How To Decorate A Christmas Tree If You Have Cats

How To Decorate A Christmas Tree If You Have Cats, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Open Box.
Remove ornament
Chuck ornament at Christmas Tree
Repeat steps 1 - 3.

Let's be real, if you have cats, nothing is staying on the Christmas Tree where you put it. You'll be lucky they don't knock the whole 7 ft. tree down, drag it down the hallway and somehow, sling it under the bed so you can't get it.

View bolting your Christmas Tree down

for
Our Daily Topic Order And Chaos

Cliche Saturday HCS

#CatchyColors

#CatchyColors, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
My favorite part of Christmas is the non stop assault on the visual senses. The kaleidoscope of bright, cheery colors can be over whelming for some but for me, it's like the soft glow of a warm winter fire.

View with sunglasses on, some of my decorations are pretty bright.

For
#FlickrFriday : #CatchyColors

Our Daily Challenge: Sometimes They Sparkle

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I am thankful for a lot of things.

I am thankful ...
for my health
for my friends
for my husband
for my cats
for the world I live in
for the food in my belly
for the roof over my head
for the clothes on my back

but most of all
I am thankful I am not a turkey behind a fence at this time of the year.

View saying Gobble Gobble Gobble

for
Bokeh Thursday: Thankful
Our Daily Challenge: Wood

Jolly Be Good

Jolly Be Good, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Don't bother. I found Santa Claus and buried him under a rock. I have all your presents so there really is on reason for you to Jolly Be Good.

View under a rock next to Santa Claus

for
Our Daily Challenge: Symbol

hbmike2000's photostream

hbmike2000's photostream on Flickr.

My Flickr Photostream

He's Dead, Wrapped In Plastic

He's Dead, Wrapped In Plastic, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Don't tell Daisy, don't tell Daisy, don't tell Daisy.
I found him this way, I swear!
Don't tell Daisy, Don't tell Daisy ...why is Daisy Duck knocking at my door? OK, which one of you told Daisy!

View while watching an old Twin Peaks episode.

for
Macro Monday: In My Bag (technically he's in a bag in a bag in a box in a storage box in the garage)
HMM

#OnTheSunnySide

#OnTheSunnySide, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I had to walk through the cold early morning desert in Flip Flops to get this shot of a snowy mountain during sunrise. Never mind all the thorns, pricks (cactus, not people) and broken glass, there was two tons of rabbit poo to traverse.

for
Flickr Friday: #OnTheSunnySide

Our Daily Challenge: Liquid (there's rain in them there clouds)

Sliders Sunday (is there really ANY photo I take that ISN'T)
HSS

Sunrise, Clouds And Three Cats

Sunrise, Clouds And Three Cats, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
In the blackness of early morning I awake and roll out of bed quietly. In the darkness I hear movement as something fuzzy brushes across my ankle silently. I grab my cell phone, press a button and shine the light down towards my feet to see where I'm walking, the sound of pitter patter echos all around me and heads off down the hall and I follow, shuffling slowly behind. I head towards the kitchen to make coffee and find the light above the stove illuminating the backsides of three cats standing patiently at the blinds for me to open them. I pull the cord slowly and the slats slide halfway across the big plane of glass leaving room for all three to see out to the nothingness and an empty space next to them that awaits for me. I make coffee, pour, stir in the sugar and cream and take a sip. I turn out the light, then head over to the empty spot next to the three cats at the window. Silently we stare, looking at nothing as the minutes tick by without a sound. Then it happens. Shadows begin to appear as the darkness begins to fade and the sunlight crests the mountains in the East and lights up the sky and clouds in the West. Light slides down the side of the majestic mountain and flows out across the desert floor and brings a beautiful morning with it.

View with Oohhhhh's & Aahhhh's

for
Cliche Saturday
HCS

The Architecture Of A Photograph

The Architecture Of A Photograph, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
First, I laid a piece of paper on the top an old wooden chest.

Then I placed a cheap plastic purple beaded necklace down, followed by a twisty piece of Art with glass and rusty metal and then I situated an empty bottle off to the side.

Next, I took a miniature fence and bent the ends down and stood it over my little set.

Last, I ran to get the camera, ran back to set I built, yelled at the cat for knocking everything down and rebuilt.

Repeat last step FIVE times.

And that is how I build a photograph

(Processing is easy, you just stare at your cat for five hours as he insists on sitting between you and the monitor. I just wish he would face me when he does this)

View staring around your pet who insists on sitting between you and the monitor

for
Our Daily Challenge: Architecture

Fenced Friday HFF

The Architecture Of A Photograph

The Architecture Of A Photograph, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Colorfully Twisted

Colorfully Twisted, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I found when I bent it like this, this and that, it made it look like the purple glass thingy was floating in a background of color. I also found when you let go of that, that and this, it snaps back and will poke you in the eye, make you cry and then the three year old from across the street will come over and ask if you are OK. Then the three year old will tell you that was stupid and you should of known better. So when I get him a rock for his birthday this Saturday, I'm just gonna say, maybe you should of known better.

Just look at the dang photo and stop judging me.

for
Our Daily Challenge: Bend / Bendy

The Unusable Is The New Usable

The Unusable Is The New Usable, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The unusable is the new usable in today's world. What wont work for its intended purpose can be reused for a new purpose. This 3/4 of an inch old, rusty gear has no use as a gear anymore but it makes a great piece of Art. Strung with a rusty wire it alternates between old rusty metal pieces and smoothed out broken colored pieces of glass. It is one of my favorite pieces made by a friend.

PS.
Not everything is reusable. I failed at taping my other half to the wall and changing his name to Art.

for
Our Daily Challenge: Unused or Unusable

Macro Monday: Smaller Than 2 inches
HMM

Right Behind Christmas

Right Behind Christmas, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This is the time of year with Thanksgiving just around the corner and we are right behind Christmas running up hill to catch up. So I would like to wish you all a Yrrem Samtsirhc early.

View while catching up to the Holidays (good luck with that one, I never catch up till February)

for
Our Daily Challenge: One (one tree to rule them all)

Ye Ole Ball And Chain

Ye Ole Ball And Chain, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
There was more to this story about unlocking Ye Ole Ball And Chain but I got smacked in the back of the head before I could write it.

View wearing a football helmet

for
Slider Sunday
HSS

My Dog Portrait

My Dog Portrait, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Truth be told, I'm jealous of Jayme's dogs and his fantastic photo's he takes of them. So I set out to take my own dog's portrait photo. First, I went out to the garage and dug out the box buried deep in the dark at the back. Then I opened the box, took out my dog, blew the dust off of him and put him down. Next I set up the shot, told the dog to sit and went to get the camera. Everything was all good until I went to snap the shot. As soon as I aimed the camera at him, he turned around, said Look, I'm Sally Fields as the Flying Nun and flew off over the fence and out of sight. Typical dog.

View with Sally Fields (you know you like her, you really, REALLY like her)

for
Our Daily Challenge: Portrait From Behind
(for those of you waiting for my Misheard Lyrics shot, don't. The only song I can come up with is KC & The Sunshine Band's " Shake Your Boobies " which I found out is really Booty rather quickly.

for
Fenced Friday

If you haven't checked out Jayme's Photostream I suggest you give it a try. It's amazing

I Believe They Are Pansies

I Believe They Are Pansies, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I found them all passed out on the floor after a long night at the Drunken Nectar. So much for Flower Power.

View with a glass of Nectar

for
Comp Corner: Flower Power

So Much For Flower Power

So Much For Flower Power, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
These guys all went out last night to the Drunken Nectar and got smashed. I found them this morning all passed out on the floor. I think they are pansies.

View with a glass of Nectar

for
Comp Corner: Flower Power

Focused

Focused, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
It's not that I have horrible eye sight or I don't care, but I do not notice my surroundings. I focus on one thing and everything else seems to get obliterated to nothing.

When I was younger, I shared an apartment with three roommates. A week after coming home from vacation, I sat in the Living Room one morning drinking coffee and two of my roommates kept laughing. When I asked what was so funny, they broke down in hysterics. We painted the living room, they said. It was true, the Living Room was white when I left and now it was a medium brown. Whatever, I said and grabbed my cup of coffee and headed off to my bedroom. They started rolling on the floor laughing. I entered my room, slammed the door shut and noticed for the first time in the week since I was home, they painted my bedroom from a light green to bright white.

View in a nondescript room

for
Our Daily Challenge: Abstract (not really sure how "abstract" it really is but I took about 50 shots and this was the most "abstract" I could get.

Bokeh Thursday: One

The Dirty Bits

The Dirty Bits, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I can't believe you all looked at a photo called The Dirty Bits. You should be ashamed!

View looking down and shuffling your feet

for
Macro Monday: All Lined Up

Screw You

Screw You, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
he he he. Sorry, I always wanted to title a photo that.

View while ... what? Why are you glaring at me? I didn't mean ... I think you misund ... I'm gonna go hide now.

Can I have Cheese With That?

Can I have Cheese With That?, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I asked for a double decker and this is what I got. I prefer cheese and bacon on my double decker and I got NO fries! Rude

View hungry

for
Sliders Sunday HSS

Double Decker (alt)

Double Decker (alt), a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
for
Our Daily Topic: Begins With D

Double Decker

Double Decker, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
and it's DIRTY too! How's THAT for Begins With D.

Now if you don't mind, I'll wait for the next bus, thank you.

View in a bathtub

for
Our Daily Challenge: Begins With D

Double Decker

Double Decker, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
and it's DIRTY too! How's THAT for Begins With D.

Now if you don't mind, I'll wait for the next bus, thank you.

View in a bathtub

for
Our Daily Challenge: Begins With D

Getty Images

Getty Images, a set on Flickr.

Creative Images available for Licensing at Getty Images by HBMike200