Macro Monday ~ June 18, 2012

Summer Fruit

 

 When I see and smell these luscious fruits of summer my mind automatically goes to homemade strawberry ice cream and blackberry cobbler. Some of my best summer memories are from  the family reunions on the Fourth of July at my aunt and uncle's home!

They had an old, wooden, hand crank ice cream maker. I can remember my cousins and I turning the crank anxiously waiting for the ice cream to make. Then the rapture of eating that first bite!!  Summer is just not complete with out homemade ice cream! I think I'll make some when my grandsons come to visit next month!  My ice cream maker is electric and sometimes I really miss the feel of turning that crank!

Blackberries bring more childhood memories!  While we were at my aunt's and uncle's home my grandfather would take us for a bumpy ride through the pastures in a wagon pulled behind a tractor. He'd pull us up right beside the blackberry bushes. We'd reach out, pick berries, and eat them straight off the vine!  Then, we'd collect some and take home with us.  Later we'd be treated with the most delicious blackberry cobbler!

That's me sitting on the tractor.  And, no we weren't allowed to drive the tractor, but we could pose for Uncle Harry!  In the trailer is my sister and our cousin is in front of her. Don't you just love our straw hats!!  We look just like farm girls!!

Years later, our children rode in the wagon. The beautiful girl waving at her momma is my daughter and the precious baby sleeping on my SIL's shoulder is my son. Sitting beside her making sure she's taking care of his son, is my husband.  Special moments captured of special family traditions!

Linking with Lisa's chaos and her Macro Monday.

Macro Monday ~ June 11, 2012

If anyone can identify this, I would love to know!

I have an update!

Tina from http://nfmemes.blogspot.se/  suggested this might be an Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)  butterfly. I checked on google and it does match some of the images I found.  Thank you so much Tina!  She also  invited me to join in her Nature Footsteps Winged On Thursday link up! 

Click the button on the left to see more macro images and the button on the right to see more winged animals!

         

Macro Monday ~ June 4

There is such a beautiful little world out there!! We're often too busy to just stop and look around. I think that is why I love macro photography so much. For those of you who are not photographers, macro photography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects, in which the size of the subjects in the photograph is greater than life size. I'm intrigued by the unusual little details of nature; the colors and the shapes that show up in close-up photography. For instance, have you ever seen moss up really close? Probably not. This is the first time I've seen all those little protrusions that are growing from the moss on this rock.

I also spotted these protrusions growing from the leaves of a tree. I would love to know what kind of tree it is if anyone knows!

Go outside this week;

stop,

look up,

look down,

look all around very slowly,

and see what you can discover!!

 

Macro Monday ~ May 27

We look at flowers and see their beauty.

We bend closer, sniff, and savor their scent.

We cut some and bring them inside to enjoy.

We grab our camera's and can't seem to stop taking pictures of them.

The beauty does fade.

The petals fall.

The blooms wither.

 

Do we ever stop and see the beauty in the ordinary,
In the fallen,
In the withered?

Withered flowers have a beauty of their own.

It's a gentle reminder to me that we may not all be stunningly beautiful, but we can let our inner beauty shine.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:16

Macro Monday ~ May 21

My Day Lilies are blooming!

Each morning, they open their blooms,

face the sun, and reach for the sky.

They could be sad that they only have a few hours

to shine before they close, wither, and fall.

It doesn't seem to bother them though.

They are eager to share their beauty with the world.

We need to approach life this way.

We need to realize that each day is a gift from God.

We need to celebrate and shine each day...this day!

We need to spread a little love and joy to others.

Time is short, for us and the Day Lilly.

Don't waste yours on worry, regrets, or fears.

Live today, enjoy today

Shine every single moment!!

It's been so hot, I turned on the sprinkler to give them a much needed drink!

Ah!! The beauty of water drops!

Day Lilies Haiku

by Cathy H.

Apricot flowers

Glorious only one day

Blowing in the breeze

Looking Back Over Spring

This spring seemed to exceptionally beautiful! I don't know if it was the warmer winter we had that made the flowers extra beautiful or if maybe I was just seeing more this year!  I'm beginning my second year as a photographer, not just a picture taker!  I now see the world with different eyes. The macro world of nature has left me in awe!  There is such beauty in the details that normally our eyes would not even see.  As summer fast approaches I want to share a little of the color and beauty I've captured in the past couple of months.

 

Viewing and capturing nature fills me with gratitude. I am grateful that our God created this gorgeous world we live in for his pleasure and for ours!

"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6)

 (All of these images were taken at the botanical gardens in Wildwood Park For The Performing Arts.)

Linking with

        

Macro Monday ~ May 7

I don't think I will ever tire of looking for unique things in nature!  It doesn't matter how many times I walk the same path I can always find something new and exciting like this heart-shaped whole in a leaf!

This turtle was peeking around the edge of our barn. The first things I saw was his leg and I immediately jumped back thinking it was a snake! I've never thought about what color a turtle's eye is! I was also fascinated with the colors and texture of his neck!

Click on the button above and join us at Macro Monday or just take a look at all the amazing macro images others have submitted!

Hope you're having a fantastic Monday!!

Macro Monday ~ April 30

I've been in a little bit of a photo-taking slump this past week! I just can't seem to get inspired by anything. I'm a little tired of taking photos of flowers, especially since the only things blooming right now in my yard are petunias and clematis! Don't get me wrong! I love flowers, but how many images do I really need of these two flowers! I went in search of something, anything, for today's macro shot and came up empty handed. Then, we had a quick little shower and I always like to find water drops, so I tried again. While looking around my shade gardens at the different hostas and the rain drops on them, I spotted this beautiful caterpillar!

Isn't he the cutest thing; from the tip of his little red head...

to his pointy tail!!

And, those four little tufts on his back and all that hair...amazing!!

I'm so glad I kept looking!!

Maco Monday ~ April 23

I visited one of my favorite photography places this past week Pugh's Old Mill  (used in the opening scene of "Gone With The Wind") in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  In the garden surrounding the mill most of the early spring flowers were gone.

I did manage to fine a few lovely flowers.

 Columbine

Iris

Each week I think I'm going to post something other than flowers for Macro Monday. But, the flowers just keep grabbing my attention! 

Macro Monday ~ April 16, 2012

(SOOC)

Clematis are such beautiful flowers to photograph!

First, the fuzzy buds appear

 

which unfurl their petals revealing the spidery center.

 

The shimmery petals reach toward the sun

before they fall off and leave this gorgeous center!

The perfect place to catch droplets of water!

Macro Monday - April 9, 2012

I just can't get enough of the beautiful spring flowers!!

Their colors this year seem extraordinary!!

I just wish they would last longer!!

I didn't see the bug on this one until I pulled it up on the computer.

He was hiding in the shadows!!

Hope you have a week full of beautiful color!!