Summer seems so far away right now; butterflies, a profusion of flowers, languid afternoons complete with chaise lounge, and cool dreamy evenings, where if you’re lucky you might have lightening bugs flitting about. (Sadly, we don’t have any in California, and probably none live in Arizona.) Yes, here we are in the dead of winter where most of us have either cold rain, hail, icicles, blankets of snow or all of it put together. The idea of sweet flowers and a lazy garden is captivating.
When I was in our shed a couple of days ago and found a bouquet of roses I had hung to dry, those flowers quite appealed to me, so I brought them right into my home, set up my “photography studio” and snapped a few pictures. I posted a couple on Flickr, but have more here you might enjoy. They’ll do–these dried specimens–until Spring and Summer comes, and then we can bury our faces in the perfume of sprightly flowers and birds will sing and the sun will be warm.
These pictures are of Ella Claire. She is almost three and belongs to Andrew and Shawnna. This was not at all a photo shoot; just snaps I took of her during one of the days they were with us at Christmas.
A few miscellaneous shots from our recent visit with the Myers.
I never get my fill of looking at the Lake Havasu London Bridge. Views through its arches into the distant mountains are spectacular.
I hung back a bit snapping away as the three of them walked toward the ferry, the evening shadows long behind them.
Doesn’t he look every bit the English gentleman in that hat I bought him for Christmas.
Friends.
I love this picture. The images are reflections in the glass as the ferry pulled away from the restaurant in the casino where we ate dinner.
Headed for the car; three dear people.
Right after church this afternoon, Jerry wanted to go to the swap meet here in Lake Havasu to speak with someone. I did not have on shoes that were comfortable enough to traipse around the swap meet, so he left me at the car.
“I’ll take a few pictures,” I said. “I’ll walk around close by until you return.”
Using my zoom telephoto lenses, I snapped these few “street scene” pictures. I haven’t done much of this kind of photography, but it is quite appealing to me.
The person at the church had told Jerry where the booth was he wanted, and without walking too far himself, he tried to locate the gentleman and his wares.
The area was jammed with shoppers.
From where I stood the nearest vendor was one of hats. I watched this man stroll to the merchandise. His wife (?) peered at him; I think maybe she had a smirk on her face.
Tags and all.
““How do I look?”
I’ve struggled to take good moon shots, but last night finally succeeded in taking one that pleases me. It is posted here on my Flickr account.
Early this morning, I peered from a window and saw that the moon, now in the other side of the sky, of course, was still bright and beautiful. Slipped on a pair of shoes, and still in my robe, snagged these. I love looking at the moon.
On one of the days that the Myers visited with us, we took the ferry that leaves from the Village in Lake Havasu over to the California side of the lake and had dinner there. The evening was cold, but clear, and I shot some beautiful pictures of the water. There are more pictures on my Flickr account, including some of the London Bridge.
The moon was gossamer sharing the very blue sky with clouds of lace.
The crossing is about 20 minutes. I stood on the upper deck near the rear of the boat.
…and then we were there.
I’m sorely disappointed. Last week I ordered a new lens–Nikon 50 mm 1.8–and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. Came yesterday. I was so excited as I opened the box, took out 
the tiny lens and attached it to my trusty Nikon D50. Guess what? It doesn’t work! Very difficult to screw on, and then gives me the FEE message.
After I contacted the company from which I ordered it, they sent an email explaining exactly how to return the lens. Rats! Bunch of bother…and I’m so eager to use it.
But it will be great when I get the new one. Watch here for developments.
Whoops! Need to catch up on this site. Been spending my photography time on my place at Flickr. Check it out here. Lots of pictures and comments.
Rebecca and Nathaniel had come to visit and we were at the dock ready to take the ferry across the lake to the California side. Winds picked up and, much to Nathaniel’s disappointment, the ferry stopped operating. We drove about the lake admiring the spectacular views of sky and clouds and light produced by the “storm.
Clouds and Light Over Lake Havasu
There is nothing exceptional about these pictures, except that they tell a beautiful story and I’ve used them to post a reflection on the good life I live and the wonderful family God gave me. When Mike came to church on Sunday he showed me a simple brown bag which he put in the refrigerator. “Mel sent this.” I looked in the fridge, pulled out the page with writing on it, and as I often do, felt love for Melina, and noted again her generous and thoughtful spirit.
On Monday, I heated up the little packets, slashed an X in each one, and Jerry and I sat down to dinner. It was piping hot and delicious; I wanted it to be a bit more spicy, added black pepper, then in one small portion of mine shook a few drops of soy sauce. It was yummy. We didn’t use the lemon (which Melina had thoughtfully added in the bag) and we didn’t eat the bread.
I had prepared each of us a salad dressed with olive oil.
An exceptionally sweet and icy cold watermelon was already in our refrigerator. I cut part of it into chunks and that completed our meal.
