Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Giving Season

We've been enjoying some wet weather. It feels like winter, southern California style, although it's only a taste. We can expect the heat to be back this weekend, with perhaps more rain next week. Nice.

The weather puts me in mind of what's to come: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and what we like to call "The Holidays": Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's and The Tournament of Roses.

You're going to need fortitude. You're going to need sanity. You're going to need presents.

I'm here to help. At Pasadena Daily Photo, we've got a contest coming up, with prizes courtesy of Colleen Dunn Bates at Hometown Pasadena and Prospect Park Books. Beginning later this month, we have books to give away. Not just any old books, but five (count 'em, FIVE) copies of Hometown Pasadena 2009-2010, the definitive guide to our fair city. (That's a $24.95 value.) Hometown Pasadena 2009-2010 is a great gift for your favorite Pasadenan.

My plan is to do this contest-style, beginning Friday, October 22nd and giving away a book each Friday for six weeks until they're gone.

Did I say six weeks? I believe I said I have five books.

Okay, well, the sixth prize will be a copy of At Home Pasadena, a beautiful, hardcover coffee-table book about the artful Pasadena life we'd all live if we were totally creative and organized and had a landscaper, a chef and a cleaning lady. (This book lists at $39.95.)

Hey--I didn't say the presents couldn't be for you.

I'm trying out my Amazon links for the first time today. Full disclosure: if you buy the book from Amazon via the link here, I get a cut. Frankly, I'm not sure how much. I'm probably not going to pay the mortgage with it, but I like to be upfront about these things. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the books, Colleen!

25 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

That's a lovely photo, Petrea. It took me a moment to find my bearings and I enjoyed that. Your contest sounds wonderful, and as for the Amazon affiliation ~ well, with the care, time and dedication you put into blogging, I'd love to see you make something tangible from it in addition to the intangibles.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Petrea, that is a beautiful "technicolor" reflection which is actually in a puddle -- wow! The wheels add to the interest. I agree with Shell on the Amazon affiliation and hope that it goes well. I always link through a blog, particularly when I first heard of a book through that person's site.

Vanda said...

This has been the wettest year since I can remember.

Ugh, holidays... Don't remind me.

ben wideman said...

Petrea, this may be one of my favorite photos you've ever posted. AMAZING SHOT!

And I can't wait to win myself a book :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Shell, we'll have a little fun with photos, and with questions anyone can answer using the web. I'll post the rules later.

Thanks, Genie. If I happen to mention a book I'll use it, but I'm not going to go out of my way.

Me too, Vanda. A couple more of these and maybe the drought will be over. But I just read an article in Smithsonian Magazine about water--we've got a worldwide problem. Water conservation will always be with us.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hey Ben, thanks! Glad you like it. Fingers crossed.

Latino Heritage said...

I think you may have caught the epitome of what rain in our area feels like. Who would ever think I would want to use the word evocative when I was referring to an image of a puddle in a parking lot?
Gracias.

Linda Dove said...

That *is* a fantastic photo, P.

Bellis said...

I agree with everyone - that's a great photo. It could almost be a reflection of the sky that Ben posted on his blog today.

As for competitions, bring 'em on. You know how much I love them. And I covet the books.

J.J. in L.A. said...

My 1st reaction to the photo was, "What?" lol! Then it became, "That's really cool!" I especially like the blue sky in the upper half.

I look forward to your contest, my sister has always lived in the Pasadena area and I'm thinking, "Christmas present!" ; )

Jean Spitzer said...

Wonderful photo. I'm so glad you're getting rain; that heat you just had was scary.

Now bring on the contest.

Tash said...

I own a copy of Hometown Pasadena. It's the best done book of that genre, ever! I'd love to work on one for the South Bay with Coleen.

Your rainy reflection photo is effervescent and translucent. Just a beauty.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm glad you all like the photo, thank you. We'll have fun with the contest, I promise. And it'll be easy. We start officially on October 22nd but I'll remind you next week.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Great shot of the sunny sky in the recent rain puddle.

Can't wait to kow more about the contest!!

Ciao

Susan Campisi said...

That is the quintessential Southern California rain picture. Perfect!

Oh how I want to live that Pasadena artful life you describe. I'm excited for the contest.

Speedway said...

What a beautiful picture -- "liquid" pixels making a water color.

Bring on the contest! But if I win, I'll have to designate someone out there as recipient of my "gift."

pasadenapio said...

Aha! So this is what you were referring to a few weeks ago over lunch! I like it.

And, as I said then, as long as you don't call it "Mystery History"...

(There's a new photo posted today, by the way, but it wasn't there in time for your visit.)

Petrea Burchard said...

Well, I hope you ALL win.

Ann, I just went to look at that photo and I can't for the life of me...

I'll go look again.

Ms M said...

Striking photo!
And hope the Amazon connection goes well for you :)

Virginia said...

OH P.
What a great rain/reflection shot. We all hold our breath for you dear friends out THERE.
Thank you for your visits while I"m training for my new job. I"m excited, scared to death, unsure, excited, ready for the challenge......
V

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Ms. M!

Virginia, I've been reading through your blog to find out about your new job but I don't find it posted there. Are you going to tell us?

dive said...

Oh, my. What an awesome photo, Petrea.
Living in rainy England I never realised wet weather could be so beautiful.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Dive. You're probably used to seeing clouds in your puddles. For us it's very exciting.

Anonymous said...

That is an awesome picture Petrea.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, PhotoShots.