Hope -- Daily Photo 90/365

Where did March go?

For that matter, where did spring go?

It's cold and wet, like winter.

But I have hope.

Spring ALWAYS follows winter.

Procrastination - Daily Photo 89/365

This was a last-minute kind of day.  I purposely put off today's photo until the last available daylight.

It was't because I wanted to experiment with lighting techniques.

It was pure procrastination.

I have to admit that this daily-photo project is getting old and I'm only on day 89!  But a commitment is a commitment.

When one isn't of a creative bent inspiration is hard to come by.

Perhaps part of the problem is that I'm easily bored.  It seems that I take pictures of the same thing over and over and over...you get the idea.

The good news is that I'm supposed to do a session with a young family - each one of them is photogenic! - in the next few weeks, so I'll be able to post some portrait work.

That will make for a nice change.

My Neighborhood - Daily Photo 88/365

This seen makes me want to sit on the bench and just breathe in all of the wonderful scents of spring...but then I remember that I'd be breathing in pollen as well.  The joys of allergies {{{sigh}}}.

 Everytime I drive home I pass this scene and for at least two years I've wanted to stop and snap a few images.  So today I did just that.

 In the autumn, when the leaves have turned to a variety of vivid colors this view is breath-taking.

The forsythia is beautiful draped over the brick wall.

 Even in a desaturated & weathered image it's a rather bucolic scene.

 Just imagine leaves a bright yellow and red...

 Pine needles have their own beauty.

 Don't fence me in...

 A lone petal from a bradford pear blossom.

 Sorry, I'm pathetic when it comes to identifying plants, bushes & trees so all I can tell you is that this tree was beautiful today.

 The bradford pear blossoms are falling like snow they're congregating in the curb.

Self-Portrait - Daily Photo 87/365

My version of a self-portrait.

The white-barked tree has always taken center stage as far as I'm concerned. 

 Even as an ornament it's a regal bird.

 Last Saturday my DH dug up the weeping mulberry and transplanted it further from the house.  I like this placement better because it provides some asymmetry to the landscaping.

 Love the curves, they make my gaze wander through the whole picture.

Won't Be Delayed - Daily Photo 86/365

It turned cooler, much cooler, the past several days, but the trees continue to blossom and the flowers continue to bloom.  They're refusing to be delayed because of a little cool air.

This is one of my favorite trees in the neighborhood, I just wish a photograph would do it justice. 

The small blossoms are delicate pink but they don't cover all of the branches. In fact some of the branches are bare, but they don't look out of place.  It reminds me of how a spider fern grows.

 Simplicity

 Are these autumnal leftovers?

 More grape hyacinth.  I just love these!

A pulled back view of the tree (see the first shot of this post). 

 No meaning, just the number eight.

My Very Own - Daily Photo 85/365

I got my very own duct tape accessories.

This morning Amazing Ones I and II along with my DH woke me up with a breakfast tray.  I don't think I've ever had breakfast served to me in bed before.

I wish I'd been awake enough to think to take a picture of the tray.  It had four Little Gem Donuts - 2 chocoloate & 2 powdered, a bottle of water and two pieces of Dove dark chocolate.

The best parts were the two hand-made birthday cards and the hand-made gifts.

Amazing One I made the blue monogramed coaster.

Amazing One II made the monogramed striped purse.

I love these gifts and I love the givers even more.

Thanks for making my birthday morning so special!

When I finished my breakfast Amazing Ones I & II (DH had to go to work) led me to the dining table where I found the beautiful card from my DH and a dozen PEEPS!  I love PEEPS but they have to be sitting out for at least a week first.  So the girls and I quickly opened & separated them so that I can enjoy them next week.  Wonder if I have to share...

Duct Tape? - Daily Photo 84/365

We're having a sleepover tonight with Amazing One I & II and they brought along their latest creations.

These are the purses - each decorated with a bow - made entirely of duct tape!  Amazing One II, who is only nine years old, made these.  Pretty incredible, right?

 Amazing One I, only 11 years old, made a carrier for her ipod, again, completely out of duct tape!

I'm so proud of these girls.  These are so creative and cute!

They are now talking about starting a business to create and sell purses, hair bows, bracelets, ipod/cell phone carriers and anything else they come up with.  You're never to young to be an entrepreneur.

 The weather has turned chilly with rain but the rain makes the blossoms even prettier.

 The leaves are emerging just as the blossoms - slowly reaching and expanding.

What Are These? - Daily Photo 83/365

Today I'd been successful in finding something other than flora for today's photo but as I was driving home I saw these gorgeous deep purpley-blue flowers growing between the street and the sidewalk.  They are very small and the only reason I saw them was because of their vibrant color.

I whipped the car into the nearby parking lot and with camera in hand walked over to capture this beauty with my camera.

Can anyone identify these for me?  Mom?  Deb?  Penni? 

Notice, Lori & Marti, I didn't ask you.  :o)

 Each cluster on the stem is no more than 3/4".

Then I saw this...so very beautiful!

It's a good thing I took these pictures because the ones I'd taken earlier were gone!  How do you lose pictures on a digital camera?  It's a mystery that I'm not going to pursue, unless it happens again.

I can always go back tomorrow.

Local Site - Daily Photo 82/365

Spring is so very beautiful!

If anyone is interested this is where my gall bladder and I parted company several years ago.

Two Iterations - Daily Photo 81/365

These berries and the spidery twigs make such an interesting composition.  But I couldn't decide if I wanted the image in color...

 ...or not.  Opinions?

Stroll Around the Sundial - Daily Photo 80/365

Today I did the OLD way of Rockin' Around the Clock...I strolled around a sundial.

This sundial is made from airplane wings so it's quite large.  In my opinion it's too large to be a sundial because unless the sun is very intense by the time the shadow reaches the markers it's pretty much washed out.  At least it makes for an interesting convesation starter.

 Moving around

 Further around.

 Just a teaser...the pink is beginning to show!