according.to.kim

Picture B&W: The texture of textiles

I might have tried another composition, but the store clerk was looking at me! Taken at Mackenzie Art Gallery gift shop.

Bubble socks (a.k.a. poodle socks) for Irish step dancing. The girls will be wearing these to perform next weekend.

I've had these jeans for at least 10 years and they're so comfy!

Picture B&W: Rough and tumble

New needles provided some nice contrast.

Our old concrete bird bath.

We had a huge spruce tree break in half during a storm last summer, and this pile remains in our back yard. There's a leaf in the centre (fallen from another tree) that popped out (green) in the colour version, but almost disappears in b&w.

Picture B&W: Smooth things over

Tomato cage. We're having a very rainy week. And cold. Our poor tomato plants. Neil is covering the garden as I type.

I don't usually set my coffee here, but I needed the light from the kitchen window.

Instagram on iPad. I was passing time in the waiting room at Sophia's final piano lesson. She's not taking piano again, but plans to go in band at her school next year (trumpet or flute).

Picture B&W: In contrast

I keep my coffee mugs in this wire basket which happens to live near the brightest window in my house -- the only place I could take pictures on this dull, rainy day. (I don't mind the weather at all since we have the garden planted already. And since I'm on vacation this week, I was just happy to be taking photos in the middle of the day. The only downside was that Sophia's track meet was cancelled.)

On Sunday, Neil found this early 1960's camera in the basement of his parents' house. It belonged to his maternal grandfather. There was a roll of unused film in it! I didn't know it was there and I exposed the first part of the film, but we're hoping the rest will be okay. We've taken a few pictures, and the camera seems to work fine!

My work-supplied phone. (Alas, no iPhone for me.) I like how the light plays off the buttons.

Picture B&W: Me and my shadow

Nice bright sun today! These were taken at 2:20 pm (at Cherry Lane Greenhouse) and 7:30 pm (in Avonlea). We were quite busy this weekend and I kept forgetting about the prompt. Frame (vignette) added in iPhoto.

Georgia's hand and mine. I like how this turned out. I'm glad Neil reminded me to take pictures before the day ended.

Picture B&W: Into the sun

So challenging! I tried to get a flare shot on Thursday morning before work and wasn't successful. Luckily, I managed to capture this bit of sunshine between work and my set-dancing class Thursday evening. The sky was overcast all day Friday.

Picture B&W: Rim light

I love taking pictures in our garden! I'm so glad the sun was shining before I went to work this morning. This is Bergenia.

This is Pasque flower.

This is a seed head covered in spider webs.

Picture B&W: White out

I'm not sure if I hit the mark on this one. Nevetheless, I was *trying* to shoot this prompt, and I really like what I captured. This park is near and dear to us and my younger daughters are on the right.

White Gazania. Challenging prompt!

Again, I'm not sure it works for the prompt, but I captured this while trying. Processing: My Four Hens - Striking.

2012 plant purchases

We enjoyed visiting greenhouses on this beautiful afternoon. It's becoming a Mother's Day tradition for us. We went to The Plant Ranch, Cherry Lane (near Grand Coulee), and Doorn's (Hwy 6 south). I had some good SwarmJam coupons for The Plant Ranch and Cherry Lane.

We plan to do our planting next week when I'm off work. Looking forward to it!

Tomatoes

• Early Girl 4 (54 days)
• Patio (70 days)
• Red Cherry (75 days)
• Golden Honey Bunch 4 (75 days)
• Oxheart 4 (90 days)
• Bush Beefsteak (from school)

Peppers & Herbs

• Jalapeño peppers 4
• Celery 4
• Sweet basil
• Lemon thyme
• Thyme
• Dill

Potatoes

• Russian Blue
• All Red
• Banana (yellow fingerlings)

Perennial

• Asiatic Lily Tango Dot Com - G's choice
• Asiatic Lily Cappuccino - M's choice
• Asiatic Lily Tiny Dino - S's choice
• Echinacea Harvest Moon
• Echinacea Fatal Attraction
• Sedum (from our neighbour)
• Himalayan Blue Poppy (added later)
• Spiderwort 'Sweet Kate' (added later; to replace one that didn't come back)

Annual

• Strawflower Helica Purple Halo - G's choice
• Strawflower Helica Yellow - M's choice
• Strawflower Helica Snow - S's choice
• Petunia hot pink & white 4 - G's choice
• Coleus Strawberry Drop - M's choice
• Zinnia Magellan Mix 4 - S's choice
• Geranium pink 4 (free for Mother's Day)
• Sweet potato vine Lime 2
• Gazania Daybreak Pink Shades 8
• Gazania Kiss Yellow Flame 4
• Gazania Kiss Lemon Shades 4
• Gazania New Day Clear Orange 4
• Gazania Daybreak White 4

Tropical

• Abutilon Bella Mix (pictured below)
• Papyrus water plant

Picture B&W: Building blocks

After taking Madeline to a birthday party last evening, we went to Government House to look for "building blocks" -- much more interesting than my own house! We enjoyed walking around the buildings (outside) and gardens. They have hundreds of tulips in bloom right now. I think we'll have to visit Government House again this summer to see the gardens at another stage.

This prompt was challenging. I was never quite sure what angle to shoot from, and when I looked at the photos on my computer, I found many angles aren't pleasing, or the roof lines were distorted from my wide-angle lens. I'm glad I took a large variety of pictures to choose from. Processing on all three: Pioneer Woman B&W Beauty.