Today's Reflection ♥ February 28, 2014

I got some heavenly help today looking at screen pixels on my tablet, refer to February 15, 2014 entry. While at lunch, a tiny rain drop landed on my screen, magnifying the pixels, not much, but enough.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 27, 2014

Today's Reflection ♥ February 25, 2014

Abstract me from the photo and you have, blue and white, wall and ceiling. Leave me in the photo and you have abstract.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 24, 2014

Someone once said, "You can never have too many shoes." I'm not entirely sure who said that, I'm not going to Google it to find out and even if I did know, I would not say for the sake of this blog. Wouldn't want to chase away the one or two of you who check it out. I am curious however, what constitutes, "too many"?

Would "too many", be of pairs
or individual shoes?

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 23, 2014

Mimi expressing her joy to Renee for the beautiful
picture, made with lots of love.

I won't tell you how young she is, those of us that know her already know. She doesn't hide her age, if she wants you to know it, she'll tell you. I will tell you she has been my friend and love for more then half her life. It is on this day we recognize the birthdate of this special lady. She is so very special to so many people, for so many different reasons. The two beauties on her right, have loved her, pretty much since they were born. Their Mimi has always made them a very special part of her life and on this day, they showed how special by giving her pictures they made just for her, with loving care.

Natalie also made her Mimi a very special and
lovely picture. These two girls LOVE their Mimi. 

Happy anniversary of your birthdate my love. I'm so thankful for those anniversaries you have shared with me and I looked forward to many more. ♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡

Two pictures today, each showing the pictures our granddaughters made for Mimi.

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Today's Reflection ♥ February 22, 2014

Cheri-Ann and I began our date by going to lunch at the 178 Club. It was okay, but I have certainly had better.  On top of that, their prices were rather high, for the small amount of food.

After lunch we went to the Gaston's Center in Bull Shoals, where we heard Tim Ernst talk about hiking in Arkansas. Cheri-Ann got him to sign her book and told him how she had done 11 of the trails. After Tim spoke, Cheri-Ann spoke with his wife Pam, asking how they avoid the ticks and chiggers in summer.

"Grin and bare it.", was all she could say.

No magic, just pick off the ticks and hope you don't cross paths with chiggers. Bummer.

We then went down to Gaston's resort, took some pictures of the birds and walked one of the trails. One of the trails was named Lost Jeep, it was on this trail we came across a ... you guessed it, a lost Jeep. Cheri-Ann captured a really cool picture of her and I with the Jeep. Check it out here. Such fun.

Back on the trail and headed toward the bird cages, we spotted a deer crossing the trail about 300' in front of us. I told Cheri-Ann to, "Wait for it, wait." and almost on cue, another deer grazed across the trail. Then Cheri-Ann spotted a couple more still somewhat hidden in the trees. We got some pictures and then something startled them and they were off. It may have been me, as just about that timing, I had an itch on the back of my leg. While scratching it, I must have made a bit too much noise.

Cheri-Ann in her element.

As we were getting ready to leave the area, an Australian Shepherd came our way. She had a collar and tags and she had been chipped according to Cheri-Ann. Just as Cheri-Ann was calling the number on the collar, Jim Gaston drove up in his bright red Jeep and told us about the dog. At that same point the call had gone through and Cheri-Ann told the receptionist at Gaston's resort never mind. After chatting a bit more, Mr. Gaston drove on up, got out and began taking photos of the birds. Cheri-Ann went back down opposite of him and while heading back toward me, got a picture of Mr. Gaston, while he was taking pictures of the birds.

An extra picture for today.

One of two White Peacocks

at Gaston's Resort. 

A fun time with Cheri-Ann. I love my time with both my daughters. :-)

Atrix 2 - picture of Cheri-Ann and the dog.
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS - White Peacock

Today's Reflection ♥ February 21, 2014

Standing or laying down?


A position I am prone to all too often.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 20, 2014

Today's Reflection ♥ February 19, 2014

Zero, zilch, rather large goose egg, nothing, nada, fail, bummer. I didn't take a picture for this day. I went to bed and didn't think about it until 7:00 am. This is my feeble attempt at keeping this going, despite not doing what I was supposed to yesterday.

These are two glow in the dark O's, that at one time were part of the word Colorado, tacked to the top door frame of a closet. The are laying on the lit screen of a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. Yes, the one I sometimes use to take photos for this project that only one, perhaps two people ever look at. So I guess it don't matter if I forgot, no one will know unless I tell them.

Atrix 2

Today's Reflection ♥ February 18, 2014

So know it seems, I am doing electrical work on things I know very little about. Oh what fun.

Then again, there is the occasional electrical work I don't mind at all. Helping any of my girls when the get stranded. Check it out here.

Atrix 2

Today's Reflection ♥ February 17, 2014

Shhhhhhhh, I'm already asleep. Yes,  I do sleep with my glasses on, how else am I supposed to see what I'm dreaming about.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, using a red screen light from my Atrix 2.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 16, 2014

For our date this month, my honey and I went back to Magness Lake near Hardy,  AR, in another attempt to see the fowl things a float in the water there.

SUCCESS!!!!

There was at least 100 of these fowl things and we spent several hours checking them out. If you've never seen such fowl, you should. They are great to watch, fun to listen to and beautiful to see. Trumpeter Swan is what they are called and during the cold of winter is when they can be seen. Wait until it begins to warm up a little and you'll miss them.

I'll post photos of them on Facebook.

Atrix 2 -- nough said.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 15, 2014

"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish ...  experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to – The Outer Limits. "

Today's Reflection is in honor of my daddy.

When I was much, much younger,  my dad worked for a company called Western Tire Co. Unlike the name suggests, they sold more then just tires, they also sold large and small appliances. My dad had this black pocket size object, with a small screen, which allowed the user to check for bad spots on the color TV screen. I loved using that thing to see all the color dots, which were very hard to see with the unaided eye. It was way cool.

I'm not sure what is being used on the new line of TVs, but our's is at least 25 years old. As you can see in this reflection, the dots are now short lines. The color however is still the same. I didn't know it back then, but these three colors, red, green and blue, (RGB) play an important part in my life today.

My dad knew about many things and I learned much from him. Today I find myself reminiscing. Thank you daddy, for helping me into the future. I miss you. ♥

Today's Reflection ♥ February 14, 2014

Valentines Day 2014

I got to have lunch with four of my favorite gals and one of my favorite fellows. We had a great time at Pizza Hut. It began as Alicia, Cheri-Ann and myself. While Alicia was getting her food, Corinthia called looking for her and found out the three of us were together.

"Great, I was looking for all three of you anyway.", Corinthia told Alicia.

"Well come on over.", replied Alicia.

Prince Wesly, Princess Gawny and Princess Natalie at Pizza Hut.

Within about two cinnamon sticks, (rule 1. Start with desert - if not, you maybe to full to eat some afterwards), and 1-1/2 slices of pizza, the four of them were there. We asked our waitress for a larger table and had a great time.

I hadn't seen the grands in a few weeks, (due to illnesses at their house), so it made for a great Valentines Day. Due to where I was sitting, I was only able to get these three loves in frame and yes, I did post edited this picture. Partly for content, (restaurants can be rather tight at lunch time), and partly for effect. This remained in camera the whole time, but this 2014 Reflection, is not being promoted as SOOTC, as was the 2011, although I strive to keep it that way.

Motorola Atrix - edited via Aviary for Android

Today's Reflection ♥ February 13, 2014

I interrupt the previously scheduled macro reflection, so that I might bring you this important news event: 

I went to BigLots at lunch today to purchase some new solar lights for the front yard, when to my amazement, I came upon the new, (yes new, as in today new), sign shown below. The first real sign, "I think there's a pun there somewhere", that Hobby Lobby is actually coming to little old Mountain Home, AR. The rumors have run rampant since shortly after we moved here back in '04. The Bulletin made mention of it last year, but as with much of the media, it had been wrong on more then one occasion. Folks all over the area have been pushing and pushing to get a Hobby Lobby here, now husbands are securing their wallets knowing of the on coming nagging asking for money.

I'm rather curious though as to exactly what the "COMING SOON" part means. There are a few lots around the area which have had such signs for at least a year and nothing had happened.

"COMING SOON!",
what does that mean?

Shortly after taking this shot and finishing my business at the Big L, I came from the other direction and found it had already been taken down. Haha, the sign crew had taken it down, I guess, so they could put it in some other way, not sure, didn't take time to see what they did. I'm pretty sure however, they were just adding concrete to the holes for security. That's a hot item you know ... Hobby Lobby Opening Soon signs. lol

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Today's Reflection ♥ February 12, 2014

We live in very small place when compared to the expanse known as our universe. When you look for our tiny blue plant among all the stars, planets, solar systems, galaxies, space dust, suns, etc., etc., etc., we are absent from the untrained eye. Trillions, upon trillions, upon trillions, multiplied by a factor of trillions of microscopic particles make up the universe in which we live, yet we see these particles for the massive giants they make up. You seriously want me to believe everything we cast our eyes upon, just happened, out of a random event that set all these particles in motion? You have to be nuttier then great-aunt Mabel's fruit cake. 

As I begin to explore the macro world, and see the tiniest things as part of some thing greater, I begin to contemplate my our place in the universe. Those small particles didn't just randomly take on the shapes we recognize in our daily lives. They were carefully thought out by a being far, far more intelligent then you or I. Oh, for the most part, they are still being held together by one who has more power then even the hottest suns combined.

The Blue Speck too. (Yes, too.)

Examine today's reflection carefully, see all the various shapes within. Can you see the one wearing the blue? Expand your mind and see if you can tell how many particles that one thing has in it. What is its true size? What is it a part of? Then what is that object a part of and on, and on, until you have accounted for the entire universe. Then, try and convince me all of this just happened. Even if you could scientifically factor in that it all happened over duotrigintillion years, the chance of it happening by accident are duotrigintillion to one. 

By the way, looking at this picture, remember, our planet has been dubbed the blue spec by some astronomers and we can't actually see what it really looks like in ou

r universe, we can only make an assumption. The blue spec you are pondering its cosmic size for, has actually been viewed unseen by many and now photographed, not for the first time, but it has been recognized for the first time. 

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Today's Reflection ♥ February 11, 2014

The insanity of this image ... very, very scarry. 

You know those little packets you get in pill bottles, electronic items, toner packaging, ... they are in just about everything, EXCEPT, food. Seems like all kinds of companies make them. They are in various size and shapes of packaging, but mostly a porous, almost cheese cloth type material. They range in size from a few mm to at least 1/8" in diameter. A good number of them have things like, "DO NOT EAT", or perhaps, "DO NOT INGEST", prominatly printed on them. They ALL however, have the two recognizable words, SILICA GEL printed on them. Tonight's reflection is exactly that ... silica gel and, it is more of a real reflection, as it is a selfie. Not just my ear this time, but my face. Kinda like a fly might see me. If there were really that many of me, it would be those around me which are crazy (insane) and not just me. To think how much I could get done in a day though. Phenomenal. 

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Today's Reflection ♥ February 10, 2014

In the unfortunate event you missed the morning calendar and coffee, today was a Monday. Yes Virginia, we do have to get up tomorrow and try again, until we get it right.

This wasn't the picture I had envisioned for today. I had planned on some more light painting. I got my Canon out and began setting up. Popped off a few shots and poof, the battery light came on ... of course it would. This shot just goes to show I am in no way level headed, but then many of you knew that ... right??

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Today's Reflection ♥ February 09, 2014

Didn't accomplish much more then the laundry today and only part of that, because I did the other part yesterday. Watched some shows on Netflix. Yep, another wasted day, another wasted weekend.  smh

With that in mind, I present Today's Reflection ... red lights in a circle. I really have to get a new card for my Canon, perhaps tomorrow. Big Lots has 16 GB for $9. Then maybe I'll get back into using it. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Abstract in Black and Red.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 08, 2014

The New 2014 Shopping Cart de Cadillac

This was the sweetest ride ever. Quiet, smooth, more spacious, fabulous paint job. It's not often one gets to kick the tires on new shopping carts. Not sure when they came in, but they certainly handled much better then the previous carts. Now if they can just keep from dragging the wheels while getting carts out of the lot, there shouldn't be much wheel thumping.

2014 Shopping Cart de Cadillac

Motorola Atrix 2 - only handy in a pinch. 

Today's Reflection ♥ February 07, 2014

Micro Mining Equipment

Back to the mine again. This time I went from a tilt-shift of the mine floor, to a magnified micro view of the equipment.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 06, 2014

Dancing lights

Believe it or not, this was done using my Galaxy Note's stock camera app. Later on this year, what this light source came from might become very clear.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

 

Today's Reflection ♥ February 05, 2014

A day at the mine.

Despite the weather, today I went out to the mine to take some photos. It was extremely cold and I was only able to stay a short time, but I did get a pretty decent tilt-shift of the area.
Okay, for the record, I don't live near enough to a mine such as this, to just go off on a photo shoot. Check out January 31 ... this is only the first of what I hope will be more of the "props" / toys we purchased on that day. This is only the packaging. lol

It reminds me of my youth, back before cable or dish. On one of the 3 or 4 channels we got, there was the Kennecott Theater. Movie night basically, brought to us by the Kennecott Copper Mine. I don't remember any of the movies, just the program and the mine they would show during commercial breaks.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 04, 2014

"If we had something like the white car ...."

11:40 am and we were already heading home. The weather painted a rather bleak picture and after Sunday, we didn't want to be caught out in it.

Today's Reflection pretty much tells it like it was, icy roads, (state roads were the worse), sleet coming down, (water spots on the windows), dark skies, (not a camera issue), cold temperatures, did I mention icy roads? Within about two hours, it had just about stopped and I was then feeling silly for leaving work. Oh well, I must have needed the time off, for I laid down and slept for roughly two hours. I'm still very exhausted, heading to bed and it's only 8:30.

If we had something like the white car, we'd have worked till close. Yes .... I was driving and photographing with my phone, but I didn't text even one character.

Motorola Atrix 2 -- I really wish this was a better phone.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 03, 2014

Endangered species

Abstract

It's times like this, when I go hunting for something to shoot, that I:
a) Get the most frustrated
b) Get worried I won't find Today's Reflection
c) I just start clicking to see what happens
d) I shoot something I'm happy with and post it with a smile
e) All the above

Quite frankly, I'm surprised this shot came out this way, especially since I was only aiming and shooting.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Today's Reflection ♥ February 02, 2014

That crazy groundhog must have been so frightened of his shadow, he shook dandruff for hundreds of miles.

I do believe this storm caught a lot of people by surprise. It wasn't supposed to show up until around three this afternoon. This, many went about their Sunday morning routine, i.e., going to church, first of the month grocery shopping and the added traffic of super bowl preparation and/or super bowl gatherings. On their way back home however, I'm sure many wished they'd stayed home.

Within about 20 minutes of my wife leaving the house, it hit and it hit hard. Today's Reflection shows how much it snowed, in about two hours time. There wasn't any snow out there this morning.

It was a mess on the highways. My wife got stuck in traffic between the two hills, for about an hour and a half. A dead zone when it comes to cell service, yet she managed to call me, twice. The second time was a call for assistance.

Three inches of snow in just under two hours.

"Can you get your gear on and walk down here to help me get up the hill?", she asked. "The traffic began to move and I started up, but almost slid off the other side."

I got my insulated coveralls and boots on, then proceeded down the hill. After a five mile hike, in near blizzard like conditions .... It took me about 10, maybe 15 minutes to get down there and yes, she was close to the edge. As I got in the car and prepared for the drive up the hill, two smaller state Highway trucks loaded down with sand, were headed up. I pulled in behind them and followed them up. Home again, safe and sound.

I wish I would have got a picture of the scene. From what my wife says, there was much more traffic earlier. As I was stepping out onto the highway on my way down, a tow truck had just pulled a pickup truck up the hill. I'd like to think they were just out to help their fellow mankind, but somehow I get the feeling they were charging for that assistance up the hill.

Today's Reflection ♥ February 01, 2014

My, my, where did January go? Here we are on this, the 32nd day of 2014. It will most certainly be December 31st before we can say,  "Santy Claus". You just did, didn't you?

Today, I got to spend some time with my fabulous eldest daughter. We went bowling, (she let me win ... twice), made a quick stop at Wally's world, then headed out to Gassville for lunch at Letty's Mexican Restaurant. Since I am not a foreign food connoisseur, it would be unfair for me to judge the taste of the dish I had. Service on the other hand, was a bit forthcoming. Best way to make me a happy customer, serve amazingly good sweet iced tea, keep my tea glass from becoming empty and stop by the table ever so often to make sure if anything else is needed. If the place had been packed, I could excuse some of that, but it wasn't all that busy. Oh, and then off course, there was the blond hair in my food. We didn't even see any blonds working there.

All in all, I had a wonderful date with my first born.

Motorola Atrix 2 ... junk in every sense of the word.