I worked on creating bokeh (a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image) in my photo this week. It was a bit challenging at first because I am usually trying to get my images perfectly sharp. The key word here is “trying”. Instead, I was intentionally blurring my images. It was a great learning experience.
Twinkle Twinkle
Here is the bokeh from the small ceramic tree that Mike’s Mom made and gave to his Grandma Alice many years ago. It was passed down to our family and each year Sophia is in charge of placing the small plastic bulbs in each hole of the tree. A single light bulb inside the tree illuminates the individual colored bulbs.
Christmas Tree Bokeh
This bokeh was created by putting a piece of dark paper over my lens with a heart shape cut out in the center and then taking a photo of our Christmas tree. I may have had better results if I had used a tripod, but I still like the effect.
You would think living next to the largest freshwater lake in the world that my “water” themed photo would be a no-brainer. I also took the week off from work so I should have had time to drive down to Lake Superior and get a fabulous photo. But I didn’t. It was either too cloudy or too sunny or I was too busy preparing for Thanksgiving. I ended up taking a photo of water dripping from a rose hip in the back yard. It isn’t Lake Superior, but it will have to do.
Water Droplet
p.s. My previous two weeks of photos (weeks 45 & 46) were chosen and featured on MCP Actions Blog along with some other seriously cool photos. You can find them here and here.
With Thanksgiving just a few hours away, I have checked off a number of items to help get us ready for our big family feast.
Thaw Turkey – Our nearly 22 lb. turkey seemed a bit icy when I checked it today. It has been in the refrigerator since I bought it a week ago. I soaked it in the sink for a couple of hours this afternoon and am hoping that will do the trick. I also had a moment of panic when I realized that a 22 lb. turkey can take six hours to roast. I really don’t want to get up at 6am to stick a turkey in the oven. Then I remembered that my convection oven can do it in four hours. Whew! That was a close call.
Big Bird
Thaw Turkey #2 – We are also thawing a turkey for the Johnson Thanksgiving on Saturday. I haven’t even checked this one, but am hopeful that in two days it will be ready for the oven.
Two Turkeys
Bake Dinner Rolls – I baked five dozen dinner rolls today. Mike thought that I should have baked six dozen. I reminded him that we are only feeding twelve people. Five dinner rolls per person is probably good.
Make Jell-O Salad – This is not a traditional Thanksgiving food, but I made it a few years ago on a whim and the kids really liked it. Not the healthiest thing I can make, but it is Thanksgiving after all. Who cares about healthy food, right?
Prep Ingredients for Stuffing – I sautéed the onions, celery and mushrooms and also cooked the sausage. Everything will be ready to mix together tomorrow for my “secret recipe” stuffing.
Put Together Relish Tray – I used the tray that was given to us by Mike’s Grandma Alice. Even though she is no longer with us, we will have a little reminder of her in our day tomorrow.
Make “Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes” – The potatoes are all set for tomorrow. All I have to do is add milk and bake them in the oven. Mike’s Grandma Helen always helped with the mashed potatoes and gravy. She was better at it than me, but Mike’s Mom has done a nice job filling in. She takes care of the gravy and I mash the potatoes. I made sure to leave a few lumps in the potatoes because no one could make them as well as Helen.
Steam From The Boiling Potatoes
Make Appetizers – Done!
Clean House – We still need to vacuum tomorrow, but I decided to delegate it to Mike. I actually started a to-do list for him. It only has three items on it so far, but I’m sure I will find a few more to add.
Here’s what I wish I could do at the end of the day tomorrow…
Sophia's Hammock
Sophia made this 3D picture of her laying in the hammock in our back yard. Impressive, isn’t it? She included the two trees that the hammock hangs from, a grassy yard, a sun in the sky and a mini replica of herself laying in the hammock. It looks very relaxing and made me think that it would be a very nice way to end the day. Then I remembered that it is November in Minnesota. I may need to hold that thought until the spring.
Sophia also made another picture in anticipation of the upcoming outdoor ice skating season. This is a picture of her and her friends at their elementary school’s ice rink.
Ice Skating
Mike has already went to bed and I need to do the same. It’s late and we have a long day ahead.
M. Sullivan Photography 