Photography Blog!

I'm elated. Yes, elated. I've been doing a lot of photo shoots with friends lately (including a wedding - my FIRST wedding!) and I've discovered how much I really, really enjoy it! So, it's not just flowers I like to get pictures of...it's people, too!

Don't worry, I'm not going to abandon this blog - it will live on. BUT, I now have an additional blog for pictures only! Foliage, Families, Couples, Kids and everything in between.

So, visit it! Click the picture above!

Bloomin' Garden - Part 1

Remember how excited I was about my Dahlia's, Zinnia's, Blue Boys (Bachelor's Buttons) etc?

I have some pictures of MY garden (no more copying them from garden websites!) for you to enjoy!

My Beautifully Bright Pinkish-Reddish Dahlias.

My Bluer-than-Blue (framed with cascades of green) Blue Boys

My Zinnias, which mostly bloomed in hues of Iowa State rememberance. Oiy.

My Delicate White (tips dipped in elegant pink) Dahlias.

Some of my favorites...touched up and funned up.

Come back for more; believe me, there's more.

The Birthday: Part 1

Ok...so, a while back I told you about my friend Gina's birthday and how I had an exciting surprise planned. Well, it went off without a hitch and here are the results.

Working on The Big Surprise

Before I load 'em in the car. 3 paintings & 3 frames of flower pictures I took. Her birthday was in March...and we still have our Christmas tree up.

After I revealed her gifts, we got to work painting the kitchen, which was, in a way, part of her birthday present. We started out with a shade of "pink" not wanting to go too dark for fear the landlord would have a heart attack. Well, it looked like Pepto Bismol and made us feel like puking.

So, Gina had a stroke of genius. We opted for a much prettier hue. And more appetizing.

And this was the result at 3 am. Beautious, is it not?

Frequent Stops for Photo Opps

On our Memorial Day drive from the UP of Michigan to Iowa, we made frequent stops for photo opps (ooo, that sounds like it would make a good post title). We enjoyed a relaxed and picturesque trip home. Unfortunately, some photo opps came at a not so opportune time...like when we were flying down the interstate at 70 mph with no convenient place to stop. Except for the time we saw the Bald Eagle.

My favorite stop was in Plateville, WI. They have a beautiful visitor's center with a stream and a garden with a walking path. A great place to stop, stretch your legs and take a dip in the stream. A 4 inch, ankle-deep dip, which I do not have pictured because I didn't like it (the picture, that is...the dip was instantly refreshing).

This is the Allium Gladiator...

related to the onion family and originally grown in China.

I did a little color-work to this one, just for fun.

Does this make anyone else think of "Horton Hears a Who"?

"Heeeelp!"

Pretty Columbine.

White & Pink Bleeding Heart

I have no idea what this is either, but Jim really liked the pattern on the leaves. I liked them, too.

Viney Things...

Wildflowers...

Now, you can't be in the UP of Michigan without seeing a black bear or kissing one, for that matter.

Now, I recognize this isn't the most attractive picture of me...but, who is when they are roaring like a bear. They don't call me Sar-Bear for nothin'.

It's affordable and fun. You should come for dinner sometime.

An image (doctored for impact) on the road.

Here, we just turned down an offer to go Whitewater Rafting...uh..in THESE clothes, in THIS temperature (remember, we're up north)...NO thank you.

Oh, and we got to see Jim's cousin's (Jeremy & Naomi) new baby, Abigail. Aww.