Photography Archives - The Weekend Country Girl

Blogging, Dresser, mudroom, Painted Furniture, phot editing, Photography, Repurposed Furniture, The City House

The Fear of Being a One-Hit Wonder

September 29, 2014September 29, 2014 Karen

Okay, here is a quiz. What is Carl Douglas famous for?

How about The Knack?

Do you know what Rednex is famous for?

I will bet you know their work.

Do you remember “Everybody was Kung Foo Fighting. It was fast as lightning”? Kung Foo Fighting was Sung by Mr. Carl Douglas

How about My Sharona? The Knack knocked that one out.

Rednex is famous for a song that is played at least once a night at almost every Texas bar… Cotton Eyed Joe.

After that these bands/singers either broke up, stopped singing, or just never produced another hit. I guess it really ages me that I do remember all of them, and they were pre-music video era.

I jokingly say I am a one hit wonder, too. You see, my mudroom bench is without a doubt the single most viewed and pinned post I have ever done. All the rest of my posts combined would be about half what the other posts have been viewed. I think of the mudroom bench as my one hit wonder. Don’t get me wrong, I love that bench. It is the first thing I use when I walk into the house every day and my last stop on the way out the door. But, I like other pieces I have done just as much. They just didn’t get noticed like that one did.

I think it was the lighting in the photo I took. We are after all visual folk.

I wonder if it would have been as popular if this was what I put out for the world to see?

Here are a few of my other projects that I think get looked over. It may have been when they were posted, how they were photographed, or maybe I really am a one hit wonder who just got lucky the one time.

My Western Dresser for the lake house Bunk room. It makes me smile when I walk in the room, still.

The yellow and gray bedroom. It all started with a table I picked up on the side of the road and a son moving out. In case you are wondering, yes I stenciled the wall. I still love the look. I miss that room the most of all the rooms at the city house.

The green buffet table. This was a thrift store dining table turned into a more narrow buffet with a reclaimed wood top. I love this table. Baby boy says it is his favorite piece in our house. It is about to get an addition. I am adding a hutch to the top for my milkglass that is about 80% complete.

Our farmhouse table. It has at least ten, 1-0 coats of poly on top and I am crazy about this table. It started out life as a white tile and golden oak table and cedar siding from our lake house. I am about to change the color of the legs so that it plays nice with the buffet and hutch.

Finally, the second most popular post is the beverage station. I have now made three of these with numbers four, five and six in the Garagemahal waiting for their turn. I have made a green, bright blue and navy blue. Soon a burnt orange, a green and a cream colored one will be done.

I love showing you all what I do and I really do value your input. Thanks for taking time out of your busy days to see what we are up to in the country. I hope your day is wonderful.

Blessings,

Karen

family, phot editing, Photography, traveling, vintage style

Black and White Memories

September 7, 2014September 7, 2014 Karen

Today we took a trip back to one of the happiest places of my childhood, the east Texas piney woods. Because I found the trip so nostalgic, I decided to play with black and white for some of my pictures I took.

We enjoyed getting to go by and see the place that I grew up loving. Our weekend place, The Farm. The trees my uncle planted now are fully grown and have a rope swing. The pasture my parents cleared and got poison ivy so bad they had to go to the doctor is still beautiful, the red dirt road is the same. The house is double the size it was when we lived there.

My mom, Memie, and our sweet Lumi are still here with us so I couldn’t make them black and white.

Don’t they both look great?

Memie

lumi

Enjoy the shots taken at some property I fell in love with today and some shots from Dam-B, the lake I grew up on.

I just had to show you how beautiful this little blue flower is.

I love these old gate toppers. I think they are greyhounds but I can’t be sure.

The property in the woods has some funny signs.

Blogging, Dining Table, family, Photography, Silliness

Keeping It Real- Staging for Photos

July 14, 2014July 15, 2014 Karen

Today I am going to talk about one of the problems that I totally blame Pinterest, the Internet, and HGTV for creating.

Because we humans are so visual, we seem believe that the pictures we see on those places above are how folks actually live. We buy into the image so much that we forget that it was staged, lighted, set, edited and cropped before we ever got a peek. I would say it is akin to believing that believing that I could fly because I watched Superman do it on television.

This is not real life, folks. But it is beautiful! If the homeowners live like this every day, they must be pretty neat people. With no pets. Or kids. Or food.

Casa Mia

Homes-House

Indulgy

Recently I asked you guys to do a little staging of your own. I asked you to take a picture of your table as it normally is, then as it looks after you set it for company. If you did not participate, shame on you. Not really. Okay, really a little bit. The reason I wanted you all to set your tables is that that is home staging you do when you have company over. Do you live like that all the time? I will bet the answer is no.

Here are some examples of before and after photos:

My buddy had her table ready for a shower, so she sort of cheated in the before picture :)! I love her giant table. It looks great set for dinner.

The photos above are in a newly moved into home! Way to go.

I really do keep the table at Star Hill pretty neat because it is in the main room of the house and we don’t have much space. Star Hill is a study in Red, White, and Blue. And Texas.

I snapped this picture when we were having company over for breakfast.

Our back deck. It is a glass topped patio set our neighbors gave us. It is a sunbaked wilderness most of the day, but in the evening when the shade takes over, it is pleasant. We have all our large dinners here at Star Hill

I paid fifty cents for the metal yellow plates at a garage sale. The funky yellow wine goblets were in the attic of Star Hill when we moved in. I think the original owners must have left them behind. They are fun.

The Southern Belle even played along. Yes folks, she owns this beautiful custom made table and she keeps it beautiful. It is mixed with mid century chairs that are upholstered in a cool fabric. She found the chairs on Craig’s List as is. True story.

Here it is set with her Fiesta dishes and bright napkins.

Aren’t the tables great? I love the variety. If you have ever set the table for company, you are a home stager. You know how to set the scene, make the table “feel” inviting and show off its’ best assets.

The messages that made me sad when I put out the call for pictures were three that I got that told me they would not participate because they were embarrassed about their houses so they would just enjoy what others did for their homes.

If there are things you do not like about your home, you are not alone.

The vast majority of the world has something they wish they could change about their homes and things that they really don’t want others to see. I will bet that even those bloggers who have amazing rooms have some place in their home that needs work. A friend of mine years ago stuffed a bunch of things into the oven because company was coming over then forgot. She turned on the oven several days later and scorched some paperwork. I personally would be embarrassed if someone looked in my garage when we have company coming because it is usually the dumping zone.

I live in a house that currently has four adults, two dogs, a cat, and a fish. I re-purpose furniture, as a hobby and it tends to spread. My house is far from spotless. It is lived in. Every room. Right now there is furniture in our breakfast space.

I decided to show you one of the tables we set when the crowd gets large at Star Hill. Yep, it is my painting table. Just plywood painted with exterior paint. Oh, and all my paint drips.

I set the table for two. the flowers are out of our yard. The picnic basket is from a garage sale, the table-cloth was a wedding gift almost 33 years ago. A friend of my mom made it for us.

There are times that I am photographing a project when the ONLY space that is neat is what fits inside the viewfinder on the camera. To the right, left and behind me may be a mess of things I have pulled out and a mirror reflecting light into the cave like space I am photographing in our suburban home.

Photography is not real life folks. Real life is messy. Real life is imperfect. Real life is opportunity.

I hope you have a great day. Make some memories.

Blessings,

Karen

Blogging, Costa Rica, Photography

Tamarindo Costa Rica Excursions

March 19, 2014 Karen

Here are photos from our excursions. My tummy trouble stopped me from visiting the volcano, but my Hubby took pictures for me.

First Into the Estuary.
We took a trip up the river that flows through the area and into the sea by boat. Our guide, Pony, did not speak English. I got to practice my Spanish. It made me laugh to follow Pony through the mangroves to see the Howler monkeys. He was barefoot though the rocky soil but had a pink High School Musical backpack.

We saw birds, monkeys, and fish. Our guide was shocked we did not see any crocodiles. I guess they needed beauty sleep. We were first on the river that morning. The other boats came up the river as we were going back.

http://www.seabirdsailingexcursions.com/
We went snorkeling, ate great food cooked on board, and toasted the sunset on this beautiful boat. It is a great deal for those who want to see the beautiful rocky seashore, get out on the ocean and snorkel. I will be honest and tell you the snorkeling was hard work. I was spoiled in Hawaii but it was fun to see the fish. They have promised to post pictures from our trip but not up yet.

http://www.villascostarica.com/tamarindo-turtle-nesting-tours.html

No photos of the turtles. It was dark. I love the ecoturism in the area. They take good care of their turtles because they know that people come to Tamarindo just to see them.

Finally,

Here are Hubby’s photos of the volcano trip. I will admit to being a little jealous.

My students would be proud. #noediting

family, mid-life, Photography

10 Tips For The Beginner Traveler to Tamarindo, Costa Rica

March 10, 2014March 15, 2014 Karen

As a total newbie to traveling I feel like a fraud writing this blog, but I wanted to share what I have learned on our adventure. If you are a frequent traveler out of your own country, STOP READING NOW. I will bore you to death. If you are new to traveling out of your own country this might be of interest. At least you will get a chuckle out of what we learned the hard way.

We have traveled a fair bit in the USA and into Mexico, but we just got passports for this, our very first adventure out of the country. We picked a beautiful spot, but this is not some package deal pre-planned trip. We are here and figuring it out as we go. Here are a few of the odd things I have learned about this little slice of heaven.

1. Costa Rica doesn’t name streets in small cities like Tamarindo, they name buildings. Make sure you can correctly pronounce the name of the place you are staying and can describe how to get where you are going, and that you know a few simple words in case you get a taxi driver who does not speak English.
izquierda- left
derecho- right
aquí- here
calle- street
adelante- ahead

It could be that possibly we learned this all the hard way. There is a difference between Boca Raca’ and Boca Roca. Our cab driver got yelled at because we were so lost.

2. Be prepared for night when visiting. Street lights are a premium and roads are not paved generally. Sidewalks are sketchy or nonexistent. Bring a flashlight. Bring a pair of tennis shoes for night walking. It is worth it to be prepared because there are some really great things to see at night.

3. Time is not as important here as it is at home. Make sure you arrange for your ride early enough that if they are on beach time you can still make your flight. The rest of the time, chill out. A meal is going to take a long time. The grocery store takes a long time.

4. They either have what you are looking for at the grocery or they don’t. The supermarket here is more like a city stop and shop or 7-11. If you have a certain brand you cannot live without, bring it. Sunscreen, toothpaste, shampoo, pain reliever are in the stores, but not US brands.

5. Water is not served at meals, you have to buy it. Buy a big bottle for your table and share. Drink lots of water. Just get it in bottles.

6. Few places are air conditioned. Just be prepared for the heat. Dress cool, and know you are probably going to eat meals in open air locations. It really is fun and the food is good. Sometimes it is breathtakingly beautiful.

7. The price on everything is negotiable. Even posted prices for excursions are negotiable. As long as you are willing to walk away you will get a better deal. The shop in the photo below has posted prices for excursions. We did not pay those prices for anything.

8. Check into renting a condo rather than a hotel room. The cost is comparable to hotels, there is more space and often offers amenities such a pool, parking space, and 24 hour security. This is the beauty we stayed in. If you are interested in this condo, send me a message.

9. Change your US money into colons, the national currency. Right now the dollar is strong and you get a better deal. If you have US money have small bills. Come with 1’s, 5’s, 10’s. Most places will take US money, but they will probably give you change in colons. And you will get short changed.

10. Bring Cipro and Pepto Bismol. Lesson learned. I promise, I did not drink the water and I was pretty careful about the food I ate but I sure picked up a bug that almost landed me in the hospital for dehydration. And I missed the tour of the vlocano which included seeing some awesome animals that Hubby photographed for me. The doctor said if I had taken Cipro at the first sign of illness I would have been better quickly. Call your doctor before leaving and let them know you are leaving the country.

11. Bonus tip. Have fun, talk with strangers, meet new people. We met people from Canada, England, Germany, Belgium, and France. Everyone is tired of winter in case you are wondering. Pura Vida is a common saying in Costa Rica, it means Pure Life literally translated but it really means the Costa Rican way. I wish you all Pura Vida.

Blogging, family, Fun with friends, mid-life, Photography

The Bucket List Begins

March 7, 2014 Karen

This coming week we will be going to Costa Rica!

You won’t be hearing from me this week. I am unplugging and spending quality time with my husband, brother in law and sister in law.

I promise to take pictures and I hope I come back inspired and refreshed.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Karen

Coldspring, Lake Livingston, Photography, Star Hill

Star Hill Images

October 24, 2013 Karen

It seems that I spend all my time in the Garagemahal when we are at Star Hill. Not true! Here are some shots I have taken recently but haven’t shared.

I love how beautiful and green everything is now that the drought is lifting in our area. The rain gauge showed 4 inches when we pulled up this week. We are blessed to have such a beautiful place to retreat to from our busy lives.

No words here. Just enjoy what we get to see every time we go to Coldspring, Texas. We are blessed.

This past weekend we had our first fire in the wood burning stove and got to sit on the porch wrapped in blankets while we watched the birds go to the feeder. There is a quiet in the woods that sinks into your bones when you spend time there,

Country living, Fun with friends, Photography, shopping, Texas

Salado, Texas

October 5, 2013October 11, 2013 Karen

I really do love being a Texan.
The diverse landscape, the mix of old and new, Geman, Mexican, French, Czech, Greek, and English settlers made Texas home and we all get to benefit. One day I am going to introduce you to my favorite foods, from all the melting pot that is Texas, but not today.
Today we are out exploring one of my top five Texas small towns. Salado, Texas. A Scottish town that has a long history.

My Hubby grew up in Central Texas near Salado. He wanted to visit where he grew up to celebrate his birthday. I was thrilled to visit this area in the fall. (Thanks Hubby being born in the fall!) I discovered Salado on one of my first spring visits to my Hubby’s family. My mother in law and I would go to Salado when we could sneak away. The Stagecoach Inn is an institution It really was a stagecoach stop way back when it opened. The food in the restaurant is good. I love that there is no printed menu. The waitress tells you what is on the menu and takes the order verbally.

I recommend the Yellow House Bed and Breakfast. It is a weekend trip worth taking in fall or spring. It is boiling hot in the summer and unpredictable in winter. It can be beautiful in winter or there could be ice and sleet. This bed and breakfast is in downtown, but really close to the road. It may be awesome, I just don’t know.

The stream that runs through town is beautiful. An old grist mill next to the stream is now a shop to visit. There are sweet little artsy type shops everywhere and a couple of great wineries nearby.

Melons growing downtown on a stairway.

The Texas drought is really taking a toll. This stream is normally running freely.

I have waded in the water here before. The spillway usually has water running over it all the time.

Salado is a quirky artsy little town. Who paints bikes and hangs them on a fence.

The historic bridge has a troll and goat guarding it.

We even got the chance to visit friends who live at Stillhouse Hollow Lake. What a view!

Our Baytown friends have quite the view! I love their home.

Enjoy our day and visit Salado when you can.

Blogging, collecting, Decorating, DIY, home decorating, mid-life, moving, new home, Photography, Repurposed Furniture, shopping, Thrifty decorating, vintage style

Milestones

August 28, 2013August 28, 2013 Karen

Well this week will be a week of milestones for us here in the burbs.

It is my first “Back to School Week” in the new school district we have moved to.

I love it here. I am over the moon about my staff. They are awesome. But there are times I feel a little lost.

My textbooks and technology arrived! Yay! I was beginning to think we were going to start school with a stick of chalk and slab of wood!

My husband started his first week in his new job too. He is going to have a great year. He is an amazing teacher. I think he is feeling the same as I do.

There are also a few milestones in the blogging world too.

I started blogging two years ago. I blog because I enjoy sharing what I was already doing with others. I would never in a million years try to sell my work. it is my hobby, not my job. I never have gone outside of my friends on Facebook to tell people I was blogging because frankly I didn’t know what I was doing (I still don’t most of the time.) I switched my blog from Blogger to WordPress, and survived…barely.

I didn’t know how to “link up” or even what that meant six months ago. (I still mess this up from time to time.)

I didn’t know that I could create a Facebook page or even why I would want to create one.

Heck. I was a blogging train wreck!

Roadkill Rescue featured my mudroom bench this past spring. Wow! I had 1042 views on one day. My highest view day before that event. Did any of you find me there?

About a month ago I was contacted by Remodelaholic and asked to do a feature. A blog that gets 100,000,000 (yes, 1 million) views a month found my little, itty, bitty blog and liked my husband and my work. This past Saturday the feature was published. Thank you to the folks at Remodelaholic.

Did you find me there?

The feature leads me to the blogging milestones:

This week I have had almost 100 new folks like my Facebook page. Wow. Before this week, I had 37 whole people who liked my page. I have found that I enjoy the page because I can post sneak peeks of projects I am working on, Craig’s List finds, and quick updates.
Welcome to this little glimpse of my world.

It looks like I will hit 30,000 page views on my blog today. It took 18 months to hit the 20,000 mark. Thank you all for taking the time to read my rambling thoughts and for looking at our work.

We have a lot planned as we continue to work on our homes. We have a few gifts to get done before Thanksgiving that I hope the recipients, and you, enjoy.

I discovered Pinterest…it changed my life:)

and… I have sort of learned to tweet.

We are also setting personal goals for ourselves.

We are also going to work on finding balance. Hubby has taken up golf again. I’m feeling the itch to paint…I mean really paint, again. I plan to take more photography classes.

Life is good. Thank you for stopping by!

phot editing, Photography, Star Hill

What I Learned in Photography Class

May 7, 2013May 7, 2013 Karen

This past weekend I took my first ever photography class at Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. It was chilly for Houston only in the mid 50’s when we got there but the day was beautiful. I actually signed up for this class through a Groupon (big step for me to use a Groupon) because of this Blog. I see amazing photography on other blogs and I always feel that what I do is lacking. The class was though Artistic Photo Academy . I will be honest and tell you that I probably wouldn’t have taken the class unless Sweet Amanda had agreed to come with me. I really needed her too. She listens better than I do.

Here is what I learned in a nutshell:

The camera I have is a decent introductory SLR, but not awesome.

I need a different lens- well actually I guess I need two different lenses. a 50 1.8 and an 18 to 200 lens. I do not have either one.

I need to get some reflectors

To boil down everything above- Photography is an expensive hobby if you want to do it well. Darn it!

After the class I can now:

Meter the light in my shots and make sure I have the proper exposure.

I know how to use the M setting (manual) on my camera.

To a lesser degree I can use the TV mode. Still shaky on this one.

I can adjust the shutter speed.

I can take a picture with movement in it that isn’t blurry.

To summarize- I learned a little that I think will help my photography- but I still have a lot to learn.

Here are some of my awful shots from the beginning of class. I was trying to take a photo of a tree from close up, two feet, and 4 feet. Truly awful lighting. I went first on this exercise and think my teacher was happy that my first shots were so bad. He could show the other students what NOT to do.

I even over exposed the instructor!

I did get better. I was able to get a shot of the fountain without blur. You can see the actual water drops.

The exercise was to catch the movement of the water. This is set at 1/4000 .

I love the bride in the background.

And here is my favorite shot of the day. I love the sleeping duck.

I really enjoyed our instructors.

You gotta love a Texas guy who shows up in downtown Houston in his old boots.

Can you pick out our other instructor?

Yep, the Lumberjack with his hat on sideways and gym shorts. He is young but he knows his stuff!

Here are my portrait pictures of Sweet Amanda. I think she is stunning.

I now have homework. I am supposed to take 50 shots a day and spend 30 minutes each evening metering the light while pointing it toward the television.

Here is my favorite of the 50 from Sunday. The cardinals now have 3 eggs in their nest outside our window.

I hope I didn’t bore you with my show and tell.

Have a great week.