Things I've Been Seeing

Gabby Jessica's wedding-3
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Bill Huckles 90th-16-2
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Latest

Gabby Beeso

Gabrielle Beeso is my 9th great-grandchild. A peek of her feet and special dress for the Beeso wedding Friday night.

Pappy and Gabby

Enough of you, Pappy. I want my mama!

Gabby and mama Jessica.

Roses Spring Eternal

Though I have talked at length–and photographed at length–concerning the magnificent roses Melina gave me for Mother’s Day, I have not been quite finished. Finale today–I promise!

After their freshness had faded, I hung the roses upside down; after they had dried, I arranged them, sprayed them with stiff hairspray, and sprinkled them with fine sugar. I had visions of photographing the preserved bouquet down at the lake with the London Bridge as background.

Last evening, near sunset, I took my camera, a couple of lenses and the roses. Headed for the bridge.

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Though I knew what I had in mind, I wasn’t sure I would find something on which to place the roses that would give the view of the bridge I wanted. Voila! Immediately I found the spot.

And on a slatted bench, I positioned them.

In a barrel, with scrolled iron and developing evening light, my roses are spotlighted.

. . . on a stump.

My favorite: Exactly what I had in mind. Hmm…or is the first one with the bridge my favorite? What say you?

Of One Lily

From the bouquet of flowers Christ Alive Worship Center presented to me on Sunday, I selected this bud to photograph. Beautiful form and color.

Melina and Mother’s Day

It has not escaped notice that I am blessed with exceptional daughters-in-law. I own three of them; Dearrah (of Steve), Melina (of Mike), and Shawnna (of Andrew). Each of them has unique sterling qualities, and from time to time, I speak respectively of them.

Today, I want to say a few words about Melina; Melina and Mother’s Day.

Earlier in the week–might even have been last week–Mike, wanting to do something special for Mother’s Day, asked if I would like a lake/boat trip on Saturday afternoon. I loved the idea: Site Six at 1:00 was the plan. Melina would pick up fried chicken at Scotty’s.Image

Crossing the lake into the river, Melina asked for my camera, pointed it my way, and took this picture.

This is the magnificent site they chose for our picnic. The boat is large, and had to be tied a bit off the beach, so we had to wade in. The temperature hovered about 100 degrees, though  the shaded, slightly breezy area where sat our table was a perfect, cool spot.

ImageThis shot of the table is a hint of the exceptional Mother’s Day picnic Melina arranged. Included were fresh strawberries and blackberries, homemade “knock your clothes off” brownies, blueberry iced tea from hand-labeled bottles with a splash of seltzer water…and on. You get the idea.

Imagine my surprise then, on Sunday morning, when, from Melina, Mike presented me with a container filled with large, perfect roses, a hand-crafted card, and a picture Melina had taken of the snack table I had arranged during our moon-night. Exceptional. Beyond the mark.

On Sunday afternoon, I took the roses outside where against an old rock and wood wall, I snapped pictures and thought about Melina and her loving ways and how blessed I am to have her for a daughter-in-law. Take a look.

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Ninety for Bill Huckle

A few days ago, our next-door-neighbor Bill Huckle celebrated his 90th birthday. He is a wonderful, brilliant, sharp-witted man. Last Saturday his two children hosted a party at Leisure Shores on Lake Gregory. My favorite shots are here.

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Conference Children

Among others, these two beautiful children attended a conference in Tucson, AZ. a couple of weeks ago.

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Photography Challenges

On the first day of the year 2011, I resolved to take a picture every day; didn’t join a particular group, just within my mind made this decision. Not long into the project I was sorry I had done so, for I came to the conclusion that my photography wasn’t being improved by this challenge. Now for someone who is not motivated to take pictures, perhaps such a venture is a good idea; however, I do not fall into that class. Rather, throughout a year’s time, I easily take many thousands of pictures and rarely do two or three days pass without me producing many photographs. But there is the occasional day when I do not, so that during last year at the end of a few such days, I was dashing about the house–snapping anything. Once, in the late fall, I believe, I was in bed reading a magazine when I came across the words PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST. Photography? No! I hadn’t touched my great Nikon that day. Jumped from the bed, whirled about, found the camera, twisted my head this way and that, and settled on something that would produce a passable shot.

But I persevered, and on December 31, 2011, I was able to say I had taken a picture every day, while at the same time saying through clenched teeth, Never again.

Now a few weeks into 2012, once again I have resolved to discipline myself and have joined a couple of 52/2012 groups. Easy. It will not be hard to take one picture a week. One of the groups is centered in a Nikon Critique Group in which I am very active, and to which I have now submitted the required two photos. The other group sets a theme for each of the 52 weeks, and I also have submitted my two photos there.

NIKON CRITIQUE GROUP SUBMISSIONS

Week 1 GABRIELLE ANTOINETTE BEESO, my ninth great-grandchild.

Week 2  FOUR

This photograph has attracted a lot of attention on my Flickr site. As I post this, it has received over 300 hits and has been “Explored” there.

52/2012 THEME GROUP

Week 1 My Town

Week 2 Fashion

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New post on my devotional blog here.

Grand Finale 365/365 !!

Arboretum Walk (Day 364/365)

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