simoneqdm’s Neighborhood

This big spoon came from the set of the movie,The Shipping News  that starred Kevin Spacey. At the end of a production sometimes there is an auction of props and things. A  friend of mine who worked as the food stylist on that show picked  up some spoons. I had helped her create a "squid" burger for one of the scenes. lol. We tried to make it look great with bits of dulse hanging out and deep fried breaded fried tentacles but Kevin refused to even try it. The rest of the crew and director did and pronounced them delicious! His was eventually made with chicken. All this for a ten second shot:)

I uploaded this shot to Shutterstock on the weekend. It was was accepted and already has a download:) I have not been very consistent at all with my microstock stuff and plan to try to get a few uploaded each week. It is another way to make some extra dollars and fun too. With a bit of work, you could do quite well! I wrote about  microstock a while ago. There was some controversy recently about microstock taking  money from professional photographers but the shot in question that triggered the discussion was just a jar of coins used by Time magazine for their cover. Personally, I think why spend "big" money on a shot of a jar,  a classic "stock" picture.  Spend the"big"money on shots that require imagination and presence.

If you take a look around some of the microstock companies, there are AMAZING images to be found now. The advent of digital cameras has made photography accessible to so many more people and they are really pushing the boundaries of what can be done.

This is the "before" picture. Practically ALL my shelves look like this! Ah, January...the month that triggers resolutions, good intentions and lots of great plans. Can you guess what I am starting? That is if I can get off this computer and not get distracted by something else. I find that when I tidy up anything with words, I start reading.... :) oh yeah, where was I? Takes forever!

Our storm is over! What an event that was.  I don't think I've ever seen such change in so short  time. Raining, then snowing hard, then ice pellets and back to snow, now it is mild and everything is melting. Wonder what is in store for next week? Crazy weather everywhere!

Gretchen Rubin is someone we can all learn something from. She just published a book called The Happiness Project.  I 'd like to read it. Last year she test drove lots of theories about happiness and this book outlines what she discovered. One of the things I thought was interesting is that "random acts of kindness" don't work. People invariably end up suspicious and nervous. Better to help out a friend in need or help out as opportunities present themselves. Random scares people. Hmmm. Good stuff to ponder.

It's a winter wonderland out there! So pretty, so terrible to drive in. Right now I can hear ice pellets pinging my windows. Today and tomorrow .... snow, ice ,rain, repeat. A real nor'easter. I've been watching the always cheerful Chris St. Clair on the Weather Network describing it. He makes it seem like fun:) Love that guy!

I was out shoveling this morning, good way to get some exercise in:) Cleared off the bird feeder. Those little guys get hungry this time of year. Now it is time to think about lunch. Made some mjuddrah yesterday for good luck. It is a Lebanese dish with lentils and rice and caramelized onions. Eating lentils on January 1 is considered lucky, attracts prosperity:) I think it is because they look like tiny coins. I will have some of that with chopped tomatoes and feta. Yum.

This afternoon I am going to try my hand at painting:) Finally!! I've been doing everything but....

It's here! 2010. We are on the other side:)

Ahhh, sigh of relief, back to basics..... it is going to be hard after all the indulging. My birthday is fast approaching too. It is my winter hat-trick, Christmas, New Year and then Birthday:)

Last night's meal was delicious, shared with good friends...... Chipotle pork tenderloin, penne with shrimp and asparagus, broccoli salad and then profiteroles with chocolate sauce for dessert:) Topped off with a decaffe latte and sparlking drinkies. Movie was Stone of Destiny, a quaint Scottish flick, finished off with Halifax Parade Square countdown, dazzling backyard fireworks and then Times Square countdown! Dick Clark keeps soldiering on:)

Hope you had a good night too:) What did you do?

Oh my, it is here again. New Year's Eve.
Always a big day in my book. I love the changing of the years. December into January, a new cycle, new opportunties, fresh new calendar to pin up and fill with dates and events! January is my birthday month too:) Next week in fact:)
Tonight there will be a blue moon!
I've been thinking about 2010 and was trying to come up with a list of what I would like to do. Of course it got out of hand but I thought I would post it anyway ...... just because....

Spend a week in New York City
Finally get the clutter under control
Spend more time with friends
See more of Nova Scotia
Paint large
Reach a weight and fitness level that I am happy with
Walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela
Downsize my possessions
Spend less time on the computer
Visit Paris again
Do more charity work....give more
Go camping
Have a gallery show
Sleep under the stars
Go to an art retreat
Meet more online people in person:)
Learn how to really use my camera
Return to Scotland
Start doing portrait sessions
Do more hiking
Organize my business
Get more fresh air
Have dinner parties
Move more
Meditate
Learn
Love

Of course the list is always changing and constantly growing:) Fun to think about what might be.
Hope you have a lovely evening tonight and that 2010 brings you lots of happiness :)

Scottish shortbread:) You are looking at the end of my current affair with naughty food. Now onto veggies and soup and fibre and protein:)

There's a show here in Canada called XWeighted. Sort of like Biggest Loser but not anywhere near the scale. (pun that I didn't get until rereading:) Actually it is not like Biggest Loser at all now that I think of it.  It is a show about losing weight. In January they are starting  six month "at home challenge" I think I will sign up on January 9th :) Sound like a plan?

Today is the Big Draw. I am headed to the QE11 Foundation office later to get the winning ticket drawn. Exciting! Thanks to all who donated and to everyone else, thanks for bearing with all my fund raising beseeching.

But first I have to get my hair cut:)

You never know what you will find here:) From me begging you to donate to worthy causes to what I'm reading. This afternoon, I finally have settled in to read Tales from a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms by my pal, AliceGriffin. I've been following Alice's adventures for a while now through her blog. It is a delightful read written by a delightful person. Great for armchair travelers, families with a dream and those actually starting their planning:)

Also, remember that amaryllis I saved? Look how it has grown and not only that, a twin shoot grew from the same bulb alongside it and now is ready to burst into bloom also!

Monty approves....... I'm learning how to use my new lens:)

Because I am team leader... I feel a bit of responsibility towards the rest of my group and am posting this here because there are only two days left to participate in this opportunity to help purchase a new digital mammogram machine for our local hospital.
For a $10 donation you will be entered in a draw on December 30th to win ALL of this! So far, only 60 tickets have been sold.

2 tickets to Mooseheads game on January 8th vs Montreal Juniors

$30 gift certificate to THE ARMVIEW