Penning Photography Daily

From late September, to warm me up during this cold winter.

Karen, at the intersection of rough trails at the Shoal Creek Preserve in Litchfield, IL.

The green forest canopy of leaves warms me up.

I hope you are finding something to warm you.

Johanna seems to be ready to go be at rest.

She’s not eating, and has little energy to do much but sleep. She’s drinking water, but less and less.

I could take her to the vet and have extra means of helping her, but in the end, I feel she doesn’t want that.

I’m reminded of my Mother, and how, when she had a massive stroke at home, decided to stay at home, with just ice-chips to keep her mouth moist. She wanted to be at home, with her family and not in a medical facility with all it’s unfamiliarity. Mom was a tough lady. She lasted for several days, letting nature take her to her final rest. That experience deeply moved me.

So with Johanna, I am ready to make her comfortable as much as I can. To hold her, talk to her, give her water when I think she’ll take it. And, let her go.

It’s not easy, but it’s what I feel she wants. Especially after being out in the cold for two days, being in a familiar place with familiar old me, and my bride Karen is what I believe she wants and needs.

Comfort. I hope to be afforded the same when it’s my turn to make my final rest.

Again with my Treo 755p camera phone.

During choir practice, I seldom have a moment where I’m not singing or playing my guitar and usually it’s both. =)

Tonight, the alto section needed some extra work on their parts, and, when the second time this occurred, I pounced at the opportunity.

Camera phone out, set on my music stand, frame and take. This is the second shot. The first I was too shaky.

I have my pick in my mouth (I’m a flat-pick guitarist), capo on the head of my guitar and my fingers at the ready.

I’m looking at our choirmaster to make sure I don’t take too long. Mustn’t delay practice!

Dan – flickr.com/photos/yodudedan/ – is waving hello in the background. Hey Dan!

On Monday, January 21, Johanna went missing.

I figured that she got out of the house (a total indoors cat) around 12:30PM that afternoon. I realized that she was missing at around 6PM.

I frantically started searching for her inside the house, never thinking that she had gone outside. Once the indoors search turned up nothing, I searched outside and still came up with no Johanna.

Late that night, our son Chris came over to do another and more complete search of the outside. Nothing.

All day yesterday, I was dreading what I figured was a fact. That Johanna was gone.

Tonight, our neighbors, said they had seen and heard a cat, but thought it was a neighbors indoor/outdoor cat.

It was Johanna! Believe it or not, she had survived not one but two nights of below freezing weather. Amazing.

She’s healing up and we’re counting our blessings.

I had made this photo as a memorial to Johanna, as it was taken about an hour before she made her exit.

I’m grateful for watchful neighbors, and for Johanna’s tenacity in clinging to hope and life.

Welcome home Dear Johanna.

Quick camera capture during a Net Meeting today during the Noon hour.

I was facilitating our folks looking over some new software enhancements coming our way. A national call of other sites which use the same software.

At one point, I thought, “Hey, let’s just take a photo!” I knew that I might be busy tonight .

I’m learning to heed the call of inspiration when it hits. You never know when that well might run dry.

In the interior hall of the first floor where I work, there are windows into the offices lining that hall. Everyone has their blinds closed.

Wasted glass. Except, in this case, a handy means of grabbing a quick self portrait.

It was after staying late to do some server updates, that I traveled down this hall. My bride Karen called, and as I was standing talking to her, I thought: “Self Portrait!”

Quick settings, and here you are. It’s a one second exposure, so forgive the blur.

You can tell I’m talking to my sweetie. She’s saying, “Are you doing something with a computer?” She has that nose for my distracted “Uh Huhs.” =)

You can just barely make out that I have my slingshot 200 camera bag on with my gorrillapod tripod attached.

Always be prepared. Good enough for the Boy Scouts, is good enough for this photographer.

The morning sun and an interesting set of clouds were dueling for dominance this morning.

My co-worker Howard pointed out the interesting tableau – Thanks Howard! He says that his eye for interest has sharpened as he’s been following my, and other’s daily photos. Sweet!

I did notice the interesting clouds, as I was coming into work. It would change dramaticly in the space of seconds. I figured that it would be gone before I had a chance to capture it.

I was granted another chance as Howard directed my gaze from my office.

I played with exposure and this was the best of a handful I grabbed within roughly one minute.

I used Lightroom and Corel Paint Shop Photo Pro X2 to bring out the drama.

I like the blue sky in the upper background. Waiting for the duel to finish before grabbing center stage once more.