Photography Lately

Looking forward to two photo-taking opportunities this weekend!  Saturday mid-day I will be taking pictures of a cheer-leading team of 5/6 y/o kids led by a friend.  Later Saturday, or possibly Sunday, I will hopefully be taking some family photos for a friend.  I'm looking forward to both, as they will both be good experiences and hopefully will result in some fabulous photos!

My camera came with a short little wire tripod that I've barely used.  I was at the barn a few weeks ago and it occurred to me that I could set the tripod up in the grass, turn on the self-timer, and take pictures of myself with my horse.  I've been wanting some nice photos with her, and have no desire to pay someone to take them for me.  So I set up the tripod and took some pictures.  It was so much fun, I did it again the next day.  And the next.  The second day, I discovered that I could change the self timer from 2 shots at a time, all the way up to 10 shots at a time.  The 10 shot feature was great, because it allowed enough time for movement between the 1st and 10th shots, so I could get more variety.  Here are some of the best shots I got.  I'm usually against cropping my photos, but I did crop the ones I took in these photo-shoots, because it is a lot harder to set up the perfect image when you are taking photos of yourself!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

This is one of my favorites...one of my friends photo-shopped the power lines out of the sky for me!

It came out so well, I ordered it on a canvas to hang on the wall in my apt.

Here are a few other photographs I took recently that I really like.

Photos

I haven't posted any photos in awhile...I suppose I could just stop pretending that this is any more than a running blog, but...where's the fun in that.

Acclimating to the Heat

Summer weather has finally arrived in Greenbrier County!  Summer running is my favorite, but every year as the winters get longer and the springs get shorter, I have more trouble adjusting to the warm weather running.      Last week, my runs were mostly shorter and slower, as my body is getting used to the warmer temps.

5/27 - 6/2

M: 7.17 / 52:25 / 7:22

T: 2.29 / 17:49 / 7:46

W: 4 / 32:00 / 8:00

R: 4 / 29:59 / 7:29

F: 5.87 / 43:47 / 7:29 w/Josh

Sa: 4.7 / 34:12 / 7:16

Su: off

week total : 28.03

Some pictures from the week:

Taking it Easy

I got 5 days of running in this week, but I didn't have much energy for it.  Ran some shorter loops that I usually try not to do anymore, because I figured a short run was better than no run, and better than pushing myself too hard for something my body is just too tired for.  3 more weeks of school, and then hopefully I will get some downtime to regain some energy! On the upside, even though I have been feeling drained, my average pace on each run has been great.  Part of it might just be my desire to get it over with and get back home, but hey..whatever works!  Also, Friday's run involved a monsoon that appeared in the middle of the run, which contributed to an increase in speed.  2 days later, my shoes are still wet.  I should probably go find some newspapers to stuff in them.  It only just occurred to me today to take out the insoles...I bet they'll be dry by tomorrow afternoon.  I've run in rain before, but this monsoon was much more intense than any other rainstorm I've run in.  I could barely see at one point, and not only were my shoes wet, but I could feel puddles inside the shoes.  It was crazy.  But also rather exhilarating.

This week:

M: off

T: 3.78 / 33:28 / 8:51 w/FB

W: 6.3 / 45:08 / 7:09

R: 2.76 / 20:54 / 7:34

F: 4.7 / 32:38 / 6:56

Sa: 5.06 / 36:48 / 7:16

Su: off

total : 22.6

Just didn't feel like running today.  Plus, it was cold and windy, and I'm kind of over running in the cold after an abnormally long winter.  I rode my horse for a little bit instead.  

Pony Heaven

It would be really nice if we could have a drought-free summer this year so that she can actually enjoy this grass for more than a few weeks!

 love

Spring has finally arrived to this gorgeous place I call home.

How many frogs can you find in this picture?

And how about some food pictures, I haven't posted any on here in awhile!

Tomato-Basil soup made with tomatoes that a coworker needed to get rid of.

Mashed Parsnips with Basil

Minty-Fresh Guacamole

it was...interesting.

Jack Black and the Fusion

That should be the name of a band.  But really, it's just about the barn cat and my new car.  Jack would occasionally climb up on my old car and sit on the roof for a little while.  But with my new car...he had to thoroughly examine every inch of it.  I believe it met with his approval.

First he had to walk all around the outside, trying to find the best place to jump up.  

Then, he had to explore every inch of the car.  

I really don't understand how he managed to walk along the side windows...brave cat!

I was highly entertained by this whole performance, by the way.  I took about 100 photos...

Meanwhile, pony was happily inhaling grass.

Back to the show.

After exploring for awhile, Jack settled on top of the trunk and rolled around for awhile.

Then he went back across the top of the car to sit on the hood and watch the birds.

He's so photogenic...

I'm really not a cat person...but this was fun & amusing.