This Old Truck!

Drove My Chevy To The Levy

Talk about, she's been around the block a few times! I don't know the history of this old gal but there is a story that begs to be told with each imperfection! 

Can you only imagine one?

Reminds me of Don McLean's song, American Pie! 

A long, long time ago

I can still remember

How that music used to make me smile

 And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while  

Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry

And good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin' this’ll be the day that I die......

~Don McLean~ 

Bet you'll be humming that little tune for the rest of the day!

I took this photo in Old Key West, Florida on a not so sunny, muggy day. Judy and I were touring the Island when we came upon this grand old beauty. She was roped off which shows clearly in the original photographs below, however, I loved her so much that I decided to clone away the rope and wooden posts. This process took me quite awhile, but so worth it! Always learning something new with this program, Photoshop never ceases to amaze me.

Happy Mother's Day!

Post linked to: Nancy at A Rural Journal

Post linked to: Weekly Top Shots

It's Never to Late!

It's Never to Late
It is never too late to start over. It is never past the point of no return for our artist to recover. We can heap years, decades, a lifetime of insult upon our artist and it is so resilient, so powerful and so stubborn that it will come back to life when we give it the smallest opportunity.
~Julia Cameron~ The Artist's Way Every Day
I read this quote on Kim Klessen's, website the other day before the sweet invasion from the north descended upon us. If you have not already read it, enjoy, I thought it worthy of repeating here.
There we go with that word, opportunity. Must be something to it. 
The dictionary defines it as: opportunity |ˌäpərˈt(y)oōnitē|noun ( pl. -ties)
a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. 
Don't miss it!
I have reread this quote several times and it really speaks to me. I hope it speaks to you as well!
Still trying with the softness techniques. Loved the simplicity of these sweet little rose petals.
Texture by, The Coffee Shop.
Well it's off to the golf course for the guys today and visiting the downtown area of Fort Myers for the girls. Also heading over to Fleamasters, 900 stores under one roof. If you have never been it's kind of like Wally World on steroids. Plenty of photo opportunities here. You know the kind of emails you receive with all those uncensored pictures and comments! Now that's a blog for another time. Maybe I can start one when I'm older and chalk it all up to senility! Can you be incarcerated for that?
Combining forces for dinner and Karaoke later on. Now come on, it is a retirement community after all! The kids just roll their eyes and endure, because they love us!!! Payback, you have got to love it!

Life is Fragile!

Time
I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour.  I dripped it carelessly, Ah!  I didn't know, I held opportunity. ~Hazel Lee~ 


Some times when I create a photo the title comes easily and it appears before I can stop my happy fingers from typing! This is what happened in the photo above!
Someone asked me how long it takes to do a single blog. I had to think about that for a moment. My best guess would be somewhere around two to four hours. Somedays longer. 
I first of all, have the luxury of time.
The luxury of to much time can be just as arduous as no time at all. I had to find an outlet and my dear friend Mary, encouraged me to start a blog. Little did either of us know this blog would become a legacy to my children and a passion to create. Just love those coincidences!
Bringing to all of you each day an image along with an inspirational quote is such an incredible bonus. The written word has never come easy to me and I guess all I needed was more quiet time to think!
I love today's quote, in simple terms it speaks to me so eloquently. 
So don't waste a brilliant moment, life is fragile and short, don't let wonderful opportunities pass you by, and take a chance. 
Take the phrase "should have," out of your thought process and replace it with "I did it."
"Remember life is to darn short to wear pantyhose."~anonymous~ 
Get those happy feet up and dancing!

Take the First Step!

First Step

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

~Martin luther King~

What possibly lurks beyond this window? Why do we fear looking beyond what comforts us? Why is it that some are comfortable in public forums, while others need a machine to speak their voice? Some can dance on life's' stage while others can dance only in the rain. Are the shadows of fear ambushing our potential? Why do we give a four letter word, fear, so much respect?

"A first step in the souls' calling, giving more respect to the unknown, may just reap the consequence and ramifications of sweet success! Lifting ones potential, taking a more confident next step, no matter what impedes our journey." 

~Rosemary Aubut~

Wow, where did all that come from? Thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King, for inspiring me!

On a lighter note: We had a blast Saturday night, along with some dear friends,

enjoying the newly renovated River District, in downtown, North Fort Myers. There were hundreds of people reaping the benefits of the mild weather, great food and lively music.

We meandered into a new, Art Mall, featuring different artists and designers, a feast for the eyes, leading to calgon moments. I saw the window featured in this blog leaning against a wall, ever so discrete. So beautiful, I could hardly take my eyes off of it! I had to feel its' texture and of course take a picture. Would have loved to have seen, the house from whence it came.

Little did I know then, it would become an inspiration piece for my designing mind????? 

Photoshopped the heck out of it. Added some yummy textures (not sure who they belong to, sorry) and playing around with some lighting filters. Another one of those, Cracker Jack Moments!

Back to Basics!

Simplicity

Lovely

Delicious
So here I am back to the basics of learning and exploring Photoshop! Got a little side tracked there with the funnies. Those creative guides can just take me all over the place. However I am in total control today.

I so admire some of the very pretty work I have found on, The Coffee Shop Blog. www.coffeeshopblog.com. Following some of the tutorials I came up with the above 3 photos.

In search of items to photograph this morning, I discovered the perfect shadow box right on one of the shelves in my dining area! It's a good day and have learned lots. Showering, dressing and eating are next on my list. How fortunate I am! Talk to you tomorrow!