I hope you enjoy seeing my best little friends, Jake and Lil Jack. Jake (Min Pin) is a rescue pup and we don't know his whole background but, he is so intense in his protection of me that I never let anyone around him unless he is on a leash. He is so very sweet and whoever abused him in his past I will never understand why. :(

Now, Lil Jack (Yorkie) is the exact opposite. He is so loving and carefree and loves everyone. Nobody wanted him because he wasn't the cute tiny Yorkie. But, I fell in love with him and he is just adorable and sweet. Between them both, Jake has calmed Lil Jack down... and Lil Jack's actions towards people is helping Jake accept people more. It's all a work in progress but, whatever happens, they are my dearest friends. :)

Here is the last picture of the coconut and pineapple plant ifyou want to see how much they've grown

These are from the last several weeks. Enjoy!

I've already posted some pictures of Heidelberg, Germany, here.  But we visited the town - and more specifically, the castle - again recently, and I liked the resulting new pictures so much that I felt compelled to post again.  Sorry for the deja vu!

A hill figure is a symbol carved into a steep hill and then defined by crushed chalk or other substance, which allows it to be seen from great distances.

With help and encouragement from so many here, I have to give a big shout out to Rottlady and Lebowsky for the help and encouragement to make this happen. Friday night was a disaster and I got discouraged. I had printed out Rottlady's hints and Lebowsky kicked me forward.  

Last night I attempted it again and I'm so happy that I did. We had clouds here so I wasn't sure if I would capture anything or not. I was outside for about 3 hours and my hubby finally told me "Honey, you should come in now. Don't you think?". :) I'm so happy that I stayed out so late because, I had plans to wake up early to get more but, we have thunderstorms with hail today. Thanks and much appreciation for all of you.   

The Lubber Grasshopper Nymphs have invaded the Butterfly Garden!

*More information on Lubber Grasshoppers here.

Silbury Hill is a Neolithic conical construct, dating from 2,600 - 2,400 BC.  Its circular base covers five acres, and an estimated one million tons of clay and chalk were used to build it, making it the largest man-made mound in Europe.

Etva and Mal wanted me to post image #2, the artsy version of the Great Blue Heron. So here is that one plus a few others that I played around with. Hope you like them!

Henges are Neolithic earthworks, which consist of a circular area defined by a bank and ditch construction. Within the henge are often other circular structures made of wood or stone.

Avebury Henge, dated at 3,000 BC, includes the largest stone circle in the world.  The Henge covers 28 acres, and the circumference of the outer bank is nearly a mile long.  It is estimated that the site once included a minimum of 247 standing stones within the outer bank, plus an additional 400 stones forming two avenues, connected to the Henge.

On Thursday, my sister and I paid a visit to The Mennello Museum of American Art to catch the Flying Horse Editions exhibition of art prints. Flying Horse Editions is located here in Orlando and has been producing limited editions of fine art prints for many years. We were particularly interested in this exhibit because my niece, who majored in printmaking, worked at Flying Horse Editions briefly last summer.

Barrows are Neolithic tombs, often called burial mounds, which are scattered throughout Britain.  Wiltshire County, in particular, is home to 148 of Britain's 260 barrows.  There are two primary types of barrows: long barrows, which were designed for communal burials and round barrows, which are smaller and designed for individuals.

West Kennet Long Barrow

The most famous of these is the West Kennet Long Barrow, constructed in 3,650 BC, making it older than nearby Stonehenge and Avebury.  In fact, it's the oldest and longest barrow in England.

There have been a lot of flowers and plants with beautiful blossoms posted on NV recently, but my yard is a bit different ... most of my blooms are understated ... hardly noticeable if one has a lot of riotous color from larger, more make-a-statement shrubs and plants. I think my little wall-flowers are quite lovely ... in a shy way ... you just have to look a bit harder to notice them :-)

These were all taken on Jan. 2nd; the last delightful day of my holiday vacation. There was a feeding frenzy and I took advantage of all the company. Amazing little creatures.

Located near the confluence of the Seille and Moselle Rivers in northeastern France, Metz dates to the 5th century BC.  It's the capital of the Lorraine Region and is home to a multitude of historic sites.  We decided to take a ride and spend the afternoon wandering around town.

Our stroll centered around a few specific pedestrian areas that included several shops, the Saint Stephen Gothic Cathedral (famous for having the largest expanse of stained glass windows in the world), the Protestant Temple Neuf, and a walkpath along the Moselle River in the center of town.  At one point we stepped into a large but non-descript building to find an amazing assemblage of fresh food vendors.  They had everything from seafood to meats to fruit and veggies to wine and cheese.  Before returning home we stopped for a light lunch at one of the area's many outdoor cafes.

I had a great opportunity on Saturday to visit our local zoo. They were celebrating Enrichment EGGstravaganza, which means that some lucky animals got to have some tasty treats wrapped up in a healthy package that looked like a Papier-mâché ball. And since that is French for "chewed paper", very appropriate. 

I was privileged enough to have a "ride along" with the gracious Melinda Arnold the Public Relations Manager for the zoo to each of the exhibits I visited. Which of course made my visit so much easier to snag pictures of these wonderful creatures. Heck, I even got to go behind the scenes a couple of times when it was safe. It was perfect weather for most of the day, partly sunny with a nice temperature in the 60's. We did have a threat of rain that finally showed up mid-afternoon. But that didn't dampen the spirits of all the excited kids and parents. The park seemed packed!

My mother was born June 2, 1928 in Berlin and my mother died July 1, 2011 from Alzheimers/Dementia. I have yet to understand the difference. I just know her strength and dignity was taken from her. I didn't think that anyone would care about the items that I have of my mothers but, I found out different from our dear Etva. I miss my mother so very much and will mourn her to the day I die. I also have some of my grandmothers dishes that I will try to photograph for those interested.

If you ever wondered how lizards lounge, here are a few caught in the act.

It began raining here on Sunday morning or maybe it was last Saturday night. It didn't stop until Friday so I was beginning to feel like Noah when he made the Ark. Needless to say I was soo happy when the sun began to shine this morning. Amazing what a little sunshine will do for both the yard and the mind.

Thanks for looking at my pictures.

58ROSE likes Red! So the Cardinal lessons are an early entry.

Information taken from Birds of North America publication. Pictures by Anna.

I had my photos on my camera for the Leap-Year Challenge and because I did something stupid.... deleting one photo, ended up deleting ALL of my photos on my card. :( All of these photos were taken on March 1, 2012.  The first photo is a Crow in the tree and I just knew that my lovely MoonCrow came by to give me comfort for the major error that I had done. :) The second is a sunset. And, the third photo is of the Moon. Not as exciting as the Leap-Year Challenge but, it's all I have. Thanks to all of my friends who give me support.

The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch. Its habitat ranges from rainforest to desert terrains. ~ information all taken from Wikipedia

Just another lesson on some wildlife visitors (or visions)  in my yard.

The Mallard Duck has a lifespan up to 29 years.

I've never really made much of an attempt to use photo editing software to improve the quality of my pictures before. However, I recently purchased a smartphone and installed an application that allowed for on-the-fly adjustments. This motivated me a bit to take a crack at playing with some very basic settings to see if I could improve a picture (which I believe I have shared before).

The first picture is the untouched picture. The second is with a light-to-moderate amount of editing. The third is with a moderate-to-heavy amount of editing.

A. Mac's abstract creativity impressed me greatly, so I thought I would post a few photo mistakes I made in the guise of calling them "abstract", along with a few others I had not yet posted. 

The Chows wanted out at 4:30am; very unusual. I couldn't figure out what the glow was on the fence it was so low in the sky....but a different angle showed an amazing little thumbnail of a late rising moon. Sometimes those doggies really come through. Friday was such a hard day but it started with the bigger picture.

It seems like the birds are beginning to gather in my yard and are making their nests. They also appear to be chasing each other and eating a whole lot. That can mean only one thing...Spring is near. Thanks for looking at my pictures.

With the very sad loss of Sydney-5 and the very sad news about Grisham's dad, everyone has been in a bit of a funk this week. So here are some pretty things to look at.

I mourn for you dear Sydney.

Sorrow makes us all children again - destroys all differences of intellect.  The wisest know nothing.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was 33 degrees here in central Florida this morning with a projected high in the 50s. The squirrels were hiding and most of the birds were sleeping in. I know. I know. I shouldn't complain. We're due to be back up around 80 in a couple of days. But still. Brrrrrrrr...

It has been a very long time since I have participated, Life has a tendency to interrupt the things we love to do. P.A. and I decided to take time out of our busy schedules and take a walk in the woods to a small creek we knew about, and enjoy each others company and nature. I hope you like my photo.

This article is primarily to test out the branding for the Newsvine Photographer's group-- but also to showcase the ameniable nature of Pharaoh, who puts up with WAY too much from his mama...

IF I have this wrong, please, NVP group members, be kind.  I'll try to fix it in an edit.  I am, however, doing my best, so please be patient.

Thanks for coming by!

Some birds away from the feeders.

I saw this car in the parking lot while going to the grocery store.  Because of Newsvine Photographers Group's Go-To-Meetings, I have been learning to really SEE things and objects in a different way. Many thanks to all the members for their help and a special shout-out to HollyK1 for her showing her abstracts that has inspired me.

This contrail was pretty cool, I thought, going through the clouds.

Saturday morning Jauary 21, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBDe0xVjwFA

When I was 45 years old, two momentous things occurred in the same week of my life.  I closed on and moved into my first house.  And I adopted my first dog.  Oh, I had other pets in my life.  We had Heidi the Dachshund mix when I was a child and Holly the Cocker Spaniel during my teenage years.  My ex-husband and I had three pets, two dogs named Arthur and Scarlett and a cat named Kitty.  But in the 17 years following my divorce, I had lived a very solitary and unattached life. 

My time this year with the Newsvine Photographers Group was spent in a learning frenzy. I was so envious of the beautiful shots that were being posted by members and kept asking myself why I couldn't get a shot like that.  Their photos were crisp, sharp and color filled; always in focus and of calendar or book quality. I wanted so badly to be able to do that!

As I considered if I even thought I truly had a "best" for the photo-challenge I became somewhat bemused and amazed at how far I had come. Many dear friends and members prodded me and cajoled me, but mostly they taught me. I have thanked them individually many times, but I wondered today as I was shooting 351 pictures (yes in 1 day) if they had any idea how much they taught this year. Below I have posted many of my lessons learned.

a- Birds like catfood. If you would just move the dish you could get some pretty good pictures.

b-40 shots changing nothing is 40 shots of the same thing.

c-Pushing the clicker is like firing a gun-just squeeze the trigger don't move the camera

d-Shooting while driving can be risky

e-Your camera comes with a manual that's suppose to be read

f-Keep your battery charged

g-Nobody knows what to get a photographer for Christmas

h-Sometimes fuzzy is really just noisy and can be removed

i-Some fuzzy shots can be turned into abstracts and/or are still enjoyable due to content

j-Sunshine changes the way everything looks

k-Sometimes it's not the subject moving but you: buy a tripod

l-Sometimes a picture from a distance is better than a close-up

m-Having the manual explained to you brings to life the written word

n-Those tiny words on your camera actually do something; turn the dial and learn the words

o-A rule of thumb is photos should be cropped or originally taken using the rule of thirds; but it's ok to center a subject, depending on your picture

p-Applying the rules is your own personal judgement; but if you don't know them your pictures won't improve

q-A picture has exposure with highlights, shadows and contrast; colors can be enhanced or muted and you can actually give your picture a temperature

r-It's ok if there is only a partial view of wings leaving the edge of your picture-crop out the part that has no value, but if your pictures needs those wings to include value: leave them

s-There is such a thing as macro photography

t-Sometimes you just get lucky and truly don't have to do a thing to your shot

u-Your camera doesn't always see exactly the way you saw the shot; it's ok to make it the way you saw it

v-Black and white can be gray or beige or golden; but black and white can be quite striking

x-Sometimes you just have to free hand it, but without a tripod: put your elbows or your arms on support such as the hood of your car-some people carry bean bags just for this purpose

y-If the birds eye is in focus you usually have a pretty good picture

z-Chow Chows always within an arms reach is very reassuring when you muff a shot

Much time and effort is put into every NVPhotographers post. The Newsvine Photographers Group has a multitude of personalities that live all over the globe. Some sights wil never be seen unless you click on the Photographers Logo and go to all their posted pictures. There is a story within every page that will enlighten and educate. There isn't a bad apple in the bunch but there might be a picture of one!

Old photos refresh a fading memory and convince the spirit that life's worth living. G.Bud

© All Rights Reserved/Article & Images G.Bud

Here is Week 21 of the 365 Project. I hope you enjoy these!

The nickname for our small town is Crowtown. They come in force and make the local news pretty often. From the local newspaper:

City and county officials joined forces and declared war on some unwanted pests early in 2011.

It's estimated about 5,000 crows were roosting in the trees on the Town (sic) County Courtsquare, leaving behind droppings that marred monuments, vehicles, sidewalks and park benches.

It was hazardous for courthouse employees to report to work and the majestic oak and maple trees suffered from the weight of the black-feathered pests, shedding branches by the dozens.

A propane cannon had been in use, but the intelligent birds came to recognize the vehicle carrying the cannon and avoided the area when it was in view.

Town (sic) gained national attention when officials decided to try a different strategy to get rid of the crows.

Armed with launchers and pyrotechnic noisemakers, licensed technicians took to the streets at dusk in January, hitting the heavily crow-populated areas like the court square, Third and Mulberry streets and Rolling Acres subdivision.

It appears the strategy has worked, and the birds have been on the lam since February, not yet returning to the downtown area. Instead they can be seen in big clusters near the Three Rivers area, blanketing the fields and trees in a black cover. "The Tribune"

They were one of the "top stories" of 2011. Yep; we're action packed around here!

 Getting myself out and taking photos as I see them. I hope you all enjoy and always thanks for coming by.

I couldn't help myself!

Mal saw Proud American's suggestion to create a coffee table book of photos by Newsvine Photographer group members. Well as it happens, Mal is working on making just such a book of his own photos. Mal's book is only about 1/4 completed so far, but Mal still thought it would be fun to share.

The following slide show has screen shots of some of the pages. In order to see it well it would be best to view it in full screen mode. To do this first start the slideshow by clicking on it. Then click the full screen button in the lower right corner of the slide show window. Also you can pause the slideshow by clicking the pause button in the lower left corner of the window... then you can view each pair of pages at your own pace.

With the exception of #13, these were all taken at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, FL. The Great Blue Heron was photographed at Ward Park in Winter Park, FL. I hope you enjoy these feathered beauties!

©2011 HollyKL. All rights reserved for all images.

AMac ask that I publish my beautiful Downy Woodpecker that posed all morning for me; but I couldn't get a sharp, crisp picture of him. It was 56 degrees here with a misty rain; very cloudy and I tried all settings shooting through a window. So here he is. Regardless the little guy is a sweetheart!

I had a bit of fun taking these photos and hope you all get some enjoyment from them. Thanks to all who take their time to come by to visit.

Ben brought up a great recipe for Quince fruit, and since it is so rare for discussion I wanted to share my experience with my trees.  They are really quite beautiful in their color and blossoms but will tear you to shreds with their thorns.  Every branch end and side limb is a thorn that can be inches long and penetrate to the bone.  I've tasted one by taking it straight from the tree and cutting it because you can't bite them they're so hard, it about locked my jaw!  Check out Bens article for the particulars of the fruit here.

© Dare To Hope 2011 All rights reserved

The week before Christmas I went down a few blocks to a private lake in Wichita where the bald eagles have lived for the past couple of Winters. They evidently weren't home but I thought their nest was impressive anyway.

By the lake there were some murals that students from a local high school painted so I decided that would be a good picture for a change of pace.

Then of course I had to take some bird pictures in my yard. It had been cold and not many birds were out but I did manage to catch the sparrow.

Thanks for looking.....

Note: I had all the pictures on NV and everything done - then lost it all and that's why the pictures are backwards.

Since it is Christmas Eve I thought I would put some different pictures of my yard on here to show where the pictures are taken. I also used different camera settings to get some of the odd shots. Thanks for looking.

One day in the life of my cameras.   Well, OK, one picture is from a few days later.

Here is week 18 of my 365 project.  Enjoy!

©2011 HollyKL. All rights reserved for all images.