∞

From the department of things-I-should’ve-done-years-ago: Wall rack to hold lumber in the basement shop 🎉

A basement with wooden planks stored on wall-mounted shelves. There’s also a cabinet mounted on the wall to the right of the shelves.

And here’s how it was before:

A basement wall with plywood squares stacked against it and a number of boards on the floor stretching for 3-4 feet from the wall. There’s a small cabinet mounted on the wall above.

∞

Circular stone engraving featuring an abstract face design. Includes a quote by Chief Seattle: “If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?” and text in a native language.

A black and white photo of a dirt path winding through tall grass, leading to a line of leafless and evergreen trees under a cloudy sky.

A black and white photo of a serene landscape with tall grasses in the foreground and leafless trees in the background. The sky is overcast, creating a moody atmosphere.

A black-and-white photograph of an empty wooden bench in a natural setting, surrounded by grass. In the background, there are bare trees and a cloudy sky, suggesting a winter or late autumn scene.

A black and white photograph of a tree trunk with a rough bark texture. The trunk is surrounded by dense branches and foliage, with scattered plants and grass at its base.

A black and white landscape photograph featuring a grassy field in the foreground and a line of sparse trees and clouds in the background.

A black and white photo of a birch tree with bare branches and hanging catkins in the foreground. The background is blurred, highlighting the tree’s texture and details.

Black and white image of a tangled thicket of branches with small berries. The backdrop is a blurred field, giving a sense of depth and a natural, serene setting.

A black and white landscape featuring an open grassy field with scattered shrubs and young trees in the foreground. Dense forest covers the middle ground, while hills and a town are visible in the hazy background. Cloudy sky above.

Walk at Powell Butte Nature Park. Portland, Oregon. 24th December 2024.

∞

In case you’re looking for a moody over-processed phone wallpaper for the holidays, here you go…

A blurred image of a Christmas tree decorated with warm yellow lights in a dimly lit room.

Merry Christmas!

∞

A new Mimi Uploader beta is out with initial support for Photo Collections!

For more details and to join the beta please follow the instructions in the previous post.

Please try it and let me know what you think 😊

(Link to the video embedded above).

∞

Some updates on Mimi Uploader

I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that Mimi Uploader does not have the value it once did. That some people, myself included, love it, but for most it is a novelty. I alluded to this in a post last year.

A couple months ago I made the app free for a promotional period until the end of the year (previously it has always been $5). I was hoping to get a better idea of the interest in the community once I remove the barrier to entry. Initially there were a lot of downloads, and sessions. Now, some months later, according to analytics that Apple provides, there is almost no change in usage.

Based on this experiment, I’m making the following changes:

  • Mimi Uploader will be permanently free starting 2025.
  • All major new features will be behind the Supporter subscription. You can become a Supporter by using the sliding scale in the app.
  • I’m working on adding initial support for Micro.blog’s new Photo Collections feature (sneak peek). This will be the first major new feature of the free era. At the end of the day Mimi’s features are powered by Micro.blog’s API so I’m grateful to Manton for providing support from the get go.
  • I’m also starting the TestFlight beta testers group with a clean slate. If you would like to join the new group, please provide me your email address via email at sam @ samgrover dot studio. The first beta with initial photo collections support should be coming within the next week.
  • I’m also considering renaming the app as I expand the scope of features. Yes, there’s another feature coming that has nothing to do with uploads.

This way I can keep making an app I enjoy and find very useful, and anyone else really into it can also benefit from the new features. Everyone else can continue to use the app to its full initial promise as a fast batch uploader.

∞

A black and white image of a house with a small pine tree in the foreground. The tree is decorated with spherical ornaments. The house has a visible porch with columns and railings.

Portland, Oregon. 14th December, 2024.

∞

A modern structure with vertical slats is surrounded by tall trees in a garden. The scene is in black and white, highlighting the contrast between the structure and the natural environment. Shadows and light play across the ground and vegetation.

Afternoon walk at Leach Botanical Garden. Portland, Oregon. 1st December, 2024.

∞

A black and white triptych of three photographs. The top image shows a silhouette of a forest with birds flying above. The middle image features ducks swimming in a pond surrounded by tree branches. The bottom image displays a shoreline with rocks, plants, and a tiny bamboo fence.

Afternoon walk at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Portland, Oregon. 30th November, 2024.

∞

A garden during autumn with vibrant foliage: red Japanese maple, green and orange ivy on a pergola, and golden-leaved trees. A cat sits on a stone path, viewing the yard. A white table with green tomatoes is in the foreground.

Momo and Fall colors in the yard. Portland, Oregon. 8th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)

∞

Glad that I’ve found a new use for now-obsolete long Lightning cables: With an adapter they can be used for charging the plethora of micro-USB devices. So much better than the six inch cables included with those.

∞

A serene park scene in autumn with trees displaying green, yellow, and orange leaves. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, and a park bench is partially visible in the background.

A tranquil pond reflects autumn trees in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and green. A few leaves float on the water’s surface, and a seagull rests on a rock in the center. The scene is framed by lush greenery and moss-covered stones.

A pond surrounded by trees with ducks swimming in the water. Fallen leaves float on the surface. A small child stands on the opposite bank, near the water’s edge.

A dog chases birds through an autumnal park covered with fallen leaves. Tall trees with a mix of green, yellow, and orange foliage surround the scene.

Scenes of Fall at Laurelhurst Park. Portland, Oregon. 9th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)

∞

A vibrant autumn scene in a park, showcasing a single tree with bright orange leaves standing out against a backdrop of green pine trees. A few people are relaxing on the grass and walking along a path. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting shadows.

A serene park scene featuring a turquoise water reservoir, surrounded by autumn trees with orange and red leaves. Relaxing on the grass is a person, while another walks nearby. Rolling hills and a cityscape are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

A scenic landscape featuring a vibrant mix of evergreen and deciduous trees in various autumn colors. The foreground shows a fenced reservoir with green water reflecting the trees.

Scenes of Fall at Mt. Tabor Park. Portland, Oregon. 6th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)

∞

A woman with gray hair sits at a patio table under a large umbrella with her back to the camera, engaging in knitting. Nearby, a cat lounges on a cushioned chair also looking away from the camera. The scene is set in a garden with lush greenery and a sunny, peaceful atmosphere.

Mom and Momo in the yard. 30th September, 2024

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomochrome Color 92 (ISO 400)

∞

Two people sitting on folding chairs in a garden with lush greenery and trees in the background. An orange bucket is on the ground beside them.

Dad and mom in the yard. 8th September, 2024

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomochrome Color 92 (ISO 400)

∞

A cat partially hidden among dense green bushes and foliage, with its face visible through the leaves. The ground is covered with leaves and small plants.

Momo in the yard. 30th September, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomochrome Color 92 (ISO 400)

∞

Happy Diwali to all who celebrate 🪔

∞

A diptych of trees with vibrant autumn foliage. The left image shows yellow and orange leaves, with a red-leaved tree in the background. The right image focuses on the red-leaved tree with yellow leaves above it.

Portland, Oregon. 30th October, 2024.

∞

I voted.

Filled out the ballot at home on Sunday and dropped it into a ballot box at the neighborhood library today.

I urge you to vote, and if you have the privilege, do it early.

Hoping for the best for our city, our county, our state, and our country 🇺🇸

∞

A tree decorated for a festive occasion, featuring colorful sugar skull garlands, a skeleton, a skeleton mermaid, and a decorative skull. The decorations suggest a Day of the Dead or Halloween theme.

Vibrant pink dahlias in a garden setting, surrounded by green foliage.

Neighborhood vibes. 24th October, 2024.

∞

A sunrise sky with orange and yellow hues, scattered clouds, and silhouetted trees on the sides.

Portland, Oregon. 25th October, 2024.