Travel Muses

In the last couple of years traveling has become a form of self-entertainment

2012 Visited Ireland with my mother.

2013 San Francisco.

2014 San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angles - Disney World and Universal Studios - fun with my sister and her grandkids.

2015 I by  self drove Hwy 1 on the Coast of California in January which I managed to break my foot but didn't stop me from dancing in San Diego.  Flew to St. Louis to see family, and then in August went I took Mom to Las Vegas.

2016 I went to Europe for 3 glorious weeks.  England, France, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Greece, Israel, and Finland. 

Most the trips were alone which is awesome because I can do whatever I want, when I want, and how I want LOL.  I am rather selfish I have discovered on places I am willing to visit with others.

As an older single woman I'm always ask Do you feel Safe?  Don't you miss having company?

I always feel safe no matter where I am at.  I do research prior to leaving and always am aware of my surroundings. And I don't take items along on trips to call attention to self.  I am usually carrying my backpack, don't carry lots of cash, don't wear name brands, and jewelry is left at safe deposit box in Anchorage. I stay at Hotels after I have read reviews to see if any issues or problems and also use AirBnB. Research is being open to trusting your gut.  Ask othes if they have been there, when and what they did. 

As to having companions - family trips fill those needs right now.  Perhaps in the future I 'll meet a man who have the same passions I do for travel and we can see the world together.  But I love traveling alone.  Honestly.  I love to wake early, dress and walk all day exploring wherever I am visiting. Eat when I am hungry and the best I don't need to ask another if they are ready to do another day of what I do.

Europe was awesome for this.  Walking gives you a whole another outlook on life from a different view.  Its up close and personal.  Plus it makes me talk to others, learn about the area first hand.  And time stands still as I photograph a doorway leading to unknown territories:  letting my imagination run wild.

I learned to enjoy being alone one must be brave enough to talk to others and even if we don't speak the same language.  One of my fondest memories of Europe is when I flew to Greece with a woman from the Netherlands who spoke very little English sitting next to me but we talk for an hour about grandchildren.  She was going to see her daughter who was expecting her second child any day.  We both laughed, talked and had a great exchange of women bonding over the love of babies.

In Paris a waiter was upset I sat in the smoking / drink area only and I only wanted lunch... I love eating out & I am not shy about eating alone LOL... he tried to ignore me but the couple sitting at another table told him in French that I wanted to order a meal not just a drink.  I laughed along with this couple at the waiters error it made my lunch so much more enjoyable. I did learn food and drink is common bonding no matter where one is - a common theme throughout all my travels. 

No matter when I have gone people have been so kind, plus helpful when I would ask for assistance.

A smile goes a mile when traveling alone!

Scrapbook Designer Papers

I've been dreaming once again.  A simple dream over and over.  

A few months ago I stated many of my photos had turned into works that would be fun to use other than as photos!  

That they would be fun designer scrapbooking papers.

So how does one contact the various companies that sell to the public scrapbooking papers?  I have oodles and oodles of designs that I believe would sell extremely well in that market area.

 

Land of Bunnies and Chocolate Eggs

                                                       

With Easter just around the bend in the calendar the above version of a Kaleidoscope is the perfect background for making fun greeting cards!

                  Time Marching Forward & Back

Perfect for SteamPunk artists!  I see all kinds of objects being added on a mixed media scrapbook page!

Technology Dreaming

Today a contest ends.  The winner receives a brand new Canon Rebel Camera.  Sweet!  I entered the contest; something I rarely do.  

I have a little Samsung 10mp digital pocket model camera that I’ve used for the last two years.  I have dropped it more times than I should admit – so it at times acts up – the back is a tad scratched up from roaming in my camera bag with car keys and other countless items a woman carries when one does not take a purse.   Although most of the accidental drops of camera where from when my bike would toppled over on uneven ground  as I was loading everything back into the small basket on my front handle bars on various bicycle rides visiting gardens around town.

As far as one can tell my photos are not affected by the dropping of the camera.  There are times I need to gently tap the camera to get the lens to move out of the camera body so it is operable or for it to focus.  Not a big deal when one knows about the camera’s slight problems.

When one depends on a camera to create art one has dreams of newer and better cameras to enhance ones work and play load!

Last night out of boredom and wistfulness I visited Ebay.  Technology is a powerful entity.  My mouth was drooling over several specimens in both categories that I was clicking through:  large format printers and cameras as the viewing selections. 

If one has $1,500 to $2,200 lying around an 18mp digital camera by a couple of manufacturers where placed high on my dream list.

For $1,000 more selections were added to my list. 

And several winners I found for the under $500 with 14mp – enough pixels for large format photos up to 30 inches.

The large format printers’ price range was $2,500 to over $6,000.  These printers were more for the professional photographer who was well on their way to recognition and one who has a large studio that one could take in work to help fray cost factors.  Ink and photographic papers are more expenses than the average person realizes.

It is always fun to look at what is available, enticing one to dream and wish.  No one is too old to dream and have wishes. One never knows when the dream fairy can bring a wish to you.