Introducing ... Penny and Ginger!

Ta Da! The newest additions to our Family! Penny and Ginger are 3 weeks old. Penny is a Speckled Sussex and Ginger is a Buff Orpington. The coop is all set up for them, but the weather has suddenly turned cold, so they're temporarily housed up in the cat carrier, inside the house. They are super mellow little girls and they hardly make a peep! We'll be adding a couple more in a week or two...

Here they are with a couple of College Girls. Penny behaved herself, while Ginger left a little deposit on Amelia.

Dave and Ginger watching Utube
Meanwhile, Buddy is ignoring them, and Blue is scared...

Clematis Garden

Yesterday we drove out to Chalk Hill Clematis Nursery. The clematis were a little late blooming this year due to frost, so we were a little early, plus the plants had been invaded by a family of hungry rabbits, but it was still beautiful. We had lunch afterwards at Jimtown Store.

Iris Garden

Last Sunday, Sandra, Velva & I visited an Iris Garden, "My Wild Iris Rows" in Santa Rosa.

Sandra, out standing in her field.
Velva, Sandra

Sandra & I each bought some.

Felted Soaps

Felting soap is delicious!

Mango

Rose

Lavender

k-12

Time flies...

Photo Restoration Final Project

Tomorrow is the final day of my Photo Restoration class. I'm sort of sad, because it's been by far the greatest Photoshop class I have taken. I've learned so much, and at the same time, still feel occasionally overwhelmed. Sometimes I think the more you know about Photoshop, the more you know you don't know. It's just endless. It has been a challenge that's for sure. Tomorrow we have a final exam, and turn in our final project. It was a tough one. We were given this photo to restore and colorize:


I'm not entirely happy with it, but after over 9 hours and 28 layers, I'm done with it!

Costa Rica Dove

This was an accident. I was studying all the different ways to convert a color image to b&w, and I did something wrong. I really like the way it turned out, though.

Those silly cats!

These are priceless.

theramin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONJfp95yoE

treadmill:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yVjzd320gew

"Oldify your photos"

I'm taking a great photoshop class on how to do photo restorations. I'm finding that I really love it, and am amazed at how well you can bring back old and damaged photos. This led me to the idea of working in reverse - backdating modern photos, using the same photoshop techniques. Then I discovered this Japanese website that does it for you. http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

May 24th, 1987

Wild Mustangs

This one's for you, Linda! Today, for the first time in 11 years, the BLM brought some wild Mustangs and burros to Santa Rosa for adoption. Amelia & I decided to go down and check them out. We got there just as the truck arrived. All 30 horses were in one truck, separated into 3 groups: mares, geldings, and the youngsters. When they opened up the back of the truck, the first group to exit were the youngsters. They totally panicked, and all you could hear was hooves stomping around in there. It took about 5 minutes for the first horse to finally leave the truck; then they all bolted out. It was impressive to see the horsemen get into the stalls with these groups of horses, and, holding only a stick with a piece of plastic on the end, herd them around. It took a half-hour or so for them to settle down. They all stick together - guess that's the herding temperament. People were lined up all along the fence, and the horses would prefer not to face the people; they'd all group together with their butts facing us. Then one would bite another on the rump, they'd all have a bit of commotion, tear around the stall, and then they'd settle down; nuzzles together, butts facing us again. They were beautiful. Today was just the preview; tomorrow's the auction.

Coaxing them out of the truck:


The burros arrived earlier in the day; here they are watching the first horses into the pens

Just out of the truck

Channel 7 news and the crowd of hopeful adopters

This one and a half-year-old mare was already halter-gentled by a BLM volunteer.

"Hey, don't forget, we're up for adoption too!"

Never pass up an opportunity to sketch.

I'd take this one if I could.