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  2. Daily Photos

My Best Daily Shots

Thanks for stopping by to view my daily photo! I will post a new photo each day to this gallery. Typically, I will post early morning, and the photo will have been taken the day before. Sometimes the photo may be from sometime earlier in the week, but all the pictures posted will be relatively new. I hope you see something that makes you smile. Feel free to leave professionally appropriate comments. Here's a link to the SmugMug Daily Community.
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06/25/10 - Seeing Double<br /> This shot was taken in my neighbor's garden (Madi's family). Their whole front flower garden is just a blaze of glory right now of lilies and other perennials. <br /> <br /> If your coffee wasn't enough to get you going this morning, surely the extra dose of color in this shot is:-)<br /> <br /> Too hot to be outside taking very many pics yesterday, but I did take a few shots of the garden in the AM and then some shots of an indoor end of year picnic (remember year round school) in Joey's classroom. <br /> <br /> I am honored by all the comments from yesterday on the sunflower shot. Wow! It went straight to #8 on my all time most popular list. I was amazed to watch it. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and the time you spend to look at my dailies.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> It's Friday!!!
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06/25/10 - Seeing Double
This shot was taken in my neighbor's garden (Madi's family). Their whole front flower garden is just a blaze of glory right now of lilies and other perennials.

If your coffee wasn't enough to get you going this morning, surely the extra dose of color in this shot is:-)

Too hot to be outside taking very many pics yesterday, but I did take a few shots of the garden in the AM and then some shots of an indoor end of year picnic (remember year round school) in Joey's classroom.

I am honored by all the comments from yesterday on the sunflower shot. Wow! It went straight to #8 on my all time most popular list. I was amazed to watch it. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and the time you spend to look at my dailies.

HAGD,
Maryann

It's Friday!!!

  • 07/14/10 - Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)<br /> <br /> This is the one plant I bought at Plant Delights Nursery this past weekend. Here's a link to their catalog entry for it: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/08250.html">http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/08250.html</a><br /> This is SOOC. Since it is not in the ground yet, I carried the pot around the yard to several spots trying to get just the right background. It was cloudy yesterday, and I had to work to get enough light for good focus without breaking out the tripod. <br /> <br /> I had originally taken this shot this past weekend:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#933658599_ECZQS">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#933658599_ECZQS</a><br /> and totally messed up the focus:-( So, I had to go back to buy it to try again at home but then of course it was open more by then. I've done some interesting pp variations on that one, so if you see one you like in that gallery, let me know. <br /> <br /> I also searched on Smug yesterday for other Lily of the Nile shots, picked a favorite from the 90 or so thumbs, and it was Karina's:-) Sometimes I like to see what others have done with the same subject. <br /> <br /> Glad you all enjoyed the Barrel Monster shot from yesterday. Thanks for your comments.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/13/10 - Barrel Monster<br /> One last shot from my Plant Delights Nursery visit on Saturday. There's a story behind this one. From the Plant Delights website:<br /> <br /> "If you are like us, you were amazed in early June 2009 when you first saw photos of the Barrel Monster, which mysteriously appeared on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, NC. Guerilla artist and 21-year-old NC State Junior Joe Carnevale (aka U Live You Burn) assembled a far more effective traffic deterrent by rearranging a series of traffic barrels into the now legendary Barrel Monster. Unfortunately, Joe was tracked down, arrested and charged with larceny and damage to property. Reportedly, the charges will be dismissed when Joe completes 50 hours of community service working for Habitat for Humanity. Unlike the Lockerbie bomber, we think Joe's ingenuity and creativity is something to celebrate."<br /> <br /> I'll let you decide art vs. crime. I gotta admit my reaction to this was much more positive than the graffiti I often see on bridges and trains. <br /> <br /> A picture of the original taken along the side of the road is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://thebarrelmonster.com/">http://thebarrelmonster.com/</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for all your welcome home wishes for the boys yesterday. It sure is good to have them home. I did take some new shots yesterday...mostly of them and mostly playing with Play Doh. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/12/10 - Wet Leaf<br /> This is another shot I took at Plant Delight Nursery on Saturday. There are several ponds and waterfalls in the touring gardens which make for very interesting water shots. I liked the colors of the leaf and how the droplets had formed on top of it. <br /> <br /> I adjusted the contrast and fixed a small camera shadow in the lower right.<br /> <br /> I am so happy Joey and Johnny are home. We were able to spend some time together yesterday afternoon with Madi, and it was a super homecoming. <br /> <br /> I'm glad many of you enjoyed the frog sculpture shot from yesterday. Thanks for stopping by to check it out and to those of you that also looked at the Plant Delight Nursery gallery. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/Plant-Delights-Nursery-071010/12879479_Fjb5q#929887314_e2Lmp">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/Plant-Delights-Nursery-071010/12879479_Fjb5q#929887314_e2Lmp</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/11/10 - Pondside Snack Is Served<br /> I had the pleasure of going to Plant Delights Nursery yesterday not too far from my house. I looked on their website for an 'About Us' description so I would get it right, but I didn't see one. So, I'll do the best I can. Plant Delights Nursery is a nursery with plants for sale and an extensive touring garden of fine both shade and sun living plants. They have many types of bog plants, specialize in hosta, and have a wide variety of echinacea just to name a few of the things that are there. You won't find typical garden center plants here. Instead, you'll find an extensive selection of more exotic and offbeat varieties. And, the best part, it's all available via mail order catalog. See their website:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.plantdelights.com">http://www.plantdelights.com</a><br /> <br /> I took this shot in part of the gardens. There were quite a few frog statues in the touring gardens, but this one was my favorite. The only problem is that I forgot to look up the name of the sculptor and can't find it on the website either. Sigh. You'll notice in the background a large pond and many interesting plants. And, yes, I did use HDR on this. <br /> <br /> So many pictures I could have posted today as there was just so much to enjoy there, but I hope you like this one.<br /> <br /> I was delighted yesterday with the comments on my flower shot. Thank you so much!<br /> <br /> With any luck, the boys will be home around noon. Praying for a safe trip. I am super excited to see them. <br /> <br /> A link to the entire Plants Delight Nursery gallery is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/Plant-Delights-Nursery-071010/12879479_Fjb5q#929887314_e2Lmp">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/Plant-Delights-Nursery-071010/12879479_Fjb5q#929887314_e2Lmp</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/10/10 - Not Your Purple Coneflower<br /> This is one of the 'special' varieties of Coneflower that The Garden Hut had when I visited on Thursday. Shorter stem and shorter petals and what a cool orange/yellow color. I'm not sure what the other flower was behind them, but I liked the color that flower added to the shot. <br /> <br /> Thank you very much for the comments on my flower shot from yesterday...<br /> <br /> It's cloudy here today big time, and even though there was rain near me last night, just a drop at my house. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/09/10 - Another Shot in the Garden Hut Series<br /> Both of these flowers are hybrids. In front, the yellow flower is some sort of Gloriosa Daisy, and the red flower in the back is some sort of Coneflower (Echinacea). The varieties of Coneflower that they had there yesterday were amazing including oranges and yellows too. They even make double coneflowers in pink now...it was fuzzy.<br /> <br /> I liked the blending of the two flowers and colors in this shot. I fixed a few tiny spots and that's all. <br /> <br /> It was 100 here again yesterday, and I had a super treat out my kitchen window. About 10 birds in succession, some at the same time, shared the birdbath. Every day between 4 and 6PM there are birds coming and going. I put together a collage of the best and funniest shots:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927994303_fbqYY">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927994303_fbqYY</a><br /> That's the first time I saw the Tufted Titmouse and Black-Capped Chickadee in the birdbath together. Cute!<br /> <br /> I had so hoped a miracle would happen and my boys would be headed home early so that I could spend some time with them this weekend, but it's not happening. The passing of the last few days has seemed like an eternity. They will get home Sunday afternoon/early evening, and I will have to go back to work Monday AM. At least they will be home...<br /> <br /> Thanks very much for your comments on the old barn/house from yesterday...<br /> <br /> Many more Garden Hut shots in my July album starting here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927799210_PhKxz">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927799210_PhKxz</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/08/10 - Summertime View<br /> I took a short drive after work yesterday and stopped by one of my favorite old buildings. This is a 3 shot HDR image. The HDR processing really allows me to get good detail under that front porch. <br /> <br /> I had taken a winter view shot with HDR processing and posted it back in January:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#758696696_WEJyH">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#758696696_WEJyH</a><br /> <br /> I also found I posted a summer view back last July too but it was not HDR and looks quite flat in comparison to this one:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#600312911_2pFjB">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#600312911_2pFjB</a><br /> <br /> My understanding is that this was a house...that someone lived here. See the chimney on the back roof? Someone had pointed out before that there don't seem to be enough windows for a house. Hmmm.... I guess it's a mystery;-) No neighbors in the community nextdoor to it were out yesterday to reask.<br /> <br /> I wish the sky was more dramatic, but it was late day flat for sure.<br /> <br /> According to RDU yesterday, we hit 102, and that was a record. It was sweltering! I had the sprinkler going out front trying to salvage a few more days out of the gloriosa daisies and caught this brown thrasher pair in the birdbath/sprinkler:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927059212_2YQDX">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927059212_2YQDX</a><br /> <br /> My first shot of a buck this year:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927064763_SMEsy">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#927064763_SMEsy</a><br /> Probably 8-10 deer total in that group last night.<br /> <br /> My evening photo shoot was pretty productive.<br /> <br /> Thanks for the comments on the torch. Very pretty for a torch I thought.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/07/10 - The Torch<br /> Just another shot I took Sunday at the 4th of July waterslide party. I really liked the mirror pieces on the side of the torch and how the light was interacting with the mirrors and the leaves in the background. <br /> <br /> Thanks for all the comments on the yellow lily from yesterday...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/06/10 - Lily in the Light<br /> I took a few minutes at one point Sunday to walk over to Danny's holding garden by the pool and take this picture. This 8'X8' square garden is in the woods, and at various times of day it is more or less in the sun. At this particular time, it was mostly in the shade with a few rays of light conveniently coming through on various lilies in bloom. So, this was definitely taken outside and not in a studio.<br /> <br /> I increased the shadows and used the spot healing brush to fix a couple of black dots and white spots.<br /> <br /> I find I just don't have as much to say with Joey and Johnny gone. That wonderful love of life and enthusiasm that they naturally add to everything I do is suffering. I did do a little shopping yesterday with Madi and Teen and it was great while we were out but much, much too quiet after I was back home by myself. Blaze is enjoying the extra attention, though.<br /> <br /> Back to work for me today, but hey, I am off duty now. Woo hoo! No more night wake-ups for a while I hope!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> Late Note:<br /> A part of me likes the other lily petal in the upper left. It kindof conveys unity to me. Yet, I can see the power of solitary too. I cleaned up the shot to remove the other lily, and it's here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#925262563_FJUrn">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#925262563_FJUrn</a>
  • 07/05/10 - 4th of July Celebration 2010<br /> I really missed Joey and Johnny yesterday. I wasn't sure if I could go hang out with the usual crew or not, but I figured it was the right thing to do to give it a try. At first I didn't want to take my camera out of the case, but then somebody did something that caught my eye, and I got it out. The rest is pretty much history. "MeMe, take my picture..." There is something definitely healing about looking at the world through my camera lens.<br /> <br /> We hung out longer than usual, and the kids behaved great, and fun was had by all. <br /> <br /> The shot in the middle is a little lighthearted humor about how the popsicles we all enjoyed turned everyone's tongue a different color:-) Not your average group shot!<br /> <br /> A super big thanks to these great friends for reaching out to me yesterday when otherwise I'm sure I would have sat home and sulked. Nothing can replace the lost memories the boys and I would have created if we'd all been together, but I'm sure there will be other great memories with our community family in the future. The boys are having a lot of fun where they are this week, but I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that there will be more forced times apart and lost memories. <br /> <br /> At the end of the day, we had a fox come visit some of the party scraps we had thrown out in the woods. I thought at 10:30 at night I didn't need my camera anymore and didn't it have it handy:-( Got to see him lit up with a flashlight, though, and that was really neat.<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your kind comments on my web shot from yesterday...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/04/10 - Little Miss Spider<br /> Actually, I don't think the spider is visible on the web. I took some trash out yesterday, and this spiderweb was over the garbage can. I thought it was kindof cool and went and got my camera. It's been a long time since I saw a web that was visible with the right lighting so that I could get a shot highlighting it. I'm not happy about the upper right corner. I probably should have shifted to the right just a smidge. Oh well. <br /> <br /> A bigger view shot of the web is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#922357413_DEuJK">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#922357413_DEuJK</a><br /> It's really quite intricate.<br /> <br /> Happy 4th!<br /> Maryann
  • 07/03/10 - Fluffing My Feathers<br /> I was cleaning in my home office yesterday when I saw this guy out of the corner of my eye fly to what had to be the birdbath. I got up and looked out the kitchen window, and sure enough that's where he was. The camera was close by, so I started taking pics. There's a nice series in my new featured July gallery. <br /> <br /> The other shot I liked best was here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#921675972_ByQ6T">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2010/12783118_NM2Yu#921675972_ByQ6T</a><br /> <br /> The fireworks are in Fuquay tonight at 9:30. I love fireworks. Every year I have gone with the boys to Fuquay on the 3rd and Raleigh on the 4th. It's one of my favorite things to do each year. I hear they will be going to see them somewhere. That's good. I'll wait until I can go again with them sometime. Once you've seen the joy of something through you child's eye, there's no better lens.<br /> <br /> Hope you are with the family you love this weekend having a good time...<br /> Maryann
  • 07/02/10 - The Ceiling<br /> When I couldn't access the internet yesterday morning and they said the fix time would be and hour, I headed to Fuquay-Varina with Joey (Johnny was in camp) to run a few errands. I got to thinking that it would be fun to go to the bakery in town that was in the old Varina section, but I found out they were closed. So, I drove down Main Street and found The Sticky Boy Bread Co. Cool! It had been a while since I'd been in a bakery. Somehow in this area it's just not like up home even when people from up home make the food. Anyway, Joey and I were just delighted with the smells and sights inside. I got an Armadillo Frappe (caramel and chocolate and something else), a slice of lemon poppy seed cake with cream cheese frosting, a real pretzel, a cinnamon sticky bun with more cream cheese frosting, and a loaf of multigrain bread. Joey and I sat and enjoyed the frappe and the cake, and I took in the inside of the old converted building. I was just fascinated with the ceiling. Joey asked me why/what I was taking a picture of. I explained that they don't make ceilings like this anymore:-)<br /> <br /> I did an HDR and then an equalize filter again. A more original shot is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#920526955_9kfSN">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#920526955_9kfSN</a><br /> <br /> My real favorite shot from yesterday:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#920523060_65cuN">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#920523060_65cuN</a><br /> It was wow this and can we try that and did you see that Mom? and can we get some of that and... Joey appreciates his food:-)<br /> <br /> I started to say something yesterday and held back, but I just can't see going 9 days and not saying anything. Joey and Johnny left with their dad today to go to NY to see his family. This is a first on so many levels, and I am incredibly sad. It's probably best if you don't comment back on this specifically. Only them coming home will help. I just needed to say that I'm not feeling myself. It's been hard for me to do my normal routine for several days now including my pictures. <br /> <br /> Beautifully cooler and clear here today...refreshing when I walk out the door.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/01/10 - Mystery Building<br /> I'm posting late because I woke up to no internet access. Apparently there was a 4 fatality car accident about 3 miles from my home last night that cut the fiber optic cable. Police stated that no seatbelts were worn by the 4 young men:-(<br /> <br /> I took this picture yesterday on the same road where the accident happened last night. I've been thinking about taking a picture of this barn? for a while. I saw rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds over it and turned around deciding that yesterday was the day. Of course the rays ducked back in quickly, and they don't look like I saw or hoped they would in the shot, but I tried. <br /> <br /> This is a 3 bracketed image HDR'ed and then brought up in Elements. I made a duplicate layer and then equalized the duplicate. Then I made the equalized layer an overlay layer and reduced the opacity to like 35%. The properly exposed image in the bracketed series is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#918721784_CKj9Z">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#918721784_CKj9Z</a><br /> Not much to look at and surely this doctored up shot is better. Regular HDR is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#918724697_WbuXx">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#918724697_WbuXx</a><br /> <br /> In other news, Johnny lost his 3rd tooth last night:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#919263753_TbpiR">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#919263753_TbpiR</a><br /> He was excited to find that the Tooth Fairy had come this morning.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/30/10 - Another Swallowtail<br /> I shot this Monday too. Although I took a few shots yesterday, I didn't have a shot I felt good enough to share. This one really isn't as good as I'd like either, but it's what I have. I'm kindof hooked on butterflies and coneflower right now.<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the Maryland Meadow Beauty from yesterday...<br /> <br /> We had rain overnight but not enough to keep me from having to add water into my ornamental pond this morning. It's cooler, but the humidity is through the roof. Sigh...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/29/10 - Maryland Meadow Beauty<br /> Yep, that's what this somewhat alien looking flower is. I had posted a shot of this flower last year around this time and thought it was worth a second look. I have minimally cropped this shot to 8X10 size to remove some real estate off the right. I also adjusted the contrast and color just a bit. I liked how this shot shows all the stages of the flower from open to nearly open to done to somewhere inbetween.<br /> <br /> Last year's daily:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#638290006_LnQjg">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#638290006_LnQjg</a><br /> <br /> I am on call for work until Tuesday 7/6 in the AM. Sometimes this week my normal nighttime activities (like Smug) may be interrupted. I'm sorry I did not get around to everyone last night. I wanted to.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/28/10 - Orange? Sulfur<br /> I went back to the Yates Mill parking lot yesterday to see if I could see the King's Hairstreak again. No luck. I did find a Buckeye, American Lady, several types of skippers, a multitude of bees, and this orange sulfur (best guess). <br /> <br /> Thanks to Judy Horton, the plant they are on is apparently agastache. It is a very good-sized 5'X5'X4' bush! I have a zoomed out shot here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914353347_SUnca">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914353347_SUnca</a><br /> There is some Russian Sage in the parking lot, but not this bush. Russian sage has darker flowers and more spindly stems. <br /> <br /> This is worth looking at in larger sizes if you're interested. As with most of the recent butterfly shots, the wings are quite hairy...almost like fabric.<br /> <br /> I just wish the shadow on the eye was not there. I guess it's from the antenna. <br /> <br /> It was another scorcher here yesterday. We fed the ducks early at Lake Wheeler, grocery shopped, and stayed inside. <br /> <br /> I also saw several interesting dragonflies at Lake Wheeler some of which are not the ones I typically see at my local swamp area. A collage of the best 4 is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#915829967_TETgd">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#915829967_TETgd</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on yesterday's butterfly shot... <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/27/10 - Common Gray Hairstreak<br /> On the way to Marbles Kids Museum with the kids yesterday, I stopped at the Yates Mill parking lot to look for butterfly picture opportunities. I took several shots of skippers including one showing his straw (proboscis) perfectly coiled:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914348076_fvWfU">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914348076_fvWfU</a><br /> <br /> But I also saw this neat silver colored butterfly. After Googling for a few minutes, I found that this guy is a Gray Hairstreak. Somewhere between the size of a dime and a nickel...tiny. <br /> <br /> I think we can all agree that this would be a better shot if the butterfly were turned at least 15 more degrees towards me, but this is the best I got.<br /> <br /> I have to say that I was confused for a few minutes which was the head and which was the 'tail'. Look at the antennae look alike sticking out from the back (right). <br /> <br /> <br /> There is a better view of the tail here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914355057_HY2RB">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#914355057_HY2RB</a><br /> and then the thumbnail to the right of that one.<br /> <br /> The kids and I did have fun at Marbles. A collage of pics of our day is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbes-Kids-Museum-062610/12706129_KsNRT#914428578_dNifL">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbes-Kids-Museum-062610/12706129_KsNRT#914428578_dNifL</a><br /> <br /> Fireman John and tower builders Madi and Joey sure were fun to watch.<br /> <br /> Hope you're having a great weekend!<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> Edited on 6/29 to remove reference to King's Hairstreak which is rare. This was identified by a butterfly specialist as a common Gray Hairstreak.
  • 06/26/10 - Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Coneflower (I just don't have a creative title today)<br /> I stepped outside for a short break from work yesterday afternoon and headed to the Kidd Family garden to see if there was anything interesting to take a picture of. I found this swallowtail fluttering about going from flower to flower and started taking pictures of her. Most didn't turn out in the harsh light, but this one, and this one:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#913530214_rhnP8">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#913530214_rhnP8</a><br /> were kindof cool.<br /> <br /> I fixed a little wisp of a stray grass line in this shot, but otherwise did not modify it.<br /> <br /> It's a purplish pink hydrangea behind the coneflower in the background.<br /> <br /> In other news yesterday, Madi got 3 awards at the end of year (year round) awards ceremony at school. We are all so proud of her. Topping the awards was an actual trophy for AR reading. Essentially the kids read extra difficult books for their grade level and then take reading comprehension tests on them. Points are tallied and added up, and Madi had the most points of all the kids in kindergarten this year, so it really is an award that she worked hard to win. Picture of the proud girl and her trophy:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Children/Vance-End-of-Year-Awards/12690330_B9DsP#913089861_4F5W7">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Children/Vance-End-of-Year-Awards/12690330_B9DsP#913089861_4F5W7</a><br /> <br /> I made sure to let Joey know that I am very proud of his accomplishments this year too. I told him I don't need a piece of paper to be proud of him... He says he'd like to read more AR books next year:-)<br /> <br /> I think the kids and I are headed to Marbles Kids Museum today.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/25/10 - Seeing Double<br /> This shot was taken in my neighbor's garden (Madi's family). Their whole front flower garden is just a blaze of glory right now of lilies and other perennials. <br /> <br /> If your coffee wasn't enough to get you going this morning, surely the extra dose of color in this shot is:-)<br /> <br /> Too hot to be outside taking very many pics yesterday, but I did take a few shots of the garden in the AM and then some shots of an indoor end of year picnic (remember year round school) in Joey's classroom. <br /> <br /> I am honored by all the comments from yesterday on the sunflower shot. Wow! It went straight to #8 on my all time most popular list. I was amazed to watch it. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and the time you spend to look at my dailies.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> It's Friday!!!

  • 349390pitchingwedge33

    on August 3, 2010

    brilliant and bold colors.... love the exposure....

  • Rick Willis

    on June 26, 2010

    Color me Yellow and Orange...

  • dakotacowboy

    on June 26, 2010

    like the colors

  • Gene Hyder

    on June 26, 2010

    Wonderful shot.

  • Howard's Photography

    on June 26, 2010

    Wow, beautiful capture! You're right, we could be twins, these are simply gorgeous, such vibrant colors : )

  • Andrea Kaus (ChaosGraphics)

    on June 25, 2010

    This would be a perfect Easter card shot

  • fotoeffects

    on June 25, 2010

    Wonderful double lilies...perfect exposure and focus!

  • Dan and Patti (bayislandphotography)

    on June 25, 2010

    When i was a kid, these flowers grew everywhere in the neighborhood. Brings back some memories seeing these. Nice shot of them.

  • irishmurr

    on June 25, 2010

    Gorgeous shot! Love the tones and light -- and that wonderful burst of color!

  • warrenfam

    on June 25, 2010

    Very vibrant shot.

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