While on safari….

 

on the Serengeti, I spotted this Trepidacious Omnivorous Elephantous.  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, for sure.

Luckily, I was accompanied by my colleague The Intrepid Turtle Whisperer.

Don’t get too close….they snap you know.

With no thought for her personal safety, she moves in closer.

Closer still.  Oh, I can’t look!!

Amazingly, I was able to pull her back from the brink of death before she made the supreme sacrifice for science.

Of course, she may have her own version of this story over at Life is a Road Trip.

The things one sees…..

 

while waiting for the light to change.  A “lovely” burst of spring color. :)

What is cerise???

 

I have noticed this link on Mary Beth’s Small City Scenes before and decided today was the day to find out what my fairy name might be.

 

Your fairy is

Cherry Goblinglow

She brings riches and wealth.

She lives in fruit orchards and vineyards.

She is only seen in the light of a full moon.

She wears red, cerise and purple berry colours and has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

 

Okay, what the heck is cerise?  I had to look it up and was pleasantly informed that it is a deep almost blood red color. I’m liking that. I have to admit, I’m liking the part about bringing riches and wealth too. I need her to hurry up and arrive. :)  Not really. One doesn’t want to tempt fate.  Who knows what might have to come about to make that happen. I prefer to keep things where they are right now.

Now pardon me, while I go find some fruit of the vineyard.

Flash…Home Building Mkt. in Phoenix on the rebound.

 

There has been a recent “flurry” of activity in the Home Building Market in Phoenix.

The Mrs. spots this promising lot while on her way to the local spa for a beak and nail polishing.  Remember in real estate the three most important words are “location, location, location.”

She quickly shows it to her hubby.  You have to be on your toes in this “fast moving” market.  (Especially on a windy day!)

He’s right on the ball and  sets about staking a claim and begins appropriating building materials.

And before you know it – it’s Home Sweet Home!

Which means, of course, I have to get new clothespins and something to keep them in until the family is raised and heads off to college.

This bachelor is new to the game and doesn’t understand how open to the elements his home location will be.

The wind keeps “huffing and puffing and blowing his house down”. 

And, yes, that thermometer reads about 75 degrees. It is lovely weather right now, but as you notice, it goes up to 120.  Believe me  there will be days this summer it is pegged out.

I’ve been experimenting….

With Tracy’s help and guidance, I’ve been playing around with some HDR photos.  Here is one that I’ve managed to save as a JPEG and can download here.

 

 

I’ve enjoyed doing this and plan on getting some more shots and playing around some more.  I need to study the program I’m using and see if I can save the pictures in a format other than TIFF.

It’s Friday!!!

 

Good morning, world!  It’s Friday!  I hope everyone has a wonderful day and that everything you put your hand to comes out just as you desire.

 

We had some wonderful contestants for “Guess That Novel!” I loved all your guesses and thought some of your ideas were awesome.  It’s worth going back and checking out all the comments from yesterday. You are all so creative. People were being a bit cagey about naming the novel without really naming it so others could continue to guess. You guys are all so kind, but guess away – it’s okay.

Drum roll, please……Diane from Desert Colors is our winner.  She correctly “guessed” the novel was “Cannery Row” by John Steinbeck.  Thank you, Kathy, for prompting me to get on the ball (and you can participate at any time) and thank you, Tracy, for giving me such a great idea for the shot. I LOVE you people!!

It’s Back…

 

I’ve missed getting out and doing “Guess That Novel!!!”  With some prompting from Ramblin’ Kathy and inspiration from Tracy, I’m ready for another installment.

So, here you are….have fun!!

Home Security…

 

This home sweet home probably has very little to worry about from intruders.

You are my sunshine…

 

Smiles….be happy!

Butterflies are free….

Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

“Someone Saved My Life Tonight” Elton John

This is what I want to do  today….fly away.

It’s Saturday so….

 

today, I wear my red hat and my red underwear!!

 

This little beauty is still hanging around the yard.  He’s very hard to get close to  and setting up my tripod wouldn’t work at all. So my shots of him are always a little fuzzy. But I just can’t quit trying.

 

Smiles to all my friends and family out there in the blogging world.

There’s a fly….

in my flowers!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, that there are no flies in your anything, and that you begin your new week with renewed strength and spirit!!

At a loss…

 

Lately, I feel like I’ve been beating my head against the wall…or a tree.  Lots going on and my time really hasn’t been my own.  Please forgive my negligence and be patient with me…as you always are. 

Grounded….

 

due to weather. 

It was pouring rain when I took this shot (from the safety of the back porch).  The doves hunkered down through the downfall and then promptly left once the rain stopped.

I’m not grounded due to the weather though. I’m off to spend the day with my BFF, Annie.  I will, of course, have my camera with me.

Happy Anniversary, Pop and Joy!!!

The Wishing Flight….

 

This is a poem written by my daughter, Nicole. 

The Wishing Flight

A nimble flight,
on wings so light,
an airy sort of whim-

To float on high,
and touch the sky,
a prospect never grim.

To wish, to want,
to have, to flaunt,
a vanity most unstable -

But I would,
if I could,
fly if I were able.

 

Build it….they will come.

 

This ball park is located in one of our local retirement communities.  I’ve seen the guys out playing when driving by in the past and today decided to stop and watch. 

 

There was a very nice gentleman standing in the shade by the fence and I struck up a conversation with him.  Seems the guys play every Tuesday and Saturday – five games a day.  They’re on teams formed from the community and range in age from late fifties to early eighties!!

 

 

It was inspiring to see the hustle and teamwork happening on the field.  It’s good to keep moving….slows down the aging process.

 

PS:  We have a winner!!!  Mary Beth from Small City Scenes was the first to Guess That Novel!!!  It was indeed The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.  And, yes, I did tell my father-in-law what the picture was for. :)  He was very accommodating and just laughed.

I’ll try and have another Guess That Novel up for Monday.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Guess That Novel!!!

 

I was able to work out another picture for this week.  I’m telling you, I giggle like a kid when I’m doing this. 

Okay, guess that novel!!

 

When Pigs Fly….

This was the beautiful sunset we had on Monday evening.  What a colorful way to end Valentine’s Day.

Do you see the pig flying?

Here’s My Little Valentine….

 

Today Mom and I went to visit Amanda and new baby, Shaelyn.  She is the sweetest little thing. 

 

And I do mean little….she’s so tiny. Compare her foot to Mom’s thumb.   But she has really long fingers and toes. 

 

Maybe she will grow up to be the piano player her Grandpa Bob always wanted to be.

 

Here she is in Great Grandma Leona’s arms.  A little bundle of joy.

 

PS:  I need to get busy because I’m out of  pictures for “Guess That Novel”.  I have ideas, just haven’t gotten out to get the pictures. 

I want to congratulate Ciel from Versailles Daily Photo for being the first to guess “How Green Was My Valley” by Richard Llewellyn!  If you haven’t read this book, I would highly recommend it….or read it again if you have already.  I want to thank you all for continuing to play along with me….it’s  been so much fun.

Guess That Novel!!!

This isn’t the best photo.  I was a little limited, but I think you’ll still be able to figure this one out.

I was at the top of a mountain looking back across the….hmmm. This is another deviation from my rules. It was actually written by someone claiming to be Welsh, but proven to be English. But it was a favorite of mine in my teens. 

Good luck!

Pretty in Pink…

 

 

 

Tulips

Eager to be seen

Cups of sweet nectar within

Spring’s delicate gift

 

I’m as eager as the lovely tulip….early Happy Valentine’s Day!

Flowers, flowers….

 

I’ve been trying some of the suggestions from the instructors at the photography class and some hints from a book my brother shared with me.

 

I love tulips. They are so soft, but have so much texture. 

 

 

 

This is one of the suggestions about shooting flowers from a different perspective.

 

 

I just love flowers and I always seem to have some around to practice taking photos of.

 

“ Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Shaelyn has arrived!!

 

Yesterday, I spent some time at the hospital with my niece in labor and delivery. I had to head out to other responsibilities before the big event happened.

But last night at 10:10 little Shaelyn arrived.  She was 6 lbs. 7 oz., 18 1/2 inches long, and had a head full of hair.

I have no pictures – yet.  You know I will as soon as I can.

Welcome to our world, Shaelyn Faye.

 

I want to walk here….

 

but since I can’t, I’ll just have to dream about it.  I’m not getting out and doing any picture taking right now.  This obviously was taken earlier in the year.

PS:  Any suggestions on how I can get the header picture to fill the header? 

You Want Results….

 

Wait a minute.  Just because I went to the photography class doesn’t mean I’m going to get better any time soon.  I need some practice time.  Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have a little time to play around with some things they told us about.

Oh, the pressure!!  :)

 

 

In the meantime, the winner of yesterday’s “Guess That Novel!!!” was Kathy of  Ramblin' Kathy.  Actually, you all got it right, but Kathy was first. But then maybe it’s better to have more winners. Yea, I like that….you ALL get to be the winner! 

Grapes are kinda expensive right now and I tried two or three “tools of wrath” before I decided I liked the hammer best.  It was a lot of fun. I had grapes flying everywhere and got splattered with juice to boot! 

Guess That Novel!!!

Here we are already at the fourth installment.  I'm not very good at delayed gratification and started doing these twice a week now....Mondays and Thursdays. I also seem to be having trouble with staying within my own set of rules. So I just might get jiggy with you guys sometimes. :)


I’ll not tell you the cost of shooting this photo…not just yet anyway.

PS; I just checked "jiggy" in the urban dictionary and I hope you guys know which meaning I meant! :)

I’m Certifiable…

 

in so many ways, actually.  But in this case, I’m talking about my diplomas from the Nikon Photography Schools I attended this weekend.

I had a wonderful time with my brother, Glen, learning so many interesting things.   The range of information the instructors shared was amazing. They needed to engage the most novice photographer – me, all the way to professionals who invest thousands of dollars in their equipment . 

It’s going to take some time for things to sink in, but I’m pretty sure if I can find my owner’s manual, I might actually understand some of what it says. :)

I’m out and about…

 

This weekend I’m going to a Nikon Digital Photography seminar with my oldest brother, Glen.  Saturday is Introduction to Digital SLR Photography and Sunday is Color, Light, Technology. I’m really excited and looking forward to spending time with Glen.

Then Sunday afternoon I get to go to Bill and Tracy’s for a Super Bowl party which for me really means a let’s get together, visit, eat good food, and listen to the guys yell about the game party. :)  I can’t wait!!!

I’m out and about and probably won’t be able to visit my blogging buddies this weekend. See you on Monday!!

 

This is a picture of picture that Glen took while in Sweden. He had it enlarged for me and I had it framed. Isn’t if beautiful?

The Rock House…

 

On our latest road trip, Annie took us to a rock house built back in the 1920’s (I believe) way out in the wilds in Tonopah, AZ.  Now consider, Arizona only gained statehood on February 14, 1912. This was a beautiful home at one time, but has been ravaged by time, fire, vandals, and weather.

We are looking over what was once a sunken rose garden on the south side of the house.  There was a rooftop garden, the fireplace was made entirely of white quartz, they had a well, generated their own electricity and had a garage on the north end of the house.

 

You can see what remains of one of the wooden headers above a window charred from a fire.  The stone is all local and had to be carried to the sight sometimes from a great distance.

 

 

Even though we were within a quarter of a mile from a major freeway, you could loose yourself in time gone by and imagine what it must have been like.

 

The views from every window or doorway were breathtaking.  I can imagine at night all those years ago, it would be pitch black.  I could almost hear the coyotes howling in the distance.

 

 

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. “   Matthew 7:25

 

Yesterday’s winner of “Guess That Novel!!” was Diane of  Desert Colors!  I liked Brian’s guess though too…maybe I would have needed a dagger to make that one work. But then it wasn’t an American Classic Novel. Some people may not think Arsenic and Old Lace was either, but I get to decide. :)  “Guess That Novel” will be back on Monday.  I’m having way too much fun doing this.

PS – Randy is totally correct.  Arsenic and Old Lace was a play by Joseph Kesselring.  I am sorry to be misleading and I may need to re-title my theme…  “Guess Whatever Whacky Thing Comes Into My Head!!!”  :)  Thanks for playing along.

Guess That Novel!!!

 

Here we go….

 

I am so loving this!!!

We Were Birds of a Feather…

 

Sunday I had such a wonderful day out with Tracy, Kathy and Annie.  We laughed and walked and ate and of course, took pictures. For hours on end we were birds of a feather. 

Here are a few other birds I saw along the way.

 

This is an Osprey.  I love how they use their “fingers” to make subtle changes in movement.

 

I took this from the bridge over the Hassayampa River.  These Egrets were quite a long way off, but if you get too close, they fly away.  I love how they each have a reflected friend.

 

These are more Egrets.  Some are sitting atop the Gillespie Dam while others are below standing on the spillway. It was amazing to see so many together.

 

 

 

We startled this one from the tree where her/his nest was.  It immediately headed high into the sky on a thermal.  I believe it might be a Red Tailed Hawk. There was a pair that rode the thermal until we left. I didn’t have the longer lens on for this shot. Sorry.

It was a beautiful day spent with wonderful “birds of a feather.”

For my “Guess That Novel” players we have a new reigning champion this week. Liz from Bellingham Daily Photo!!  The novel was indeed “The Scarlett Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I was worried about you guys and maybe jumped the gun with my hint. I’m loving this so much I want to play too!  You can tell from the content of the letter, I started out giving you some clues. Dear Nathaniel – the author and some hints as to what the story is about.  But you know me well enough to know I couldn’t stay serious for too long ergo the country song lyrics. :)

I think this is going to become a Monday and Thursday theme. I can’t do just one a week!!