Home Bench

 

For our challenge this week for Texture Tuesday we were to use the texture “and then some”.  I used it on a photo of the little bench by the front door.   I used the texture twice with blending modes of lighten and softlight.  I did use a layer mask to take of texture where I did not want it.  I even added a little bit of whimsy with some Halloween brushes.  

I will be joining Kim Klassen for Texture Tuesday and also Lisa Gordon at the Creative Exchange.    Have a great week.  Valerie

Amazing Colours

 
 

I was trying to come up with something for this week’s mosaic that reflected the colours of the season and Halloween together and all the time I was uploading the photos onto the collage template I heard the song from Joseph and the Amazing Dreamcoat going around in my head.   I saw this play with Donnie Osmond in Toronto and bought the cassette (who has those).  I think I wore it out playing it over and over again. 
 
It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown and
Scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue

Have a happy Halloween.     I will be joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.    Valerie

There Was A Boat

 

 

As I was coming along the country road I spied this little boat in a pond.   I stopped and took a few pictures of it.   Kim’s challenge for Texture Tuesday was to use two textures.   I changed the colour photo to a black and white and then added Kim’s texture Autumn burst on blending mode of softlight and turned it so that the holes were on the left.  I did a levels adjustment and then added Kim’s luminous on colour burn blending mode.  To finish off I added a solid colour of a blue shade and brought the opacity down.  I added a gaussian blur and added a frame from Isobel LaFrance.  

I will also be joining Lisa Gordon for the Creative Exchange.   Have a wonderful day. Valerie

A Farm Visit

 

 

Today was the first sunny day we have seen in this area for over a week.    My friend Jen was going to her brother’s farm and I tagged along.   While she was in the house I walked around and snooped into all kinds of things.   I had a lovely visit with the cows.   As  with most farms there were a few cats about.  The little black and white was just outside the barn door.   The grey one with the beautiful blue eyes was more shy but Jen gave him a cuddle and he cooperated while I took his photo.   Included is items you find generally on the farm like machinery and even a few highbush cranberries.  

Last weekend was the marriage of our youngest son.   It was a cold and rainy day but the occasion was an extremely happy one for the couple and everyone attending.  They are blissfully happy and away on their honeymoon while my husband and I babysit two of the three dogs and the skinnypig.  Left photo is my husband, our oldest son Mike and his wife of 6 years Shellene and me on the right.    Valerie

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Have a great week.

Here Today and Gone Tomorrow

 

I just had to share this with you today.   I took a photo of the walnut tree in our backyard just a couple of days ago.   This morning when I looked out most of the leaves had fallen off.   In another day or so the tree will be defoliated.   Sigh!!!   Now we wait while it has its nap for the winter before coming back to life in the spring.  Sigh!!!!    This gardener is indeed sad.    Valerie

Rose Hips

 

The roses have made many hips and I thought the red was perfect for Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen.  After my clean edit I changed the picture to a black and white and then using a layer mask I used a black brush to remove the black and white from the red of the berries and the leaves and stems..   I used Kim Klassen’s texture “autumn” two times.  The first layer was using blending mode of multiply and 58% opacity and then the second layer was using soft light at 79% opacity.  The final texture was from Shadowhouse.  It was “oilpainting” I think.  I finished off by adding text. 

I will be sharing my textured photo at The Creative Exchange with Lisa Gordon Photography.   Have a great week.  Valerie

Canadian Thanksgiving 2011

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian Blogging friends.   It has been the most wonderful weather here with warm temperatures.  We had our family dinner yesterday so that the kids could go to dinner to their spouses or soon to be spouses family dinner today.    Our oldest son got a deep fryer for cooking a turkey for his birthday and we decided to try it out.   It took approximately 45 minutes to cook the 12 lb bird as apposed to the 4 hours in the oven.   Stuffing had to be made in the oven and the gravy came from a jar.   I cooked my own pie pumpkin this year and I much prefer it to the can of pumpkin puree.   It was a lovely dinner.   I ate too much and will have to watch it for the rest of the week or my dress won’t fit for the youngest son’s wedding on Saturday.   

I am joining Mosaic Monday with Mary at DearLitteRedHouse.   Have a great week.   Valerie

Autumn Colour

In our area of southern Ontario the leaves have not turned colour too much.  Farther north the show is farther along.  I did find in the Sandbox colour on the Sumac tree.   For Kim Klassen"s challenge for Texture Tuesday this week we were to use at least two textures.   I chose "ugglove" which I duplicated twice.   I then added a texture from Isabel LaFrance from her SoulGlow layers called "bright streaks".   I made my own custom brush with gratitude text. I was quite full of myself when I accomplished that.  If I did it correctly as Kim taught us last week you will notice I have a mouseover.   If it doesn't work it is back to the drawing board for me. 

I will be joining Texture Tuesday with Kim and also with Lisa Gordon for the Creative Exchange.   Valerie

Floral Arrangements in Tea Cups

 

Last Friday I was volunteering in the Master Gardener booth at the Markham Fair.  This is a large fair in our area.  I was posted in the Horticultural Building where there are displays of vegetables, flowers, photography, crafts and children’s posters and crafts.   I was taken with the little arrangements in teacups that were in a glass case as they were so delicate and the colours soft and pretty.  

I will be joining our host Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Have a great week.   Valerie