Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

September 4, 2013

Good morning on this beautiful sunny day in New England.  Pogo and I enjoyed sleeping late, even though breakfast did not go over so big with Pogo.  I gave him doggie food.  Hmm, must be something in the doggie food that he doesn't like.  Maybe if I start infusing it with some bologna he might like it.  I'll have to try this.

Today's new challenge at our Photography Plus forum is to share photos straight out of the camera.  No tweaking, sharpening, etc.  I chose one of my close up photos of the Mama Swan from this past Spring.  Here is the original shot straight from the camera, then a copy with just a bit of tweaking for color and clarity.

 

I know that the differences between these two photos is rather subtle, but when I try to enhance a photo, I try not to change the photo itself.  I like to leave the photo looking as natural as possible. 

 

Well, yesterday was another of those days where I start one thing and finish with another thing.  I think this has a lot to do with the fact that housework is my least favorite thing to do.  As teenagers, my brother and I had to do over and over until we got them perfect.  Mother was an immaculate housekeeper and we had to be too. 

 

As a young bride and mother, my home sparkled.  Alas, as I got older, I learned the ease and fun of sloppiness and clutter.  I learned that dust bunnies had feelings too and they needed a home just as much as I did.  Sharing space became much more important than perfection.   I have a sort of "multicultural" home.  There is my space, Pogo's space, and of course, the dust bunnies' space.  And, the best part is how well we all live together comfortably.

 

Enough chatter.  How about a really pretty bee photo?  I think that the softness of all the pastel colors with the yellow and black makes for a very pleasing image. 

 

 

Now I want to finish my coffee, and catch up on reading my favorite blogs.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

Early Morning Energy Burst

September 3, 2013

Good morning.  Today is starting off rather pretty, so maybe we won't get much rain today.  Here's one of the photos that I took during the rain yesterday morning.  It was coming down quite heavy and dancing all over the top of my car.

Just as I was going to put my camera away, this large branch broke off from the tree in the front yard and fell into the street.  Luckily, there weren't very many branches down on my way home (from work).

During the day yesterday, the rain did stop and Pogo and I got to walk around the yard for a bit of fresh air.  Later, after a refreshing nap, I did manage to get a few things done around here.  The key word is "few".  After supper, I worked on gathering photos for next year's calendar.  I like to choose about eighteen of my favorites from the current year, and then I narrow that down to twelve.

I'm just looking for a few more photos, then I will make my final selections.  It will feel good to know that my calendar is ready for printing.   Next I need to order my next two Blog Books for the first eight months of this year.  I've been posting so many photos that the books are getting too big for just two books for the year so I'm going to try making three books this year.

I'm watching the Weather Channel and they are showing videos of the 65 year old woman who just finished the 110 mile oceanic swim without flippers or a shark cage.    This was her fifth attempt to accomplish this feat.  Congratulations to you Ma'am, but I personally think you are nuts for trying this without a shark cage. 

This morning, Pogo and I got up rather early, around 4:30 a.m.  While I had this little burst of energy, I diced up a couple of green peppers and put them away.  Then I started cleaning out old medicine bottles.  This lead to dumping out some very old vitamins that were just taking up space on the pantry shelf.  After this, it was time for a snack.  Some chicken for Pogo, and a dish of fruit for me. 

Phew!  Well now, that tuckered me out so we went back to bed for a while.  My energy bursts don't seem to last very long any more.  This must be another of those "perks" for the golden years.  It's not the greatest perk because it's hard to finish anything with such a short energy spurt. 

Well, that's my news for this morning.  Now I shall look for some more mischief to get into.  Better yet, maybe I shall pull up a chair and do a bit of shredding.  While cleaning out some of the clutter, I've accumulated quite a pile of papers that need to be shredded.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Oh My, Even More Rain!

September 2, 2013

Well, we won't have to be watering our gardens and lawns for a while.  They are getting a good soaking with these thunderstorms.  During the night, there was a lot of light flashes in the sky, but not to much thunder and heavy rain until around six o'clock this morning.  Then the heavens let it all hang out.  There was also a breeze with the heavy rain, so at times the rain was falling on a slant. 

I took my camera outside under the back door awning to see if maybe I could get some shots of lightning.  But of course, that was not to be.  Then I tried catching the lightning on a video, but again I failed miserably. 

I'm watching the Weather Channel and they say we are on alert for flash flooding until this evening.  As long as my basement doesn't flood again, I can manage with all the rain.  Pogo has a Potty Patch in the pantry, so he does not have to go outside in this yucky weather.  Thank goodness because I don't relish standing out in the rain waiting for him to find just the right spot to sprinkle on. 

Speaking of Pogo, here's a new photo that I took a couple of days ago.  He is snuggled into the fuzzy blankets in his bed.  Now be honest.  Wouldn't you just love to come home to this little guy after a long shift at work?    Even when he is naughty, he is precious. 

Today is Labor Day, 2013.  Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicasted to the social and economic achievements of American workers.  It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. 

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.  The second Labor Day holiday was held a year later on September 5, 1883.  In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, and by 1885 it was celebrated throughout most of the country, and later became a national holiday.  (This information courtesy of Google)

I also have a couple photos of some roses in my garden.  Obviously, these photos were taken a couple of days ago before the rains came.

Well that's my news for this morning.  Now I'm going to enjoy my coffee and play a while with Pogo.  Enjoy your Labor Day everyone.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Finally, A Little Rain

September 1, 2013

The thunder storms have finally found us, and it has been rainy all morning with a few rather noisy booms.  I was about to say that the skies are getting quieter now, but there were just a few more rumbles up yonder there.   It's a good day to sleep in and be lazy.

Yesterday it seemed that I was busy most of the day, but when I look around afterwards, it doesn't look as though I did very much.  Oh well.  Tonight is a work night so I think I'll just catch up on some reading today.

I looked out the kitchen window yesterday, just in time to see a pretty orangey yellow butterfly enjoying lunch on one of the butterfly bushes.  I grabbed my camera and went outside to get a few photos.  Have you ever noticed the long tube on the front of a butterfly's face?  I never did, but I got a great shot of this little critter's face.

Here's a close up so you can see that long straw-like tube.  I wonder where he hides this thing when he is flying or just sitting on a flower.

Before I forget, let me post the September page from this year's calendar.  Wow, can you believe it?  There's only four months left in this year. 

This will be a really short post because I have no news for today.  It's just another dull, gray, wonderfully restful day.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day

Hugs, Edna B.

National Bacon Day

August 31, 2013,

Tis the beginning of a long weekend here in the United States.  So far, the weather is holding up nicely.  It's cloudy, yet warm.  Temps should hit the low 80's with isolated thunder storms. 

I seem to be catching up on a lot of sleep these past two nights.  Thursday night, I got all comfy in my lounge chair with a bottle of water and Pogo on my lap all set to watch my favorite TV program, and oh no!  I fell asleep.  I remembered my program on my way to work yesterday morning.  Oh well.

All is not lost though. I tape this program every week.  So, last night after Pogo and I had our supper, we got all comfy again, and settled in to watch the program.  I think I saw maybe the first two minutes before I fell asleep.  I awoke a couple of hours later, well after the program ended.  This is not going well at all. 

One more try, and I finally managed to watch the whole program.  I also got to watch a couple of Law & Order repeats that I had missed before I fell asleep again for the rest of the night. 

Today is National Bacon Day, and (on TV) they are showing images of new "Bacon" products for folks who love the scent of bacon.  They have "Bacon Lip Balm", "Bacon Soap" and "Bacon Bandages" among other things.  Can you imagine walking around smelling like a slab of cooked bacon? 

Yesterday at work, I was able to enjoy watch some of the little birds enjoying the cone  flower seeds.  Most of these birds were yellow finches.  They were a distance away, but you can make the birds out in the photos.

Some of the birds were tucked inside the flower stems, and were not so easy to find with the camera, and others were sitting high up on the cable wires waiting for a chance to fly down and scoop up some seeds.

 

There's not much news for this morning, so I think I'll get dressed and maybe do a few things around here.  Maybe Pogo and I can play out in the yard a bit before any rain gets here.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

Splishing And Splashing

August 30, 2013

Good morning.  Wow, only one more day of August left.  I can't get over how quickly we have gone from a few sweltering days right into September.  Well, at least that's how it feels to me.  I'm sure there are others who feel that the Summer lasted long enough. 

This morning is quite gray and cool.  (low 60's at the moment)  I'll have to turn on the Weather channel to see what's in store for the weekend weather.  This is a holiday weekend and lots of folks are planning to have outdoor family gatherings.  Hopefully the weather will be nice for the whole weekend. 

I'm at work now, so I'll get right to some photos before the Mrs awakes.  First, I have another beautiful scrap book page that Kyra made for me.  Thank you so much Kyra.  I love watching these happy little ducks splash and play in the pond.

Next I have a couple of "buggy" photos.  This grasshopper did not mind posting for the camera as long as I didn't get too close.   

Oh my, the local weather has just been announced.  Today will be cloudy and get up to the low 80's.  However, they are forecasting scattered thunder showers for Saturday through Tuesday.   Oh my, this will probably upset a lot of folks' weekend plans.  For me, it does not matter.  My only plans include doing housework and going to work.  lol.

Well, it's time for me to get busy here.  Mrs will be wanting her breakfast soon.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

p.s.  The photos that I posted a couple of days ago were not of a fox.  It was a coyote. 

Get Well Wishes For Izzi And Izzy

August 29, 2013

Good afternoon.  Wow, I think I got caught up on a lot of my missing sleep!  Pogo and I slept till almost noon today.  I must say that it did feel good even though I feel a little guilty about making my little guy wait so long for his breakfast.  I even missed putting the mail out in the box this morning.  Oh well, it can wait till tomorrow.

I won't gab very long today because I have some things that need to be done here and if I don't get started soon, I won't start at all.  The older I get, the lazier I get.  I've already started making my food shopping list, the laundry is waiting to be put into the washer, and the stove is all set up to start making my meat sauce for tonight's supper.

First I do have a couple of photos of the Mrs' pretty roses.  They are a pretty dark rosy pink color, just perfect for the oncoming new season. 

Did I say "oncoming" season?  Yup!  In just three weeks, Autumn will be here.  Soon all the trees here will be changing colors, and leaves will begin falling everywhere.  Autumn is one of my two favorite seasons.  The temperatures, the colors and the fresh crisp morning air just can't be beat.

Pogo's friend Izzi has not been feeling so good lately, and Pogo wants to send his best get well licks to Izzi.  Be feeling good soon my friend.  I'm also sending "get well" wishes to another little Yorkie named Izzy.  I hope both you fur babies are feeling better soon.

That's it for today.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day. 
Hugs, Edna B.