Saturday June 26,2010 playing with levels @ St. Joe

Lindsey and I wandered south to do some work clothes shopping at Michigan City and on the way back I wanted to stop and take some photo's at the pier @ St Joe. Well it was bright and sunny and I did not have my settings where they should have been so messing with the color curves for my photo of the day. Let me know what you think.

Friday June 25,2010 decorative marigold

I am not a great fan of marigolds as I guess we just had the plain Jane solid gold one on Alger st. These marigold with their two tone petals they just have so much more character than the solid gold poofs. But they do have the same aroma and that is what I remember most of these flowers as I was growing up.

Thursday June 24,2010 Orange day lillies

These very pretty lilies are from my cross country girls graduating class 2007. I have replanted the single in a planter on the deck and they have multiplied to 8 or more gorgeous orange lilies. So I think of the girls every summer when they bloom.

Wednesday June 23,2010 Reaching for the blue sky

Playing again with the hanging planters and catching the gorgeous blue sky. The weather man says we will be seeing severe storms in about an hour but not a cloud in the sky right now and such a pretty blue color this evening!

Tuesday June 22,2010 Coldstone YUM!!!!!!!

I met Elise at Coldstone in downtown Holland after work today. It was my very first time at Coldstone and Elise and I BOTH thought the monthly special was the ideal choice. Chocolate Peanut Butter. It was very good so ice cream and then Dave stopped and bought pizza. Awesome night in my world!!

Monday June 21,2010 Sunrise in West Olive

It is the longest day of the year and I was a little later than normal heading into work. What a difference 15 or 20 minutes makes. This is the sunrise over some blueberry fields out in the general area that I live.

Sunday June 20,2010 on the way to the beach

Well for fathers day Dave had a call from his favorite daughter who was in Atlanta on the way back to Mt P. Then we went to Panera for a bagel, walked the beach and pier at Grand Haven State Park. Then off to a small park just north of Hoffmaster State park. We have stopped here a few times over the last 5 years but had no idea it actually led to Lake Michigan. This photo is one of the many hemlock trees on the path to the beach.

Saturday June 19,2010 serving of fruits and veggies

Wandered the farmers market and lots more veggies and some fruits today along with plenty of flowers. Gotta get there early to make sure you get what you want and to take photos. By 10am it is a bustling place on a Saturday morning.

Friday June 18,2010 Open and Closed

In the back yard before we went out and about on Friday night. I thought the daisy in the foreground still fairly tightly shut and the one in the background wide open for all the world (bugs included) to see was an interesting contrast.

another venture to the new hanging planters

Not much happening in hoping West Olive Michigan so I went to photograph some of the mixed flowers in the new hanging planters. Bummed that I did not see the dead piece of leaf and don't have the patience tonight to make it go away. But these are some pretty peach colored flowers.

Cosmo up close, bug just a bonus or a distraction

Still playing with manual mode with the macro lens. So a close up of one of the Cosmos we got last week and planted in the garden pots on the deck. Sitting in a chair to again try to steady myself and again doing the deep breath, hold and click the shutter.

Close up little flower

Well it is not great but not terrible. I need to work on the steady factor or get the tripod or monopod out. Holding my breath and leaning against a stationary object really wasn't working how I anticipated. But not terrible. I was surprised at the almost stain glass window effect inside the flower by the stamen.

another macro lens photo with a geranium

Who would of thought that geraniums have lots and lots of fuzzy's.

Sunday June 13,2010:Close up flowers in the backyard

Wandering the yard quickly before the mosquitoes were in full attack mode with the macro lens. Put in manual focus and start clicking while holding my breath so as to not have a blurry photo.

Saturday June 12,2010: Farmers Market

Lots of flowers downtown but not to much of the fruits and veggies. Quite a few good strawberry booths but what I did shoot was a table full of radishes. And I should have bought a bundle or two for Dave, I guess next time I will!

Friday June 11,2010 Bike parking in downtown Holland

Wandering downtown and noticed the new downtown bike parking. It is these cool bike racks with his cool little guy on the top of it. What do you think Geno??

Thursday June 10,2010 The deserted nest

In the front pine tree by the bikepath is a birds nest nestled deep within the limbs of the tree. You have to really look hard to find it. Not sure how long it has been there but no current residents that I know of.

little maple trees popping up everywhere in the yard

They are everywhere!!! In planters on the deck, in the flower beds, in the veggie garden and even in the cracks in the driveway. I like maple trees but this is one crazy year with all the little ones sprouting, that's right, everywhere!!!

Tuesday June 8,2010 Morning flowers in downtown

It was a split shift day for me so I wasn't going in until 9am. So I headed to downtown Holland and wandered the area around Macatawa Banks beautifully landscaped area. With a couple of fountains and a pond and two small rose gardens surrounded by some gorgeous annual flowers.

Monday June 7,2010 cooling cake

Tuesday is a good friends birthday so Monday night I was making a milk chocolate cake for her birthday. It was cooling on the stove top awaiting milk chocolate frosting.

Saturday June 5, 2010: Beautiful pink lily from the backyard

It was starting to sprinkle as I was planting the flowers that Dave brought home so I quickly went inside, washed my hands and grabbed the camera as I spotted the pink lily had fully opened up. It is such a gorgeous shade of pink and I was actually playing with manual focus to get outside my comfort zone of shooting.

Friday June 4,2010 another daisy kind of a day

Busy day at work and plans for early evening so a quick shoot of flowers in the yard,

Thursday June 3,2010 A bright sunny afternoon

Late getting home and I was modeling with a large stuffed frog for Alex after work so to the yard I go again for photo of the day. Theses little daisies that plant themselves were just reaching for the sunshine and calling my camera to capture them in the early evening sun.

Lilies are overwhelming the dining room

The last of the flowers in Lindsey's bouquet from Adam are blooming and the smell of these fresh flowers has wafted throughout the main floor of the house. And the dining room is really smelly (but is a good way)! The colors of these are SO Lindsey with different shades of pink!

A friend says farwell at work

Gene's last day was today. So with mixed emotions he and the peoples lives he has touched in the last 24 years shared a potluck lunch and then a "retirement" party with punch and some REALLY good cake! While it seems weird that he can retire I am glad for him to move on to enjoy what will make him more fulfilled in life. Now I hope Mary and the girls can survive this new adventure! =) I will be checking to see how Mary is coming with the "to do" list I sent with her for the fridge and if Gene will take on some home projects!