November 15, 2010

It's moving day!!! Now I realize that my house occasionally (frequently?) looks like I'm moving. Especially this time of year when we are bunkering down for the winter (screen removal), planning our baking for the upcoming holiday (cook books and lists everywhere), decorating (jack-o-lanterns to the basement, snowmen coming up), and making gifts (at least a little something handmade by me for everyone on my list). Then there's the unexpected (need a plumber - yikes!), and the usual (laundry and groceries). However, I am not physically moving; I am virtually moving! To follow my Project 365 endeavor, you can now find me at: pointfocusflash.tumblr.com. To keep up with the latest news from 54pineapples, I'll be posting at: 54pineapples.tumblr.com.

November 14, 2010

Another beautiful day . . . this one spent running a gazillion errands. When we came back home this afternoon, I was struck by how beautiful the row of curbside trees looked. They were positively glowing in the sunshine. A spectacular shade of orange that seemed to be the height of autumn color.

November 13, 2010

A glorious day at the Inner Harbor, in Baltimore, MD. 62 degrees, brilliant sunshine, no wind - a terrific day to eat outside and stroll. I had trouble deciding which photo to use from the many that I took today. I finally narrowed it down to these two, of two unusual couples I spotted today. This first couple was positively adorable.And this couple seemed to be unknown to one another until the woman stopped to talk to the elderly man sitting on the park bench. I'd love to know what they said to one another. All I do know is that when the woman walked away, the man waved good-bye to her.

November 12, 2010

Economy Alert: As long as there are beautiful yarns and beautiful fabrics, the stores carrying these items need not worry about making their numbers when they see my 54pineapples business partner and I approach. The two of us went shopping this morning and, after a few hours of ooohs, aaahs, and overflowing carts, came home tired, hungry, and thirsty . . . but thrilled with our purchases and very excited about our ideas for what they will eventually become!

November 11, 2010

I spent some time today working on Christmas cards. Lots of cutting, positioning, gluing, and glitter-izing. I love that my Bright Pink Poinsettia photo taken last December at Longwood Gardens, will be used to send holiday greetings around the world!

November 10, 2010

I met a friend in Princeton for lunch today. Princeton was incredibly busy; automobile and pedestrian traffic crazier than I've ever seen it. And retailers and restaurants are putting up lights and wreaths for the upcoming holiday season. I finally found a parking spot at the very top of the parking garage. This was my view of Princeton rooftops from that level.

November 9, 2010

Today dawned bright and beautiful! "What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours." (That line is from a song my Mom used to sing. Unfortunately she only sang that line, so I don't know any more of the words!) Because of the brilliant sunshine, I spent the morning outside gardening. I planted 7 mums and 2 vinca vines in what will henceforth be referred to as my Perennial Garden. I'm hoping to see the return of all these plants next spring. Sadly, it was time to say good-bye to the two glorious hisbiscus plants that adorned my front step this summer. Tropical plants and November in New Jersey just don't agree. Also, some pretty orange, red, and yellow flowers that bloomed on the deck all summer had succumbed to the cold. But check out this geranium. It refuses to give in, so it gets to stay a little while longer.

November 8, 2010

Mother Nature, standard time, and November joined forces today to create the quintessential Monday: rainy, dark, and cold. Venturing outdoors was ill-advised. And yet, for reasons passing understanding, I was out a couple times today. I was considerably cheered though by my Christmas cactus which has numerous buds on it. I have moved her to the kitchen so I can enjoy her entire blooming season during my upcoming cooking season.

November 7, 2010

Given the chance, I would choose to photograph foliage and flowers over other things. And this particular plant intrigued me on my walk today because of how the edges of the leaves seem to be fraying.That being said, I'm not going to pass up the opportunity to photograph something like this. I know what it's like to run out of closet space, but here's an option I never considered.

November 6, 2010

Another unofficial sign that summer is over . . . tonight we "fall back." And, like most of life, you've got to take the bitter with the sweet. An extra hour of sleep? Sweet. Completely dark at 5:00 p.m.? Bitter. Ah well . . . We went to dinner at a local restaurant we haven't frequented much in the last few years and found it to be as good as we remembered, which of course made us wonder why we don't come here more often, or at least include it in the rotation. After eating at a chain restaurant on Friday night, and finding it not very vegetarian friendly and a little bland, it was nice to eat at a locally owned and family-run restaurant, with savory entree choices. As most of the independent restaurants in NJ are BYOB's, we uncorked a bottle of Malbec, and toasted the end of daylight savings time. Daylight Savings Time is Dead! Long Live Daylight Savings Time!

November 5, 2010

I saw this flyer at the coffee shop today. It is an advertisement for an upcoming comedy night and, in the middle of all the pertinent information one would need to know if one wanted to attend, was this little piece of life advice: "Children not recommended." I thought the placement of this possibly sage advice was a little odd. Not to mention a little presumptuous. Perhaps it's meant to be a subliminal message to help control population growth. Even so, I happen to know many people who have had children, and have found the experience quite satisfactory. Except for the "free" part, these people might even describe it the same way this comedy night was described . . . "fun" and "hysterical."

November 4, 2010

Unlike Los Angeles, CA where Marisa Lynch lives and where they are experiencing 90 degree weather so she can wear summery clothing and needs an umbrella for some welcome shade, those of us in New Jersey, need an umbrella to get our mail, pick up our newspapers, etc. etc. Pretty much if we want to venture outside today, we need an umbrella. And since it's too early in my Project 365 endeavor to begin "tour of my house" photos as my picture for the day (i.e. here's the chair where I sat all day crocheting under an afghan because the weather was too yucky for even a quick trip somewhere more interesting), I decided to share with you one of my favorite rainy day photos. I have named it, "Frustration."

November 3, 2010

Yesterday's "Quote of the Day" - "I don't know why I let other people influence me. I don't really value other people's opinions."

And today, I spotted this clever sign in Langhorne, PA. It was in front of a house on a busy, hilly road. But never fear! I had my camera with me and I wanted a photo of this unique Halloween decoration. I traipsed across leaf covered front lawns (facing traffic, always walk facing traffic) and snapped a photo or two. I just know I would get along with the woman who found this sign and had to have it for her front lawn.

November 2, 2010

I performed my civic duty this afternoon and voted. A new record for me . . . literally no one that I voted for won!!But remember . . .

November 1, 2010

Good-bye, October. Hello, November. A beautiful, sunny, dazzling first day!