expanding my photo ideas with new props

My housemate Susan sells clothing patterns online in her Ebay store… She is always on the hunt for more patterns to list, which usually results in shopping trips for me to expand my photo prop collections. Last week she found large collection of patterns for sale locally on Facebook Marketplace and we went to check the collection out. She bought all of the patterns and as we talked with the lady we found that we had a lot of things in common…. and that the she had several things that she was going to send on to the thrift stores would I be interested in them. The answer was “SURE I could do something with the stuff….” a couple of bags and a box later I had some interesting things that could show up in my photographs…. These tarnished silver plate creamers and sugar were part of the collection. I usually avoid things that are shiny and reflect … well…. Me photographing it. I loved the detail of the set and that afternoon I tried to photograph them with some flowers…. but it was hot in the studio the flowers wilted quickly as did I.

This is probably the best of that photo shoot and there I am reflecting in all three wearing a bright red shirt…. I didn’t like the tablecloth background there were too many flowers so you couldn’t see the creamers or the sugar bowl. I did decide to start over the next morning in the coolness of my studio.

Thinking about that quick shoot the day before I decided to change things up. Use one of the photo backgrounds I had picked up last year. Use the off-white fabric I had picked up at a garage sale a month ago. Grab some of the 2x4s and 2x6s that I had painted earlier this spring and use them under or on top of the fabric.
Grab a couple of my floral frogs. One home made from chicken wire and the other belonging to my mom. This was my basic starting point.

Before going out to my studio I had noticed these books that are some of my favorite reference books. I grabbed them put them in the basket with the camera equipment I wanted use. I love these books because they give me ideas on how to accomplish what I want with my own flowers, vases and other objects that could be used to make the photograph mine. I also love our local public Library where I can check out these books and read them, then decide to purchase them for my own collection. (There is another one on the way to me, that I ordered after finishing it and returning the original to the library).

With the inspiration of the books I cast about in my studio area for something that would go with the creamers and sugar bowl. I found this broken and chipped teacup and two of the swans in my small swan collection inspired by a couple of swans I had gotten from my grandmas and moms’ collection.

Now to arrange them.
And then to go collect new flowers from my own yard…

All of these books used fruits and vegetables in many of their arrangements. So the strawberries were a first collection… and I could eat them as I was working because I have more in the garden. Then came the long salvia stems and the thyme sprigs. The very hardy rose was next with its small open blooms that scattered on the table, and the violas were last.

I am much happier with these photos that I took the time and thought into arranging. I was hard stopping but well ….. The temp in the studio was heating up to the upper 80’s. We still have some more insulation to install and to get a ceiling put up. I would also like to make a better hanging frame to put the background on. Something that is easier to put the background on and stretch it out so that the fabric is not wavy. PVC frame should work. Lord knows one of these days I will climb on top of the table trying to make that background look just right and I will tumble off….
Could I do better? Yep. But that is for another shoot with different flowers…and props…

Good Bye old Camera, Time for a new used one….

Good by old camera you have served me well for the last 2 years or so…
But lately you have been slipping… You have been having power issues, and memory issues. You have been having problems with dates and times…. reverting back to 01 01 2013 , every time the camera was shut off. I can accept that all those changes in program could have been me, but I didn’t tell you to go to Black and White when I clearly wanted Vibrant color…. and why did you think I wanted my photos in Magenta????



I have learned a lot from you the most important is to not pay attention to the light meter. I never could figure out if it was correct or not…. I learned to adjust my shot by deciding if it needed to be lighter or darker and by how many stops. adjusting what I wanted to make what I envisioned. Changing the shutter speed or the F/ stops.


You encouraged me to embrace my whimsy side and loved playing with the Troll family… and the Gnomes

Because photos are more interesting with different levels you encouraged me to make different props and to paint them with the left-over paint from the cabinets, I use to store my vases and other props in ….

Whatever I thought up for a cool photograph you were there to record my projects and the results… Unless the battery died or I filled up the SD card you never quit…. So, when I realized it was time to replace you I found another used Pentax K-3. It arrived today…

Now, you have been relegated to the shelf with the other older worn-out cameras. Still brought out when I need a camera prop, so don’t think your usefulness is over…. you just have a new job….

June. The month when many of my favorite things collide

This June has been a hard month for me, and we are only 2 1/2 weeks into it. Usually for me June slides in quietly, I know that planting sensitive plants before Rodeo Weekend is going to lead to a late frost failure and frustration. I know that the hardier plants are blooming like mad and I must photograph them. I know that setting up my extensive watering system could lead to frozen pipes and so I should wait…. We usually have a cool damp spring and I can afford to wait.
But this year is different. it has been much warmer. I took the panels that wrap my backyard deck for the winter, off in late May. I have been able to sit on my backyard deck and enjoy the quietness, listening to the birds singing and not the neighbor’s over loud stereo bass booming. Planning my next gardening adventure, I have pulled out some of my favorite garden books or barrowed more books from our local library. Photography, Gardening, Flower arranging, and home decor….I have bought more plants and planters. I have expanded my flowerbeds and created a mess with my garden watering system.

I found that I had to start watering early before I had my sprinkler timers ready. I currently have 6 different timers and all dependent on one timer. usually I have a couple days of the system not working and then I managed to get it all coordinated. It is not usually a problem because the temps for June are in the mid 70’s. Not so much this year, this year we have had temps in the 80’s and topping at the 90’s. I finally broke down and got the sprinkler timers going only to find one had quit and had to be replaced. A planned power outage for our local power company resulted in a request from the water guy to not water during that period of time. We are facing another drought year and I try to make my watering go further by watering at night, so I don’t catch that the system doesn’t work until the next morning when I have to manually water, during the morning before it gets too hot. All the while all the plants I have recently purchased are drying out because it is hot and they have not been watered. I have pushed myself to get some of the plants planted and only

had an occasional melt down because my sprinkler system wasn’t working as I want it too…
Finally, I have every plant I bought planted in the ground or the new pots I bought.

I have dahlia tubers planted and some are starting to come up. I am so ready to enjoy my gardens this summer but had to come up with a new watering plan because the garden ideas keep getting bigger…. Another order from Amazon should solve the watering problem, by splitting up the sprinkler timers….making each one individual and not dependent on the others.
I love gardening and I love photography. I love doing them in the early morning before the day heats up…. I love reading and I love shopping at thrift stores. Which leads me to the next installment of my story. The books bring me the ideas the garden provides me the flowers and the photography of the flowers in the vases I find give me the joy.
Except…

The studio Needs Work. Which is my next project now that the plants are planted. Assuming the watering system works right….

Hector the Great Garden Gnome has Arrived….

He settled right in and found himself a home….


George and Jeramiah quickly rushed out to greet him, and they grabbed the Gnome mobile for a quick tour before the rainstorms began.

Todays project was to get the new flowerbed set up with a sprinkler system.

Hector was very impressed that George and Jeramiah got so much done with the trolls., who can be a bit unruly.
The troll kids showed him the lilacs that were planted earlier in the season and how they made sure each lilac got a water sprinkler.

They are hoping that this planting of lilacs will be able to bloom without the deer eating them and will provide a nice visual screen from the neighbors in the back. They are after all a hardy plant old fashion bush surviving years of neglect and deer trimming…. Time for them to get a nice new home of their own…. There was talk of planting petunias around the rock edge since the middle of the flowerbed is still rough and won’t support much in the way of plantings.

Pinks, Pinky and Gemma are wanting pink petunias to go with the heart rock they found

But the other trolls said maybe purple to go with the lilacs. I had to explain to them that it is way too early in the season to be planting them. Hector concurred. Besides I like red petunias.
Before long the clouds darkened, and it started to rain lightly. Everyone started loading up in the Gnome mobile

Except for Lime who was really enjoying playing with the dirt and planning the next planting….
He did finally head in when Mother nature unleashed the biggest thunder and lightning storm of the season with rain the felt like a waterfall from the sky.
Tune in for more gardening adventures from Hector George and Jeramiah, Poppa T, Pinx, Aqua, pumpkin, Lime, Blue, Gemma, and whomever they rope in for their gardening adventures….

Gardening challenges, The Gnomes have a plan

Jeramiah and George Gnome have been looking over the back yard. Making plans and discarding ideas. It has been a challenging year for gardening. Starting with the fact that Hector the garden gnome has not been able to break free from his other garden responsibilities. They have had to depend on their cousins the Troll family

Keeping the troll family on task is quite the challenge.
And then there is the weather, most uncooperative….

Not enough rain or snow this winter and spring…. Lots of wind, and the cheat grass is blooming….. spreading it’s seeds with the wind….
The challenge for gardening this year is Daunting. The human person (Me) has already had to start the water for the flowerbeds two months early. Many losses of plants that should have survived but didn’t because of the lack of rain or snow this winter…..

With all of these challenges George and Jeramiah decided it was time to hatch a plan to get the gardening done this summer. They gathered the troll family and had a meeting….
They decided that it was a perfect time to invite more of the Gnome family to come live here, I was given a letter.


Dear Gnomes, Family and Friends. Come live with us.
We have the perfect place for you to come live and garden

Lots of room for your whole family to play and garden

The Troll family is excited to meet more of their cousins and would welcome you go come live here in this wild paradise… There is some wildlife native to the area.

But the Desert Lizards, and


the pet Dinosaurs are quite harmless. Though we are not sure about the Dragon… He does seem to get along with everyone….
There will be a pool set up this year, but you might have to negotiate with the German Shephard who owns it….
Can’t wait to see you all again….
George, Jeramiah, Poppa T, Pinx, Aqua, Pinkie, Lime, Pumpkin, Genta and Blue

A fun find at the thrift store and another idea takes hold

I had lunch with some friends this afternoon, across the street from the restaurant was a thrift store. After lunch I checked out the thrift store and spotted these vintage Sure Grip Roller Skates. Walked through a couple of the isles and then went back for the skates. I had a vision that included the Trolls….

I love it when an Idea comes together….

I really shouldn’t go into a thrift store unsupervised, But Gee It is So Much Fun…

Spring cleaning one of my Bearded Iris beds

It is April and this year things are growing early for Central Oregon. Todays project was to get the old Bearded Iris leaves cleaned out of this flowerbed…. Because the location of this Iris bed gets more sunlight than the other 5 locations it starts blooming earlier. I have also noticed that my peonies are coming up, so not only do I have to remove the old iris leaves but the old peony leaves and the various different seed heads from last years flowers… Some are still standing in this photo in the background.

It all started out as planned, reach out grab a handful of old leaves and toss them into a pile for the compost pile. But… that only lasted a few minutes. When I put in the raised beds for the Peonies and the Virginnia Creepers, I made the fenceline side of those beds with cinder blocks, after replacing and changing the location of the new fence last year, I decided to remove part of the old fence. This year I decided those cinder blocks were ugly and pulled them. (back left side of photo) My plan was to replace them with more large rocks… Central Oregon has a lot of those, and I don’t have to go far to get the new rocks for this project since I have a lot of rocks close by. I have a couple of other rock borders that I want removed and it is a perfect use for those rocks.

Now that I have placed the new rocks in the area between the peony flowerbed and the Bearded Iris flowerbed, it is time to finish cleaning up the old leaves. Wait I haven’t photographed my work yet…. And while I am at it I need to include the gnomes and the trolls.

I wonder why it takes me so long to finish a project……

Moving on with the photo shoot, as ideas flow

These Ball Canning Jars are my favorite. I love the everlasting feel of them. Some of these jars are over 100 years old. I love the security of them. I admit I have a lot of Ball canning jars, that I actually use for canning, but these are vases and photo props.

Some of these jars were my grandmothers, most were collected on my various thrift shopping expeditions. They always bring me Joy. So as my photo shoot of the early spring daffodils and hyacinths moved away from the green bottles, I pulled out the jars…. And a few vases that never got photographed.

I quickly decided that the lantern wasn’t needed in this shoot and put it aside. As I was working through the ideas, I began to think about my photographer friend Neil… Who worked for the Ball family and Company, always giving me good tidbits about the company. He also was one of the photographers that inspired the Troll family collection. I then realized that I hadn’t brought the Troll family out to the studio and if the Trolls come out so should the Gnomes.

The Gnomes were added to the family, a request from my friend Robin, who is a painter, to photograph them for a special gift. I later adopted them and decided that they were in charge of the gardens. So, If I am photographing flowers from the garden, I should include the characters in charge of it. They like to call themselves Designers and the Trolls are their helpers…. I let them….

Simplicity was the goal the daffodils were the focus.

It seems to me that a good photo shoot includes friends, even if those friends are not physically present.
They like these Ball jars bring Joy and good Ideas.

Spring Has Arrived…. I have not been very paitent

When the daffodils started blooming, I grabbed the scissors and started cutting. the first batch of flowers sit in my living room…. I enjoy them very much. The second batch of flowers were for photographs.

I then grabbed my hand clippers and went in search of other things to add to my project. the Oregon grape was perfect with fresh green leaves. The red branch didn’t make the final cut but whatever….

I started simple with just the daffodils and the bottles I had used last week.

Then added the Hyacinths that were a new addition to my yard in the fall of 2024. I will be adding more bulbs this fall, I think. This is the first year I actually picked them and I love them.

I added more of the pillar candles and the Oregon Grape.

I like photographing my Oregon grape bushes, most of the year for its different colors and textures. I had never thought to cut them for photo displays. It also will allow me to prune them a bit, so I don’t have Huge bushes….
I managed to fill up my 4 Gig photo SD card, with shots that are both JPEG and DNG RAW. Time to take a break and download these shots. I have learned to use the smaller SD card for that forced brake. Now time to reset my photo props and begin again…

First flowers of spring are here

I am so excited the first flowers of spring have started blooming. It started with the mini Dutch Iris and the pansy, then crocus popped up and finally yesterday morning the daffodil.

I had picked up these glass bottles at an estate sale earlier in the week and wanted to photograph them. What a perfect time to photograph the spring flowers.

I added a few more of the bottles from my collection, and some rocks from my driveway and started playing with them.

Ideas flowed

My original idea was to photograph the irises in the small bottles.

I photographed till my SD card filled and I had to download the photos onto my computer, then went out and filled the SD card again.

I photographed the morning away… it was a good morning.

This morning I have new ideas, the Iris are a bit worse for wear, the pansy is nowhere to be found, but the daffodil is perfectly open. I need to go out and see what else is blooming….