kaleidoscope thursday

Blossoms on the peach tree.

The blossoms were pretty before the big freeze.

It was suppose to drop to 19 last night.

We did cover this little tree.

We re-wrapped all the wind blown plants.

Kaleidoscope thursday could become a regular feature.

Hoping for warmer temperatures and less snow for all those states being hit hard.

Stay warm.

kaleidoscope part two

You knew it would happen. One post with pictures using our new kaleidoscope would just not be enough. And, I told you it was somewhat addicting... taking pictures through the tiny eye hole of our kaleidoscope we bought in Jerome.

One of our favorite things to photograph are the palm trees in the backyard. So, having not tired of taking pictures of them yet, and finding the fractured images that the kaleidoscope makes when pointed their way interesting, I say...why not more palm trees?

Here, at sunset, the before or without kaleidoscoping. I wonder if that is a word?Kaleidoscoping. I say sure, why not.

And after.

Just to mix it up a bit. Here is the kaleidoscoped image first. Can you guess?

Yep, it is the sunset reflecting in the pool.
No before here. Just straight up palm trees. Literally. Looking straight up at them.
And another with the pool. Doesn't it look like an island resort somewhere that you would love to escape to?
Problem is...there are those darn sharks again. Or are they whales?
Well, we can all dream of laying on a beach somewhere. No cold weather, no laundry to do, no worries. Hello? Anybody still with me here or are you all just daydreaming?

Ahhh.

kaleidoscope

One of our stops, while visiting Jerome last week, was to a really great shop called Nellie Blye. It was filled with kaleidoscopes and crystals and lots of sparkly things. We all had a really great time looking through all the different kaleidoscopes. The way they make light and colors fragment and form into new shapes, is really quite fascinating. They had really big ones to sit on a table and really tiny ones that you can wear on a necklace. We were captivated for quite some time.

As we were just about to end our tour of the shop one of the employees taught us a little trick. She said you can take your phone camera or digital camera and hold the lens up against the eyepiece of the kaleidoscope. Let it focus and snap a picture.

How cool is that?

And then we took some of each other. Rachel.
My sister Karen and myself.
Leah.
Rachel again.
And that is when the shop employee had us hooked. Both my sister and I had to purchase one to take home. And that is when the fun began.

Leah got creative and showed the kaleidoscope in her hand and what you can see through the tiny eye hole.
And then, this is what you see when you hold it close to the pink flower and snap another picture.
Here is another before picture.
And now through the kaleidoscope.
It is very addicting as you will see. This one is through Leah's window with one of her heart shaped crystals and the palm trees in the background.
You guessed it... piano keys.
Fruit bowl with apples and little clementines.
Chuck's painting of the other woman.
Part of an antique lamp.
The bottles on Leah's windowsill. There are paper flowers in the bottles...here they look like butterflies.
And some of our favorite shots... the palm trees.
Someone's very own little island. Look really close and it almost looks like sharks swimming in the "water".
And then the palm trees at sunset.
As you can see, we spent a lot of time playing with our new kaleidoscopes.
I suggest you pick up a kaleidoscope and take a peek.

You'll be glad you did.

Just be sure you have a little time on your hands, because you will have a hard time putting it down. Seriously.

note: photo credits again go to Leah, Rachel, my sister Karen and myself.