Friday, October 19, 2012

Rain and Sun ... Mostly Rain



Rain, Sun, Rain, Rain, Rain
The rains are back here in the Pacific Northwest.

I'm not complaining, mind you ... our parched earth is sucking up the water as fast as it is falling around here!

I'm just not sure I'm completely ready for the incessant rains of Autumn, Winter and Spring to return.

I do, however, love the change of the seasons.
The reds, oranges, greens, yellows and browns delight my soul!



Thursday, October 18, 2012

Autumn Leaves - For Leontien



Dear Leontien ...
You don't know me, I don't know you.
And yet we are heart sisters in Blogland.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your beautiful family.

Love and Peace.


 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Autumn Is Here!



After a record dry summer here in the Pacific Northwest (I just heard this morning that we got less rain this summer than Death Valley!), we are finally expecting rain -
within the next hour or so!

All of this dry weather brought some early Autumn colors ... to link up with Hood Photo Blog's "Orange You Glad It's Friday"!


Even the weeds are sharing their final beauty before going to seed.

It's also time for Tina's PicStory's "Weekend Flowers"!


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Lacy Autumn Leaf



Autumn is upon us ... the fallen leaves are proof.


I love how they are showing their lacy hearts!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Square Raindrop on Heart





After Friday's drizzly rain ... leading to yesterday's sunshine ... I just had to explore the gem-encrusted world outside.

I was amazed when I saw this shot ...
If you enlarge it, you will see ...
The raindrop in the center appears to be SQUARE!

And it is nestled in the middle of a heart shaped clover leaf!!!

To see reflections from around the world, join us for James' "Weekend Reflections"!

If YOU have found a heart, be sure to share it on Random Heart's "Guest Heart Thursday"!

If you love shadows, be sure to visit "Shadow Shot Sunday"!


Friday, September 21, 2012

Finally the Rain ...



The skies turned gray today,
And a light misty rain fell.
I listened closely; maybe I could hear the parched earth sighing in response.
There was just the sound of the rain ..
tip tip tapping
While the billowing clouds thickened
And the raindrops gathered
To share their reflections ...

To see reflections from around the world, join us for "Weekend Reflections".

And check out the delightful "Green Day" over at "Raindrops and Daisies"!

 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Summer's Nearly Over ... Sniff



I hate to say goodbye to summer - only a few of these vibrant purple thistle flowers are left.


The bright yellow petals of even the most inconspicuous "weeds" brighten the shortening days.


And the deer are starting to congregate over at "The Abandoned" - leaving behind their cute little heart-shaped footprints.

I am linking to "Weekend Flowers"


Friday, September 14, 2012

At the Beach


A feather on the sand ... just above the tide line ...


Left behind by a gull like this one maybe?
On a perfect day ...
At the beach ...


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Autumn Grass Heart



It's a blade of dry Autumn grass ...
It's a Heart ...

It's BOTH!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!



Monday, September 3, 2012

Thistle Seed Hints of Autumn



Life has kind of gotten out of control for me ...
So much to do; so little time.

I missed my daily walks --
time alone with my thoughts and the beauty of the world around me.

So I started walking yesterday.
And found that summer is quietly slipping away, and autumn is just around the corner. The beautiful and delicate flowers of early summer are now gone.

Yet even with most of the flowers gone to seed, I found a beauty in what was left.

Here, a thistle flower casts its seeds to be blown by the wind to a new home.

It's amazing how nature just keeps throwing beauty our way.
When we take the time to pay attention.


Friday, August 3, 2012

Stirring Up a Hornets Nest!


I had stopped to take a picture of a flower, when I heard an odd noise.
Kind of a "skritch skritch zzzzzz" ... from somewhere over my head.

I looked up, and jumped back about 3 feet.
Because directly overhead ...


Was this.

A hornet's nest!
At first there were only a few hornets coming and going.

Then ... an army!

Then I noticed the guy in the middle.
The one looking direct AT me.

I backed up even more ...
And left the area!


Urban Duck



You'd never know this lady and her reflection were just feet from a major street - traffic whizzing by at breakneck speed - I was glad to have parked my own car and walked over to the man-made pond beside the road.

I felt at peace, while the world around me rushed on by.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Ladybug on Queen Anne's Lace



The ladybug chose the perfect flower to rest on ... a feathery Queen Anne's Lace.


and


It wasn't until I looked closer that I noticed the reflections of the flower on the side of the ladybug!



Friday, July 13, 2012

"Bee"utiful Flower of Summer


I caught this bee visiting a summer flower ...
He held still long enough for me to catch him in action!

and

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - full of beautiful flowers!!!


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Spent Rhodendron Heart


The rhododendrons, which came late this year but stayed around for a long time, are showing their final colors.

As the flowers fade and droop, their colors also fade.

But their heart shows up really, really well!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Day Lily Before and After the Rain


I was walking at The Abandoned yesterday, when I saw a beautiful day lily - just as the sun disappeared behind some threatening clouds.

It poured for about 20 minutes while I waited inside the building ...
then the sun came back.

I went back outside - and found the drenched lily I had just taken a picture of ...
With a different beauty than it had before the rain!


Friday, June 22, 2012

The Hidden Fire of Iris ...


Looking into the throat of a sun-soaked iris ... I got the feeling I had fallen into a different world ...
A magical place of fire and water ...
Of awe and wonder ...

This week, Tina's PicStory is celebrating 52 weeks of "Weekend Flowers" with the theme "Macro" - come on over and see some of the most amazing flower photographers in all of blogland!

((Wow, I can't believe it's been a year!!!
Thank you, Tina for hosting!))


Thursday, June 14, 2012

Rose Macro Heart

I was playing around with my "macro" settings ...
And the yellow roses in mom's flower garden.

I was surprised to find, in the center of one of the roses ...
A tiny yet perfect heart!
(If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see it better!)

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

"Cool" Deer


 Yesterday was warm and muggy as I took my walk ...
As I wandered past the (formerly) abandoned church, something through the window caught my attention.

A deer!

The poured-in-place concrete building stays at least 10 degrees cooler inside than out ...

And this lady was taking advantage of it!


She watched me closely for a few minutes, as I took a few pictures, and played with different camera settings.


She finally got up and left.
And so did I.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Red Headed Sapsucker

I couldn't believe it when I saw this red headed sapsucker in the tree very close to where I was walking.

He didn't seem to mind that I was taking his portrait ... he was too hungry I guess!

It wasn't long before he found a grub and flew away.


Thursday, June 7, 2012

The Many Shades of White

I took a walk after the rain ...
And found myself surrounded by white ...

A blackberry flower, ready to burst open ...
Perfect for "Floral Friday Fotos"!

 Raindrops shared a white iris petal ...

Creating a beautiful glow in the sun ...

A heart shows itself in the center of a morning glory ...
Just in time for "Guest Heart Thursday"!

And the variegated willow bush becomes the resting place for a pair of translucent jewels ...
Reflecting the sun overhead ...

I never realized how many shades of white can be found ...
Just by looking a little closer at my world.

Daisy Heart Inspired




Have you ever been inspired by someone?

Well I was inspired last week by Tina.
(Tina's PicStory)

She posted a beautiful photo of a daisy with a heart shaped center.
It took my breath away!

I tried and tried to find a daisy with a heart shaped center ...
And finally did.
It's not as amazing as Tina's, but you can still tell there's a heart!

Thank you, Tina ... you're awesome.

To see more hearts from around the world, visit Random Hearts - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday!"

Friday, June 1, 2012

Raindrops

 As much as I get tired of the rain ...
I love the raindrops!

 Even plain old grass becomes beautiful ...

Do you ever get the feeling of being "watched"???

To see reflections from around the world, join us for James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Insect Eats Its Heart Out!

This is one of the first pictures taken with my "new" used camera after my old one died rather spectacularly ... I am still getting used to the differences ...

But soon it will feel at home in my hand!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

"Bugga Bugga Bugga"


When my kids were little, all insects were "bugga bugga bugga"


Even pretty ones like this cinnebar moth. 
Or is it cinnabar moth?

I'm not sure what kind of "bugga" this one is, but he posed just long enough to get a picture!


And this intriguing "bugga" is worth enlarging - he's quite photogenic!

"Bugga Bugga Bugga!!!"

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Of Rainbows and Surprises ...


I was driving back from an errand in Portland when I saw this beautiful spot of rainbow in the sky overhead. I pulled over at the top of the hill, and managed to one shot before needing to move on.

 When I got home, I rushed outside ... only to find the spot of rainbow had encircled the sun!
 
On the news last night, our local weatherman explained that this is a "refracted" rainbow ... which he explained as a somewhat rare phenomenon where the sun hits ice crystals and refracts around them instead of through them (as with usual rainbows).

P.S. - Do you see the heart in the trees???

I looked at my pictures on the computer ... and that's when I got the surprise!


There was an airplane flying through my "sunbow"!!!
(if you enlarge the photo, you will see it even better!)

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts' - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!
 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Springtime walk ...


The fruit trees are blossoming!


The grass is growing ... fast!


And look what else I saw ...
A little deer behind!

I just realized this Springtime theme fits in perfectly with Tablescaper's "Seasonal Sundays" - where the theme this week is "Spring"!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Ladybug Colors ...


Her colors are what first caught my eye ...
I'd never seen a ladybug like this before!

As I focused my camera on her, I noticed she was sitting on a leafy heart!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!