A Walk around Bellevue

I've gotten through all the photos and am quite pleased with myself. I got a few good ones out of the hundreds I took. I also didn't have any photo regrets... sometimes you look through your photos and see something you should have tried. Those are my photo regrets, but I didn't really have any. I felt like I tried everything I wanted at the right times. Some ideas still need refining.

My first photo stop was Downtown Bellevue Park. It's a really pretty green place in the middle of the concrete jungle. I sure don't miss living in the city. Seattle was fun at the time, but I wouldn't pick it now, it's still a great area to visit though.

Then I found a pretty cool little niche. The Bellevue Botanical Gardens. It is a free, very well maintained garden that isn't very far off the beaten path.

I played with logo ideas and here is my test run on my "Gentian" photo, what do you think?

There are still more photos on the web page in the portfolio and I have added options to purchase prints if you are interested.

Logo

So... Stephanie has a great little logo and I'm jealous. I want one too. Anyone have any ideas? I guess I've been pretty happy with just the copyright symbol, but it isn't nearly as fun as a logo. I'll have to toy with the idea.

In the mean time here's a great early morning shot of the Okanogan county courthouse tower. It's going to take me a bit to get through the photos from Bellevue.

"Morning Time"

Bellevue

I'm having a great time in Bellevue while Shawn is slaving away in his Math conference. I left my card reader at home, so no pictures until Sunday at the soonest. I've had lots of photo opportunities too.

Yesterday I walked down to Bellevue Square from the hotel and found a nice little park. The fall colors look great now so I sat on a bench for a bit and snapped a few photos. Then I wandered around the mall for like two hours. It was actually kind of nice to not have any time constraints and be able to just wander at your own pace.

This morning, although it was drizzly, I wandered up to the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Who knew there was such a cool free botanical garden in the middle of Bellevue. I spent two hours walking around taking a ton of photos. I'm very excited to review the 300 plus I took. I know, overkill, but it means there has to be at least one good photo right?

Football Thursday

Took the camera with to the Okanogan Middle School football game last night. The Bullpups took on the Grand Coulee Dam Pirates. The sun was blasting on the field and I wondered how the images would turn out and I am quite satisfied. Then when the sun dropped behind the clouds I got a gorgeous sunset to take pictures of. Though as soon as the sun set boy did the cold set in. The temperature dropped like a rock and the wind kicked up from the north.

Here's a sampling and the rest can be found in my portfolio via my web page.

"Practice Lineup"

"Sidelines"

"October Sunset"

Lazy Fall

My fall has so far been incredibly lazy. No beautiful shots of the fall foliage yet and no pretty pink sunrise photos. I'm up every morning at 6:30 to walk with Shawn to school and of course the times I don't bring my camera along the sunrises are beautiful. I'll bring the camera the next day and then there's nothing worth taking a photo of. Frustrating.

Homecoming is coming up on the 2oth and Shawn will be chaperoning. I've always begged him to take me to the dance and now he can. Actually I will hopefully be assisting one of the local photographers with taking photos of the couples. I'll probably just be doing paperwork, but it is still a good way to learn and I'm looking forward to it.

I'm also looking forward to a trip to Bellevue next weekend. Shawn has a math conference so I'm going to tag along and maybe check out Bellevue Square with the camera or ride the bus into Seattle. We're taking a district car so no driving anywhere too exciting while I'm there though.

In lieu of fall pictures here's one from just last month. I drove down to Bridgeport and pulled off the side of Hwy 97 to grab this photo. I saw this barn on the first trip we ever took to Okanogan and knew I wanted to get a photo of it. I'll be interested to see how it changes with snow, which I am pretty sure isn't too far off.

Photos Uploaded

While they may not be newly taken photos, I've uploaded some new photos to the portfolio on the web page. The "Flowers and Gardens" and "People" categories have been updated so go take a look when you have some spare time.

Post any comments or questions about photos in the portfolio here and I'll be happy to answer.

Newspaper Nod

I just received a nod in the local newspaper along with all the other fair winners from last weekend. It took a bit of searching but my name is down in the photography - landscape section of the Omak Chronicle.

Yea! for me.

Cooler Days

Finally we are receiving some cooler days and nights for that matter. No seeing our breath in the morning yet, but fall is getting closer. Today is such a great day, very nice weather, not too hot and not too windy, especially after yesterday's 30mph winds.

Shawn is getting along quite well in his teaching. He says it is everything he expected. I guess that would be better then a lot of unexpectedness. The kids really seem to like him as do the other teachers. He was offered the c-squad basketball coaching position, but he hasn't made a decision yet. I'm trying to work the courage up to have a teacher get together at the house, but I'm just not one to entertain, I frankly like being entertained.

Our little garden is producing, though through no work of our own. The grapes are becoming very fragrant, if the wind is blowing in the right direction you can smell them from the back porch. I clipped off a big chunk and walked down to the school yesterday afternoon munching on them. I think they may be concord grapes. Of course I really don't know too many types of grapes, but they remind me of the place my Grandma used to own in Texas. There was an arbor on the way to the big garden and the grapes would always be staining our hands and mouths.

Memories are sweet like grapes aren't they?

Fair Fun

Wow the Okanogan County fair has been such a blast. I still need to go back this evening and pick up my photo. I plan on indulging in a big, fat plate of curly fries before it's all said and done.

So my photo won a blue ribbon. I was very happy with that since it was such an impromptu entry. Now I'll leave it all framed up and hang it in the bedroom. I need something of a little interest on the walls in there.

I do believe my favorite part of the fair was just how small it was. I have never been to a fair this small, but it certainly didn't detract from the quality and I think I may even like it better then the big ones. We had a personal tutorial about the fitting and showing of steers and hogs from the Okanogan FFA teacher and we watched the sheep and goats being shown. Everyone was just willing to answer any of your questions.

The big event for us yesterday was the horse racing. You know the history of down home horse racing started out at fairs and I got a good sampling of it. My favorite event was the 13 and under pony relay race. Yes, all the kids riding were 13 and under. It was amazing. They ran half the track with one pony, then with adult help practically flew off the one pony and hopped on to another and ran the other half of the track. It was amazing to watch and the whole town turns out for it. They had some races that started from an older set of gates, but the walking starts were my favorite. In between all the races they had roping practices for the rodeo folk so it was entertainment all around.

I have a few photos to display from the fair. Here is a sample to tempt you to more. Check out the horses section in my portfolio.

Fair Entry

The Okanogan County Fair is coming up and I wasn't planning on entering anything since I just moved to the area, but then I got to thinking, why not? So I called up the office this morning and they are accepting photography entries through tomorrow night at 8. The only picture I have around that is an 8x10 is "Lone Fishing" so I'm going to give it a whirl. It really isn't my number one choice, but I still think it has its qualities. Wish me luck.

Bellingham

We did a rocket blast across Hwy 20 this last weekend to return to Bellingham for Shawn's graduation from Western Washington University. I think he secretly enjoyed my forcing him to return. He never walked for his undergrad at UW, so I think it was worth it.

Of course a trip anywhere wouldn't be complete without geocaching and photo taking. We took a break at the top of Washington Pass on Hwy 20 for some leg stretching, caching and photos.

In the background is Silver Star Mountain.

Shawn signing the logbook while I found the perfect rock tripod.

And finally the happy graduate with his parents.

New Look

A new look for the blog inevitable means a new look for everything else. I have finally found a happy place when designing my web page. Go check out the new and improved www.kendaljeanphotos.com. I finally have a decent portfolio and I'm very happy with the way things have turned out... at least for now.

Please let me know what you think.

Spokane

Took a short jaunt over to Spokane yesterday. My brother was in town for business so I wanted to see him, even if it was for a short time. Early in the morning we headed off on roads we've never been on. We got some great little stops in geocaching and here is some photographic proof.

This windy road takes you to Almira, south of Grand Coulee Dam. It displays a little better in a larger format.

A lone old building standing in the middle of a wheat field on Hwy 2. I liked this photo op so much I turned the truck around and went back for it. I'm glad I did, great contrast again.


Shawn and I up on the Almira road. That is the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam in the background. Luckily there was a roadside post for this great timed shot. I really do need to invest in a tripod.

Cascade Field

A photo from our exploring yesterday. We drove out to Omak Lake and on the way back I made Shawn pull over to the side of the road. I love the contrast between the mountains/sky and the field. I think it may be wheat, but I'm not sure. Even though this side of the mountains may not be as green, it sure has its own beauty.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I've decided to start up another endeavor to keep people updated. Since I tend not to update my web page, www.kendaljeanphotos.com, as much as I should I hope to post newer photos here as well as photos that just don't really fit my portfolio.

By looking at my photos you can probably tell I'm an avid amateur photographer. I have my moments for a great picture, but for the most part I am still learning.

I've recently relocated for my boyfriend's job. He is the new math teacher at Okanogan High School in north central Washington. It's his first teaching job out of school and I'm really excited for him. I on the other hand am jobless. The job market isn't exactly teeming in this area. I'm looking, but kind of being picky about it. It is so much cheaper to live on this side of the mountains then near Seattle that we can make do on his salary only.

One of the most exciting things about moving is we actually get to live in a house. We were lucky enough to create connections fast enough to rent a 2br house. The first time we've been able to afford it and it is cheaper then anything else we've lived in the past 4 years on the west side.

So here are the empty house picturess for all you curious folk out there. Mom - quit bugging me now.

Front of the lovely 1950s home and the living room with the wood stove.

Kitchen with it's carpet and avocado green appliances.

View from the back porch door through the kitchen and living room and the bathroom just off the living room.

The bedroom with hardwood floors and behind me is the other bedroom/office. Beyond that is Mickey's room which is also the laundry room.

Overall I am slowly falling in love with this little house. Though it has the quirks of being older, like it could probably be rewired, but it is a good foray into having an older house for when we go to purchase a home.