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!

Church Across the Way...

I can see this church from my front window. I've wanted to get a good shot of it for a while now, but the light is never right when I have the time and inclination to get the shot. As I was leaving to run errands (gotta love Home Depot), I looked over and thought today might be my best chance! It's been stormy here, and the clouds make for some nice sky shots.

Luckily, I had my camera so I just pulled over to the curb next to the house (I had already backed out of my garage) and took some shots. Of course, I had to wait while the sun peaked in and out behind the clouds, but it was worth it!

Chocolate Festival

Today, Summer and I went to the annual Chocolate Festival in downtown Glendale, AZ. It was ridiculously crowded and I kept stopping to take photos of everything (even a lot of non-chocolate festival related things). One of the things we did was take a tour of a local candy factory. This is a shot of the outside as we were waiting in line to get in to do the walk-through tour.

I have lots of other chocolate festival photos that I plan to post later on this week at http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com so feel free to go check them out!

Naked Tree!

I decided to take a walk around campus today after I took my things to my car. There are some things I've been wanting to shoot, but unfortunately, the light wasn't quite right today. Here's one that I was happy with, though.

I've had a fascination with the "naked" trees lately. You'll probably notice that once I post all my alternates to my blog at http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com

Sunset Through the Trees

I'm taking a professional development class at another community college in our district on Thursdays, and when I came out of class tonight, I had the makings of some great sunset photos. I spent probably 30 minutes taking various photos in different directions. It really intrigues me living at the edge of a time zone. As the sun is setting it tends to be a lot darker to the East than to the West (more so than it ever was in California where I've spent most of my life).

I had a really hard time deciding what photo to use today. In fact, as I type this, I'm still thinking about changing my mind. Since this is actually a catch up post where I'm posting after the actual day I took the photo, I can say that I had 3 days in a row where I'm in the same situation! It's fitting given my comments above that I was struggling with one shot towards the west and one towards the east. This is the one towards the west.

Of course this means that I'll be posting the rest of the photos over at my other blog yet again. Feel free to check them out at http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com

The one from today that I shot towards the east contains a cameo by the moon and will be over at my other blog as soon as I finish catching up here :-)

Take a Guess!

Can you guess the subject of this photo?

I bought a new blouse recently and wore it for the second time today. I really love the colors and have gotten quite a few compliments on it, so I decided to take a shot of part of the shirt for today's photo :-)

Playplace!

I was out doing errands tonight when this McDonald's Playplace sign caught my eye. I only had my point and shoot camera with me, and I really wish I had my DSLR. Oh well, it came out decent and I can always go back another night!

Working Late...

I found myself working late in my office tonight grading journals. I took a break to take this photo (and clear off my desk a bit). It also reminded me to flip my calendar from January to February. My first few shots still show January...

Superbowl!

Other than grading papers, the biggest highlight of today was watching the Superbowl. I haven't been living in Arizona long, but I was rooting for the Cardinals. Either way, it was a great game and very exciting in the end!

I also learned it's not very easy to take good pictures of my TV.