Brigette and the Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

It was great welcoming Brigette back to work after she had taken time off for the birth of her son Brace.

Karen made pink lemonade cupcakes for the occasion.  They were a wonderful blend of sweet and sour--that 'pucker' kinda-sour that quickly welcomes the addition of something sweet.  She used a Pink Lemondade Cake Mix then decorated the tops with butter cream frosting following it up with pink and yellow crystalized sugar sprinkles.  The final additive was unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid.  (That got a pucker out of me right there!)

Her top decorating was done here at work so we had the opportunity to see both the before and after.

Move your mouse over the cupcakes to see them decorated.



Iris could hardly wait for the decorating to be done and took the first bite!

Move your mouse over the cupcakes to see where Iris put her's!




At the end of the day, Brigette promised to return, but all that was left of the cupcakes was a wonderful abstract of sweet and sour!

 

Beyond Layers II

Inspirational thoughts and projects hosted by Kim Klassen

Day 22 ~ Frames It

This was a fun one, learning how to make some very simple frames to off set images.  Kim's videos showed the process of using the crop tool to set your crop at the border of the photo, then dragging it out to the desired framing and letting it fill with the background color that you've set. 

She also went over the steps for including a drop shadow with framing.

Adding sublety to borders can be done quite easily by using the rectangular marquee.  Set with the desired inside border then choose the inverse tool.  Click on inner border and feather.  Then choose solid color adjustment layer and pick your color for the border.  This can be adjusted from quite visible to just a blush of color by changing the opacity.  Levels adjustment can also be used to higher or lower the impact of the border.

I decided to put it all together in side a frame with the original image as well as the edited versions with frames.  I included one of Kim's textures as the background for the images, then framed the whole image using the extened crop with background color and drop shadow.

I'm also posting a few of the other images that I utlized the framing options on .

The one below I used several textures on as well as a lightened border frame

Day 24 ~ Pastel  for Vintage effects

Kim's video showed how to soften the color using the blend modes starting with screen and tweaking through other blending and levels adjustments.  Desaturation also helps reel in the color.  To help accomplish a vintage effect, solid color adjustments were made.  Pink, yellow and blue are the colors typcially used for pastel effect.  Layer masking is used to brush the color on at desired capacity then brushes are used to remove portions to help highlight areas of the image.  We finished with a texture provided by Kim.

I struggled a bit with this lesson, whether it was my choice of flower or the color overlays I don't really know, however, these two images are what I came up with.  The gladiola below started with a heavy background (mouse over for before image) which I lightened with a fill tool to a very light tone I picked out of the picture.  After applying Kim's processes I finsihed with several layers of the texture at different blends and opacities.  The pastel process is definitely one to work with again when I have time.  I'm already thinking about a soft colored dahlia from the garden that should work well for the process!




Day 26 - You are already amazing

Kim spoke about how uneasy she felt having her picture taken and how many of us feel the same way.  She encouraged us to step outside our shell and take a selfie.  Many of us dwell on what we see as our dificiencies when having our photo taken.  Age and weight our two factors many of us see as a conscience reason to not want to have our picture taken.  An inability to relax in front of the camera lens is a common thread. 

This was educational for me once I decided to take a selfie.  I had no idea how the auto timer worked on my camera.  After consulting the manual and reading what I thought were the instructions, I was no further along.  I finally went on line and watched a Youtube video on setting the self timer on a Nikon D90.  Mystery solved. 

The next step was where to take it. . . . .well, the garden of course!  I got out my tripod, took a few test runs and here you have it, with a bit of editing glasses shadows, desaturating some of the more intense colors and being a bit creative with the framing.  I wanted a 'snap shot' look so--here you have it!

And the words I posted with the photo in the Beyond Layers II Group:

Day 25 ~ Now You

Here's my selfie! My time away from work this time of year is spent in the garden so thought this was perhaps the most appropriate place to take my photo. I'm another who does not feel comfortable in front of the lens. I could blame it on my weight, age and peppered gray hair, and my reluctance to relax enough to smile; however, back in the day when I was slim and my hair was a youthful brown, I still was reluctant to smile and relax when having my picture taken. So, here I am , with some of my closest friends--and once that shutter snapped, I smiled--a little too late!

Monterey Bay ~ Beyond the Aquarium

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As promised, I've finally found time for the last of my 3 Part Series on Monterey.  While the Monterey Bay Aquarium was the primary reason for visiting, the scenic beauty in and around Monterey Bay is not to be missed.

The hotel we stayed in was located right on the beach with a full view of the Monterey Bay shoreline.  The city of Monterey sits a few brief miles to the south, easily within driving and viewing distance.  The upper floors of the hotel offered great viewing of the crashing waves and miles of beach in either direction.

We were able to view fishing trawlers making their way out to sea, watch playful seals riding the waves,





watch other wave watchers
   

 

and witness some awesome sunsets before the night time show of lights from across the bay

The balconies of the hotel were a pristine position to watch the world go by including this squadron of Brown Pelicans.

Seagulls, are of course, the most common bird associated with ocean shores.  They were visible in droves scouring through the sand for whatever they could find along with the black-headed Caspian Terns.

Shore birds are an interesting lot.  We were introduced to a number of common residents while visiting the Aquarium which allowed a close up view and information on their habitats.

The Black Oystercatcher uses his heavy, flat bill to pry shellfish off rocks and to reach in to mollusk shells when closed to sever the muscles. 

                                        

                           Black-necked Stilt  ~ Curlew in background

                                                Black-necked Stilt

                                                    Snowy Plover

                                                        Avocet

                                                              Avocet

The famous 17 Mile Drive was included in our itenerary on both trips to Monterey.  Sweeping ocean views and iconic points of interest along that route are complimented by the greens of 5 golf courses and extravagant homes. 

We entered through the Highway Gate off Highway 1, paid our $10.00 entrance fee and started on the drive down through the Del Monte Forest towards the ocean vistas.  We first stopped at Spanish Bay which offered a great spot to stretch our legs and enjoy a close-up view of the scenic beauty of sand and ocean. 

A wooden walkway extends along the shoreline for those wishing to stroll or hike to the north.  We were content to take in the beautiful sunshine and sand within close proximity of the water just off the parking lot area.

There was no lack of entertainment as we watched a young girl try to anchor her smiley-face umbrella in the sand in conflict to the ocean breeze.

This particular area also appeared to be popular with surfers trying to catch a wave.

Once rested, we continued the 17 Mile Drive route south paralelling the  rugged cliffs and waves crashing against the rocks

Our next stop was Seal Rock which is home to shorebirds, harbor seals and  sea lions.  There were a great number of sea lions spread across Seal Rock with a few seals, Commorants and Pelicans for company.  Boisterous sounds of the bull Sea Lions could be heard across the water to where we were standing on the nearby shore. 

                          A sea lion calls from atop an adjacent rock

Other birds and wildlife make this area their habitat as well.

                             A Squirrel munches on sea kelp.

Fanshell Overlook was our next stop.  This area is a favorite of the harbor seals and is closed April 1 to June 1 during the harbor seal pupping season.  This area offers incredible views of the rocky coast line and imposing homes along its cliffs.  Look closely in the photo below and you can see the seal's heads bobbing in the water.

The wind-shaped Monterey Cypress are visible as part of a beautifully terraced landscape visible from the look out.

We journied on to The Lone Cypress, probably the best known of the sights along the 17 Mile Drive.  This cypress has prevailed for over 250 years on its rocky perch and speaks of the fortitude of the cypress tree's ability to withstand strong winds and adverse weather.  

                  The Lone Cypress is backed by the Carmel Bay

During our most recent visit, we came across these volunteers for the Montery Bay Aquarium that were trying to pick up the transmission on a sea otter they were monitoring.

We took the opportunity at this location to take a few photos of our group which included my Mom, my daughter-in-law Ann, and granddaughter Madison.

Madison, Ann, Mom

Madison, Me, Mom

                       More views view looking across Carmel Bay

Our final stop before heading back to the entry gate was at The Ghost Tree.  The bleached white trunk of this Monterey Cypress that has weathered wind and sea spray has an eerie look about it.

Another view of the Ghost Tree using Kim Klassen's postcard texture.

A view through the cypress looking out towards the ocean past one of the homes on the cliffs.

The breathtaking views of the Pacific Coast along the 17 Mile Drive are wonderful memories.  We were fotunate on both ocassions to have beautiful, sunny weather to enjoy the landscapes enroute. 

Visiting the Aquarium in the morning and the 17 Mile Drive in the afternoon makes for a busy day but we enjoyed every bit of it.   The end of the day is always a treat, looking out across the Monterey Bay.  Clear evenings offer a blast of color while watching the waves go in and out until the grand finale of the golden moment etching the very last reflections of a day done.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

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