Photography

This Aint No Shangri – La

/ Janna Hill / 6 Comments

With the recent rain in this area of Texas the ground is finally saturated blessing us with new blooms, mushrooms and a fresh ration of mosquitoes.

As I frolic in a sun drenched oak savannah dotted with Crepe Myrtle blossoms I imagine paradise. That is until the growing hum of hungry vampires converge upon me and I find myself running for shelter while Don Henley lyrics (Shangri – La) play over and over in my head. This ain’t no Shangri – La (hmm-hmm). Nobody Knows no Shangri -La (hmm-hmm).

Thanks to the weekly photo challenge for prompting this exploit.

When a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

/ Janna Hill / 11 Comments

The Ants and the Grasshopper

THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision: “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

That cautionary tale from Aesop’s Fables [as we all know] is intended to discourage slothfulness. It does not however go on to tell children what happens to lazy, good for nothing, don’t want to work and can’t even sing worth a damn beggars. That’s when a picture is worth a thousand words.

Ant #1: Whew, I'm really looking forward to vacation. Ant #2: Yes indeed.

Ant #1: I’m really looking forward to vacation.
Ant #2: Yes indeed. Ah, the rewards of labor.

Yo, I been so busy singin' I ain't had time to tend to business can you little dudes help a hopper out?

Yo, I been so busy singin’ I ain’t had time to tend to business can you little dudes help a hopper out?

Sure we'll help you. Dance you lazy bum!

Sure we’ll help you out- out of your wings and your legs. Now dance you lazy bum!

More and more I am entertaining the idea of writing for children.  With that in mind I added a few captions. Children like that sort of thing. 😉

Credits: The Ants and the Grasshopper: Aesop (2012-05-17). Aesop’s Fables Translated by George Fyler Townsend. Kindle Edition.

A Look Inside: Bookfest

/ Janna Hill / 4 Comments

This weeks photo challenge correlated fabulously with a post I had planned for My Indie Adventures.

As a few of you may know I attended the East Texas Bookfest this past Saturday. What you may not know is that it was my first.  Of course I marched up in there like an old crow pro because I refuse to be intimidated.

The event started Friday evening with a reception for the authors at the Potpourri House in Tyler. I had a glass of Chardonnay with a little fruit, cheese and artichoke dip.  The chicken and meat balls looked very appealing but I’m pretty sure I would have choked on them so I had another glass of wine when my handler wasn’t looking.  The receptionThe dip was delicious by the way.

Saturday morning we arrived on time (yay!!) and within minutes our table was set up.

Inside the Bookfest (1)

With all of that out of the way (thank you Kim) I’m like what am I supposed to do now?

What do I do now?

What do I do now?

Thank goodness I just happen to have a camera hanging around my neck so I roamed around taking pictures.

Bill Keith poses with The Commisssioner
An interesting display
Look, Don takes Mastercard and Visa
Oh she has T- shirts
Pst, the cake is made of paper. It tastes like cardboard.
Signing is a serious business
Sorry [lady on the left] erotica is prohibited
Hmm, is that a real interview…

Maybe taking pictures was not exactly what I was supposed to be doing and I probably shouldn’t have let people think I was with the press…  Oh well it was another funtastic indie adventure and a chance to see the inside working of a book festival.

Weekly Photo Challenge: An Unusual POV

/ Janna Hill / 18 Comments

I didn’t post for last week’s challenge “Sea” so consider this sea of pictures my atonement. See what I did there? Hardy har har. I crack me up. :D.

I didn’t go out and take photos today because I have a note from my supervisor (which I just typed) instructing me to use shots taken last month at Lake Fork. No really! Honestly I have been busy getting ready for the East Texas Bookfest I’ll be attending next Saturday. Yep. If you’re out and about in Tyler Texas September 14th from 10am -4pm stop in at The Tyler Rose Garden Center and say hi.

It may not be unusual but my POV came from the passenger seat of a souped up high-speed golf cart. Yes I said cart because it’s not really a car and this thing was sooo fast…. Okay maybe it was just a worn out E-Z-Go that topped out at 7 mph on a downhill slope but after a six pack of LIME-A-RITA it felt fast- especially after going ridiculously slow up the hills. The poor menfolk had to take a couple of breaks. They must seriously be out of shape because I could hear them moaning and groaning – I think one of them fell and hit his chin on the rear bumper but he wasn’t bleeding. Me being the empowering coach that I am reminded them it’s only a half-ton electric toy and I weigh 130 pounds – suck it up and mush! They are good sports and kept us cruising with ice cold beverages and I got a few neat photos.

Evenings to be Savored
Lake Fork at Sunset

Anywho… Thanks to The Daily Post for presenting this photo challenge. It offers a break from the monotony and I was able to relive a few lol moments. And thank you lake-dwellers for your hospitality. It was an enjoyable experience, at least for those of us who didn’t have to push 😉

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: FOCUS

/ Janna Hill / 15 Comments

FOCUS: What is this weeks photo challenge and a subtle reminder of what I have lost sight of…

I need to get more aggressive, hence the red.  I’ll definitely try to keep the anger and frustration in check. 😉

Weekly Photo Challenge: Carefree

/ Janna Hill / 19 Comments

This weeks photo challenge CAREFREE is brought to you by Sheri Bigelow . Sheri says, Summer memories make everything feel magical to me — carefree and untroubled. Even on the trips where everything went wrong, I look back and smile at the narrow escapes, or the long walks on a beach while I sorted out and righted the world. Whether a good memory was made in years past, yesterday, or only moments ago, I love letting the nostalgia wrap me up — like a borrowed sweater on a cold summer night. Even more, I love making new memories: a carefree summer at the lake, a stroll through the park, dancing in the rain… then all I need to do is remember, and the same carefree feeling washes over me. Thanks Sheri.

A happy child at play soothes my ragged spirit.

 

Touching the sky at Keller Bay

Let’s Talk Turkey

/ Janna Hill / 9 Comments

I was taking a walk with Whiskey (the eight month old German Shepherd I inherited) and came upon a flock of these feathered non-smack talking birds and just wondered…

Does anyone say ‘jive turkey’ anymore?

Why is a ‘turkey’ considered dumb? Have you ever hunted turkey?  Most game hunters will tell you those dull [seemingly dim witted] birds are really quite clever.

If a turkey is a dummy and a jive turkey is someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about why do people say “let’s talk turkey” when they want a serious discussion?

Hmmm. All of this turkey talk has made me hungry. Enjoy the pictures, I’m going to make myself a sandwich.