Beth's Photo-a-Day

The Stanley Hotel

2009-08-25T16:52:00.000-06:00

An exterior view of the historic (and haunted) Stanley Hotel.

Tie-Dye Star

2009-08-24T18:50:00.001-06:00

One of the very first star pattern tapestries Matt ever created.

Spirits in Colorado

2009-08-21T14:13:00.005-06:00

This series is a sequence taken at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO. It is one of the most haunted hotels in North America and was the basis for Stephen King's The Shining. I stayed there in May and it was really cool...and creepy. I certainly had some ghostly encounters, although nothing evil...which is exactly how I prefer my supernatural encounters to be. This sequence was taken in the most haunted room of the hotel and shows an energy mass moving across the wall. It first appears directly above the chair, works its way around the corner of the room, and the descends toward the left behind the curtain. The last shot is purely to demonstrate that the mass disappeared and reappeared around the room and that it wasn't just paint or a patch on the wall. That chair is a high center of activity. The energy mass was never visible to my naked eye despite it clearly showing up in several pictures. You may have to click and enlarge the image for a really clear view.

Yeah, I am a slacker.

2009-08-21T14:11:00.004-06:00

I have been such a photo-sharing slacker!!! I am shocked it was March when I last posted. Oh how time flies when you are having fun. Truth be told I have just been to darn busy traveling (and working) to have time to even suck the pictures off my camera and onto the computer for posting. I have a whole summer worth of memories on that camera still...gosh I better get them copied off in case something tragic might happen to my beloved camera.

Drumming

2009-03-12T13:50:00.001-06:00

I love this photo of Matt drumming. It captures the movement, and yet you can still see his hand hitting the drum clearly. He's a much better drummer than I am.

Riverfront Sunset

2009-03-11T10:29:00.001-06:00

The sun sets over Riverfront Park, with spectacular colors.

Mallard in the Sun

2009-03-10T20:28:00.002-06:00

At long last, I am back on the wagon with this shot of a beautiful mallard duck in the sunshine at Spring Creek Park.

Fell Off the Wagon

2009-01-23T15:09:00.002-07:00

So obviously I fell off the photo-a-day wagon. December was crazy busy, culminating in a week traveling to Washington with Sarah and Keleigh in a terrible storm. We had an All-Sister Christmas though, and it was all worth it. It was great. I came homw never wanting to see another baby, but I'm over that now too. And, now I'm back on the wagon...expect more pictures.

Little Baby, Big Book

2008-12-04T17:13:00.001-07:00

Keleigh and I check out some incredibly detailed Hymalayan art. The big book was a big hit with the little one. Taken during a visit to my house in January 2008.

Laurel and Leaves

2008-12-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Laurel with a nice backdrop of deep green foliage. Taken 6/1/2008.

Jess: Banjo Prodigy

2008-12-02T06:07:00.004-07:00

Jess plays us a little banjo at Laurel's bridal shower. True to form, she has been playing three days and you'd think it had been three years. She almost makes me sick with her ability to excel at everything! Taken 6/1/2008.

Keep Your Arms Up!

2008-12-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

At Laurel's Bridal shower on June 1, 2008. We made Hula Hoops and tie-dyed and had a grand time. Here Laurel is trying out her new hoop, but she can only do it if she strikes a Superman pose.

Natural Bridge Falls

2008-11-19T10:09:00.003-07:00

While the Natural Bridge collapsed long ago, the waterfall bearing the same name is still flowing strong as illustrated by this photo taken July 5, 2008. It is an amazingly beautiful place and is so wonderfully close to Billings.

Skyline Silhouette

2008-11-18T10:05:00.002-07:00

An evening shot of the skyline west of Billings at the Rim Country Land Institute taken in May 2008.

Funky Face

2008-11-17T13:44:00.002-07:00

I saw this woman several times before I was actually close enough to her to ask for a photo. I thought it was hands-down the best face paint job of the festival...at least that I saw. The eyes were really crazy looking!!

Campfire

2008-11-16T17:28:00.002-07:00

A fire my friends and I built during a trip I made back to Sidney during June 2007.

Slice anyone?

2008-11-14T09:00:00.002-07:00

This was taken 12/1/2007, which you'd never guess by looking at it. I love the winters in Billings!! I enjoyed that this gigantic boulder looked like it had been sliced up. Taken while folfing at Phipps Park a.k.a. Diamond X.

Autumn from the Rims

2008-11-13T12:06:00.002-07:00

Taken at the beginning of fall 2007 from the top of the rims. I love all the trees in Billings, and they really look beautiful in the fall when they are a million different shades of red, orange, and yellow. Beautiful.

Couch Potatoes

2008-11-12T15:49:00.002-07:00

Matt and Keleigh lounge on the big leather sofa. I particularly like that Keleigh is actually using the armrest. Taken during a family rendezvous in Billings during January 2008.

Birdwatcher in Green

2008-11-11T16:09:00.004-07:00

Here I am with bird book in hand and camera case slung over my shoulder, wandering around Riverfront Park looking for birds. I am almost unintentionally camouflaged. I don't know if it helped...

Flower

2008-11-10T09:13:00.002-07:00

This photo was also taken 4th of July weekend 2008. I love the amazing detail in the yellow center part!

Matt at Charlie's Bridge

2008-11-07T11:08:00.001-07:00

This shot was taken 4th of July weekend 2008 when Matt and I were backpacking. The bridge in the background was built entirely by hand by the mountain man that lived in the cabin nearby. It was an amazing testament to hard work, and nature, and time.

Grasshopper in Black and White

2008-11-06T18:12:00.003-07:00

I found this little guy this summer trying to figure a way out of my sun porch, which wasn't going well for him/her because the door was closed. I snapped a few close ups to test out the new camera before opening the door for allowing the grasshopper to escape back out to the yard. The camera was still set on black and white, so its pretty "artsy" for a bug portrait.

Solo Mushroom on the Lawn

2008-11-05T14:04:00.001-07:00

A very green, grassy scene with a mushroom popping up right in the middle of it. Taken 6/1//2008.

Swallowtail Sideview

2008-11-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have already included a photo of a swallowtail butterfly, but they are so beautiful, and this angle really captures the beauty of the different colors on their wings.

View from the Top

2008-11-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a classically beautiful photo of our big, blue, Montana sky from on top of the rims. Taken 6/19/2008.

Orange Lily

2008-10-31T14:58:00.001-06:00

Well, I didn't have any Halloween related photos on hand with me a work, so I settled for an orange flower instead. Taken in front of my house this summer.

Ducklings at Spring Creek

2008-10-30T13:55:00.000-06:00

A mother duck leads her young into the Spring Creek. I particularly like that the splash caused by the ducklings was captured in this shot, taken 7/10/2008

Lizard

2008-10-29T14:45:00.002-06:00

Some sort of lizard, although I know not which kind, at the Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area August 2008.

Tie-Dye Mandala

2008-10-28T21:54:00.002-06:00

Matt is such a great artist!

Wild Turkey

2008-10-27T14:59:00.002-06:00

An wild turkey out in the grass prairie at the Rim Country Land Institute. Taken during the summer of 2008.

A Very 10KLF Vegan Lunch

2008-10-24T19:56:00.003-06:00

Just one more reason to love the 10,000 Lakes Festival...they offer delicious vegan and vegetarian food, such as the curry that Matt is about to enjoy in the picture from July 2008.

Pryor Wild Horses

2008-10-23T14:47:00.002-06:00

A few wild horses in the Pryors, including one awfully cute foal. Taken 8/17/2008

Big Horn Sheep Family

2008-10-22T14:41:00.003-06:00

A group of Bighorn Sheep, perhaps a family?, hanging out at the Bighorn Recreation Area 8/16/2008.

Bunny

2008-10-21T20:23:00.001-06:00

A bunny cleverly hidden in tall grass at the Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area. Taken 8/16/2008.

Lily in Dew

2008-10-20T14:09:00.002-06:00

A beautiful yellow blossom covered in a nice spring dew.

10KLF "Family Photo"

2008-10-17T09:27:00.004-06:00

This group from our camp just happened to randomly merge together (within the thousands of other hippies) coming out of the last show at the 10,000 Lakes Festival. We thought a family photo was most definitely necessary. What a great week!

Little Bird

2008-10-16T08:51:00.002-06:00

A cute little bird who I don't think we ever identified. But it sure was cute.

Soaring Osprey

2008-10-15T15:32:00.002-06:00

This Osprey was seen at Lake Elmo 7/13/2008. It was so freakin' amazing to watch it soar and hover over the lake looking for fish. We saw it do a few dives, but always aborted (I assume the fish was no longer near the surface) before hitting the water. It hovered almost directly over my head for a couple minutes and you could see it turning its head from side to side scanning the lake. Really, really cool. It was also the first osprey we saw this summer, our first summer as bird watchers.

Purple Haired Chantz @ Pride

2008-10-14T15:28:00.000-06:00

Chantz strikes a pose a PRIDE 2008 in Billings. Really he should have gotten another rainbow nipple pastie... I was glad to get to see him and take part in the festivities! It was jolly good fun. Or maybe I should quite Mr. Burns and say "That was a gay old time."

Juvenile Robin

2008-10-13T15:21:00.001-06:00

This juvenile robin was splashing around in the puddle on the sidewalk. I captured a particularly cute pose/expression (at least in my opinion) in this shot. Taken at my house 7/11/2008.

Little Dancing Baby

2008-10-09T12:41:00.003-06:00

Keleigh was showing off some of her dance moves...and it was just almost too cute!! Its not really a "photo," but hey...I took it with my digital camera and who is going to care!

Mammoth Hot Springs

2008-10-08T10:35:00.004-06:00

Lisa and I in front of the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, February 24, 2008.

Hippie "Missing" Sign

2008-10-07T10:46:00.004-06:00

Hippies are hilarious.... This sign was posted on a water tank at the 10,000 Lakes Festival, July 2008.

Big Horn Ram

2008-10-06T10:49:00.002-06:00

The Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area certainly lived up to its name. We say so many of them! This Ram was one of a group of males grazing near the road. He was massive! Taken 8/17/2008.

Water Snake

2008-10-05T17:23:00.000-06:00

A little reddish snake cruising through the water at Lake Elmo. It had a very red tongue.

Looking Back Over My Shoulder

2008-10-03T17:14:00.001-06:00

A mule deer that Matt startled out at Phips Park one early morning (6/18/2008).

Matt on a Bridge

2008-10-02T12:18:00.001-06:00

Matty on a hiking trip this summer.

Toad Licker

2008-10-01T17:00:00.002-06:00

We found a tiny little frog/toad in our campsite at the 10,000 Lakes Festival. It was so tiny and cute! Adam released it, and we hope it managed to navigate all the hippies and find its way somewhere safer.

Minnesota Moon

2008-09-30T17:20:00.004-06:00

There were many amazing moons over the 10,000 Lakes Festival this year. This was one of them.

Belgrade Days 2008

2008-09-29T17:15:00.005-06:00

Here I am to proudly sell my tie-dyed wares at the Belgrade Days in September. It went even better than I hoped. I don't think we're ready to quit our day jobs yet, but maybe someday.

Great Blue Heron

2008-09-26T10:33:00.004-06:00

A Great Blue Heron grooms itself while perched on top of a dead tree at Riverfront Park 9/8/2008. It was really fascinating to watch, and fortunately had located itself so that it was fairly easy to do so. We saw three of them that day.

Flower Child

2008-09-25T17:05:00.004-06:00

Here I am dressed as a very purple flower child at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in July 2008.

Rainbow over Belgrade

2008-09-24T11:58:00.004-06:00

This photo was taken at Mom's rental (then Sarah's house) on 8/9/2008.

Lark Sparrow

2008-09-23T16:27:00.003-06:00

A beautiful head is a distinct feature of a Lark Sparrow. This photo was taken 8/16/2008 at the Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area.

Bighorn Sheep Baby

2008-09-22T08:38:00.000-06:00

A baby Bighorn Sheep in the aptly named Bighorn Recreation Area. Taken 8/16/2008.
So, should it be called a Bighorn lamb?

Matty's Birthday

2008-09-19T11:34:00.003-06:00

Here is my beautiful Matty at the Bighorn National Recreation Area 8/16/2008. Because today is his birthday.

Hungry Squirrel

2008-09-18T08:28:00.003-06:00

An adorable little squirrel eating some people food down at Riverfront Park on 7/12/2008.

Sparrow Swimming Hole

2008-09-17T09:10:00.003-06:00

A little sparrow splashing in a rain puddle 7/18/2008.

Yellow Butterfly

2008-09-16T13:03:00.003-06:00

A butterfly resting on a flower at Lake Elmo State Park taken 7/13/2008. It looks like a swallowtail to me, but I don't know that much about butterfly identification.

Cedar Waxwing Eating Berries

2008-09-15T14:24:00.006-06:00

With berries a-ripe for the eating, the waxwings are plentiful down at Riverfront Park. Here a Waxwing (right side of bush) was captured with a berry still in it's mouth. Taken 9/8/2008.

Youtubin' It

2008-08-07T10:47:00.004-06:00

Youtube could totally suck a person in for a long, long time! I had been on youtube before, but not a whole lot. I use it sometimes when I am trying to learn a new song on the guitar and don't have a personal recording of the song. It’s actually a really great resource for that. Just searching around for videos of interest to me I realized though that one could keep following the trail of "related videos" forever.

I started my youtube lesson by trying to combine two things I love: Libraries and the Sims 2. I was basically not expecting much, but thought I'd just see. Turns out, there was actually a Sims video someone had made for a competition their library was having. It’s fairly clever, although perhaps one would only appreciate it if they enjoy the Sims.

And here is something if you enjoy Zelda:

I also just searched for some library stuff and found all sorts of great videos...and some not great videos too, but hey, its the internet...what else could I expect?

Here is a video from the 40's talking about the career of librarianship. Dated and awesome, of course.

I had to extract myself at that point because although it was really fun, I had other work to do and feel I understand the lesson. I could have gone on though...

As far as a library application, I wonder if we could make a library tour and post in on youtube and our library home page. We used to have one done in still photos using some sort of sideshow application I believe, (this was actually prior to my time at Rocky). Perhaps this would be a way to revive that feature using 2.0 technology.

Podcasts

2008-08-07T10:08:00.003-06:00

I am finally back to work on my 2.o lessons. Today I listened to several different podcasts on several subjects. It was pretty interesting. I had never before experienced a podcast and only vaguely knew what the term meant. I used both the Yahoo Podcasts and podcastalley.com. I think I preferred the latter.

I checked out a couple vegan-related shows, listened to a library-related podcast, and one about birdwatching. I ended up subscribing to three of them. It was actually kinds of coincidental because the library podcast I chose to listen to was about knowing the changing library patron, and it was hosted by a woman whom I had heard speak (on the same topic) at the ILL conference in Lakewood, CO in May. What a small world. There were several podcasts in the librarycast that I thought would be helpful to me professionally.

I also tried to find a podcast about bicycle maintenance tips, but without any real success. There were definitly bike related ones, but not exactly what I was looking for.

Behind Schedule

2008-08-01T15:53:00.003-06:00

Well, I took a week off for vacation and then got sick with a dreadful cold promptly upon my return and so took a couple days off to heal myself (and I am grateful to say I do feel much more alive today). Consequently, I have the last two weeks of 2.0 learning to get caught up on....plus next week's! Yikes! Oh well, I am sure it will be fun and go by quickly as that is how I have felt about all the previous assignments.

On a completely unrelated note... Here is a quote by May Sarton that I think is amazing and wanted to share:
Help us to be the always hopeful
Gardeners of the spirit
Who know that without darkness
Nothing comes to birth
As without light
Nothing flowers

Playing with Image Generators

2008-07-21T09:21:00.012-06:00

I had perhaps a little too much fun last week playing with image generators. I made all sorts of silly pictures. It was fun, but I am not sure if there are really many practical applications for say, creating your own Vegas-style wedding chapel or road sign.

I did enjoy the Word Clouds a lot. Once again, I don't know if they serve a "purpose," but they are quite pleasant and colorful to look at which is right up my alley really.

This cloud is the lyrics to Lay Down Your Weary Tune by Bob Dylan

This cloud is the lyrics to Ripple by the Grateful Dead.



I also made my own coat of arms.  It was cool.  I printed it out and hung it on 
my fridge, but evidentially didn't save a copy to add here.  Maybe I'll scan it 
and add it later on.

All and all a great playful learning week, which was an area I thought I already 
excelled at.  Turns out, I was right.

Here is a list of the sites I'm talking about, if you want to go tinker on 
your own:
http://www.customweddingsign.com/menu.php
http://www.customroadsign.com/
http://wordle.net/
http://www.makeyourcoatofarms.com/

Library Trading Card

2008-07-11T15:22:00.002-06:00

Library Trading Card
Originally uploaded by B. Dopp

I created this trading card as part of the Flickr assignment. It was actually pretty fun. I had an especially good time looking at the other librarians cards for inspiration/ideas. It reminded me once again (not that I need reminding) just how funny librarians are. Where does the old lady librarian with glasses on the tip of the nose, running around shushing everyone come from? I'm not sure I really know ANY librarians like that.

I also really find the mappr mashup intriguing. I think it would be particularly useful in recording my birding photos so that I would know what I had spotted where. I might have to look into the matter further.

Bald Eagle in Flight

2008-07-11T14:37:00.005-06:00

Bald Eagle Done Cooling off and Drinking Leaves the River/Water @ Great Falls (1 of 2)
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

I love this photo I found on Flickr. The grace and movement of this beautiful bird are so wonderfully captured. Credit for this awesome shot goes to Nikographer (Jon).

I have yet to really master the capturing-birds-in-flight thing. That is really something I need to get better at as they spend most of their time doing that and very little time sitting on branches patiently waiting whilst I snap some photos. We haven't seen a Bald Eagle since we started bird watching in earnest, but hope to soon. Matt really wants to ID some raptors. I would think it has to be easier than these other itty-bitty birds, but bird watching is a lot harder than I would have thought at all to begin with. I love the birds.

The Wonder of RSS Feeds

2008-07-02T13:26:00.003-06:00

I love RSS feeds!! This is amazing! I wish I had learned about it much earlier. I sort of had it in my head that all these new technologies were going to be just one more thing I had a password for and had to check up on. RSS feeds are actually a time saver though! I am quite pleasantly surprised.

7 1/2 Habits of Life Long Learners

2008-06-11T11:29:00.003-06:00

I would certainly consider myself a life long learner, but had not given much consideration to what traits they might share. Reflecting on which of these traits I strongly possess and which I need to work on was interesting for me. I would say there was more than one trait on the list that I feel I need to work on more.

I have difficulty always seeing problems as challenges, and have a tendency to get frustrated by them, rather than seeing them as the opportunities they are. I agreed quite strongly with something mentioned in the Life Long Learners presentation: that where I am today is because of the curve balls given to me in life that i learned to deal with and overcome. It would do me good to remember that more often. I also think I should work on setting goals. I am more like "oh, it would be cool to know..." but without a specific goal or purpose in mind to focus and motivate me. Perhaps that vague "it would be cool to know..." goal is enough, but I also think it allows me to get side tracked in my education more easily.

I am strong in the play and teach others category. I actually love to share my skills/knowledge with others who wish to have it. Its fun. And play, well, who doesn't love to play-learn. That's the best kind of learning there is I think. I actually love children's arts and crafts books because I find them filled with a joyous playful learning. I made a rainstick last week. I am making a drum this weekend.