A Walk in the Woods

 While I was visiting L, we all went adventuring, and ended up at Ledges State Park...but unfortunately, due to heavy flooding earlier this year, the ledges area was closed (it is now know as the A-Ledge-d state park).  We found an easy hiking path to introduce the kidlets to the joys of hiking in the woods, and I even managed to get B to consent to a quick family photo...ok, snapshot.

  This path was just too enticing not to follow.  Of course, G had to jump down each and every one of those steps!

I love the fact that E and C like to take pictures. (Notice that E is using the viewfinder rather than the screen..she said it's like my big camera ) It doesn't bother C in the least that her camera doesn't work; she can see her photos just fine, thank you very much.  I noticed that when I stopped to take a shot, both of them would shoot the same thing, too.  Budding photographers!  Makes me happy!!

E and C love impromptu photos sessions....

...complete with chimping.

Looking for Autumn

Sometimes autumn is in the small details, like the way spiderwebs catch the early morning dew and sunshine...

 or a leaf glowing like a stained glass window as the sun shines through it, illuminating the veins and structure that are normally hidden from view.

The native trees this year have been muted in their celebration of autumn.  Instead of the rich golds, yellows and butterscotch, they have been clothed in rags that are brown at the edges, and finally just give up and fall off from the exhaustion of trying to force any more color.

But the hardwoods that have been planted here and there are glorious.  They got the memo that autumn has arrived and it is time to flaunt those colors!



Structure and Color

The rosette in this succulent was just too wonderful to pass up.  The BW really shows the shading dramatically and highlights the structure...

...While the color is softer and plays more with tones and hues.  I think the color version showcases that luscious center better, too.

Autumn Curves

I had no idea that callas came in autumn colors!  I think I'm in love.

Drip drop

Lots of rain at night lately gives me some wonderful drops.  This morning the elk were browsing under my bedroom window at 5 AM, finishing off the last of my dahlias--so, drops it will have to be.

Surprise!

I parked next to a Japanese Maple in a parking lot, and was surprised to see this clematis twining through the branches, and still blooming away.  Too bad it won't last until the leaves turn.  Wouldn't a purple clematis and red leaves be great contrast??

Feeling crafty!

L is going to have a booth at a craft fair in November, and she convinced me that I should make some photo cards to sell there.  This is what I came up with.  I'm selling a pack of 6 for $12.00.  Does that seem right? 

The ones with 3 photos will have 2 cards of each photo per pack.

Harvest Time

Trim the Tree

Season's Greetings

The ones with 6 photos will have 1 of each design.

Pretty in Pink

Just a Drop

Oh Nuts!

The oak trees are loaded this year, and the acorns are jumbo-sized.  They seem to be dropping early, though; the trees these came from were dropping them so frequently it was almost like it was raining acorns.  You took a chance standing under the trees.  The squirrels, however, have hit the jackpot!!

Silky

It's rainy, which makes me feel like I need to do water shots.  I love a slow waterfall.

Pond Beauties

Centered

I love the center of these African Daisies---they remind me of clusters of tiny little buttons.

Lost Opportunities

This SHOULD be what my garden looks like right now.  Instead, I have nothing left but stems, thanks to the pestiferous elk and deer.

To console myself, I went to the local dahlia growers, shot all the color I'm missing, and cut and bought some dahlias for my table.  Let the elk try to get those!!!!

Details...

I love the way a detail shot can illustrate the charm of an entire building...

And, I've hardly ever seen a pathway shot I didn't want to walk down and explore.

Fuschia drops

We've had a little rain lately, so I took advantage of a pot of flowers out in front to capture some drops.  The elk and the deer have decimated my garden this year.  I have nothing left that blooms, and my hosta was either pulled up by the roots, eaten down to the stems, or both.  BAD year for the garden.  Too bad I live in the city limits and can't shoot the pests with anything other than my BB gun.

I love these flat webs that the spiders weave across the grass, or plants.  I used to call them fairy tablecloths when I was little.  When they are dewy or rain-drop bedecked they look like delicate necklaces strung with diamonds.

Market Colors

I love this time of year when the farmers' markets are in full swing, full of fuits and veggies and flowers fresh from the field.  It is such a visual treat for me--all that color and texture and pattern everywhere I look!

Jumping the Gun

Yes, I am looking forward to fall.  Evidently, so is this leaf.  There were a couple on this tree that had decided to put on their fall best a little early.  That's one way to stand out in the crowd!!

Look at that face

There's a song from the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd" called "Look at That Face".  Every time I see this guy, I can hear Barbra Streisand singing these words:

Look at that face, just look at it.

Look at that fabulous face of yours.

I knew first look I took at it,

This was the face that the world adores.

Come on, isn't this just the sweetest, cutest face imaginable?  Don't you just feel happier seeing this guy?  He's my favorite at the zoo.  Quite often he's snuggled up with his "Woobie" (Mr. Mom reference), a large chunk of burlap that they give the orangs.  In the wild they use large leaves for protection; in the zoo they get burlap.  This day, I caught him at snack time.  Nothing like a stick full of peanut butter and honey to make the day go right!!
                   

Don't you think that if Dr. Suess drew monkeys they would look like this guy?  I can't look at these monkeys without laughing.  He reminds me of an old British explorer--red hair, but mustache and muttonchops gone white.  I can almost hear him saying "Pip pip, cheerio, old chum."

And this guy just had to ham it up for the camera...reminds me of my grands' smiles. :-D