I have a photography contest for you! The winner will get...*drumroll*...an award! :D
The theme is winter, so your photograph has to be connected to winter. It's a somewhat broad topic, so be creative and have fun! :)
Here are the rules:
The picture has to be one YOU took. Don't get one a family member or friend took, and definitely don't get one from a search engine!
Keep it clean and respectful; nothing inappropriate!
It needs to have been taken within the last three years.
You may submit up to two photographs.
To enter:
Post the picture(s) in a blog post explaining that you're entering a contest here, and leave me the link to the post in a comment. Out of the entries, I'll decide which four photographs I like the most, and you'll decide the winner!
The deadline for submission is at
midnight [eastern time] on January 15, 2011.
On the following Monday [the 17th], I will post the four pictures I like the most, and I'll open a poll so you can choose which one you think is the best!
2nd, 3rd, and 4th places get awards, also. :]
I can't wait to see your awesome pictures! If you have questions, feel free to comment. :]
Heylo, ladies!
Last night my cat and I were sitting on my bed and I started to think about this 'ere blog and what I wanted to do through it. I want this blog to praise our God's name. I want to post photography (even if I'm the only one who can tell what it is...;) I want to post the random ideas I come up with at three AM.
I looked back on some of my older posts and noticed that most of the random stuff I wrote about didn't interest me. The only reason I wrote about it is because I figured someone else would find it interesting enough to read, and because I felt a panicked need to post something.
I don't want to write like that anymore. Occasionally I think it was kinda obvious I was writing just to post something. I want to change my blog and write about what I find interesting, instead of what I think my readers might like.
Maybe I'll change the template, or the name. I don't like changing the name of my blogs, but the current name just isn't working anymore. As far as appearances go, I don't really think my blog reflects my personality at all.
I want my little space in the World Wide Web to reflect my personality, and what I like. I want to write about what I find interesting. So... that's what is going to change. :)
I really hope you guys had a merry CHRISTmas, and I'm wishing you a happy New Year!
It's not pretty. In my art class, we were given clay and told to construct. This was the second time I've ever attempted to use clay, and my first thought was, "It's clay! How hard can it be? You mold it and then roast it in some oven." It's hard! Anyhow, here are some pictures to demonstrate my mad skills in the art of pottery.
Yeah, those are my fingerprints...
It would make a nice colander... ;) On the bright side, look at the pretty paint job! It's such a nice shade of blue.... *cough*
Shiny...
Yeah...those are the marks from my fingernails on the inside. I seriously don't remember those being there when I made it. This one was about an inch taller, but the last inch flew off when it was being fired, so I found the broken remnants resting forlornly inside the bowl. Eh...Bowl, colander, whatever... x)
The reason the blue one is...unusual, is because I inadvertently planted a full Route 44 cup on it, and only had five minutes to fix it.
It was really fun and such a blessing to be able to make, even if it does look unusual! :]
Ever wonder how the story of the Nativity might be told if one were to do it through the use of social media, web, and mobile? Check it out as the story of the Nativity gets told through Amazon, Foursquare, Google Maps, gMail, Wikipedia, You Tube, Twitter, and Facebook. My mom found this on Facebook; it's funny! I love the camel picture; it's adorable... :)
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my bed while listening to Matthew West's new song My Own Little World. I had been dying (not really) to hear this song, as everyone had been bragging about it and saying how convicting it was. It finally came on one day when I had the radio blasting in my room (I was home alone).
It just reminded me of how self-centered we can be, and how we need to reach out to others. In the end, it really isn't about us; we're supposed to be telling others of His love, but it's so easy to forget that goal.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
I found the most beautiful paintings EVER. And I mean ever! It's of the Eiffel Tower, which we know is in France. I love France. It was resting in an art gallery in Houston, and I took a picture (I'm not sure if that's allowed...) because I wanted to brag about it on here. I honestly want to buy it one day; I wish I knew who painted it. Okay, I shall stop ranting now. But surely you have to agree! See how beautiful it is? See?!
We went to Houston, Texas. Before we went home, we decided to pay a visit to the seventh largest shopping mall in the nation: The Galleria. I love it. I'm not a huge fan of shopping, but this is three million square feet of pure awesomeness. We're going back to Houston again in two weeks, and again in January. I have promises to return to one amazing bookstore. Speaking of stores which sell books...
My mom and I have a new favorite bookstore. Give me a chair, coffee, and a book, and I'm happy for hours. I come from a family that reads dictionaries in the manner that one would read a novel. Really. So, everyone walked in and dispersed among the shelves of Borders. My mom found three books, which she bought, and I scavenged for a 2011 planner. :)
Pascal. The chameleon from Tangled, which was, by the by, amazing! But Pascal was better. He cannot speak, yet he has such an adorable personality! I mean, who can see that face and not think he's adorable?!
My family and I set up our Christmas tree today, and I was in charge of the nativity scene. OH YEAH! Camera time. *grins madly* Our nativity scene is old and worn well loved. We’ve had it since I was really, really young. When I was little, I would line up the animals in an unorganized assembly line. This scene came with four squares of packed hay, generally the size of an ice cube. I would sit and watch my cat (who was then a kitten) as she quietly sank her teeth into a tiny bale of hay, before tearing off to hide among the gifts under the tree. That is how, over the years, the hay bales have disappeared into oblivion. :)
I've just gained a great amount of admiration for all the photographers who have the patience take pictures of butterflies. :) Really. I tried today. My family had the windows open, so they most likely heard my pacing and mumbling and pleads of "Stay still! Not you, the other one!" I never paid attention to how much butterflies moved about! Out of about thirty pictures, I only got one that wasn't blurred...
*ahem* I know this isn't a butterfly, but I think she is such a beautiful cat!
Her name is Avril. I just named her about fifteen seconds ago. :)
1) January Storm. Yeah, I named a scarf. I've been working slaving on it for the past two days, and I love it! Right now, it's about four feet long. Pictures soon! 2) Our Faith Bible Institute test! I was really worried that I wouldn't do well on it (it's a satellite college course), but the pastor who teaches it was explaining how it didn't really matter whether you had the highest grade. If you got an F, but learned a lot about Christ, then in God's eyes you did wonderfully. If you made an A, but didn't learn a thing, then you failed. That really helped with the stress, and the test really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to be in that class and learn more about Christ!
3) The leaves!They're all changing! Yeah, it's November and they should already be changed. But I live in Texas, therefore it's still around 60 Fahrenheit. I plan to hold a photoshoot of leaves sometime...
4) Cherry Snapple. Have any of you ever tasted that?! My mom and I were on errands and I got one. I love it! Love as in, I almost like the cherry Snapple more than Dr. Pepper. That's adoration. 5) I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin. As soon as I bought this song, KSBJ began playing it every time I turned the radio on. It's a really sweet song (one of my favorites), so I don't mind! Personally, I think he's one of the few singers who sounds as well live as he does on CD.
6) Google. Without Google, my family would have had chicken and dumplings, minus the dumplings. I was in charge of the soup, as my mom wasn't feeling well. As I was uneducated in the process of making dumplings, I took solace in the knowledge of Google. Keep in mind that I'm not ignorant when it comes to cooking, but I was four when we last made this soup. ;) I didn't start a fire, nothing exploded, and everyone is still alive. That's success. (:
7) This post: Maggie from Bliss posted an amazing article about blogging. I read it a while back, and recently found it again. Wonderful job, Maggie! It's very helpful. 8) Jeans that are torn at the knee. My favorite jeans recently acquired a hole in the right knee. Therefore, I've decided they have more personality than ever.
I was reading Miss Eyebright's post about theadorable yarn she found, and I was reminded of how I miss knitting. This resulted in a trip to Hobby Lobby, and fifteen minutes of yarn-scavenging. I was having difficulties deciding if I should get the darker blue, which was thicker, or this lighter blue.
My awesome mom walked over and explained that this colour reminded her of the horizon when a January storm was coming. It was decided. Being one who has an adoration of rain, I now own a skein of yarn the colour of January storms. *grins happily*
So, a scarf.
With tassels.
My mom and I were thinking of hats, but after the storm comparison, I think it would make a cute scarf. What do you guys think of it? :)
I was flipping through some of my old, old posts and came across this one. It was forwarded to me in an email a few years back, and wanted to share it again. Warning: You might laugh... ;)
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Mr. Darcy:
Nothing is good enough for me.
Ms. Elizabeth Bennet:
I could never marry that proud man.
(They change their minds.)
THE END. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens
Ebenezer Scrooge:
Bah, humbug. You’ll work thirty-eight hours on Christmas Day, keep the heat at five degrees, and like it.
Ghost of Jacob Marley:
Ebenezer Scrooge, three ghosts of Christmas will come and tell you you’re mean.
Three Ghosts of Christmas:
You’re mean.
Ebenezer Scrooge:
At last, I have seen the light. Let’s dance in the streets. Have some money.
THE END.
LORD OF THE RINGS J.R.R. Tolkien
Gandalf:
Bilbo Baggins, your Ring is evil. In a couple decades, we’ll try to destroy it. In the meantime, leave it for Frodo to play with.
Bilbo Baggins:
It’s not evil. It’s mine. My precious. Mine! Mine, I tell you!
(Frodo takes it to Rivendell. Some friends come with him. They are attacked by Nazgul.)
Elrond:
Frodo Baggins, if Sauron ever gets this Ring, the world will be destroyed, and evil will reign forever. We must act quickly. Take the Ring to where he lives.
(They travel more and Gandalf dies in Moria, but comes back later.)
Boromir:
Frodo Baggins, give me the Ring.
Frodo:
No.
Boromir:
What have I done? (dies)
THE END.
THE TWO TOWERS
(Gandalf frees Theoden and overthrows Saruman. A bunch of irrelevant stuff happens. Then the plot starts up again.)
THE END.
THE RETURN OF THE KING
Aragorn:
We must travel the Paths of the Dead.
Eowyn:
You’ll die.
(They don’t.)
Gandalf:
The Hordes of Mordor will destroy Minis Tirith.
(They don’t.)
Gandalf:
We must attack Mordor. We’ll all be killed.
(They aren’t.)
Gollum:
Mmmm, yummy finger. (dies)
Frodo:
The Ring has been destroyed, but now we will die in Mordor.
Sam:
Buck up, Mr. Frodo.
(A bunch of feathered things come out of nowhere and save everybody.)
THE END.
MOBY DICK Herman Melville
Ishmael:
Call me Ish.
Captain Ahab:
Crew, we will seek the white whale and kill it, because I am insane.
Crew:
Alas, your destructive obsession will be our undoing.
(They almost find the white whale. Then they almost find the white whale. Then they find it.)
Captain Ahab:
I stab at thee. I stab at thee.
(Everybody dies except Ishmael.)
My dad bought new batteries for my camera, and I felt compelled to make sure they worked properly. This resulted in a trip to the park. *grins* We were sitting on a bench, and I was suddenly overcome with envy aware that the golf course had a delightful view of the woods. I trespassed.
On the walk back to the car, I tripped looked down and noticed a very lovely leaf on the ground...
At the pond, my mom made me aware of a bird who was staring intently at something. I have named it 'Nevermore'.
The weather was nice, and the batteries proved to be commendable. :)
See those people above? Well, I'm really blessed to have them as parents. :)
Our church is having a fall festival tonight, which my family and I are preparing for right now. My dad and I are in charge of the candy apples, which we just finished. :) Shiny...
"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth(without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."
...being someone who pulls over on a highway (in rush-hour traffic) to take a picture of a flower you noticed in the ditch. It means being someone who lays flat on the ground to take a macro shot of a acorn. 'Photographer' means someone who screams happily when you get a shot of a leaf with a sleeping bug on top floating down a river (the one that was perfectly focused).
It means letting the looks of puzzlement and wonder (and sometimes pity) not bother you; even after you shove an epic picture is someone's face, only to have them ask, 'What is it?'
'Photographer' means standing on the roof of your vehicle to take a picture of 'God's painting'. It means laying in the hospital and noticing that your IV tube looks like a heart when it curls up in a certain way; it means calling your nurse just so she'll bring you your camera-phone so you can get a picture of it. It can mean slowing down (even if you're an hour late) and noticing that our God is an awesome God, because he made that flower. He made that leaf, along with the sleeping bug on it. He made that snake. He made that dead tree. He also made the sunset. A photographer is someone who sees something that many would overlook, and thinks, 'That would make a beautiful picture.'
