1/365: "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." ~ Tony Robbins

365 Project

I began this project on January 1 and thought about it for months before I committed. I wanted to be sure that I could succeed, so I contemplated what I wanted to achieve and considered everything that would be a possible problem. I spent time reading advice from people who have done this project in the past. I looked at different projects to see what others had done.

The notion of a 365 project …  (read more)
1/365: "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." ~ Tony Robbins

1/365: "Setting goals is the first step in turning…

01 Jan 2013 6 482
Today is January 1st, 2013, which is the perfect day to begin a 365 project. This is something I've wanted to do ever since I saw this on Flickr, but I wanted to start it at the beginning of the year. With every picture I'm also going to try to put a quote...though this may prove to be even more challenging than taking a picture, since it can be tough to find a quote for many images! Last night it snowed, and I thought to myself, "Oh!! If I get up early, I can look for a mushroom with snow on it...that would be the perfect start to my 365 project!!" I bundled up and went out, hoping I would get lucky, but knowing that I might have to settle for another subject, since the odds were against me to a) find a mushroom in this freezing weather and b) find a mushroom with snow on it. What I found was wonderful!! I went to where I thought I'd have the best luck, and before I got there, I heard squeals of laughter and looking down, I saw tiny snowballs flying through the air, and giggling mushroom fairies darting around moss and twigs as they played in the snow! Holding my breath in excitement, I kneeled down to watch the fun! I managed to get a picture of this darling mushroom, peeking out with snow on its head, just before it ran off with another snowball to throw at a friend. How cool is that?! :) :) Anthony "Tony" Robbins (born February 29, 1960) is an American self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials and self-help books, Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement and Awaken The Giant Within. Robbins writes about subjects such as health and energy, overcoming fears, wealth-building, persuasive communication, and enhancing relationships. Robbins began his career learning from many different motivational speakers, and promoted seminars for his personal mentor, Jim Rohn. He is deeply influenced by neuro-linguistic programming technique and a variety of philosophies. Wikipedia: Tony Robbins
2/365: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~ Walt Disney

2/365: "All our dreams can come true, if we have t…

02 Jan 2013 2 490
I popped out out of my bed this morning to catch a picture of frost before it melted away in the brilliant sunshine. This is an acorn top, laying on a board! I hope you like it! Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American business magnate, animator, cartoonist, producer, director, screenwriter, philanthropist and voice actor. A major figure within the American animation industry and throughout the world, he is regarded as an international icon, well known for his influence and contributions to the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As a Hollywood business mogul, he, along with his brother Roy O. Disney, co-founded Walt Disney Productions, which later became one of the best-known motion picture production companies in the world. The corporation is now known as The Walt Disney Company and had an annual revenue of approximately US$45 billion in the 2013 financial year. Wiki: Walt Disney
3/365: “Death, the one appointment we all must keep, and for which no time is set.” ~ Charlie Chan

3/365: “Death, the one appointment we all must kee…

03 Jan 2013 360
Living out in the countryside with wilderness all around me, I see the passage of time and the cycle of life every day. I found this fawn's jawbone one day while on a walk with the dogs, and thought it could be beautiful if it were kissed by frost. Charlie Chan is a fictive U.S. Chinese detective created by Earl Derr Biggers. Loosely basing Chan on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, villains like Fu Manchu. Chan is a detective for the Honolulu police, though many stories feature Chan traveling the world as he investigates mysteries and solves crimes. Wiki: Charlie Chan
4/365: "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." ~ Buddha

4/365: "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become w…

04 Jan 2013 7 407
This morning I went down to our seasonal pond to take pictures of the ice that's forming on the water. However, I started going crazy taking pictures of frosty things poking through the ice, and then I found this grass topped with frost, the sun sparkling on the ice and making this incredible bokeh! Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha, also called Sakyamuni, was a sage from the ancient Shakya republic, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is also referred to as "the Buddha" or simply as "Buddha." Wikipedia: Buddha
5/365: "Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness." ~ Bryant H. McGill

5/365: "Curiosity is one of the great secrets of h…

05 Jan 2013 1 389
This project has turned me into a child on Christmas morning, leaping out of bed and dashing out the door with my camera to find my present to show the world! I wrote this to one of my Flickr friends (Hi Els !) last night when describing what it's like to work on this project. Today I looked out and initially felt sad because the frost had mostly melted, but then I smiled with joy because I don't need frost in all of my pictures! Down along our big meadow and across the granite valley I went, slowing to a stop when I got close to my destination. I'd seen a few tiny mushroom babies a couple of days ago and hoped I might get a picture of them playing in the moss. Their giggling gives them away so I listened until I heard their tiny tinkling laughter to tell me where they were. Peeking around a tree, I spotted two of them running around playing tag, and when I bent down to take a picture, they both saw me and froze. I think they knew who I was because they didn't run away! Instead, one of them glided up as close as it dared, tilting it head curiously at me before giggling and dashing away with its shy friend. They're so cute, aren't they?! :) Bryant H. McGill is the editor and author of several reference books, including the McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme. They are used by over 100,000 writers, educators, students, aspiring-poets and songwriters from over 100 countries. Wikipedia: Bryant H. McGill
6/365: "If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song." ~ Carl Perkins

6/365: "If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, th…

06 Jan 2013 3 332
Our property has two seasonal streams, one of which feeds into our seasonal pond. During the winter and spring, I love to walk to the pond and then slowly follow the stream up, enjoying the wonderful singing and laughter of the water as it cascades over the rocks and pebbles on its way down to the pond. We even have a couple of itty-bitty waterfalls, and below you'll see another picture showing the one that caused these wonderful bubbles! :) Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American rockabilly musician who was best known for his song, "Blue Suede Shoes", which was made world-famous and forever recognized by Elvis Presley's outstanding rendition. Wikipedia: Carl Perkins
7/365: "The best way to predict the future is to create it." ~ Peter Drucker

7/365: "The best way to predict the future is to c…

07 Jan 2013 13 3 418
I awoke to the sound of rain pattering softly on the windows and tapping on the roof, almost as if it were saying, "Wake up, Janet! You have a picture to take!!" I thought I'd be taking my first indoor picture of my 365 because I thought it was raining outside, but when I looked out the kitchen window, I could see that it was now just a faint drizzle. I grabbed my camera and bounced out the door, my destination only about 100 feet away. I saw a boulder yesterday that was brimming with pretty moss and a pretty little mushroom that waved hello as I passed by. And though my little friend posed nicely for me, my attention was taken by tiny blades of grass nearby that bristled with perfect crystal balls of water! Peter Ferdinand Drucker (November 19, 1909 – November 11, 2005) was an Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author, whose writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of the modern business corporation. He was also a leader in the development of management education, and he invented the concept known as management by objectives. Wikipedia: Peter Drucker
8/365: "The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart." ~ Buddha

8/365: "The way is not in the sky. The way is in t…

08 Jan 2013 12 9 476
This is my submission for Shapes: Heart! It was very hard to choose which picture, but this Mourning Dove feather wins! :) Isn't it interesting how picture opportunities sometimes present themselves as if they were waiting for you to arrive? This morning I went out with a challenge in mind...I was hoping to find a natural "window" picture because I was so inspired by one of my Flickr friend's images ( "My gift for the day was the light" , by Jannydawn/Janet Smith). While I was experimenting with different ideas, something waving in the breeze caught my eye. I focused my attention and this is what I saw! Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha, also called Sakyamuni, was a sage from the ancient Shakya republic, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is also referred to as "the Buddha" or simply as "Buddha." Wikipedia: Buddha
9/365: "Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why." ~ Kurt Vonnegut

9/365: "Here we are, trapped in the amber of the m…

09 Jan 2013 2 414
The rain was coming down at a steady pace this morning, which meant that I'd be taking my first indoor 365 Project picture! With a skip in my step, I grabbed my camera and went to the kitchen, where my first picture would take place! Lucky's Spa & Luxury Retreat is housed in a 10-gallon aquarium topped by a mesh lid. We spray water into the enclosure several times each day to hydrate the moss, add humidity, and give the frogs a shower! We discovered that we can just spray through the mesh instead of taking it off, and that's when I discovered the wonderful droplets that are formed when we do this! (By the way, I'll be taking plenty of frog pictures to share on rainy days, and yes, they are doing GREAT!!) Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was a 20th-century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle (1963), Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), and Breakfast of Champions (1973) blend satire, gallows humor, and science fiction. As a citizen he was a lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a critical leftist intellectual. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association. Wikipedia: Kurt Vonnegut
10/365: "The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” ~ Bertrand Russell

10/365: "The world is full of magical things patie…

10 Jan 2013 4 4 544
As usual, Steve and I stayed up way too late last night, and it was well after 1am when I stepped outside with the dogs before we all went to bed. Upon opening the door, I exclaimed, "OHHHH!!! IT'S SNOWING!!" Mesmerized by the beautiful scene, I watched the huge, fat flakes drifting slowly down from the silent sky. I noticed that the snow wasn't melting instantly when it landed on my car, and I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I wonder if I could get a picture of a snowflake!" I didn't know that a snowflake could be photographed until I saw an image posted by one of my Flickr friends, and ever since, I've been hoping for the right conditions to try for myself. But...it was so late. Yawning, I went back inside and told Steve about my idea, and he said that I should give it a try, since we both agreed that the temperature would probably be too warm in the morning to try for a snowflake picture. So, I bundled up, grabbed my tripod and a flashlight and out I went! I didn't have a clue if I would be successful so I took a dozen pictures with the hopes that maybe, just maybe, I would find a snowflake in one of them. After I felt that I might have gotten something, I went back inside and crossed my fingers as I started studying each picture on my computer. When I came to this one, I squealed out loud, "IT'S A SNOWFLAKE!!! I GOT A PICTURE OF A SNOWFLAKE!!!!!!" :D :D :D Bertrand Russell (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these in any profound sense. Wikipedia: Bertrand Russell
11/365: "My dear father; my dear friend; the best and wisest man I've ever known, who's taught me many lessons and showed me many things as we've gone together along the road of life." ~ Sarah Jewett, slightly altered by me

11/365: "My dear father; my dear friend; the best…

11 Jan 2013 3 4 563
MANY notes above! :) Dad, I love you with all my heart. You have given me such a wonderful life. You've always stood by me and encouraged me to try when I didn't think I could. You saw the potential in me that I didn't know I had. You have always made me feel like the best and brightest star. Much of who I am today is because of your wonderful upbringing and solid foundation. Thank you so much for my life, dad. Happy Birthday!!! ------------------------------ ABOUT THIS PICTURE: ------------------------------ A few days ago, I realized that my father's birthday was coming up and I knew instantly that I'd dedicate that 365 Day to him. After thinking it over for a day or two, I knew exactly what I would do! Back in October, I went to visit my dad in San Francisco, and while I was there, I had some time to look through and scan many of our family pictures. I didn't have time to scan in all that I wanted, but looking through the images, I was happy to see that there were more than enough to create a collage for my dad's birthday! :) I spent a couple of days putting the collage together, and yesterday I went down to our granite valley, where I picked out many dozen rocks that I would use for my border. Last night I lined my rocks up, picking out the right shapes and arranging them. This morning I took my two rows of rocks outside and placed them on a rubber mat we have outside, sprayed them with water and took a picture. Then, I took that image, selected the rows of rocks and removed everything else. I then enlarged my image canvas size to that of my father's collage. I copied and pasted the collage into my rock image, aligned the rows, desaturated the rocks by about 60% and...PRESTO! Save To Web, and the picture is done! Sarah Orne Jewett (September 3, 1849 – June 24, 1909) was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her local color works set along or near the southern seacoast of Maine. Wikipedia: Sarah Jewett (The original quote is this: "My dear father; my dear friend; the best and wisest man I ever knew, who taught me many lessons and showed me many things as we went together along the country by-ways.")
12/365: "Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is." ~ Mae West

12/365: "Personality is the glitter that sends you…

12 Jan 2013 2 396
It was a frosty morning and I knew a little mushroom who was waiting for her moment of fame! Wearing her finest delicate, frosty jewelry, this pretty little lady struck a pose against a backdrop of grassy bokeh and dreamed of being a star. (I have another mushroom on the next picture that was an alternate) Mary West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980), known as Mae West, was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades, and was known for her bawdy double entendres. Wikipedia: Mae West
13/365: "All who would win joy, must share it; happiness was born a twin." ~ Lord Byron

13/365: "All who would win joy, must share it; hap…

13 Jan 2013 2 398
My head is bowed in this tribute to Vivian Brown , who passed away yesterday at age 85. The inseparable identical twin of Marion Brown, these two spent their lives as San Francisco icons, and I saw them many times, walking around downtown, greeting visitors and being the perfect pair of ambassadors to my home town. They were always dressed immaculately, with exuberant, cheery dispositions and full of bubbly charm. Vivian will be sorely missed but never forgotten. I went out this morning to find a pair of twins, or just a single perfect representation for the loss of Vivian Brown. It's the coldest day this year with a temperature of just 27 degrees (it was 24 last night!), and so dry there was very little frost, but I got lucky with these beautiful frozen droplets! About the Brown Twins: Marian (born January 25, 1927) and Vivian Brown (January 25, 1927 – January 9, 2013) are American identical twins and icons of San Francisco, known for the appearance in media with their signature identical bright snappy outfits with hats atop their meticulously coiffed hair. Wikipedia: Marian & Vivian Brown Lord Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement. He is regarded as one of the greatest British poets and remains widely read and influential. Wikipedia: Lord Byron
14/365: "Water is the driving force of all nature." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

14/365: "Water is the driving force of all nature.…

14 Jan 2013 2 2 438
I awoke to a stunning, sunny day, with frost glimmering everywhere! I found so many beautiful things to photograph, but when I found this icicle, melting in the morning sunshine, I knew I had my shot. Leonardo di Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. His genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. Wikipedia: Leonardo da Vinci
15/365: “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

15/365: “You can chain me, you can torture me, you…

15 Jan 2013 2 500
It's been very cold here and though it wasn't 18 degrees like the night before last, walking around in 30 degree weather was definitely on the nippy side! I know better than to go out without bundling up, so I looked like a stuffed tick as I left the house--but I was warm! :D The sun was shining so brightly, twinkling off everything in sight, and though I had an idea of what I wanted, I saw this frost on 1/4" garden netting and my picture of the day was here! I have a slightly different one below which shows another focus point and softer bokeh, but I think this one is stronger. Also, please visit my next picture to see another image I captured today! Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. Wikipedia: Mahatma Gandhi
16/365: “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty, if only we have the eyes to see it.” ~ John Ruskin

16/365: “Nature is painting for us, day after day,…

16 Jan 2013 4 2 412
I looked outside this morning and was amazed at what I saw! A thick layer of fog was drifting lazily through our valley, with only a few trees in the distance able to make themselves seen through the mist. I wanted to capture this lovely sight and went for a walk around our property to find this image waiting for me. A view across our next-door neighbor's meadow with a pair of oak trees and the road disappearing into the fog. (I have another picture too, it's below and is clickable) John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political economy. Wikipedia: John Ruskin
17/365: “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.” ~ Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

17/365: “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.” ~ Mar…

17 Jan 2013 3 2 484
I found a strand of spider's web covered with frost this morning and was amazed that it didn't collapse under the weight! (By the way, unlike Marilyn in this movie, I'm not a jewelry hound, though I do think it's lovely to look at! I am, however a huge fan of the late Ms. Monroe!) Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American actress, model, and singer, who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s and early 1960s. Wikipedia: Marilyn Monroe
18/365: "Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears." ~ Edgar Alan Poe

18/365: "Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme d…

18 Jan 2013 2 1 402
I planted bulbs in the front yard in November and they have started to sprout with anticipation of Spring, which is still just a dream in the future. Frost and frozen droplets, caught in dramatic morning light, made my shot of the day! Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. Wikipedia: Edgar Alan Poe
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