Beach blues

Beach blues, originally uploaded by schoolio.

Not the blues but a few, fun, blue things on the beach.

Hollywood, Florida.

Sun. Fun. Beaches. Week-long vacation. What could be better?

Coats of many colors

Coats of many colors, originally uploaded by schoolio.

Lots of colors and styles available at the China Treasures area of the ailing Midtown Global Market.

I linked a slideshow of the wares for the couple who owns the store. They have just opened up and are having difficulty generating traffic and purchasers - I wish them good luck.

Breaks my heart

Breaks my heart, originally uploaded by schoolio.

I spent a few days at a software conference in Madison, Wi. Madison is the capitol of Wisconsin and perhaps I was naive, but I was surprised by the number of homeless people living on the square that surrounds the capitol building. Most were men so this woman caught my attention.

I usually feel morally forbidden from photographing homeless or more generally, people who aren't aware they're being photographed and consent, but I made an exception this time. This is as it was shot - the borders were from the wall/barriers between which I shot.

I had just spent a week on vacation in Florida. Maybe it's that or maybe it was the human tragedy before my eyes, probably both, but this scene broke my heart.

Lily on the lake

Lily on the lake, originally uploaded by schoolio.

I was piloting the boat on Lake Shamineau when someone mentioned that a nearby inlet has lily pads, lilies, and quiet, still water. Aha! A perfect chance for photos, non?

I steered the boat through a shallow entrance into the inlet and began snapping away at the flowers and plants in the inlet. Once my boating/shooting began to make the others nervous, they took the wheel and I focused on photos. :) I had to lean over the boat a bit near the water for some of the shots but eventually got the hang of it (no pun intended) and caught this one. I like the way it turned out.

Shiny

Shiny, originally uploaded by schoolio.

Houston, we have floors. Never mind the fact that baseboards are not yet on and that the doors still need trim and weather seal following the adjustment (we had to raise it 3/4" to accommodate the new floor thickness) - a remodeling quantum leap has been taken. The floors are a pleasure to look at and walk upon.

But it's the shine that gets me. I love it.

Princess Kay... in butter

Princess Kay... in butter, originally uploaded by schoolio.

For the past 53 years at the Minnesota State Fair, the Midwest Dairy Association has sponsored a pageant titled "Princess Kay of the Milky Way (Minnesota)." This year, Audrey Mohr was crowned princess of the Princess Kay of the Milky Way. This is her likeness carved from a 90-pound block of butter. The full bust looks something like this.

Note the uncarved block in the back. Throughout the Fair, the finalists take turns sitting in the refrigerated case for several hours as their likeness is carved in butter. At the end of the Fair, the winner, Princess Kay, gets to take her bust home. I don't want to know what she does with it and I'm okay with that. :)

Update: I've been informed that it's a 90 pound block of Grade A butter and all contestants get to take home their sculptures. Lucky ladies.

Sleepy foal

Sleepy foal, originally uploaded by schoolio.

This little guy put up with some petting for a while but eventually turned away from all the attention to get some sleep.

A beautiful creature at the Minnesota State Fair.

Not so sure

Not so sure, originally uploaded by schoolio.

Kailee had doubts about milking the kids' cow at the MN State Fair. She eventually squeezed out a bit of "milk."