119 - LARGE

One of the many large alligators we enjoyed watching...from a safe distance...while visiting the state park in Texas. He laid sunning himself..in the warmth of the sun and cool of the mud. Others we enjoyed watching were actually hunting and eating...to our amazement...and again...at a safe distance.

118 - OUTSIDE

I meandered outside with my granddaughter to enjoy the swing and the weather. As we talked about the different things that surrounded us, we discovered this Anole lizard sunning itself on her sandbox top. He scurried to the underside hoping he would be hidden.
A perfect capture as he started to turn a bit reddish as he reflected off the red sand box sides. Another thing 'missed' from the southern environments.

116 - DECLINE

I am south for a few days...enjoying some warmer weather. There is a state park here that is one of my most favorite to enjoy. Filled with alligators and birds of all kinds...particularly water birds. Unfortunately, over the years, as any where else, the population continues to decline, much to my dislike because birds are one of those passions of mine that I continuously try to keep up with. One of those things about Texas that I truly miss. Fortunately, despite the decline of others, or maybe the weather has just deferred their migration elsewhere this year (not a single spoonbill sited this day) the Yellow Crown Night Heron is still abundant enough to capture it in many locations and activities throughout the park. It has always been one of my favorite, possibly due to the wildlife rehabbing I did at one point in time or maybe just because it was so abundant when I lived with a water area in my backyard for many years which allowed me to really get acquainted with its personality.

115 - MOUNTAINS

Cutie patootie. She'll move mountains one day. I have no doubt about it. She is so free. So determined. So confident. So active and social. A lot like her mom was...way back then (yes, my dear daughter, if I must age so must you.)

114 - PUPIL

My daughter found him on her wheel of her car on a rainy night. Scared, cold and wet. He's a unique creature. Quite skittish although he is much better than he used to be. A kink in his tail which prompts that 'question mark' he carries with him where ever he goes. He loves to chase a ball up and down the stairs. He doesn't eat much. His legs are long and black. If he is out and about, you can normally find him here...on the stairs...peering with one pupil through the banisters of the stairway...watching yet staying distanced to the activity that surrounds him. He'll let you pet him...on his terms. Needless to say, many a day...I don't blame him one bit. Wally D. Waldorf. Mr D. Some of his many names and truthfully...I don't know what the official one is....and it really doesn't matter. After all...what's in a name?

113 - SAVING

My Green Bay Packer Piggy Bank where I throw all my spare change as I continue saving for that European vacation I hope to take this year. My oldest son has been given a rare opportunity to work abroad for the next year or so. One of my bff's reside in Belgium. I hope to combine a visit to both during the summer to enjoy some fascinating culture, art, architecture and photo ops. Piggy is almost full and ready to be emptied and given another start.

112 - FAITH

..back...to having faith...that soon the snow will melt, the plants will grow and show us that there really is a spring and summer to enjoy. Faith..that that will be soon. Faith and hope that spring, summer and fall will be longer than the next winter that awaits us.

111 - INTERACT

An Easter egg hunt at a friend's house. Little ones...wondering why we were all looking at them...calling their names. Little people. We were amused watching them interact with each other...quite friendly like. Having no clue that some day...they would be competing for those eggs and Easter gifts...in some form or fashion...with each other or someone else. It's a given....but maybe...maybe.....
they'll figure out there is more proper places for such competition.

Little people.

110 - ONLY

She is my Only daughter. My pride and joy (one of three). I've probably said it before. It won't be the last time I say it. She is a wonderful mother. I'm very proud of her and her husband. They have given me two beautiful granddaughters....as well as many enjoyable visits, fun and conversations. I envy her patience...which I once had. I watch in awe at the endless love she passes out to all around her. She was there for her brother when he needed someone special to depend on that was close by. I enjoy our conversations... grown up ones now. I still feel for her...working, raising two daughters, being married, making ends meet from every aspect of life now. My heart goes out to her. Oh, did I say, I'm proud of her...and love her very much.
(PS...the face, the nose crinkling...the same exact thing my daughter did at that age. Actually she was a bit older. Priceless. Too priceless.)

109 - ACCUMULATE

The accumulation of snow and ice on my planter of sedums...that really do enjoy the warm weather...Mother Nature. (again...not laughing any more) I left this...and went south for the holiday...in hopes it will be gone when I return.

108 - STATED

She stated it loud and clear...just like that...in her language, in her tone of voice...so we could all hear...and laugh...and enjoy. I don't believe there was a single person in the room that would have argued with her. (Cute as a bug...if I do say so myself.)

106 - AFTER

We had some wonderfully warm weather for a day or two last week. After having travelled for my 'second job' per se while I was ill, I came home to this wonderful spring like weather and decided it was time to bring out the patio furniture so I could enjoy the sun and the birds that are travelling through. Of course, Mother Nature continues to have a sense of humor and decided to bless us with a couple more days of snow, ice and winter cold. (Needless to say, Mother Nature, I don't think we are laughing much any more...this April.)

105 - GRAB

Grab an umbrella because even though it is spring here in the deep midwest, it is not only snowing but raining and sleeting all at once.

104 - FOOL

Fool - to trick or deceive

I love reflections. Yes, they can make a fool out of a person. They can be deceiving, misleading. But awesomely so. Doesn't it look like there is a glass wall here giving it a look of two levels. Actually, the lower part of the picture is the water flowing flatly...little to no wind giving the water a glass smooth look. It is actually flowing away....towards the top of the picture and the mid point, where the reflection starts, is the water fall down.

One of my favorite spots to just sit and watch and listen to the soothing flow of the water. And such a wonderfully warm, spring day to do so.

103 - CLIP

CLIP - To cut, cut off, or cut out with or as if with shears; to make shorter by cutting; trim; to cut off the edge of; to cut short; curtail I got home last night from a long day at work, the fourth of the week...being ill has just made it seem even lllloonnnggger. I was greeted by a bouquet flowers....daisy like flowers....my most favorite. Smile. Grin. Sigh. They, of course, had been situated in one of my favorite vases but stood a bit too tall. I had to clip the bottoms of the stems down a bit to give them just the proper, heartwarming presentation. It's really all about the 'simple things'.

102 - SUPREME

A supreme nesting site. It amazes me to see this on my walk down a favorite trail of mine today. Just days after the snow has melted...already nests built...just above the heads of us passerbys. Nests...empty but waiting and watching the 'bird dating' occuring all around...in hopes that someone will take a spring 'mortgage' out and occupy it to satisfy it's purpose this spring. Held on by only a couple grass leaves wrapped around the branch....and possibly some 'avian glue'. I think I'll have to watch this one and check for fallen 'children' as the days go by.

101 - WONDER

Another wonder of Mother Nature. I love this tree but then...I have found that many trees grab my attention, especially this time of the year when their branches are bare...their skeletons are showing...totally undressed...vulnerable to world. You have to wonder when we worry about the smallest of injuries to trees in our yard, how these that have no one to care for them...how they survive and live so many years. Maybe....just maybe.....sometimes we care too much. This just reconfirms my gardening belief that when I am caring about things in my yard....I have to think and wonder about the way Mother Nature takes care of them in the 'wild'...and I try to follow that concept..normally with some succes.

100 - ACTION

A little bird 'action'. I felt very blessed after this 'shoot' because I came out...without a drop of poo on me or my camera equipment.

99 - BEYOND

Looking beyond the first bridge...beyond and under the overpass...beyond the horizon....beyond one's imagination.....

(and...it seems my posts are dated one day beyond everyone else's...maybe in anticipation of needing to add this word - beyond - to my 365 project?? oops...had them numbered and dated wrong...hey...it's been a long day)

98 - INDEED

Indeed, a beautiful sign of spring...Cherry blossoms. Indeed, a refreshing and beautiful morning. (Manassas, VA....beautiful place.)

97 - HEADS

I'm starting to wonder...if our...governmental heads....are worth much more.... (I'm just saying....)

96 - WAVING

Grasses...waving in the breeze. The sun brightly setting. Rays reflecting off the grasses...waving in the breeze. (Post processing with a wave texture for a little fun.)

94 - LOADED

It's just amazing the extent some will go to for a wonderful bargain. I'm guessing this guy had a long, slow and maybe not safe journey home. This picture does not do justice to the way this really looked. If the door was closed you would see the real position of this 'overloaded' vehicle. Amazing. Crazy.

93 - WIZARD

The colors. The fluffy. The dreaminess. Yet, the mystique. The curiosity of what lies beyond. They are inviting and yet....scary...knowing what could, in the right conditions, be created from within. It is scenes like this that remind me of the Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter.

Truly the work of the Great Wizard.

92 - PARDON

PARDON ME. I believe it is time for my siesta.

91 - AROUND

I went to the rummage sale at the county fairgrounds last week to look for some new additions to my portrait props. The first item bought - this wonderful, floppy hat with a crazy happy colorful band around it. I wore it as I continued to shop. I had lots of comments just within the rummage. It was fun and a definite positive note that it will provide fun times 'behind my lens'.

90 - BUY

I work for a company that manufacturers a food ingredient. I was honored to have them ask me take some pictures for a convention presentation of the production facility. I was even more impressed when they liked the pics enough to ask me to do another photo shoot for a banner they were putting together on summer sausages. But mostly, I was impressed with myself for having been able to buy just the right things to make an appealing setup for just the right photo. A little, much needed practice for food photography, still life pics, per se. It was fun and in the end...I didn't want to waste the things I bought...so - well, they tasted just as good as the picture makes them look.