Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Photography


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Barn Hunt

When was the last time I set out on a photo shoot specifically to find barns?

It’s so long ago that I don’t remember. Sure I’ve grabbed barn images on my way to and from other places. But to go out looking for barns?

It’s been forever.

Last Sunday morning the blue sky sported fluffy white clouds as accessories and I just could not stop myself. It was physically impossible not to get into the car and start driving.

I tried to keep it reasonable. After all, gas around here is regularly over $4.00 a gallon. And I was driving a new car with low mileage that we’d like to keep low. At least for awhile.

But still…blue sky and barns. Maybe the soybeans just north of us would be turning yellow. It was a possibility given the lack of rain lately.

Blue sky and barns and yellow soybeans. Yep I could see it in my head. Would I find it in reality?

I drove for a total of three hours, slightly up north, a bit over to the west, around big country blocks, looking for the image in my brain.

I never found it, exactly. The soybeans are a persistent green, though if you squint you can sort of see a yellowish cast in small parts of the fields. Or that could just be me and wishful thinking.

I didn’t shoot any amazing barns, though I saw three really beautiful ones while I was on a busy road with nowhere to pull over. You’ll just have to conjure those up in your own minds.

But I found some pretty enough barns and experienced a few faded memories of driving these same roads years ago on other barn hunts.

It was a nice day. The sky, in the end, was the star of the show.

And I smiled at it on my drive back home. In my experience you can almost always count on the sky to come through for you, day or night when you’re out looking for something pretty.

It was a short, sweet and fun barn hunt that sort of eased the wanderlust in me. For the moment anyway. I know there are barns out there just waiting to be found. And maybe there’s one in the middle of a yellow soybean field if I get lucky and time it right.

Don’t see why that can’t happen.


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A visitor. Or is it two visitors?

This week I was washing dishes and caught this Coopers Hawk sitting on my deck railing.

I quietly slid away and walked silently to the living room to grab my camera. Amazingly enough Penny moved silently next to me.

I didn’t really expect the bird to still be there when I returned. They generally don’t wait for me.

But he (or she) was still there, seemingly unfazed. I watch it for a long time, even moving to a better window. It picked up one foot and tucked it into it’s chest feathers.

And then suddenly it flew. I expected that to be it.

But it only flew about 3 feet, to the corner of the deck where it could inspect the ground under some shrubs.

We used to have quite a few chipmunks. I haven’t seen one in awhile.

Then it flew away, and I figured that was it. But it showed up again about 10 minutes later, back on the deck railing, watching the back yard, inspecting the ground and the sky.

Turns out he or she was being harassed by bees.

When it left, being pursued by the bees, I was SURE I wouldn’t see it again.

Until about 30 minutes later when I walked through the master bedroom and guess who was on the bedroom deck railing? I didn’t have my camera with me, so these were taken with my phone.

Yep, our favorite (or perhaps least liked, depending on whether you’re a chipmunk) bird.

But…is this the same bird? Or a different one? Perhaps they’re a couple? Or parent and child?

Your call.


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While I wasn’t looking

I’ve been gone for a week, and when I came back I was surprised to see how well the zinnias were doing. Along with other stuff. But mostly the zinnias.

Last evening I took the dog out after her supper. The garden was mostly in shadow. But there was one beautiful monarch zipping among the blossoms.

Notice the tongue slurping up the nectar.

We went back inside for the camera. Poor Penny had to wait to do her business while I stood there, foot on her leash and shot over 200 images.

She’s a good girl. Patient about her mom taking pictures of stuff not her. I promised her I’d take her to the park soon.


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Relaxing in the South

My week in the south at my parents’ house started out with a great walk up Smith Mountain to climb the local fire tower.

Many of you have seen the fire tower in pictures before. I wish you all could come with me and experience the view from the top. This trip I was lucky to have the company of fellow blogger Mike from MLCreations to climb with me.

The mountain trail was it’s usual beautiful self, and the climb up the tower was it’s usual long way. We had a nice breeze and a great view at the top. It’s always worth the climb.

On the way back to the car we explored the fire road that runs around the base of the mountain. By the time we got back to the car we were ready for lunch on the deck, complete with a yummy pound cake provided by Mike. All in all, a lovely day with very nice company.

Since then the house has been filed with family, coming and going, busy, busy, busy, but not too busy to enjoy how beautiful the lake is.

Morning reflections and evening sunsets have slowed us down and made us more observant. That’s a good thing and exactly what spending time at this cabin is designed to accomplish.

I’m just lucky I got to come down. Every time I’m here I vow to come back soon, to not let so much time go between visits, but somehow I turn around and months, sometimes years, have gone by.

This time I’m going to try harder to be back before another year slips away.


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Happening on my deck this week

This juvenile male oriole learned all about bathing this week. When I first noticed him he was standing on the edge while a little brown bird splashed around. He stared at the brown bird. I went to get my camera. By the time I got back he was in the bath too.

So you just shake your feathers?

He seemed a bit unsure, but it didn’t take long until he was fully immersed in the experience. Literally.

Like this, right?

Brown bird: I’m outta here!

That’s OK…more water for me!

Rub a dub, dub. One bird in a tub!

Look! I can draw a heart with my tail!

Oh what a wonderful feeling, oh what a wonderful day!

A little more tail action. I wonder if any girls are around.

Hey…did I hear mom or dad call me?

Time to go!

It’s supper time!


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It’s all fun and games

This morning I was headed out the back door when I saw, directly in front of me, a deer staring back. We both had that kind of ‘deer in headlights’ look. I quickly sidestepped out of sight and walked quietly over to the living room to get my camera. And then it hit me. It was a fawn I saw. By the time I slowly and quietly slid back to the door the fawn had moved.

Nom, nom, nom. This hydrangea is very tasty!

I felt disappointed that I had missed the beautiful, full faced, shot. But I was also very happy.

Very happy because in early summer we had seen only one mama deer with one baby. And a few days after seeing mama with her newborn, I came across a fawn stretched out in the road as if asleep, but clearly not. I have only seen mama once since, with no baby in tow. I silently told her how sorry I was.

All summer I haven’t seen the mama deer. I assumed she had left the area to grieve alone. But this morning, here was a large fawn, so maybe our little one hadn’t been killed? And where was mama during this visit?

What is that kid getting into now?

Oh, yes, there she is. Watchful as always.

And then the baby took off across the yard so fast I couldn’t see where he or she went. I switched windows to watch the yard. And then this happened.

I’m just so happy!

I can’t stop my happy feet from running!

I feel happy, dancing without a roof!

I’ll kick up my heels and release the joy!

Hey, quit fooling around!

I’m just a kid, mom, don’t you remember how fun it was to be young?

It’s my favorite time of the year. OK, it’s my only time of the year so far in my young life…

I just can’t stop leaping for joy!

I’m a race car!

Such joyful running, in big loops around the backyard. Racing from behind shrubs, circling the white pine, at full speed. Over and over and over this little one danced with glee through the yard.

I’m a kangaroo!

I shot 300+ pictures. Some of them almost in focus.

I’m exhausted!

He or she kept on running. I kept on taking pictures. Until finally he (I’ve decided it’s a he) stopped behind a blue spruce and snuck a peek over near where mama stood. I think he was tuckered out. He went over to mom who had come out from behind the bush to reign in her kid.

I hope you got THAT out of your system!

But what is this?

It takes 2 mamas to corral me!

A 2nd mama? Is my little guy being mothered by two moms? Or is this daddy and mama and baby?

But wait….what’s this?

You, little one, are a bad influence on my kid!

Another baby! Two mamas and two babies!

The little group hung around in the shadows for a bit of time before moving off.

It’s all fun and games until somebody breaks a leg. Let me check to make sure you’re alright.

But not without one last look at the house.

Just so you know. I see you, lady.

By mama and baby. Just so I knew they knew they were being watched.

I’m watching you too, lady. (Hope you liked the show!)

Glad to have you in the neighborhood, family. You made me smile.


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Got a little damp

I wasn’t going to post today. I’ve got lots of stuff I need to do and posting wasn’t high on my to-do list. But moving the images from my camera to storage was. And I promised myself I wasn’t going to look at them. Because I don’t have time, you know.

But I did. It was raining one morning this week and I was shooting birds (not literally) through the window. This one made me laugh out loud. You never know what you’ve got until you look at them on a bigger screen.

So I’m sharing it with you. I hope you smile too.