Alexandra Wolfe's Blog, page 43

Tree Project – Day 73

Tree Project – image 73

The rain arrived … overnight. A soft, light drizzle that is almost a mist rather than full-on rain. It’s also very mild outside, warm even. Not that the trees seem to might. Actually, I think they’re going to get confused, and soon, if this wet warmish weather continues into December and the usual snow is delayed or maybe, doesn’t come.

Tree Project – Day 72

Tree Project – image 72

I just love how the weather report for this morning says sun with a little cloud, and 3 degrees. Where the truth is, stepping out onto the balcony to take my shot, it’s dark, heavy, overcast and decidedly cold and damp … as if, rain is on its way! It may well clear up later, but right now, the trees look lost in the early morning gloom.

Text Edit, Oh How I Love Thee

WHINGING ABOUT WRITING SOFTWARE

Of which there are many, from full on word processors with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in, like Microsoft’s Word, to those beautifully crafted, minimal, distraction free apps and software like ByWord.

What do I find myself using?

Text Edit.

Why?

Because … I can write on any computer, anywhere, anytime, save to data stick when moving from one machine to another, transfer without hiccup or hassle, and open said same document and simply continue.

No worries.

So, while I have Word for the Mac, it’s an older version and comes with a license for 3 installs. I have one install left, which I need to keep should anything happen to the current install on the iMac.

It’s on a CD.

I cannot load up Word to my new Mac Book Air because … I have no drive slot to do so—because I bought Word on disk, not as a download from the App Store. I would have to buy the latest version.

Which means, when out and about, or travelling, or sat on the couch of an evening, and want to use my lovely lightweight, slim, compact Mac Book Air to write … I have to use another software or app, or use Pages, Apple’s free software that came installed with the shiny new Mac Book Air.

A version that is, guess what, incompatible with the older version residing on the older iMac.

Meaning, if I choose to write in Pages (something I did start doing at one point, before succumbing and buying Microsoft Word) I can only go in one direction up from the iMac to the Mac Book Air, but not backwards. Don’t get me wrong, I like FREE, and I love what Pages has to offer—for creating and designing. Especially if I want to put together a magazine or create my own layouts, there is no contest. But it really is not conducive to writing.

Scrivener? Tried it. The software is frustrating and annoying. Unless, that is, you are a screenwriter, then great, it really has an intense focus for that style of writing.

So I either write only in the office, on the older iMac (which is perfectly fine, with it’s great BIG screen) or on the Mac Book Air … or if I really want to be a daredevil … on the much older Mac Book original, which also has a version on Microsoft Word on it.

Yes, I could invest in another app or software, and did, when I bought ByWord which, by the way, saves a simple plain file to the RTF. A format that Apple, apparently, has decided not to continue supporting because …

Heaven alone knows why. See how frustrating this gets?

Which brings me back to good old Text Edit … that simple, plain, wonderful way to just: WRITE!

Guess what I used to write this blog post in?

Yes, text edit!

Tree Project – Day 71

Tree Project – image71

The early morning mist has slowly cleared and no, it’s not particularly warm out there, the reverse, in fact. It was minus one when I went out on the balcony to take this morning’s shot. So maybe a heavy dew rather than a mist? That aside, the sun is out again, today, in a clear blue sky. And there is barely a breath of wind so, all in all, a lovely autumn day.

Tree Project – Day 70

Tree Project – image 70

The heavy overcast weather has moved through, at least for the next few days we are told. And today dawned relatively bright and sunny, with just a few clouds here and there, but still, a chill in the air. The trees look nonplus, like they cannot wait for their blanket to arrive.

Tree Project – Day 69

Tree Project – image 69

Cool, blustery and bright, there are a few clouds in a blue sky but otherwise, a typical autumn day. Now leafless, the trees look like they’re waiting though … for the snow to come. Especially as we’ve usually had a least two or three dustings by now. I wonder if that means we’re going to be hit hard this winter?

Tree Project – Day 68

Tree Project – image 68

Today’s shot of the trees is taken late this afternoon, at just after 4 pm. The reason being, I forgot this morning, as we rushed out the door to go catch an early bus. But, truth is, I like the almost silhouette shot with the purple/blue tinged skies as a backdrop.

 

Tree Project – Day 67

Tree Project – image 67

Another heavy, overcast day with rain forecast. It’s warmer again, today, than even yesterday and we’re expected to get up to 17 degrees this afternoon. So wet, windy and warm. And this is November? I feel like I’m back in the UK not Canada.

Tree Project – Day 66

Tree Project – image 66

The sun is out, sort of, it’s managing to break through fast moving heavy grey clouds, and it still looks like we might have showers. But it is warmer today. The trees, however, are now completely bare from the lashing they have taken since November rolled in. It’s not even 9 am, and it’s still dark!

Tree Project – Day 65

Tree Project – image 65

Heavy, dark, cold, but, thankfully, not raining at the moment. The trees look bleak in the wan light almost like they too are wondering where the good weather went. It looks like this will be a long, drab winter, never mind a wet autumn.