Amazing What A Little Dirt Can Do

This urn was interesting to me in the original, but since I took Jessica Sprague's free class this week, I decided to fancy it up.



I used the following three textures, which you just layer on top of your photo any old way that looks best to you. Then you use the Photoshop blending mode "soft light" to blend all the layers together.




I like what it did to the urn.

See How Your Vote Counted (or at least mine did)

Vote Today

Today is the last day to vote for a wild-card player in the All-Star Game to be held next week. As a loyal Phillie's fan, I urge you to cast your vote for Shane Victorino, aka "the Flyin' Hawaiian" as the final NL All-Star. If you missed last night's game, Shane drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth for a Phillie win, but that's not all that recommends him as an All-Star. He's a great runner and is hitting over .300 so far this season. He's just an All-Star kind of guy.

I have to admit that last summer when the Phillies first started to show some promise, I thought his name was Shane Victor and "Victorino" was just the nickname Harry Kallas had bestowed on him. I would hear (because the game is always on in our house) in the background, Harry shouting. . ."and that ball is gone. . Victorino chalks up another one." So I was confused for a while why they called him "Victorino" and "the Flyin' Hawaiian." Until Bill set me straight.

Anyway, you can vote for him today here. He deserves it.

Happy Fourth of July

What a perfect day to celebrate this great country of ours. Hope you have fun.

Just Browsing

This may sound strange, but I like to browse in liquor stores. I like to look at all the interesting displays and the beautiful wine labels and pretty bottles. This week I was captivated by the vodka section. There are some really wonderful looking bottle shapes and design work on vodka bottles. And there are so many different kinds of vodka, you wouldn't believe it. Well, you might, but I was surprised.

Take that Pravda Vodka, for example. Who would have thought it has been around since 1743 (this is the first time I've ever noticed it) and is made in the Carpathian Mountains of Southern Poland with "simply the finest ingredients in the world--the purest spring water, the sweetest, most natural, untreated late-harvest rye." This just shows how dumb I am. I didn't know vodka was made from rye. I always thought it was made from potatoes.

Lest you think this is starting to sound like an ad for Pravda, let me assure you it is not. I am merely appreciating the stunning art on display in the vodka section. I never drink the stuff myself. I could never part with that bejeweled bottle.

Happy, Happy, Birthday, Baby

Happy Birthday, you little cutie.

The Sky Is Falling

This is officially (according to me) the wettest, darkest, coolest spring on record. My flowers and vegetables are just languishing around, too sopping wet to do anything but try to dry out. I've taken to putting everything under the eaves or tables trying to keep the rain off for a while. The lack of sunshine is making everyone crabby and depressed. Who would have thought you could get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the spring?

I went to a couple of garden centers this week and I feel sorry for those owners. All the plants look sickly and drab. The Jersey strawberry crop is pretty much shot, and the corn may not be far behind. Mold, fungus, mildew--you name it; we've got it. Instead of singing "June is bustin' out all over," we're singing "who'll stop the rain?"