…number 12 – ELK of Red or Gray Depends on the Day!  Behind door number one is a 2010 wall calendar, behind door number two is a 2010 tented desk calendar and behind door number three is 25  5″x5″ notecards.  ELK, let me know your address and what door you are choosing (you can use my contact form)!  Congrats!

The photo above was taken at Urban Oasis in West Seattle, which is a vacation rental where my mother, son and I stayed while in Seattle for my other son’s wedding.  If you ever need a place to stay while in Seattle, I would highly recommend this vacation rental.  It is located in a nice, quiet and friendly neighborhood in West Seattle, about 10 minutes from downtown Seattle and just a short drive from Alki beach.  It is very spacious, with two bedrooms and a fold down bed, plus an air mattress if you need it.  You can read my full review on their site (and I’m not getting any benefit from mentioning them here). 

 They have a beautiful garden, which was selected for the 2009 West Seattle Garden Tour.  I can definitely see why.  GORGEOUS!  A photographer’s paradise, really.  The photo above was of some black mondo grass – an ornamental grass – in their garden with little black berries – so cool.  I got down on my belly to take the photo and my mom just shook her head at me.  But, it was the best vantage point!!  You’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do to get the shot.  I’ve got more images from our stay there, but I want to post them in color, so that series will continue in December.

Part of the November in black and white, sponsored by Maya at Springtree Road.

And just so you get an idea of what this black mondo grass actually looks like, here is a slightly different shot in color.  Not much difference!

 (This is a slideshow, hover your mouse over the bottom of the image for the controls.  Open up to full screen – awesome!)

And busy!!  I’ve tried to get some blog visits in, but the last few days have been pretty busy.  I’m working on a client’s order and designing some holiday card templates.  Plus this weekend is our local Fall Festival, where I entered some photography and two of my glass pieces in the art show.  I was fortunate enough to win the blue ribbon for my horse sunset (minus the framing I added) and my two glass pieces were awarded the blue and red ribbons.  Yay me!

The participating artists are asked to man a one-hour shift to make sure the art work doesn’t walk away in the wrong hands.  The person relieving me happened to be a photographer, as well — a retired portrait photographer by trade, and he got a red ribbon for one of his entries.  We talked quite a bit and he was very generous in his compliments on my work, which really made me feel pretty dang good, I have to say.

More blog visits to come today.  I promise!

[Edit to add]  Oops!  I just realized I already used that detail shot on the mosaic post.  Sorry!

No words, just flowers…

I’ve posted photos of Charlie Brown before, but I’m too tired and it’s too late to go looking for the links.  Charlie is a big brown teddy bear in dog’s clothing.  He’s also Buddy’s best buddy, besides Buster.  Actually, if you asked Buddy who he liked better, I’m sure he would say Charlie Brown.  Buster is the little annoying brother.  Charlie B is the big brother you look up to and aspire to become.  Or maybe that is me that wants Buddy to aspire to become more like Charlie.  Charlie is just a big lovable lug, who is laid back, friendly, laid back, patient, and did I say laid back?