Month: August 2019

Flower Close-ups

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Georgia O’Keeffe has been one of my favorite artists for many years. I had a poster of her paintings of a jimson weed in my first apartment. I wish I were as talented as she. I’ve only dabbled with a paint brush. Maybe one day I’ll become a Twenty-first Century version of Grandma Moses. In the meantime, I have my camera to help in my attempts at being O’Keeffe.

Glacier pansy

I love pansies’ pensive little faces. This one used to grow on my balcony. Alas, nothing lasts forever.

Raindrops on Pansy

The back of a pansy is as pretty and interesting as the front, especially when raindrops have fallen on one of the petals.

Pansy Petals

O’Keeffe mode in the extreme. It’s interesting to be able to see the different shades of purple, the delicate veining and the raindrops up-close.

Twin Petunias

Another humble little flower I adore. Petunias are bright and cheerful. Two blossoms grew so close together, they look like conjoined twins.

My flowers turn their backs on me and face the sun. It may not look like it, but this is a white petunia.

Tulip

More intriguing delicate shading in the petals of this blossom. The petals don’t look this ruffled from a normal point of view. Beautiful despite it’s slight flaw.

Heart of a Tulip

This is the same tulip as the previous photo. The most intense color is on the inside.

Dahlia Petals

This dahlia resides in the Dahlia Test Garden at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington. It has many colorful friends. Does it look a bit like the rays of the rising sun?

Summer Sunshine

Another resident of Point Defiance Park. In the Rose Garden. A close-up of the Julia Child rose.

Clouds: From My Balcony

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Photography is one of my favorite occupations. Clouds are one of my favorite subjects. They can be very dramatic. They move slowly. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t in sharp focus. Who ever heard of a hard edged cloud?

I’m so lucky to have this view

If you live in Puget Sound country, it’s a good idea to learn to love clouds. Between the influence on the ocean, the inland sea that is our Sound and our mountain ranges, we get lots of clouds.

I can’t get enough of this view.

I keep my camera hand and leap out of my chair when my peripheral vision notices a change in light.

Flower moon amidst clouds

The May full moon is known as the flower moon. I seldom get decent photos of the moon with my inexpensive little camera, but I keep trying.

Clouds Over the Cascades

Clouds frequently hide the Cascades, but there are times when the clouds highlight the mountains.

Cloud Abstract

This may look like a watercolor, but it’s actually a photograph. One of my favorites.

I have some many cloud photos that I could do several series. I’ll do a few more in the future.

International Cat Day

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My late great kitty, Mincis

Did you know it’s International Cat Day? I didn’t. Not until I saw the notice on Facebook. How could I let ICD go by without writing about my favorite kitty?

Micnis was sweet, beautiful, and a real smartypants. Mincis is a Latvian name, which means, pussycat. Like “pussycat,” Mincis is a term of endearment. I always spoke with her in Latvian because it’s my first language, but also because it’s a language full of diminutives and sweet endearments, making it perfect for speaking to loved ones, whether furry or fur-less. I sometimes called her “Mini” because she was small, weighed less than eight pounds. Or Miss Adorakitty, a play on the name, Isadora.

Mincis came to me as a stray. The vet estimated that she was about four years old. We had thirteen years together. Not nearly enough.

She was a timid girl when we first met–shy and elusive. After a while, she turned into Miss Congeniality, greeting her admiring public and graciously accepting their pats and praise.

I never succeeded in turning Mincis into an indoor cat. She loved the outdoors, climbing trees, eating grass, catching bugs, and watching airplanes. If there was an opening, she found it and out she went, often without my noticing. I could not bring myself to imprison her in the bathroom each time I left the house. When we moved, she stayed indoors for a year and a half. I hoped she’d forgotten the concept of “outdoors.” She had not. One day she sat down by the door and demanded to be let out.

Being an indoor/outdoor cat made her streetwise. She knew to avoid cars and raccoons, which roamed the neighborhood. It also kept her from being a scardy-cat. Come the Fourth of July, I’d be in my recliner, reading while fireworks were being illegally shot off outside, while Mincis lay, white tummy and paws up, along my legs–sound asleep.

Sweet. Mincis only scratched me once. It was my fault. I was combing a tangle out of her fur. She warned me to stop. I didn’t. She scratched me and ran away. I got much just desserts. Neither of us did that again.

I could go on and on about my gorgeous kitty, but I don’t like to read long blogs, so I don’t want to bore other people with long posts, especially when it’s about my cat and not their cat. Maybe I should write a book about Mincis. Hmm…

Watching an airplane.


Cameron’s Cat

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Free on Amazon

Have I mentioned before that sometimes writing is the only thing that keeps me going? Depression catches up with me all too often, making it almost impossible to function.

But just because I haven’t been posting on my blog, doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing. I’m almost finished with my romance novel, Bittersweet Christmas and will soon be looking for a publisher. Depending on who wants my book, it might be published under the title, A Daddy for Christmas.


My novel, set in Seattle in 1952. Even through I like my Latvian refugee protagonist very much, the character who engages me most is the leading man, Cameron Quinn. He’s a decorated former fighter pilot, a private pilot, and works as an aeronautical engineer and test pilot and Boeing. He’s also a dare devil. The substance he abuses is adrenaline. I admit–I’m in love with the guy. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make him come alive. I’ve had a great time writing this book, even though there were times I wanted to pound my head on my keyboard.

Cameron is owned by a big Maine coon cat; a gorgeous fellow named Leo, who is the star of my children’s book, Cameron’s Cat. The story is about how Cameron found and rescued Leo when he was just a kitten, abandoned at the airport. Starting tomorrow, August 8 and for the next twenty-four hours, Cameron’s Cat will be available for free on Amazon. Give it a try. Save a little money. Tell your friends. Please.

Thank you for reading my blog.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W7TWXCP