Notes from the Garden - November Newletter Edition
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November's Featured Image
was taken on one of those beautiful sunny fall days when you just have to get into the car and go for a ride to soak it all in before the winds pick up and blow the colors away for the winter. This image was taken in the Rose City, Michigan area while I was sitting in the back seat, photography gear in hand, while my Dad drove and my Mom was on the lookout for that perfect spot to stop and take pictures. I love those rides. One beautiful tree after another graced our day contrasting with the perfect blue sky, rolling green and amber hills. I love how the trees in this image give way to the old farm in the background.
Using Photoshop, I pumped up the saturation just slightly, burned in a little contrast and dodged in some brightness here and there. I then added three textures on different layers and used a grass brush to soften the edges giving it an old torn paper look.
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Adventures Through The Enchanted Door
Dawson and Avery, my two awesome grand children, have followed my journey of writing and illustrating Hideaway Hilda. Being that the books are about them, they are the most interested in the stories. They finally got their first reading last August, while we were sitting around the camp fire in my back yard. They love hearing their names and following along. It wasn't until the next day that I realized something I hadn't even thought of until then. How they would react to the story. The lasting impressions. You see, the next day, Avery decided the book was real enough that she wouldn't go outside because she thought Hilda was going to swoop down and take her away. I then had to explain to them that it was just a story; besides she was much bigger than Hilda, so she couldn't get picked up. Dawson, on the other hand, went out to practice using his sling shot. He's getting pretty good at it! I need to figure out how to make some Honey Butterballs.
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Second Glances, An Introduction to Seeing
This is me in the Redwood National Forest, northern California. All I can say is "It was amazing!!" The ferns were as tall as me and the tress, of course, were awesomely tall, towering over us as if holding up the sky. I'm a touchy/feely kind of person. I have to touch things and I most certainly am in tune with the feel of things. And this place.....it felt right. It felt like nature should feel - warm, inviting, peaceful, calm. I'm sure there was wildlife out there, bears, cougar, elk, but none of that mattered as we were engulfed in the amazement and beauty of it all. I was Alice in Wonderland, not wanting to leave, camera in hand clicking away. Those trees had character. Those trees are stunning. The word for the day was 'Incredible'. I'll be sure to share a few pictures along the way, as I am working on the next Second Glances book, "Whispers in the Woods".
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Featured Note Cards
It's the holiday season. The time of year where we get a chance to stand back and reflect on the past year. Family, friends, adventures, new beginnings, fun times and everything else in between. It's that time when we reach out to those special people in our lives. Christmas cards to me express the thanks for beinging a part of our lives.
Why not send them a unique note card that tells them how special they are. There really isn't anything more heartwarming than opening a hand written note card in your mailbox (and I'm not talking email box). Take the time to show them you really care. Send them a card full of love.
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Lonely Leaf
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A farm off Sutton Rd. Metamora |
A fence off Sutton Rd. Metamora |
My garden gate |
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Metamora/Hadley State Park |
Metamora/Hadley State Park |
My gardens |
Winter leaf |
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A Time for Exploration
Well, here I am sitting on the edge of the world feeling like a little speck of dust in the vastness of it all. Gathering up my mom and dad, two of my sisters, one brother in law, and my husband, we made the long journey to explore the west coast. Our idea was to see as many national parks as we could on this trip, but keep it within a three week time frame. We did it, but wow, what an adventure. We definitly needed a few more weeks to get it all in. We made it to Bryce Canyon,(as you can see here), Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Yosemite National Park, then up the coast of California, (a very twisty and turny coastline made especially for small sports cars and motorcycles - not 30' motorhomes) to the Redwoods National Forest, then straight back to Michigan.
Crazy, huh? Yep, we thought so too. But what an experience I will never forget. This place that we live in, this earth, this nation, these United States, it's splender is simply amazing. There just aren't any words that can give them any justice. These are the places that you just have to see for yourself to understand what I mean. Somethings just aren't meant to be discribed with words. Somethings just need to be felt. For they will take your breath away.
My favorite spot you ask? I have three and pledge to go back to visit them again. The first was Bryce Canyon, during the day viewing the Hoodoos towering in their orange, red and white peaked figures. I could have sat there all day drawing the characters I found in their forms. But the best was when we went there just as the sun was setting. We sat on the edge of the earth watching the stars come out. 8,300' above sea level made the stars feel like you could just about touch them. It was the first time I could see the Milky Way. It wasn't very bright, but I could see it.
My second favorite, The Grand Canyon. Besides the beauty of the rocks, colors and the depth of the valley, the shear vastness makes it impossitble to connect to it. You can see it, you just can't touch it. And because of this it almost seems like there is a blue screen up that you are looking at. We visited the Desert View Watchtower, made by several artist. Great place to view the canyon lengthwise. I thought it was the best place to be on the edge.
Then of course, my third favorite, The Redwoods. They surprised me the most since there was really nothing there for the exception of the trees. What I mean is, there were no gates, no road signs, just a little information building along the coast to give you a map. Not even a place to stop and buy a t shirt. How refreshing that was. Just nature, canopied by giant trees for miles and miles along the coast. We were free to explore and stop whereever we wanted.
We made some wonderful memories never to be forgotten. I will for sure go back and do it again.
Until next month,
Ann
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