Back to work I go. On the flight home I worked out a schedule looking at the hours in a day, and what I can allocate to writing. Also to blogging, photography, social media.
I allocated four hours a week to photography. Well I spent four hours just processing the photos from Vermont. And an hour or so writing this post, now I am rewriting it. I changed my mind about what I wanted to say. So that’s 6 or 7 hours on photos and blogging in one day.
But I like it. Maybe I’ll cut out what I “should” do, and just do what I love to do. I love blogging and taking photos. And writing and editing and fiddling with my website and reading and talking about books.
I was going to cut down on being online, planning on cutting way down on social media and networking, but it’s early morning (still on east coast time) and I just spent an hour reading the New York Times and links to other articles. And I like sending emails to friends, chatting on messenger with friends, and meeting for coffee, lunch, or writing marathons.
I guess I’ll plan to keep doing things the same way because I’m going to anyway, and if I embrace my choices instead of doing that while I’m supposed to be “disciplined” about my time, I’ll just feel bad, but not really be doing anything different. I think I just had an early morning epiphany. LOL
I guess I’ll just keep making lists of the important stuff, embrace the chaos, and see how I go. Do you adhere to schedule or just wing it?
Here is the chronicle of my last day of vacation, spent with friends in Vermont.
Picking apples is really fun. My friends and husband did most of the picking while I did most of the clicking.
Picking apples
I picked a couple apples…and ate them. I did contribute a couple to the bags, but the rest of the time I was having a blast taking photos.
Vermont orchardsArtsy apple picking ladder shotMacintosh apple
My friend said my taking photos was okay, though, because if all four of us picked apples, the fun would be over too quickly. As it was, it only took 20 minutes to fill two bags. These Macintosh apples were incredible tasting. We also had fresh-pressed apple cider and hot fresh cider donuts.
Then we went for a hike in a park called Red Rocks near Lake Champlain to try to work up another appetite for our picnic lunch.
River rocks in Lake ChamplainForest trail at Red Rocks parkLake Champlain, VermontSail boats on Lake ChamplainForest trail in Red Rocks Park
The orchard also raised and sold flowers, and they made a beautiful display in front. What an inviting display.
Vermont orchard
Oh…wait, guess how we ended our vacation in Vermont? Watching the eclipse. We all had our chairs out under a cloudless sky. Because we were in Vermont, we could watch the whole thing. Here’s one shot.
The end of vacation is always bittersweet – it is great to get back to home and routine, but you miss all the fun times and new places to explore…but there is always next year…
The right class can be fun…it may provide you with needed weekly challenges in order to get you out and do some shooting…what do you want help with specifically?
Art. I am seriously thinking of doing the Photography program at my local college. It seems to cover everything. I really need help with composition, developing my eye. This program seems to cover everything, including electives in art history/appreciation. The first class may be enough, or I might want to do the full program, one class at a time. Here’s the description of the first class, which sounds perfect:
This course is an introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of photography. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, camera technology, materials and equipment, and contemporary trends in photography. This course is an investigation of the historical and practical aspects of photography as an art form. This course offers students the opportunity to gain a solid understanding of the theory and practice of photography by developing a point of view about the variety of possibilities for the photographic image in our culture.
I missed the fall class, but I think I will start in January, if they offer it.
I met someone when I was out shooting one day and he said it was a great class.
I tend to spend the mornings on my blog and such, and then the afternoon is for writing or doing the other things I have to do, no set schedule, but so far I seem to get everything done.
You’ve got some wonderful photos here, I can really see how you improving with your photography, I really hope you are enjoying it a lot more too.
Hi Leanne, Thanks so much! I am enjoying it a lot and want to do more. Today I organized my camera bag. I’m also looking for something to contribute to MM.
Your schedule sounds good. I like your steady approach.
I do like the forest trail and the pumpkins Nicci, very nice indeed. One can get bogged down in the pursuits you mentioned, they can eat into your day.
Nicci Carrera 
Nice pictures — takes me back to when I was a kid (I’m from Vermont)
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Oh that’s great, Gary. You seem like a Vermonter. (That’s a compliment.)
Thanks!
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The end of vacation is always bittersweet – it is great to get back to home and routine, but you miss all the fun times and new places to explore…but there is always next year…
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Thanks! Yes, that’s right, Robert. Thanks for the thought of next year! Cheered me up. Not that I wasn’t cheery before. I’m still excited to be home.
I cleaned the house but can’t seem to face sitting at my computer. I’m dreaming of taking a photography class at the local community college…
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The right class can be fun…it may provide you with needed weekly challenges in order to get you out and do some shooting…what do you want help with specifically?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Art. I am seriously thinking of doing the Photography program at my local college. It seems to cover everything. I really need help with composition, developing my eye. This program seems to cover everything, including electives in art history/appreciation. The first class may be enough, or I might want to do the full program, one class at a time. Here’s the description of the first class, which sounds perfect:
This course is an introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of photography. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, camera technology, materials and equipment, and contemporary trends in photography. This course is an investigation of the historical and practical aspects of photography as an art form. This course offers students the opportunity to gain a solid understanding of the theory and practice of photography by developing a point of view about the variety of possibilities for the photographic image in our culture.
I missed the fall class, but I think I will start in January, if they offer it.
I met someone when I was out shooting one day and he said it was a great class.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tend to spend the mornings on my blog and such, and then the afternoon is for writing or doing the other things I have to do, no set schedule, but so far I seem to get everything done.
You’ve got some wonderful photos here, I can really see how you improving with your photography, I really hope you are enjoying it a lot more too.
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Hi Leanne, Thanks so much! I am enjoying it a lot and want to do more. Today I organized my camera bag. I’m also looking for something to contribute to MM.
Your schedule sounds good. I like your steady approach.
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I do like the forest trail and the pumpkins Nicci, very nice indeed. One can get bogged down in the pursuits you mentioned, they can eat into your day.
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