Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Tale of Two (or Three or Four) Sunsets (a.k.a You Capture - Sunrise/Sunset)

There were many reasons I was not excited about this week's Sunrise/Sunset assignment:

1) I don't wake up early enough to capture a sunrise, especially now that Daylight Savings is over.

2) There are so many trees surrounding my house, it's difficult to see the sunrise or sunset from my house, which means

3) that I have to travel somewhere with all four children in order to view such a thing, and

4) they tire of me taking pictures.

5) It's been raining so much here I have had my doubts that there is still a sun in the sky that needs setting or rising.

So I was going to just skip the assignment, but then I decided to go look for a chair to replace the recliner I moved from my room to the family room. And, yes, this story is connected to the sunset. Here's what happened:

Sunset #1
I found this great chair for $399.00. I really didn't want to pay that much, but it was a really cool chair. I made sure I asked Tim the friendly sales guy if the pillows come with the chair. Duh! Why wouldn't they? he said in his head as he nodded in a friendly sort of way.


But I didn't want to shell out $399.00 without talking about it with my husband first. So I went home, packed up the whole family, and took everyone to the furniture store. On the way, I noticed that, while I could not see the actual setting sun, the sky because of the setting sun was gorgeous. So what was a 20 minute trip to the furniture store turned into about 45 because every couple of minutes, I said, "Ooo, ooo, pull over."


What made it especially difficult was that we were driving east, so I had to crane my neck the whole time to see the gorgeous sky. So we pulled over every few miles until my husband finally said I had enough pictures.

So then I just took them out the window as we drove and when we stopped in traffic.


And then I remembered the sunroof and took some pictures from there.


Anyway, to make a really short story really long, my husband thought the chair was really cool too. And then he asked me if the ottoman came with the chair. "Well, duh," I said. "I asked Tim the friendly sales guy if the pillows came with it. I'm sure I remembered to ask Tim if the ottoman comes with it. Right?" So I called Tim back over. "The ottoman comes with the chair, right?" Nope. The ottoman is an additional $199.00. $199.00 so my dirty feet have a place to rest. Yeah. Not going to pay $600.00 for a chair. So all of that and no chair. In my defense, you'll notice the price tag on the ottoman was backwards the whole time I was there. Both times. Out of sight, out of mind. Plus, sometimes, I'm just plain out of my mind.

Sunset #2
Sunday was a gorgeous day. Temps in the 70s, sunshine. I knew that there would be a fabulous sunset, but I had also been invited to play volleyball, and volleyball waaay trumps sunsets. But on the way home from volleyball, I spied yet another gorgeous sunset sky, so I quickly had hubby pulled over and took this:


As you may have guessed by now, I am no professional photographer. And I therefore have no idea what that white circle is in the picture. It is not the moon. It does not show up on the photo before this one or on the photo after, so I don't think my lens is dirty. I have not photoshopped that in. My theory? I captured an alien spaceship! Of course you more pro-fessional photographers out there might have a different theory, one that does not involve extra terrestrials. If you do, though, don't tell me; I'd prefer believing I captured something that belongs in Area 51.

Sunset #3
We are studying Ancient Greece, so when I first started thinking of alternatives to this assignment besides, you know, actually capturing a real sunset, I assigned my daughter the task of writing a myth that would explain why the sun sets. Here is her myth:

The Sun Bearer and Her Daughter

There was a village on the top of the world. The people there would keep the sun in the air all the time. There was a beautiful woman who was in charge of it all. She had a daughter named Lunar who was more beautiful than a patch of daisies.

One day bandits came and took Lunar away. The chief sun bearer sent all the sun bearers after her. Since they were gone, the world was dark.

Meanwhile, Lunar came across a gem and cracked half of it off. She threw the half up in the sky, and it started to glow. The half of the gem shows how far away she is. That is how the sun sets and the moon rises. Lunar is stolen away every night.

Of course the myth had to be illustrated, so I presented all the kids with an art project called a Rainy Day Picture, an idea I stole from Samvach at To Be Busy at Home. Here is Alex's:

Sunset #4
Finally, another alternative I had to actually doing this assignment was to pull from the archives. These sunset pictures are from our trip to Panama City Beach in May 2009. I think my husband took the best one. (Maybe he should be doing these You Captures instead of me!)



For more sunsets (and hopefully some sunrises from Morning People), visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

The ottoman should have come with the chair! That's too bad. I bet the sunset photos more than made up for it though. They're beautiful!

I found you from your commentary over at Running With Letters. My line came from my Monday's blog post. A sad tale. Go take a peek if you dare. I still feel guilty.

Unknown said...

$299 for an ottoman? Does is sing? Serve drinks? For $299 it should at least massage your feet!

Kathleen said...

Proving how poor I am with numbers, I was forced to correct my mistake and make that ottoman only $199 (thus making the chair and ottoman total to approximately $600). ONLY $199--I totally agree, Arby, it oughtta clean my house and babysit the kids even at just $200.

ballast photography said...

I love the chair/ottoman combo! You have fabulous taste. So sorry it didn't work out :( And sunset #2 with the strange circle? Amazing!! I have had similar phenomena occur from time to time. The alien ship theory is as good as any I've heard. let's go with it.

And it's great to see that Polly found her way over here! Two of my favorite bloggy friends all in one place Yay! :)

Kathy Campbell said...

Okay, I love that chair too! But omg, WAY too expensive. Great shots though! LOVE your daughter's myth too. Great imagination!

CrossView said...

I love that chair, too... Only I would never let anyone sit on it for fear of staining it. So, for me, a picture of it would probably be best.

Those sunsets? Priceless!

And the story and artwork? The best of all!

Linda said...

That is one funky looking chair. The last chair that took my heart was hand designed, made, etc... and was over $4000!! I think i'll post a photo to my blog just for you.

audrey said...

These are great captures. And I love the chair/ottoman, too. I would've had to pass as well, but it IS nice. :)

dclouser said...

Great sunset photos! Loved Alex's myth, too. She certainly is a writer just like you! Hope you find another chair that's just as cool, but way less expensive.

Saj said...

Great post! Cool chair, but not for $600!

Great creativity on the myth of the sunset!

And your sunset pictures are wonderful! I miss those gulf coast sunsets-I grew up visiting Destin every year. How lovely!

Laura said...

I loved the whole post- and all the captures. :)) Nice work!

Heidi said...

I love that there is someone else out there who makes their husband pull over for photo opportunities! And WOW what an opportunity, that first shot is gorgeous.

Erin said...

This post is hilarious, your sunset captures are gorgeous, and WTF kind of scam is it that the ottoman doesn't come with the chair?

Carolyn Ford said...

Beautiful collection of sunset shots! The pinks in the sky are to die for!

Anonymous said...

I love the story behind your pictures...and having your daughter write a story? Awesome. I think my favorite picture is the one through the sun roof!

Bunch of Barrons said...

So cool! Lovely photos! :)

Colleen said...

Oh, my goodness, you are hysterical! And your hubby is a sweetie for pulling over so often.
My favorite picture is the one from the sunroof. The composition is great.

Stillmary said...

You got some great sunset shots but I have to say, the story that accompanies them is just as good as the photos.

Sarah Jones said...

Love the photos, but I think the stories were the incing on the cake!

Bloggin' Mama said...

Beautiful. I grew up in Panama City and really do think the best sunsets can be found there. I got some great ones when I was home this summer, you got some great ones, too!

Caseybumpinalong said...

I loved your post! Gorgeous captures. Sorry about the chair (it was a cool chair).

Thank you, btw, for all your comments on my blog. They always make my day :)

Anonymous said...

Wholly cow! For someone that thought they couldn't capture something, you sure did! And how! These are gorgeous photos! (and I TOTALLY believe it's a UFO!)

Alana Jo said...

Those are absolutely amazing.

-Alana Jo
www.justniftythrifty.com
www.twitter.com/NiftyThrify

Amy @ Cheeky Cocoa Beans said...

I love your post and your shots! Too bad about the chair...that is a really awesome chair. I can see all three of my children piling on top of me while I'm sitting in that chair. ;) (They already do this in our little old recliner.)

Anonymous said...

Awesome! I especially love the drawing!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

such lovely pics!!! i know exactly the situation when taking the pics-been there,still doing that :-)
hehehehe

Unknown said...

Wow. I loved your story and I LOVED your pictures. All of them were so pretty.

@nnie said...

I have been taking pictures of sunsets with my phone because they have been sooo beautiful! My kids and I name each sunset. These sunsets are deserving of names too.

Like Dazzling Drama
Purple Thunder
Hazy Day of Gray
Red Heat

Gorgeous!

~Rhen @yestheyareallmine said...

1- the chair is extremely cool!
2- Love, love, love the purple in the second sunset.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures and fabulous chair!