What happened to August? And, Windows 10?

"Barn Life" receives a 2nd place
ribbon in the painting category.
 

Honestly, I don't know what happened to August. Goodbye July.  Hello September.

This has always been an elusive month, especially when I was on an academic schedule and July was followed by a month called "Back To School."

Now August lies out there like a vacation weekend that never seems to quite arrive because everything else gets in the way. Suddenly one morning it's September and folks are talking about the Labor Day Weekend. What happened to that month before?

So, first a few updates as I try to reconstruct my missing month.  I promised to let you know how the art created for the Centennial Barn Art Show and competition fared.  I'm pleased to report that "Barn Life" earned a 2nd place ribbon in the painting category.  Woo-hoo!

Of my two submissions in photography, "Held Together" received an Honorable Mention, for which I was most grateful.


To read more about this
exhibit:  www.mywindsornow.com/news/17602355-113/artists-bring-their-best-for-first-call-to-Entry-Competition-at-Boardwalk-Gallery

"Held Together" earns an Honorable Mention at the Centennial Barn Art
Show at the Boardwalk Gallery in Windsor.

Then, I was one of the "fortunate few" to get the newly released Windows 10, installed by my darling husband. (Thanks, Honey.) 

Oh, my.  Not being at the tip of the computer savvy bubble even on a good day, this new operating opportunity brought in a forced learning curve that has introduced me to numerous Microsoft help-assistants working the night shift in the Philippines.

Trying to do my own "help" research proved frustrating as well because upon repeated occasions I would dead-end with a screen that said "This page is not yet in working order"--or something to the effect that Windows 10 was way behind in proving adequate help options. 

I feel like the Gingerbread Man who says, "Run, run as fast as you can!  You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!"  He outwits the little old man, the little old lady and a bevy of other characters, only to be outwitted by a sly hungry fox. So far I've avoided my sly clever fox but I've nearly crashed a few computers just trying to attach a couple of photo images with an email.

Then, to add madness to mayhem, I got a new camera.  Oh, yes.  Just when I thought I couldn't be more confused, I decided to ride another learning curve. This little number is burgundy red, a Canon SX710GHS with a 30x optical zoom lens. It's still small enough to throw into a bag but powerful enough to allow me the close-ups I want both with a zoom and a macro lens. 

So I don't spend the rest of this post lamenting the passing of August and the arrival of Windows 10, let me instead share some of my favorite images taken with my new camera in what must have been August.

Playing with Molly in the Cache la Poudre River always makes me smile!
 

Mountains daisies attract visitors.
 

August zinnias deepen with intense color.

Dramatic skies announce stormy weather in the high country.

 

A mountain chipmunk nibbles on a tasty seed.

    

Blue skies prevail when the winds are strong.

Wild sunflowers bloom in mass enthusiasm.

Thistle seeds prepare to fly!

Goodbye August.  Hello September.
 

Before I close I wanted to also let you know that I think I have redone my settings to allow comments.  Oops.  I thought that was set correctly but today I re-watched the blog tutorial videos and made some adjustments.  If you've wanted to comment with earlier posts and it didn't allow you to do so, please try again.