Morning Blossoms

This morning - Mother's Day - my day lilies bloomed. They hadn't done that in a few years...

This morning – Mother’s Day – my day lilies bloomed. They hadn’t done that in a few years…

2013 marks 15 years without getting to call her on this day or any other day for that matter...

2013 marks 15 years without me getting to call her on this day, or any other day for that matter…

It is satisfying to know she still has a way of saying "hello" even after all these years.

Moms do love flowers. My mom was no exception. I take comfort knowing she still has a way of saying “hello” even after all these years.

Call your mom, give her hug, plant a perennial flower so she can always make you smile.

I’m all for everyone having a Spring-blooming, perennial flower planted somewhere in the yard…just for Mom. It is a happy Mother’s Day today.

Walking a Neighborhood in Bloom

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My backyard Sour Cherry Tree (and not another pollinator anywhere close that I know of)

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Sneaking a picture of neighbor’s Daylily (this took some “stealth photography” exercises in order not to alert the yappy dogs of my encroachment)

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Petunias greet the postman every Spring day next door…

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I’ve had these Spiderlilies at my front door for many years, although the blooms get less each year as my trees give too much shade (a Jamaican gardener I once knew called these “Trashy Ladies”…he had his reasons and I’ll leave it at that)

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Why is it a rose – or that by any other name – poses such a photographic challenge for me…every blooming time?

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Petunias-a-plenty

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A Clematis twines the neighbor’s mailbox

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Spent roses (Hey! Now these are roses I can photograph!)

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Just about to burst open to delight all that take notice….

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A neighbor practicing his own version of a rooftop garden…apparently

The day started with showers and cool weather. Sometimes you need to just slow down and reflect on the pace of the day....

The day started with showers and cool weather. Sometimes you need to just slow down and reflect on the pace of the day….

My "deer" buddies didn't know it was me...cuze I got me a new truck

My deer (dear) buddies didn’t know it was me…cuze I got me a new truck

But then I heard them say " oh! It you....again. Where you been lately?"

But then I heard them say ” oh! It’s you….again. Where you been lately?”

Pelicans in flight...one day I will get close enough to focus on their eyes....

Pelicans in flight…one day I will get close enough to focus on their eyes and/or beaks 

And then sometimes you just need a good fire in the fireplace to cap off the night. (that and a two-finger shot of Glenfiddich)

And then sometimes you just need a good fire in the fireplace to cap off the night. (that and a two-finger shot of Glenfiddich)

Weekly Randoms

A sunrise peaks through...

I have some fun venturing off the beaten path to find way cool things to photograph. This old barn was discovered in north central Oklahoma last week. Think it has a few stories to tell?

A sunrise peaks through....

A sunrise peaks through….

Maybe it's the simplicity of it that got be to "snap-shoot" this curb address, I don't really know....

Maybe it’s the simplicity of it that got be to “snap-shoot” this curb address, I don’t really know….

One of my favorite church architecture in the area. This is the Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth...as the sun sets.

One of my favorite church architecture in the area. This is the Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth…as the sun sets. One of these days I will look up the symbolism in having one tower shorter than the other (although I should know already)

 

Spring Already?

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Surprised? Nawww, not these two youngens…the mild temps had them a bit playful and with the Scottie Princess Zoey whimpering at them, at my side, gave me a momentary pose of curiosity to capture….

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…that is until they go and do something like this! What did they think this was, Valentine’s Day or something? The Princess and I just looked at each other in disbelief after this oh-so-brief public display of affection (trust me on this – Scotties know these types of things should not be a common, every day occurrence).

Thursday Morning Finds

Went for a walk with the Princess Zoey this morning...she gave me a somewhat classic Scottie silhouette

Went for a walk with the Princess Zoey this morning (as usual)…she gave me a somewhat classic Scottie silhouette pose (not like usual)

This is not supposed to be happening this early in the year....

This is not supposed to be happening this early in the year….

But it's kind of purdy....

But it’s kind of purdy….

And The Princess doesn't mind the pleasant weather each morning.....

And The Princess doesn’t mind the pleasant weather each morning…..

Sun setting

 

I spent the day at Sequoyah State Park and Lodge in Hulbert, in northeastern Oklahoma (I won't bore you with reasons why unless asked, but will say it is a lot of driving for a 1 day trip).  This met me as I was leaving...not bad, huh?

I spent the day at Sequoyah State Park and Lodge in Hulbert, in northeastern Oklahoma (I won’t bore you with reasons why unless asked, but will say it is a lot of driving for a 1 day trip). This met me as I was leaving…not bad, huh?

The mirrored reflection reminded me of a painting...and I about fell in the lake  getting this photo due to sheer clumsiness....

With the actual sunset off to my left, the mirrored cloud reflection on the water (Fort Gibson Lake) reminded me of a painting…and I about fell in the lake getting this photo due to sheer clumsiness….

The Front Cometh

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A cold front rolled through Fort Worth this afternoon. I am always impressed with the intimidation of nature…maybe that’s why I’ve always wanted to storm chase and by all means, fly into the eye of a hurricane! In the meantime, this will have to do….

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Same photo, but with a bit of iPad Snapseed app tweaking. I do like this photo editing much better (although the original was somewhat impressive in it’s own right)…the photo takes on a more angry persona in keeping with an approaching, imposing storm front, don’t you think? BTW, this photo was taken with my iPhone, out the passenger window of my truck (yes while driving), doing about 65mph…I will have none of you reporting me to the cops, if you please.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

Since I posted so many dag-gum photos last year, I went back a a couple years and found so other photos that might…could work for this week’s photo challenge. At least that way, you long-time followers may have forgotten about some of these. And you know me, I cannot share just one photo:

Two kids unknown to me was captured tossing pebbles into the great "beyond"...and it looks like there was a conversation to their purpose as well...

Two kids that were unknown to me were found tossing pebbles into the great “beyond”…and it looks like there was a conversation to their purpose as well…

Honor flyover, up, up, and "beyond"...

A Veteran’s Memorial celebration and honor flyover…look up, up, and “beyond”…

My dad and two brothers; I've often wondered for this brief moment captured, just what it was each was thinking "beyond" the present moment....

My dad and two brothers during a shore lunch while fishing in Canada; I’ve often wondered, for this brief moment that their together yet solitary pose was captured, just what it was each was thinking “beyond” that present moment….

the horizon "beyond"....

The beautiful Canadian horizon…”beyond”

 

Hold Up A Minute

Got a tour of The Morris Meditation Garden at the heart center, Harris Methodist Medical Center in Fort Worth (Texas) today...and found a number of oh-so-appropriate Scripture plaques

I was lucky enough to have a personal tour of The Morris Meditation Garden at the heart center, Harris Methodist Medical Center in Fort Worth (Texas) today. I discovered a number of oh-so-appropriate Scripture plaques…

There were probably 10 or so plaques scattered about the garden...they made me pause and let a few moments of the day slip by

….scattered about the garden. 10 or so plaques made me pause and let a few moments of the day slip on by

And the many gurgle-fountains...did I mention my new Canon G15 Point-n-Shoot is now all of 1 week old (not too bad for a rookie with a brand new shooter)

And the Garden had several gurgle-fountains…did I mention my new Canon G15 Point-n-Shoot is now all of 1 week old (not too bad for a rookie with a brand new shooter)?

Fog on Sunday

This is what I found after about a 15 minute hike...and well worth the walk in a crisp 35° temperature despite leaving my gloves in the truck.

Look what I found after a 15 minute hike…and well worth the walk in a crisp 35° temperature despite leaving my gloves in the truck.

Taking a panoramic look at this morning's offering....

Taking a panoramic look at this morning’s offering….

The sunrise cuts through the trees.....

The sunrise cuts through the trees…..

These two have long reminded of unlikely, yet really good friends....

These two have long reminded of unlikely, yet really good friends….

The tranquility of stumps....

The tranquility of stumps….

With the sunrise to my right, I  found something - not sure what - about this shot to my liking....

With the sunrise to my right, I found something – not sure what – about this shot to my liking….

The sunrise through the dense fog makes the tree stand look like fall color.

The sunrise through the dense fog makes the tree stand look like fall color.

Taking just a second to look behind me....

Taking just a second to look behind me….

Snow on Tuesday

"Coming and Going" or "To and Fro". Whichever the case, it is always so much fun to be the first in the park after (or during) a snowfall.

“Coming and Going” or “To and Fro”. Whichever the case, it is always so much fun to be the first in the park after (or during) a snowfall.

It wasn't much of a snow, but it was snow nonetheless....

It wasn’t much of a snow, but it was snow nonetheless….

Dead as a doornail, but still majestic in its stature....

Dead as a doornail, but still majestic in its stature is this Oak tree….

You see things differently when it snows (or fogs)...this looks like it could be an old farm road, or just a natural, coincidental clearing in the trees

You see things differently when it snows (or fogs)…this looks like it could be an old farm road, or just a natural, coincidental clearing in the trees

I sure would have loved to sit around and watch the snow melt....

I sure would have loved to sit around and watch the snow melt….

The Fog Sets In – Good Morning Friends

A foggy start to the morning...

A foggy start to the morning…

Funny how my tree friends show a whole new side of their character on a foggy winter morning

Funny how my tree friends show a whole new side of their character on a foggy winter morning

Nature's Depth of Field....

Nature’s Depth of Field….

The fog is settling down into the tree line

The fog is settling down into the tree line

My friends, the Persimmons

My friends, the Persimmons

A tree in search of a picnic...

A tree in search of a picnic…

Crossing paths

Crossing paths

The blue Blue Heron friend

The blue Blue Heron friend

No, the Killdear is not stuck to the parking lot stripe....

No, the Killdear is not stuck to the parking lot stripe….

The Monthly Favorites Daily Cap(s) (2012)

January

January

February

February

March

March

April

April

May

May

June

June

July

July

August

August

September

September

October

October

November

November

December

December

The Last of the Daily Cap(s) (366)

It's done y'all...The 2012 Daily Cap(s) is done with this post. It's been a family affair....

It’s done y’all…The 2012 Daily Cap(s) is finished with this post. It has been a family affair…with my own and my many friends down by the lake.

Over the course of the year, I actually used 5 cameras in pushing the shutter release button more than 50,000 times. My index finger is in traction now....

Over the course of the year, I actually pushed a shutter release button more than 50,000 times with 5 different cameras. My index finger is in traction now. (This is my favorite backup camera…a FugiFilm FinePix S4000).

My preferred weapon of choice in this endeavor (Canon 60D with a Tamron 70-300 zoom and Canon F1.4 50mm lens)

And my left eye needs to be propped open most of the time these days. Here’s my preferred weapon of choice throughout this entire adventure (Canon 60D with a Tamron 70-300 zoom, Canon F1.4 50mm lens, and a few other lenses and filters). Not a day went bye without this guy being a friend, and having a healthy love-hate relationship with her.

It's been a challenging year, but I managed to "push hard" past many a doors along the way....and had a blast!

It’s been a challenging year that found a need to “push hard” past many a door along the way….and had a blast doing just that!

Happy New Year you guys! Thanks for staying with me through all this! See ya in 2013

Happy New Year you guys! Thanks for staying with me through all this! See ya in 2013….

The Random Daily Cap(s) (365)

Straddlin'

Straddlin’

Drought lines at the water's edge(s)

Drought lines at the water’s edge(s)

Stoic and waiting for something....

Stoic and waiting for something….

Sittin'

Sittin’

I wanna say these are native persimmon, but don't hold me to it....

I wanna say these are native persimmon, but don’t hold me to it….