Photography Challenges, and "Just Do It"

A good description of my photography lately is "hit and miss alot". The heat keeps me indoors most of the time and I know I’ve lost a lot of photo opportunities, i.e. Tree Swallows and a Red-Tailed Hawk right before my eyes! I don't spend the time to focus lately. My daily walks on campus are on hold because I have this “thing” about perspiring in the office. I sweat very well and don’t mind it, but if I walk the track and the campus trail like I had been doing, I would need to wear a Dew Rag. Wouldn’t that be attractive when students registering for EMT come to call and see my hair soaked and get a whiff of me?

The female House Finch above still keeps an eye on her empty nest. (Yes, it’s still there, dear.)

Hummingbirds are so special and beautiful. I’ll keep photographing them until the sad day when I realize they’ve left… There’s a small army of them swarming around my house and I love it! They are multiplying and the nectar is in high demand.

The Rose of Sharon is in bloom late this year and buzzing with activity. Above, a hummingbird approaches the bulls-eye. I notice I don't zoom much anymore but I can see the little gal if I enlarge the photo. (click to enlarge all photos)

Hiding from me. The symmetry of bumble wings is a work of art.

There’s a bee in flight in this photo. What a surprise! I try to get them in flight but it’s very difficult to follow closely when they drift from flower to flower so quickly.

Here’s an indication of a very hot and dry summer. The maple leaves are lifeless in many areas but the little Chickadee sings along with the cicadas. Life goes on.

Even the chipmunks lounge in the shade.

How can I ignore the beauty of a female Cardinal who graces my house every day of the year?

Do I qualify to belong in the Bald Male Cardinal Club? I found him on campus.

A Silver-Spotted Skipper was very cooperative this morning. I hope someone notices that I identified this skipper properly. I'm trying!

Heartbreak last night. After a powerful thunderstorm, I held a flashlight and lifted the lid on the pond skimmer as I do every evening. There were no toads to rescue this time but there were four large goldfish swimming around, looking for food. They can swim out but it’s easy to capture them in the skimmer. At 9:30 at night, I had to make a decision. On my hands and knees I watched them swim around for a few minutes while I thought very seriously… too many fish, two are gone, ten to go… the integrity of this beautiful pond is on the line… don’t keep putting it off, Mary...Just Do It. My neighbor offered to take my excess goldfish since I took her three Koi as a favor. After I shook off my doubt and regret, I filled the red bucket and relocated them next door in a very small pool at the end of a stream where the three Koi lived. I don’t like it but I refused to think about it last night and I’m finished thinking about it now. Sounds ridiculous, but those four goldfish deserve better and I will do something about it. Damn.

A few sweet baby Bluebirds were having a wonderful time yesterday. Seems the siblings found a nice patch of bugs in the field next to the parking lot.

They watched me get into my car to head home. I thought about Millie and Johnny and what a wonderful job they have done!

Proposal for Chloe & Bella

Filling in for two people I support at work who are on vacation means I stop thinking when I leave the office. Shut down. So, for the lack of anything remotely intelligent to say, I used this series of photos to tell a little story. It’s true - with my habitual improvising. It’s silly but I crave some silliness tonight.

Once in a while, I want to hear the quiet or listen to my own footsteps around the house. It would be a treat to have complete freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and without anyone watching me, if only for a day. I don’t think it’s selfish to feel that way, either. When I am alone in the house, I’m not really alone…

There are always four googly eyes on me. And I mean always. I don’t need to use the camera’s zoom because both Chloe (the white faced sour puss) and Bella (the young and sensitive) are very “up close and personal”. My eyeglasses are usually smeared with dog spit and, dang, I recently noticed two scratches on my left lens that came from Bella walking across my face last night during a little romping.

Come outside? Be with us?

Neither of them can relax until they know where I am and always insist on being with me. We all roam from room to room, together. I lead the dog trail. Toenails tapping...collars jingle jangle.

What’s cooking? Can we taste? Let’s have cheese. A cheese party!

They are EVERYWHERE.

I say: (yes, I talk to my dogs and they talk back to me) “This room isn’t big enough for all of us. Let me do some laundry. Move it! Please! Eat later!”

In the privacy of the powder room, I sit. I can hear the collar jingles getting closer and snout sniffing under the door…they nudge it open. Hello?

We had a little conversation on the back deck.

Me: "Chloe and Bel Bel, how would you like to take a vacation away from Mommy and Daddy? I can take you to a nifty doggie camp for a week where the nice people will take you on walks, you can play with lots of other doggies, and it smells like an Italian meat deli there! They probably serve vanilla ice cream cups and give lots of cookies, too! You can take your hula-hoop, Bel Bel. Chloe can take chewies.

Chloe: “Don’t be fooled, Bel Bel. I'm not sure, but I think she wants to get rid of us.”

Bel Bel: “What? All b-b-by ourselfs, M-m-mommy?”

“Waaaa! No! I w-will miss you!

They’re feeling a bit pensive now and won't relax. It would be great to take the dog hair blankets off the furniture for a week!

Chloe: “You are a liar, evil woman. I'm so on to your wicked ways. Don't forget that I'm smarter than you.”

Chloe: “Bel Bel, ease up. We aren’t going anywhere.”

Bel Bel: “K”

Life is Good, Hot Dogs, Luna, Pigeon P-rn

The title of this post describes it well. Odd stuff ahead.

With Pam in mind, I grabbed my camera. I followed this woman home from work a few days ago. She was not a young chick but not as old as I am, as I determined in her mirrors. We traveled through a lot of construction zones and every time she passed a flagger she waved to them. Each of them smiled and waved back. What a nice gesture! I’ve never done that. The thought hasn't even crossed my mind to acknowledge a flagger in a kind way or any other way, for that matter.

Life is obviously Good for the lady in the Jeep. She’s doing her thing freely, tag up in the back, letting her hair blow wildly, waving to strangers, and having a grand time. Meanwhile, I’m driving in a very safe SUV with the windows rolled up to keep my hair from looking electric, being intent on getting home to start dinner, and forgetting about those hot construction workers that might need a little encouragement on a hot summer day. I’m pathetic sometimes. Just pathetic. I think I'll carry some ice cold bottled water with me one day and toss them...

I saw the owner of this truck leave it as I was approaching mine. What I didn’t see was his dog sitting in the passenger seat. The temperature on the Lowe’s Home Store parking lot was probably 95 that afternoon. Oh, yeah, the windows were cracked one inch on each side. Big freaking deal! If I didn’t have to get back to work, I would have gone inside Lowe’s to hunt down that idiot so instead, I sat in my car and scribbled a quick note that read like this and left it under his windshield wiper:

IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET, LEAVE IT HOME. DON’T EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THIS TRUCK AGAIN – NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE IN THIS HEAT, YOU MORON! YOU SHOULD BE ARRESTED.

Last summer, my husband, daughter, and I assisted police officers to break into a van to remove two toy poodles in extreme heat. Enough said. I...just...get...HOT about this.

I almost stepped on this Luna moth. You can’t miss them in flight because of their size and brightness.

To protect it from getting stuck on the bottom of someone’s shoe, I lifted it from the sidewalk to the landscape wall. I had thought of trying to have it pose on my left forefinger for a photo but it started to vibrate, kind of like a funny car before a race.

I’m glad I didn’t lift it because I later learned it was releasing a bit of poison as a defense mechanism and might have caused my finger to sting a little. Looks like a pale-green aircraft.

Well, Claude and Maude are at it again. While they were waiting for me to go back inside the house, they became amorous.

Claude: “Come on, just little pickle tickle.”
Maude: “Get away. I’m not in the mood.”

Claude: "I'll be quick, dear."
Maude: "Ok."

Geesh.

Claude: “Let’s head back to the feeders. I’m hungry.”
Maude: “Where are the cigarettes?”

It rained. Feel the joy.

A long stretch of dry, blistering heat ended for an hour last week. I wasn’t expecting it that late afternoon and had just come inside the house, calling Chloe and Bella to follow me. Ten minutes outdoors was enough when it’s ninety-five and humid.

A few minutes later, the sun disappeared behind thick storm clouds and the winds blew due north, putting a chill in the air. The birds found shelter for a reason other than a quickly approaching storm and in the distance I could see a wall of it. Rain? Really? Soon, I could smell it approaching. Hello, old friend.

Whenever I see and feel a storm approaching, I remember my Mother’s twinkling eyes and faint smile when the clouds became dark and low. She, being a child of a tenant farmer in the 1930’s and 40’s, viewed rain as cause for uplifted spirits and celebration. They relied solely on Mother Nature to feed the crops as there were no irrigation systems. Some of her happiest childhood memories included rainy days, as it was a time she and her siblings took a little break from farm work and enjoyed seeing their weary mother and father relax and feel the joy. Let there be peace.

Mom preferred clouds and I have always preferred sun. We understood each other anyway.

The cable connection died and the lightning and thunder shook the house. What else was there to do except to take photos from the covered front porch or through the windows?

Drink up, Witch Hazel!

While most birds took cover, the hummingbirds seemed to love the downpour! I’ve been seeing eight or ten hummingbirds at my feeders at a time and I don’t think they are frolicking. They’re very competitive.

A drenched hummingbird didn’t mind the shower at all.

Chloe never paid attention to thunderstorms until this year. She gets antsy and trembles at times. She found something to do…

“I took your dinner napkin. Do you want it back?”


Bella was oblivious to the storm and continued to clean her toenails.

“Yummy. Must have stepped on b-b-bunny poop.”

It stormed for an hour but this isn’t the type of rain we need as it quickly rushed down the hills into the street. We're on the verge of a major water restriction here.

We got a new visitor out of it, though. Love those little suction cup feet!

The first bird to return to the feeder (of course).

The sun broke through again, steam rose from the streets, and we dried up. I think it was warmer after the storm than before it hit us.

Ninety minutes later, back to boring normal (not referring to the hummingbird). Business as usual.

The Slacker is Back with an Eight Random Facts Meme

Lynne, Chris, and Susan tagged me with a meme that’s been around the world at least twice since last week. I’m late to the party but I’ll share a few random facts about me that most people don’t know. This was difficult to compose!

There is probably no one else for me to tag but I’d like to hear some random facts about Julie.

Here are the rules for Eight Random Facts (if you care about rules):

• Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
• At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. Part I - I can’t roller skate or ice skate. I’ve been very jealous of anyone who can do it and my inability has made me feel inferior. Seriously. I tried desperately to skate from childhood up until about four years ago when I laced up Gina’s roller skates (the white boot kind). In the garage, I held onto the perimeter of stuff in it, i.e. lawn mower handle, golf bag, ladder, work bench, etc. It took me about ten minutes to skate fifteen feet. The trip exhausted me. To get back to the garage steps where I could sit and remove the skates, I crawled on my hands and knees instead of skating.

Part II - A related fact: I didn’t walk until I was fifteen months old. Toddlers fall and keep going – not me. My Mother said when I went off balance, my entire body would stiffen, she would wince, and I would fall backwards, straight and hard. Needless to say, the back of my head took a beating until I became a skilled walker. (hmmm…)

2. I steer clear of any discussion regarding politics or religion because most of the time they become heated. Of course I have my own beliefs and opinions but I’d rather not share them with a group. I grew up in a home where political and religious debates were common and I even witnessed my Dad asking his brothers and sisters to get out of the house when they didn’t agree, once on Christmas Day. I was a child of one registered democrat and one republican and they had pleasure in canceling each others’ votes on Election Day. I’ve had enough religion and politics, along with its poo-flinging, thank you.

3. I’m too sentimental (this might not be a surprise if you’ve been reading my blog). Yesterday I heard “Mercy Me” on the radio. I love Marvin Gaye’s version but when Robert Palmer does it, I get all choked up. Silly. I choke up and become teary-eyed about anything, really: Listening to or reading tributes, enjoying live musical productions or a church choir, watching a wedding on TV or attending one, watching old Pepsi commercials, seeing or feeling someone else’s joy, enjoying happy or sad movies, saying Hello or Goodbye, hearing kind words spoken to me… I marvel at anyone who can give a eulogy without choking on his/her words and turning into a trembling, whimpering fool. That would be me. Heck, I’m all choked up now!

4. I’m still young enough to dream about what I want to be when I grow up. But I am old enough to start thinking about what I have and have not done to make a difference during my time here. ~~~ I’ve heard these words a million times before but they are becoming more meaningful to me now.

5. I’ve never been able roll my tongue. So why did I choose to study Spanish for three years? (Refer to Part II in #1 above)

6. I am not judgmental but I can be impatient and harsh with others at times.

7. The Lancôme counter sucks me in every time. I can’t resist spending $25 to get the free gift.

8. I never learned to relax because I prioritize too much. How can I possibly sit in the sunroom and read for two hours when there are dirty dishes in the sink, feeders that need cleaning, or laundry to fold? Household chores should be completed before I open a can of paint to brush on the woodwork! Blogging has helped me to relax but I’m still a work-in-progress. I need to learn to treat myself more often. It’s a new concept.

9. Others’ idiosyncrasies captivate me. I can precisely imitate the way someone walks, as I follow them down the hall laughing all the way. Most victims laugh at me when I say to them, “Hey, I’m not laughing AT you, I’m laughing WITH you!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a week, I’m still shy about posting. I spent time browsing my archives and enjoyed some of my posts, wondering how in the world I did it being the grasshopper I am. I didn’t intend on posting today or next week because I have not felt inspired - feeling rather blah. Sadly, I nearly forgot how to upload the few photos I took during the past week.

However,

One small thing changed my mind yesterday. One glance at it sent me running for my camera for the first time in many days.

See my small surprise in the middle of the pond?

I’ve only had white lilies. I’ve never had a graple one before.

10. Doesn’t take much to make me happy.

Signing Out for a while

Too much of a good thing isn’t good, so they say.

My blog gives me great joy. When I have good thoughts and great photos to share, my spirits lift, I quicken my steps, and I find myself on a natural high during those inspired times. When I decided to start blogging last October, my original intention wasn’t to educate or research like many in my terrific blogging community who are inspiring people and full of incredible talent. I love and admire them. My intent is to post about what I see and how I feel because that’s who I am – a feeler. Nothing has changed since then. How do I feel right now?

Perhaps I’m running out of steam. I’ve been posting less often lately and viewing my blog as a part-time job and that’s not good. My simple writing style and repetitious photos are irritating me. How can I sit here and write with a poor attitude? Not well. A change of scenery is what I need and the time to find it. I try to inspire my own self, “Get out of the yard, Mary.” I walked on campus this morning before the sun started baking humans and what did I see? Japanese beetles in swarms, getting tangled in my hair. Weeds taller than me. A lacrosse camp for kids and a daycare field trip. No birds, no flowers. Just dry earth. And lots of fire ants and poison ivy. How interesting is THAT?

So, I’ll be visiting everyone and enjoying your fantastic posts until I get my crooked nose in line and adjust my attitude. HA! Below, I’ll leave a few photos of my favorite things.

In the interim, I’ll be dusting the house (eww), keeping up on laundry and dragging the garden hose to sustain life outdoors. Maybe I’ll watch Modern Marvels to learn how Hostess Twinkies arrive at the supermarket on time. Better yet, I’ll watch King of Queens and sink into no-brainer activities after work and take an evening nap. Of course, I’ll keep my camera close to me. I’ll be back sooner than later.

I’ll still take your “eyesores” via e-mail. I have a few, so far. They are definitely worth seeing.

I giggle at toad porn in the pond skimmer. “Holding on tight for Afternoon Delight!” I help them out every evening.

The baby House Finches fledged today!

Love all bugs.

Pond…costly therapeutic device.

Flowers without a load of beetles? What a surprise!

Challenging but sweet, my Chloe.

Not challenging but sweet and flatulent, my Bel-Bel.

Was Cooper responsible for the young rabbit beheaded in the yard today? He has been perched on the feeders lately… My dogs were excellent and lead me to the crime. They didn’t touch. I removed the poor young rabbit who was still limp and warm and placed it near the feeders in view for a vulture… There was commotion among the birds today after work. I’ll remove the young bunny very soon. I am glad I wasn’t a witness but I would love to know what happened while I was away.

Isn’t she lovely? I’ll get the male in a photo and he’ll be very close to me.