Spring…around town

April 16, 2013 by anyonecantakeapicture

I didn’t make it to Lewis Ginter last week as I had planned, so I went tonight after work, only to discover they close at 5:00! Their extended hours don’t start until June. Oh well, it was getting a little too overcast to get good floral shots anyway.

I still needed to get my fix of flowers last week, where I could, while I waited to make my way over to the Gardens, so here they are.

These red tulips were taken at Montgomery’s first birthday party, my honorary nephew ;-)

I always have my camera with me now. These cherry blossom trees were in the parking lot at my local grocery store.

This red bud was in front of the elementary school down the street from me. I would have stayed longer and tried more angles, but I’m a wee bit terrified of bees. Was proud of myself for getting as many shots as I did!

My loving parents came over on Sunday to pick me up for a Sunday drive (I desperately needed to get out of the house after being trapped in it for five days). We spotted a bright neon green sign that read “pick your own tulips!” So we stopped and did just that!

These are the four I picked, one day later on Monday.

Here they are two days later on Tuesday.

I love flowers. If I haven’t said it already, I usually can’t have fresh flowers in the house because of the cats. They just love chewing, and then subsequently vomiting up, the leaves. So I tend to err on the side of caution and not bring them in the house too often. Therefore, I take pictures of them so I always have a blossom to look at on my screen.

Bird watching…couch style

April 3, 2013 by anyonecantakeapicture

My camera has just enough zoom power that I can sit on my couch while simultaneously watching TV and birds! The cardinals are extremely boisterous, so I can easily tell when they are feeding. I just turn my head, turn on the camera, and start snapping. Not all of these were taken that way, but most were.

I’ve had a lot of fun researching what kinds of birds these were as well. Some are easier to identify than others. Some have several attributes that match pictures I’ve found online, except for one big difference, like color, or the beak shape, or the tail. So I’m not 100% sure on all of these, but eh, probably 85-90% certain.

When the weather gets nicer, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to sit outside and they’ll still come around to feed. I want some different angles ;-)

Chickadee

Chickadee in the snow

Tufted Titmouse with snow-covered seed

Tufted Titmouse & House Finch

House Finch

House Finch in snow

This is either a Carolina Wren or an American Tree Sparrow. There are attributes of both in this guy and I don’t have any other angles. And this is the only time I’ve seen this one. Hoping he’ll come by again and I can do some further research.

Black-eyed Junco

Black-eyed Junco. This is one of those birds that looks completely different depending on what shot you get. I spent a long time looking these up, when they were the same bird!

Black-eyed Junco close-up

Blue Jay in the grass

Blue Jay at the feeder

Female Cardinal

Male Cardinal

Cardinals together

Key West FL 2009

April 2, 2013 by anyonecantakeapicture

It’s still hot in Florida in October. Really, really hot, and freaking humid!

We spent a few days in Key West, specifically Sunset Key (and had to take a boat back and forth to the hotel!), in October 2009. While the scenery is gorgeous, it’s more of a party town geared toward the younger folk. You know, the Duval Crawl and all. But it was very relaxing and you can’t beat the sunsets there!

Canal Walk

March 26, 2013 by anyonecantakeapicture

I joined a photography group almost a year ago but never participated in any of the actual photo events. I went to a “meet and greet” last summer to see what the whole thing was about and was immediately intimidated by the giant cameras, multiple lens and shop talk of all of the members. The cost of the equipment slung around everyone’s neck was probably worth more than my house.

So I waited for Christmas until I received my upgraded camera to even think about looking at signing up for an event. Some were a little too far away. Some were a little too expensive. But the one I went to on Saturday was practically in my backyard and was only $1 ;-) It was the Canal Walk downtown. I had walked around it several years ago but I wanted to see if/what had changed. Not a whole lot but it was a beautiful day and beat cleaning the house.

This was a sludgy substance that had accumulated in the corner of a pier and a river bank. As gross as the big picture was, the colors and the sense of movement were beautiful. Reminds me of the handmade paper my grandmother collected.