so NOT cool :: Everyday Photos by Jodi Anderson

leftovers

These are just some leftover shots taken within a half hour of one another, all facing east (not west!) near sunset, as storms passed by on either side of the house a few days ago. 

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

doing, not thinking :: week three

Since the point of this challenge is to accomplish and not overthink a goal, I've decided to forego my usual list making. 

I like making lists.  I generally keep them simple, just jotting down reminders of what needs to be done that day (read: NECESSARY TO DO!).  Other times, I find it helpful to break a large task down into simple bits and when I cross them off, I feel a sense of accomplishment ... even if the job is only one-quarter complete. 

All that said, instead of putting energy into chronicling down what needs to be done, I'm going to spend those 15 minutes doing something instead.  When I add all of those quarter-hours up, it should total quite a lot of cleaning time.

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

progress?

A few houses have been bought by the village and will be demolished to make way for a parking lot and a "grassy area".  The downtown has more closed and/or empty businesses than open ones.  I last counted eight vacancies. 

The problem isn't parking. 

  © JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

*insert witty blur title here*

I don't have an explanation for these photos.  They were taken this weekend and seem(ed) appropriate for my mood then and now.

Sometimes, one just needs to embrace the blur. 

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

chasing home

Two of my many favorite creatures are crows and bullheads. 

While at the river yesterday morning, X noticed a crow caught in a low tree limb, its head attached to the branch, somehow, by fishing lure.  If we approached to help, the young crow became frantic and appeared as though a gymnast on the parallel bars, spinning and spinning. 

We kept our distance and called the bird rescue lady.  As we waited for her, we watched the corvid carefully work at that line until, only minutes before help arrived, the crow freed itself, flew to the top of a leafless tree, and cawed its freedom.  It was quite the experience.  (Low-quality photo of the situation HERE.)

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Bullheads and catfish. 

Now is not the time for me to write about bullheads and catfish, about how I'm not so sure that I believe in reincarnation, yet how I wonder if I lived as one (or more) in the Wisconsin River, decade after decade, before being yanked out on a cold winter night so many years ago. 

I spend a lot of time daydreaming about, but what feels more like remembering, skimming along the bottom of the river in the cold water, tongue-like skin, old and wise. 

No, now is not the time. 

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

prairie du sac bridge over the wisconsin river

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

yard journal :: 07.22.09

On Flickr, I have a folder of photos called "yard journal" and, while it is not complete, it does show various progress in the yard and garden over the last several years.  Feel free to take a peek if you're ... REALLY BORED. 

The weather has been SO cool and the tomatoes think that it is May.  Therefore, they aren't ripening as quickly as usual.  Some of the varieties of flowers and veggies in the photos above include green zebra heirloom tomatoes, cone flowers, an almost-dried trellis of peas, dill, catnip, peppermint, and hostas.

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

doing, not thinking :: week two

If you don't remember what "doing, not thinking" is, click HERE or HERE. 

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This week, a thief helped to spring clean our garage, but he mostly took the wrong things.  We did get a television returned to us after the guy was caught.  Unfortunately, figuring the whole thing out required a lot of THINKING. 

Then, oh boy, I had a health setback, but ... GET THIS:  It led to finally getting a few tests that I've been suggesting for nearly a decade.  It'll be a few weeks before the testing is completed and I get the results.  So, I CAN CROSS THOSE TESTS OFF OF MY LIST.  They weren't on my spring cleaning list, but they are crossed off just the same and I didn't have to do much thinking.  I'M COUNTING IT. 

Because, things can only get better, I received a nerve injury while getting my blood drawn.  Even with a near-useless arm, I have not given up, and while I've done little more than tread water this week, I did manage to get a few spring cleaning micro-mini tasks accomplished. 

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And, there you have it. 

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

out and about :: 07.16.09

We headed to Devil's Lake on Thursday for a little escape from our neighborhood. 

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There is a guy who has rented a house catty-corner from us for three years.  He is a known thief and drug abuser.  Our garage was broken into early Tuesday morning, which I reported on Thursday when we realized that quite a few items were actually missing.  An associate of said neighbor's was arrested on Friday after being stopped by police and finding our new television in his possession.  Because we had reported that and some tools as missing, he was charged with either theft or receiving stolen goods). 

Knowing my rights as a photographer, I have been regularly taking photos of suspicious activity outside of this particular neighbor's home since he moved into the area.  Apparently, he didn't realize this until Thursday, when one of his cohorts told him that he saw me taking pictures (and shooting video) as he was leaving.   

Shortly thereafter, the questionable neighbor approached and attempted to verbally intimidate X, who is 17.  (She was unintimidated and told me that it was more like being buried by question marks due to his bewildering behavior.)  I saw him doing this and hollered, "Stop talking to my daughter."  He then directed his gaze at me and proceeded with the same animated tirade.  I had filed the report earlier that day, and the officer informed me that he was already being charged in another incident at a construction site early Tuesday morning.  Because of that and the fact that I had two witnesses to his verbal assault, I wasn't the least bit shaken either. 

I imagine that when he was again called in for questioning on Friday, he was probably pretty bummed to find out that I can record activity outside of his home any time that I like. 

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We were at Devil's Lake, and not there to hike, so I snapped nearly the same photos that I do whenever we're just hanging out.  The lodge on the north shore is my favorite indoor area.  The chairs, oh!  I love them.  I hope that they are never replaced. 

(Is it just me, or does it look like a boy has been run down by a bicycle in that last photo?)

  © JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

thinking, thinking, thinking ... i mean, DOING NOT THINKING

I have a tendency to think about and overplan things that I want to do rather than just doing them.  I make plans, schedules, lists, sub-lists ... you get the idea. 

Earlier today, I was checking out some of my favorite blogs when I read THIS POST at The Organic Sister's site.  It really hit home with me.  Her post was inspired by THIS CHALLENGE at Two Frog Home's blog. 

The basic idea is to not just think about something, but do it.  Take action.  Let go of what's holding you back from accomplishing that something ... be it home, garden, creative endeavors, education, business, all of the above, or something completely different. 

While I am a good month late in finding out about this idea, I have decided to partake.  Each Tuesday, whether on our own blogs and/or in Two Frog Home's comments, we are to give a little update regarding our progress.  The end date, although it doesn't have to END, is the week of the autumnal equinox. 

There's a special beauty (and irony) in that for me because my goal is to ... finish my spring cleaning. 

Just a bit on that:  I love spring cleaning.  Or, at least, I love finishing spring cleaning.  It lends to my happiness and the home's health.  Since we moved into this house five years ago or so, I haven't once finished my annual cleaning.  Maybe it seems out-of-date or old-fashioned, but I love comparing notes with my maternal grandmother about where we are on our spring cleaning.  I can hear Grandma Anderson in my head now:  "I took down the drapes and washed them today, and I moved the furniture to vacuum under it." 

And, a note about the photo:  This is totally TMI, but that's a corner on my bathroom counter.  The main reason that it looks like that is because I haven't really organized the medicine cabinet, drawers, under the sink, or the linen shelves since last year.  I do a lot of shuffling.  Shuffle this here and shuffle that there.  If I put all that shuffling energy into actual cleaning, the home would probably be in much better condition.  (Must state that I haven't NOT spring cleaned my bathroom for five years in a row; I do try to give that a good going-over every few months and I did wash all the walls this spring.) 

© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.