(Day 134) Lowly, but not forgotten

I recall that as a youngster I had an early fascination with flowers - perhaps it was the colours; I'm not really sure. And while I don't remember specific instances, I do remember picking 2 varieties to bring home and put in an old peanut butter or other empty jar - dandelions and forget-me-nots.

I used to have a few forget-me-nots growing around the pond but they disappeared a few years ago. They grow rampant at one of my daughters' homes and I took some home with me last weekend. I promise I won't forget them this time.

(50mm  f8  1/80 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f8  1/60 sec  ISO200)

(Day 133) A kayaker's dream

At this time of year you wouldn't think that this placid little stream would even get a second look from a kayaker. But you should see it in March and April when the spring runoff is at its height and it becomes a raging torrent. No, there are no class 6 rapids, but the water overflows the rocky ledge on the right in the photos below, and rushes through some of the pasture land on either side of the stream bed. The water gets churned up pretty good, and we have actually seen kayakers here. The rocks in the ledge at the right of the stream are typical of the ground structure in this area - shallow, rock-filled 'soil' sitting atop layers of sedimentary rock, wherein I've found many fossils.

(50mm  f8  1/250 sec  ISO200)

(50mm  f8  1/250 sec  ISO200)

(50mm  f8  1/125 sec  ISO200)

(Day 132) Hold me back!

I'm quite sure that all of you out there doing a project 365 have run into those times of brain constipation. You know, the day's getting late, you haven't got your shot yet, the pressure's building, you're looking around at something that you think you might use as a subject, and nothing seems to be co-operating with you.

Well, today was not one of those days. In fact, I had the opposite problem. I drove to a favourite place just a few minutes from home. I'd been here in the fall but hadn't yet seen it in the spring. I felt like I had died and gone to photographers' heaven. So bear with me as I post beyond the project 365 one-shot 'limit' (this is getting to be a habit).

(18-55mm  f8  1/125 sec  ISO200)

entrance to photographers' heaven

(18-55mm  f8  1/125 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f5.6  1/1600 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f5.6  1/250 sec  ISO200)

a burgundy trillium among the white

(18-55mm  f8  1/100 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f14  1/50 sec  ISO200)

(Day 131) Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door

Well, almost. (Were you singin' along ?) I was watching the birds and the bees get on with their business today among the trees and the flowers. For the most part they just ignored me as I pointed a Canon their way. The birds just flitted around - I'm sure it was on official bird business - and chirped happily. The flowers just exuded fragrance and beauty. All I had to do was look and press the shutter. Hope you enjoy looking as much as I did.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/800 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f14  1/50 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/2500 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f8  1/160 sec  ISO200)

(Day 130) The happy wanderer (II)

Have I mentioned before how blessed we feel to live out in the countryside ? Oh right, probably a few times. After dinner tonight, and after walking the dog, I decided to just walk around the property a little to take a closer look at what was growing out there. I saw a number of things that might make it to a future post, but my attention was drawn to an old stone foundation - first to the rocks themselves that were still laying in the outline of a building's foundation, then to the moss on the rocks, and finally to some of the plants that had decided to eke out a living among the rocks (likely not their decision).

I made a number of photos there and figured I would have a couple to post. I turned back to the house and warmth (yes, cold again today), but along the way I came across some low bushes/shrubs with clusters of little white flowers. The setting sun cast a golden glow on them and I knew they had to make it to the blog too. Another fortuitous bit of wandering around.

(60mm  f2.8  1/100 sec  ISO200)

wild raspberry

(60mm  f5.6  1/60 sec  ISO200)

wild grape

(60mm  f9  1/20 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f5.6  1/125 sec  ISO200)