Thursday July 29,2010 A day at the Fair

Wandered around the Ottawa County Fair this afternoon. Checked out the photography section to see how I did, out of 5 photos I had honorable mention on 3 and a red ribbon on my black and white scenic. Next year I need to sit down with Tammy Lentz and have her help me choose my entries, she has the eye for my only photo that placed in the top three, a black and white scenic photo in downtown Holland.

Wandered around and checked out the petting animals and the two camels that you could ride. Then to the 4 H barns and took pictures of roosters, goats, cows and horses. Boy those Clydesdale's do have LARGE hooves! I liked how the rooster turned out so he is my photo of the day. Could be a rubber chicken, right Geno!!

Next year one of the categories is action sports, I think Alex and I will have a tough time choosing.

Wednesday July 28,2010 eating my flowers!! :(

These pesky bugs are EATING my flowers. Need to send Dave out with the bug spray.

Tuesday July 27,2010 Alex and Abbie

Picked up Alex after work and met Connie and Abbie for studio senior photo's for Abbie at River Ave Studios. Lots of fun watching Alex work. Lighting, props, camera adjustments, back drops, smiles, serious, pirate look (hair over the eye). Lots of fun to watch. Inside photography not for me! And I am not sure who was more excited Abbie or Connie!

Monday July 26,2010 More purple color in the backyard

Not to adventurous today and I spotted some new purple flowers in the back garden from the deck. So I went and grabbed my camera and to the garden I go. I am always amazed as to how nature can so tightly wrap these velum thin flower petals so tightly and then wham all of a sudden there are a handful of flowers just awaiting a photographer to take notice!

Sunday July 25,2010 buzz buzzzz, working bee

Avoided the mosquitoes today but found a hard working bee that did not seem bothered by an interested photographer. Now I am usually not a patient person waiting on bees nor to fond of them because I have been stung a couple of times. But this bee was such a willing subject and I think it came out pretty well. And the bee chose my favorite color, BLUE!

Saturday July 24,2010 The Glory of Morning

The self seeding morning glories have most definitely overwhelmed the light post in front of the house. Really there is a post under these vines. They are in the process of choking out the clematis but we are hoping they do not totally kill them. Such a pretty flower that blooms early each day!

Friday July 23,2010 the Eagle

Funky weather day. I only worked a half day so between raindrops I wandered to the beach at Port Sheldon to take some photo's and get in a walk. I love these toys. This guy has been residing here for at least 19 years as Lindsey used to play on this when she was little.

Thursday July 22,2010 the butterfly bush does work

Thought I would get a few quick photo in the back yard and it was only 6 shots as the standing water has made the mosquito population explode in the back yard. So I got super lucky with this fly by from the butterfly.

Wednesday July 21,2002 A fun afternoon with Abbie

First round of senior pictures with Abbie. It was 83 degrees and a little breeze. Her beautiful back yard was first spot, then to the elementary school for some photos. Three changes of clothes and I really liked all three option. Connie was watching and helping with furniture moves, clothes adjustments and hair adjustments. Here is one of my favorites from today and I am not through all of them yet. Then Abbie and I went downtown and to do a few more with all the wonderful brick options.

Tuesday July 20,2010 the exploding honey suckle vine

I wasn't sure if I should cut this honeysuckle vine back in the fall so we just let it alone and it is now one exploding climbing beast. It is on its second round of bright orange blooms and the local humming birds seem to enjoy this plant. Now if only all my lovely flowers would repel mosquitoes and life in the backyard would be wonderful.

Monday July 19,2010 bowl full of superballs

Dave has a slight collection of bouncy super balls or maybe it is an obsession. Lets say he made a lot of visits to Old Navy with quarters for the toy dispenser in the kids department as he likes bouncing a super ball when we walk. So on the bike path or out to the end of the pier and back or even in the mall. On the good note he has only lost one on the pier in Holland in 4 years. Pretty impressive!

PS. The blue swirly one on the right side of the bowl in my favorite! = )

Sunday July 18,2010 flower expedition

Again a morning to myself. It was very overcast so I thought boy will the color of the flowers downtown Holland just POP today. So got moving and wandered around downtown Holland for about an hour. Well I struggled to walk away from this big patch of zinnia's because there are SO many amazing stages these flowers go through, so two photographs with one in its early stages and one full bloom.

Saturday July 17,2010 crazy color lady bug

Busy day for both Dave and I so we thought we would eat a sub sandwich on the banks of the channel at Grand Haven. Then a stroll to the end of the pier. And this is where I took my photo of the day. This neon yellow ladybug thought Dave was a good landing option for a Saturday night.

Friday July16,2010 back deck garden

Errands after work so a little late getting home and stuck in traffic on River Ave. Should have known better than try going through town that late on a Friday. So to the deck I went again for photo's. So a pretty petunia to view today.

Thursday July 15,2010 orange tiger lily

This is another transplant from a friend to our back yard. This is very cool orange tiger lily that just bloomed today.

Wednesday July 14,2010 changing colors

Late day at work. Met Dave and grabbed a quick bite for dinner on the way home. Lake Michigan was again 80 degrees so went for a short swim. Then home to take my photo of the day before it got to dark and buggy. Well the flowering shrub has gone from white to white and pink to light pink and now dark pink. This is a cool shrub and the rich color and texture of the leaves on this are pretty spectacular also.

Tuesday July 13,2010 full of water

Went for a two mile walk and listened to Ford Turrell's music. Came in quickly as I was swatting flies and mosquitoes most of the way. Got home and knew I would have only a few minutes before those darn insects found me again. It just poured about 5pm so a bunch of the flowers were still holding the fresh rain.

Monday July 12,2010 daisy and the bug

I was late getting home so to the deck I go for photo of the day. These wild daisy's just keep blooming.

Sunday July 11,2010 back yard adventure with the macro lens

Out this morning with the macro lens and I can't choose between two photos so I am posting both. That macro is such a sweet lens. So the cone flower from Friday is again a photo from today and I went to the front yard and shot one of the less common color day lillies.

Saturday July 10,2010 Beach Eagle

When Lindsey was little she struggled with the word seagull so these are what we have refered to as beach eagles for about 19 years. The water was awsome this morning so I took a walk along the shore along with photos this morning.

Friday July 9,2010 HELLO coneflower

To the backyard to see what else is starting to bloom. Came across a couple clumps of cone flowers just starting, Need to go out the next time with the macro lens as the center is pretty cool with the 17-85 and it would be awesome withe the macro lens.

Thursday July 8,2010 back yard garden once again

Late night at work again so I went to the back deck for photo inspiration and also dodging mosquitoes. Only out for about 5 minutes before they found me good thing we have a bunch of planters with a variety of flowers to choose from.

Wednesday July 7,2010 another flowering shrub in the yard

Okay this is my number two on the favorite of flowering shrubs list and it is in my side yard. You will see another photo of this when it has changed all the petals to pink.

Tuesday July 6,2010 Sunset @ Port Sheldon

Dave and I went to "our beach" at Port Sheldon to shoot the sunset. A little to heavy of cloud cover to get that outrageous orange colored sky but the funky cloud cover made me happy with this shot!

Monday July 5,2010 weeds along the roadside

I decided today that there is so much color, patterns and textures along the roadside that I would take my walk with my camera and capture some of that along the way. Here is one of my photos from my 1/2 mile walk.

Sunday July 4,2010 Tommy Turtle and cooking chickem

Different kind of a day. Went for a 5 mile bike ride and in route I spot something in the middle of the bike path on Butternut, figured possum or dead raccoon, but no it was a dead chicken that I got to ride by twice.

We met Lindsey and Adam for her last Tommy Turtle sundae from Captain Sundaes. She left the next day at 4am head to her next destination in life. That consists of Adam, her first full time job and a new apartment in Newport News Virginia.

Saturday July 2,2010 Blueberries calling my name

Met some friends for bagels at Panera and then headed to the farmers market to again get some photo's. I love having so much variety of flowers, fruits and veggies to photograph and try some different angles. I think some of the fruits and veggies on some of my greeting cards. Need to go to the Gold Barn to pick some blueberries and make Dave's favorite blueberry and cool whip desert. Just a half batch though!

Friday July 1,2010 lots of walking with the favorite daughter

Friday Dave had to work but I did not. Lindsey wanted to hike Mt Pisgah and get photo's from the top. So we trekked the 339 steps, luckily I had the camera and wanted to capture the view at different intervals on the way (otherwise known as resting). Going down the stairs was so much easier. Well Lindsey was not ready to be done walking so we went back to the car as I wanted to change lenses on my camera. Then we walked at my pace to the end of the pier. This is my beautiful daughter on the pier, happy that she is not shoveling sand or getting trash juice on her shoes like she did for 3 summers @ HSP!

Thursday July 1,2010 an afternoon in Grand Haven

Dave and I both had the day off, Lindsey had a dentist appointment for her permanent crown. So once that was done we all headed to Grand Haven to walk from the charter boat area to the end of the pier. We were hungry after that so we stopped at Snug Harbor and ate out on the deck. I am not that fond of being in front of the camera but at least Lindsey looks cute at the end of the pier.

Wednesday June 30,2010 Pretty yellow day lillies

These pretty flowers are transplants from Leisure Acres. I love the soft yellow color of these flowers.

Tuesday June 29,2010 favorite blooming shrub

This is my favorite blooming shrub for a couple of reasons. One I love the mix of flat petals and the combination on the small contrasting color portion that the petals bloom off from. And reason two is that blue is my all time favorite color. I was pretty exited when we found this to purchase and happier yet the first year it bloomed. And now it is the 2nd year and it is larger so MORE blue flowers. YEAH!

Monday June 28,2010 capturing of wild flowers

During my walk I picked some wild flowers from the roadside (thus the capture) and got home, trimmed the ends and placed them in a wide mouthed vase and took their photo (also captured).

Sunday June 27,2010 nore orange lillies

The deck again was my choice for photo per day.