Clare Davis Etheridge

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The August Break Part 2

I know, I know, it is the end of September, the very end, the last day, the 30th and here I am still babbling on about August. No, I am not stuck in some time warp or summer longing (heck no, I am loving the chilly nights and mornings), I used a 35mm vintage Minolta camera to take my August Break photos so therefore I had to get them developed and before that I had to finish the film. The first part/film of my August Break photos are written about here.

I finished the picture taking and I snapped a few extra to finish the film and then I took it to be developed and then, I forgot. But then I remembered again and I picked out my favorites and ignored the out of focus ones.

Day 18. Look Up. It was a stormy day and I snapped a picture of the cloudy dark sky before the clouds dropped all of their stored rain at the end of a hot August day.

Day 19. Sweet Delights. I bought these peaches for everyone else in the house because although I love them, I can’t eat peaches because they make my mouth itch. If I cook them into muffins or scones I am able to enjoy them (I wonder if there is some science reason for this) so I made some peachy muffins from a couple of these.

Day 20. Two. The number two on a wall and two surfaces. This is one of my favorite photos.

Day 21. Real Life. Lists, menu ideas and shopping list with magazines and cookbooks. I can’t make out what it was on the list, but I can see ‘DO IT!’ written next to it. I hope I did. I live off lists, things I need to do and food shopping are my main lists. Are you a list maker or do you manage to remember everything you need to do/buy?

Day 23. Water. The creek in the woods where we go exploring and paddling in our wellies. We have found all sorts down here, marbles, pots, bottles and a statue of Krishna!

Day 25. Green. I like this photo too and to be honest I am amazed that it is in focus. I stuck my lens pretty much right into the leaves and got a nice detailed ‘green’ picture.

Day 28. In my Bag. In this bag is a knitting project which has staggered to a halt because I have got a bit stuck. I will make a big effort to sort it out and hopefully I will finish it. It is a scarf so I had better get a wiggle on if I want it for this winter! Maybe I will shoot for winter 2020 and be realistic!!

So that was the photos from this year’s August Break which is hosted by Susannah Conway. I enjoyed using my film camera but I do like to see what I am taking now that I mainly use a DSLR and my phone for photos.

Now I am ready for October tomorrow! Happy Wednesday x

One + Four = Life. Weekly photos 39/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I have not taken many photos this week, but never fear, I have some to share! I am joining in with Isabel at Nanjing Nian and linking up with other lovely people sharing their weekly photos.

1. This is an old house in our neighbourhood up for sale. It looks like it hasn’t been touched in years, I bet it is all original inside. Kinda cool.

2. The garden is still enjoying the warm weather, this aubergine is growing in the shape of a mitten!

3. At the weekend we caught the train into St Louis. I love the Peabody Opera House and the array of carved faces all around the walls of the building.

4. Outside one of the local arenas is this kickboxing hare! I can’t tell if he is about to beat someone up or run off at high speed!

I hope you had a lovely weekend, did you get to see the Supermoon which was red and eclipsed? We had a dense cloud cover here so missed the whole thing. I had a peek outside around 11pm and the moon was almost out of the eclipse and shining brightly down on us.

Through The Lens Thursday #39. Pink.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I got rather distracted on my last trip to Michaels the craft shop and I ended up buying three balls of super chunky yarn in this lovely pink with a view to knit a cowl/scarf for the winter. I knitted it up in a couple of hours (on and off with a spot of cooking and cleaning in between rows) and I am pleased with the final cowl. Now I just need some cool weather so that I can wear it!

I have included this photo too even though it is completely out of focus. A happy accident in my opinion, I like the fuzzy hazy look. You can still tell what it is a photo of, but it is artistically (accidentally) out of focus.

Next week’s prompt is ‘Lines’.

Taking Stock September 2015

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

So, this year is officially flying by, I have proof of this by the fact that I just looked back to see when I last ‘Took stock’ and when I saw July I though that was too recent past for another one. Then I read the post and it all seemed like ages ago, the middle of summer, Warped Tour, so much time has passed since then, but so quickly. This must be one of my good reasons for keeping a daily diary where I just jot down what we have done (or not) in a day, so that I can look back and remember each moment before they slip out the back door of my brain and skip down the garden path of my memory.

I decided to forge ahead and do a ‘Taking Stock’ post because they are fun to write and see what I am up to at this very moment! What are you up to at this very moment? If you fancy a stock take, I have a blank list for you at the bottom of this post. Hurrah!

Making : Very chunky knitted cowls, I made one which is a little wide, so I need to make another! They take about an hour in all to make which is my kind of knitting.
Cooking : Pozole for the first time, I hope we like it. I have never used hominy in my whole life, today I get to try it.
Drinking : Frothy coffee, but wanting pumpkin beer!
Reading: ‘Purity’ by Jonathan Franzen.
Wanting: The new David Walliams book – ‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ to arrive from the UK so that I can read it to my 10 year old! So excited to get it.
Looking: Outside and wishing it would cool down please, just a little at a time would be fine, but high 80s is not a late September temperature in my opinion.
Playing: Football/soccer, Swingball and basketball all in the garden (not at once!) now that the evenings are cooling.
Deciding: Which smells to mix into the hand, body and lip balms I am making.
Wishing: It was cooler in the daytime.
Enjoying: The windows open at night, so the lovely breeze can flow through the house.
Waiting: For my tomatoes to ripen so I can pick them.
Liking: That we have had a good aubergine crop even though I don’t like them.
Wondering: What people cook with aubergines to make them nice.
Loving: That I can catch the train into the city this weekend to go to the Strangefolk Festival at Union Station.
Pondering: Which colour to use next on my crochet blanket? Yes, that half done one in the photo.
Considering: New boots for the winter.
Buying: Long trousers and hoodies for my boys.
Watching: The Big Bang Theory and The Great British Baking Show (not sure why PBS renamed it, but they did!).
Hoping: That I can get my hair coloured purple tomorrow and the colour sticks to my grey hair.
Marvelling: That I can actually use Photoshop even a little bit without my brain exploding messily inside my head.
Cringing: At all kinds of nonsense on social media and yet still I keep going there.
Needing: A new pair of arms after a killer pilates class this morning.
Questioning: The labels I have made for my balms, I think I need a re-design.
Smelling: L’Occitane Verbena perfume, I just love it.
Wearing: Still t shirts and Birks and looking forward to jeans and scarves!
Following: My kid as he zooms to school on his bike/skateboard.
Noticing: That the leaves are starting to fall, making the woods crunchy as we walk through.
Knowing: The plot of Harry Potter is not spoiling it as I read the books to my son. I am enjoying reading them a second time around.
Thinking: I need to mow the grass.
Admiring: Lisa Congdon as I take her classes on Creative Bug.
Sorting: Markers which work from markers which don’t. It is amazing that we keep all these pens and half of them don’t work!
Getting: Lots of inspiration for lots of things.
Bookmarking: She Who Rambles who makes me laugh and think and inspires me to do and make. Thanks Reannon!
Coveting: Koi colouring pens in many many colours.
Disliking: When I am taking photos and my card is full. Erase. Erase. Erase.
Opening: A surprise parcel which arrived today!
Giggling: At the boys playing with cap guns and making way too much noise!
Feeling: Pleased that I have been working with lots of people this week, getting photos taken and balms made.
Snacking: On chocolate digestives.
Helping: With homework.
Hearing: BBC radio on the interweb.

Happy mid week! Here is a list if you want to stock take. Taking Stock is the brainchild of the wonderful Pip of Meet Me At Mikes, I am just borrowing the concept and list.

Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:

One + Four = Life. Weekly Photos 38/52.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

We spent a lot of time this weekend on the Metro Link around St Louis, as I don’t drive, this is my main transport when I am out and about. There are lots of options once you are off the train around Forest Park, so we like to take full advantage.

1. On Friday we decided to visit Forest Park and include the Zoo in the trip. As the zoo is the furthest point from the train station, we went there first. We went to see the polar bear who was happily munching away on ice cubes which flowed from his personal ice maker in the enclosure wall. While we were having lunch this Grackle sat eyeing up the nacho’s!

2. We made our way back across the park and decided to stop off at the St Louis Art Museum for a few minutes of air conditioning and maybe check out a couple of paintings at the same time. Shortly after entering we got got chatting to one of the museum staff who was telling us about some of the pieces in the collection, so we went to see them. The Art Museum holds lots of favorites for us, so we decided to go and find the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. Even though we visit the mummies regularly, I still have no clue where to find them, so we got to wander around the museum on the way to eventually say hi to the old Egyptians. On the way we came across the ‘Blow-Up‘ Exhibit which features some gorgeous vintage Marimekko fabric and dresses, so that was a happy detour. A quick stop off ended up lasting one and a half arty hours!

3. After an 8 mile day on Friday, we were off again on Saturday. Back to Forest Park, this time for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. On the walk over to the field where the balloons launch from, we spotted this graffiti on the side of a dumpster, pretty cool.

4. The balloon race is an annual event but we haven’t been for years and years. It was a windy day which meant that some of the regular balloons were unable to take off. This didn’t deter from the event at all as most of the balloons were up and away in spectacular style. The grounded balloons welcomed the public onto the launch field where we could get up close and chat to the pilots. I love the colours of the balloons and the sheer size. I couldn’t complain about the brilliant blue sky either!

By the time we got home on Saturday we had walked another 8 miles! So we declared Sunday a ‘sit down’ day!! The weather was lovely this weekend, sunny but cooling down nicely. Yay for early Autumn!

I hope you had a lovely week, I am joining in with Isabel at Nanjing Nian for a One + Four =Life link up with other bloggers, pop over and see what everyone has been up to.

Six Word Saturday

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

A lovely day for the annual Maddenfest Parade today. We walked over to the route, waved and smiled and got pelted with candy!

Later we are heading to the Great Forest Park Balloon Race for funnel cake and hot air balloons. A good day in St Louis!

I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Through The Lens Thursday #38. Drawn.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

This week’s Through The Lens Thursday was the perfect prompt as I have decided to draw more, every day in fact. I have drawn or doodled or painted something every day so far (I started on Saturday!).
This drawing is inspired by the Lisa Congdon Sketchbook Explorations class currently running on Creative Bug.

Next week is ‘Pink’.

In My Garden

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I wrote about my garden as it started to sprout and grow back in May here, so I thought I would get a few photos of the garden now and see how it has developed.

It seems that some of the plants have come and gone, like the rhubarb and the sunflowers but some plants have taken off and created their own little rambling world. The tomatoes have all grown and tumbled (some literally) and grown into huge plants. Cherry tiny tomatoes are jostling with beefsteak big guys all trying to survive the squirrels together. Unfortunately the squirrels prefer the large slower growing tomatoes whether they have ripened or not. Consequently I have not had the pleasure of more than one or two tomatoes larger than a couple of centimeters.

The tomatoes under the Mulberry tree are taking forever and ever to grow and then even consider going red, some have mutated into unusual shapes. I wonder if this one will ripen or will it get stolen for a squirrel’s breakfast.

The chilis have been growing since February when I started the seeds in the basement. They are all growing nicely and I have had a few chilis from each plant, some have gone into salsa and some into the freezer.

I have to say that I can’t remember which plants are which! I know that the teeny chilis are the Thai hot variety, but the other two I will often have to have a little nibble to see how hot they are before I pop them into a recipe. Thankfully none have blown the top off my head yet!

The surprise veggies of the season were the eggplants which were given to me as a starter plant by my neighbour. I popped them into one of the raised beds to see if they would grow, and they have come up a treat, I have had three or four successful plants which have grown some lovely eggplants and they still have flowers which hopefully will develop into more vegetables. The only slight problem is that I don’t really like eggplant and every recipe I try with them doesn’t make me like them any more. Happily I have been able to enjoy watching them grow and then pass them along to friends who do like them.

The rosemary has grown so well this year, I am not sure where it will fit when I have to bring it inside over the winter. It has been in and out for a few years, so I don’t want to kill it off now! I used to have two plants and now I am down to this one, so I will endeavor to keep it alive through the snow.
So fingers crossed that all of my tomatoes and chili peppers ripen before the autumn chill grips, because although green chili’s are useable, I am not at all sure what to do with green tomatoes. I can’t see fried green toms in my future and last year I made jars of relish which no-one ate!

Are you a veggie gardener or do you prefer a flower garden? I usually grow lots of flowers too, but for some reason my daft brain didn’t remind me plant my usual sweet peas and I have missed them this year. My lavender was a disaster which was a disappointment to me and the bees, so next year I pledge to try harder with the lavender, sunflower and sweet pea crops!

Happy Wednesday!

One+Four=Life. Weekly Photos 37/52.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

1. I started a new (another one!) crochet project. I figured that if this blanket is an endless granny square, I should be able to manage it. I wonder how big it will get? It is about the size of a large doll blanket now, maybe teddy bear blanket size.
2. I have been at it again, painting garden veggies right after I picked them.
3. While we walked at Castlewood State Park this weekend I found a rock with a hole which is one of my favorite things (don’t judge). This rock has a hole and the hole is heart shaped!
4. There were also lots of fabulous clouds while we walked.

Happy new week to you!

Six Word Saturday

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Do you like a ‘challenge’? I don’t mean a throw yourself out of an aeroplane type challenge, I am talking more the daily prompt driven variety.

I am turning into a challenge addict I think. I love those prompt driven drawing or photography projects which are all over Instagram. They work well for me too, I usually follow along and complete them with a sense of fulfilled relief. Then I stop. But, I want to carry on, I want to do more of the regular creativity, and I think I need to move away from the challenge based creativity and just get myself doing something on a daily basis, on a regular daily basis.

A drawing, a painting, hand lettering a word or a phrase, making a doodle or writing some words even.

I was twiddling about on Instagram today and I saw a post by the photographer David Loftus which was a photo of his sketchbook. In the description he explained that he has been making a sketch a day since January and he hasn’t missed a day this year. How impressive is that, and what a sketchbook he must have. Full to the brim of creative goodness.

I want a sketchbook (or two, or three) full of creative fabulous. I want to fill it with good stuff and disasters and ‘oh well, I gave it a go’ stuff, with a page or two of ‘wow’.

So, I am going to. From today I am going to draw or paint something every day. I hope I can carry on into lots of nice fat sketchbooks. This week’s Six Word Saturday contains my first painting/doodle. Yay!

Tell me which challenges you are doing and knowing me, I will want to join in too!!

Happy Weekend.