Upside Ann

 This didn't quite work out the way I wanted - but it was the closest of my attempts.  I photographed Zupe swimming in the pool on "live" with my iPhone trying to move the phone just enough so that when I combined? compressed? the multiple images into a long-exposure, Zupe's head would be in focus but his body would be awash with movement.  I think I pretty much created a sea moster whose back end is meling into the sea.   Chicago, 2026 long-exposure, live

 Chicago, 2026 I love the sky.  I love the triple layers: sky, skyscrapers, vehicles.  I love how the car I'm riding in is included.  I'm definitely part of this traffic.  But what I love most.... how the mostly uniform blueness of the image is interrupted by a rectangle of yellow highway sign.  That contrasting color is focusing the movement of the cars down the road and into the future.

  Quite honestly, you are not wanting to see me swimming.  This, however, is me sitting on the edge of the pool waiting to get the courage up to submerge more than my feet.  In the original photo (obviously, the lower photo), you can make out the image of my foot/feet under the water.  I took this photo with my phone on "live" then chose the image that captured some of the splash. I used to like to play with photoshop and picnik - but I don't have access to the first anymore and the latter was discontinued a long, long time ago.  So, I looked for a new free program and found iPiccy.  I'm not sure what I think about the image I created.  It feels more dynamic than the original - but it might be more abstract than I prefer.  I don't really care if I lost my feet - well, I mean in the photo - I'd hate to lose my feet IRL - but I don't want to lose the idea of moving water. Thoughts?

 

  I have tried to exercise restraint this year in my plant shopping.   On the deck there will be only white and green plants and flowers… except for those dark elephant ears and their coleus buddies – but they are hold-overs from last summer.   On the patio we are wild with pink, fuschia, and a little red.   My mother’s bed, however, is themed “rabbit resistant”.   Shopping goes like this.   Ooooo pretty flower.   Type into Google “Do rabbits eat <insert plant name here>?”   There are very few with an absolute “no” answer.   Most noes are couched as “unless the rabbit is hungry” or “only the tender new shoots”.   I want to introduce a third “no, but” that may apply only to my garden.     It goes something like “No- unless your rabbits are assholes”.   The rabbits here on Harrison are not eating my veronica.   They do, however, invariably bite off the blooms and leave them (the blossoms) withering in the dirt....

 Zupe living his best life and running the 100 meter race.  I'm proud of him.  He ran the entire way.  Though he was pretty cute as a youngster stopping along the path to wave at people he knew.   I remain thankful that he is not a competitive personality and seems to be just as pleased with his fifth place ribbon as his first (soft ball toss - field of 1).