Macro Experiments

Here are the first two posts using my new (used) macro lens (Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Lens). It's amazing the detail it picks up on these pansies. (Not sure what the spider thought, though.)

Rhododendron

Our rhododendron has finally bloomed. A beautiful purple plume!

Kayak Sale

A local outdoor outfitter has lots of brightly colored kayaks in stock. How do you pick a favorite???

Refreshment

Today's capture was from a series of shots of my all-time favorite soda. My daughter picked out this view. When I asked her why she liked it best, she couldn't explain. It's kind of like why I love Dr. Pepper; not sure why- I just do!

Galileo Thermometer

My husband was given this Galileo thermometer years ago as a holiday gift. It consists of a sealed glass tube filled with water and floating bubbles. The bubbles are filled with a colored liquid, and tags hand from each denoting a particular temperature. As the room temperature changes, so does the density of the water, causing some bubbles to float, while others sink. The bubble that sinks the most denotes the current approximate temperature. It's a pretty ingenious little invention, and a lot of fun to photograph too!

Birch Bark

I really enjoy shooting things up close. Have a (used) macro lens coming next week. I am really looking forward to even closer close-ups!

Dandelion

I decided, after a rainy day, that the dandelions on the lawn having gone to seed might be an unusual subject for today. Not until I enlarged them did I see some of the interesting details, like the brown seeds beginning to separate from the center!

Butterfly

Honestly...this was a last minute shot tonight. I left for school at 7:30am., and due to a very long meeting, didn't get home until 7:30pm. tonight. My daughter loves pink- it's everywhere in her bedroom. Including this pink butterfly adorning her pink curtain, near her (you guessed it) pink wall.

Fiddleheads

Hard to believe that these will cook up into tasty morsels, eh?

Barrel Planter

Finally had time today to plant some pansies in my barrel planter. What a beautiful day to work outside!

Pine Cone

As I was out mowing the lawn today, I noticed these interesting-looking cones forming on the red pine in our yard. Kind of looks like a small pineapple!

Hope

I sing with a local community chorus. We had our dress rehearsal tonight, with a performance both Saturday and Sunday. It's been a long week at school before even getting to rehearsal. Perhaps this portion of our lyrics should become my mantra!

Lilacs

The lilacs in our yard have bloomed a full two weeks ahead of the usual time of year. However, the blooms were much less robust than in years past. Could the warmer winter have made a difference?

Tennis Anyone?

This spring my daughter took up tennis for the first time- joined the high school tennis team. She inherited my 10 year old racquet...at least for her first season. Glad somebody's getting to play!

Town Wharf

Drove down to the town wharf tonight in hopes of a pic of the day. After capturing these lobster traps...

along came what appeared to be the wharf mascot. Apparently as grizzly as the traps look... there's something mighty tasty inside!

Time's Running Out

Time's running out on this school year. Just 24 school days left here. Wow!

Windy

It was cold and rainy here yesterday. Today is partly sunny, but windy! My daughter's hair is a testament to that fact!

Mocha

I went to visit my mother today for an early Mother's Day lunch. While there, one of her cats, Mocha, decided to pose for some shots. I love his blue eyes!

Blue Bracelet

I pulled this blue bracelet out the other day. I love the colors and patterns in the polymer clay beads! Thought it might be an interesting shot.

Unknown Bush-Spring Edition

This bush was my third post back in January. I called it Unknown Bush. I now believe it must be in the azalea family, given the blossoms. Decided to try for an unusual angle today. What a difference a season makes!

Morning Maple

Went outside this morning while the kids were at recess. Caught the sun peeking through one of the maple trees. The weather was just spectacular today!

Rainbow of Tulips

A neighbor down the street has the most beautiful border along the edge of her property along the street. Tulips of every color imaginable line her front lawn! I can't imagine how long they took to plant!

Bug Saga

So...funny story (not). I took a medical day off today for a mid-day doctor's appointment, and decided to finally get my '79 Bug inspected early this morning. (Everything was in order- it just needed an inspection.) On the way to the garage I got stopped due to... yes- no inspection. A bus load of local students drove by while I was pulled over. I'm sure many of them knew me! It passed inspection, however on the way home (being an older Bug), it blew a fuel line. I sat on the side of the road for an hour waiting to be towed. Given that it's an older Bug, it loses about one fuel line per year. My husband joked tonight that perhaps it should say "fuel EJECTION" on the back instead! Very possibly!

Farm Equipment

I tried for another "cow capture" today, with little success. (I really need to start thinking about a telephoto lens.) Then I saw this farm equipment sitting in a field across the road. It looked rather lonely, but certainly ready for haying come July!

Car Wash

I'm trying to get my 1979 Super Beetle back on the road for the summer. It's insured and registered. Just need to get it inspected and she'll be ready to go! Decided that it was such a nice day that it needed washing today. Maybe by this time next week I'll be tooling around town in it!

Pink Tulip Project

I came across this beautiful garden of pink tulips today. It is called a "Pink Tulip Project" in honor of breast cancer awareness. The garden is much larger than this photo shows, but certainly is a beautiful reminder of the cause.

Flowering Quince

This bush from my schoolyard that boasts these beautiful salmon-colored blooms is apparently a flowering quince. Thanks to my colleague, Jane, who knew exactly what it was!

White Sea Glass

It was just too cold this morning for an outdoor picture. Had been saving more sea glass for another capture. (Stayed much warmer!)

Swings

It was a cloudy, drizzly day on the playground today. The swings sat silent longer than usual.

Whiskers

Okay, so a little different cat shot for today. Was fooling around with close-ups of Graham. Loved the way his whiskers showed up. If only he didn't look so apathetic about the paparazzi!

A Tale of Two Kitties

Today's post features our cat, Graham (the gray cat), and our neighbor's cat, Evin (the orange cat). Both are clearly "modest" gentlemen who are well-loved by their owners. But there's something about male cats and territory. Although they'll defend their own territory to the bitter end, they also like to continually check out the other's. (The grass is always greener, you know.) Sometimes this results in occasional fights, as is evidenced by Evin's nose. Not sure if Graham was responsible for that or not. Separate frames are probably a good idea here!

"Upta Camp"

We headed "upta camp" for the day today. This was the view on the way in. What a beauty! No bugs, little wind, and temperatures in the low 70's. Can't beat it!

Later while on a walk, I decided to shoot this old house. It reminded me of day#100's picture of the deserted old farmhouse, although I tried to incorporate some different angles.

Yellow Tulips

I love it when it stays light late enough to go for an after-dinner walk. Caught this capture on just such a walk this evening!

Jumbo Whoopie

We celebrated my son's birthday a day early today. He will be turning 17. His "cake" was a jumbo whoopie pie made at a local bakery. What's not to love?

Mosaic

I won this table in a raffle at school years ago. It looks great outdoors in the summer with a potted plant atop it. Time to dust off the outdoor furniture and to start thinking WARMTH!

Birthday Cake

So it was my birthday today. My 14 year-old daughter made me a delicious cake with funfetti! It's so nice to have family that cares about you!

Cherries

Today we took our son, a high school junior, to the campus of our alma mater for open house. I was reminded of the variety of types of trees and shrubs that grow on campus. I have no idea what type of tree this is, other than these appear to be cherries of some sort. However, as in the past, I know some smart horticulturist bloggers will hopefully help me out! Do you know what kind of tree this is?

Sunday Swim

My principal loaned me her zoom lens over vacation. Made it infinitely easier to get closer to this Canadian goose out for a Sunday swim!

April Snow

I shot this just yesterday without snow. Such a cruel joke by Mother Nature!

I'm afraid this daffodil's down for the count.

This could be pretty... if it weren't April!