• Art/Design

    Final Analysis

    December 31, 2009
    Some samples

    After weeks of testing during this Christmas season I have concluded that there is no taste difference between the red or green peanut M&M’s. The sampling was conducted on a 16 oz bag of M&M’s called the Holiday Mix (the green bag). There were found to be noticeable color differences, the sizes of samples varied widely, but it seems the taste has always been the same. It was even noticed on some samples where the letter “m” was missing (a quality control issue) and also found no taste differences. So, the final analysis is they all tasted the same from the one 16 oz. bag. I believe no further testing required this season. 🙂

    I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve and day. May the coming year be full of surprises and wonderful blessings! Hugs!

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  • Candid Portraits,  Photography

    Watching it snow

    December 29, 2009
    Watching it snow

    It started to snow on Sunday evening around six. The wind was blowing it across the roads as I drove home. It was beginning to build up on the grass along the edges of the sidewalk. I could tell it was going to be one of those nights to sip on tea and read in my favorite chair. This morning I found 2 inches or so on my car with a layer of ice beneath the snow. With the wind blowing it is not a day for going outside unless necessary, definitely no picnic, so I’ll spend the day with laundry, reading the biography of John Muir, writing and shooting indoors. Practice is necessary for our craft whether that is outdoors or indoors or just plain doors. Hope you’re staying warm.

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  • Photography

    A quick read but …

    December 28, 2009
    A book and a coffee

    …  it’s one I will want to read more than once. I’ve heard about this book from David duChemin. He mentions it in his books and on his blog. I finally bought it and enjoyed reading it. I read it in one afternoon and have gone back over it a couple times since. It’s got small bits and pieces to chew on. It has the ability to help us look at ourselves with newer eyes. No book will fix us but this one strikes a chord for me. I’m not sure I can say what it means to me. It may be more of how it affects my creativity. Anyway I will write more on it later. Has anyone else read it? Hope everyone has a good week!

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  • Art/Design,  Photography

    The Valve

    December 26, 2009
    The Valve 

    It’s plain and simple, I need exercise! One way for me get some exercise when traveling is walk the stairs at the hotels. I take the elevator with my bags but after that I usually walk up and down the stairs. I’ve noticed that in just about every hotel stairwell you will find valves. So I’m coming out the the closet and letting you know I take a lot of images of them. They are one of those manmade subjects readily available for me as well as a subject most people will overlook. Yep, need more exercise.

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  • Cityscapes/Urban

    Will we have a white Christmas?

    December 24, 2009
    Old Gahanna

    On my walk into Od Gahanna the other evening I came across this Italian restaurant. It has an open patio with a fireplace in the center. Needless to say, with temperatures just below freezing, no one was on the patio but they sure had the fire roaring. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve, enjoying your time with family and friends.

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  • Plants/Nature

    Anybody Seen It?

    December 23, 2009
    Dusting of Snow

    I’ve been off for two days and not seen the sun. Anybody seen it? Even with a light snow falling and temperatures hovering around freezing, I braved the elements and tramped in the snow at Blendon Woods Park. I decided to put on the 105mm macro and focus in on the dusting of snow on plants. It was actually quite refreshing, something my mind and body needed. However, after about 45 minutes my fingers began to get cold. Since I can’t work too long in the cold, I surf the net to enjoy images of ice like these by Mark Graf. Please check out his gallery of ice patterns. Anyway, back to my original question, anyone seen the sun?

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  • lifestyles

    Sweet Dreams

    December 21, 2009

    One of the things we look for as a frequent traveler is a good bed and a good pillow. Much needed rest will help us function better the next day. It’s sweet dreams we are looking for.

    Today we acknowledge the winter solstice and I acknowledge my youngest granddaughter birthday. So Happy Birthday, Madie!

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  • Art/Design

    Morning Light and Shadows

    December 20, 2009
    Morning Light and Shadows

    I am sitting in my hotel room in Richmond, VA. The flying has been tough the last two days with all the snowy and cold weather moving across the country and pounding the eastern coast. Not much opportunity to get out and shoot so I grabbed one from a few days ago. It is lightly snowing now and expected to continue through the night.  This was taken a few days ago and is one of those images where I just wanted to fire off a few shots of whatever I was around. Love to hear the shutter.

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