Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A long time ago - my sister's cat and my/her bird were the subject of a funny photo.  Strider was outside looking in at Ricky or whatever the bird's name was and she caught the wistful look on Strider's face.  I found this in a pile of old photos recently.  I'm not sure if it was her bird or mine - we both had one and i know she babysat my bird one time when we went away.  One was named Billy I think and the other Ricky.  I also had a yellow cockatiel.



I've been working a lot in the backyard - since it is dirt, I like to keep it somewhat clean so I rake often which is good exercise.  The owner's of the house had old bark all over the yard when they bought it and in their fixing it up as a rental, they never cleaned up the old bark - i have raked it away!!  We have two decks - one on the front of the house and one on the upper story back of the house.  I share my time between three sitting areas.  After putting up the "Easy Up" I now have a favorite area to read, watch birds, meditate, and just enjoy all of nature's sounds.  It is sitting next to a storage shed where I have been recently going through boxes and organizing photos, etc.  It's quite convenient because I can pull a box out and sit right there if I choose and organize them.  This back area which is in the foreground of the photo - i've been working on lately - it was filled with overgrown weeds.




A photo of part of the front of the house.  I've enjoying potting little plants - some annuals - some cactus and succulants.  I sit out here often now as the sun warms up the front in the morning. 







Another view of the area where I like to sit - on the table is a book I found in the storage shed I hadn't seen in years - "Conversations with God" .. I was doing yard work and enjoying a little inspiration.





I bought two new bottles at Walmart the other day - I had a glass of wine at the table the other day and loved how the wine looked with the colored bottles.





 Just some more plants in front.







More of the backyard where I've been spending my time - I use those big pots for a few bird baths (I have plastic inserts in them so there is about a 1/2" or more of water and they enjoy drinking and bathing.

Bird feeders are hanging in the background off the tree.  I can sit and photograph them and I'm far enough away I don't disturb them.  This is the reason I recently got a decent camera again that can take photos from far away.


In the afternoon while it's still a little chilly because we have so many trees around - i like to sit on the upper back deck.  This was after dinner and I took a glass of wine out and enjoyed the warmth.  Have I mentioned I love living in the mountains!  I was going over just a small representation (envelopes) of letters that when my dad was alive - we participated in a letter exchange daily to keep him from being too lonely (after my mom died).  I've also been organizing these letters.  He wrote an autobiography and these letters will help flesh out his story - if I follow my gut feeling that I should start a blog and post his autobiography and art work - so all the grandkids in the family will some day have a place to go and read about his life.




This is the block wall out in front where I like to put some of the plants - but every time we have a forecast for snow this spring - i quickly move them inside so they don't freeze - or rather move them close to the house under the eaves and some of them i bring in.

So this is a slice of life from my little corner.



Monday, April 28, 2014

SCENES FROM CLAREMONT BOTANICAL GARDENS


Yesterday we went back to a place we haven't been to in several years.  It use to be free to get in - it was more wild and unkempt - but now it is 8 dollar a person or 6 if you are a senior or student and 4 for kids ..anyway - so when they started charging we stopped going mainly because at the time we were busy getting our house ready to sell.  It's a really beautiful place now - very lush and so nice to walk through.  I was wanting to try getting some flower shots with my new Panasonic Lumix.  I have a lot to learn because of a lot of the close ups I should have been using my macro setting on and I didn't - just used my intelligent auto on all of them.  Here are some that turned out okay by not doing anything special with the camera.  When editing them I did choose the "sharpen" option.




















Sunday, April 27, 2014

SOME SCENES FROM YESTERDAY

The mountains had snow - it didn't fall where we are (about 4700 feet) but it did just a ways up.  We went up to about 6000 feet and there was quite a bit of snow - maybe 4 to 6".  Pretty good for this time of year.

I wanted to take my camera out and get some photos.  We had our grandson with us and although we didn't even think to take his sled - he still had fun in the snow.  Depending on what part of the mountain it was - the snow was melting fast in some areas, not so much in others where it didn't get as much sun.











This western bluebird - really showed up in this first pic - i guess because of the background and almost looks metallic - don't know why - i'm just learning how to use the various functions of the camera.




These shots of the bluebird were taken from quite a ways below the tree.  



Here is Cayden enjoying the snow



There were three ducks that I took photos of - they were on the snow bank - they turned out nice and i'll post them later.






This is in a place called Arrowbear which is about 15 miles up the mountain.



The pond is only filled after rain or snow - we came by here a few months ago before we had rain and it was as dry as could be.  Scenic now but not so much later.






Houses along the way that got a lot of snow melt during the day.  In spring - the snow doesn't stay long.






Finding birds to practice on.  I was pretty far away for this pic.









Saturday, April 26, 2014

Laura



I tried to get some pics with the new camera.  There haven't been a lot of colorful birds around because of the rain.  I did get this guy who was outside fairly far up in a tree on a branch.  I didn't even have my zoom all the way and I got this - both shots were done so quick i barely had time to look through the viewfinder because I wanted to get him before he flew away.  Taking more time the shots would be more focused that this.  I did my usual "sharpen" in Picasa.  The stellar jay was on the railing of the deck and i was inside at the table.









Thursday, April 24, 2014

BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS AND ACORN WOODPECKER



I'm becoming quite fond of the blackbirds at the lake - I see them more than any other bird so when I take pictures it is mostly of them. 

The conditions happened to be good meaning the  lighting was nice so these came out okay.  I haven't been happy with my camera when it comes to photographing birds but once in awhile it works.  My good camera broke and the last month I've been using my other camera.  I think my new camera I'm getting might arrive today by UPS - according to the schedule Mike checked on.  It is a Panasonic Lumix and I've always been pretty happy with how it performs. 

Anyway - here are a few from yesterday.















Wednesday, April 23, 2014

IF I COULD HAVE MORE KIDS

I'd choose to have these twin boys.

Actually they are half brothers born about a week apart.  I met them and their owner down at the lake.  He saw that I liked them and wanted their photos so he asked them to pose for me.











at the LINK - MORE CLOSE UP SNAIL PHOTOS

MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM - LINK


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

BEAUTIFUL FOGGY DAY

Sun would shine - fog would roll in  and stay awhile and then leave - sun would be out again.  One of those days you don't know whether to take a jacket with you or leave it home.  We did go out walking at the lake and most of the time it was sunny but the times it was foggy there would be a heavy breeze and it would be cold again.  We will leave again soon for our second walk of the day.

Here is what my back yard looked like this morning.  Just a few pigeons enjoying the morning. 


 First pigeon shows up



Second pigeon showed up





then they saw me and flew off









Then they come upstairs on the deck.




See me and fly off .

A poem

Hi pigeon
Hello pigeon #2
Nice to see you
Goodbye pigeons
Oh you came to visit again
But you left so soon.

Dumb poem.

FIRST BIRD IN THE BATH SO FAR THIS SPRING

And she was loving it!  I took a lot of photos but since my  good camera broke about a month ago - it is hit or miss if I can get a picture worthy of posting.  This really isn't as clear as I like my photos to be, and the ones I've posted in the last month are with a so/so camera and not the best quality.  I'm in the process of looking for what I want on Ebay where I can get a little bit of a discount hopefully.

Anyway, the fog is rolling in, we are leaving soon to get our first walk of the day and will probably walk around the lake.  Yesterday we walked in Valley of Enchantment down a road that looks like a country road and it was a beautiful walk. 

With the longer days we will try to do two walks a day.  Also tonight is Taco Tuesday at Stockade so I know where we will be.