birds — Page 69

Thank You, Photos, a Camera & a Winner

April 17, 2011 at 10:54 am by Claudia

I’ve read every heartfelt comment on my last blog post. Several times. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I say ‘us’ because I know many of you read all the comments, just as I do. This particular conversation has been wonderfully enlightening and I love it when that happens.

I posted a photo very much like this one on my photo blog, Through a Lens Daily, yesterday. On a very misty, foggy morning earlier this week, I saw little drops of water on all the wild roses. It was a great opportunity to see what I could capture with my camera.

My intention with that blog was to post a new photo each day. And I did that for several months. Then Old Man Winter came and with it lots of photos of snow. Eventually, I just couldn’t post one more gray, wintry photo. So I lost my daily rhythm. I happy to say it’s coming back.

I really love photography. My camera, a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS, is doing a very good job so far and I love her but she has her limitations. Buying a new DSLR with the option to change lenses is not in the cards at this point. I wonder if looking into a used Canon Rebel might be something I should think about? Maybe there is someone out there who has moved up to another camera level and would be willing to sell the older model. Any thoughts or recommendations as to where to look?

Now I feel guilty. About my current camera. Do you ever endow inanimate objects with human qualities? I do. So I need to tell my camera that I love her and I will always hang on to her, even if I have another camera some day. She could have a sister! Now wouldn’t that be fun?

A few more photos:

The hyacinth in full bloom. I wonder how it survived the torrential rains we had last night?

Another shot of my very quick and elusive friend, Mr. Cardinal. It was captured by taking an endless amount of photos from a great distance. This guy likes to move.

Finally, I used the Random Generator to pick the winner of a copy of The Kitchen Daughter.

Congratulations, number 29 – Sherry of Creatology! Sherry, send me an email with your address and I’ll forward it on to TLC Book Tours. They’ll send it to the publisher who will mail the book directly to you.

Have a great Sunday everyone. I’m going to work outside on this windy day. I have a lot to do and I leave for Wisconsin exactly two weeks from today.

Outside at MHC

April 11, 2011 at 9:23 am by Claudia

Thank goodness for these daffodils, tucked in on the edge of our woods. Every spring, I somewhat obsessively watch this little spot, knowing that when I see yellow blooms, our winter hibernation will be officially over.

That there is a hyacinth, my potted hyacinth from last Easter, transplanted to the garden bed. I watch it obsessively, too.

Our property has little surprises everywhere. The wooded area is overgrown with brambles and wild roses and later on in the season, poison ivy. Beyond the shed, right at the edge of the property line are some forsythia bushes. I donned my hazmat suit the other day and fought my way out there, thinking it was time to force some pretty yellow blooms. Smile.

Also on the edge of the property:

The remains of a house. It’s right by the road and the ground above those stones is fairly flat. If you walk down to the road, you can see more of it. I wonder who lived there? And just how long ago was it built?

I managed to get a photo of our elusive cardinal. As I opened the blinds in the den early one morning, I saw a woodpecker, several sparrows, 2 blue jays, and the cardinal. Things were hoppin’ out by the maple tree. I ran for the camera and with the help of my telephoto lens, managed a slightly blurry shot.

And finally, one of the neighbor’s cats. This one likes to hang out in the back forty. And take naps. And taunt Scout. He wasn’t in the mood for a photo shoot:

He was ready for some jungle exploration.

It’s going to be an unseasonably warm day today. 80 degrees.

Be sure to come back on Wednesday. I have a book review for a book I really loved. And I’m giving one away.

Hello Robins, Welcome

April 9, 2011 at 7:14 pm by Claudia

To the First Robin

Welcome, welcome, little stranger,

Fear no harm, and fear no danger;

We are glad to see you here,

For you sing “Sweet Spring is near.”

Now the white snow melts away;

Now the flowers blossom gay:

Come dear bird and build your nest,

For we love our robin best.

Louisa May Alcott

Ah, Spring is here. Not so long ago, I kept saying to Don that when I saw the first robin, I would know the end of winter was almost here. Now, I see robins everywhere. Welcome, robins!

Thank You, Photos, a Camera & a Winner

Outside at MHC

Hello Robins, Welcome

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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