Beginnings, rather than new

A rack of seed packets always makes my heart sing, thinking of new gardens and possibilities. I think seeds are optimism, packaged.












Another new beginning...

new/beginnings

The new leaves on photinia are always red.













This rhodie is just beginning to show its color.













A little warm weather, a little sunshine, and these blossoms are going to POP!











Just about there--these will open any day.

reflections in a droplet

With all the rain, it's hard to take a photo of anything outside. But, I love the reflection in the droplet at the end of this petal. The droplet has become a "magic lens".

Greens

Fiddlehead fern unfolding
Ok, so I got a little wierd--these are the bubbles in my dish soap. I just thought it was really cool--wierd, but cool.
Even the river is green!!
Kiwis are green...
New growth on pines--I love the contrast between the new growth and the older part.

More Green

Did you know that there are more shades of green than any other color? Living in the Northwest, we see evidence of that abundantly.
These new columbine leaves capture the rain and mist and turn it into jewels lining the edges of the leaves. Gotta love what beauty water brings to ordinary, everyday things.
Ferns growing on the side of a tree, embedded in moss.
This "tropical forest" is actually different types of moss growing on the side of a rock. Look at all the different shades of green, shapes and textures. Isn't it amazing what you can find underfoot?

End

There are ends all around. What ends can you find in your world?

...the end of the road
Are there days when you are at the end of your rope and it feels like this?
Ahhhhhhh...the end of the day. Not taken recently, obviously.
Yea! The end of winter!!

Self(less) portrait

HOW to take a self-portrait without having to take a photo of myself? I am so un-photogenic, and I have struggled with this assignment. Not having a cool characteristic like Heather's, I went another route. These are some of the things that are a part of me--my family above all, quilting, gardening and enjoying nature, reading, and of course, photography. If I could have some beach in there as well...perfection.

Snow on the Mountain

These are for all those FoP (Formerly of Provo) out there. I know you will recognize them.

Barn Quest

Last week I was in Utah, and my friend and I drove down to Spring City, a fly-speck on the map--if you blink twice, you'll miss the town. Many of the homes were built of the same stone as the Manti temple, and builders of the temple settled there...lots of wonderful historic old limestone(sandstone??) homes, and barns! I LOVE old barns, and there is an embarrassment of riches in this dinky little town. Wouldn't you love to hear the stories these old buidlings could tell?

Not only a barn, but the requisite outhouse to the left! HA!

I have never seen a barn with a wheel on the side like this. I wonder what it was for?

one last texture

I thought these balls were neat. The combination of natural elements and the sculptural design was really eye-catching.

Textures--soft

"I have a little shadown, who goes in and out with me, and anything that I might do, she's sure to do with me." So, while Emmie is down for a quick nap, I am raiding my files for some texture shots, since I don't have time to get out and do some. Sorry there's nothing "fresh".

Textures--hard

Ice frozen on the pond out in back--black and white conversion. It almost looks like a satellite map, doesn't it?
Cedar trunk, looking up. Can't believe the "movement" in this bark.
"Swiss cheese rocks" in Zion Nat'l. Park.
Zion, again. I love the layers upon layers in these rock formations.
all kinds of textures and patterns going on in this post.

Reflections, Part One

Reflections of Eternity

Looking back over some of my previous posts, I noticed that several of them have relections in them--I must like photographing them as an element of the design. Check out: Oct.-- Autumn's last hurrah; Black and White and Color; Dec. -- Big Apple Christmas; Thanksgiving Blessings (that last one is stretching it--it is Emmie "reflecting" on becoming a big sister!)

Reflections, Part Two

Two Crested Cormorants taking a break--this was at extreme telephoto, so it's not as sharp as I would like.
This Crested Cormorant is drying his wings. They are diving birds, and after being underwater they fan out their wings and let them dry. It was almost as if he were posing!
Down at Lake Sammamish State Park. The water was like glass!
This is old--notice the age of my kids. However, I liked their reflections in the wet (very wet) sand.

one more pink--can you smell it?

mmm- I love the scent of hyacinths!

pinks

This is a tough assignment, because other than flowers, I don't like pink. I do have a lot of floral shots, though. I will try to stay away from tulips, since ML got there first.

These hot pink morning glories were at a nursery. I have not tweaked anything--the color and luminescence were amazing!


















What are prettier than pink dogwoods?

mmm--pink

Pink/love/chocolate!
Don't these look good--almost too good to eat.

One last curve

Sorry to keep posting, but I just had to share this shot of a water drop! Have I mentioned that I LOVE macro photography??