Up Close and Personal

Mondays bring life up close with Macro Monday 2 and I Heart Macro.  My submissions for this Monday are personal for my life.  Today marks 47 years of marriage for us.

The invitation.

Those are the gloves I wore.  The wreath contains gardenias similar to the ones in my bouquet.

Matchbook from the hotel where we honeymooned.

 Please, visit Laura’s I Heart Macro and Magical Mystical Teacher at Macro Monday 2.

I Heart Macro

Sky Watch Friday

Giant marshmallows in the hay fields!  For more views of skies around the world visit Sky Watch Friday hosted by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy.

Thursday Challenge “SOFT” (Soft Light, Soft Things,…)

For fun and learning join the photo meme Thursday Challenge.  Dale of spunwithtears.com is host for this open weekly challenge.  Click here to enjoy lots of softness this Thursday.

Konica Minolta, DiMage Z26, f/5.6; 1/160 sec.;  ISO-50; 7mm;  Aperature 3

Thanks for stopping by our table to enjoy our view in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 2008.

 

THURSDAY CHALLENGE

Smell The Honeysuckle

A Friday late afternoon stroll was to the nearby area where I hoped I had seen a blue heron.  The stroll yielded some fun surprises.  First was the honeysuckle vine that is covering a small area of fence at the corner.  Honeysuckle’s sweet aroma never fails to bring to mind pleasant memories you can read about here.  This discovery seemed the universe telling me, You are where you belong at this time of life.My next surprise was the sight of someone fishing in the nearby runoff pond, the area where the possible heron lived/visited.  As I walked closer to get a better look at the fisherman, my eye was caught by the racing ants along the curb.  They were moving to fast to get a clear picture.  Guess I need to work on my photo skills! Along side the curb in the grassy area these diminutive, white flowers were growing.  Just sitting there in the evening sun no more than a couple of inches above the earth!  Naturally, I had to snap a photo of these “weeds” if there is such a thing in creation.  As I raised up from the ants and flowers I was able to see the sought after waterfowl.  There tucked in the cattails stood the blue heron. If you cannot quite see it, here is the closest capture I could get.  Again, gotta work on my camera skills or buy a digital camera that will take a telephoto lense.Looking to the other side.  Think it was posing a little.  Even managed to get a redwing blackbird in the shot, too.  Thanks for coming along on my walk.  Your company is always appreciated and conversations welcomed.  For more closeups on Mondays visit I Heart Macro hosted by Laura Hegfield and Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman.  I am, also, submitting to Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by the ever Cheers-filled Stewart in Australia.  And one last look at those sweet smelling honeysuckle blossoms.

MACRO MONDAY 2

I Heart Macro

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY

 

Skywatch Friday

Join the hosts Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy over at Skywatch Friday to see amazing photos of skies as seen across the world.   Thanks to all the kind folks who click over to get a view of the sky in Round Rock, Texas.

 

 

Wild Bird Wednesday

Nothing exciting here, just another mockingbird picture.  Or is it just another mockingbird?  This feathered being has figured out how to use one foot to hold the suet closer while standing in the hanging basket.  Looks like a pretty smart little mockingbird to me!

For more fantastic shots of birds join Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by Stewart, down under!  And thanks for dropping by for a view of one smart mockingbird!

 

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WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY

 

Moth?

Found this little being in the folds of the umbrella on our patio.  It was willing to ride the umbrella as I raised it.  Then I decided it would be good for a picture for today’s close-ups.  Never did get it to say cheese and smile though I did try.  For lots more closeup magic visit Macro Monday 2 and I Heart Macro week 57.

Submitting to:

Skywatch Friday

Last night found central Texas battered by high winds and a couple of small twisters.  The storm was full of electricity.  Having lived in a home that was struck by lightning 7 times, I was not about to chance standing at a window or doorway to get a shot of lightning.  I am submitting an shot of the view from my patio last night and this morning.  Wishing all the folks at Skywatch Friday a restful weekend.  Thanks to the hosts Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy for the work for maintaining the meme.  

Thanks, too, to all the visitors.  Your comments are appreciated!

Bright Colors

This week’s photo Thursday Challenge from Dale at spunwithtears.com is Bright (Things that are brightly colored).  At this point in my life I live a pastel life, surrounded by pastel things.  I took one of the pastel objects and played with Adobe Photoshop to make this abstract design.  I have included some of the steps from the original photo to the finished photo.  It was fun and I learned more techniques for editing images.  Thanks, Dale, for the challenge and the opportunity to learn something new.

For more brightly colored lives, please, click here go to Thursday Challenge.  I appreciate your dropping by to check out my bit of color.  Have a great weekend and Happy Father’s Day for all you dads.

Original shot

THURSDAY CHALLENGE

WildBird Wednesday

 Gulls taking advantage of the humpback’s bubble circle to do some fishing!

Shot Oct, 2005, Cape Cod, USA.  f/6.3, 1/160 sec., ISO-50, aperture, 3.36

 

Wild Bird Wednesday, hosted by Stewart Monckton, has the most amazing birders that are also excellent photographers.  Join the birders extraordinaire at Wild Bird Wednesday.