere for another 100 posts --- and more!

My first Blog Award!

Este Blog premia el arte y la creatividad

My very weak Spanish translates this to "This blog is awarded for art and creativity".

A wonderful surprise awaited me this morning from Heidi. She was awarded this beautiful trophy and passed it on to me and four other bloggers. This is my first blog award and I am very excited about it! Thank you, Heidi, for the kind words and honor. I encourage everyone to check out Heidi's blogs (Heidi's Moments, Heidi's Photos, and Heidi's Cards) as she is a talented photographer and cardmaker, too. She is also a native of Iowa, so that makes her extra special!

This trophy is extra special in light of the the criteria for awarding it. The rules are:

1) You must pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award, based upon creativity, design, interesting material, and that also contribute to the blogger community.

2) Each award must have the name of the author with a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Award-winners must show the award and put the name and link to the blog that awarded it.

4) Award-winners and the one who has given the prize must show the link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) These rules must be included in your post.

It is difficult to pick just 5 bloggers for this award. In just a few months I have met many talented people out there and been inspired in my own creativity. I want everyone on my Favorite Bloggers lists (on both blogs) to know that you are there because of your talents and inspiration. The Arte de Pico award is being passed to:

1. Smarmoofus for her fun-loving spirit and intriguing photography

2. Carmi at Written, Inc whose writing and photography say so much in a small space. Plus, he started Thematic Photographic which brought so many of us together.

3. Mojo because he has a great sense of humor, is honest and helpful in his comments, and always is interesting to visit.

4. What's Up Spotty Chop has a delightful blog design and I enjoy her take on her world and how she conveys it in her writing.

5. Lauri, a talented greeting cardmaker and artist who encourages me at Made For Keeps

Thanks, everyone, for making my blogging a fun experience!

5,000 Hits and Counting!

This is a special day for me: Picture This, At Last reached the 5,000 hit mark! Wow!

It was just last November 15 that I opened this, my very first blog ever, with a post called "A Leap of Faith". Boy have I learned a lot since that first scary dive into the blogosphere! Now I have 3 blogs (see also Made For Keeps and The Family Branson) and having a great time, as well as growing my crafts.

I have to thank hundreds and hundreds of readers for stopping by and coming back to see what's new. The encouraging comments and constructive suggestions are so appreciated. This would still be just a dry daily journal if it wasn't for bloggers I have met along the way, some are listed in my "Favorite Blogs" list. This is a great community and I am happy to be sharing in the fun!

Thank you all you bloggers --- and lurkers :-) !

Are you wondering what that goofy giraffe at the top has to do with celebrating 5,000 hits? Well, I am sneaking in animal #4 for this week's Thematic Photographic, another reason why I am having so much fun and learning so much.

Show Me Some Color!

When I first created my blog I chose a template that was appealing, versatile, and fit my mood at the time. A little shy of color, but variable.

Today I changed to a page full of color, predominately green because I am looking forward to seeing more green on the trees outside. It is only January here in Missouri, but for my first winter back in the land of four seasons, enough already!

When I get really good I'll work on a totally original page layout.

Have a "blogiful" day!

Six Things About Me

Well, I got into the blogging gig to communicate with friends and family all over the country, and I have done just that. Now it looks like I am about to meet more. My lovely sis-in-law at Straight Up and Slightly Dirty has tagged me to do the Six Things Meme. She would like me to share with you six inconsequential habits, quirks, or things about me that you wouldn't otherwise know. So, pulling from my days of ice-breakers at staff meetings, I will dig up some old ones and see what new quirks I have developed.



Here are the rules, which are important, because they also tag --- randomly --- six more people to join in the fun:

• Link to the person that tagged you


• Post the rules on your blog


• Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself


• Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs


• Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

So, here goes:

#1. I've been told I'm tenacious. There must be some truth to that because I will work on a problem for hours, often forgoing sleep and food.

#2. My motto is "Never pay full price for anything." Well, except Starbucks and really good chocolate. However, I do take the free cup of coffee when I buy a bag of coffee beans, even if I have a triple venti vanilla latte with a dash of cinnamon.

#3. I can't get enough books! I now live 35 miles from the nearest Barnes and Noble. Thank goodness for bn.com. As Thomas Jefferson said, "I cannot live without books."

#4. I've been called "GG" short for Gadget Gal because I love gadgets; electronic gadgets, not kitchen gadgets. Like others I know, I don't like being called Gal! Worse yet, NEVER call me "Girly"!

#5. I'm an organizer freak! I can drool over storage containers, especially now that they are so pretty. It will be a great day when I get it all together.

#6. So many interests, so little time!

Six of you are tagged. I found your blogs to be inspiring, uplifting, and some that I will read more regularly. I hope you play along:

Chocolate and Coffee

Hill Country Thoughts

Night Owl

Ode 2 Old

Cricket's Hearth

The Lurchers

I Haven't Forgotten!

After an absolutely wonderful 10 days of Christmas we both caught colds --- the gift that keeps on giving. Mine turned to bronchitis and Jerry's turned to laryngitis. Thus the lack of energy to do anything but move from the bed to couch and back again. I will be back in a few days with new stories and pictures. Don't give up on me!

A Leap of Faith

In the movie City of Angels the angel Seth had to literally fall off a tall building in order to become mortal and have a mortal life with his true love. He gave up guaranteed immortality for the uncertainties of mortal life. Well, sometimes we stay in one place because it is a "sure thing", forgetting that we are mortals and nothing is guaranteed. Stepping off a tall building is not recommended and, fortunately, we don't have to in order to have the life we want. It might feel like stepping off a building --- I can't deny I've had some painful moments of doubt and regret. But sensations of peace and confidence have begun to flow into my panic-stricken mind.

The realities of moving: packing, shipping, unpacking, realtors, address changes, utility activations, creepy neighbors, getting lost in the country --- it's all there and then some. Oh, the stories I could tell! Oh, I can! This is a blog, after all! But it will be more fun to write about the changes we experience by moving from city to country, from corporate to the arts, from the heat of the desert to the cold midwest winters, and heavy traffic to winding country roads with the sun roof open. Oh, yes, this is going to be fun!

So goes my first blog post! Since this blog is dedicated to my friends in Arizona, I dare not close without a photo. Don't count on seeing many pics of me, but here is one of my grand-niece Sienna who I met for the first time last week.