Clouds With My Coffee (121/366)

Haven't had an early morning to the office in a while but today I was on a mission to complete a project so that meant getting my other work done early.

It was a very nice morning.  You could tell it was going to warm up nicely and Mother Nature did not disappoint.

Plus, by now you all know I love me some clouds!

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn't it be?-It is the same the angels breathe.
~Mark Twain, Roughing It

Scouting For Food  (120/366)

April is Scouting For Food month in Pack 202.This is their biggest service project of the year.  The scouts of Pack 202 worked a shift or two at Giant Eagle, handing out pamphlets and collecting food.  They worked after Mass at St. Margaret's of Scotland collecting food and they passed out flyers and bags to their friends, families and neighbors.

Then, all the boxes were brought to St. Margaret's cafeteria to be checked, sorted, stacked and loaded into vehicles headed to both the West End and Wallace Food Banks, here in the Pittsburgh area.

I am happy to report that Pack 202 collected 315 boxes of food and $267.00 in donations.  I am a proud parent of a Cub Scout who does his part to make a difference, as do all the boys in the Pack.

Way to go Pack 202!  You boys did a GREAT job and you should be very proud of yourselves!  There will be lots of food to go around to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Following the Scout Law sounds like a game plan that would give us all a better chance of success in life-and I mean every aspect of life.
~Zig Ziglar

The Southside (119/366)

After a long day of Zumba, flag football, errands, laundry and a little league game, it was time to have a little me time.  I met a girlfriend of mine down on Carson Street for dinner at the Double Wide Grill.  You see tonight, my job was wing(wo)man.  More like just good friendly moral support as she perused the object of her affection.

The Southside of Pittsburgh is actually a very eclectic place that I enjoy for it's photo ops.  Saturday night though, trying to get in and out is somewhat ridiculous with traffic and college kids and singles out for a fun on a Saturday night.

As I was waiting, I happened to notice the marquis for the Southside Works Movie Theatre looked pretty awesome against the cold evening sky.  We did a movie here last year and I believe it used to be an old hotel as the "lobby" was pretty amazing.  Definitely on the "to do" list again this year.

And here's a quote to my friend, you know who you are and you know I am here and will be your wingwoman any day!

Attraction is not a choice.

~David DeAngelo

Man vs. Food (118/366)

This is Jon.  He is one of my co-workers and he decided last week he was going to take on the food challenge at My Big Fat Greek Gyro ( http://mybigfatgreekgyro.com/ ) which is across the street from our office.  It's called The Big Fatty Challenge and is a 4 1/2 pound gyro and you have an hour to finish it.....ALL OF IT.

Early in the morning Jon was still contemplating, more like his stomach starting to protest at the thought but by 1pm, he was up for the task.  Michelle and I joined him for moral support and because we wanted to see if he could actually do it.  As you can tell by the photo, Jon is not a little man...I believe his line is....240lbs of shit in a red shirt (and he will correct me if I got that wrong...lol).  He also eats more than any person I have ever met.  Every 90 mins or so during the day, he walks by my office to make something in the toaster oven, microwave or to grab something from the fridge.

It was 1:27pm when I took this shot.  Let me tell you, that is a whole lotta gyro.  Even more so for a man, who about 10 bites in admits he doesn't really like gyros.  Yeah, I might have rolled my eyes.  2:27pm came quicker than Jon could consume this massive amount of lamb and shortly there after I told the owner, as I was headed  back to the office, to give him his bill.  Yeah, it's free if you finish it, but if not, it's $30.00.

So here's to Jon for a good effort today.  He didn't get the free gyro and t-shirt, but there is always next week.  I included a short video I took today as the challenge started!  That big mouth running on would be mine!

http://youtu.be/tC1sLCeJ8Wk

It's so beautifully arranged on the plate.  You know someone's fingers have been all over it.
~Julia Child on nouvelle cuisine

PINK! (117/366)

My Azalea bush is in full bloom and survived the cold temps and rain all week.  I hear that nasty snow   precipitation is in the forecast for Saturday so I decided to have a little Olloclip fun this morning before work.

Raindrops decorated the perky flowers and it was just fun getting different perspectives with the macro lens.

I am looking forward to our weather finally evening out so I can start the work on my butterfly garden.  I get giddy with the thought of all the picture potential once it's in full bloom.

Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a Pink word and see someones eyes light up and know it's a Pink word for him or her too.
~Gladys Taber

Pinstripes (116/366)


The day had finally come.  The first game of the season.  Kid pitch, which in most cases means more than a few  walks, pitches swung at way above their heads and a hit batter or three.  Dan struck out his first at bat, pitched a few walks and a strikeout or two and got hit at his next at bat.

But Blinkey's Nobel  Bar and Grill came to play their first home game and after 6 strong innings, lost 6-4.  The season is young and there will be more games, walks, strikeouts, home runs and hit batters. I just hope Daniel is not on the receiving end of another fast ball to the thigh.  I think tomorrow's blog might be a nice colorful shot of the bruise.

Little League baseball is a good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.
~Yogi Berra

This Little Piggy (115/366)

Some days it's an effort to decide what photo to use for the day.  Some days, it's an effort to just take the camera out when you don't feel inspired.  That would have been last night and I apologize for the lack of creativity in the photo.

Last night, after I posted that gem of a blog post, I turned and saw this scene below.  It struck me as funny and then I wondered, "Why is that piggy trying to steal my Dunkin Donut card"?

Of course Dan announced that I should not get to close to the Piggy because it was his, but for tonight, it was my model and looking at it still makes me smile.  Not sure if it's the pig or the thought of a nice hot cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee (I sorta OD'd over the weekend) but either way, I hope this whimsical photo gives you a little laugh.

This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef (with his Dunkin' Donuts coffee)
This little piggy had none
And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way home (he stole that 3rd piggy's Dunkin Donuts coffee)

Fireside Foto (114/366)


Well despite the Weather Channel calling today's Spring Storm "Snowpril", we lucked out here in Pittsburgh.  The 4-6 inches they predicted for our area was nothing but rain, but it's damn cold.  Cold enough that I contemplated a fire in the fireplace tonight.

It was also a crazy day and here it was 10pm before I even thought about taking a photo.  10pm photos are not some of my best things, but I knew going into this project that not every day would be stellar.  I was actually hoping for a little of the white stuff.  Just enough to catch an interesting photo of my Azaleas with a dusting of snow or something along those lines.  Good news fans, I have a plan for tomorrow already...LOL

Wood already touched by fire, is not hard to set alight.
~African Proverb

Play Ball (113/366)


I wound up my trip to Boston by visiting the Griffin Photography Museum (http://www.griffinmuseum.org/) in Winchester, MA.  They had a photography exhibit on the 100 Years of Fenway and then we got to meet Matt Tavares, a writer and illustrator of children's books.  He was doing a presentation on his latest book, There Goes Ted Williams and then a book signing.

I purchased two of his books.  There Goes Ted Williams for my son and a little something special for my Mom for Mother's Day.  I hope she likes it.

The Museum itself is in a small house but had some outstanding photographs of Fenway through the last 100 years.  There were a few favorites and funny enough, they were all of the Green Monster.  In a few years, I hope to bring the kids to Fenway so that we can do a park tour, which will allow me to take shots that I couldn't on a game day and of course, take in a game (non-Yankee).

Below is Matt signing his newest book to Daniel which I hope he keeps and passes on to his kids.  In the meantime, once he reads the book, it will then be displayed in our soon to be re-done basement which will be the sports room.

A man has to have goals-for a day, for a lifetime-and that was mine, to have people say, "There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived".
~Ted Williams 1988

Flutterby (112/366)

The Butterfly Place in Westford, MA was the highlight of today.  Not only did we score free admission using the Morton's library pass but I was lucky enough to catch some amazing shots.  This was no easy task due the size of the the atrium and the number of adults and children milling around.

And the number of butterflies was countless and I even had a few Blue Morpho butterflies land on me.  I think part of it might had to due with the color shirt I was wearing which was almost close to their color.

Now we spent a little over an hour here and in that short period I shot over 200 photos.  Not an easy task picking out one favorite.  That just means I get to share more on my G+ and Facebook pages.  Butterflies are truly one of my most favorite subjects to photograph.

This is a Common Mormon.  I liked how her (yes it's a her) colors matched with the flowers and that you knew she was feeding without having to see all of her in view.

My next trip has to be to the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  I think I might need a much bigger SD card and at least a weekend...LOL

Love is like a butterfly.  It goes where it pleases and it pleases where it goes.
~Author Unknown

A 100th Birthday Toast! (111/366)


It's April 20th, 2012.  100 years since the Fenway Park opened it's doors to the fans of Boston.  Today I spent this historic occasion with my friend Dawn, who is also a big Red Sox fan.  When we picked this weekend back in September, we really had no clue we had chose the actual 100th Birthday but it could not have been better if we actually planned it.,

We also got a chance to get ourselves in the World Record's Book by being part of largest toast at a single venue.  Welch's sponsored this and we had a grape juice drink and cup under all the seats.  What an fun way to celebrate this most special birthday.

More pictures will be forthcoming once I get through the hundreds of photos, but for today, this is the one I like the most.  It was definitely one of those days where just choosing one photo, was no easy task!

If this were a banquet hall, instead of a ball park, I would propose a toast.
~Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1944 Fenway Park

The Princess Lives Here (110/366)

The Princess lives here and her name is Elizabeth.  The beautiful Princess was kind enough to give up her spacious palace bedroom to this weary traveler and bunk up with the King and Queen.

I made it to MA and am just about to wind down my day and I saw these perfect slippers just calling my name.  Now, I could literally fill an entire month's blog in just the Princess's room alone.  The palace would surely keep me busy for several months.  I can't help but look around and see Dawn and Dug everywhere.  It's a great space!

And now, time to sleep because tomorrow is the big party and I must be well rested!

Cinderella-Proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

Have A Nice Day! (109/366)

It was almost 8:30pm and no picture for today had been taken.  I was in the middle of my Photography 102 class and we were on a short break.  We decided to move class this week to Wednesday since a few of us were not going to be available tomorrow.  We met at our local Panera Bread on Green Tree Rd.

Well we all know what too much coffee and and too much sitting can do and when Patty, our instructor, rejoined the group she told me she found my shot of the day, in the second stall of the ladies room.  I was up to the challenge and before we left for the evening (picture the staff tapping their feet as the cleaned around us wanting us to go) I took myself and my trusty 4S to the ladies room.  A big 32 ounce Acai Berry tea will do the same thing as the coffee.

Ha!  Good call Patty.  I loved it.  Took the shot, did my thing and back to collect my things and head home.  Its cute, you have to admit that and you can't help but smile when you see another smile.

Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice
Standing on the edge, I show the wind how to fly
When the world gets in my face
I say, have a nice day!
~Bon Jovi

In the Pink! (108/366)


My Azaleas are coming to life and I so love their color.  I have found the florals in this area are all blossoming at different times.  My Daffodils took a whole week longer to bloom than my neighbor up the street.  My next door neighbor's Azalea's  were in bloom at least two weeks before mine and tonight when I was picking the kids up from CCD, I noticed the Rhododendrons were in bloom there but mine are not even close to opening.

It's been a very weird Spring.  We experienced near 80F temps yesterday and today, I ran the small heater in my office all day, it was that chilly.  I am leaving for Boston Thursday evening and I have to pack for warm and cold because I honestly have no idea.

So here's to the warmer weather.  Here's to the beauty of Spring and here's to the color PINK!

Pink, it was love at first sight, yeah
Pink, when I turn out the light
Yeah Pink, it's like read, but not quite
And I think everything is going to be alright
No matter what we do tonight
~Pink-Aerosmith

The Glass Eye (107/366)

Still on my homework quest for photos not having to do with Nature.  I never considered myself a Nature type photographer but apparently it comes into play quite often for me, more often than not.

I took my camera with me to work today with high hopes of sneaking out of the office during lunch.  Well folks, that didn't quite happen.  A typical Monday, really so I took a few moments after 5pm and shot some of the interesting things I keep in my office and before I left, a few shots of the building.

The shot I chose today is of a glass egg I earned as a Sales Award back in 2003 when I was the Candle Lady!  Now I have shot this egg more than a few times, experimenting really because I was trying to catch it just right. Today I was finally happy with the results.

The egg comes from The Glass Eye Studio and is made of dichroic glass.  You can read more about it at
http://www.glasseyestudio.com/apps/store/web/view/profile/itemid/31577/default.asp .  I think this will make the homework assignment photo group.

Picture yourself on a train in a station
with plasticine porters with looking glass ties
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile
the girl with kaleidoscope eyes
~Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds-The Beatles

Fast Car (106/366)


It was time to take on this homework assignment.  I decided the two new toy cars that Daniel bought would be the subject for today.  My options were a 2005 Ford GT and a 2009 Corvette.  I had great light coming in the windows and I used the top of the laptop as my part of my makeshift studio.  I will most definitely be investing in a light box.

After 45 minutes of shooting, I decided the Corvette was much more fun to photograph (and drive I am sure).  I try not to do a lot of post, but playing with the temperature and the vibrancy lent itself to car.

I would love to photograph the real thing, but for today, this is as close as I will be to this classic car.

If everything seems to be in control, you are not going fast enough.
~Mario Andretti 

The dandeLion Sleeps Tonight (105/366)

I spent some quiet moments this morning sitting in my front yard, literally.  I am sure my neighbors look out their windows and wonder what the crazy red head is doing today.    Today I was on a Dandelion kick, especially those on the verge of final death.

Now I know they are nothing but an annoyance in our yards, but I can't help but love the beauty as it reaches it's final stages.  Remind me of that next Spring when my yard is pocked with them.

I also can't forget when my kids brought me their first "bouquet" of flowers and they were all Dandelions.  Smiling with these bright yellow blossoms in their chubby little hands.  What mother could refuse?

Roses are red
Violets are blue
but they don't get around
like Dandelions do.
~Slim Acres

Lamp Still Life (104/366)

So, we have two weeks of Photography 102 left and this week's homework assignment is, shoot anything we want but NO NATURE.  Well I could have gone out at lunch but I have been thinking about things around my house.  Just so we are clear, my house is 50+ years old and needs a lot of updating.  I am doing this as and when I can but it's not easy and damn expensive.  I hope in the next year to make some serious advances in the home improvement area.

One of the rooms is my living room.   It needs to be painted.  The blinds need to go and I need a nice curtain rod and curtains and God Please help me remove the paint from the brick fireplace.   What idiot paints a brick fireplace?  The other thing in this room is lighting.  This lamp has been there since we moved in and look like it's been here since the house was built.  I will relish in the day I get to take it down and toss it in the trash.  But for posterity and homework, I thought I would photograph it.  It's certainly not Nature.

Light is good from whatever lamp it shines.

Vickie's Secret (103/366)

It's funny how sometimes, just taking a photo because you appreciate something, can be looked at in the wrong way.  I tried a few times to take this shot with my cell phone and each time there was this stern looking employee giving me the evil eye.  I am not going to sell this to anyone, I just liked their display.

So tonight I was determined and took my big camera into the mall with me and sat in the seating area across from Victoria Secret to catch my shot.  I still would have like to have been closer, but I am please with the way this turned out.  I am sure more than a few of my male followers will enjoy it as well, but for much different reasons.

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
~Anonymous

Dogwood Up Close and Personal (102/366)

I shot a few of these shots last night and then decided not to use them.  But I liked them so much I went and shot them again.  My daughter wondered why I did not just use the ones from last night.  I told her it's not the same, picture has to be taken today.  She rolled her eyes...LOL

I had to shoot these out of my son's window because our tree in the front is too tall for me to shoot from my porch and for some reason, my dogwood in the back either didn't bloom or somehow I missed it.

Oh and no snow that I saw at all.  It could have snuck in overnight, but if I didn't see it, it didn't happen.

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
~Vincent Van Gogh

In The Pink (101/366)

A bush full of nothing but buds just screaming to bloom and I noticed one that had the courage to do just that.  I took this because I so love the pink color of this Azalea bush and because I am afraid this might be the only flower I see.

Right now, it's 39F and overnight, down to almost freezing and there is snow precipitation  in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow.  Where are the mid 60's and 70's we were loving just a few weeks ago?

I knew it was too good to be true.....

And on that note....this is a great quote and it goes out to my friend Cheryl, I think it fits and you know I love ya!

I believe in pink.  I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.  I believe in kissing, kissing a lot.  I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.  I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.  I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
~Audrey Hepburn

Day 100's Sunset (100/366)


Day 100.  It's hard to believe my project has reached its 100th day.  Today was a wicked weather day.  It was sunny and cool this morning but it turned to a nasty rain shower in the afternoon with wind gusts and heavy rains that lasted maybe 20 mins.  The the sun was back, only to give way to more dark clouds, showers and lightning and thunder.

On my way home from Zumba class I could not help but notice the amazing sunset. The clouds had cleared enough to give way to a beautiful site.  One that caused me to pull over and take a few photos.

I am not happy though, the weather forecast shows (shudders) snow possible over the next few days.  I knew it was too good to be true with the weather we had in March.  One more snow, I can feel it.

Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the population couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in  while.
~Kin Hubbard

Glass Castle (99/366)

Our very own castle in downtown Pittsburgh.  At least that is what it looks like to me when I sit at PNC Park for a Pirate game, and I do that a lot.  I have yet to make it down to PPG place (it's real name)  but I often catch it as I photograph the city skyline.

Today, as I attended the third game of the 2012 season with my kids, it caught my attention again.  You cannot truly appreciate the beauty of this building unless you see it.  I got a quick glance last August when I did a Duck Tour with co-workers and had hopes of making it there during the holidays.  Didn't quite get there, but it's on my "To Do" list for 2012.  So for today, I focused on the tower that is the jewel of the Pittsburgh skyline.

For those of you not living in the Pittsburgh area, here is a nice bit of history on the buildings in PPG Place.

http://www.ppgplace.com/building

The most fascinating fact to me was that there is nearly 1 million feet of neutral silver Solarban 550 reflective glass units used in the structures.  That's a whole lotta glass and it makes PPG highly energy efficient, not to mention, beautiful.

do you ever question your life?
do you ever wonder why?
do you ever see in your dreams
all the castle in the sky?
~Ian Van Dahl

Game Face (98/366)

It was Daniel's 1st official Flag Football game at Dormont Stadium.  This is new for us and he is just loving it.
I was able to get there shortly after my Zumba class and take pictures of his first game.  He played QB, Wide Receiver and wherever the coach needed him to be......

But the Keystone Oaks 8-9yo Red Team didn't win today.

Dan's quote was, "Mom, we were just like the Pirates, we didn't win our first game either".  Got to love a child's way of thinking.   His team may not have won, but his game face was on and I am sure with determination like that, there will be many wins in their future.

Winning means you are willing to go longer and work harder, and give more than anyone else.
~Vince Lombardi

Dogwood in Blue (97/366)

Nothing like a beautiful, crisp Spring day with only a half day of work to get my "yard" on.  My lawn was way past needing a good cut and the weed whacking was beyond bad.  So after a good lunch, Daniel and I headed out.  Mowing, raking, weeding and then a good dose of Round Up...progress is being made.  Weather permitting, next weekend is major weeding in the flower beds with lots of mulch and flowers and colors.

I want to take the 50ft garden I have in my back yard and have it become my butterfly garden.  This weekend I will be researching the appropriate flowers for a butterfly garden and making my purchases throughout the week.  I have never had a green thumb but I am determined to change that.

So as I was cleaning up and putting things away, I could not help but notice how beautiful the dogwood tree in our front yard was against the blue sky.  Simplistic beauty.



The Dogwood Tree
By: Author Unknown

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen.
Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so
Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.
All who see it will think of me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of my agony."

Opening Day 2012 (96/366)

The day was finally here.  April 5th, 2012.  It was Opening Day of Major League Baseball and our Pirates were playing my Phillies.  The kids and I have been counting the days since the season ended last year.  Counting for many reasons.  One, for me, to see my Phillies on Opening Day and Two, for Shannon and Daniel to experience their First Opening Day.

This was only my third Opening Day but it will not be our last.  We have a new family tradition and if it means missing one day of school, so be it!

My day started at 6AM as I tried to get a few last minute things cleaned up for work.  Then it was "the perfect Opening Day Breakfast", at least in Daniel's eyes (and stomach).  Cheese omelette, 2 slices of pork roll and a bagel.   This was my way of making sure the kids did not deplete my bank account at the ball park.

We headed downtown about 10:15AM and spent the next hour or so walking the River Walk and enjoying an almost perfect Spring morning (it could have been just a wee bit warmer, but so be it.)  As we made our way down, the kids posed, ducks posed and we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial outside of the Del Monte building.  Then Shannon and I pulled up a seat against a concrete pylon and a few moments later we were being interviewed and photographed by Trib Newspaper.  Here is the link and if you click through the photo gallery in the upper left hand corner, we are picture 12!

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2NXE3B9abAUJ:www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_789993.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us (under the time 12:27PM)

So it was time to get in the park and watch some baseball.  We walked the park so I could take some shots and then got lunch.  I think the kids are media magnets because during lunch, Shannon was interviewed by KDAK News.  I have not found that video yet but I will let you know when I do.

So the kids were in our seats and I was off and up for my Diamond Shot.  I do this in every stadium we go to and  at least once a year in PNC Park.  A quick visit with my friends John and Jackie and it was off to game time!  And what a game it was.  It might not have been a win (just yet) but Doc Halladay and the Phillies are no easy pill to swallow.

So we exited the park with our heads held high.  Saturday brings another day and another game.  We had a great time and are looking forward to a great season of baseball in Pittsburgh.  Now, how did I miss my knees with the sunblock.  I guess it's pants tomorrow or else I will look ridiculous!

Let's Go Bucs! (and Phillies...because either way we win!)

You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.
~Joe DeMaggio on Opening Day

My Old Glove (95/366)

Today was our first trip back to PNC Park.  The Pirates opened the park for free to all fans.  It was supposed to be the Pirates at 3pm and the Phillies at 5pm.  However, at about 4:35pm, security came along to escort us out of the park.  Despite what all the emails I have received said, we were unable to stay to watch the Phillies.  We were disappointed but we can get in early because we are season ticket holders so we will see the Phils one way or the other!

My kids, as usual, lucked out.  Greg Ritchie, the Pirates batting coach, tossed them both a ball.  They are developing quite a collection from the different games and events we get to attend.

This was my favorite, non-player shot.  Believe it not, this was MY original glove when I played softball in my tween and teen years.  Daniel found it and fell in love and has been using it ever since.  What's even funnier is that it's not even a good glove.  It's a K-Mart blue light special and my parents definitely got their money's worth.

So tomorrow is Opening Day and we will be there.  In fact, we will be there the whole weekend.  This will be my kids first time at Opening Day and I can't wait to capture their excitement.  We head to the ball park tomorrow with one thought in mind.

For Today, We Are All Undefeated!

The only thing fair in life, is a ball hit between first and third.

Goodnight Moon (94/366)

Goodnight Moon is still one of my favorite books.  I loved it as a kid and I loved reading it to my kids.  Today was another insane day and by the time a few moments were mine, the dusk was sharing the gift of the moon.  The moon is still waxing and in just a few short days, it will be full.  So as I was taking shots tonight, that book just came to mind and made me smile.  Sometimes you just have to let go and be a kid again.

If you have never read it, take a few moments.  If not for yourself, for your child or grandchild                          ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon ).

The moon also brings to mind one of my favorite Moody Blues songs.  I know you know so let the song just drift through your mind and enjoy.

Cold hearted orb
that rules the night
Removes the colours
from our sight
Red is gray and
yellow white
But we decide
which is right
And 
which is an illusion
~Nights in White Satin

About To Burst (93/366)

I know it's Spring and Winter has made it's way to parts unknown when my Azalea bushes start to bloom.  It's been so warm here that I have forgotten it's only April 2nd.

As I was on my walk about yesterday I noticed the buds by my porch were just getting ready to burst.  I so love the colors and the flowers and hopefully some bumble bees to

It also brings to mind one of my favorite quotes.  Is it your turn to blossom?

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom
~Anais Nin

The Sultan of Swing (92/366)


Daniel decided to join me on my walk about the neighborhood to do my homework. Just Daniel and I and my 50mm lens.  We have a semi developed cul de sac behind our house so we walk onto some of the lots and discovered some very cool things to photograph.  It was also a good way for me to get used to a static lens.  Prior to this purchase, the two lenses I own are both zooms and I was feeling a bit leery that I would be limited with what I could do.  Boy was I wrong.

I think both of us were amazed as some of the things we discovered no more than 100 yards from our house.  Cat tails in post bloom, tree stumps, dried flowers and a lovely creek running down below.    Then we took our walk to the Parkedge Park, which is 100 yards in the other direction from our home.  Daniel wanted to swing (what kid/adult doesn't) so I let him go at it.  What was even better was the natural smiles I was getting as he got higher and higher.  This was the best 60 mins of the weekend!

Back to the house to review the shots.  Almost 100 in an hour.  Who knew so much fun could be had this close to home.

Today you are You, that's truer than true.  There is no one alive that is youer than You!
~Dr. Seuss