Friday, October 11, 2013

Focusing on Life :: Connections

I need to play catch up again. So apologies for the few extra pictures I'm showing this week. Let's start with Sally's prompt from this week. She asked us to think about connections, and I thought I'd show a whole lotta connection in one place! It really was fun to meet so many of you in person this August at Bead Fest. Yes, I know I'm cheating just a little since I took this picture a few weeks ago. But still, you have to admit it works for this week's prompt!

I actually have been taking pictures for each of Sally's prompts from the previous weeks, I just didn't get a chance to get the post put together. Sometimes life just gets in the way of everything else going on. And that darn day job .... tends to get busy as we head into the holidays. So I tend to get a little behind this time of year.

Anyway, so for last week's prompt Sally asked us to show you a smile. Now this isn't my daughter Anne's usual ear-to-ear grin, which she is known for, but her subtle "I-see-you-taking-my-picture-mom" smile. 

This next picture may not be the most amazing one I've ever taken, but here's the thing. I've been wanting to upgrade my camera so I could play with focus. Focus in on the subject - blur out the background. I wanted to be able to take better macro photography of my jewelry. I finally got my camera in July and have been playing ever since. I've taken lots of late season flower pictures like this one where I can zero in on the flower and the bee resting just on top. I'm so excited I can do photography like this now!

And just one more. When Sally asked us to focus on a quiet moment, well nothing says quiet to me like tea, in my favorite chair reading over all of your blog posts! This happens to be a cup of homemade Chai. I don't buy Chai in the store, as I'm not exactly sure what that is supposed to be? But it doesn't taste like true Indian Chai. So I buy tea and spices to make my own. I also have a hand whip to froth my milk. Most of the people I saw making Chai on the streets of India would froth the tea by pouring back and forth between containers. I'm just not that skilled - it would be a kitchen disaster for sure. And would completely ruin my quiet moment!



19 comments:

  1. Love your daughters smile... that;s as good as I get... and what's better than a 'cuppa' for a quite moment... won't comment on the goldenrod picture since I think it is an obnoxious weed ... I don't care how nice the picture is!

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  2. Love your moments of life! Glad you had the chance to meet so many of this special community, you're lucky! Your daughter could just co-write an essay with my son on 'how to not smile when mom takes a picture' :) [My only hope if we'll get revenge in 20-30 years, when they try to take their one pre-teen child's picture!]
    Ah, the macro lens ~ gorgeous picture... something that's on my wish list (I do have decent lenses, but I wish for a macro one).
    I haven't been brave enough to attempt making my own chai yet ~ I do make tea from real leaves, and I consider that a victory (since it took me almost 10 years to figure out where to get them... I hated the bagged teas since we came to Canada!). Your cup of tea look absolutely delicious ~ enjoy!

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  3. Each photo got better and better, but of course, the one of Anne is the most precious. Thanks for finding the time to catch us up.

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  4. Your daughter has such a sweet smile. At least she lets you take photos! My daughter doesn't like me taking pictures of her; she thinks she looks awful in them. I don't agree, of course!

    That is a wonderful macro photo! The more you practice with your camera, the more you'll learn, and the more fun it'll become!

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  5. Wonderful pictures! And the group shot is perfect for this week :)
    So wish I liked chai, but I can't stand milky tea or coffee - a lovely photo though :)

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  6. You are doing a wonderful job with your close-up pictures!! You could frame that picture and hang it on your wall! Seeing the froth of milk in your tea made my mouth water! I am not much of a tea drinker, though I do enjoy it. Instead, I ran to my Keurig and made a cup of hot cocoa with just a dash of half n' half added. I know - TMI!

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  7. I can rarely just put one photo up I guess it's because I can rarely say one word :)

    Great shots. Funny - my husband gave me a Canon Rebel and I was using it and found it to be to scary to take out in the goat pen. I was always afraid of dropping it or knocking the lens into a goat horn so I asked for a little camera and he got me a tiny Nikon I can slip in my pocket. I'm taking better pictures with the stupid $100 Nikon than with the expensive DSL. Weird, huh?

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  8. Anne's smile is precious.I wish I could have joined all of you at Bead Fest.

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  9. Anne's smile is so sweet :)
    Gorgeous photo of the flower and bee!

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  10. Great pictures. Glad you're getting to use your new camera and do some practicing. Your tea does look quite relaxing :)

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  11. Love the pictures! I guess like Patty, I can't just post one picture either as I ALWAYS have something to say. Ask my family, lol. But love the one of your daughter...my daughter does her photo site and loves having pics of herself...my son on the other hand...And home made chia....that sounds interesting...I love chia teas but never thought to make them at home...

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  12. Great photos! Love the Bead Fest pic - I would love to attend and get to see all these people! My son gives me the same look your daughter is giving you in this pic. :-) Love your flower pic - would really like to learn to use my camera to it's fullest potential. And you need to come make me a cup of your Chai tea - I'd mess it up just looking at the spices, so no need for me to even attempt it! (but feel free to share your recipe and how you do it in case I get some wild notion to try!) :-)

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  13. You captured such great photos Cynthia and I love that I can catch up with you on this one post. Have a great day!!!

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  14. This is a beautiful post and has captured all that you intended and brought it together with a nice little bow. Love the pics. I can relate to the Chai - big fan!

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  15. This is a beautiful post and has captured all that you intended and brought it together with a nice little bow. Love the pics. I can relate to the Chai - big fan!

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  16. Love all your pictures - it's nice to see you gather everything together for us to enjoy!

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  17. Great photos! Aren't you talented, the way you make your tea! I love my tea ;o) My two top favorite are green tea and mint tea ;o) Sorry I haven't been around! Major problems with my computer! Take Care ;o)

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  18. Great catch up! Beautiful shots, it is wonderful isn't it to just have that focus right where you want it. I still have tons to learn about getting that right, but it is great when it happens. I am a coffee snob and a Gin snob so I am doing my best not to become a tea snob for fear of becoming totally insufferable ;)

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  19. What a perfect collection of photos! Anne looks beautiful in that picture. :) The floral photo is fabulous! I love the look of the focused subject and the blur in the background. Mmmm! The Chai looks delicious. I will have to try with this Jim sometime. We both love Chai tea, but that tea bag stuff is so far from the real deal!

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