Birthday Joys

I am happy about special moments on my special day. A bumble-bee enjoying the sweet juice of a pumpkin flower.

Flecki visiting in the morning.

Beautiful roses on my birthday table.

A paper bag with Lady Liberty.

A bit of Disney magic -- a potholder and an apron.

A touch of the American West -- a scarf with a lovely design.

Wonderful gifts from my friend Martina from Sweden -- thanks Martina!

A dream coming true -- a new camera!

Lunch at an Asian restaurant -- just delicious!

Of course, a piece of cake!

I hope your birthday was/will be just as happy!

I is for Interesting Photos and Effects

Recently, I walked over a highway bridge, intending to take a couple of photos of a beautiful poppy field next to the highway. Accidently, I took this photo of the bridge railing. I decided to keep it -- these happy accidents are often interesting to play with in Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop. Moreover, such happy accidents are often perfect for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

I used the kaleidoscope function in Paint Shop Pro, loving the result.

In case you are interested in the settings I used, here they are.

I tried something else -- for me, it has a jungle feeling about it.

Once again the settings of this kaleidoscope effect.

I wanted to make something with this background. Loving Katy Perry's Roar, I added the tiger and the first line of the chorus.

H is for Hair Color

It's kind of funny when you realize that you share your natural hair color with a fictional character. In my case, that's Anna from Disney's Frozen.

I hope you enjoy my H choice for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

Happy Independence Day

Getting ready for lunch on Inpendence Day.

These days I re-watch all seasons of Gilmore Girls, and Lorelai and Rory eat cheeseburgers so often that I just had to make cheeseburgers for 4th of July.

 

Flecki kept me company in the kitchen while I baked something special for the occasion.

A flag cake.

Yummy! German readers find the recipe at USA kulinarisch.

Yesterday I received a package from trnd, Europe biggest community for word of mouth marketing. It contained the Braun Multiquick 7 MQ 745 Aperitive hand processor. Similar hand blenders are available in the USA. Anyway, I was very excited about the perfect timing. Why? 

I could make these special red-white-blue smoothies!

Red = frozen raspberries and grape juice, white = vanilla ice-cream, crushed ice and some mineral water, blue = Powerade Mountain Blast, first frozen into ice cubes and then crushed.

Patriotic cake and smoothies -- I am probably one of very few people in Germany who celebrated Independence Day in such style. However, one must celebrate when one has the chance.

Happy 4th of July!

G is for Green

Do you also love the fresh green of new leaves? I really like green for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

It's great to see how a new leaf unfolds.

Such vivid green.

Wood

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck...

 ... if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Light & Shadow

I love the play of light and shadow in summer. One late afternoon in June, I noticed how beautifully my (plastic) crystal shone up when the sun fell through the window.

The real world and the shadow world side by side.

 

F is for Flecki

In September 2012, I asked you how I should call this cute fellow. Since he has several spots on his fur, I started to call him Flecki (Fleck = spot). For me, it's a perfect F for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

Flecki didn't show up much in 2013, but since January 2014 he comes by nearly every day. He even loves to stay over for a nap, sleeping deeply with a slightly opened mouth. Please note the rolled tongue.

He completely relaxes while taking a nap.

At times he stretches out.

What a sweet paw.

Here he is playing with me on the terrace.

Flecki in the kitchen -- he knows how to get his cat treats.

Sleeping soundly once again.

At times he lies like that while looking around. I guess he enjoys the different perspective.

Flecki is such a good natured fellow. He doesn't mind cuddling with neon-colored alien friends.

One tired cat -- he surely loves to come over for a nap.

I really like his striped tail.

I am sure this cat knows how to look extra cute.

Would you believe that this cat is not my cat? In fact, I am still not sure where he lives.

A hearty yawn.

Time to cuddle.

Time to play. I kept the toy from my late cat Muschi. It's great that it's used once again.

Enjoying the terrace.

Looking out of the terrace door.

Sleeping on the terrace bench.

Looking out of the window.

There is so much to see. (And, fortunately, Flecki doesn't mind me putting the camera in his face all the time.)

That's how he can comfortably look out of the window -- sitting on the ironing board.

I can't help taking pictures while Flecki is sleeping.

My personal Easter bunny.

Another hearty yawn.

Enjoying the tulips in the garden.

Lying in the kitchen and waiting for a cat treat.

I presume I have taken more photos of Flecki in the last months than his owners did during his lifetime (he must be around 3 years old). Never mind -- he is just too cute.