Dogwoods by moonlight - Day Ninety-one - March 31, 2012

As I showed you the other day, our dogwoods are blooming and I hope you don't mind, but you will probably see more of them in the coming days (I love dogwood trees).  I wasn't able to get out during the day today to take pictures, so wanted to get out tonight (it's so nice and cool when the sun downs go).  My friend Carla and I were talking a few weeks back about how we used to look up at a tree outside our office and this made me look up to the sky and when I did, saw the moon in between the dogwood flowers.  I did edit the photo and used the cross-photo feature, which makes it looks really neat.  There is another photo that I really liked, but think I will use it another day when I'm not able to get out and take a picture.

Mower tracks - Day Ninety - March 30, 2012

My silly husband was out mowing the grass at 8:00 last night in the dark - Patrick informed him that it has headlights, so off he went not letting the dark take him away from his mowing :)  I was inside working on a card (finally) and didn't hit me until around 7:55 that it was actually the lawnmower I was hearing outside.  I grabbed the camera real quick, but was too late, he had stopped by then.  Well, on my way back, saw the tracks in the sand, so figured I would capture that instead so when we go back through these pictures at the end of the year, I can remember that Jim was a mowing fool at 8:00 p.m. on March 30 :)  The picture looks like it was taken during the day, but the picture didn't come out without the flash, so here we go.

Lines in the sky - Day Eighty-nine - March 29, 2012

I was outside waiting for Jim to get home from work and saw the lines in the sky so I took a quick picture before the pretty colors disappeared.  It just amazes me every time I watch the sunset - it never gets old watching the sky change so quickly :)

Sunset behind the trees - Day Eighty-eight - March 28, 2012

Patrick and I went out for a very short walk tonight because he had finished up his homework earlier than expected after we came back from our normal daily walk (it's just too pretty outside not to spend a little extra time out there) and saw this amazing sunset.  I took many pictures of it, but they are all so blurry (I will be taking a tutorial on how to take better pictures of those in the future - I didn't realize how difficult it way), but this one came out okay.  As I was looking at the downloaded pictures, saw that the trees/blooms in the foreground were not blurry, but the sun was and really like this affect, so here is my picture for the day.  Hope you enjoy :)

Dogwoods in bloom - Day Eighty-seven - March 27, 2012

Well as the title says, our dogwoods are in bloom.  Since we live out the country, they are usually a few weeks behind those that bloom in the city, so I get to see dogwoods for approximately 1 whole month, which is wonderful.  They are just so pretty.

Squirrel Family - Day Eighty-six - March 26, 2012

Jim was in the kitchen this morning and looked at me to say, there's a squirrel family outside, come look.  I did better than that, I got my camera and tip-toed outside to snap away.  There were a total five and it was fun watching them run up and down the tree.  I did learn something though, squirrels make this squeaky noise - Jim said it was barking, but it didn't sound like that to me.

We finally got some rain - Day Eighty-five - March 25, 2012

And boy did we get plenty :)  We had a huge storm hit us around 2:00 yesterday afternoon and had a few minutes in between the storms we had (we got a total of 3 and last night).  It was totally amazed at how each part of the sky looked - one of side, I saw these amazing white puffy clouds, I then turned 90 degrees and got sky with clouds and then another 90 degree turned, showed me threatening clouds getting ready to bring us another downpour.  We sure did need it.

Spring has sprung - Day Eight-four - March 24, 2012

I went up to see my mother-in-law this afternoon and took my camera along with me; boy am I glad I did :)  I was walking out of the house and saw this beautiful bush not too far from the ramp she has coming from the house.  It has the most beautiful little flowers buds on them (I have no clue what they are) and took some photos of them (that's why there are 3 pictures here instead of the typically one - I loved them all).  As I was taking the photos, a visitor decided to pop in, so I set my camera to the sports setting and clicked away.  Luckily, the bumblebee didn't seem to scared of my camera noises.

"... and the thunder rolls" - Day Eighty-three - March 23, 2012

Luckily, we got home before the rain started, but those thunder roars were amazing.  We are hoping for a lot of rain to wash a little pollen out of the air (keeping our fingers crossed).

It's a jean ... Day Eighty-two - March 22, 2012

... kind of day today.  Well, at least when I got home.  Since I did work today, had to wear business clothes, but as soon as I got home, changed into my jeans real quick.  It was just one of those days and putting on those jeans made it all better :)

Looking through his glasses - Day Eighty-one - March 21, 2012

Well, he isn't looking through his glasses, but looking over them.  I caught Patrick watching tv instead of working on his homework today ... nah, I'm just joking.  He actually had a day when he didn't have any homework, so it was a goof-off afternoon for him, so he just vegged out in his daddy's recliner for a bit.  I was going to get a picture of him sitting in the chair, but he looked up at me and this is what I caught.  I like this better than what I was thinking of originally.

Jim and a fence - Day Eighty - March 20, 2012

Well, I believe this is going to be my last picture of our recent trip :)  There was a fence along the end portion of our walk and thought I would try different angles of it and saw through the camera's view finder that Jim was there as well, so got two angles in one picture.  I also saw that not only did I get the fence and Jim, but you can also see how sweet my wonderful husband is, if you look close enough, you can see that he is carrying my camera bag.  Isn't that just the most wonderful thing :)

Unique tree - Day Seventy-nine - March 19, 2012

I just had to take a picture of this tree because of it's unique shape as well as the greenery on it.  I thought it was beautiful and after I downloaded it, saw the walkway in the background and liked this photo even more.

Tallullah Gorge - Day Seventy-eight -- March 18, 2012

This was just one of the beautiful waterfalls we saw during our Georgia trip - this was at Tallulah Gorge and is the Hawthorne pool, Tempesta Falls and Pool.  It was just gorgeous.

St. Patrick's Day - Day Seventy-seven - March 17, 2012

Today is St. Patrick's Day and while I am not home celebrating this fun day with my boy Patrick (he just loves having a special day named after him - he's such a silly boy), wanted to share a photo that had the traditional green in it.  I love taking photos of how nature changes from one season to the next and this one is a great way of showing this.  I hope everyone had a fun and safe St. Patty's Day :)

Windmill - Day Seventy-six - March 16, 2012

This is just one of the pictures I took while out of town, but I just love windmills and fell in love with this one. I was hoping to get closer, but it is part of a hotel that was run down and couldn't get up to visit it :( but it was just so pretty from where I was. It made me want to put on my wooden shoes and start yodeling :)

Upside down - Day Seventy-five - March 15, 2012

Well, this is the first day of our motorcycle trip to Helen, Georgia.  We had made plans to go to Daytona with some awesome friends, but it didn't work out, so Jim and I decided to head to Helen for the weekend.  We had been by this neat little place a few years back and wanted to go back for a longer stay.  It was the cutest little place (it reminded Jim of Germany - I'll have more pictures coming) and it was just beautiful.  I was taking pictures while riding and thought I would be funny and see how an upside down picture would turn out :)  It's great being silly at times, isn't it:)

Dad's fence - Day Seventy-four - March 14, 2012

As Jim and I were getting ready for our motorcycle trip, we walked up to talk with my mother-in-law before getting started with packing and final preparations.  I, of course, had my camera with me (I am learning to take it with me everywhere) so on the way back saw my father-in-law's fence looking back at me.  Dad loved working outside and was always trying to grow something unusual - he tried figs, grapes, muscadines, squash, cucumbers, you name it.  The fence you see here was used to grow his grapes and he did such a great job at it - I will miss those grapes this year, but have this fence to remember how much fun he always had growing them.

Calla-lily - Day Seventy-three - March 13, 2012

 A few months back I was asked to take photos of a wedding, which was such an honor.  It was my first request to do this and I was so excited and nervous at the same time.  As I was walking around, saw these flowers and thought they were so beautiful.  This picture along with the other ones I have of this day are now very special to me because the groom passed away a few weeks back and he is truly missed.  Thanks Murphy and Vivian for letting me be a very part of your wonderful day.

Two birds - Day Seventy-two - March 12, 2012

Sorry, I haven't posted in a week (oh goodness, I didn't realize it was that long), it was so busy last week and then Jim and I went out of town for a few days to get away and take some relax time.

 

If you will remember, I took some pictures early last Sunday and took several pictures of some birds, so thought I would get those posted.  Slowly but surely, I'm going to get those types of pictures down pat :)  I have no idea what these are, but Patrick and I are going to find out - they were so pretty.

Two photo day - Day Seventy-one - March 11, 2012

As you know, the time changed to daylight savings time at 2:00 a.m. this morning, so we got up around 6:00 a.m. to try and stay on our schedule so we won't hit a sleep wall tomorrow :) I don't understand his reasoning for this, but hey, I go with the flow :)  

As Jim and I were standing at the kitchen window, I noticed this great view and told Jim what a great photo opportunity I have here.  He said, "Janet, it's 32 degrees outside", but I looked at him and just smiled - he knows me better than that :)  So here I am still in my pj's, flip flops, camera in hand and you can see my breath; however, I absolutely love how the moon is behind the limbs of the trees and if you look real close, there is a bird sitting one of the limbs, so it was totally worth it.  As I was editing, I couldn't pick just one, so I'm going to post two of them.  I also got a few pictures of some birds but will get those posted tomorrow because I have got to put them up.

The second photo still has the moon, but it is positioned a little differently, but I like how the tree up close is clear, but the moon and the other trees are a little blurry.  I think that all in all, today was a good photo day for me :)

Red plane - Day Seventy - March 10, 2012

Well, today, I'm going to cheat a little bit because I didn't get a chance to take a photo yesterday, so I'm going to add one that I took this morning.  We got up early this morning (more on that story in the next post) and even though it was 32 degrees outside, ventured out for photo opportunities.  I know that I have posted a picture of a plane already, but I was so excited to actually see the plane in this photo (have I told you that I love this new lens I got for Christmas) that I just had to post it.  I had a slew more, but liked this one the most.

Photo Friday Challenge

Well, one of my friends from Twenty-twelve in Photos mentioned Carly Roberston's Photo Friday Challenge on her blog 'the simple things' and had to give it a try.  I have known Carly for a few years now and enjoy talking with her so much, but haven't given these challenges a try.  I thought, why not, let's go for it and not only have fun, but I can also learn some neat tips and tricks in the process (Carly is a great photographer).  

This week's challenge is "Everyday", so as I was thinking about this, thought, you know, Patrick and I have been walking pretty much everyday since the end of January (we do give ourselves the weekend to rest) and a few days ago took a picture from my cell phone of Patrick walking in front of me.  The funny thing about this picture is as I was looking at it closer, realized that he doesn't have any socks on and that is so typical of him, so not only does it reflect our everyday walking, but that this seems to be an everyday occurrence in our house - Patrick is a lot like me, we don't like socks or shoes :)

Have a great one and head over to Carly's blog to join in on the fun.

Jim's home- Day Sixty-nine - March 9, 2012

Well, the title says it all.  I was outside trying to get a good picture of the sunset, but I wanted too long and just as I was walking back into the house, Jim drove in from a long day at work.  I tried to lighten the picture up, but I just couldn't find the right fit, so I left it as is - this way you can get the full effect of the headlights.  I say, let the weekend begin :)  I hope you all have a good one.

Tucker - Day Sixty-eight - March 8, 2012

This is Tucker :)  He was given to my father-in-law by my niece and nephew a while back and before dad passed in April of last year, completely dotted on this sweet little dog.  Tucker is now keeping my mother-in-law company and when Patrick goes to visit on the weekends, wears that boy out :) 

Day Sixty-seven - March 7, 2012

I couldn't come up with a title for this one, but really love the contrast between the blue sky and the very red leaves.

Lonely leaf - Day Sixty-six - March 6, 2012

Look at this poor lonely leaf , but I'm sure not for long :)  I couldn't pass up this photo opportunity.

Jared - Day Sixty-five - March 5, 2012

Today is our son Jared's 26th birthday :( so thought I would put up a collage of some pictures taken throughout those years (I have so many, but ran out of room).  I can't believe how fast those 26 years have gone, but it has been with love and pride that we have watched a wonderful baby, become a young boy, a growing teenager and now an outstanding young man.  I can go on and on about how wonderful he is, but I am very afraid he would get an even bigger head than he already has (I'm just kidding), but seriously, I could go on and on about how wonderful he is, but I'm just going to say "Jared, you are very much admired and loved by many, but none more so than me and your daddy".  We look forward to many more birthdays with you !!

We love you !!

Momma & Daddy

Looking up - Day Sixty-four - March 4, 2012

Again, I have tried to look at the trees all around us in a different way and thought that I would try on the ground - I know I have done several on the ground, but those have been of the leaves, so I tried the trees this time and it's fun playing around with the editing programs :)

Tigger - Day Sixty-three - March 3, 2012

Here's another picture of our cat, Tigger, but this time instead of just her eyes, I got the chance to take a complete photo.  She looks so Egyptian here :)

Shadow learning - Day Sixty-two - March 2, 2012

As I was walking these evening, saw these trees and thought, you know, I'm learning how to use my copic markers to make shadows (for me, that is a little difficult, but I'm trying) and this is a great example of how I should be looking at my photo while I'm coloring it.  I thought this was pretty cool.

Ladder - Day Sixty-one - March 1, 2012

Again, this is from the shed from Jim and I were working the other day.  I just love old things that sit up in a shed or barn for a long time and grow character.  This ladder came from my father-in-law's firetruck he had many years ago and am so glad he left that when he had to sell it.  It has now become a part of this shed and reminds me of those days when he and mom would ride that firetruck in the parades around where we lived - they had such a great time when doing that (I'll have to see if I can find a picture of that).

Pinecones in a tree - Day Sixty - February 29, 2012

I was working with Jim in our shed and while he was sweeping, went outside to see what king of trouble I could get into :)  Well, I came across several trees that were full of pinecones, so I couldn't pass up this great opportunity to get a picture of that.  There are TONS of them.

Limbs - Day Fifty-nine - February 28, 2012

I think these limbs look so neat, but I don't know why they remind me of the old west (I know, I'm a little strange) - maybe it's the ghost town way these look.  It won't be long before they will be full of beautiful dogwoods and I'll be showing you pictures of how quickly things change on these trees.