The Secret Giveaway of Randomness

It's been a LONG time since I posted two days in a row, but hey, I'm the master of my own domain right, so I can do whatever I want!

It's not that I really have anything to say, or that I even have cohesive thoughts running through this pea brain of mine, but I did have the idea that it was time for another giveaway, so here goes.

Even when I don't post, I am thankful for those of you who pop by and look at my blog.  I appreciate the people who never make a peep, and those who are faithful with their comments.  We are all so very busy and I know I fall miserably short in the commenting and replying to emails department, but it's not because I don't admire the posts you write and the things you have to share with the world.

So I thought that in order to say thanks I would host a Giveaway while sharing some totally random images...a secret giveaway of sorts.  I'm not sure what the prize will be, but I will know it when I see it.  It will be something that stops me in my tracks as I'm surfing online, or browsing a favorite shop.  Those are the best presents don't you think?...the kind you didn't even know you wanted to give someone until the very moment you saw it?!

Kind of like the furry little caterpillar hiding up there in the top right of the photo, snuggly tucked amongst the rose petals.  I didn't see him or her when I cut the blossom, but their fuzzy yellow presence was a welcome sight none the less.

So here is the dealio.  

1.  You must be a follower of this blog.

2.  Leave a comment telling me what you hope to win...and don't be shy, wish for that string of pearls or that Villa in the South of France.  Of course they will likely not be what you receive, but it never hurts to ask right?!

3.  Blog, Tweet, Rent a Billboard, or FB the Giveaway and then come back to leave another comment for an additional chance to win...don't forget to leave a separate comment though.

The Giveaway is open to everyone, and will end at Midnight EST on Sunday, September 2nd...why that date?!  I have no idea, it just sounded good...another random thing about this giveaway.

So thanks again, for trusting that I will actually get you something worth entering for...and who knows, it might even be just what you've been longing to have!

Sponsors and Springtime Giveaway

I've slowly but surely been putting out my Easter decor since the holiday is just around the corner.  But this post is about more than Easter decor, so be sure to scroll ALL the way to the bottom of the post, to meet my new sponsor and to find out about my giveaway to celebrate hitting the 900 follower mark!

I know it's a LONG post, but hopefully the Giveaway at the bottom and the discount code for my new sponsor will make it all worthwhile!

I wanted to introduce you to a new sponsor with this post, but also to let you know that I've decided to monetize my blog...I can hear some of you groaning and I understand.

I won't make excuses or give you reasons why I feel justified in doing so.  It is my blog after all, but I did at least want to let you know that you will be seeing a few ads on here through Blogher in the near future.  I just felt like it was time, and if it covers a hair appointment, or puts a little gas in my car each month, well then that'd be just fine by me.

Now back to my new sponsor.  All of the sponsors you see on my sidebar have not paid me in cash, but instead have paid me through wonderful giveaway items I have shared with you all over the 2 years I've been blogging.  As a thank you for those giveaway items, I have included them in my sidebar.   And I have a personal connection with each of my sponsors, so that makes them all the more special to me.

So now, without further adieu, meet my new Sponsor!!!  I know all of you gallery wall lovin' people are going to love this company!

 

My newest sponsor is Five Dollar Frames.  A company which sells wonderful frames at great prices and they come in a huge variety of sizes.  But don't let the name fool you, these aren't dollar store frames people, these are high quality frames at discount prices.  And the best part is they have graciously offered my readers a discount, so read on to find out more and to get the scoop on the Giveaway!

When you make an order on the 5 Dollar Frames site you can receive a 10% discount (valid until June 30th, 2012) just for being a reader of my blog...yay!  Just be sure to enter the code LTHS12 at checkout to receive the discount!

Now for the Giveaway...are you still with me people?!  Since I somehow managed to get 900 hundred crazy people to follow this little 'ole blog of mine, I decided I should go ahead and host a giveaway to say thank you for all you do to keep me motivated to walk around in my PJs snapping pictures day after day...ok I do get dressed most days! ;-)

Since my new sponsor offers frames, I thought I would offer you all something to put into one of their frames.  So the giveaway is for one of my prints, but not just any old print, how about an 12 x 18 (or smaller if you prefer) Giclee printed on beautiful specialty Epson cotton rag paper from their Exhibition Line.  This line of acid and lignin free archival paper is well regarded by museums and top photographers alike for producing beautiful images with rich, true colors.   

If you win, you can choose your print from my website Kat Warren Photography and a frame from 5 Dollar Frames and we will ship you a custom framed Giclee print that will last for generations to come.  It's my way of saying thanks a bunch for following along and listening to my crazy ramblings!

To see examples of some of my framed artwork you can go to my most recent post, simply click on my header to get to today's post.

So here are the dreaded rules for the Giveaway which will end on Friday March 30th, 2012 at Midnight!

1.   You must be a follower of Low Tide High Style to be entered.  Please leave a comment letting me know you follow!  And if you're not currently a follower, well join the party, and let me know by leaving a comment that you have!

2.  For a second chance to win you can blog, FB, Tweet, or stop people on the street to tell them about the giveaway.  But be sure to leave a second comment letting me know you've done that.

*** Please do not comment on my FB page or sadly your comments won't get entered.  In the past I have added the FB comments to my giveaway, but it just gets too complicated, so please leave ALL comments on here, thank you! ***

Feeling Lucky?

So we are zooming around the house trying to tie up loose ends before leaving tomorrow.  My email has been acting up...again!  And I finished up my last story just in time to hit the friendly skies, so I think we are on track, well as much as we ever are before a trip.  I would like to think that every nook and cranny of my house is sparkling clean and that the dogs won't shed while I'm gone...*cue dream sequence music*, but I'm way too realistic for that, so it is what it is.

But before I left, I promised that I would announce the winners of my latest Giveaway...so here goes.  Now, because I'm stressed, behind, etc. etc. ...I just had Mr. Tide rattle off 2 numbers between 0 and 28 instead of doing the whole Random.org thing.  Don't worry, I didn't let him look at the comments so there's no bias, and he is one of the most honest people I know, plus he picked #4 to begin with...which was my comment, so you see what I mean?!

So here are his picks (be sure to read to the end of the post though)

#7 Kim @ Savvy Southern Style

and

#26 Kate @ Chronicles of a Country Girl

I'm thrilled that both of these ladies won, they are both longtime readers and wonderful cheerleaders of my photography!  Congrats Kim and Kate, please send me your addresses, and which photo you would prefer and if you want an 8 x 12 or something smaller. 

So, as I was packing up my camera gear I had a moment of clarity, I thought...why not thank everyone who commented by sending them a photo?! So...to those of you who weren't picked randomly by Mr. Tide, you are all still winners.  That means you too Marcia...even though you said you wouldn't enter since you won a picture awhile back.  I will be sending each of you a 5 x 7 of your choice.  All I need from each of you is:

1.  Which photo you would like, if you already left it in the comments section, that's fine.

2.  A mailing address for me to ship it to.

Thank you all for your continued support of my blog, my photography, and my crazy life!  Even when I don't reply back, please know that I do appreciate each and every one of you, and this is my little way of saying Thank You!

The Golden Hour

A few days ago my neighbor called me to say that it really wasn't fair to the other trees in the neighborhood the way my maple was showing off this year.

I hadn't given it much thought, but she is right, it is a bit of a show off, and one both she and I greatly appreciate for being so boastful.

The leaves have not been as colorful or vibrant as they have in years past, but that's ok, everyone needs a little break every now and then, right?

Photographers often refer to the hour just after sunrise or just before sunset as the "golden" hour, but this time of year that golden glow seems to extend just a bit longer and I find it to be one of the prettiest times of year in terms of light.

It's been a crazy week, filled with ups and downs, frustration and jubilation, and a little bit of feeling yucky just for good measure.  But tonight, after having to cancel a lunch date with a friend who I've tried to hook up with since summer, and not making dinner for my friend "J" who is undergoing chemo (for fear I might give her something), I decided to just go outside with the dogs and enjoy that beautiful golden glow.

This time of year there really isn't a need for Photoshop or increased saturation, Mother Nature has taken care of all that for us.  So you can just point and shoot, knowing that whatever you capture will make you feel warm inside when you look at it later...though adding a cup of tea to the mix while you are resizing pictures never hurts either.


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Even the inside of my house was aglow this evening, and you have to love it when your crystal decanters, some of which are antiques, and your mercury glass leaf ornaments look like works of art.

I will be gone for a few days, the Midwest has requested I make a visit.  Ok, that's not really true, parts of the country can't actually request your presence, but if they could then I would have been sent a pretty embossed invitation asking me to come for the next few days, so off I'll go.

I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend, and that you find a way to bask in your own special glow.  Oh, and I will be back tomorrow to announce the winners of my latest giveaway, I wouldn't leave you hanging, even if the Midwest does request the pleasure of my company!

No Tricks, Just Treats Giveaway

This Halloween I won't be handing out candy, or even carving a pumpkin, which makes me sad.  When the kids were little, they got to each pick out a pumpkin design idea, most of which weren't in those pattern books you can find everywhere these days.

The requests ranged from eagles to animated characters and everything in between, and it allowed me to get my inner artist on and have fun creating something special for each of them.  In our old neighborhood, we had lots of kids come to the house to trick or treat, and I loved hearing them ooh and ahh over those fun pumpkin creations while I ooh'd and ahh'd back at their creative costumes.  I would spend hours on each pumpkin and then hustle to get the kids dressed, eat dinner, do homework, and then hit the neighborhood for some good old fashioned trick or treating.  A few of those years it was just me and the kids, as Mr. Tide was out of town for work.  I have no clue how I was so organized back then and seemingly so disorganized now...ahh youth!

I still decorate for Halloween, and the first year we moved here I even carved an elaborate pumpkin, which neither of the kids really seemed to care too much about.  And since we don't get any trick or treaters, because we live on a private lane where there aren't any young kids, well it just seems a little silly to go all out.  Or maybe I've just gotten lazy?!

So this year, in the spirit of treat or treating...blog style, I've decided to host a Giveaway.  Yup, come trick or treat here on my blog.  I will be giving away one of my 8 x 12 photos (or if you prefer a 5 x 7) to two of my readers.  

All you have to do is visit my website by clicking HERE , pick out the photo you would like should you win, and then come back here and say trick or treat and tell me which image you would like using the file name on the bottom right of each photo (you have to click on the image in order to see the file name).  And if you've seen an image on my blog that isn't on my website, never fear, you can pick one of those too!

If you would like more chances to win, you can do any of the following:

1.  Add the Giveaway to your sidebar, and come back and leave a "separate" comment telling me you did so.

2.  Tweet or Facebook the Giveaway for another chance, don't forget to leave another comment letting me know.

The Giveaway is open to everyone!

I hope each of you has a very Happy Halloween and I will randomly draw both winners names on Friday and post their names that evening!

The Fairy Hobmother, Coming to An Email Near You!!!

Sometimes wishes really do come true...just ask me!  

Last week I received a lovely email from The Fairy Hobmother.  She informed me that a wish comment I had left on a post over on Kate's Blog, about wanting some camera equipment was about to come true.  The Fairy Hobmother explained that I would receive a $50 gift certificate to use at Amazon.com to purchase a much needed memory card for my camera...YAY!

The timing couldn't have been any better, with me leaving on a trip in just a week, and because I had 2 photo shoots this past weekend...one of them was a wedding, so I needed lots of room for pictures!  The photo above was taken at the wedding, along with tons of other shots, and my new memory card worked like a champ, so thank you Fairy Hobmother!!!

But like any good Fairy Godmother, or Hobmother as the case may be, I'm not the only one who can be granted a wish!  Nope, you can too!  You see, The Fairy Hobmother is quite generous, and a bit mysterious.

All you have to do is a leave a comment on THIS post, telling The Fairy Hobmother what your little heart desires.  Whatever you like, be it big or small, simple or fancy, for yourself or someone else.  Just leave a comment telling her what you would like, and then wait and see if you too receive an email from that elusive Fairy Hobmother!!  And if you do, please let me know, I would love to hear that your wish came true!  Good luck!

I Beg Your Pardon...and a Giveaway

I never promised you a rose garden...oh wait, I kind of did, so here goes!  Oh, and be sure to scroll ALL the way down to the bottom of the post to register for my latest Giveaway!

If you read my last post, then you know that I spent last Friday with my blog pal Connie from Hartwood Roses.

It was a perfect day to visit her beautiful home and gardens since it was a little on the overcast side and not too hot.  When it's sunny, it makes it much harder to photograph flowers during mid day, so we were both hoping for clouds on Friday, and we got our wish!

Visiting Connie's yard and gardens is a little like walking in to a fairy tale.  As you wander the rose gardens, you can't help but feel like a princess from a story book and it makes you want to break out in song and don a frilly frock.


 

Because everywhere you turn there is color, fragrance, and beauty, the kind that illustrators have tried to capture for years.

And perfumiers and candle makers long to recreate the wonderful unique scent of a rose so that we can enjoy it year round.

As we wandered around, Connie gave me lots of info about roses, she's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to heirloom and old fashioned roses...you might even say that besides her family and pets, it's her passion!

Until I met Connie, I was a bit of a rose dummy, preferring Knock Out brand shrub roses that seemed to grow on their own.  I thought that growing "real" roses would require me to purchase a wide brimmed hat, gloves, and spend hours on my hands and knees out in a rose garden treating things like black spot and Japanese beetles.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my Knock Out roses and they make great border "shrubs" as Connie likes to say, but they never gave me the rose smell and look that I envision when I think of roses.

I've long been a fan of old fashioned flowers and cottage gardens, the kind our grandparents and great grandparents planted without giving much thought to it really.  Those were the roses I longed for, and I kept thinking to myself, that those hardy farm folk didn't have time to sit outside tending roses all day, so there must be a rose that would give me the look and the fragrance I was after without becoming a full time job. 

Thankfully, becoming friends with Connie has shown me that I can grow roses successfully and she's turned me in to a rose lover too, and I can't thank her enough for that!

When I met Connie I was immediately taken with the fact that she fearlessly began a rose business in spite of a down trodden economy because she simply loved finding and preserving the same roses I recalled from my childhood.

On Friday, Connie showed a little more of that fearlessness as she mocked Mrs. Mockingbird and peeked inside a rose bush to get a shot of her babies in their nest.  Mrs. Mockingbird, who you can just make out sitting on the cement fence post, was NOT amused, and you can see pictures of the babies in this post on Connies blog.


 

Wouldn't living in a rose bush be the most wonderful thing in the world?  Well that's kind of how Connie lives, with all of the gorgeous roses she is surrounded by much of the year.

As we walked around, Connie told me that what she does to remember the roses she is photographing is to take a picture of the flower followed by a photo of the plant marker beneath each rose.

This is a great idea, but by the time I started that method, I had already snapped a lot of photos, and then when I was looking through the photos I took to decide which ones to use, I couldn't remember if I snapped the picture of the flower first, or the name first!  So you'll have to visit Connie's website where she sells roses to identify the names of the flowers I've featured.

Along with speaking at various rose functions and running her heirloom rose business, Connie has been busy this spring planning the wedding of one of her daughters which will take place right on the property!

This is a view from the pavilion where her daughter and future son in law will tie the knot.  While I was there visiting, Connie's husband was busy getting things ready for the big day.  So far, they've mulched, weeded, laid sod, and reconfigured the entire pavilion where the bride and groom will say their vows as the lucky guests watch on from the lush green lawn.

And what flowers will they be using for the wedding...well roses from the property of course, plus some other flowers!

And with hundreds of varieties of roses to chose from, there are more than enough roses to go around.

Can't you just imagine how beautiful the pictures will be with a setting as pretty as this?

This beautiful blush pink rose would be so pretty in a brides bouquet don't you think?!

And here is an example of the signs Connie uses to identify each and every rose in her garden...that's a lot of signs folks!

Even the roses that aren't yet in bloom are beautiful, like this one along the back fence line.

On the back portion of the property is where Connie's biggest rose garden is, and oh my, what a garden it is!

There are roses of every color, size, and variety...something for everyone.

And it's simply a magical place to be.

Connie apologized for the weeds which have taken hold of this part of her garden...but I simply looked at her and laughed.  She has HUGE amounts of gardens to tend to and goes a million miles an hour with everything from raising money for cancer research for canines, to planning a wedding...so I told her that she should cut herself a little slack.

If she could only see my flower beds right now, which are dwarfed in size by hers, she wouldn't have been apologizing at all!

This little shovel is evidence that both Connie and her husband have a never ending job tending to this historic property.

Weeds or no weeds, this garden is a magical place full of the most beautiful colors...I could sit here all day and drink it in.

Everywhere you turn there is color, and each rose is more beautiful than the next, making it hard to pick a favorite.

And who would want to choose anyway...when like Connie, you can have them all!

There are delicate peachy pink roses...

And vibrant pinky red colored roses full of petals.

And there are climbing roses which soar skywards.

These ruffle'y magenta colored roses were so colorful, they were one of my favorites!

This is a view of Connie's yard looking back towards her house from the large rose garden.  You can see the pavilion where her daughter will be married in just 2 weeks.

If I had to pick just one rose as a favorite from last Friday it would have to be this one.  It had petals which looked like a beautiful summer sunset to me, and I loved how full it opened as if to say, lean over and smell me!

It truly was a magical day to be surrounded by such beauty, and I want to thank Connie for inviting me to come and take pictures of all of her hard work!  I even came home with four new roses of my own!

So now, after being ever so patient, I'd like to announce this rose inspired giveaway!  Awhile ago, my friend Doug Vogel gave me a wonderful CD that shows you how to take roses and create several arrangements with them, so that is the first part of my Giveaway.

Doug also gave me this great book created by his friend Dottie Harrigan.  Inside the book you'll find lots of charming flower quotes!  So that's part 2 of my Giveaway.

And the 3rd part is that I'll be giving away one of Connie's beautiful rose plants!

The Giveaway is open to EVERYONE...so, in order to be entered for a chance to win here's what you need to do.

#1.  Visit Connie's Hartwood Roses website by clicking HERE and then come back and leave me a comment telling me which rose you would like to win!  (if you live in a state that won't allow the shipment of roses, or if you live outside the US, I will substitute something else rose themed instead.)

#2.  For a second chance to win, simply become a follower of Low Tide High Style, and if you are one already, simply leave me a SEPARATE comment letting me know that you have become a follower or already are one.

#3.  For a 3rd chance to win, you can tweet, Facebook, or blog about the giveaway.  Just be sure to come back and leave a 3rd comment letting me know that you did one of those things to spread the word!

The Giveaway will be open until Midnight PST, May 29th, 2011.  The winner will be announced on Monday the 30th.  Good Luck!