Photoshop Frustrations

Is anyone out there? Hello, hello? Photo shop Elements, anyone home? I seem to be experiencing difficulties with one your products. But I can't find a phone number to call and talk to a "real live" person. I think that is called personal service, and most companies like to offer it. Maybe you are all out there taking hundreds of photos, having such fun cropping, and changing colors that you decided not to come into the office today. I know that you exist, since you are always sending me updates, and information about all the wonderful new products that you want me to buy. But where are you? See I am having this problem, there are masses of [I hope] really interesting photos on my memory card, but Adobe photo shop elements doesn't want to down load them onto my computer. Everything is going along well, they show up on the screen, and then suddenly they disappear. This can lead to a very frustrating wait since it takes a long time to download over 800 photos. Actually it takes over 9.46 minutes. See I timed it, after trying for the 7 th time, and watching them disappear into thin air right in front of my eyes. So Adobe Photo shop, if you really at home, could you please pick up the phone?

Time is running out

It's late on Sunday night. I have been avoiding writing Monday's blog post for a little too long now. And it looks like I am still having difficulties downloading photos onto Adobe. Procrastination obviously is not a good thing. My eyes are probably as pink as this flower. Time seems to be running out.

I'll let you know on Tuesday if I can download new photos.

Simply Sunday

It's so quiet here now. They have all gone home, the long legged two wheeled mountain bikers, and my BIL.

Gar walks around saying "it's strange, not having them around." We miss them already.

They were a little camera shy, so I don't have any photos of bikes to share, but we all had a good visit.

The Muddy Booters - Tatersmama

The dirt: She moved all the way to Australia to find that true love waits for those who are patient. Read all about her remarkable journey and finding love here. Today's Muddy Booter is Tatersmama. A transplanted Californian, who now resides in Australia. Although she says she is most definitely a farm person, and for the time being is living in the suburbs she does have a huge backyard. Tatersmama would love to fill it up with a mini-farm full of chickens, goats, and maybe even a cow. "Well, she says, maybe a cow is out of the question."

She even mentions hearing roosters crowing in the morning, and she dreams of chickens and wild parrots........."ahhh she says, that would be heavenly."

She is a gardener in her heart, with precious little time to get down and dirty but when she does have a moment she is putting in lots of native plants and trees that will survive the intense Australian heat and attract and feed the wild birds in the area, such as parrots, finches, and doves. There are even possums visiting and eating the plums. "I got one jar of jam, and they got the rest" she says. Her Muddy Boot Dreams and her heart are intertwined with her love for California. Which she would move back to in a heartbeat she says. Although Australia is a "nice place to stop and set awhile" it is not home like California is.

Tatersmama's blog is a interesting mix of a little of this and a little of that. And I am not sure, but I think she might have a thing for Crisco? You will have to ask her why she is hoarding that last can. Drop in for a spell, and you will fall in love with this California transplant. Go and visit her, and when you do, tell her that Jen from Muddy Boot Dreams sent you on over. Tatersmama's name will be entered into the monthly draw for a gift pack of Muddy Boot Dreams cards.

Invaded?

We are being invaded by long legged and getting taller every minute, mountain biking young men. My BIL, along with my nephew, and his friend, have come down for a surprise visit. I am wondering, how can my nephew have grown so much since I last saw him? But what nice young men they are growing into. There is a awful lot of testosterone in this condo right now, and I am outnumbered by guys. Good thing I did not paint the living room hot pink. Watch for Fridays post to see who the next Muddy Booter is , and remember that every Friday a random commenter gets a chance to be highlighted. Now I am off to photograph bicycles, helmets, spokes, and long legged young men.

My first Wordless Wednesday post

I am kind of liking this.

Flirting with Picasa

There is a magazine cover of a lush living room out on news's stands right now. Lovely chartreuse green walls, white couch, white distressed furniture, hot pink and lime cushions. Spring, fresh, fun, flirty. And I want to redecorate my living room like it. Think colors like dewy maiden hair ferns, and hot pink cyclamen. Maybe with some white double begonias thrown in. And I want it. And that is so not going to be my living room. There is no way that Gar would be happy in something feminine and flirty. He's such a guy. I am such a girl. So how do I fulfil my inner paint can, my flirtier side, without constantly redecorating? I play with Picasa collages. There I can live in saturated color, mix, and match, blend and play. I can combine chartreuse with magenta pink, and antique white, something I just can't or won't do in my own place.

And if something turns out really well, then I can always make a greeting card out of it. It certainly is cheaper than redecorating.

Into every life, a little rain must fall

You know the phrase, into every life, a little rain must fall? It seems like we are getting our share of wet right now. The downward turn in the economy is hitting us just like everyone else. Between cutbacks, and job losses many of us are feeling the pinch. It won't last forever, I know that. But I am hoping that these "spring rains," will result in a more beautiful garden. We will weather the storm. After all, what is a garden without rain? And how are you going to know the good times, if you never experience the bad?

I'm in the Garden - Archives

Yesterday was the second day of spring, and finally it looked like it was living up to it's name.

I guess I had better start my seeds soon.

Maybe if I wait long enough I can just sow them outside directly.

Have a great Sunday.

Spring come forward

Come walk with me in the sunshine, distant memories of warmth on our faces. Fingers no longer cold, layers no longer needed. Winter's icy tentacles loosened, grasp slipping Watch it sent back in despair to a dark and dismal cave, fit only for the cold beast. Spring step forward in Winter's place, let us greet you with wonder, dance with us among the new purple crocus.

The Muddy Booters - Far Side of Fifty

Here's the dirt: She says she is outspoken, and I like it. She really lets you know what she thinks, and I like it. She is a avid gardener, and photographer, and I like it.

I can't help but wish that we were neighbors. We would have the best time, gossiping about plants, comparing perennials, and showing each other our photographs. Connie from Far Side of Fifty is the first of my Friday Muddy Booters. Each Friday I am featuring one of my blog readers, and all you have to do to get a chance to be featured is leave a comment. Connie who writes as Far Side of Fifty, and her husband, Far Guy live with Chance, a handsome young border Collie, in the the wilds of Minnesota. Connie, you still have snow, and in the summer you have deer eating your peas, that makes Minnesota the wilds to me. An avid gardener she has recently retired after nine years of running their own Greenhouse business. Giving her more time to pursue her "Muddy Boot Dreams" of taking photographs, and enjoying each, and every day to it's fullest. She has also started another blog, called Far Side of Fifty Photos, it features many of their family's archived photos. Well worth taking a look at. She has plans to grow some tomatoes, and spagetti squash, which she declares are two of her very favorite foods, maybe even yellow beans, and some peas. While Connie is hoping that the deer will leave some for her. The deer are hoping that she plants some more for them. She loves plants and has huge perennial and wild flower beds that used to be display gardens for the business. She still mentors some beginning growers, sharing information on what worked for her, and what didn't. So drop in on Connie, Far Guy, and Chance for a visit, because she says she won't answer the phone unless it is Far Guy. Tell her that I sent you on over to ask about her issues with the mailman, that is sure to make you laugh. Far Side of Fifty will be entered in the draw to win a gift pack of Muddy Boot Dreams greeting cards. And next Friday I will be featuring the blog of ____________. Sorry you will have to wait to find out.

It's for the birds

The other afternoon we heard a screeching outside, rough and ragged, shrill. It went on for a few minutes. The crows must be mad at Bootsie, I remember telling Gar. They sure are giving him heck. And they sound like they are recovering from Laryngitis. Then just yesterday when I was busy at my drafting desk, I heard the same shrill screeching. Out on the branches of the giant Rhody were a pair of brilliant blue Steller's Jays. Busy telling everyone in earshot how upset they were that we did not include peanuts in our contraband birdseed. I guess they felt that the buffet was just not up to their standards, since they never stuck around long enough for me to grab the camera. They seem to be coming and going, a little camera shy, but loud, very badly behaved tourists, finishing up their winter vacation in White Rock. I've got to send Gar out to get some peanuts, or whatever these picky eaters prefer. Somehow I am sure that I would not want to be in the kitchen when they send back the meal.

Generation VCR?

The VCR box said it was plug and play. So simple a child could do it. It took 3 hours to set it up. It made me wonder if we are becoming as technically illiterate as our parents? Gar and I are members of the last generation to grow up without computers. We managed to do without one for so long, and now, you would have to pry it from my fingers before I will give it up. Generation VCR is there hope for us? My parents still cannot program their own VCR, or cell phone. They probably never will be able to. They lack the VCR gene. They were born too soon. They are very accomplished in many other areas, just not technically gifted.

I can operate my sophisticated DSLR camera, print my own pictures, figure out my 4 in one printer/fax/copier/scanner. I managed to set up two blogs, [ Blogger blogs but still ], and now can even manage to link to another blog. I even understand a little about what HTML code means now.

But I cannot set up a "plug and play" VCR? He says we need to spend more time reading the directions. Fine, I reply, just go and retrieve them from behind the couch where they are laying in a crumpled heap after you threw them there in disgust.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Yesterday when I dropped off more cards for sale at my local florist I left the camera behind. The weather was gloomy and dark, not at all conducive to photography. But like usual I wished that I had brought it with me. So I mentioned to Jean, who owns Artistry in Flowers that if the light changed I would come back. Around mid afternoon the sun broke free from the bonds that the clouds had roped around it, and it shone. Perfect. I grabbed the camera and headed up to the florist.

It's interesting to visit, Jean loves flowers, and she brings in unusual varieties that are colorful, beautiful, and oh so fun to photograph. All those flowers bundled together, all that color.

Her walls are painted the same color green as my blog, and the flowers sing to me as I crouch, and bend, snapping away with abandon. Only a low battery stopped me. Although I had a hard time with the lower light levels, I still managed to get some interesting shots. So now I have some St. Patrick's day green to share with you.

The interesting white/green flower? A type of Viburnum, only available during the late winter. The orchid, it is a luscious green tinged cymbidium.

Something new for Muddy Boot Dreams

Yes, I am always searching for new and interesting ideas [excuses not to get down to work] that might be interesting for Muddy Boot Dreams blog. You read my blog, you look at my photos, and you leave the nicest comments for me to enjoy. So as a thank you, I thought I would start a new Friday post called "The Muddy Booters". I am going to pick a random commenter and feature their blog on Fridays. Every month one of the featured blogs will win a pack of Muddy Boot Dreams greeting cards. "The Muddy Booters" starts this Friday, check and see if it is your blog.

You might also notice something new on the bottom of my posts. I found a "widget", actually I saw it first on Teza's blog, and thought about it for quite awhile. It is not the "gardenroundtoit" widget that I am still looking for, but I like the idea. It is a linkwithin widget. A really interesting widget, it doesn't dust, it doesn't do windows, and it definitely does not transplant. What it does is link within my blog to other similar posts that I have written. Newer readers might find a older post that you have not come across before. If you have been following Muddy Boot Dreams for longer, then maybe something that you missed before will come up. I think that it is pretty cool. Even if it doesn't dust.

I'm in the garden archives

We are supposed to have more snow..........again.

So I must garden in the archives.

These are photos from the Muddy Boot Dreams line, the 8 x 10 prints are on sale until March 27.

See sidebar for more information. Can someone please tell spring to hurry up?