Catching Up

     A lot of factors delayed my posts. One, I went on a 2 day painting trip about 1 1/2 hrs. away at the Chautauqua Institute on Chautauqua Lake that my painting teacher holds. She stays a week, but a friend and I could only go two days. We painted outdoors, which is a challenge to stay upright, hydrated, and move all my equipment. I paint in watercolors. My easel is too short and too tippy in a breeze, so I have to rethink things. As you can see, there is an abundance of things to paint. The Institute is only a three month place, but rents rooms to enjoy the rest of the year, so we had the place to ourselves.

     Also, for years, I have used Picmonkey.com online for free to crop, straighten, and correct the color balance for my posted photos. They now are charging a monthly fee. I do not want to put a reoccurring charge on my card if I can help it. So, I am trying to find another way to do this. I don't want to use the iPhoto on my computer, because it puts the photos in the program and I want to keep my photos in my own separate albums, not application specific. I know enough how programs change and get eliminated, so I want my photos on my own drive in my own folders.
    Does anyone have a recommendation? I may have to break down and buy Photoshop Effects for $80 in order to do my necessary photo work. 
    Somewhere on my trip to NYC, I lost my camera battery charger, so I have had to use an old point and shoot camera with not as good results. I found a new charger on Amazon, and am waiting for that.