Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Friday, August 06, 2010
A Little Beach Relaxation
sitting on the sand and watching the brown pelicans fly above the water, dive for their dinner, and then body surf on the waves.
I have a few big deadlines coming up so this little overnight trip to the sea was all about relaxing and letting creative ideas flow. Fortunately I have a great husband who understands me and doesn't mind my solo adventures :)
I'm working on a book (non-fiction) with a friend which is currently coming in at around 284 pages. I'm doing the layout, formatting, copy editing and proof reading. I've hired my daughter (who does this type of work) to help out since I've set a deadline for the first of September, giving the printer plenty of time to have things finished in time for October sales. It's going to be a busy several weeks!!
I've also been working on several new cross stitch designs and sent two of them over to my friend Linda this evening - she'll be doing the model stitching on these two as I work on a few more.
I'll be updating my Of Generations Past blog in a day or so with more information on the new designs. Be sure to check in there!
Joanne
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
To Fly Above the Sea
There is a black and white photo of the finished model with each chart, as well as information on the fabric used in the model and a complete listing of floss. When overdyes were used, you'll find a DMC conversion on the same page. There is a full color insert in the center of the book which features all the completed models so you can see what the designs look like in color. Some designs were framed - all in simple but beautiful frames found at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Some designs were finished as pillows or ornaments.
Also included in the book are sea-themed verses and poems, photos, and interesting tidbits of information on shells and seabirds.
I loved working on this book since I was able to share my love for the sea, and especially seabirds! I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.
The retail price of the book is $17.00, and a donation of $5.00 for the sale of each book is being given to the Audubon Society to assist with their work in the Gulf. Books can be purchased from Mary Kathryn at Handcrafts Online or from me. If you have any questions, please send me an email at joanne@ofgenerationspast.com
Joanne
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sea Birds
For some reason, I've become obsessed with photographs of sea birds the last few years. In fact, I just came across some wonderful photographs online that were taken by an old friend I haven't seen in 25 years. Of course, I took some time to send an email.
I've been thinking ahead to some ideas for summer needlework designs and have decided that something with a sea theme would be perfect. I have an idea for a few little booklets based on different themes that will include 2 or 3 charts as well as some "extras", and my recent thoughts are that a summer booklet will have to have something with birds.
I've been looking over some of the pictures I took the last few years and although I have no idea what I'll do for the summer charts, thought I'd share a few of my favorite bird and sea pictures again. Most are of gulls, but there are a couple of others included. (Perhaps these are on my mind after spending time by the water up in Vancouver!) None are really that good, but it's been fun talking to the birds and taking their pictures.
I've been thinking ahead to some ideas for summer needlework designs and have decided that something with a sea theme would be perfect. I have an idea for a few little booklets based on different themes that will include 2 or 3 charts as well as some "extras", and my recent thoughts are that a summer booklet will have to have something with birds.
I've been looking over some of the pictures I took the last few years and although I have no idea what I'll do for the summer charts, thought I'd share a few of my favorite bird and sea pictures again. Most are of gulls, but there are a couple of others included. (Perhaps these are on my mind after spending time by the water up in Vancouver!) None are really that good, but it's been fun talking to the birds and taking their pictures.
Autumn in Vancouver
I just returned home from a third road trip to Vancouver, Canada this year. I realized that with the three trips to Vancouver, one to Santa Fe and Taos in January, and one to Tucson in July, that I've driven over 20,000 miles this year just in road trips. My husband thinks I'm crazy, especially since a few of those included about 2500 miles on my own (the others were with our daughter). Flying is great if you want to arrive somewhere quickly, but you get to see so much more of the country by driving, and it's great to explore new places.
Here are some photos of the beautiful scenery this fall in one of my new favorite places. The picture at the top of the blog is also from Vancouver, taken near the UBC campus and looking down towards NW Marine Drive.
Here are some photos of the beautiful scenery this fall in one of my new favorite places. The picture at the top of the blog is also from Vancouver, taken near the UBC campus and looking down towards NW Marine Drive.
Enroute - Mt. Shasta in northern California
Love the snow!
In Vancouver...
Some of the colorful trees in the city
The day we visited Steveston Village was a cool, drizzly one.
I love the clouds as you look past the fishing boats to the island across the inlet.
Here are a few scenes from NW Marine Drive, looking across to North and West Vancouver,
and also to the city itself.
Here are the Olympic Rings at the Vancouver airport.
They look so pretty at night when the lights are on.
However, this picture was taken on a rainy afternoon.
These photos were taken at White Rock on a very cloudy and drizzly day.
I had to take a picture or two of the gulls... definitely not my best, but they wouldn't cooperate.
Enroute - Sunset near the California-Arizona border on I-40.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Welcome August
"Ah! What pleasant visions haunt me
As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me...
Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand and silver shines,
With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines ... "
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
From 'The Secret of the Sea'
When I think of August I always connect it with the sea. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I love the ocean. I grew up on Long Island. A short drive north and you were at Long Island Sound... a short drive south and you were at the Atlantic Ocean. As a child we'd join a group from our church for picnics at Jones Beach one night a week. We often had cousins visit from upstate, and a beach day was always included. As a preteen we often spent long weekends camping at a park by the Sound. A short walk from the campsite through the piney area and you were at the beach.
School was still in session in June so I never even considered it summer until the end of that month. July had the 4th of July family barbeque and a few weeks of traveling around the country. August is when we were back home. It was a whole month to just enjoy the summer, the beach, and my birthday (which unfortunately always brought back-to-school clothes, reminding me of what was ahead two days after Labor Day!).
This morning I turned the page on the wall calendar, and then changed the desktop background on my computer to show an ocean scene with a gull in flight. I pulled out Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea" to read once again, as well as May Sarton's "The House by the Sea" ... perfect books for August reading.
I'm reminded of something I wrote to friends several years ago on this very subject. It's not about August, but is my own little tribute to the sea ~
I love water! I love looking at it, wiggling my toes in it, chasing waves along the ocean, or driving on winding roads, following the path of a river. I love the salty smell of the sea air, the feel of the sand as it slips between your toes, and the smoothness of the shells washed in with the tide. I've often thought it was because I grew up on Long Island, New York, where many roads lead to water. We had summer evening picnics at Jones Beach; would drive to the docks where fishing boats returned with their catch of the day; took long Sunday drives to the lighthouse at Montauk Point; and we even drove along the coastal roads in driver's education in high school.
I know loving water isn't unusual, and many people spend their summers by the sea. But the water I love the most is the rough ocean after a storm ~ and especially in winter ~ when there are few people on the beach and you can enjoy the peacefulness and the solitary moments ~ listening to the crashing surf, the cry of the sea gulls as they glide past you looking for food, the whistling of the wind intermingling with the crescendo of the waves as they roll into shore, walking barefoot in the cold sand and occasionally wetting my feet in the waves... and experiencing the power of God's beautiful gift of the sea...
Joanne
As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me...
Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand and silver shines,
With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines ... "
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
From 'The Secret of the Sea'
When I think of August I always connect it with the sea. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I love the ocean. I grew up on Long Island. A short drive north and you were at Long Island Sound... a short drive south and you were at the Atlantic Ocean. As a child we'd join a group from our church for picnics at Jones Beach one night a week. We often had cousins visit from upstate, and a beach day was always included. As a preteen we often spent long weekends camping at a park by the Sound. A short walk from the campsite through the piney area and you were at the beach.
School was still in session in June so I never even considered it summer until the end of that month. July had the 4th of July family barbeque and a few weeks of traveling around the country. August is when we were back home. It was a whole month to just enjoy the summer, the beach, and my birthday (which unfortunately always brought back-to-school clothes, reminding me of what was ahead two days after Labor Day!).
This morning I turned the page on the wall calendar, and then changed the desktop background on my computer to show an ocean scene with a gull in flight. I pulled out Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea" to read once again, as well as May Sarton's "The House by the Sea" ... perfect books for August reading.
I'm reminded of something I wrote to friends several years ago on this very subject. It's not about August, but is my own little tribute to the sea ~
I love water! I love looking at it, wiggling my toes in it, chasing waves along the ocean, or driving on winding roads, following the path of a river. I love the salty smell of the sea air, the feel of the sand as it slips between your toes, and the smoothness of the shells washed in with the tide. I've often thought it was because I grew up on Long Island, New York, where many roads lead to water. We had summer evening picnics at Jones Beach; would drive to the docks where fishing boats returned with their catch of the day; took long Sunday drives to the lighthouse at Montauk Point; and we even drove along the coastal roads in driver's education in high school.
I know loving water isn't unusual, and many people spend their summers by the sea. But the water I love the most is the rough ocean after a storm ~ and especially in winter ~ when there are few people on the beach and you can enjoy the peacefulness and the solitary moments ~ listening to the crashing surf, the cry of the sea gulls as they glide past you looking for food, the whistling of the wind intermingling with the crescendo of the waves as they roll into shore, walking barefoot in the cold sand and occasionally wetting my feet in the waves... and experiencing the power of God's beautiful gift of the sea...
Joanne
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A Recent Road Trip - Part 2, Vancouver
Today's pictures were taken in the Vancouver area ~ around the university campus, the downtown area, and some from Stanley Park.
One of the streets near campus lined with beautiful pine trees, and a wonderful view of snowy mountains across the water.
Walking along the main mall on campus...
... you see many flowers like these wisteria at a bus stop
.... and these orange azaleas
... and the white rhododendrons
... and these pretty trees
... and these, with the sunlight shining through the branches
Another campus road with a beautiful view
... same view as above, but close up so it's a bit blurry
... And yet another view from a different part of the campus
This was taken downtown. As we were sitting at a red light I noticed the pretty building's reflection in the high rise and decided to pull out the camera. It's a reflection of the Hotel Vancouver, now a Fairmont Hotel.
We spent the afternoon at Stanley Park. I'll share the pictures of all the gardens tomorrow, but today I'm sharing the beautiful views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
I used the close-up setting for this one so I could get a picture of some of the cruise ships at the dock.
... a sea plane that had just taken off
... a view along the walkway at the park... the scenery with the water, mountains and trees is just gorgeous.
And two of my favorite things we kept seeing in the area...
the chubbiest crows we've ever seen (and I LOVE crows... they show up in a lot of my favorite stitching designs)... AND...
... Black Squirrels!!! I love squirrels and have lots of pictures of the ones here at home (and many in my favorite stitching designs, once again)... but we don't have black ones here. This guy was cute and pudgy and didn't mind posing for a quick picture. I think my next autumn stitched piece that has a squirrel will look like this little guy :)
I'll be back tomorrow ~ with pictures of the beautiful gardens at Stanley Park!!
One of the streets near campus lined with beautiful pine trees, and a wonderful view of snowy mountains across the water.
Walking along the main mall on campus...
... you see many flowers like these wisteria at a bus stop
.... and these orange azaleas
... and the white rhododendrons
... and these pretty trees
... and these, with the sunlight shining through the branches
Another campus road with a beautiful view
... same view as above, but close up so it's a bit blurry
... And yet another view from a different part of the campus
This was taken downtown. As we were sitting at a red light I noticed the pretty building's reflection in the high rise and decided to pull out the camera. It's a reflection of the Hotel Vancouver, now a Fairmont Hotel.
We spent the afternoon at Stanley Park. I'll share the pictures of all the gardens tomorrow, but today I'm sharing the beautiful views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
I used the close-up setting for this one so I could get a picture of some of the cruise ships at the dock.
... a sea plane that had just taken off
... a view along the walkway at the park... the scenery with the water, mountains and trees is just gorgeous.
And two of my favorite things we kept seeing in the area...
the chubbiest crows we've ever seen (and I LOVE crows... they show up in a lot of my favorite stitching designs)... AND...
... Black Squirrels!!! I love squirrels and have lots of pictures of the ones here at home (and many in my favorite stitching designs, once again)... but we don't have black ones here. This guy was cute and pudgy and didn't mind posing for a quick picture. I think my next autumn stitched piece that has a squirrel will look like this little guy :)
I'll be back tomorrow ~ with pictures of the beautiful gardens at Stanley Park!!
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