Abiquiu and Pedernal Peak.

In my birthday post, I mentioned taking a road trip north to Abiquiu and Abiquiu Lake. These are some of the photos that I took.


[Polaroid SLR 680SE + PX680 V4C Test Film (Color Protection Formula)]

View of Pedernal Peak, also known as Georgia O'Keeffe's favorite mountain in New Mexico. This mountain is actually one of the main reasons I wanted to drive out this way. I've always loved Georgia O'Keeffe and I really wanted to get some photos of "her" mountain. She had a view of this flat topped mountain from her Ghost Ranch home and painted it frequently. I also just read that some of her ashes were spread atop of it, but I have no idea if that's actually true. Perhaps next year we'll try to hike it.


[Polaroid SLR 680SE + PX680 Cool]

Will standing next to the tree we both liked at Abiquiu Dam, overlooking Abiquiu Lake. We wanted to get closer to the water but couldn't quite figure out how on this day. It's a beautiful lake and looked quite inviting considering the temperature was in the mid-90s that day!


[Polaroid SLR 680SE + PX680 V4C Test Film (Color Protection Formula)]

St. Thomas Church in Abiquiu. Abiquiu is a tiny, tiny village. Georgia O' Keeffe lived there as well until she found her home at Ghost Ranch. There's not much to it, although I recently found out there is a lavender farm out there that would be fun to visit. We drove around the dirt roads for awhile, but I kind of felt like we intruding on the peacefulness that the residents probably seek out there.

It was a good trip and I was really excited about Pedernal Peak. We hope to continue exploring more of northern New Mexico.

Mad Orange Sale!

Right now everything in the shop is 30% off. Just use coupon code FALL12 at check out.

I'm not going to be making felted purses anymore so this is the last of the bunch. Get them while you can!

Please visit the shop here.

Shoes.

[Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE + PX70 V4B Opacification Test Film]

At the Santo Niño Museum, Chimayo, NM.

Chimayo.

[All shots taken with my iPhone]

Last month I took a couple trips out to Chimayo to visit El Santuario de Chimayo to take photographs. It's about 30 minutes north of Santa Fe so it's an easy afternoon drive for me to do solo.

It's also a fascinating place. The Santuario is built on a spot that is believed to be very sacred. Around Easter time, people walk there from all over New Mexico, some carrying crucifixes or other offerings. And thousands of people visit every year to take away some of the "holy dirt" that is found in a little room off of the main chapel.  People believe the holy dirt to have healing powers. Some rub it on their bodies, some mix it in with water to drink and some just take it home to put on an altar. I actually have a little vial of it that I put in my suitcase every time we travel.

In another larger room off the main chapel, there are crutches and canes that have been left because they are no longer needed by the injured. People also light candles and leave other offerings, pictures or notes written on a scrap of paper. In this room, there is also a statue of the Santo Niño de Atocha. People leave offerings of shoes for him because he is said to roam the countryside at night so his shoes are always worn out.

I don't have any photographs of the main chapel or these other rooms because photography is not allowed inside and I choose to respect that rule. But you can take photos pretty much every where else around there. And there is a lot to see. Starting from the parking lot, there are crosses all over the fences, sticks tied together, popsicle sticks and flowers woven all around (as you can see in some of the above photos). Then there are quite a few smaller altars leading up the pathway to the Santuario.


[Polaroid Automatic 250 + expired Polaroid ID-UV instant film]


[Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE + PX70 V4B Opacification Test Film]




[Polaroid SX-70 w/ ND filter + PX680 Gold Frame film]



[Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE + PX100 Cool instant film]

Chimayo and the Santuario are also places of family history for me. My mother's maternal grandparents (my great-grandparents) settled in Chimayo way back when and my mom spent quite a bit of time there as a child.



My great-grandfather was the first Postmaster there and as such, he and my great-grandmother are buried in the courtyard of the Santuario.




[Polaroid Automatic 250 + Fuji FP-100B film]

I'm not religious at all, but I like it out there. As long as there aren't too many tourists, it's rather peaceful. And I love all the religious icons and altars and candles and everything. It's really interesting to me.

I hope to get back out there again soon, this time with Will so he can help me lug my cameras around and also so we can have lunch at the restaurant out there.

I'm quite pleased with many of the instant shots I took out there so I'll be sharing more, if not here, then for sure on Flickr. You can see the whole set here. It includes digital photos taken a long time ago in addition to the more recent shots.

The birthday.

[Polaroid SLR680SE camera + PX680 V4C Opacification Test Film]

So the birthday has come and gone and now I am 42 although for some reason, I still continue to be convinced that I am 43.

A few days before the birthday week, I was feeling a lot of melancholy. I knew I wasn't concerned about being another year older. I mean, what's 42? Not a big deal. So I finally decided it was coming from the lack of travel. We typically take a big road trip this time of year and we're not doing anything this year. And that makes my heart hurt just a little big. We need the freedom of the road, the escape from our daily routines. And some time with good friends. But finances are tight and there is some other stuff going on that just won't allow travel right now. Or even plans of travel. We're trying to make due by being a little better about taking day trips around the area.

The melancholy passed and I rather enjoyed the days leading up to my birthday.

Birthday treat #1: My husband took my vintage Raleigh cruiser to the bike shop for me because that's the sort of thing that I don't really like to do. It's a sweet bike, but I rarely ride it because the brakes are crap. But after 2 years of not riding it, I pulled it out this summer and rode it some on the bike trail where I don't have to worry about cars so much. And I decided I would like to ride it around town this fall. They put on new brake pads and cables and it actually stops properly now. Very exciting! (And I finally bought a bike helmet too.)

Birthday treat #2: I bought myself a Mint Flash, something that I've been wanting for awhile. It's a bit tricky, but in the long run, I think it'll be a nice addition to my Impossible collection.

Birthday treat #3: I made it to the top of the Aspen Vista trail. I died just a little bit, but I made it. (It's an almost 12 mile trek roundtrip, starting at 10,000 feet and going up to 12,003 feet.) And after I came home and lay down on the floor for a few minutes, showered, ate and took a quick nap, I actually felt a little like a bad ass.

Birthday treat #4: We actually made it out dancing. We almost didn't because it fell on the same day as my 12-mile run and I thought I would be too tired. But in the end, I preserved and we walked downtown to the Rouge Cat for the premiere of 80s night. It was a lot of fun (even though Will only danced with me two or three times), and we had a nice chat with the super cool bouncer lady. She made my eyes pop out with stories about seeing Led Zeppelin in 1969 and the early 70's. And meeting Patti Smith!!

Birthday treat #5: Friday evening margaritas and New Mexican food at our latest favorite place to go, La Choza.

Birthday treat #6: A short day trip out to Abiquiu and Abiquiu Lake so I could take photos and say hello to Pedernal Peak, Georgia O'Keeffe's favorite mountain.

As for my actual birthday, I kind of goofed up by not planning much of anything besides dinner out. I had a lovely run in the morning but ended up spending the day feeling rather restless. For dinner, we went to Geronimo because I've been wanting to try the elk tenderloin that is one of their specialities. And we'd never been there before so we figured we should try it. The food was wonderful, but the overall dining experience left us feeling rather dissatisfied. I shall try to make another post just about the food and the experience. In lieu of dessert, we headed over to our neighborhood pub and had a beer to cap off the evening. That too was a bit disappointing because none of the folks we like to see were there, and, well, we really didn't need the beer!

All in all it was a nice time and I feel good about my life. It's not anywhere near perfect. (Um, hello, where's that part-time job that I need?!) But it's okay. I am content. And yes, sometimes I worry that I am mistaking contentment with stagnancy, but you know what? After so many years of beating myself up for one thing or another, of disliking myself, of being stuck in a mire of depression and/or anxiety, I think I am going to go with content. I am content. And I like who I am, even the not so likable bits. And I am enjoying myself and the life that I have right now. Maybe I am just getting by financially, but that's okay, money has never been the end all for me. I have time to do what I want to do, to explore new things, to have adventures and I think it's pretty awesome. Because this time, this time might not always be available to me. So I am going to love it while I have it. And it's really quite a blessing to get up in the morning and feel good (more often than not). I guess if there's anything I can say about the last year or so, it's that I have learned a lot about acceptance and compassion.

Plus I have a really wonderful husband! But that I already knew.

Now if only I could learn how to write more eloquently...

'Roid Week, Day Five

I'm a bit late with this last 'Roid Week post! Believe it or not, there are some days that I am not glued to the computer.

My day five submissions:


[Polaroid Automatic 250 camera + Polaroid 100 Blue film, expired 04/2009]

Another shot from last month when we went hiking along the Windsor Trail to Puerto Nambe. I love aspen trees and this was a favorite from the day. I think the light makes the forest look magical.


[Polaroid SX-70 camera w/ ND filter + PX680 Gold Frame film]

I took this selfie during 'Roid Week. I was going to skip posting a selfie this year, but I was so pleased with the way this one turned out, I decided it to use it. The zinnias are the first small bunch that I cut in our garden. I love zinnia season! (As most of you know.)

And there you have it. Even when it's not 'Roid Week, there is no shortage of instant film shots around here. It's been fun blogging this past week so hopefully I can try to do it more often again!

Cheers!

'Roid Week, Day Five (Faves)

It's always a little sad when 'Roid Week is over. It's such an amazing and inspiring week, there are just so many fantastic instant shots on so many different types of film. It's a little overwhelming at times and I think it makes me a big slap happy as well. And then...it's over until next year. Lucky for me, I shoot instant film most of the year anyway as do many of my contacts on Flickr. Plus there's the Impossible Project's 'Roid Week Gallery to keep us all going for a little while longer.

The instant film community never fails to disappoint. Everyone is so kind and generous and I feel so lucky to be a part of it. Thanks everybody!

So here are my day five faves. And here is the entire pool with a total of 3,695 photos! Wow!


1. Untitled, 2. Tree House - Double Exposure, 3. Cape Lookout, 4. Untitled, 5. Fallen Camellia, 6. IP 8x10 test self/shift, 7. scary horse, 8. Sundaes, Sandwiches & Shadows, 9. l'amour, 10. polaroid week - last day, 11. Old girl., 12. FP-100C 1, 13. Clouds, 14. 'RoidWeek 2012, 15. rooftop watcher, 16. Suffolk Sunflowers, 17. day five 1/2 "Deep in the forest you'll find what you are looking for!", 18. plume, 19. 'Roid Week #8, 20. Are you kitten me?, 21. You Musn't Quit, 22. 'RoidWeek #10: rabbit (au revoir), 23. Untitled, 24. The end of a great week, 25. 'Roid, 26. Solo, 27. deer, 28. storybook ending, 29. Untitled, 30. Forward Ever, 31. Untitled, 32. Flat Iron Building, 33. i'll follow you, 34. Jetset to the Future, 35. Pisa, 36. BudsBarberShop_SX70_ImpossiblePX680_TestV4B_081412


1. Twin Peaks, 2. Polaroid Week - Day 5, 3. Day 5 (17/08/2012), 4. Untitled, 5. beachdaze, 6. persona-9, 7. Long Acre, 8. Untitled, 9. Abbott's Lagoon Grass, Pt. Reyes, 10. Untitled, 11. . Castles in the sky, 12. soft light., 13. green., 14. springtime, 15. flamingos, 16. 070, 17. Roidweek 2012 day5 #2 - with Jos back from Schiermonnikoog, 18. Space Waters, 19. basques, 20. Solana Beach, 21. kenmare street, 22. Let's Eat, 23. so long, 'roid week, 24. Hello, 25. Peanut's Passport Photos, 26. Courtyard Leaves, 27. Untitled, 28. dahlia, 29. Untitled, 30. Polaroid_20110105-2-Image, 31. ocean walk, 32. Untitled, 33. The Carousel., 34. Ferris wheel (double), 35. Product Placement, 36. a fond farewell

 Some of the photos don't show up because they lack the proper permission (to be used with fds flickr toys) from the photographer, but you can follow the links below each mosaic to view each photograph.


 [Created by fds flickr toys.]

'Roid Week, Day Four (Faves)

Here are all my favorites from day four of 'Roid Week! You can check out the entire pool here.


1. Twice Exposed, 2. Silent canal on Sepia, 3. Full Moon Over Downtown, 4. The Great Pretender., 5. archives, 6. Goteborg --25, 7. ROID WEEK, DAY FOUR!, 8. ::J&D::, 9. Untitled, 10. Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 11. Catch the Wind, 12. 'RoidWeek 2012, 13. Polaroid Week Day 4, 14. wildlife, 15. Songbird, 16. Roid week day 4: 1/2, 17. Mime 1, 18. turtle bay, 19. Old greenhouse on PX 680 FF, 20. Untitled, 21. Untitled, 22. polaroid week / day 4, 23. polaroid week / day 4, 24. Lost Man Lake, 25. sugar, 26. 'RoidWeek #7: rabbit (purple wall, amber), 27. Southwold Beach, 28. 'Roid Week #6, 29. Untitled, 30. tiny house


1. sniff, 2. heart steps, 3. Ali'i Drive - 'Roid Week 2012, Day 4, 4. ., 5. cat people, 6. Untitled, 7. Untitled, 8. Roid week day 4: 2/2, 9. batten down, 10. How much is that kitty in the window?, 11. sea truck., 12. Concentric Lion, 13. Untitled, 14. Pink Flamingo, 15. Roid Week Day 4, 16. 'Roidweek2012 #2, 17. Untitled, 18. Ti Pi, 19. Golden Cow, 20. Funeral | August 15. 2012, 21. One night in Berlin, 22. #7 - 'Roid Week '12, 23. "Roid" week day 4 no. 3, 24. narrow bridge, 25. maura, 26. Polaroid_20120704-diptych-1200exp2009, 27. Untitled, 28. Untitled, 29. For my kitteh lovin friends!, 30. Untitled


1. Royal Courts of Justice, Aldgate, 2. 'Roid Week 2012 #11, 3. bed, 4. windowbox, 5. Horizons., 6. zinnia, 7. Saadah, 8. Untitled, 9. there's something about mary, 10. of course, 11. Eden Ysabel Fly, 12. The Magnificent Four, 13. First Polaroid 8x10, 14. Roid Week 2012: Tang, 15. Blackcomb, 16. double take., 17. air, 18. All the Pretty Horses

 Some of the photos don't show up because they lack the proper permission (to be used with fds flickr toys) from the photographer, but you can follow the links below each mosaic to view each photograph.


 [Created by fds flickr toys.]

'Roid Week, Day Four

Hard to believe that day four of 'Roid Week is already upon us. Here are my submissions for the day:


[Polaroid SX-70 camera w/ ND filter + PX680 Gold Frame film]


[Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE + PX100 Cool Silver Shade film]

I had a hard time deciding what to post today and ending going with photos on different types of Impossible film, types that I haven't posted to the group yet. Both of these shots were taken the other day when I drove out to Chimayo, NM. Neither shot really blows me away, but I do like them and I'm trying not to post too many flower photos this year!

'Roid Week, Day Three (Faves)

Here are all my favorites from day three of 'Roid Week! You can check out the entire pool here.


1. An Impossible Mission Hollywood Sign 80, 2. From the water, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. australian cliché, 6. cigar shop, 7. *, 8. ROID WEEK DAY THREE!, 9. looking into the sky, 10. Untitled, 11. Old Orchard, 12. what i call summer..., 13. flora, 14. Untitled, 15. Wanderer, 16. Roid week Day 3: 1/2, 17. IMG_0004, 18. Untitled, 19. how do i love thee..., 20. In flight, 21. polaroid week / day 3, 22. Untitled, 23. Curtain, 24. Untitled, 25. Antiques_SX70_ImpossiblePX680_TestV4B_081412, 26. blue star, 27. Mermaid, SALA Phuket, 2012 - 'Roid week day 3, No. 2, 28. row row, 29. The Forbidden City, 30. In the corn



1. notraces and mae, 2. ., 3. in a strange light double, 4. a little damaged, but not unloved, 5. Swing, 6. Bar Noir, 7. Untitled, 8. test gypsy deer - day 3 - photo 1, 9. Untitled, 10. ., 11. Polaroid_20111006-11-600exp2009, 12. 尋找自己的樹吧, 13. Untitled, 14. Untitled, 15. crenellated sky, 16. nature girl, 17. Untitled, 18. my favorite flowers, 19. 'Roid Week #4, 20. Wondering about infinity. , 21. 'Roid Week Day 3, 22. dotty dwelling, 23. 'Roid Week 2012 - Day 3, 24. Untitled, 25. Sunchild, 26. I capture the [sand]castle., 27. Dewey, 28. "Roid" week day 3 no. 1, 29. dreamer, 30. tiny lake



1. deck in fog, 2. El Rancho Boulder Motel, 3. The Chosen One, 4. cat on pot, 5. Fernworthy Forest, 6. Highway 101, 7. the sound, 8. The Visitor, 9. *, 10. Big Ben, 11. Riverside, 12. Everlasting Gaze, 13. Day Lillies II, Williamsburg, 14. selfie for 'roid week, 15. Chillin, 16. My Rega Turntable

 Some of the photos don't show up because they lack the proper permission (to be used with fds flickr toys) from the photographer, but you can follow the links below each mosaic to view each photograph.


 [Created by fds flickr toys.]

'Roid Week, Day Three

Here are my day three submissions:





 [Both shots were taken with a Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE + PX70 Cool film]

 I really love the PX70 Cool film even though I screwed up a few shots in my first pack. The top shot was taken over the weekend. The place is on one of my running routes and I've been wanting to go back and take an instant shot of it for awhile now. I'm glad I finally did even though it was so hot that day, I could hardly stand walking around. And I think it may have been a bit too bright for the film even with the L/D adjustment to darker. But that's New Mexico. Tons of sunshine.

The bottom shot is Rocky and I was trying to capture him looking all handsome in the light, but then he yawned and I couldn't resist pushing the shutter! He looks like he could fit my head into his mouth! Well, not really, but boy, he's got it open to full capacity which gives a nifty view of his top fangs. He's the best! (Except when he's whining at 2 in the morning.)

Yesterday I drove to the Santuario de Chimayo with hopes of getting lots of good shots. I've taken a lot of pictures of the place so I checked my archives to make sure I didn't take all the same shots again and I found that I don't have many instant shots. That actually made me happy because it meant that I could shoot whatever I wanted! But the afternoon turned into a fiasco. First I realized that my 250 which I had loaded up with some of my treasured ID-UV film was not working. I walked over to the little touristy store to buy batteries, but after installing the new batteries, it still didn't work.

I walked back to the car to leave it in the trunk and to retrieve my SX-70 that had PX680 Gold Frame film in it. I figured I could still get some shots. I also had my SX-70 Alpha 1 SE loaded up with PX100 Cool. It was my first time shooting the PX100 Cool and of course I forgot to check whether or not I needed to set the camera to darker. And no phone service out there. So I blew my first shot but learned that yes indeed, the L/D wheel needs to go darker. Took a few more shots with the PX100 Cool and all of them left me feeling "eh."

Took a bunch of Gold Frame shots which are nice but totally blown out even though I was shooting in the shade. And I kept fretting about my not working 250. For being in such a sacred place, I was in a terribly foul mood.

Today is a new day and I was going to go back to Chimayo because magically my 250 is working again, but now my car is in the shop! Oy!

But at least I am in better spirits and do not feel like my head is going to explode.

Cheers!

'Roid Week, Day Two (Faves)

Here are all my favorites from day two of 'Roid Week! You can check out the entire pool here.


1. Justin Goode at the beach in Pacifica, Ca. PZ 600 Silver Shade, 2. Untitled, 3. my living room, 4. stone balance, 5. Chevy, 6. Sweden 01, 7. Noces funèbres, 8. The flood., 9. *, 10. Polaroid Week Day 2, 11. butterfly tats, 12. Untitled, 13. ..- -. - .. - .-.. . -.., 14. Untitled, 15. Oh! How I adore you..., 16. ranunculus, 17. polaroid week / day 2, 18. close to feeling tall, 19. between the fragments..., 20. roid week day 2, 21. (Edward) Land, 22. ethel, 23. The girl with the fringe - 'Roid week day 2, No. 1, 24. Untitled, 25. Untitled, 26. hoot, 27. To The Left, To The Right. - 'ROID WEEK DAY2, 28. Roid week 2012 day2 #1 - cycling in Westerwolde, 29. Swings_SX70_ImpossiblePX680_TestV4B_081412, 30. [Untitled]


 
 1. +, 2. ROID WEEK NIGHT TWO!, 3. Beachgrass, 4. Texaco, 5. Untitled, 6. Transizione Studio 2012 - 669-5, 7. Untitled, 8. The Witching Hour., 9. iScream Man, 10. Untitled, 11. Julian Machann, 12. Cowboys Waiting, 13. Lobster Bobs, Maine, 14. Untitled, 15. Trees and Bracken, 16. Gap, 17. puff, 18. Sunflowers, 19. Untitled, 20. the lake, 21. Doorcat, 22. 'RoidWeek 2012, 23. together, 24. wave riding, 25. Painting Alba, 26. Untitled, 27. The Gentle Touch Of A Slight Breeze, 28. Tower, 29. Storm brewing, 30. Lunch is for the Birds



1. CAT-7_0003_1024, 2. 063, 3. At the Beach, 4. Under The Pier, 5. Whitney in Asakusa, 6. leftover spring, 7. Latisha, 8. Untitled, 9. lost views, 10. Untitled, 11. [l] |l|[l|, 12. Distracted, 13. Sasquatch!, 14. sisters of summer, 15. 'Roid Week #3, 16. Hannah in her natural state, 17. black river, 18. Untitled


 Some of the photos don't show up because they lack the proper permission (to be used with fds flickr toys) from the photographer, but you can follow the links below each mosaic to view each photograph.


 [Created by fds flickr toys.]

'Roid Week, Day Two

I think I am starting to get crossed eyed from looking at the 'Roid Week pool so much! So much good stuff, it blows my mind.

 Here are my day two submissions:

 
[Polaroid Automatic 250 camera + Polaroid 100 Blue instant film, expired 04/2009]

When I first used the Blue film, I wasn't too crazy about it so I let my second pack sit around for years. Recently Artful Magpie posted a great Blue shot on Flickr, and it inspired me to use my remaining pack. And boy am I glad that I did! I totally fell for the film and it suited our hiking adventure well. We were up on the Windsor Trail when I took this shot of Will. It's my favorite from the day.

 
[SX-70 Alpha 1 SE camera + PX70 Color Shade film, 12/11 batch]

This is a shot of a cosmo in our garden. A typical Juli shot, I suppose. Flowers! I actually shot this one without shielding the film as it ejected so I was quite surprised that it turned out with such vibrant color.

Happy Day Two!

'Roid Week, Day One (Faves)

Here are all my favorites from day one of 'Roid Week! You can check out the entire pool here.


 1. The Royal Crescent, 2. Polaroid Week Day 1, 3. .., 4. 'merica, 5. Metallic Brown Chevy Pickup, 6. Untitled, 7. Roidweek 2012 day1 #1, 8. untitled-1, 9. *, 10. Moo, 11. roid week day 1, 12. Cold, 13. Untitled, 14. Polaroid Week Day 1, 15. Day 1 (13/08/2012), 16. Untitled, 17. Alice - 02, 18. Ornithophobia, 19. elle roid week 1, 20. beautyandthebeast, 21. Untitled, 22. Hollywood, 23. 'RoidWeek #2: rabbit (finch & balloons), 24. Untitled, 25. meowr., 26. M O T E L, 27. Butterfly, 28. Horses - 'ROID WEEK DAY 1, 29. Untitled, 30. PX-70 Cool Film/SX-70, 31. wish u were here, 32. service rd summit double rupert, 33. House on the hill, 34. Sea on Blue, 35. nickels eye, 36. Golden Gate Bridge



 1. my room, 2. Roid Week - Day One, 3. defining tide and time, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. Sunset in the Peace Region, 7. Sunflower in the garden, 8. summertime , 9. Before the storm, 10. Frank-esque, 11. A Flowery Outlook on Life ('Roid Week, Day 1), 12. Roid Week Day 1 - 2/2, 13. you need to leave, 14. Birthday peony, 15. Untitled, 16. balancing act, 17. Oh Hey, 18. Funland, 19. Untitled, 20. Untitled, 21. Polaroid CU-5, 22. roid week 2012 :: day 1, 23. Cricket, 24. Some sort of religion., 25. Happy 'Roid Week!, 26. Franny & Seymour, 27. "Going Coastal" | Polaroid SX-70 | PX 70 old gen film | July 2012, 28. treeclimber (2), 29. Orchid, 30. if it burns



1. Day Lillies, Williamsburg, 2. Lifeguard tower, 3. The Witching Hour., 4. Litmus, 5. Baaaaaahhh., 6. monday**, 7. *, 8. passage, 9. Roid Week 12_2


 Some of the photos don't show up because they lack the proper permission (to be used with fds flickr toys) from the photographer, but you can follow the links below each mosaic to view each photograph.


 [Created by fds flickr toys.]

'Roid Week 2012!

Yes, it is that time again, the most wonderful week of the year, 'Roid Week on Flickr. I love it. It is so much fun to check out the pool throughout the day. (Okay, well, maybe every 15 minutes or so. Yes, I am obsessed.) There are so many amazing photos and starting tomorrow morning, I'll be posting all my favorites from each day as I have always done in the past. What's really incredible now is that there are so many different types of instant films. Many people still have lots of expired Polaroid films plus there are all the Impossible films, ranging from first flush versions to limited editions to the very new opacification test film (this means no shielding). It's really exciting stuff. Plus the instant film community is fabulous and so very generous. Good times all around.

Oh and check out the interview that The Impossible Project did with the two founders of 'Roid Week.

Here are my Day One submissions:

 
 [Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 SE camera w/ PX70 Color Shade film, 12/11 batch]

 
 [Polaroid Automatic 250 camera w/ Polaroid 664 film, expired 04/2009]

Happy 'Roid Week to all!

Summer.

[Polaroid SLR 680SE + expired Polaroid 779 "Share the Love" instant film]

I love summer although right now I could do without the sweltering hot days and nights that we are having. It cools off outside in the evenings, but our bedroom is usually about 88 degrees when I get into bed. It doesn't make for very good sleep. This whole week has been filled with restless nights and weird dreams. I sleep, but it's not solid or deep, and it feels like I wake up every hour although that may just be part of the weird dreams. I have no idea.

Nonetheless, it is still one of my favorite seasons. And while I wish my days were filled with sparkling blue swimming pools and days at the beach, I make due with enjoying our backyard and watching the garden grow. It's been a good gardening year and I'm thrilled to have so many tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers growing. We also have some jalapeno peppers and a random watermelon. I didn't plant any watermelon so I am guessing that there was a watermelon seed mixed in with the cucumber seeds. Kind of cool since I've never grown watermelon before!

Be sure and check out all the other Summer submmissions over at Words To Shoot By. There are swimming pools and oceans involved!

Things I think about when I run.

- Blog posts. Which I typically forget about and never write, but that said, I did think about this one today!

- Witty things to tweet which I forget well before I even get back home.

- Emails and letters get composed in my head but again, they usually never get written.

(Obviously I should take a Dictaphone with me or something.)

- The day ahead and things that need to get done.

- Regrets, the past. Two topics that I usually try to shed quickly because they typically don't lead to a good place.

- Photos that I want to take of things that I see while running as well as photos that I want to take in general.

- I imagine what it would be like to live in some of the houses that I pass.

- Things that I need/want to knit/crochet/make.

- What I might eat for lunch. And dinner.

- The sounds that I hear, birds chirping, cars going too fast, snippets of conversations, rustling in the bushes...I never run with headphones and while I understand that tunes motivate people, I like hearing what's around me. And who's coming up behind me.

- I dream about vacations that I wish we could take. Or vacations that we have coming up.

- Books that I am reading or that I want to read.

- Lately, things that I would like to do for my birthday.

- Also lately, what it would be like to hike the Pennine Trail with my dad and Will.

- What I would do if I had $10,000 out of the blue. (Pay off debt! Buy more film!)

- What I would do if we won the lottery, millions of dollars. How our lives might change.

- Other what if games...what if this happened or that happened...what would I do, where would I end up?

- The clouds, the sunshine, the mountains and the critters that I sometimes see.

- Sometimes if I am not feeling great (emotionally), I think about how nice it would be if I could outrun those feelings. Leave it all behind.

- The crick in my knee, the rubbing of my socks, the sweat dripping off my long ponytail.

- I often count my blessings...thinking of things that make me grateful.

- Sometimes I think about how lost I would be if I couldn't run anymore. (That's terrifying to me.)

- I think about how long I have been running (in my life), how it has affected me (and how I should write a blog post about it).

- And sometimes, perhaps the best times, I think about nothing but my legs moving, my arms pumping and my breathing.

Sometimes my head is actually quiet.

[Obviously this list could go on forever. My thoughts fly all over the place and it also depends on what's currently going on, but I guess these are some of the things that come up frequently.]

Blue.

[Polaroid Automatic 250 camera + Fuji FP-100C instant film]

Check out the latest Words To Shoot By. So many lovely blues!

Birthday wishes.

[Lavender | Polaroid Spectra + PZ680 instant film]

I know I've mentioned before that I like birthdays. Your birthdays. My birthday. Even if it does mean getting another year older! (Although this year I will actually be getting  younger since I've spent most of the year thinking that I am 43 when I am actually only 41 so I'll be turning 42. I have no idea how I manage to make myself older some years.)

My birthday is a ways off, but naturally I've already been thinking about how I would like to celebrate. So I thought I'd share my list with the world in hopes that maybe putting it out there will make one of my wishes actually happen! You never know, right?!

- Dinner at Union Pig & Chicken in Pittsburgh.

- Barbeque with friends (preferably in Pittsburgh!)

- Road trip to the desert with Will, maybe back to Joshua Tree or Palm Springs.

- Long weekend in San Diego with my aunt and uncle which would involve a lot of relaxing, walks on the beach, and margaritas and grilled steaks on the patio.

- Long weekend in New York City because I haven't been back since we left in 2005 and I am absolutely dying to visit the Impossible Project space there. (I would also love to stay at the Ace Hotel but that's probably not doable at all even if we did manage to get to NYC.)

- Long weekend in San Francisco because I haven't been there since...good grief, the early 1990's...and so we could hang out with one of my favorite people ever. And go to the leather bar where he bar tends.

- Trash Disco night at Rouge Cat .

- Celebrating a weekend late by going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos game, the season opener!

Basically I want to travel, eat and dance for my birthday! And of course everything on the list includes being with Will!

What's been going on.

Cats, cocktails, lots of reading, hair cuts, flowers, a few days at the gallery, evenings at Second Street at the Railyard and lots of hot, hot weather.