Backyard Sunset

Once again, I had a really hard time deciding on my photo for today. I think part of it was because I was out and about quite a bit today. In the end, I decided based on the criteria of what I would or wouldn't be able to re-create or go back and take pictures of later.

This is the sunset from my back yard. I have a limited range within my view that isn't obscured very obviously by telephone poles and the like. I had to move around to hide a couple behind the trees as well. Here's my favorite.

Fore!

I saw this car when I was coming out of the store after buying groceries tonight and thought it would make a good picture of the day. It also reminded me of a comic strip with a math joke in it (the kid yells out square root of 16 instead of fore when playing golf...get it?) Yes, I realize I am a math nerd :-)

Paradise Valley Art Studio

It's Thursday which means it's my day out at PVCC for my professional development class. I always seem to find great things to shoot there. I had seen a sign I thought about using this week, but on my way out to the sign, I discovered this Art Studio. I couldn't believe that I've walked by this place for the last 3 weeks and never really noticed it! Of course I had to make my way behind the bushes to get the shot, so that doesn't help!

I have a few other shots I like from this evening at PVCC, so I'll be posting them all over at my other blog (http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com) once again.

Flowering Tree

I saw these flowers on the trees on my way to get my mail Monday and was intrigued. Unfortunately, I waited too long to get the shot and the light wasn't right then. I almost waited too long again tonight, but the light was shining through a gap between the houses across the street and right onto one of the two trees. The blue sky was a great background for the shots (even though I had to crouch to get it as the background rather than the house just behind it).

I also learned today to be careful taking pictures of unknown trees. This one turned out to have thorns which of course I didn't notice until I got too close and got poked!

Backyard Water Feature

I was really tired when I got home from work tonight, so I decided to just walk around the backyard and take some photos. I decided to use this shot of the corner of my yard that has the water feature.

Cotton Ball Clouds

The clouds caught my eye as I drove into my garage today, so I ran inside to get my DSLR (I only carry my point and shoot to school with me). I took fewer photos than usual because I ended up talking with my neighbor for a while, but I got this shot and was happy with it!

Scottish Highland Athletic Games World Champion!

I had (am still having really) a hard time choosing today's photo. I spent a large part of my day watching Summer successfully defend her Scottish Highland Athletic Games Woman's World Champion title. I really wanted to get some great shots of her competing, but to do that I really, really need a much better zoom lens (my family is getting sick of me saying that because I complain about it all the time for many reasons). I have a 70-300mm telephoto lens for my film camera, but it's not a Canon and is therefore not compatible with my digital camera :-( And did I mention I kinda stink at people photography?

Anyway, I also got some interesting cloud shots, and I drove by this restaurant (which happens to be Scottish!) that I've been wanting to take a photo of for a while. Those who know me well know that me and lots of choices tends to mean long delays while I ponder my options :-)

In the end, I had to go with one of Summer with the caber (even though it is a distant shot). She turned it all 3 times! And the one time I decided to take a picture, she turned that sucker so fast it was over before I was ready for it to be over. I'll post the whole sequence of her throwing at my "other" blog (http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com) if you're interested!

Take Out

Instead of taking picture of dinner tonight, I decided to take a picture while waiting for dinner! As you can see, I got take out from Island's restaurant for dinner :-)

Stuff to Grade

As usual, I have lots of grading to do this weekend. Here it is all stacked together!

Statue at PVCC

I saw this statue last Thursday as I was leaving the Paradise Valley Community College campus after my professional development class. I rushed out right after my class today to make sure I had enough light to get the shot.

Top Chef

I fell asleep watching TV and didn't get some stuff done that I wanted to for work. Oh well, I still got to watch Top Chef!

Tapioca!

Since I haven't been feeling well, I've been craving comfort foods. Tapioca is one of my favorite comfort foods. My grandmother used to make it for me when I was sick. Mine isn't quite as fluffy as hers, but I still love it.

This is actually the second time in the last 4 days that I've made tapioca (from scratch). I started thinking about it when I saw the movie New in Town on Friday because tapioca is pretty prominent in the movie :-)

Candles

I'm still not feeling well, so I just walked around the house to find anything I haven't taken a picture of before. Not too inspiring, but here's a candle display out on one of my end tables in my living room.

Grading Exams

I haven't been feeling well, but I have lots of stuff to do over the long weekend. Part of today was spent grading math exams. The other part I spent sleeping!

Scott's General Store

I had to return some books to the library today and as I was driving back, I saw this general store. It caught my eye because the building is so different than those around it.

When I was leaving I noticed that there is another building behind the store that is a bit sketchy (and I'm convinced it is a strip joint since there was a painted silhouette of what looked like a woman to me on the door. The name of the place behind Scott's General Store is Hidaway Jack's (if I remember correctly).

Islands!

I wasn't sure what to take a picture of today, and when I drove by Islands on my way home from a movie, I stopped to take this picture. It didn't quite turn out as I'd hoped, but once again I was out without my DSLR so I could only get the shot with my point and shoot.

Paradise Valley Campus Sculpture

Since it's Thursday, I had my professional development class again. I get out right at 6pm, so the light is fading fast when I get the chance to take photos. Unfortunately, I'm in such a rush to get there in time from my last class, that I don't have time to take photos before class.

I saw the sculpture in this photo last week, so I made sure to go right out to it to get a decent shot before it got too dark. I already found another sculpture for next week as I was leaving campus today!

Sunset Over Neighborhood Church

I wasn't sure what to shoot today, so I stayed behind in my office and took some photos of multi-color pencils I was sharpening as extras for exams the following day (we have no pencil sharpeners in our classrooms so I bring extras). As I was driving home, I noticed the cloud formations looked interesting to the west, so I parked my car, took out my camera, and walked around the neighborhood. I took some different angles of this same shot, but I chose this one for my daily photo. This is the same church as in my photo from last Sunday.

Sunset at Estrella Mountain

I had to rush back to campus tonight because I left my jump drive in a classroom. Of course in my rush back, I grabbed only my wallet (and not my purse or camera). On my way back out of the parking lot, I noticed the sun setting through the trees and thought "What a great shot!" Of course I sped home, grabbed the camera and drove back. I knew it wasn't likely that I'd get back in time (though I live less than a mile away), and I was right. But I did get this shot! I've thought about shooting these cacti at this campus entrance for a while, but was waiting for the right circumstances!

From the Front Door

I had a dentist appointment today where I got 2 cavities filled and my teeth cleaned, and it was quite rainy most of the day. As a result, today's photo isn't quite as inspiring as the last few days. When I got home (with my completely numb mouth), I took my camera out the front door and just decided to shoot what I saw as I stepped out!