America

Happy Independence Day!!

We have had a lazy around the house family kind of day around here, and it has been wonderful.

I was really wondering what my photograph could be of today, but then I meandered through my blogroll and a thought got bumped back from the depths!

I came across a blog several months ago which I really really like.
It is quite interesting to look at visually. That is what kept me going back to it time after time.
What keeps me going back is the author's obvious faith in God.

Blog + Beauty + Belief = you got me coming back!

Seeing as how this gal is also a photographer...well come on, that is a super duper combo.

I know I know, what does that have to do with the photo of the day right??

Well this is what!
She has issued a RAW challenge! (head over to the link and check out the other images!)
That means you must take the theme of the week and compose a photograph then leave it completely untouched for posting!!!
In this era of touch up that is not a common thing, believe me!
So this weeks challenge...AMERICA!
Well duh, right?

When I think of America, I think of freedom.
Sacrifice of so many for freedom.

A nation built on the promise of freedom, and on the principles that strive to make it great despite our ineptness and ability to ruin things.

Sounds a bit like the gospel as well right???

Anyhoo...We fly our flag proudly around here, proclaiming our rights and freedoms.
That is where I went with picture taking today.
I am proud to live in a neighborhood where flags are abundant, as is the fire for America the Beautiful.

SOOC!! We talked about that the other day remember??
Straight out of camera!

I whittled down my results to about 9 shots and then called my husband in to help make a judgment call.
Huh? He picked the same one as I did!!
(Years of training folks, years of training!!)

Here are the runners up!
also both SOOC!

I personally almost like this one better...*






*I tend to like things a bit darker with a touch of drama.
That is my taste...always has been!

I hope your day has been awesome...or just American, which worked just fine for us around here!
Off to enjoy a grilled burger! YUM

ohhhh, found another SOOC challenge!!!

New Lily

LOOK!!!

It opened in the night!!

See my greedy fish there hoping for breakfast?
That made a nice addition to the shot!

Notice it is neither red nor soft purple.

Hmmmmmm????

I went back out around 1p.m. today and took this shot.

Ha, it looked like it had closed up shop to keep the bee from entering!


Do you know what today is???

It is the day that marks our one year anniversary having Shelby in our home.

Here is her cover shot I took back in February just in case you can't bring to mind who Shelby is.


She is such a happy girl and has come so far since arriving here.

So, today we celebrate what we are calling her "gotcha" day!
My daughter made up a song and everything!

You love it here...don't ya Shelbster??

"Why yes, yes I do!!"

Ha haha, she was chewing a treat, but it looks like she is talking.
Okay to me it looks like she is talking.

I think the very best way to celebrate "gotcha" day is to take a nap!

Yeah, off to do just that!

Lethargic-ish

So this is how my picture taking went today.

Look at camera.

Ignore camera.

Feel bad about ignoring camera, look at camera again.

Pretend I forgot that I ignored the camera and subsequently felt bad about it, eat a few more Cadbury mini dark chocolate eggs.

Close the bag of Cadbury mini dark chocolate eggs because I didn't make it this far past Easter by eating too many all at once.

Wish I hadn't closed the bad of Cadbury mini dark chocolate eggs, but proud that I had the discipline to do so, which reminded me that I should have the discipline to pick up my camera and take some shots.

Ignore camera.

Feel bad about ignoring camera and finally pick it up to go outside to... sigh....take a few shots of the same old things.

Sigh!!

Hey Shelby is out here, I will take a few shots of her.

No one gets tired of shots of Shelby.

"Shelby, here girl."

Oops, forgot to check the metering.

Try again as she gets closer.

Whoa...stunning image!

I keep panning as she clicks her in need of clipping toenails across the paving stones to get closer for a neck rub!

Oops, she is moving faster than I, the stones are in focus instead of her.



Oops, she is moving faster than I, the stones are in focus instead of her, again.



Ahhh forget it, I give up.

How about a picture of the seemingly dead Sago, and a charming weed keeping it company!

Yes, that would be a superb way to end this post of ridiculous pictures and lacking text.


Sorry, gotta jet.
Snickerdoodle blondie awaiting consumption.

Lots and Lots

Last night my husband and I were chillin' by the pond.

Okay the truth is last night we were swatting mosquitoes and sweating but trying our best to enjoy one another as the trickle of the water running over the stones in our pond tickled our ears.

He asked if I had seen any tadpoles.

Huh? I thought....well there were those few days when there was lots of singing and egg laying, so there must be some in there.

It was too late in the evening to catch a glimpse of anything, so I went back out today when the sun shines in the water to check it out.

Uhhhhhh, yeah there are tadpoles.

I simply must get a filter so I can photograph water images better.
I'd say there are a good 20 just in that simple 6 inches or so of pond.

YOU do the math, that is gonna make for lots of froggies!


Oh, I simply must show you this jewel which has been so long in coming.
I am referring to the bud there just to the left of center. It is going to be a water lily flower.

Okay, I know you are having as hard a time being excited about that as I am but here is the dealio!
I bought one water lily 2 summers ago. It has speckled leaves and stunning purple and yellow flowers when it blooms.
It did not bloom last year at all, just from the shock of moving. I am just so thankful that it is even alive and producing pads for me.
The other plain leafed water lily my husband purchased when we built the new pond at the new house.
If I am not mistaken the bloom from it will be red.
So, I am all a twitter waiting to find out which it will be!!!
Now you can be excited too!

Oh, AND...it is a very rare thing that I take a photograph and am 100% happy with it. I crop, I boost the value, I bump the contrast, I tweak it just a bit.
But, that one of the tightly closed bloom waiting for release is SOOC!! (that is straight out of camera for all you non camera speak friends)
I just love it.
The focus, the water, the contrast, the negative space, the feel it gives the viewer... all of it just does it for me.
It was no accident either. I fell asleep thinking about this shot today. I created it in my mind before I even touched the camera.

I am not tooting my horn...or at least I don't mean for it to seem that way! I just hear so many people say that it is easy to take a great photograph.
You know, I used to think so too!
That was before I had a camera and tried to do that consistently every day.

It is easy to happen upon a good photograph, it is easy to accidentally take a good photograph, but composing and shooting a great one time after time after time...well it takes some effort and skill.
And that my friends, is why I will keep at it everyday!

Green summer

I know what the problem is around here!

It is summertime and my world is once again revolving around my kids.
No wonder I have nothing of substance to say to you!

Well, at the very least I can keep up with my picture taking!!

Remember long ago when a friend gifted us with 5 Sago Palms for our yard??
Well, they have been looking nothing but ragged and well...dead!
But no longer, there is hope with the evidence of green!

Ahhhh, lovely right??

Okay, now on to not lovely!

Green sludge!

But look closely, there is a little froggy friend in there.
He was itty bitty, and could have sat comfortably on a dime!


And also for you, some more not lovely!

But interesting!!

I am having a great summer with my kids.
It is keeping me busy and happy!

Happy and busy!

Ahhhh summertime!

Buckets o' fun

I walked around at the pool today with my big old long lens on my big black camera!

I tried to talk exaggeratedly loud to my children so that people would know I was not a creeper taking pictures of bathing suit clad individuals.
Ahhhh ha haha.
Luckily it is loud there and my children just answered me instead of asking why I was talking so loud!!!

This huge bucket is one of my favorite things at this particular pool.

Children of all ages rush over to sit beneath the tumultuous spray which deflects off of the roof it empties onto.
I truly don't care to do that, but some people just love it.


















This pool has a lazy river, all of which is superbly landscaped.
I decided not to risk floating the river with my camera, but did risk all the looks of the floaters as I took pictures of things that interested me along the route.

I tried to make it obvious that I was shooting at plants not people.


Creeper!!!
ha ha ha



There are rope and log enclosures designed to hold the river tubes when not in use.

Rope and logs is beautiful!! I know that is not correct grammar...okay!?!

We are in a strong, long, hot drought around here!
So, I took this lovely blue sky-ed picture and tried to make it look like impending doom...in the form of rain clouds over a giant umbrella.

Whatever, I just really dig how it looks!

Today, I got more laundry done, more cleaning done, and more summer funnin' done.
I hope you got to accomplish as much as I!

Water...

...lily, just beginning to unfurl.






Water....

...melon, first on the vine!!!

I guess I won't keep apologizing for being busy and tired.
I just am.

Hang in there with me through the wax and wane!