I've been having an epiphany in slow motion these past 5 months or so... trying to find some combination of my computer photography work and my wood-carving. My bad eye, the right one with it's WMD, had done a number on my overall life style and my daily routines, and my good eye was working overtime. I'm now alternating between these two activities, and it seems to be helping. These photos show the wooden plate I'm working on now, and some others, in order: pieces waiting for additonal carving/sanding/oiling, some on a stairways wall, one that Inday put on the coffee table, my current Favorite one sitting on our mantle, and a close-up. The pieces are mostly acacia wood plates that are popular here in the Philippines, and the dimensions are in the 5-12" range. The wood is already dried/cured and I can just start carving. Sometimes I just let the grains and colors suggest what to cut, and sometimes I'll start carving with a specific idea in mind.

Wow! Scary, and sort of cool. I tried the AI video option in G Slides. I actually liked the changed phrasing in places, and the female voice will make me change my comments. Feedback? For me overall, wierd... I think I'll continue playing with it. Also, I've got to update/ correct my titles.

I'm liking the Google Slides app better \

With the eye issues I've been dealing with lately, I'm thinking about doing some short slideshow videos of my old photos and sharing them here. This is test #1:

island hopping Horizons #2 - more images focusing on the lines of the horizon...

island hopping Horizons #1 - towards the end of our island hopping day, I started focusing on the lines of the horizon, and the bands of color and texture in the water, and on the islands we passed by...

Winter branches and snow...5 years ago, 20Jan2020

mud puddles yesterday, wet leaves today, from 6Jan2021 -- I enjoy the changes that come with our different seasons, and I like the beauty in that chaos. These leaves were blown onto the gravel path leading down a path by our apartments, leaving the path by the complex cleared of leaves. When I looked down at the wet leaves and gravel, I found these images...

puddle reflections in a parking lot by the river...Bothell WA, 5 years ago

from 5 years ago, on 4Jan2021 -- One of my favorite times to shoot photos is on a foggy, Winter morning. I like the lines of the black and gray tree branches. Depending on how far they are from my camera lens, and how the fog is shifting, they're always changing...

They finally gave Santa his due yesterday. At xmas, he was standing over by the elevator, all alone, and without his pink guitar. Now, he has a tree, and a saxophone! All riiight! I like saxophones better anyway.

Keepers #2

Keepers #1 -- I enjoy going through my photos sometimes. "Keepers" are what I call the ones I like. These shots are: a cow looking at me in Eastern Washington State, early morning puddles on pavement, woman walking near Jackson St, chrome grill at a car show, and concrete wall with a pipe and two holes...

I did the Crown Regency "Skywalk" with my nieces the other night. My legs stopped trembling about half way through, and that's when I started to really look at Cebu City. I was happy to be the last in line because I got to just stare out and look around when they were doing the individual photo ops. I'm the tall one in the group shots :) It was sort of magical, but I'm not sure that I'll do it again. Sitting down and looking at the Fuente Osmena Park below us was one of my goals. Another goal (see hands in prayer) was to be able to stand up again.