130/365 Refreshing rainbow sherbet

Apparently I'm on a photographing-food kick, and what's better for that than dessert?

This one? Rainbow sherbet.

Yum, yum, yum. Cold, tangy, fruity, and three flavors in one carton. An excellent, refreshing dessert on a hot summer evening.

But then again, I think that about lots of ice cream flavors. I'll just play favorites for one night. Or two.

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/60s, f/2.8 at ISO 800 in natural light by a window.

129/365 An easy dinner at the IMA

The grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art are some of the most beautiful in the city. I've always enjoyed going and just enjoying the space, even if I'm not there for the museum itself or a Summer Nights movie.

Last night, I picked up Subway sandwiches and met a girlfriend for an easy dinner, just sitting on a bench on the grounds, catching up while we enjoyed our inexpensive dinner. We've both been pinching our pennies lately, so I thought this would be a good way for us to get together without making a big production out of it.

And it was wonderful!

Afterward, I drove through the grounds, scoping out photo opportunities (there are hundreds) while forcing myself to stay out of the greenhouse area. This called for some variety! This photo is of the recently redone (within the last five years) entrance to the museum itself. It's an especially beautiful sight at night, when the glass facade is truly luminous.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/125s, f/5.6 at ISO 100 at about 5:45 p.m.

128/365 U.S. Senior Open

I think of my friend Aaron as I write this post. Why? Because he's the biggest golf fan I know, and he probably would have given his left pinkie to take my place yesterday.

The U.S. Senior Open is being held this week on the north side of Indianapolis, at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel. One of my clients at work was involved in putting on the event, so I went to the course during one of the practice rounds yesterday.

What would really make Aaron laugh is the fact that I, being completely uneducated about any players not regularly mentioned in the media, could only discern players from caddies by watching to see who carried the bags.

Sorry!

I did make sure to get a photo of each of the relevant boards displaying the players' names, though, so I could later Google them and try to match faces and names. So here it goes.

In the top photo, the guy in the black hat might be Larry Mize. And the guy in the green shirt is either Mark Wiebe or Scott Simpson.

The guy walking below? I think it's Javier Sanchez.

The final photo here isn't of anyone famous (well, at least I don't think so), it just makes me chuckle.

Check out the kid, intent on his putting game, bent over assessing the situation. Now check out his dad, not quite as enthralled, checking his watch.

Looks about right, doesn't it? Maybe I'm wrong and this kid is the next Tiger-in-training, the guy checking his watch is his trainer, and they're working on making his putting the fastest, most accurate putt possible.

Doubt it. But who knows?

Oh, and for the weeping Aaron, wishing he could be out watching practice himself -- if it makes you feel any better, my uneducated self wore the wrong shoes and now has a blister. I guess it's just karma.

Camera: a borrowed Nikon D300 (talk about a mental challenge -- everything spins or is located in the opposite way as a Canon), 1/250s and 1/500s, f/8 at ISO 200 between 3:15 and 4:00 p.m.

127/365 Baubles and bangles

I already knew I needed more accessories. But becoming addicted to TLC's "What Not To Wear" just drove the point home.

Are you familiar with this completely and utterly fabulous show? Prior to mid-June, I knew of it, and I knew who Stacy London was, from seeing her on "Oprah" and the "Today Show," but I'd never seen an episode, due to my lack of access to cable TV.

But then things changed. Mom and Dad stepped into the digital television world and signed up for satellite TV service. And I became acquainted with What Not To Wear.

Really, I should blame Mom. She got hooked first, then introduced me with a persuasive, "You've got to try this. All the cool kids are watching." And how could I resist? She is my mother, after all, and aren't you supposed to obey your parents?

It worked, I'm addicted, and I have a full six years' worth of episodes to catch up on. Be still, my heart.

And let's go shopping!

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens and 430EX Speedlite, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 400.

126/365 A simple weather vane

As a person who's always been fascinated with all things meteorology, I think weather vanes are very cool. They're just one of those simple tools that have been around for eons and still serve a purpose. And they make nice roof ornaments, too.

When I say eons, that's seriously true -- according to the almighty Wikipedia, the first known weather vane dates back to at least 50 BC.

BC. Thinking of an invention being in existence -- and the people who must have used it -- more than 2000 years ago just puts me in a state of awe. Think about how different life was at that time, and how things have changed since then.

A simple weather vane would have served more purpose than just a roof ornament -- weather played a huge part in their daily lives, especially if you needed to rely on the wind to travel from one place to another.

See how amazing that is? It adds some heft to this small iron ornament, doesn't it?

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/8 at ISO 100 at about 5:30 p.m.

125/365 Pinneaple Zucchini Cake

I'm one of the thousands of followers of the Pioneer Woman, and one day last week she featured a cake on her cooking page that happily put to use one of the abundant vegetables currently growing: zucchini!

Mom and I were both salivating while reading through the list of ingredients, so we took the time on Saturday afternoon to make this.

It's a Pineapple Zucchini Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and I'm definitely addicted.

I love pineapple. I growing to really enjoy zucchini. And I'm a sucker for just about anything with "cream cheese" in its name.

Thankfully, this cake didn't let us down. It was easy to make, full of flavor, moist, and a definite repeater.

And really, it's a cake with both fruit and vegetables in it. I think that alone means it can't be considered a dessert, but a healthy side dish instead! Pass me another piece!

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 640 in natural light at about 7:00 p.m.

124/365 Sundaes with sprinkles

I may have said this before, but I'll say it again: I love nothing more than spending quality time with my friends and family.

It doesn't take anything fancy, or a special event, to make it fun. I just enjoy relaxing together, chatting, and just being together. Two of my girlfriends came over on Friday night, and that's exactly what we did. Pizza + hot fudge sundaes with sprinkles + a goofy rom com + time together = the perfect Friday night!

In processing this photo for posting, I played a little with the Vibrance slider in my new Photoshop CS4. I decreased the vibrance to give it a slightly softer, pastel feel. I don't usually care for photos that have been super-processed, but this technique appeals to me, as an every-once-in-a-while treat.

Just like a hot fudge sundae. Indulge every once in a while. It makes life more fun.

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 1000, with vibrance reduced in Photoshop CS4.

123/365 One lonely tomato

This doesn't exactly look appetizing yet, but I'm hopeful that it will continue to grow.

It's the first tomato to sprout on my four tomato plants, which are apparently planted in too shady an area to thrive. The location was an experiment in the first place, so I'm just happy to see some life on the spindly plant.

This little youngster is only about the size of a blueberry. Keep your fingers crossed that he grows into a healthy, adult, red tomato!

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 640 in shade at about 7:30 p.m.

122/365 Perfect cherry tomatoes

I'm trying to wait patiently for tomatoes plucked fresh from the garden.

The time is getting closer (or for you, if you planted early, you may already be reaping the benefits), so in the meantime I'm making do with store-bought produce.

These perfect little cherry tomatoes have been available at the grocery store for a few weeks, and they're quite fun to add to a salad. Yes, they're small enough to pop right in your mouth, but I've been slicing them into halves or quarters to make them last a little longer -- meaning I get more bites with bits of tomato.

And when I'm having a salad with lots of fresh toppings, I try to get a little of everything in each forkful. Life is all about balance, right?

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens and 430EX Speedlite, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 1000 in mixed indoor lighting.

121/365 Plugs and power outlets

Isn't it true that you never realize how much stuff you have until it's time to move it?

The same goes for a smaller category of stuff: electronics. In the process of reorganizing, I'm faced with the quandary of finding enough power outlets for all my electronics.

It's mind boggling, and it draws my attention to just how much energy I/we use on a daily basis, especially when we're not even thinking about it.

One of my favorite podcasts, Make-it-Green Girl, featured an episode about the electronic vampires that suck electricity without your knowledge. The somewhat surprising truth is that just about anything left plugged in, even when you've turned it off, is lapping up some electricity. Especially anything that has a little red/green "ready" light.

Phone chargers, coffee makers, TVs... you name it. And in the process of plugging all my electronics into surge-protector power strips, I'm amazed at just how many power outlets I regularly use.

I have a handful of power strips that have an on/off switch that severs the flow of electricity when turned off, and I'll definitely be getting more in my quest to be ever-more conscious of my energy and resource consumption.

Look out, little vampires. I'm watching you.

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens and 430EX Speedlite, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 400.

120/365 Morning fog

I love foggy mornings when the sun is shining through the fog. It gives the landscape a heavenly look, without causing a problem with driving.

This stretch of road is near Zionsville. I wish it weren't such a busy road, because I would really like to stop my car, get out, and walk around getting loads of photos from different angles.

But morning rush-hour traffic on a busy highway isn't the best shooting location. And I value my life more than I value standing in the middle of the road for a photo. At least this photo, anyways.

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 looking eastward at about 7:45 a.m.

119/365 Stunning zinnias

Is this a gorgeous flower, or what?

It's a zinnia, found at one end of my aunt's garden. She has multiple varieties and colors planted there, so it was difficult to choose one favorite. I love that the center almost looks like a ring of flowers in the middle of the main blossom.

As I did a little research about zinnias, in the link above, I found it interesting to learn that they're a great flower to have in or near a garden. Part of that can be attributed to the fact that they attract bees and butterflies, which help to pollinate the garden.

Plus, they're one of those few plants that loves loads of sunshine, actually requiring at least six hours of full sun per day. All these are wonderful, but I'm just appreciative of how beautiful they are! And you know I love a photogenic flower.

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/3.5 at ISO 100 at about 5:30 p.m.

118/365 Unusual skies in July

Saturday's high temperature in central Indiana set a record. Usually in July, that would mean that we'd hit a new boiling point, but not this time. The temperature barely hit 70 degrees.

Huh? In July?

It was very unusual, but I heard very few people complaining. Being able to spend time outside without breaking a sweat was a nice treat.

And it also brought dramatic skies that caught my eye all afternoon and evening. I loved checking out the various layers of clouds, from light, wispy tendrils at upper altitudes, to rain-heavy masses closer to earth. Wonderful!

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 at about 7:00 p.m.

117/365 Sneak Peek Part 2 -- Kelly & Matt's Engagement

Kelly, Matt and I met for Part 2 of their engagement shoot on Friday evening. And boy, did we luck out with the weather! The high topped out in the 70s, very unusual for July, and the overcast skies acted as a big, wonderful diffuser. I couldn't have asked for better conditions.

We had lots of fun walking around campus, shooting in various settings that are recognizable to any Butler alumni or student. It brought back a lot of memories.

This shot of their clasped hands came by special request on their part. They're very active in their support of cancer research, and it's a passion that they share as a couple.

Kelly and Matt are glowing in their happiness together, and I was completely honored to have the chance to try to capture just a bit of that in a photo.

As I work on their proofs, I'll give you a bigger look at their shoot(s) in the coming weeks!

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/250s, f/2.8 at ISO 200 and 1/125s, f/5.6 at ISO 500 at about 6:00 p.m. under cloudy skies.

116/365 An empty fridge

I guess this photo shows what essentials I need in my fridge, if they're the first ones to make it inside: milk, diet soda, and leftovers from Chipotle.

Don't worry, I'll be going grocery shopping soon, and I plan to stock this fridge with fresh fruits and veggies.

But until then, this is what it looks like. Milk for breakfast cereal, leftovers from dinner, and a little caffeine for an afternoon pick-me-up. Sounds good to me!

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000