Pics

Thanks to y'all for your kind comments about the Old Man Dog. We'll keep you posted as we learn things. My inexpert theory is that he has a tumor that's pressing on things inside, making it difficult for him to breathe. We haven't confirmed that with his doc yet. More as we know.

jo(e) talked about it looking a lot like summer in her neck of the woods. Well, here it IS summer. We've had a weekend in the 90's-100's. The fans are in full force, and we expect a couple more days of this before it mellows into the 70's. Lemme tell ya', it makes teaching (and testing) difficult. We're all ready to check out.

I owe you (and myself) some pics. I took a few today. The sun, at least, was cooperative.

In the Target parking lot today. The yellow tree; the clouds.

I call it soft-focus. This rose bush is kicking in for the season.

I call them her Mark Twain jowls. Aren't those fab whiskers? She's trying not to melt.

"Don't think I don't see you! I'm keepin' an eye on you, missy!"

"God, it's hot, Mom!"

Persian lilies

It was sunset, upon reflection.

The chore that could not be done in 100-degree heat.

Riveted by the sun

Through water-colored glasses

Make-up Photos #2

Individually uploaded, for your viewing pleasure.

Behold a stripes series, on which I desire your feedback.

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Morning Glow-ry

I woke a little after eight, early for me, especially on a day off. But I needed to accomplish things today, so after reading for about ten minutes, I got up. I glanced out the window to the backyard to behold the morning sun lighting up the new leaves on the ash trees, which never cease to amaze me for their quick recovery from total leaf loss. The sun seemed only to affect the new leaves, leaving all else in near darkness.

I can't decide which of the two I prefer. Suggestions?

A Good Day...

...for a photo tour. But we're staying local. Today was another upper-70's day -- truly blissful -- so I stayed in what I wore to bed, added some slip-on shoes, and played in the backyard for a while. I was also taken by the bug to cook, so I did, heading out to the garden to snip or pick fresh ingredients, and grilling several different items on the grill (chicken, eggplant, elephant garlic).

Days like these make me long for summer and curse the fact that we're still in school.

I also opened up the house and lazed on the couch, reading. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, by Sara Miles, has proven to be food for thought.

Sun and purple flowers on the arbor

Veins of light

A face this mother loves!

Action shot -- itchy back, oh this feels so good, oh man i gotta do it some more!

Hahaha! Mid-shake. This one cracks me up, and I couldn't resist posting it, even though, by photographic standards, it's a terrible shot.

Gone wild, has the back of the backyard

I stood beneath the arbor, and lo, the arbor hummed.

Eggplant parmesan, whole wheat sourdough with red pepper and sundried tomato spreads

Not a great picture, no. But I posted it because, if you click it and make it large, you can observe evidence of the movement of the stars...and this was only about a 30-second shot. Does the earth really move that quickly? Wow.

Monday Night in the City

Of course, today was the day I left the camera at home, thinking I didn't want to carry it around Local University Campus, where I went for a training workshop.

Of course, today was the day the snow and clouds clung to the local mountains, contrasting strikingly with the lower crazy-green hills.

Of course, today was the day the sky lowered, and the clouds flattened out on their undersides and contrasted mightily with the blue and sun behind, and we were spattered with Charlie Brown rain (only over our heads, while twenty feet away it was dry).

Of course, today was the day the sunset broke pink and splashed it all over the white mountain of cloud and snow.

Of course, today was the day of the photos that got away.

Oh well. I appreciate the moody darks and glowing lights of this backyard shot. I thank the sweet lord for our trees, for lo, behold what I would behold daily without them.

This one counts for yesterday's shot -- a backyard sampling

Excuse: I attended a beautiful and moving two-hour Celebration of Life memorial service yesterday for a 14-year-old gem of a boy who died of wretched leukemia. Emotionally and physically drained, I came home and fell into a three-hour nap, which left me groggy rather than refreshed. I joined my sister and mom and Partner-o-mine in dinner (our favorite Italian spot was debuting its new wood-burning pizza oven -- gorgeous!) and a frenzy of planning and invitation-making to my dad's retirement party in April. I took plenty of pictures yesterday, but I got home at 1:00 a.m. and fell directly into bed without posting.

Yesterday, late afternoon, the day was pleasant, the sun was gorgeous and slanted, and everything in the backyard was more beautiful for it.

The arbor has exploded, a profusion of little purples, and the bees are busy and thriving.

A series of our potato plant, both directly lit and backlit. I love the little grain of pollen on the flower in the second shot.

The leaves of the ash have fallen, but they won't be gone long. Next week this tree will start to be green again.