Happy Holidays 2019

Happy Holidays!

I hope this finds you all doing what you enjoy.

I am reflecting on this past year of 2019 and all the many wonderful things that occurred.  Some were big, some were small and then there are the things I'm grateful didn't happen.  I'm sure you can all relate.

Today I am thinking about hope and how we should all have it, looking forward with childish enthusiasm and making plans - for next year, the year after, five and ten years from now.  I think this is healthy and keeps us alive and vibrant and looking forward - as opposed to backward.

If you garden there are months of plans you can make now.  My sister gets all of her seed catalogs at Christmas and plans her gardening for the following year.  What a wonderful tradition!

On winter Solstice I journal, make lists, and plan out my upcoming year.  I break it up into two or three month sections, mostly according to weather.  This gives me a whole year of possibilities and plans.  Nothing's set in stone and I can change my mind at any time.  Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of living alone!

Plan for projects.  I make two lists for indoor and outdoor projects.  Some are just things that need to be done, others are fun things I'd like to do (and can afford), others are hopefuls - like if I can get help or additional funds.

Last year I repainted the back room and painted an old ugly dresser in the same colors which was just like getting new furniture - but for free!

If you live alone you are your own cheering section, your own boss, your own better judgement.  So plan to stay healthy, plan to enjoy your life and plan to do it for a really long time!

I am counting down to full retirement - when I don't have to work - anywhere.  That's seven years from now, I'll be 70 years young.  I have a plan for these years too, an overview, because we need to be flexible and allowing for variations.

I'll be saving money, staying healthy, taking day trips and an annual over-nighter or two, a little socializing, learning new things and making a list of things I'll be doing after retirement.  One of my dreams is to buy a modestly small RV and travel as far as I'm comfortable.  

It's not a grandiose plan, it's doable!  I'm realistically hopeful.

So make plans, don't look back at your past, look forward into your future - your long future.  Ailments and aging are a choice, choose life.

Thank you all for a lovely 2019.  I enjoy your comments and emails.

Weatherization Programs

I was surprised to learn that there is still help available for people with modest incomes.

A year ago I applied for a Weatherization program through the county Community Action Council. 

They called the first week of December and I had appointments these past two weeks.

First they come out and audit the house for its needs.  Each county has its own budget for what it can cover too.  But I was quite impressed by the amount of work available to me.  

Four days, four guys and three outside contractors and I was done!  I got all new vapor barrier, insulated floors underneath, a new bathroom fan and a newly insulated water heater compartment.

They also ran my dryer vent to an outside wall.

A furnace technician came and serviced the furnace, replaced bad parts and installed a new thermostat.  The furnace ducting was repaired and sealed and I even got a heater vent in my bedroom!

All my doors were repaired and got new weather stripping.  All the windows were sealed with caulking.

I got a new carbon monoxide detector as well.

I would have never been able to afford these upgrades to my home.  Now I am warm and comfortable!  I have lived in this house all these years and had no idea it was that drafty!

Also one of the great takeaways is the education I received on how to maintain healthy air circulation throughout my home, while still getting to enjoy the wood stove.

I highly recommend you contact your local Community Action Council to see if you qualify for these wonderful upgrades.  It's a long wait to be approved, but well worth it!!

Old and Poor

I never dreamed I'd end up here.

I thought I had a plan when I started college at twenty-eight as a single parent of a three year old.  I knew I was getting a late start, but I was trying to remedy another broken dream.

I had high hopes as I worked and parented those next four years, almost giving up half way through, but my wise faculty mentor told me something that made me carry on.  He said, "Well, two years is going to go by anyway, no matter what you do, but you could also graduate by then."

So I did, child in tow, and I made it to the finish line with a degree.

A new relationship and another major move made me hopeful for the future.  But things don't always work out like we planned.  An unexpected traumatic event had me running for my life.  

My son safely in another state visiting his Dad, I only had to fend for myself.

Eventually I got back on my feet - and on my path - but my confidence was shaken and now I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Reunited with my son, we lived in a nice quiet town, rebuilding our lives.

I could see my dreams once more, smaller and more practical than before - but still possible.

Then another relationship, this one looked promising, we could build our dreams together.

Now both in our forties, it was crunch time I thought, buy a house, save money, build a business.

Before I knew it I was fifty and alone again.  How the hell did this happen? Can't I count on anyone?

A few misguided decisions and a lot more debt found me here, in this old mobile home, getting another chance.

Overshadowing PTSD and complete loss of self esteem, I just put my head down and did what I knew how to do - survive.  I sustained a small one person business in this nearly remote area and learned how to fix my house myself.

It's been challenging and a bit lonely, but I have gained pride and knowledge these past twelve years.  Expecting less and just figuring things out on my own gave me back my confidence.

When I had an opportunity to apply for a weatherization program, I qualified of course, as a low income senior citizen, and I am excited and grateful for the improvements that my home qualifies for.

What I can't wrap my head around is this - am I old and poor?  Honestly I don't feel like either.  Sure, there are things I'd like to have I cant afford, but I drive a decent car, have a roof over my head, a job, and I eat pretty good.

I think it all boils down to your perception of your life;   past, present and future.  How will I internalize this?  As one mistake after another?  Or one opportunity after another.

And age is just a number.  If you buy into society's interpretation, anything after sixty-five is just death waiting to happen.

I think I was right when I was twenty-eight;  have big dreams, work hard, pick yourself up when you fall and just move on.

Who knows how long I'll stay here, maybe another opportunity will arise to experience.  If it doesn't, at least my home will be in good shape and paid for before I retire.

My Summer Vacation

October is my favorite month to get out and see my area, the Pacific Northwest.  While my day job doesn't allow me to get away for more than three days at a time, I still make the best of it.

This year I made three trips, but only one overnighter.  Well, not counting the trip out to the coast to meet up with family in August.

In early October I acquired some new camera gear and was eager to use it.  My first trip was to Port Townsend where I knew I could click away in some beautiful scenery on a clear day.

I visited the Fort Worden State Park and headed out to the Point Wilson lighthouse.  There were some lovely wispy clouds adding textures to my images.  I had a great time.

Point Wilson Lighthouse

Old bunkers at Fort Worden

 Next trip a couple weeks later was up beyond Port Angeles to Salt Creek Park and surroundings.  I had never been here before so this day trip took some planning, a picnic basket and a map.

I enjoyed seeing some new sights and driving a highway I'm pretty sure I've never traveled.

There are old bunkers here too and some impressive shoreline, unfortunately the tide was coming in so I missed walking along the beaches for better shots.  But I did get these.

Salt Creek campground

Salt Creek beach

My main trip was out to the coast for my annual trek up to Ruby Beach.  I usually stay in Moclips at a place that overlooks the ocean.  The next day I drive up around the Quinault Reservation, past the Lake Quinault Lodge and then back out to the coast.  Those first beaches are breathtaking!  Kalaloch, Beach 1, 2, 3 and 4, then Ruby.  I usually start there and work my way back.

The fog was just lifting after a very stormy night.  

Here are some shots of Ruby.

A nice long walk down the beach and back, then lunch out of the back of my car overlooking the beach.

Next stop Beach 4.  This has a long and winding trail down to the beach, lots of steps, not for the out of shape.  By this time of day the light was playing peek-a-boo through the trees and ferns, it was so magical!  I tried to get a few shots of that as well as the beach.
Here is Beach 4.

It was a great day.  The drive to and from the condo is about an hour and a half each way, so it was an all day trip.

Happy to get back before dark and enjoy a fire in the fireplace and almost a sunset (clouds rolled in).

Drove home the next day.

All of these images are available on my website at www.jenigrayphotography.com and some of them are available on my new boutique site at https://jenigrayphotography.shootproof.com .  

At home I have been working with the new camera and lenses.  We are getting used to each other.  I've done some still life work indoors which is pretty flat right now, but I know where I'm going with it.  Here are the beginnings.

So as you can see, my life has pretty much been all about the new gear!  But this month (November) I rolled up my sleeves and got caught up on all the Fall yard work.

Next week I'm having the energy audit done through the Community Action.  This will determine what my energy uses and needs are.  Then, at some point in the near future, I'll be getting some work done to insulate and fix leaks.  I'll be sure and write about that as it happens.

Hope this finds you all gearing up for the holidays.

***All Images Copyright 2019 - All Rights Reserved.  ***

Photo Collection Publication

After two years I finally finished the collection of images of the Washington Coast!
It's a humble little publications but 40 pages of black and white photography I took over the past two years.
Now available on MagCloud for only $12.50!

This is rated for all audiences, makes a great gift or coffee table book.  Measure 8x8 inches.

Washington Coast

By Jeni Gray in Photo Gift Books

40 pages, published 10/24/2019

A collection of black and white photography. Featuring the coast along the State of Washington, USA. This is the perfect soft cover coffee table book or gift. Rated for all audiences.

Mobile Home Skirting Blues

Sometimes you just can't afford to replace stuff, so I always try to find the next best remedy.  Usually it's paint!  This time it was just what I needed to freshen up the yellowing skirting.

It's been over ten years since I painted the house, so it's no wonder it was starting to look ragged.  Especially the places where there aren't any gutters overhead.  I imagine years of rain splashing mud up on the skirting has discolored it.

So here's what it was looking like.

Yuck, right?  Well I had this great idea to paint it the color of the trim, instead of the house color, just to add a little life.  Well, let me tell you how hard it is to match ten year old paint!  But I only got it wrong once before I decided to take in a sample of the trim color (luckily I still had it).
A couple of nice afternoons and two coats of paint, and wala!

So the winterizing has begun here.  Wrapping up some outdoor projects like treating the roof moss and cleaning the chimney and awning.
The front porch mudroom is cleaned out and the snow shovel is handy (not like last February when I had to wade through the snow to get to the shed, lol).
The firewood is in, stacked and covered.  I'll be wrapping up the hoses in October and winterizing the outdoor faucets.  It could be an early winter for us as our mountains are already getting their first snow!!  That's about one or two months early.

Hope you all are enjoying your end of season wrap.
Till next time!

New Publication

This post is for my photography friends.

I have been working on researching, collecting and condensing information for the most important releases we need out in the field.

If you're taking any photos of recognizable people, buildings, public art, or even graffiti art, and plan to sell those images - anywhere - you need a signed release.

Let's start with people.  You have some great photographs of friends, family or street people that you now want to market and sell either as art or even display in ads or other media.  You'll want a signed Model Release from ALL of the people in the photo that are recognizable.  If there are children, use the release for minors and have their parents sign it.

For historic buildings, murals, public art, cars, or any private property that is recognizable in your photo, you need a signed Property Release from the owner.  This includes traveling abroad as well.  There are many iconic places that do not allow resale of images of their structures.

The allowable images without releases are endless, however, so think about that as you shoot out in the world.  Nature, wildlife, some silhouettes of people and places, and sections of architecture.

I created a FREE downloadable PDF of the three most important releases you will need.  Save the file and print what you need.  All I ask is that you do not reproduce the exact document for resale.

You can access the PDF here or from my home page right column.

Model and Property Release Forms for Photographers

Simple Forms for Model, Property and Minor Model Releases. For Photographers.

Poetry and Photos Part 2

These two books were created in the same year, 2018.  Gray Photography is a compilation of some of my images up to and including part of 2018, in both color and black and white. 

Raw; Verse and Visuals, was created in 2018, with new images and brand new poetry.  

2018 was a year of inner reflection and stepping out of my comfort zone, way out.  These are the darkest parts, that haunt us all.  Not necessarily depressing, just wide open and, well, raw.

This was incredibly healing for me to get all this out.  Sometimes you have to wait till the offending family members leave this world before you can come out with - everything.

Through this healing journey I was inspired to shoot all new photography, return to my first love, black and white, and created a large new body of work that has yet to be released in book form but many of the images are available on my website.  I am planning to compile the best of those images and get a book out this year (2019).

These two books are also available from right here on the blog, from the publications page. 

If you've had some ideas rolling around in your head for a book but just haven't taken that step yet, I encourage you to self publish.  It's a fast and fun way to get your creations out there - now!

I'm happy to answer any questions you have, just leave them in the comments.

Poetry and Photos Part 1

The first two books I'm going to talk about today were compilations of poetry I'd written over the years, the "best of" my endless ramblings of prose and rhyming works.

The first book I ever put together was Poetic Zen, around about 1998, before I had a computer.  I actually went to a print shop (yes, they had those then too) and had several copies made.  They sold in local bookstores and at book signing events. 

Years went by and new poems had been written.  The digital world was now accessible to me and I proceeded to create my own publications in Office Publisher, converted to PDF and uploaded to a nifty printing site (referred to as POD:  Print On Demand).  With new poems added and a new layout and cover design, I purchased them for local sales and gifts. 

Around 2006 I had this crazy title for a poem rolling around in my head;  Jesus and the Cheesecake Factory.  It never left me.  I wrote the poem but was reluctant to use it for a book title thinking it might put some folks off.  

So the next book was born;  The Afternoon of Life.  It didn't sell well but I think the title was too depressing.  I meant it as something positive, but you would have had to read the poems in it - and I don't think anyone got past the title, lol.

Finally in late 2017 through early 2018 I was on a roll, writing new and bolder poems than I ever had, revealing dark secrets about my past.  I was also shooting new photography.

So I decided to take the plunge - compile the best poems from the Afternoon of Life with the new poems and images - and finally use that title:  Jesus and the Cheesecake Factory.  

Well this bold artistic expression lead to more, and before I knew it I was a writing fiend again, spilling my emotional guts and experimenting with new images.  

That lead to book number 3 which I'll talk about about in the next post.

Poetic Zen (the second edition) and Jesus and the Cheesecake Factory are available from right here on the blog, on the Publications page (link in top bar).  Just click on any book image and it will take you to the MagCloud site for purchasing information.  These two are now available for under $10 each and digital versions are also now available for only $2.99.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the saga.

Fall Projects

Sunset on the Washington coast

 Fall is in the air!  The first couple of rainy, cool days here has me slowing down after a seemingly never ending year.

Spring and summer were full of remodeling projects and work, a nice end to summer with a visit from some of my family and a wrap up to yard work.

I am so grateful to have this life.  Have I thanked you yet?  My readers and followers?  I have met some truly wonderful people through this blog over the years.  I consider you friends and colleagues.

In the Fall as I slow down, I also find a need to simplify.  This is good for the soul.  I often take on too many projects and spread myself too thin, ever do that?  Well this year I have a better plan.

One website, one blog, one Facebook page.  I have one Instagram account and one Pinterest account as well.  

This will make my life so much easier and less stressed as I head into next year.  I already have a business and household to run, but love my side business in the creative arts.  

Although I did close my Etsy shops this year, I am still pursuing online sales for my photography and publications.  The time has come to simplify it all and have it make more sense.

As I catch my breath I am thinking about some fun but low key projects for Fall.  Since self publishing three small books last year, I now need to promote them.  I have posted them on the "Publications" page with links to purchasing, but I haven't actually taken the time to properly promote them here on the blog.  So I'll introduce them each in their own post, this way I can describe them in a little more detail.  

I know it's hard to shop online, you want to be able to pick an item up and look at it and touch it before you buy it, try it on or just see it in real life.  These posts will give you a better idea what my books are all about. And the best news is that all the prices have been lowered!  So they will make great gifts as well. 

I hope this finds you enjoying your life, till next time!

J

Summer Around the Yard

I haven't taken may photos of the yard this year, my apologies!  These indoor projects have preoccupied me.

Just yesterday the colorful orange day lilies started to pop out and for the first time ever, the Crocosmia have bloomed!  I guess you have to quit moving things around before they settle in and bloom.

The Shasta Daisies are out and the lavender is divine. 

So here are some photos I got today with the 200mm.

If you're receiving this in your email, and would like to visit the blog or comment, this link should get you there. https://huckleberry-hollow.blogspot.com/2019/07/summer-around-yard.html