Honorable Mention

I didn't win but was pleased to see that my milkweed seed photo received an honorable mention in the Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest of 2011.  See the post here.  David Perry gave a very nice and positive comment on the photo and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to learn from him.

Remembering the "Sunshine"

“Loss and possession, death and life are one, there falls no shadow where there shines no sun.”

 Hilaire Belloc

I first heard this quote while watching the movie "Catch and Release".  Kevin Smith's character did a beautiful reading of it in the film.  On Wednesday Scott and I lost our beloved Festus unexpectedly.  It's been a painful time for both of us.  This quote popped into my head and reminded me that it wouldn't be so awful to deal with if it hadn't been such a great, loving friendship.  Here are some pics that reflect the sunshine of Festus.

Soaking in the warm sun and dirt in last springs garden

Enjoying a spring sun bath.

Enjoying the smell and feel of a new carpet

Enjoying the deck with Dad

Taking a lovely nap

Soccer anyone?

Enjoying the feel of sun warmed pavers

Hanging out with Sissy

Hiding in the closet on Dad's clothes

Giving Pa a kiss

Trying out a new bed.

Our faithful companion, loved evermore.

Thank you!

Wow, I've gotten some wonderful comments on my photo entry, it warms my heart, bless you all!

Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest

I decided to have some fun and try something new so I'm entering the Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest.  The contest is being judged by David Perry who does A Photographer's Garden Blog.  I found out about the contest from a blog I follow called Leaping Greenly.  I'm entering the first picture below.

My entry

I took a lot of pictures trying different things and that was fun.  The tough part was figuring out which picture to enter.  Below are the elements I used to create the photo above that's being entered and some of the other pictures I considered.

A small mason jar, a milkweed seed pod being saved for propagating in our yard in the spring, some gauzy tissue paper from a flower arrangement that hubby got me for Christmas and some clothespins to hold the tissue paper in place around the jar.

This larger mason jar seemed too big for my subject.

 

 

The smaller jar wrapped in a lace curtain

Here I dipped the jar in snow, set it on our porch in the sun and took the picture.

I had some fun and learned a few things, hopefully I can figure out the link thing and enter the photo correctly.

Cardinal Rescue

The day after Christmas this unfortunate female Cardinal flew into our living room window.  A few seconds later her mate hit the window also.  The male flew off.  I grabbed my camera and took a quick picture of the female thinking she would fly off soon also.  She didn't.  After a couple minutes I grew concerned as it was very cold out that day with temperatures in the teens.  I went outside to check on her and she was blinking her eyes but not moving.  I slowly reached for her and gently picked her up.  She didn't struggle at all.  Even for an injured bird that was unusual.  She was very stunned.

I thought it would be best to bring her in out of the cold until she recovered.  I placed her in the box above, covered it with a plastic cake pan top, brought her in the house and waited.  After about ten minutes there was some rustling and when I came near the box she tried to get out.  I brought her outside and lifted the cover off the box and away she flew, off into the sky with my best wishes.  Hopefully she is okay.