BSM: Best Shot Monday 5-10-10

Okay, I know - I'm a day late.  But I think this photo is worth the wait ... I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it.

Ready?   So here it is:

These are the Mother's Day flowers that I received from some of the kids / grandkids on Sunday.  Aren't they luscious?

So there is my first BEST SHOT MONDAY image in I don't know how long ...

--  Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - November 2, 2009

This being the beginning of November, I thought it would be nice to offer up an image taken in our canyon of our ROGERS' RED (California native) Grape (vine) -- turning color. Most of the year, it's green, but here, you can see the leaves are starting to turn ... RED. It produces adorable, tasty, yet seed-filled TINY grapes that are a favorite of not just the neighborhood birds, but our grandkids like them, too.

The birds like them SO much, we've got a 'volunteer' growing along with our climbing white rose up against the chimney, right near our front door - this year, I've been tickled by the little grape cluster that hangs perfectly framed within one of our living room windows. It's charming ...

So there you have my BSM {Best Shot Monday} for this beautiful first Monday of November, 2009.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - October 19, 2009

I actually have what I consider one of my BEST EVER (yet) Best Shot Monday images for this week; I'm so excited about it, I am posting it on Sunday evening, a whole 12 hours early ...

This was taken from our front walk on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 ... as I ran out to capture the beautiful sunset that evening, I was even more excited once I saw the enormous military helicopters slowly lumbering their way south over the ocean ...

What do YOU think?

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - October 5, 2009

BSM ... Best Shot Monday.

It's another Monday, and that can only mean one thing: BSM !!!

Puzzling over what to post, what to post ... do I go far back in the archives, pulling a botanical? an image of the sky? something close-up and detailed? an action shot? a travel photograph? So many memories, so many images to choose from ...

This being the first Monday of OCTOBER, though, and the early days of Fall here in San Diego county, I think I'll go with ...

An older photo, taken of our Rocky. (aka, his official name, SureGrip Quail Oaks Rock Star).

Blessings to you all on this glorious Monday!

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday 9-28-09

This was taken in August, and it's the coolest CHERRY stem I've ever seen.

In thirty-plus years of going to Montana for his parents' cherry harvest, Mark has NEVER (he says) seen a SINGLE STEM with THREE CHERRIES branching off it.

How cool is this?!

So, I know that from a PHOTOGRAPHY or an ARTISTIC perspective, this is not really a "best shot" image ... but the SUBJECT MATTER is so delightful, I couldn't resist. {and there IS that way cool shadow thing happening ...}

Happy MONDAY.

-- Princess Magpie

September 28, 2009

BSM: Best Shot Monday, September 7, 2009

Well, it's MONDAY, and you know what that means ... so here you go ... another BSM {Best Shot Monday, a la Tracey Clark} image to enjoy (I hope!).

This was taken in my garden this morning, after the Flower Fairies (aka, Kaia & Kiara) had their way with one ripe cantaloupe and a piece of throwaway blown glass from my friend Cindy McQuade ...

What do you think?!

And then, there is this photo, which I took on the evening of August 21, 2009 when Mark and I were in Montana at his folks' place at Flathead Lake. My father-in-law had saved up quite a pile of kindling and brush to burn, and we had one heck of a fabulous bonfire that night. It was extra special to me because August 21 was my mother's birthday ... well, it would have been her 86th birthday, if she had not died five years ago. SO this fire's for you, Edith. Blaze on !!!!!

I love you, Mom ...

-- Davielle

BSM: Best Shot Monday 8-31-09

My last shot at an August 2009 BSM ... Best Shot Monday.

I'm taking full advantage of the fact that today is, in fact, a MONDAY. I am back on the BSM track, and happy to be here.

I hope you all enjoy this image of a Swallowtail butterfly perched on a Duranta in full blook in our yard, which I took in September 2008 ... 11 months ago, now. It's just been lurking in the back of my mind, waiting for the most perfectly beautiful summer Monday to post.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - August 10, 2009

Here's my BSM for today ...

It's our youngest "grand", Kaia, holding and directing our attention to ...

The world's absolute SMALLEST SNAIL SHELL. {I'm sure it's the smallest ever.}

Have you ever seen such a thing?

To put this into perspective for you, I also photographed that snail shell side-by-side with a Prednisone tablet. They're rather small themselves, those Pred tabs.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - July 27, 2009

I know, I've been remiss about posting my BSM images ... I needed a break, I guess.

But now, I am BAAAAACK and ready to select ... that special ... BSM.

Today's image was taken on our first morning in Venice; as Kristina and I sat quietly absorbing the view of the Grand Canal, and the early-morning activity of the Gondoliers and the tradesmen, I put the camera (Canon, G9) on "sport" setting and happily clicked away.

no, this isn't my BSM ... just a lead-in ...

When Kristi saw TODAY'S IMAGE, she said, "well, THERE's your BSM". I was so in vaca-mode, I had to ask her what BSM was !!!

Given that it was early Tuesday morning, it was technically STILL a Monday back home in California, and I could have run upstairs, uploaded this to my laptop, and posted it right then & there. I opted not to do that ... I opted to stay in that vacation-moment, enjoying my morning with my girls.

I told you I needed a break ... :-).

no, this isn't it, either ...

this is Kristi & Kiara at Hotel Monaco Grand Canal / Venice, Italy

So here you go ...

THIS, this, is my BSM image ... note the yellow carton in mid-air ...

I love my camera! Venice, Tuesday 14 July 2009

It's good to be back, friends.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday 6-29-09 (on Wednesday)

How did Monday slip away ... it was Tuesday night before I realized that I had failed to post a BEST SHOT MONDAY image.

Monday was our oldest "grand"s 14th birthday, so I wonder if I should post another image of him? I could. Or should I post something "artsy", or something from our garden ??? or of Rocky, our rat terrier?

I can't decide, so I guess I'll just peruse the photo files until something strikes me as reasonably worthy enough to join the ranks of the AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHERS who participate in BSM !!

Well, you know what they say about a girl and her horses ... it's a match made in heaven.

My AHA moment for this week occurred when I was happily reminded of seeing the Lipizzaner show in San Diego last summer with family and friends .. when I came across THESE images:

my Canon G9 was still new to me at the time (heck, it STILL is), so indoor shots were a challenge for me - the arena was completely dark, and there were spotlights on the horses and riders ... but I like this, with that shadow of the horse and rider ...

this was another one I was happy with after reviewing the 100 or so that I shot that afternoon

but THIS is it -- the best of the bunch, as far as I'm concerned .. THIS is my BEST SHOT MONDAY

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - June 22, 2009

It's that time again ... it's Monday, and that can only mean one thing here on I AM PRINCESS MAGPIE ... Best Shot Monday!



Although this was taken several months ago, it has stuck in my mind all this time ... so I'm posting it TODAY as my BSM, even though I did not take it "just last week".

Hope that's okay.

This is our Rat Terrier ROCKY playing with SOPHIE, a rather large Rhodesian Ridgeback who he (Rocky) happens to be crazy about. :-)

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday, June 15, 2009

Oh my, I almost forgot to post a BSM photograph for today ... that just won't do.

Because I took hundred of photos this past week -- this is going to be difficult.

I'd like to be a little annoying and post several ... I hope nobody minds. I think they're all worthy of BSM status ... the first one, because there is nothing that I personally enjoy more than seeing my grandchildren HAPPY. Happy, comfortable with themselves, and just plain glad to be doing what(ever it is) they're doing.

Kiara, at her 11th birthday party, TEXTING and HULA HOOPING all at once! now THAT is a future multi-tasker ... future, heck. She's doin' it now !!

Kiara in the line-up of Birthday Party Friends

and her big brother, Trevor, doing what he likes just about best - Pitching. On Saturday. (they won)



any time you've got a ballplayer SMILING during the game, it's a beautiful, awesome thing ...

And these, because I think that our Canon G9 camera caught these critters doing what makes THEM happy, too.

this is our Rocky, the Rat Terrier - trying to catch a better view of ...

this, little rabbit in full flight, on our front lawn !!!

and then ... last but not least ...

Snowy Egret (in our yard), taking off ...

That's my theme for this week's BEST SHOT MONDAY, then. Being Happy. Doing that which makes you Happy. And the secondary theme ... ACTION.

:-)

Princess Magpie, aka, Davielle

BSM: Best Shot Monday, June 8, 2009 - posted from Solvang, CA

I have very few photos to choose from this morning, as I'm posting off our laptop, from charming Solvang, California. Although we head home this afternoon, I know the day will get away from me, so I am opting to post something for BSM from the handful of photos I took on this quick trip getaway.

it's not a great photo, but this charming little statue captured my attention yesterday (at J. Woeste garden shop) in Los Olivos and I couldn't resist sharing her with all of you ... how many times as a child, barefoot in the garden, did YOU have to remove some bothersome thing from the bottom of YOUR foot?! :-)

While I try to avoid GRIPING on my Princess Magpie blog, I feel compelled to tell you that IF you should visit Los Olivos, and IF you should visit the J. Woeste garden shop, do not expect good customer service. I tried to find an employee for 15 minutes - only to discover that the man (right beneath my nose) who was busily texting all that time DID work there - he never looked up, never asked if I needed help -- even when I stood 4 feet away and said (to myself, out loud), "I wonder if they have a business card around here - oh, here's one" -- he NEVER even paused, nor did he look up. THEN, my husband said "that guy works here - I saw him in the garden a while back" ... so I go back, INTERRUPT his oh-so-important texting, and ask "excuse me, but do you work here" (fully expecting him to say "no, I'm just watching the front while my female friend carries on a personal phone call in the back room" - which, by the way, we could overhear all throughout the little shop - but no, he says "YES I DO" ... not 'yes, how can i help you' -- and then I had to ask him to come around the corner to ask about a dog statue they have. NOT HELPFUL at all; not engaging; not friendly. {Boy, that "yes I do" sure surprised me !!!}

again, not a great photograph ... but something about the sweetness of mother and foal at the Quicksilver Ranch (miniature horse farm) just grabbed me ...

On a much more approachable and friendly and engaging note, if you'd like to take a closer look at the miniature horses of Quicksilver Ranch, here's their website: http://qsminis.com/

Signing off now from the Danish capital of California, sweet SOLVANG ... http://www.solvangusa.com/

-- Princess Magpie, aka, Davielle

Post # 80

No, I'm not referring to some outback kind of a post here.

Post # 80 refers to the fact that this is already my eightieth {I love spelling that word} blogpost on I AM PRINCESS MAGPIE. I can hardly believe it.

Time to get PART TWO of the six weeks of MIXED MEDIA WITH PAPER & CLOTH, taught by Jane LaFazio, catch-up posted, complete with photographs.

And it's time to get THE MAS (Messy Art Space/Studio) photos posted here, so you don't have to click over to my other blog at www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com to see what's happening in our garage these days :-) !!!


Happy Tuesday, everyone.


Oh - a photograph for Post # 80 - hmmmm. Let's see. What should I select?

How about an assortment of my recent fave shots? That's what I'll do.


Here you go, then:



"grand" Kiara -- at her brother's baseball game

"grand" Trevor, at said baseball game

"grands" Trevor & Kiara with # 1 Daughter {it's a birth order thing} -- aka, their mom! -- on Easter

youngest "grand" Kaia, in our Mulberry Tree

and Daughter #2, Kaia's mom - with Kaia on Easter

and last but not least, ME MYSELF & I at a recent "the art of Transfers" workshop with Golden artist CHRIS COZEN -- that's me, far left, back row; next to Chris. we're both in apple green !!! {also in this photo, the gorgeous Gabriella who was in Jane's MIXED MEDIA session with me for 6 weeks - she's in the front row, 2nd from right}

I have to say that, thanks to Tracey Clark and her BSM {Best Shot Monday} 'project', taking and posting photograhs has become a whole 'nother ART FORM for me to explore.

your,

Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - June 1, 2009

Happy June, all. And boy, has it been 'practicing' a lot around here lately for the whole June Gloom thing. ;-) (just the way I like it, though ... I love this stuff !!!)

So it was hard to decide what to post for today's BSM (Best Shot Monday) image ... I caught* some good shots of Trevor at his Pony baseball game on Saturday - a game which they won.



I also caught some not-so-great shots of our Great Horned Owl(ets) again - last night -- and while they're not so great, you CAN see their silhouettes.


Given the limited capabilities of the photographer (that would be me) -- 'cause I do think my camera (a Canon G9) is far more capable than what I'm getting -- they're not so bad. Not after a bit of "brightness, contrast, and color" adjustment, anyway.

So I think I'll have to post TWO. Okay, THREE.

THIS, this - is my BSM image.

That's our Trevor, getting a hit/RBI - and making his bat stand upright !!!

Really, can you believe the strange "luck" I have with capturing baseball bats doing tricks ??? (some of you might recall my BSM post for April 27th, where the bat was suspended in air!)

and this, this would be right up there with the bat-on-end. I call it Ball in Glove. (as Trevor's private coach, Ryan, always tells him - "the catcher has ONE JOB. to CATCH the ball." Ryan would be proud!)

Owl Taking Flight off our bluff -- and check out the silhouette of the shrub to the left - does that resemble a hunched over violinist, or what?! I love it !!!


Yup ... those are my three for this (last) week. Have a beautiful Monday, and KEEP TAKING PHOTOS !!!

-- Princess Magpie, aka Davielle

* you probably now get the pun -- "caught" on camera while Trevor was "catching". oh, never mind. sometimes I am too easily amused and it's not really all that clever!

BSM: Best Shot Monday - May 25, 2009 (posted 5/26)

I actually TOOK this shot on Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day, 2009:

It is one of our two great horned owlets - I call this one "Owlet Number One" - s/he is the smaller of the two fledglings, and this was the first time that Mark and I saw them out of the nest - last evening, when we got home from spending the day with friends up in the mountains (where we saw our first Bluebirds of 2009, too).

How adorable is Owlet Number One ??

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - May 18, 2009

A day late, but hopefully not a dollar short ... here is my BEST SHOT MONDAY for this week. I actually took this on Mother's Day, at the Park, where many of us in the family gathered to celebrate all us Moms.

These are my two granddaughters (above), and I just love their faces in this.

I sure had a hard time choosing just one shot this week, so I've included some "spares", below, all from the same day - Mother's Day 2009.

this is daughter Kristina tormenting her niece, Kaia !!!

and this is my daughter, Cara, with her daughter, Kaia - strolling back from the bathrooms - did you catch the matching STRUT on these girls?

and last but certainly not least, the group shot - "grand" Kaia, daughter Kristi, daughter Cara, and "grand" Kiara (in case you weren't following along above, Kaia belongs to Cara, and Kiara belongs to Kristi :-) !!!).

I LOVE ALL OUR GIRLS - just wish Sierra had been in town to be a part of the celebration and photos.

"Don't get so involved in the duties of your life and your children that you forget the pleasure. Remember why you had children."

-- Lois Wyse

-- Davielle

Best Shot Monday, 5-18-09 (posted on 5-19)

BSM: Best Shot Monday - May 11, 2009

This photo was taken in April (2009) and it's my "Best Shot Monday" for this week. I don't know if you can see the very delicate cobweb from the beak to the chest, but it's what makes this one special to me. :-)

That, and the fact that this duck belonged to my mother and I've been able to drag it move-after-move for decades now. I think it's here to stay !!!

Happy Monday, everyone.

-- Princess Magpie

Mixed Media with Jane LaFazio in the morning; so posting on Sunday night !!

BSM: Best Shot Monday 5-4-09

Happy May, everyone!

I chose another nature-themed image for my BEST SHOT MONDAY this week ... this is the 'Chicago Peace' rose in our garden. I chose 'Chicago Peace' over it's parent rose, 'Peace', because my father was born in Chicago. So it's a sentimental rosebush for me, and this year, the bloom is spectacular.

And if I haven't mentioned it before, I want to make note here that I do not have, nor do I know how to use, Photoshop.

Any images I post were taken by me, with my Canon G9, and if anything, they may have been cropped. But never photo-shopped.

I don't know that it would make a difference -- someone's BEST SHOT MONDAY could be crazily-awesome after a session in Photoshop, so I'm not against it or anything.

I just wanted to be clear that mine aren't ... for whatever that's worth.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - April 27, 2009

Here is my BSM shot for last week:

This was taken just yesterday, Sunday, at "grand" Trevor's travel ball game. He's on a travel team, the SO CAL AZTECS, and they play in the 13 yr division. Last Sunday, they won both their games in this Wood Bat Tournament; yesterday, they lost both games - by one point each game.

That's baseball. And THIS is my BSM :-) ...

LOOK CLOSELY at the photo - the bat is in mid-air. Cool, huh?

-- Princess Magpie