Sylvia's Simple Shots

This is a Larch Tree bud. It looks like a beautiful bouquet of pink and green.  We have several trees in the park.  The morning sun made it look glorious.

A Larch tree is a coniferous tree which unlike it's cousins loses it's leaves in the fall.

We really need rain to clean things and get nature really greening up.   It feels things are a couple weeks late which is just as well since we have to stay home anyway.

We are scheduled to have some restrictions lifted in a couple of weeks but I have I'm not going to be one just getting out there and crazy shopping.  I will give it a couple of weeks and see how it goes. I do have a few things to get for some renovations I need so we shall see.

I want to thank Margy who left me a comment on last weeks post where I packed away the puzzle.

She suggested that she does puzzles on line where there is nothing to put away. You can decide the number of pieces, the subject matter and the type of pieces which adds some difficulty to the process.

This is exactly what I needed.  I can spent an hour on the internet, see nice art, work my brain a bit with an interactive activity and it just gets put away with no mess.

I have been using The Jigsaw Puzzles website.  I liked the variety of subject matter available - I have done flowers and art.

It dumps all the pieces on your workspace but you can ask to only see the edge pieces.  That is normally what I would with a physical puzzle. Once the edge is done then the rest of the pieces are shown.  I organize the pieces by color and start assembling shapes.  You can look at the image any time just like looking a the top of the box.  I have been doing 250 piece ones with the classic cut pieces.  Love it.

I decided to choose a few places along my walking route to plant a few flower seeds.   I think I have selected places that are pretty well lit.  Some of the seeds are very old so I don`t even know if they will grow.  They were predicting rain for today so I did that yesterday morning on my walk. Of course, if they grow I will have to take my chances that I can actually pick a few as other may think they are nice too.  I`m putting it out there to see what happens.

The rain came.  It was predicted that we would have big winds but it did not happen.  It started after supper yesterday, rained all night and it is still raining.  A nice steady rain which will soak things nicely without having flooding and washing away of dirt.

I expect that nature will respond wonderfully to this much needed moisture.  By the end of the week things will be green and wonderful.
I will keep an eye on my flowers.

The challenge at Flickr Macro Monday was kitchen but no food was allowed.   This is one of the shots I prepared for the challenge. 

You can check my SMDPics photo stream to which shot I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #78 

and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #239  

I had a funky down week into my 8th week with Sheltering in Place.  I am feeling better. Have a great week!

Recent Photos

I attended the Grand Opening of this antique store on Saturday. There were a lot of folks who dropped by to say Congrats to Alex Archbold who owns this great store. 

I have been checking out his Curiosity Inc YouTube channel since the spring.  I was looking for antique stores here and his store came up.  He bought this store which was built in 1913, made some renovations, and filled it with great stuff. 

You can check his channel to read about his adventures in finding treasures, the Potter's House, and helping others who need a hand up in life.  I can't wait to see the cutest panel van he has purchased as his delivery van on the road!  Check out the store if you are in the area.

This is the book on my night stand these days.   It has been there for a while as it different kind of reading than fiction.

I have renewed my commitment to meditation as a way to relax before bed which helps to get a good night's rest.  I found a couple of music mpg which are a very nice way to end the day.  Away from the TV and computer screen.  I have put them on my MP3 player.



It was election day here so I went early in the morning.


I visited a couple of parks on Saturday since the weather is still nice. 

The colors are interesting as the leaf on the left is what we normally expect but I found these Maple Tree seeds which looks silvery and sparkly.

Photo Blogging Challenge - Nature

Nature is the challenge for September at the Photo Blogging Challenge.

I chose 5 photos taken in recent days.  This rose was found on a bush which must be one of the final ones as we move into autumn.

It is a bright spot in the park as nature turns to more quiet colors.


Love the bright deep pink color of the layered blossom.  A domestic variety planted planted in a park.









Of course, another fall activity in nature is the gathering of the birds who are preparing for their migratory journeys.

This pond in the park had many Canada Geese as they rally to migrate south.

They are eating and gaining energy for the long flight to winter grounds in California and Northern Mexico.

There were a few ducks but mostly geese in this pond.

This was taken on one of the last days that we have seen wonderful sunlight late in the day. 

The leaves turn color as nature adjusts to the less light and cooler temperatures.   The color was there all along and as chlorophyll disappears the color is revealed.

Most leaves here in the west turn yellow with not much red or orange. 

I believe this is "River Birch" tree leaves.

The leaf was backlit by the late afternoon sun.

As the growing season runs down the plants are making seeds to ensure their continued propagation  next year.

This is a Canada Thistle seed head ready to release thousands of seeds in hopes of making more plants in the spring. 

It is considered a weed in our area.

As fall returns the sun sets earlier each week. 

I caught this grass seed head against the setting sun.   I am amazed at how fast to comes.

Sharing with P.J. at A Lil Hoo Haa who hosts the Photo Blogging Challenge.

Photo Cards - Frameable Art - Craft Sale

I love the leaves on this bush with their rounded ends and beautiful coloring of green transitioning to red as fall arrives.

My best guess is this is the Barberry - Crimson Pygmy bush.  I love the shadows captured along with small and medium leaf sizes.

With that coloring it could almost do a Christmas card if you did not expect it to have snow.

Love it.













Here I have captured a group of maple leaf tree seeds back lit by the morning sun.

I love how as your eye goes up the photo the seeds become darker and but still outlined by the light providing texture to the overall image.









A red poppy converted to the 4x6 format for this card.

It was taken at the Community Garden this summer.

These all make wonderful all occasion cards.

A note to the friend, a birthday greeting, the maple seeds could be a sympathy card.

You may recognize this image which I submitted to a photo competition this summer.

Resized into a 4x6 for photo cards.

Love the calm water and the water drops on the leaf.









These cards are easily framed in the 5x7 frame.  Arranged singly or in a trio would quickly perk up a room, front hall or office area. Great value too.  I`ve selected a small profile frame in basic black with makes the most of the Nine Bark flower in the photo.

Recent Events

We had our Summer BBQ for our women's group on Monday night.

I prepared some door prizes.

This is a box of photo cards from my own photos.  I included a few images from my upcoming Simple Nature 2019 calendar.

I put in 12 cards and then created a insert to provide details and fill the additional space in the box.

Turned out really well.

On the weekend as I was working on photos, mats and frames for my photo show at the end of June I was forced to evaluate what I had in stock.

I found several frames which would not the type required for gallery shows. I decided to fill them with photos and donate them as prizes for the BBQ.

On the right is "Bright Sparrow" which was framed in a float frame 6x8 inches.  The frame as a claw hanger and a wire stand.


This is a Spring Blossom in wonderful shades of pink.

This is a plastic frame 8x8 glass which held one of the photos I printed for consideration in the show at the end of the month.

Photographing frame art is difficult and challenging. The reflections of what is around just appear hence the plaid of my shirt in the right hand corner.

These were well received.



We played some games in guessing flower plants and the names of birds.  We also played the first letter game which I love.

I won a couple of prizes related to gardening.  A yellow watering can and a box for seed packets.

The table cloths where aqua. Don't you love the nature napkins we had at our place settings.

The table center pieces were vases filled with daisies and baby's breath.  Our theme was "Bloom where you are Planted".

Our guest spoke about seeds holding the power to grow and how we can use our power in Christ to bloom where we a planted in different phases of our lives.  

I was lucky enough to bring home one of the centerpieces so I am enjoying fresh flowers on my table this.  Thank you.



I have all green lights on the new internet modem installed yesterday.

I have to say that living with out internet is becoming difficult as much of the information we use is only available there.

Addresses, reviews, email, websites.  I was lost for a while but I am back on-line.

Sharing with Share Your Cup #293 hosted by Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson.

Dandelion in the Sun

I took this photo on my walk this morning. The weather was perfect not too hot not too cool.

This is a dandelion in full seed.  The shot is taken from the underside. I love the way the sun highlights the fluffy white seeds.  The white clouds in the sky provide a repetition of the white.  The sun through the green spikes looks great.

I'm submitting it to:
Macro Monday 2
I Heart Macro