2012 Edit Me Challenge ~ Summer Show Off!

Rather than a photo that is posted by the host, Branson and Stephanie, of Edit Me Challenge

they have challenged us to edit a photograph that we have taken and

share the steps with a before and after.

Original photograph

I originally considered this a throw away (not that I ever delete anything)

but decided to see what, if anything, I could do with it.

Geranium

Edited in RAW;

cropped;

added a light vignette; and

framed.

 “Well, I love geraniums,
and anybody who does not love geraniums
must obviously be a depraved and loathsome person.” 
From: Merry Hall by Beverley Nichols,

Your Sunday Best #26 ~ For the Birds

There is a bird family that has set up house in the ventilation pipe at the house next door

A momma bird, a poppa bird and baby birds;

which I haven't seen yet this summer.

My 'family' has lots of company this year and when I went out at 6am to water,

I was told in no uncertain terms,not only by the my resident birds, that I was an interloper

disturbing their breakfast time, but also by every bird in the neighborhood!

You see, my apricot tree is loaded this year

and the birds are lovin' it!

But other than the scolding and constant chattering,

they waited patiently for me to finish my chores before continuing their meal!

  

“You must not know too much or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and watercraft; a certain free-margin, and even vagueness - ignorance, credulity -

helps your enjoyment of these things.” Thoreau

Addendum to this morning's post:
The weight of a gazillion apricots had it's toll on the 50+ year old tree
and late this afternoon a large limb from the top gave out from under the weght
and on it's way down tore off an additional branch.

Breaks my heart.
Have a tree man is coming tomorrow
and hopefully he knows all the tricks
to keep the tree from becoming infested and/or diseased. 

AND, there is always something to be grateful for
the lower limb that was torn, broke the fall of the big limb,
so it landed with minimal damage.
A few broken succulent pots, but the glass table top it landed on was not harmed.

Photo Art Friday, July 13th - 15th "Fences"

No type of fence tells a better story about the changing American West

than barbed wire, which was as key to the region's settlement

as the buffalo rifle, the railroad, the telegraph and the windmill.

Flower Art Friday #12 - July 13, 2012 - Profusion Zinnias

I love Profusion Zinnias!

Profusion zinnias stay in flower much better and longer than any other zinnias

There are only five colors of Profusion zinnias:

Profusion Orange flowers start out very bright and gradually fade with age;

Profusion White is a bright white flower that fade to creamy white;

Profusion Cherry flowers fade to an off-color red and pink;

Profusion Fire has reddish-orange flowers; and
Profusion Apricot has light orange to peach flowers.

 The flowers are delicate, only an inch or so across, but as the name hints, there are many of them. Actually the whole plant is delicate looking, but don't be deceived.

These plants will bloom non-stop all summer, whatever the weather!

Zinnias are a symbol of lasting love, goodness, thoughts of an absent friend,

constancy and daily remembrance of good memories.

52 Photos Project ~ Gallery 12

This week's prompt is "Circles".

In the Chinese culture circles represent openness and hospitality;

the circular gate is said to be more inviting than a rectangular doorway.

Circular Entry in Chengdu

But, of course I wasn't in China this past week . . . but I just love this photo!

Bringing us up to date the photo's below were taken this week in Las Vegas, NM,
in what had been a very prosperous area of town at the turn of the century .

Now abandoned, the buildings have gone to ruin,
but they are still a delight to view and caused my imagination to run wild!

Circles Abound

Detail: circular grill work as well as circular detail that runs under the windows.

TextureTuesday ~ Natural eDition

Kim has set today's theme for "natural".
 

What is more natural and welcomed than clouds rolling in to share their moisture.

The high mountain desert is finally seeing a little rain, cooler mornings and evenings.

“Rain clouds come floating in, not to muddy my days ahead,
but to make me calm, happy and hopeful.”   rajuda

(Rendered with Kim's texture "Stained Light" and a photo tint by ShadowHouse Creations.)

Las Vegas!

Las Vegas, New Mexico that is, was founded in 1835 when settlers received a land grant from the Mexican government.  Las Vegas prospered as a stop on the Santa Fe Trail and it was in Las Vegas in 1846 during the Mexican-American War that Captain Kearney delivered an address claiming New Mexico for the United States.

In 1880 when the railroad was established in Las Vegas, the town quickly became one of the largest cities in the the American southwest.   Turn-of-the-century Las Vegas featured all the modern amenities, including an electric street railway, the "Duncan Opera House", a Carnegie library, and a major Harvey House La Castaneda Hotel built in 1898.  

Main entrance facing the railroad tracks

Tower at the entrance of La Castaneda

East entrance facing Railroad Avenue

South side entrance

1910 Newspaper Photo

Build as a 'jewel' in the Fred Harvey's famed chain of railroad hotels, La Castaneda is one of the early Harvey Houses to be built in the Mission Revival Style and is approximately 25,000 sq. feet.  Its main facade and courtyard face the railroad tracks.

In the 1980's the rooms at the La Castaneda were converted into apartments but the building is currently abandoned.  No longer owned by the railroad it is now privately owned; no work is currently being done to restore it or to reopen it.   

The Harvey House 'jewel' is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo taken late '70's, early '80's

There is still an Amtrak Railroad Station next door.