tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38038015173327638952024-03-05T10:40:06.393-05:00The Retirement ChroniclesA blog, written with humor and heart, that shares nature photography and daily life observations. Grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and take a few quiet moments to enjoy the wondrous images that Mother Nature gifts us with every single day! (And every once in a while, to enjoy no images and to just giggle).The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.comBlogger842125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-82254304834192104012014-09-02T21:18:00.000-04:002014-09-02T21:18:40.925-04:00Autumn Wildflowers in the U.P. !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We often take pictures of wild flowers as they bloom throughout the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan. <br />
When autumn descends upon us, the amount of wildflowers and number of species are less than spring and summer, but still delightful.<br />
<br />
Today, we took a short ride into the woods and found some nice chickory, and asters. The asters are usually the latest variety of wildflower we see, often sticking up from our first snowfall, which around here usually happens sometime in October.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the photos I took today;<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeEV-VOa2kChwnqC-FjK7IYV6mqRFxO1AnnPo4K6a4T7DAjNJqr91Tk4raPXtaliLOVEsnWpUOwHudUMiHr79WMXiEMTcREYdvOBQgDCrruiQ7b-TsJp3XKHFl6ZbPjYjurY11QyhDvo/s1600/chickory+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeEV-VOa2kChwnqC-FjK7IYV6mqRFxO1AnnPo4K6a4T7DAjNJqr91Tk4raPXtaliLOVEsnWpUOwHudUMiHr79WMXiEMTcREYdvOBQgDCrruiQ7b-TsJp3XKHFl6ZbPjYjurY11QyhDvo/s1600/chickory+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chickory</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uP9kheZfHFs/VAZc2cd1WEI/AAAAAAAAQls/ehTMPCFxVlU/s1600/two%2Bchickory%2Bsisiter_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uP9kheZfHFs/VAZc2cd1WEI/AAAAAAAAQls/ehTMPCFxVlU/s1600/two%2Bchickory%2Bsisiter_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
chickory stem</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaG9S1_K5ygw-AqmOj4kpmoRvOIs0ALSZyu7yLIz62bECZitxD2MpkYPAzI2UanJkgdf6d9NhosUF33njVajvr71KFilqa8DqxMMtZFHZEp7l-M8u13fwjtT_Z8TPgWtzMWDveneXyJo/s1600/asters+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaG9S1_K5ygw-AqmOj4kpmoRvOIs0ALSZyu7yLIz62bECZitxD2MpkYPAzI2UanJkgdf6d9NhosUF33njVajvr71KFilqa8DqxMMtZFHZEp7l-M8u13fwjtT_Z8TPgWtzMWDveneXyJo/s1600/asters+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Aster grouping <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBciLCTxzafTpAlNEuHm_LmbbBia3uLXQZeOzuvvyyuwRageCLVnJgvjdZhu01Vkm9sYdsKUhaPPCZlWgjU7NYG0QSUAFU1pAQEl-yLzWXy1rfJCrWXy3s0dpqGkRI3IDqWyR2qaJirZY/s1600/aster_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBciLCTxzafTpAlNEuHm_LmbbBia3uLXQZeOzuvvyyuwRageCLVnJgvjdZhu01Vkm9sYdsKUhaPPCZlWgjU7NYG0QSUAFU1pAQEl-yLzWXy1rfJCrWXy3s0dpqGkRI3IDqWyR2qaJirZY/s1600/aster_edited-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Single delicate Aster</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HiqIqZfs37TzIaM4Ae60u8yXvfDahn8OrYKDUh2tBvSqpmCvf4Hma48_6_pO74hkcMjf7lKlADF9-4Tj4vlHqveb7jCSFOjsvFOwLnbLrhCCrpJNoWkNVCEDNn6mYwj4zKXO8J6ZkGI/s1600/single+aster_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HiqIqZfs37TzIaM4Ae60u8yXvfDahn8OrYKDUh2tBvSqpmCvf4Hma48_6_pO74hkcMjf7lKlADF9-4Tj4vlHqveb7jCSFOjsvFOwLnbLrhCCrpJNoWkNVCEDNn6mYwj4zKXO8J6ZkGI/s1600/single+aster_edited-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aster in its Glory</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of autumn...the leaves here are beginning to change colors and I can't wait to capture some of the golden, orange and red leaves soon to occur here.</div>
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-65925258279357003322014-09-01T16:13:00.001-04:002014-09-01T16:28:27.731-04:00Pictured Rocks! in Munising, Michigan in the wonderful Upper Peninsula of Michigan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi everyone!<br />
I haven't posted in quite a while again, but we took a trip to the magnificent Pictured Rocks in Munising, Michigan and I had to post some photos of our trip out on the water. These wonderful colored cliffs are due to the iron and minerals in our wonderful Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan and sit on the shores of Lake Superior. If you ever come to our area, make sure and make sure you take a tour of them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC9_F8WV2GBFc4_WtUfz0z4IXttfd01AQJsFpu0B56pC6hwOuRj6He1vs-w7nRKLsSMXFStSTNJ1vkCcKqlHictYoRMLQbpLgmv9x7tUXXgcInuZYJd_2YV6HSyNLNMZmPt5xUML0_bA/s1600/arch+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC9_F8WV2GBFc4_WtUfz0z4IXttfd01AQJsFpu0B56pC6hwOuRj6He1vs-w7nRKLsSMXFStSTNJ1vkCcKqlHictYoRMLQbpLgmv9x7tUXXgcInuZYJd_2YV6HSyNLNMZmPt5xUML0_bA/s1600/arch+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA82K4OHXhZwpCN4O7mBpdi_-X2bY7ZsWv6-0PfVGovNElCrlZEWO2Ys_C-Vg4prSAHEPU4uu-JuU14Y-hbplazMNf5dzrMAvhDRUbIxjO5drLMok50s96UoDtZAuqEsSxMPkmcCZrmtk/s1600/boat+by+the+rocks+cropped_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA82K4OHXhZwpCN4O7mBpdi_-X2bY7ZsWv6-0PfVGovNElCrlZEWO2Ys_C-Vg4prSAHEPU4uu-JuU14Y-hbplazMNf5dzrMAvhDRUbIxjO5drLMok50s96UoDtZAuqEsSxMPkmcCZrmtk/s1600/boat+by+the+rocks+cropped_edited-1.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhcpbei6FuXTwJQ7ryITGntdQ2qDjVQIBOqrqXWA-69WnnkhTLVjt01eWF9DKFtYumh5u3E5S8BSLjx2TXoUBFuFcnTQwG2gsLtFcTARChr0rTbeufQ3xDvRGLhMlRsP1SfAiEMVtv8s/s1600/arch+point+sinister_edited-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhcpbei6FuXTwJQ7ryITGntdQ2qDjVQIBOqrqXWA-69WnnkhTLVjt01eWF9DKFtYumh5u3E5S8BSLjx2TXoUBFuFcnTQwG2gsLtFcTARChr0rTbeufQ3xDvRGLhMlRsP1SfAiEMVtv8s/s1600/arch+point+sinister_edited-3.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYkBjlsuKJDqo8rUPOFxUmqYzAKA9KP1f4zZQgppGfiR_-Po92ADoeJkomE-mf7xh80XIstMpVCkExD5S9zpnquQ1uqm6F3SkHqMlD2tWmorPwx-l7NKpW-ASNZCwwxAO1s9-bA4KEso/s1600/another+view+of+the+arch+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYkBjlsuKJDqo8rUPOFxUmqYzAKA9KP1f4zZQgppGfiR_-Po92ADoeJkomE-mf7xh80XIstMpVCkExD5S9zpnquQ1uqm6F3SkHqMlD2tWmorPwx-l7NKpW-ASNZCwwxAO1s9-bA4KEso/s1600/another+view+of+the+arch+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63OxKf5f3eQygeJ4oJAHAk3YA1vJg1_Pgv8o_WM_baJkhGwwwHK6EjS2INe_rozzTaJi4hPNCzNF0zV3yPTnKpw26pBZnyvnYJy1XUWETB_ayGpcUaT-Q2ppW83H3Na03rEmW5hmqsuM/s1600/caves+dramatic_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63OxKf5f3eQygeJ4oJAHAk3YA1vJg1_Pgv8o_WM_baJkhGwwwHK6EjS2INe_rozzTaJi4hPNCzNF0zV3yPTnKpw26pBZnyvnYJy1XUWETB_ayGpcUaT-Q2ppW83H3Na03rEmW5hmqsuM/s1600/caves+dramatic_edited-1.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxr8DKcfLdpAZHZNidm5FX5baDKY5HeWIhTW5BBgE1A49QpjGY0N863JJr2mJl26f5Y0m8GeLVoa8nBORUPn5nmIWVaupTOjwEyF1Xox313F3hioQf-c8bTqTKOD_Zdqb8VgB5SIjcW8/s1600/cliff+point+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxr8DKcfLdpAZHZNidm5FX5baDKY5HeWIhTW5BBgE1A49QpjGY0N863JJr2mJl26f5Y0m8GeLVoa8nBORUPn5nmIWVaupTOjwEyF1Xox313F3hioQf-c8bTqTKOD_Zdqb8VgB5SIjcW8/s1600/cliff+point+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzyJ-FCNMpFr7z0B-sa_YDIqYOs68mW4nkGVCwDiWIhsW2MJMkuwsaf02N2OaeWjDi_mWrXbXAo_vNOF9sbBu0hs4ZB9KEZb_6pqnUtVmEd3zrmNqy_38NJaGdV-5UGyPqUqnw5nrxAM/s1600/closeup+of+the+arch_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzyJ-FCNMpFr7z0B-sa_YDIqYOs68mW4nkGVCwDiWIhsW2MJMkuwsaf02N2OaeWjDi_mWrXbXAo_vNOF9sbBu0hs4ZB9KEZb_6pqnUtVmEd3zrmNqy_38NJaGdV-5UGyPqUqnw5nrxAM/s1600/closeup+of+the+arch_edited-2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI2gcG0gBS4GHkWlu2B5HHyUx5rKD2hq2fO9zP1xrfHuyVl8-nFaSNYXy0ebbJwBE6gL_4G6fC74CHxAXdXVIm1W9H4gM2V2mmPaP1SeiqM6zIrNJmEE1cSa5xRbaHPLcp2TqqK9P_W0/s1600/painted+cliffs+2+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI2gcG0gBS4GHkWlu2B5HHyUx5rKD2hq2fO9zP1xrfHuyVl8-nFaSNYXy0ebbJwBE6gL_4G6fC74CHxAXdXVIm1W9H4gM2V2mmPaP1SeiqM6zIrNJmEE1cSa5xRbaHPLcp2TqqK9P_W0/s1600/painted+cliffs+2+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-CaT3AzzhhXuRhY1thamt_VcALk15B_S1WYDZTHteybOUDIaK5-XQqWXA3LXOpKDwMLhREzmgLMwIhZxR7OdiqWiT12fs0hI9Gm1zIO67LIKBTzvp8TPFC9W5Czej9CUTMKuioejh3o/s1600/jagged+cliffs_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-CaT3AzzhhXuRhY1thamt_VcALk15B_S1WYDZTHteybOUDIaK5-XQqWXA3LXOpKDwMLhREzmgLMwIhZxR7OdiqWiT12fs0hI9Gm1zIO67LIKBTzvp8TPFC9W5Czej9CUTMKuioejh3o/s1600/jagged+cliffs_edited-1.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGwSEZQgMX8JSumth6wvRM7Halitc3QwE5n9U8Za7ZOMqFqt4RxuGGyOwLXndw5WQ6Ft1OIPEAp2G6VJ4VlT_0xiDpPBvYzGIhHpvROY9ibd123DNsVDie1hztNHablMG6pTU3KPOnj4/s1600/cave+row+sinister_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGwSEZQgMX8JSumth6wvRM7Halitc3QwE5n9U8Za7ZOMqFqt4RxuGGyOwLXndw5WQ6Ft1OIPEAp2G6VJ4VlT_0xiDpPBvYzGIhHpvROY9ibd123DNsVDie1hztNHablMG6pTU3KPOnj4/s1600/cave+row+sinister_edited-1.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I took a ton of photos there, this is just the tip of the iceburg! So, if anyone wants to see more or order some prints of the Pictured Rocks, in Munising, just get ahold of me!<br />
<br />
Hope you are enjoying the beginning of autumn...it is the busiest time of year for me as the colors up here are magnificent to photograph.<br />
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-70631070376856419902014-03-24T13:17:00.000-04:002014-03-24T13:17:53.869-04:00More Spring Flowers (which are hiding in our part of the country right now!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
Still here...</div>
<div align="center">
still waiting....</div>
<div align="center">
for </div>
<div align="center">
the snow to melt </div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
reveal spring flowers.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I have been seeing everyone else's posts on Facebook</div>
<div align="center">
showing </div>
<div align="center">
daffodils and tulips.</div>
<div align="center">
Sigh.</div>
<div align="center">
This morning, here...it was 16 degrees BELOW zero...</div>
<div align="center">
and we have at least two feet of snow</div>
<div align="center">
which doesn't look as it will melt for many weeks yet.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I am trying to be patient.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Anyone have the definition for patient?</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I decided I needed to get my eyes on some spring flowers today, so went back in my archives to last year's treasures....and am posting them for you (and ME!) today.</div>
<div align="center">
Enjoy!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Spring Beauties:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Iwdxl7jwZkvTDVi9tTR0mMVophNVsjCaqjbQJLTs4yzHZhQKWf3eqbfkV694ZQg9wF_8lkOLza7uWTJar4wdHZS3lQ_7UwYgP0jJ1416lDQply9emvxidyQcFtWEXJVW_OjRS6-H4d4/s1600/awesome+spring+beauties.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Iwdxl7jwZkvTDVi9tTR0mMVophNVsjCaqjbQJLTs4yzHZhQKWf3eqbfkV694ZQg9wF_8lkOLza7uWTJar4wdHZS3lQ_7UwYgP0jJ1416lDQply9emvxidyQcFtWEXJVW_OjRS6-H4d4/s1600/awesome+spring+beauties.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Hillside of Blood Root:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjZ6LD5ZWCRlgzQOdijr7Kg-3pXU5Zem_Zurx4CFnfJ4pJYVOeoOErJNhCnupqI6IAWxqbuD97IGsCgVcO1LvgcJif2wzfeKArifRNS9qxtdeArvFQ3qqYaB6BpQh_0roIEmLgM8G6bs/s1600/blood+root+grouping+grungy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjZ6LD5ZWCRlgzQOdijr7Kg-3pXU5Zem_Zurx4CFnfJ4pJYVOeoOErJNhCnupqI6IAWxqbuD97IGsCgVcO1LvgcJif2wzfeKArifRNS9qxtdeArvFQ3qqYaB6BpQh_0roIEmLgM8G6bs/s1600/blood+root+grouping+grungy.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
More Spring Beauties:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lOxem1tw3qlSsP21WoUQu7uwTbozm9Tn5YylzZbjldUL12rxAOGv99nV_r9M9RAOrN9WxAES6OWE9uoPOZeo3Q338GDZEXAbK0M832ffqWHSQjuMUQVgWlLYblDyJwEhrHD-16WmnvQ/s1600/gorgeous+spring+beauties.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lOxem1tw3qlSsP21WoUQu7uwTbozm9Tn5YylzZbjldUL12rxAOGv99nV_r9M9RAOrN9WxAES6OWE9uoPOZeo3Q338GDZEXAbK0M832ffqWHSQjuMUQVgWlLYblDyJwEhrHD-16WmnvQ/s1600/gorgeous+spring+beauties.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Blood root by the old log:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYnpGZmfgMqFqebTLRRfKqaJ7PmZJc68hP6Vz1yTGzQeIdRLgC_VUCNHgkarCceVt7rthGV2DdRiWZSicF9t66npx4-arbQBKoCgSjRTrPFiURPiwMgo-KDQtjlb_MCxDJcPmKsM45Pg/s1600/log+and+blood+root+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYnpGZmfgMqFqebTLRRfKqaJ7PmZJc68hP6Vz1yTGzQeIdRLgC_VUCNHgkarCceVt7rthGV2DdRiWZSicF9t66npx4-arbQBKoCgSjRTrPFiURPiwMgo-KDQtjlb_MCxDJcPmKsM45Pg/s1600/log+and+blood+root+dramatic.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trout lilies!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT12VWeIGp5xjl7iJNttA2_yfRAAMInPNuWZSdngCR-Wo7iiPNZ-svrXi_q2SP_AhdGIHPaL3bohfsqI7PSg4Y1JF-knv_hxHoR6nszRDNGuO44zoKpHr5uZ8t5tOmbWbUsrgVGBGDUq8/s1600/pretty+little+trout+lily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT12VWeIGp5xjl7iJNttA2_yfRAAMInPNuWZSdngCR-Wo7iiPNZ-svrXi_q2SP_AhdGIHPaL3bohfsqI7PSg4Y1JF-knv_hxHoR6nszRDNGuO44zoKpHr5uZ8t5tOmbWbUsrgVGBGDUq8/s1600/pretty+little+trout+lily.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trout Lillies with spring beauties on the forest floor:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinr1brk7HxGxjdhKiH0XgmVUQpv1la4OOvn9KqIh__ZbYvcRSgD3EOnJiiAgEyZt70Ie9wrCpW56FAwyteinrXbXqEts4S2jcsxpuewEwUwHUAqZMQlslGn2IjThQwSbnbOziV6jGxOc/s1600/spring+beauties+and+trout+lilies+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinr1brk7HxGxjdhKiH0XgmVUQpv1la4OOvn9KqIh__ZbYvcRSgD3EOnJiiAgEyZt70Ie9wrCpW56FAwyteinrXbXqEts4S2jcsxpuewEwUwHUAqZMQlslGn2IjThQwSbnbOziV6jGxOc/s1600/spring+beauties+and+trout+lilies+pale+and+structured.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Spring beauties by the mushroomed log:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-9ix49l85PFTgMGHicJGJq4S7hjI7r40WoC9b7yd8c7A6q_vdg9uzBO0q8nVwuRKJm_l6SvsFdV4jjhTbLVNF45XcWoBf_BeR6EGic11eNd47Wuu-Tb9aYDdEH9vq_HHF8mvluZugEE/s1600/spring+beauties+hiding+by+the+mushroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-9ix49l85PFTgMGHicJGJq4S7hjI7r40WoC9b7yd8c7A6q_vdg9uzBO0q8nVwuRKJm_l6SvsFdV4jjhTbLVNF45XcWoBf_BeR6EGic11eNd47Wuu-Tb9aYDdEH9vq_HHF8mvluZugEE/s1600/spring+beauties+hiding+by+the+mushroom.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The Spring Beauties, Trout Lilies and Bloodroot are the first few wood wildflowers that show up here when the snow melts, followed by Trilliums.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I will be going through some more of my wildflower photos and will be posting some Trilliums soon for you!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Happy Spring Everyone, and I am happy for those of you wayyyyy ahead of us in your blooms!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10Michigamme, Michigamme Township, MI, USA46.5346579 -88.110134746.4472719 -88.2714962 46.6220439 -87.9487732tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-38840484277698280552014-03-18T13:48:00.001-04:002014-03-18T13:49:10.747-04:00Signs of Spring!! (Last YEAR!!...we are in a BLIZZARD here today~!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
All I could think of to stay sane today was to post-process some pictures I took last May.....</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You see, the U.P. is having a blizzard today in our part of Michigan. Already have gotten another 4 inches of snow and it doesn't look like it is slowing down anytime soon.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I always have a ton of images that I haven't had time to post process, so that was I decided I would do today....pick some wonderfully happy, gloriously warm past days that I captured with my lens and think SPRING as much as possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
These shots were taken in May last year...just after the snow melted here and the first few spring flowers broke through the forest floor.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spring Beauties:</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Pxq2vPRtFM2zuw0IZ1R1qu3w5YoCr9ZAz-3wN6AiTZ2ZJ8mK8l18zLoxbW3-z-MWsV9Zye9NktVr-mXXYqnqpYWhmRaMPFah_mS0rI9sxtDtP4fCT4y8GYFus0CQuvKDnyEPI0v42s/s1600/awesome+spring+beauties+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Pxq2vPRtFM2zuw0IZ1R1qu3w5YoCr9ZAz-3wN6AiTZ2ZJ8mK8l18zLoxbW3-z-MWsV9Zye9NktVr-mXXYqnqpYWhmRaMPFah_mS0rI9sxtDtP4fCT4y8GYFus0CQuvKDnyEPI0v42s/s1600/awesome+spring+beauties+sinister.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I found a mushroom on a log that formed a perfect rose!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2biKeW6EuldVMWjj7sv7etoTHunKzvIBG4pAcbtxDw07rKqf7I1bK6Ib4OnXED74N2VasKaZiHqxrK_P6uhnjO0y8ZdX2Q6kWmcBSu1fH8eQvO25VvOAFv_4IEt5XQrTjf72zw7c4p0/s1600/birch+rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2biKeW6EuldVMWjj7sv7etoTHunKzvIBG4pAcbtxDw07rKqf7I1bK6Ib4OnXED74N2VasKaZiHqxrK_P6uhnjO0y8ZdX2Q6kWmcBSu1fH8eQvO25VvOAFv_4IEt5XQrTjf72zw7c4p0/s1600/birch+rose.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dutchman's Britches beside a spring waterfall:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yv9ki_XlZmo-NWJEPUdxjOWGztcDiKUevs-oXucOH0t7lSbQ73kaCuoY5K89hVkJAMPUjAjB5xf8HpJjZ-ucyHCXDYT1C256hKkuVkAB26MEd8CkD8XOU25XAwzqFxrRMeBurj_Po0Q/s1600/dutcheman's+britches+by+the+waterfall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yv9ki_XlZmo-NWJEPUdxjOWGztcDiKUevs-oXucOH0t7lSbQ73kaCuoY5K89hVkJAMPUjAjB5xf8HpJjZ-ucyHCXDYT1C256hKkuVkAB26MEd8CkD8XOU25XAwzqFxrRMeBurj_Po0Q/s1600/dutcheman's+britches+by+the+waterfall.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Blue Indigo bird on spring branches:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6gRGr0aAyLuOxX5CWS9PH9Gvt5CIdXi5Iv38Kq-VvIihqYHvM-zupLK-OBNJLUunifGX72jCco5qq6sva2DJ0K9iiBpiTTIbiIW7_YpCuslkAsgVYNlWRa8IzyAD93NJBDm6a6wEiGg/s1600/indigo+bunting+black+frame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6gRGr0aAyLuOxX5CWS9PH9Gvt5CIdXi5Iv38Kq-VvIihqYHvM-zupLK-OBNJLUunifGX72jCco5qq6sva2DJ0K9iiBpiTTIbiIW7_YpCuslkAsgVYNlWRa8IzyAD93NJBDm6a6wEiGg/s1600/indigo+bunting+black+frame.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spring waterfall in the emerging green wood:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeU5Bl7a_Ldfvm3gG-H755HRT9u_mwnBa94VEk5BhYn0zRbuX8J5W5EYv5ZOEp8MZ4WdnS_hyXS1s5e8Smd3TdnV_6t55x6jd1Tqm1e41uK5CK9S95tsaiSP9wSjZL8lvWOEeRX_jnvg/s1600/long+shot+of+spring+falls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeU5Bl7a_Ldfvm3gG-H755HRT9u_mwnBa94VEk5BhYn0zRbuX8J5W5EYv5ZOEp8MZ4WdnS_hyXS1s5e8Smd3TdnV_6t55x6jd1Tqm1e41uK5CK9S95tsaiSP9wSjZL8lvWOEeRX_jnvg/s1600/long+shot+of+spring+falls.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Single Trout Lily:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMjK_h1lEwFcpw_Syd4kxtdV8qgJIbbZlOd0Zd6fsQNb-qdI7fZqY1aW_MINE9HlgbM6DkJpxPyyDsvI0Aw8XBEBln1qcUa9A73epyl7Vb3vHATfX1ltJMz-P8gz83ZP24Go5p4i-sMs/s1600/single+trout+lily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMjK_h1lEwFcpw_Syd4kxtdV8qgJIbbZlOd0Zd6fsQNb-qdI7fZqY1aW_MINE9HlgbM6DkJpxPyyDsvI0Aw8XBEBln1qcUa9A73epyl7Vb3vHATfX1ltJMz-P8gz83ZP24Go5p4i-sMs/s1600/single+trout+lily.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spring Beauties growing on the rock wall:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7RVoDa2Xs4/UyiDYUIzE7I/AAAAAAAAPYE/S_jmFf-LG00/s1600/spring+beauties+on+a+rock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7RVoDa2Xs4/UyiDYUIzE7I/AAAAAAAAPYE/S_jmFf-LG00/s1600/spring+beauties+on+a+rock.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trout Lilies by the tree:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbOfVfCJUfzGb98UxubRQ8aHmCWcEi3zj8fcUDw56dImquS-CMWwekG1WP0p-KFvZixO1v4laWUzf7PuzucUISssdnSIsdRmzFlh9-4SWm0jDeOAIJD0I3CC7Dcsgn76Vb6ZFGUHF4Yk/s1600/three+trout+lilies+by+the+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbOfVfCJUfzGb98UxubRQ8aHmCWcEi3zj8fcUDw56dImquS-CMWwekG1WP0p-KFvZixO1v4laWUzf7PuzucUISssdnSIsdRmzFlh9-4SWm0jDeOAIJD0I3CC7Dcsgn76Vb6ZFGUHF4Yk/s1600/three+trout+lilies+by+the+tree.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There, now I feel a little bit better....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
How about YOU?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It is supposed to continue to snow for two more days in a row. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am not sure I can take it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, be prepared for more spring pictures soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's therapy...........................</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10Michigamme, Michigamme Township, MI, USA46.5346579 -88.110134746.4472719 -88.2714962 46.6220439 -87.9487732tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-4369441617080513872014-03-07T14:25:00.001-05:002014-03-07T14:25:48.580-05:00A Little Tropical? How about Flamingos?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Boy, it has been some time since I posted here! But, I just don't want to close down my blog. It has sent a lot of people to me regarding my photography, for which I am thrilled. I have gotten to sell some of my prints or donate them to organizations with little money, but who do great things regarding nature.<br />
<br />
For that reason, I just can't close it down.<br />
<br />
So, forgive me for not posting regularly like so many other devoted bloggers. I am just too busy with doing photography and being on many, many community boards. <br />
<br />
So much for retirement in a rocking chair wondering what to do with one's time, right? <br />
<br />
This winter has been very brutal in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan. <br />
<br />
Beyond brutal!<br />
<br />
To keep our sanity, we took two trips to the tropics. In January, we went to Ixtapa, Mexico and in February we went to the island of Cozumel in Mexico. To be honest, the best photos I took were a bunch of sunsets in Ixtapa, which I hope to post here another time.<br />
<br />
But our last trip to Cozumel was at the Iberostar Resort and on their property were a bunch of awesome flamingos and iquanas. <br />
<br />
The property was lush and green and warm and looked like a tropical park and it was wonderful to get out of the frozen tundra and just enjoy the sun, beach and tropical green along with being able to see these awesome creatures.<br />
<br />
So, for this post, I am going to share some of the Flamingos we saw. Hopefully I can post some of the iguana soon on another post, and then get to those gorgeous Ixtapa sunsets!<br />
<br />
<em>As always, my images are not to be copied or printed without permission, all rights reserved. If you are ever interested in having them, please contact me directly instead. Thanks so much!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Who doesn't like some Flamingos???</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-Is75vDOm40KDSOj6ALIo-lUxpWzm4PZwhEjNU96knfksfMi0om2M7xv4rPqeAemlP-DBtEHdI1QftytNmdXbY0qua8e0Rq1aLrCeb3nI0k1PoJDEEgMEZLWX12dhGCbM6k8mM1j4rI/s1600/flamingos+by+the+bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-Is75vDOm40KDSOj6ALIo-lUxpWzm4PZwhEjNU96knfksfMi0om2M7xv4rPqeAemlP-DBtEHdI1QftytNmdXbY0qua8e0Rq1aLrCeb3nI0k1PoJDEEgMEZLWX12dhGCbM6k8mM1j4rI/s1600/flamingos+by+the+bridge.JPG" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Flamingo party!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk4EX0buE-h0K7oj1tlnf2oDeKT9HuvvAxYF_6IZtdZB7nOG_KLP7B3TKluYtC_BXI192kojY6MZ2qqMbDNx4-4SXp4nyeTlEN9_jmwNmTyY82EqHk-hIduhENKB-R9fRmjMbV4FS3G0/s1600/flamingo+party.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk4EX0buE-h0K7oj1tlnf2oDeKT9HuvvAxYF_6IZtdZB7nOG_KLP7B3TKluYtC_BXI192kojY6MZ2qqMbDNx4-4SXp4nyeTlEN9_jmwNmTyY82EqHk-hIduhENKB-R9fRmjMbV4FS3G0/s1600/flamingo+party.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Flamingos under the bridge:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIXiS8ucSgOPOfY9ieJnYy8nA_i_BxivpF0Hz3Jk2i8rV59SsUUFDGFllnbnuSB4yf2uG0B99SnwOr8LGGKPtkaVL8b4KeKy8q9neYJd60As0FJSm9pwJGQxl8rMBV3GTO_fuBgry4tM/s1600/flamingos+under+the+bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIXiS8ucSgOPOfY9ieJnYy8nA_i_BxivpF0Hz3Jk2i8rV59SsUUFDGFllnbnuSB4yf2uG0B99SnwOr8LGGKPtkaVL8b4KeKy8q9neYJd60As0FJSm9pwJGQxl8rMBV3GTO_fuBgry4tM/s1600/flamingos+under+the+bridge.JPG" height="640" width="470" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
What do you think the flamingo on the right is saying to the fluffed up flamingo?:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd8c1xZnDAFo48LnJ-dyGEpHNTiKjnCftU_FhytPNRIA5ftCTAA4s1g8lXoKlvby_QMyuwJxb3b4a70O7DxyN0PW-KwJpgaSw0hPXme9tWbyAHnDkt9UIKq12K7XGGt0fOIm768qYPPQ/s1600/fluffed+up+flamingo+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd8c1xZnDAFo48LnJ-dyGEpHNTiKjnCftU_FhytPNRIA5ftCTAA4s1g8lXoKlvby_QMyuwJxb3b4a70O7DxyN0PW-KwJpgaSw0hPXme9tWbyAHnDkt9UIKq12K7XGGt0fOIm768qYPPQ/s1600/fluffed+up+flamingo+sinister.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Looking for supper:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfzXQ2V9rDAltxPwFYV1x1MfCAtG18HyNyDDGWKT1YQvyNYFPNfiLct_D8JKj5bgu-6bYjL2OfVRfVNhj-xjFIVpu-0YBlU7lNnUYfk-qYSlbUJGYBIEhxNAfZ8LBvSIiNbbfVBNJ_2o/s1600/taking+a+drink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfzXQ2V9rDAltxPwFYV1x1MfCAtG18HyNyDDGWKT1YQvyNYFPNfiLct_D8JKj5bgu-6bYjL2OfVRfVNhj-xjFIVpu-0YBlU7lNnUYfk-qYSlbUJGYBIEhxNAfZ8LBvSIiNbbfVBNJ_2o/s1600/taking+a+drink.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Skimming his nose on the water, looking for more to eat: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdeI6gs4fyxBortgtfxfcPbH8zHuCUE3WhwvxYbEdTaJg8qMIZx1vxf_hH8tMl7R9D7inhTokcdyOHuOpbi9-Dm-g8VDYImf3xn68OoNDprjEpxFw4WaZrq_0VodpQJLEE7OFa3Wgwj4/s1600/lone+flamingo+in+the+water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdeI6gs4fyxBortgtfxfcPbH8zHuCUE3WhwvxYbEdTaJg8qMIZx1vxf_hH8tMl7R9D7inhTokcdyOHuOpbi9-Dm-g8VDYImf3xn68OoNDprjEpxFw4WaZrq_0VodpQJLEE7OFa3Wgwj4/s1600/lone+flamingo+in+the+water.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Flexibility!!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQpxbPfrPKpglQCGvTPIkLcSlvDyVIJnWCaEylEfVe6qkKon50PlRc7LByOwltThV9BYmcGKSGTsqDdkqLn2oyxs9TtADpOefSn8-7wxYNtEcbwRPRyPStsuKchAdTR9DVu8k9mIXOcI/s1600/pretzel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQpxbPfrPKpglQCGvTPIkLcSlvDyVIJnWCaEylEfVe6qkKon50PlRc7LByOwltThV9BYmcGKSGTsqDdkqLn2oyxs9TtADpOefSn8-7wxYNtEcbwRPRyPStsuKchAdTR9DVu8k9mIXOcI/s1600/pretzel.JPG" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Splish, splash:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc5MboWRTFtdbiK6yRHTiaFNNig0jKaMRsNAYkc_bpUffhAcR-Wcyyyd5PcyKz7SRrxAnmnEYJoOCtQ947DIsUAxNp1qZG28jbNQ_EhdUXEAbYe6htSCad7-lAPm5Po0JRZS2emDQYSg/s1600/splish+splash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc5MboWRTFtdbiK6yRHTiaFNNig0jKaMRsNAYkc_bpUffhAcR-Wcyyyd5PcyKz7SRrxAnmnEYJoOCtQ947DIsUAxNp1qZG28jbNQ_EhdUXEAbYe6htSCad7-lAPm5Po0JRZS2emDQYSg/s1600/splish+splash.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Let's shake it off!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxpPct_wPjSJ0Am0QgH8UKivhyH52AmMbxZeCR7EGFsgBq-tVyyp1oAWiZe3uU-m_7CWvSvKm08_2MwRGO6HR-JkStAZalW7qd5qWA8eHqEcgw4C8-Y-I7GGOcZS8b2gnmSlRoK7VIFw/s1600/flapping+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxpPct_wPjSJ0Am0QgH8UKivhyH52AmMbxZeCR7EGFsgBq-tVyyp1oAWiZe3uU-m_7CWvSvKm08_2MwRGO6HR-JkStAZalW7qd5qWA8eHqEcgw4C8-Y-I7GGOcZS8b2gnmSlRoK7VIFw/s1600/flapping+pale+and+structured.JPG" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fluffy flamingo feathers!: (I am deeply smitten)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5jSW6DveQiPe2jArmoHezTcEX4uI2NEGZhjIEjeSxMuKkP1Hqa0NT9j1yCsHaUiu0l9BVLNS8YEk9Mz6NbmEWhjsEekLDtSZba_RBKxFt3vXoDLGFUpe47I1rZ5pHquVwyfLWIr5wKE/s1600/flamingo+feathers+deep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5jSW6DveQiPe2jArmoHezTcEX4uI2NEGZhjIEjeSxMuKkP1Hqa0NT9j1yCsHaUiu0l9BVLNS8YEk9Mz6NbmEWhjsEekLDtSZba_RBKxFt3vXoDLGFUpe47I1rZ5pHquVwyfLWIr5wKE/s1600/flamingo+feathers+deep.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They are the most majestic, gorgeous birds on this planet. I could have spent my entire vacation just sitting beside that pond and watching them......</div>
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-58699278210633343452013-08-24T14:15:00.000-04:002013-08-24T14:15:41.818-04:00What on Earth Have I Been Up To????....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For you regular readers....(who I am surprised have hung in there with my blog all this time!)...I again issue a huge apology. I am an awful Blogger in that I go months at a time and not post a single new blogpost. <br />
<br />
It never used to be that way....<br />
<br />
But then things got busy!<br />
<br />
I have been blessed in that I am now doing photography on a regular basis and actually selling some of it! <br />
<br />
When I am not out hiking to take the photos out in wonderful nature, I am post processing them and selling them. <br />
<br />
Oh, did I tell you I also make stone jewelry and sell that too?? <br />
<br />
So, that is what is I have been "up to"....<br />
<br />
And? <br />
<br />
I am enjoying every moment of it.<br />
<br />
So much for retirement, eh? (She says with a happy twinkle in her eye).<br />
<br />
So, today, I just stopped in to say hi and tell everyone I miss them terribly and think of so many of you, so often.<br />
<br />
Here are just a few shots of where we have been over the last few days, capturing with my lens.<br />
<br />
Enjoy, my friends! I hope I can stop by this winter and read your blogs again. I have missed that terribly! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgeiySW7wJUolADxDOOE57oL4_k0Rscmn8yiv5HeXCVjFIRwxvcxdXBM3uG9PYmXTu0MY2i0BPLOu2L9-cKDZzlYsNbIX4ho9zutJpnwLHYyc-gF9uMFiw_eCK-ZP9Wowd4o82t4oyZU/s1600/butterfly+and+bee+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgeiySW7wJUolADxDOOE57oL4_k0Rscmn8yiv5HeXCVjFIRwxvcxdXBM3uG9PYmXTu0MY2i0BPLOu2L9-cKDZzlYsNbIX4ho9zutJpnwLHYyc-gF9uMFiw_eCK-ZP9Wowd4o82t4oyZU/s640/butterfly+and+bee+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVunbjPs2TFiOSTCPAo0QiqVQsOv_xGW47Zh0Jjw_XFuGNGJfcIxXTHbSRoHS1J6maUP7SyLZuZzdvSK3o8Rqn9KimIreu6WMpnO2kmS6GeySquslGAPiCoGNgddcqtzuKMEykO9HY1aY/s1600/falls+5+best+2+hdr_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVunbjPs2TFiOSTCPAo0QiqVQsOv_xGW47Zh0Jjw_XFuGNGJfcIxXTHbSRoHS1J6maUP7SyLZuZzdvSK3o8Rqn9KimIreu6WMpnO2kmS6GeySquslGAPiCoGNgddcqtzuKMEykO9HY1aY/s640/falls+5+best+2+hdr_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u-5zaL7fPCohIhncOo2nFQqmdHiKCUxwO0BaD6j_yAXQb0gph-i_RdCh9mmo4BOKedmVVgxpeyn_oyVCE4HO4rMqo0Wv2xiY_I9_66WQFKWGwqq6xawmbtmeLbgH6mZs-OMIVpnQJ5c/s1600/falls+no+3+long+shot+hdr_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u-5zaL7fPCohIhncOo2nFQqmdHiKCUxwO0BaD6j_yAXQb0gph-i_RdCh9mmo4BOKedmVVgxpeyn_oyVCE4HO4rMqo0Wv2xiY_I9_66WQFKWGwqq6xawmbtmeLbgH6mZs-OMIVpnQJ5c/s640/falls+no+3+long+shot+hdr_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ_DFh_dtN_h5lf4gwwXz4MnqRTDY2l5cFA9Gs0ZgQIPujxwxrcUS8innb7f2OnS6WBtFmYihite0jyjifm_waS0YG4t125DBxghj_gY2asE83teyWRfjtuWhyphenhyphen2j_GFxFxd6b42cBdwA/s1600/hawk+2+hdr_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ_DFh_dtN_h5lf4gwwXz4MnqRTDY2l5cFA9Gs0ZgQIPujxwxrcUS8innb7f2OnS6WBtFmYihite0jyjifm_waS0YG4t125DBxghj_gY2asE83teyWRfjtuWhyphenhyphen2j_GFxFxd6b42cBdwA/s640/hawk+2+hdr_edited-1.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you'd like....you can "friend" me on Facebook, I tend to publish pictures more frequently on there. But only if you want to hear about the other funny things in my life. Just ask to friend Joan Haara.<br />
And if you do, when you request to be my friend, remind me that you are a blogger and your blog name in a message attached to your friend request. Otherwise, I may refuse your request. (You'd be surprised how many people try and be your friend with devious reasons). Also message me here attached to this blogpost to let me know you will be asking to friend me on Facebook, so I know it's coming).<br />
<br />
Thanks, and hope to talk to you again soon! Have a wonderful autumn. I know mine will be CRAZY as it is the most beautiful season of the year here in the U.P. of Michigan and the time when I am out almost every day, all day, taking photos.....</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-45215024563775141042013-04-19T14:33:00.000-04:002013-04-19T14:33:42.528-04:00BLLLRRGGGGGHHH!....STILL snowing here!.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
I know you probably get sick of hearing me complain</div>
<div align="center">
about our slow spring this year...</div>
<div align="center">
but I gotta VENT!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Today, April 19th we are in the middle of yet ANOTHER blizzard, folks!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
And, we have not had the pleasure of ANY of this past winter's snow</div>
<div align="center">
even melting yet...</div>
<div align="center">
so that means we have YET to see bare ground since last OCTOBER!!!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Count them: 7 months (going on EIGHT) with all white on our ground.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Luckily in a week, I am heading to another tropical vacation to get away from it!</div>
<div align="center">
My nephew is having a destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
I can't TELL you how badly I need to be at the beach for a week.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
So, today, again....I will delve back into my files from last April/May</div>
<div align="center">
to remember what real spring is like.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
My only hope is that by the time we get back the snow will have melted during our absence!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Last Spring's images:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Yellow trout lily:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoN33SfAfPjyrKLoCtJnEaPvZ_buklsUOFiWpcn33In0BOAywY610NBYGdTmDAbI53YzOMstnqpp7Q6SC3Z-Ib0cysFxUW0c1AIWdBStHEpcHFBRnqhyphenhyphenwvHNHVsGUthym-ioqo87WQJE/s1600/beautiful+trout+lily+closeup+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoN33SfAfPjyrKLoCtJnEaPvZ_buklsUOFiWpcn33In0BOAywY610NBYGdTmDAbI53YzOMstnqpp7Q6SC3Z-Ib0cysFxUW0c1AIWdBStHEpcHFBRnqhyphenhyphenwvHNHVsGUthym-ioqo87WQJE/s640/beautiful+trout+lily+closeup+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Cherry blossoms:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlrmY5Ty1fqcrh2IYIqHB27G1ogeCl6ZTGIxTK-hqn5UzNlEFuIeC-S9ySmZXuw8VpnvUJl2BAI6kqaRYmLqw9Bw0jqA0pHSyoHy4r4OURNKDDIY8rd6_o7GvCecyE5MD8y87MKqLm6U/s1600/cherry+blossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlrmY5Ty1fqcrh2IYIqHB27G1ogeCl6ZTGIxTK-hqn5UzNlEFuIeC-S9ySmZXuw8VpnvUJl2BAI6kqaRYmLqw9Bw0jqA0pHSyoHy4r4OURNKDDIY8rd6_o7GvCecyE5MD8y87MKqLm6U/s640/cherry+blossoms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Ogemaw Falls in Baraga County, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, early spring:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSA8clZHNhHuL3AYkkC5U09Y1jpYSNw96GqLpp-NucXmz_qYpQOj4BGpZjcO95WfY6TQLlofH82Yi3hyyWyre6grjkIp_IVpe-2TP0Fu1tYSZRPzfKQb_RRl0tFXUVjY9AAZIZ4g2T7I/s1600/dreamy+waterfalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSA8clZHNhHuL3AYkkC5U09Y1jpYSNw96GqLpp-NucXmz_qYpQOj4BGpZjcO95WfY6TQLlofH82Yi3hyyWyre6grjkIp_IVpe-2TP0Fu1tYSZRPzfKQb_RRl0tFXUVjY9AAZIZ4g2T7I/s640/dreamy+waterfalls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
New spring growth:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon0qf8WwE6TCqOI1E2oTLM-flOime2N2wSWn2lQtL5mtxh-DwzMrcqNYzKfQBWvuCv_sxF1kq4qUTlvs4lu20iAtnS1PYxykIqa7QQN01PyUI68QyE2gFggVILNA5qEbrfYrhz5pZHSU/s1600/new+growth+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon0qf8WwE6TCqOI1E2oTLM-flOime2N2wSWn2lQtL5mtxh-DwzMrcqNYzKfQBWvuCv_sxF1kq4qUTlvs4lu20iAtnS1PYxykIqa7QQN01PyUI68QyE2gFggVILNA5qEbrfYrhz5pZHSU/s640/new+growth+hdr.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Side falls in early spring next to Ogemaw Falls:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUIScHwxR6Wqa-_YC8CJy_m6-Zn9WGeFBp-ls8dpEtcylH8Es6uj8r1hM8BS-ghfsZjSMcuWctZGN9U51sbjpMjZ2N9vI0NTPoQap9LmZGYa-0ciT1PxqZP8kCqgtycmNaDxA6Yq0iPo/s1600/dreamy+side+falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUIScHwxR6Wqa-_YC8CJy_m6-Zn9WGeFBp-ls8dpEtcylH8Es6uj8r1hM8BS-ghfsZjSMcuWctZGN9U51sbjpMjZ2N9vI0NTPoQap9LmZGYa-0ciT1PxqZP8kCqgtycmNaDxA6Yq0iPo/s640/dreamy+side+falls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Side view of Ogemaw Falls:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdeezc6eayomLc8A7eJg2L0184wzF-h_dwE9uy-bih2bkxElYlq5AchyphenhyphenDqNaCY-UIWj4LEsqQnUJVuEVgoCXPmPyi3IXcHjqYSvwxRhTYcJZVmyDxZJRsF1ey0gvqf-emFgWgjxrivWo/s1600/ogemaw+falls+artistic+sinister+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdeezc6eayomLc8A7eJg2L0184wzF-h_dwE9uy-bih2bkxElYlq5AchyphenhyphenDqNaCY-UIWj4LEsqQnUJVuEVgoCXPmPyi3IXcHjqYSvwxRhTYcJZVmyDxZJRsF1ey0gvqf-emFgWgjxrivWo/s640/ogemaw+falls+artistic+sinister+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Little side falls between the mossy rocks:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DxUkE1IJmpOn6lPwmY0MhGYp53dRLNcUqM2KkzXfrYHnhixrw-E3bV-yyoNttWUH6yoeu2p-d_0e9eMH4dGhm4_tEYT_Tn9Lb77zNCtpfHNDh_V1taAFD0mF8S_XT21krG-4h7GzpXU/s1600/side+falls+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DxUkE1IJmpOn6lPwmY0MhGYp53dRLNcUqM2KkzXfrYHnhixrw-E3bV-yyoNttWUH6yoeu2p-d_0e9eMH4dGhm4_tEYT_Tn9Lb77zNCtpfHNDh_V1taAFD0mF8S_XT21krG-4h7GzpXU/s640/side+falls+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I so look forward to getting out into our woods again</div>
<div align="center">
and finding the spring wildflowers</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
high flowing waterfalls!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Hope with me that by the second week in May</div>
<div align="center">
we thaw out enough </div>
<div align="center">
here for us to do so!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I love this part of the country with ALL my heart, but I am getting </div>
<div align="center">
SO IMPATIENT!!!!!!</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-25914691644873189902013-03-31T15:15:00.001-04:002013-03-31T15:15:14.738-04:00Birds and Blossoms about a Year Ago.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This year, we are really behind....
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I took these photos in April and May</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and right now, I am writing this on Easter Sunday</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we are getting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
MORE SNOW...!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our ground has about 2 feet of white on the ground and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we haven't had bare lawns since last autumn.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided, in order to KEEP MY SANITY</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had to peek at what is to come,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I hope, very soon)....</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1EdJ4yud6R-T_VW78bof2WOZVkmO9ZWoPofLB0RkrOOW7thJCow39q7mXT9GyqBRyFKJeFZ421k9N6l8Z2t8ruMOZi6dW8nNAqCSlTsY0NDzyML_s555hS8XNYSrm4Fs7gyFlpwStFc/s1600/a+pair+of+violets+hdr+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1EdJ4yud6R-T_VW78bof2WOZVkmO9ZWoPofLB0RkrOOW7thJCow39q7mXT9GyqBRyFKJeFZ421k9N6l8Z2t8ruMOZi6dW8nNAqCSlTsY0NDzyML_s555hS8XNYSrm4Fs7gyFlpwStFc/s640/a+pair+of+violets+hdr+cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Do you see him???</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRTVJjmsy1RabMUdkuDOj-ebVEN5RG7amQDcSzZk3LNoIBUgc7FvJD_DQBT_EDeOwgnuhI2OgkqcYidEP0Dt8hy-xTBSYkmQhBF6Vr9YDZBBbqKsRCnvwDo5ENBgsSH3u9vgW44VC9AU/s1600/pretty+wood+duck+on+the+hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRTVJjmsy1RabMUdkuDOj-ebVEN5RG7amQDcSzZk3LNoIBUgc7FvJD_DQBT_EDeOwgnuhI2OgkqcYidEP0Dt8hy-xTBSYkmQhBF6Vr9YDZBBbqKsRCnvwDo5ENBgsSH3u9vgW44VC9AU/s640/pretty+wood+duck+on+the+hill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
(A handsome Wood Duck sits in the middle of the scene)</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
A Merganser couple...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzioct_sKaRF55zDdgiGATWFxSUJBKhBDvlqZqgCzOgdIAIKzxK69D-ZQOqX77tKMFP-FPVBU2NQkgMDdH7JeS7u9HVdrYY_zC7Ooo5_pMEq9jFYz9X9bFmjDUaqxAkf8g78qobqRJzE/s1600/merganser+pair+swimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzioct_sKaRF55zDdgiGATWFxSUJBKhBDvlqZqgCzOgdIAIKzxK69D-ZQOqX77tKMFP-FPVBU2NQkgMDdH7JeS7u9HVdrYY_zC7Ooo5_pMEq9jFYz9X9bFmjDUaqxAkf8g78qobqRJzE/s640/merganser+pair+swimming.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Wood Duck couple...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFIiLwE0xCG5yuFs23vKzykvlCjRRTRWEzFdkfRH7zGUG0xWv0zh-hR2Ju6dBg6al-GB_ySQ67sWfVVSG_6qofg-5uqga4PtnrnqrAq1eAccVB2qbHKjmwyHNxMDTNr5uw7825j2fcqo/s1600/wood+duck+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFIiLwE0xCG5yuFs23vKzykvlCjRRTRWEzFdkfRH7zGUG0xWv0zh-hR2Ju6dBg6al-GB_ySQ67sWfVVSG_6qofg-5uqga4PtnrnqrAq1eAccVB2qbHKjmwyHNxMDTNr5uw7825j2fcqo/s640/wood+duck+couple.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkvSB5yHYRElQdfAMhG0dXFPZ2XpUNgqxrB9BwWrtE_mrF0kPt22xt5N7sPPGqn3DinOHpIv7mQsHzkKZgxA9ob5UVukRHT-WvB2WGGj7BL6Xtk6SgkRwC1sQ6_xhbseCXIKEt8pv64/s1600/a+bouquet+of+yellow+daffodils+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkvSB5yHYRElQdfAMhG0dXFPZ2XpUNgqxrB9BwWrtE_mrF0kPt22xt5N7sPPGqn3DinOHpIv7mQsHzkKZgxA9ob5UVukRHT-WvB2WGGj7BL6Xtk6SgkRwC1sQ6_xhbseCXIKEt8pv64/s640/a+bouquet+of+yellow+daffodils+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj8kL2e_-gurKR1Q5zO-Ty5MXu_dCCsp8xxUiKYzclQ83d8RGz68m4ADeNKd36utFYzS4qaIxjFKXAJuIGjHBjoxIYmo4JnyvuwpGPwr0434rMPrDAYxyafpHeNHy-7UNo45R3fcdDWU/s1600/artistic+wet+yellow+daffodil+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj8kL2e_-gurKR1Q5zO-Ty5MXu_dCCsp8xxUiKYzclQ83d8RGz68m4ADeNKd36utFYzS4qaIxjFKXAJuIGjHBjoxIYmo4JnyvuwpGPwr0434rMPrDAYxyafpHeNHy-7UNo45R3fcdDWU/s640/artistic+wet+yellow+daffodil+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUn589-j_c2U3X8pLaQijhPcw0SjAHJyffqUBTFCboVDCfPVovWKnMCBOzMNVre76uBHvVnlV3Jc8wPFQJaznml6QFQK0LE5QRGiaRHoCEF-rS8e4NnRiE-MoYpZM8N9CKqaov07Qyag/s1600/closeup+of+violet+with+waterdrops+hdr+grainy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUn589-j_c2U3X8pLaQijhPcw0SjAHJyffqUBTFCboVDCfPVovWKnMCBOzMNVre76uBHvVnlV3Jc8wPFQJaznml6QFQK0LE5QRGiaRHoCEF-rS8e4NnRiE-MoYpZM8N9CKqaov07Qyag/s640/closeup+of+violet+with+waterdrops+hdr+grainy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOztg3VvGFIh3lKCMxrrK3GCu4JCaxVUJP6Fc94UbFUNTsMU-4yd4UO1w0hEq-i-FEADRUHIfhlRAk_cSRY1OgdPIu8ndl1JMlAnxXZ06sR812Suo1yqKavMCgmENQwgnHsUV9CiwttU/s1600/exotic+looking+pansy+pale+and+struc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOztg3VvGFIh3lKCMxrrK3GCu4JCaxVUJP6Fc94UbFUNTsMU-4yd4UO1w0hEq-i-FEADRUHIfhlRAk_cSRY1OgdPIu8ndl1JMlAnxXZ06sR812Suo1yqKavMCgmENQwgnHsUV9CiwttU/s640/exotic+looking+pansy+pale+and+struc.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEcr9HJnoX2RNk3DDlOSlImVflrATXNpOTNldjQ7CVo5OIalXzjcPWH-RXe6CggYlKE8dLUrWEcFQ2N8b560N5KuRRR7lVIljhmpbRIN-JMspha7P0Wy9Ed-9MlhtKiibAMC31tnjrYY/s1600/pansy+3+for+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEcr9HJnoX2RNk3DDlOSlImVflrATXNpOTNldjQ7CVo5OIalXzjcPWH-RXe6CggYlKE8dLUrWEcFQ2N8b560N5KuRRR7lVIljhmpbRIN-JMspha7P0Wy9Ed-9MlhtKiibAMC31tnjrYY/s640/pansy+3+for+class.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I am hoping your Easter Sunday</div>
<div align="center">
is filled with love, family, sunshine </div>
<div align="center">
and blooming flowers...</div>
<div align="center">
send the warm weather</div>
<div align="center">
and flocking birds and ducks back up north</div>
<div align="center">
to us, will you PLEASE????????????????????????????</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-2488268827453306622013-03-23T12:43:00.000-04:002013-03-23T12:43:04.679-04:00Spring hopes eternal................Marsh Marigolds and Bloodroot Awaken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
We still are all white here with snow...so today I decided to post more pictures from early of 2012 that I haven't shared yet.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marsh Marigolds....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMBJUoPyqk4IgssGbG_c3aLmhe2vU8wOyxcZO4yAi0NeVQS9OoOplxjR7KHsHKqPtOyRxy_-42tFXR3ripQxAuf1lN1c77RWV_totTdYKsRjY7dSi42s2Y1oFrAY833Dckrx96lngQP0/s1600/a+patch+of+marsh+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMBJUoPyqk4IgssGbG_c3aLmhe2vU8wOyxcZO4yAi0NeVQS9OoOplxjR7KHsHKqPtOyRxy_-42tFXR3ripQxAuf1lN1c77RWV_totTdYKsRjY7dSi42s2Y1oFrAY833Dckrx96lngQP0/s640/a+patch+of+marsh+flowers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yy4v8edO2bmUgIlHIB9-nqVScv9Qda0AXq5jY0pSCv_AMDqcxJ5cNTG8cCTUdIQ0EOfu_jfBnL6MeyjHGrOw2qFWpQBqDLJvBWgyfCLXHqmYHMEdEE0LnD93OMSazAW8aV3_N1MnJbY/s1600/bed+of+marsh+marigolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yy4v8edO2bmUgIlHIB9-nqVScv9Qda0AXq5jY0pSCv_AMDqcxJ5cNTG8cCTUdIQ0EOfu_jfBnL6MeyjHGrOw2qFWpQBqDLJvBWgyfCLXHqmYHMEdEE0LnD93OMSazAW8aV3_N1MnJbY/s640/bed+of+marsh+marigolds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Bloodroot!....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfq6wLQ5rNoWRzp0-zG5BFuoiya_KVUZYqq2D5fiKajyaWGbTS8OKURPdEsU8ZiC3wsJbts2RpseMiywHxme3Gz3HiB6r26LU0qyqQ1ac0RXpVNbcWx63NExDRZXrD5-jwc6EHVaX2Fw/s1600/blood+root+and+leaves_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfq6wLQ5rNoWRzp0-zG5BFuoiya_KVUZYqq2D5fiKajyaWGbTS8OKURPdEsU8ZiC3wsJbts2RpseMiywHxme3Gz3HiB6r26LU0qyqQ1ac0RXpVNbcWx63NExDRZXrD5-jwc6EHVaX2Fw/s640/blood+root+and+leaves_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2QX_Z18kNzDp3HHBbUrCnBk746RXKUWT7SLTXiVzkRhf5J5sSrFgplbIRVjRDf0Qg-nmbThlQyCKj1OJ9ZeW5NdombWtlHdupNayACVo0BCqry7eIrgNW6mSOmMxfFBsUKGElhkbll8/s1600/blood+root+face+detailed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2QX_Z18kNzDp3HHBbUrCnBk746RXKUWT7SLTXiVzkRhf5J5sSrFgplbIRVjRDf0Qg-nmbThlQyCKj1OJ9ZeW5NdombWtlHdupNayACVo0BCqry7eIrgNW6mSOmMxfFBsUKGElhkbll8/s640/blood+root+face+detailed.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTzcn_084e7aYAoyYSNpvcFUD-h00GEw_o8Iro6kBB7tC-ewXsQZWxKUF1tVA6fnYWTUVoZ29da6thwiU1ua0oZucEkhJavCxje_vV5frjKXnTY_wukDwPV1mR1ttXzGMcxwDFa-8_74/s1600/blood+root+grouping+dingy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTzcn_084e7aYAoyYSNpvcFUD-h00GEw_o8Iro6kBB7tC-ewXsQZWxKUF1tVA6fnYWTUVoZ29da6thwiU1ua0oZucEkhJavCxje_vV5frjKXnTY_wukDwPV1mR1ttXzGMcxwDFa-8_74/s640/blood+root+grouping+dingy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo4veyIhkfRDRqcfGEmILP9-WXOE16KLznrDNN-Lt5Sp-VCBuHvWaLZGebo_W8CdF22V2Cu9tbfxBwQi8HmHwKfyH8Lipbtbap3p8JDBr9e-nK77dySNwFVPGKXuzjPjXk-d8mvhX1Ts/s1600/blood+root+with+pistals+to+the+sky+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo4veyIhkfRDRqcfGEmILP9-WXOE16KLznrDNN-Lt5Sp-VCBuHvWaLZGebo_W8CdF22V2Cu9tbfxBwQi8HmHwKfyH8Lipbtbap3p8JDBr9e-nK77dySNwFVPGKXuzjPjXk-d8mvhX1Ts/s640/blood+root+with+pistals+to+the+sky+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqWxM3U1tukEfHlRhLGmntOZGfI8NRyPcaY_YxHbhyiUUjEmwQ0O85nb8Sdk79yR9GGh7k55Dp9teeSORK4ur2GYs3hhBu14zNalVBYUhVx1qfZ5cjtKLDL-cpJn7Jwce-dHlUbpV-eA/s1600/side+profile+of+a+blood+root+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqWxM3U1tukEfHlRhLGmntOZGfI8NRyPcaY_YxHbhyiUUjEmwQ0O85nb8Sdk79yR9GGh7k55Dp9teeSORK4ur2GYs3hhBu14zNalVBYUhVx1qfZ5cjtKLDL-cpJn7Jwce-dHlUbpV-eA/s640/side+profile+of+a+blood+root+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Waiting for the snow to melt here, so these beauties will re-emerge from the forest floor, here they are still under more than 3 feet of snow....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Are you getting your spring wildflowers yet?</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-85480655164502012582013-03-16T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-16T06:00:00.602-04:00An Encounter!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
We went for a hike last April, when the snow finally let us back on the</div>
<div align="center">
Spring roads....</div>
<div align="center">
and we rounded a curve and there was </div>
<div align="center">
THIS cute fellow!!!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j1i1c_IHW61pGRqXqKKE-JpzYvkWJw3b5Kkx5Q9AUX_fVn_QpRBxIrYXwdSFL6U3EjvKYsKf-hcmFh8cf99cfgmOVTIhpGyihKJFDaM9cjXjDqWsdGGcw-L0lCZPrQatRQb5Ic8dyCY/s1600/porcupine+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j1i1c_IHW61pGRqXqKKE-JpzYvkWJw3b5Kkx5Q9AUX_fVn_QpRBxIrYXwdSFL6U3EjvKYsKf-hcmFh8cf99cfgmOVTIhpGyihKJFDaM9cjXjDqWsdGGcw-L0lCZPrQatRQb5Ic8dyCY/s640/porcupine+back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
A porcupine!</div>
<div align="center">
We hadn't seen many in the woods for years!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Z8qgy2884msvuH1SnPQ2iPQ9s_JqU4hX0L-kjLyc7PK8GApPzasrVX4ZI-TEfW1ptMpv9Szo2qzZH2o1-Mv4MI0h3zZhZiRq-tJq8-IUBGMRgwJoFI5pf2mUOQwCBWt7nrrZFnSjQQ/s1600/porcupine+profile+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Z8qgy2884msvuH1SnPQ2iPQ9s_JqU4hX0L-kjLyc7PK8GApPzasrVX4ZI-TEfW1ptMpv9Szo2qzZH2o1-Mv4MI0h3zZhZiRq-tJq8-IUBGMRgwJoFI5pf2mUOQwCBWt7nrrZFnSjQQ/s640/porcupine+profile+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Contrary to beliefs, they do NOT throw their quills...</div>
<div align="center">
they just "display" them to warn you:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG30bLUiETFdPvmU_Ms55ksWH4RGSTahfNDruGjdKhrwCh6-0FFFtprUnqH09m0AV-L3GG56tQs9UwSMxpD6PuvVmSp9g_SaU4qPCQrwClfYu_toyWwehvoj5RpTf5hBsMZKf65VLPfCA/s1600/porcupine+full+body+pose+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG30bLUiETFdPvmU_Ms55ksWH4RGSTahfNDruGjdKhrwCh6-0FFFtprUnqH09m0AV-L3GG56tQs9UwSMxpD6PuvVmSp9g_SaU4qPCQrwClfYu_toyWwehvoj5RpTf5hBsMZKf65VLPfCA/s640/porcupine+full+body+pose+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
But after a few minutes of me slowly following him, clicking away with my lens, he settled down and figured maybe I wasn't such a threat after all:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ho8IawwshYnzpoX2Ii6ErB_oqQpT3l-n7w74AlwLlnXnT2ooDebVqEC9DyGsfmeYzeijlvLEOmhbg5hvtXGuil0fT1QeJMUjWISpD65xY3Dylt9-Wo-_BClkDOG7abCKm7IvrQcVzY/s1600/porcupine+entire+body+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ho8IawwshYnzpoX2Ii6ErB_oqQpT3l-n7w74AlwLlnXnT2ooDebVqEC9DyGsfmeYzeijlvLEOmhbg5hvtXGuil0fT1QeJMUjWISpD65xY3Dylt9-Wo-_BClkDOG7abCKm7IvrQcVzY/s640/porcupine+entire+body+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Or, maybe NOT! (I am sure he was thinking: why is she STILL following me?):</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgDIhJU1ozyvEkNLPhv4In2Re6RomZ3kPEpSvRfCBtAA9ZHxMfbLaCySaJ_Ql9vWTiCShbi__XoagaTJcTe4rSFZziCg8ME_enWLUxepaUgbnt_hiljht8PACn_7AjrdzTEMahEa_MZw/s1600/porcupine+following.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgDIhJU1ozyvEkNLPhv4In2Re6RomZ3kPEpSvRfCBtAA9ZHxMfbLaCySaJ_Ql9vWTiCShbi__XoagaTJcTe4rSFZziCg8ME_enWLUxepaUgbnt_hiljht8PACn_7AjrdzTEMahEa_MZw/s640/porcupine+following.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_284797046"></span><span id="goog_284797047"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I'll just stop and give her my "model pose":</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oMsbBDNq57Ly8KucNxPluy3fcOT70yfXKchVttBQr66IctOwwLT_y5bZbPVY9jrJ2SoqgF76yBtMg2B5JwfuIr5pxk_RMsO9NGetVRLUTkmQAAlC9ZWi7rGS6GnpZDC577Qn8eFwJi0/s1600/porcupine+peeking+back+at+me_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oMsbBDNq57Ly8KucNxPluy3fcOT70yfXKchVttBQr66IctOwwLT_y5bZbPVY9jrJ2SoqgF76yBtMg2B5JwfuIr5pxk_RMsO9NGetVRLUTkmQAAlC9ZWi7rGS6GnpZDC577Qn8eFwJi0/s640/porcupine+peeking+back+at+me_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
I think they have such cute faces!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zx_XFYnGYvsOox3r1z0c72tvaw4ujdt4hzjSthV-KQjoVJGvQqvyz1RFRiwdQxZnAJqAXsLeQOIlPNMQ02i9RncZ3CnGr0uEAo9LnxDbT34glIzmnvxYaavThVQUAfYu8pKXIY8v4U/s1600/porcupine+odd+face+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zx_XFYnGYvsOox3r1z0c72tvaw4ujdt4hzjSthV-KQjoVJGvQqvyz1RFRiwdQxZnAJqAXsLeQOIlPNMQ02i9RncZ3CnGr0uEAo9LnxDbT34glIzmnvxYaavThVQUAfYu8pKXIY8v4U/s640/porcupine+odd+face+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
He had enough of me, and headed to the deeper woods.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCd6tmqbF0NOuTddRkYjzRdoehnLdxkXrje20q4XUke7an4YDVdQkQC1AorLqwiu0pzsXeR2Vodu6NwNRvSrIQb7501r68cPv0EEZBLRnCbSvncl0kmsSLXS_l8VZY4NfYV4FAGwkDHE/s1600/porcupine+leaving+in+full+quills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCd6tmqbF0NOuTddRkYjzRdoehnLdxkXrje20q4XUke7an4YDVdQkQC1AorLqwiu0pzsXeR2Vodu6NwNRvSrIQb7501r68cPv0EEZBLRnCbSvncl0kmsSLXS_l8VZY4NfYV4FAGwkDHE/s640/porcupine+leaving+in+full+quills.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I was so happy to have spent some time with him!</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-26731692991032076622013-03-13T14:19:00.000-04:002013-03-13T14:19:18.152-04:00In the woods: April in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center">
Even though there are barely any leaves on the trees in our neck of the woods in early April,</div>
<div align="center">
it is still great to get outside with my camera lens and capture </div>
<div align="center">
whatever we can find.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I am looking forward to next month, when our snow will hopefully be gone</div>
<div align="center">
so I can get out again.</div>
<div align="center">
These shots were taken last April out in our woods...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
This waterfall has no name, it only shows up in the spring when the snow melts:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd3UPe_UlPuNBJzXcjDOKwGZYfALsgpvvt6RS4OjE46J1_JAQzUqHH3Jm_1H3tigz68sip-rRlCUl9WEn88wKnmoP07dHKVuMVIhhgpiwOMDYRagluR-tNjp5YnUAAPdUNgQlB-sp2B0/s1600/craigs+lake+waterfall+pse_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd3UPe_UlPuNBJzXcjDOKwGZYfALsgpvvt6RS4OjE46J1_JAQzUqHH3Jm_1H3tigz68sip-rRlCUl9WEn88wKnmoP07dHKVuMVIhhgpiwOMDYRagluR-tNjp5YnUAAPdUNgQlB-sp2B0/s640/craigs+lake+waterfall+pse_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Nothing like mushrooms on an old stump for texture!:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlalb5SpDQuK7Jp7Mdao15pELfm8QeSpymYVosFbpxCevia_e0PyAPJBI1DGmxZdGtjqmWWyOPlnmXate8Bn01tAJynGA5kVux8TUDTFGdDx-TAYlpP0ws2RfwHu2pTpFI8MMQpak1808/s1600/black+and+white+mushrooms+on+a+log+profile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlalb5SpDQuK7Jp7Mdao15pELfm8QeSpymYVosFbpxCevia_e0PyAPJBI1DGmxZdGtjqmWWyOPlnmXate8Bn01tAJynGA5kVux8TUDTFGdDx-TAYlpP0ws2RfwHu2pTpFI8MMQpak1808/s640/black+and+white+mushrooms+on+a+log+profile.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbovfI4XWPAgmrAR7ZUndcDAiU4_FNCzTzAPBmytD8TyGt9Zvvb-01dyyCtL7drosF9pd8qRWRtxhU3H3Wc2SNqCXF7Zn2F1xBebgisFVkdwlIPTpJonM18Q2-ZtuVRgTw82NleypxtEc/s1600/mushroom+on+bark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbovfI4XWPAgmrAR7ZUndcDAiU4_FNCzTzAPBmytD8TyGt9Zvvb-01dyyCtL7drosF9pd8qRWRtxhU3H3Wc2SNqCXF7Zn2F1xBebgisFVkdwlIPTpJonM18Q2-ZtuVRgTw82NleypxtEc/s640/mushroom+on+bark.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
And, to get a glimpse at the first wildflowers in our area to bloom (Trout Lilies!) are a thrill:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3lDHa_I8nNJjERIhPnlSMlcBVkh3Zm6nnk6M9e1ohnoQOdS2k_SC4ls0PFWdL3lxAYZBH4jNE1uht4ilJgsi0OjQx-CpU1M4DcaBMhvTE7iv0mZ2HUdDvch88SS0qcHJcAd4ODjIyIY/s1600/single+trout+lily_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3lDHa_I8nNJjERIhPnlSMlcBVkh3Zm6nnk6M9e1ohnoQOdS2k_SC4ls0PFWdL3lxAYZBH4jNE1uht4ilJgsi0OjQx-CpU1M4DcaBMhvTE7iv0mZ2HUdDvch88SS0qcHJcAd4ODjIyIY/s640/single+trout+lily_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Spring beauties growing by an old log:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jpbSO56XiLmUKE6uwg9q5upxXwfB4WZpBhHW9CeHDoRlIrBrLy2dAbOXtdmo0tU6Jc3zzhE3QqOfqfmnb43FnS2EaJHsN_xmJyo1gRZvt3jKH1KKYtn3j4mWsNyyKM8w9hNUwtWxqjE/s1600/spring+beauties+growing+out+of+the+trunk_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jpbSO56XiLmUKE6uwg9q5upxXwfB4WZpBhHW9CeHDoRlIrBrLy2dAbOXtdmo0tU6Jc3zzhE3QqOfqfmnb43FnS2EaJHsN_xmJyo1gRZvt3jKH1KKYtn3j4mWsNyyKM8w9hNUwtWxqjE/s640/spring+beauties+growing+out+of+the+trunk_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
And to see the first turtles in the melted ponds--it's always nice!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBaaIaIHh_szQjBSSO_V7eBMCtYhH4EoByYS4FXyXwqFDbwZWnqdfMOw2F20EyOYHaP6aNs97QfFM6Yc-ubkoi5fHNDzJ8KSRG1p4uxnUyVIDe9cOyCog3DOpcQFUgYG_FuErq2pszzM/s1600/turtle+at+the+pond+hdr+grainy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBaaIaIHh_szQjBSSO_V7eBMCtYhH4EoByYS4FXyXwqFDbwZWnqdfMOw2F20EyOYHaP6aNs97QfFM6Yc-ubkoi5fHNDzJ8KSRG1p4uxnUyVIDe9cOyCog3DOpcQFUgYG_FuErq2pszzM/s640/turtle+at+the+pond+hdr+grainy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE_TJLHQDEMPFX7cZ1NUaR7Z8GdYj3Dt7mdGKmYcnHl2w-OfOyAdfoWc35fuZicb5BrGSmExBfjWtzRDy2K0xyAwDPMg5jwd86TJKkp75GEDYwBxRIe7HX2VggNOIYQcjfCphPpybsjs/s1600/turtle+on+a+haystack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE_TJLHQDEMPFX7cZ1NUaR7Z8GdYj3Dt7mdGKmYcnHl2w-OfOyAdfoWc35fuZicb5BrGSmExBfjWtzRDy2K0xyAwDPMg5jwd86TJKkp75GEDYwBxRIe7HX2VggNOIYQcjfCphPpybsjs/s640/turtle+on+a+haystack.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Sunbathing in the new spring sun must feel pretty good to them!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XvOAavHHZnvCiqXtNs1AbudDwDmYHpjnewIABxY_GXHM1UwUYWVPcXKMO6toh8dC4AB3w5Wq-StIgGkkCCwQskXIr5n5q31CMGOeGzsfqNVXNLMOwt0TpH-jUKMR_8c0CEtfZUSVue0/s1600/turtle+peeking+out+2+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XvOAavHHZnvCiqXtNs1AbudDwDmYHpjnewIABxY_GXHM1UwUYWVPcXKMO6toh8dC4AB3w5Wq-StIgGkkCCwQskXIr5n5q31CMGOeGzsfqNVXNLMOwt0TpH-jUKMR_8c0CEtfZUSVue0/s640/turtle+peeking+out+2+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUpiNWkdmyqDX-7_-voemw0S45LKW1n_zQpqDahnF9TNGMlNLjebuLyG7BZLRNQTLA8HDAHp1McY8vTeM93kzlgkSq8uPezQCwyh-z1nz_X7Xrxx5wjRFukMtOuUQX-6QEoJ7749WfuU/s1600/turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUpiNWkdmyqDX-7_-voemw0S45LKW1n_zQpqDahnF9TNGMlNLjebuLyG7BZLRNQTLA8HDAHp1McY8vTeM93kzlgkSq8uPezQCwyh-z1nz_X7Xrxx5wjRFukMtOuUQX-6QEoJ7749WfuU/s640/turtle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I can feel the warmth of the sun is getting stronger.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
We still have very cold temperatures here, but during the day our icicles are dripping hard</div>
<div align="center">
and I hear the maple trees are starting to provide some running sap for maple syrup.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Spring can't be far behind that, right???</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-24078122561310352302013-03-09T14:45:00.000-05:002013-03-09T14:45:00.898-05:00This Ongoing Winter is for the Birds!.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know about your neck of the woods....
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but, here....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we are getting pretty tired of winter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even the birds seem to agree....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chipping Sparrow:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3ufSIW6idWVkdXCoHDGXS37QucVT62ybl-RuTKE3119ak18tWh5xX7Bas7ji99jbAJ07MVLbkciXw8CHAwZUKivHXp4hlfocXtGwFwImtoO8GvD64bmsTIO05srZyemHJfcyl_i6Hq4/s1600/chipping+sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3ufSIW6idWVkdXCoHDGXS37QucVT62ybl-RuTKE3119ak18tWh5xX7Bas7ji99jbAJ07MVLbkciXw8CHAwZUKivHXp4hlfocXtGwFwImtoO8GvD64bmsTIO05srZyemHJfcyl_i6Hq4/s640/chipping+sparrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Chickadee:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLpi4GX7NkSzQIVukLys3uMDPlQjC68FN7ft98WNDMxoVmXZpPvL_kFRpTH-DE6aehcuiDGB1OsyPcJpnnJDaoKR9VQSKYwwJn96fBpqOJZ_S0E2BJnfgrs4KNI713PwoGKtHZiv4rVw/s1600/chickadee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLpi4GX7NkSzQIVukLys3uMDPlQjC68FN7ft98WNDMxoVmXZpPvL_kFRpTH-DE6aehcuiDGB1OsyPcJpnnJDaoKR9VQSKYwwJn96fBpqOJZ_S0E2BJnfgrs4KNI713PwoGKtHZiv4rVw/s640/chickadee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Purple Finch:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8qMqPdrCXSH1mBW_IOd9VjpcFVEaVmaX2S_C9KOlReiRyOwZ5BnJ3x3I1M4J80i3qnsDq88xmBUPT7izBaSapfcnYBmsQQST6cXiHerc28xtEYSkjiJuDGTIixWfA6S5sbhhYPaxZnA/s1600/christmas+card+red+finch+on+a+pole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8qMqPdrCXSH1mBW_IOd9VjpcFVEaVmaX2S_C9KOlReiRyOwZ5BnJ3x3I1M4J80i3qnsDq88xmBUPT7izBaSapfcnYBmsQQST6cXiHerc28xtEYSkjiJuDGTIixWfA6S5sbhhYPaxZnA/s640/christmas+card+red+finch+on+a+pole.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Junco:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB14gLoJXnFZFSQop7MrwRfbYlnslWfP1WXlttNE5-lSnSRWTImPh6Mn7SIfPKXrD5a7Dzr_fT_p3MfT03gg_1ZXkMXATk5H28me73G1HUJB8PuthQ_PDkKmVZWJ2Xl32_fMkSuAviWBE/s1600/junco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB14gLoJXnFZFSQop7MrwRfbYlnslWfP1WXlttNE5-lSnSRWTImPh6Mn7SIfPKXrD5a7Dzr_fT_p3MfT03gg_1ZXkMXATk5H28me73G1HUJB8PuthQ_PDkKmVZWJ2Xl32_fMkSuAviWBE/s640/junco.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8GLI-n1C9LSHP6OEJmH_QZC3X_NP91Cqgh2e6p9Hk079BfwpcfQlteW0YaNc6Q8xHciG_z8y3x584b6H9MvhnxELBJoyLJJk9r4D6vY22prHIjkFZzn_DH7e7NPYMiUN6rJcH2E8htM/s1600/sweet+winter+bird_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8GLI-n1C9LSHP6OEJmH_QZC3X_NP91Cqgh2e6p9Hk079BfwpcfQlteW0YaNc6Q8xHciG_z8y3x584b6H9MvhnxELBJoyLJJk9r4D6vY22prHIjkFZzn_DH7e7NPYMiUN6rJcH2E8htM/s640/sweet+winter+bird_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pileated Woodpecker:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yfQ8DIsDl9odEUjjcW-31yRE2Sm_tH0NcmEudzP86ijRlsnMBmkb3soTWEWDSdowLpgUxyNgTL4VSJ0HzallJnpcRxXLZn3jo1lNOGR3cGtMzTzKgRqJcyPobqLiP1vbEn-xNUyog70/s1600/pileated+at+the+tree+2+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yfQ8DIsDl9odEUjjcW-31yRE2Sm_tH0NcmEudzP86ijRlsnMBmkb3soTWEWDSdowLpgUxyNgTL4VSJ0HzallJnpcRxXLZn3jo1lNOGR3cGtMzTzKgRqJcyPobqLiP1vbEn-xNUyog70/s640/pileated+at+the+tree+2+hdr.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Purple Finch Pair:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAJo9S9wVPZAVk0VDVqR-dDxQKAy5zREi9Pxzf05TRubPfWtoyOLuh1bx62mqEMWHJXXbVXfudITiUDie6BMxDmnJEB2tGbczTIYWxmdhyphenhyphenoxW_9FcXHDRrZyLGcBi5phHGqDvIHQy_gM/s1600/two+late+winter+early+spring+birds+dingy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAJo9S9wVPZAVk0VDVqR-dDxQKAy5zREi9Pxzf05TRubPfWtoyOLuh1bx62mqEMWHJXXbVXfudITiUDie6BMxDmnJEB2tGbczTIYWxmdhyphenhyphenoxW_9FcXHDRrZyLGcBi5phHGqDvIHQy_gM/s640/two+late+winter+early+spring+birds+dingy.jpg" width="626" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
More snow coming down today.....</div>
<div align="center">
(sigh).</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I say: it is for the birds!!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Hope you are feeling more Spring than us today!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I am trying to be patient about the "end of winter thing".</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I see it's not working for me....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-35215543904935414222013-03-05T11:04:00.000-05:002013-03-05T11:04:03.343-05:00April Previews.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are still buried under quite a bit of snow....but I was looking through some of my last year's photos taken in April and it gave me great hope that in a short month or so....THIS is what will be happening in our neck of the woods!:
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pussywillows!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLPLGLKWoBPouFHVi_4hgnlpHfNMbu4GN_xueWB1TNnBDQ1iU1HRhlxoU7qUq3gO3c9RGYZoebAueYmtlEbvVYflBMFAFt0N72klp12dNzGyd8Ns-vZE6JcfRcCI_b26AY8mnIvJzdCc/s1600/pussy+willows+2+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLPLGLKWoBPouFHVi_4hgnlpHfNMbu4GN_xueWB1TNnBDQ1iU1HRhlxoU7qUq3gO3c9RGYZoebAueYmtlEbvVYflBMFAFt0N72klp12dNzGyd8Ns-vZE6JcfRcCI_b26AY8mnIvJzdCc/s640/pussy+willows+2+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Up close and personal!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zyG1TQWHNgkkaOvur3bf0GXCJC9tBr2FCw0HWQwKYLo6Az3DaAOdkAbmcX44utFLffsPrvTBE2pbHBHvDhxxVEJkUqh6lXP-QI84ILlwNSd9MQL39S6vGLXsoy4-GTPnTCTiLJTAnZA/s1600/a+sprig+of+pussywillows+pale+and+struc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zyG1TQWHNgkkaOvur3bf0GXCJC9tBr2FCw0HWQwKYLo6Az3DaAOdkAbmcX44utFLffsPrvTBE2pbHBHvDhxxVEJkUqh6lXP-QI84ILlwNSd9MQL39S6vGLXsoy4-GTPnTCTiLJTAnZA/s640/a+sprig+of+pussywillows+pale+and+struc.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Sweet little Spring Beauties wildflowers:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluJpuNNZpwvuDL-U5b-C5g896Le7CLvwYDcV1_mzDMFRFIzsW0EWzw7XwH-gIe4TO0rzvv5D10vKce97a51_K4mPtMNNUM9FiOrndkyrRpCfqs2OHnCwvMWk8cqRNnwz6Leup2_-k0Cc/s1600/dainty+spring+beauties+by+the+rock+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluJpuNNZpwvuDL-U5b-C5g896Le7CLvwYDcV1_mzDMFRFIzsW0EWzw7XwH-gIe4TO0rzvv5D10vKce97a51_K4mPtMNNUM9FiOrndkyrRpCfqs2OHnCwvMWk8cqRNnwz6Leup2_-k0Cc/s640/dainty+spring+beauties+by+the+rock+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Trout Lily:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYomvzDckf-56IFyoTC07O_MBEy2cxUpYrwiXNUDLECziyrmmKxK3RULV7NJsKg9s43j8lKCAuSNs2XqnVPy8RPJYuQ4khHAb8vdwhRq3-lK2rUygPTm1YDjJ4Uw5GbSJS9ft_d0nDPU/s1600/lovely+trout+lily+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYomvzDckf-56IFyoTC07O_MBEy2cxUpYrwiXNUDLECziyrmmKxK3RULV7NJsKg9s43j8lKCAuSNs2XqnVPy8RPJYuQ4khHAb8vdwhRq3-lK2rUygPTm1YDjJ4Uw5GbSJS9ft_d0nDPU/s640/lovely+trout+lily+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Lovely Spring Beauties by the log:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpPmlm5RD5wbp0lKNYPAA68o5U-A1D4GdX3p_tWxzxzWmFa0GEZyGKmnbGxdJn-9mxGtxrqVNCUadUmdRJf-_swUNR08pD-CnAYIDDGzWWXr50ILbEfBTzlEXEKI-mue7jnQOC0OinHc/s1600/spring+beauties+hiding+under+the+log+grainy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpPmlm5RD5wbp0lKNYPAA68o5U-A1D4GdX3p_tWxzxzWmFa0GEZyGKmnbGxdJn-9mxGtxrqVNCUadUmdRJf-_swUNR08pD-CnAYIDDGzWWXr50ILbEfBTzlEXEKI-mue7jnQOC0OinHc/s640/spring+beauties+hiding+under+the+log+grainy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Spring Beauties, close up:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpfqG9yEVYvdlNVWUBRUjGfmGCaB9JHhYVUmjDIPFQ58-kQV6YVTJHGZfrGZJN9kf84jRoOpSVfSQ4G5rxbnw6lYkFBJ64HWmdcYtn_Zy7u-oiPihKz6E07guc9V-3Gy7EsSGpDDH898/s1600/spring+beauties+trio+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpfqG9yEVYvdlNVWUBRUjGfmGCaB9JHhYVUmjDIPFQ58-kQV6YVTJHGZfrGZJN9kf84jRoOpSVfSQ4G5rxbnw6lYkFBJ64HWmdcYtn_Zy7u-oiPihKz6E07guc9V-3Gy7EsSGpDDH898/s640/spring+beauties+trio+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I am counting the days!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
How about YOU?</div>
<br />
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-12343195934108770612013-02-16T18:56:00.001-05:002013-02-16T18:56:51.875-05:00Ixtapa, Mexico: Part Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
Today, since it is so cold where I live,</div>
<div align="center">
I decided to show you</div>
<div align="center">
some of the </div>
<div align="center">
beautiful Mexican flowers we saw on our trip.</div>
<div align="center">
As I mentioned before, I did not take my DSLR</div>
<div align="center">
camera or my macro lens, so I was wishing I had it with me</div>
<div align="center">
during all of these shots,</div>
<div align="center">
but still, the exotic flowers there and the color</div>
<div align="center">
was a feast to this Northern Girl's eyes</div>
<div align="center">
this time of year for SURE!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I do not know the names of any of the followng flowers...<br />
but that is a good thing, because now I will keep quiet<br />
and let you look at them in silence.....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOuvf6Z4_nsDiMkuIoiW0iJNUx-WwWhfQe0x3KyovIKSTvEmQ0P9pdYiMrxD6Kis_VJfyCZ5EF6Eh7Rys9vRkykD_H9WPVihBKXSVe5hxuqDHO4c4wjbb3oHoGC3vVEdMwF4BTlaQymE/s1600/artistic+white+single+flower+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOuvf6Z4_nsDiMkuIoiW0iJNUx-WwWhfQe0x3KyovIKSTvEmQ0P9pdYiMrxD6Kis_VJfyCZ5EF6Eh7Rys9vRkykD_H9WPVihBKXSVe5hxuqDHO4c4wjbb3oHoGC3vVEdMwF4BTlaQymE/s640/artistic+white+single+flower+sinister.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN5H19Co4MoNsznZDsmWkkBMFAwk9MszDYAO5qT6-I2hNirdxDOmmxXPOVnQ2R_yExK6uvWriG7eWZjfQu2Dpi3QDdprvXlQQooz82ETMKGE9qQUffAqBlZIT3Ts0djcSm4D4gcYmwVg/s1600/bird+of+paradise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN5H19Co4MoNsznZDsmWkkBMFAwk9MszDYAO5qT6-I2hNirdxDOmmxXPOVnQ2R_yExK6uvWriG7eWZjfQu2Dpi3QDdprvXlQQooz82ETMKGE9qQUffAqBlZIT3Ts0djcSm4D4gcYmwVg/s640/bird+of+paradise.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFWJ9XJGk34OaubHFcWGTjSDd9uvt62CaVP3pe3TFtvu3owms0MtL054Qb5TyLIN3in8_VJmRiH1UxjPX03GZxvbJi1Js8D8G-VtJGXdG1Wr5DinwASq5cChc4pjZYnMIfhWHp9NXBnI/s1600/burst+of+pink+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFWJ9XJGk34OaubHFcWGTjSDd9uvt62CaVP3pe3TFtvu3owms0MtL054Qb5TyLIN3in8_VJmRiH1UxjPX03GZxvbJi1Js8D8G-VtJGXdG1Wr5DinwASq5cChc4pjZYnMIfhWHp9NXBnI/s640/burst+of+pink+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxnSTBWvOeRdiRm9mfhI1k9U5-s48IY30WD0xCGVY0PsJDh0zAPJDhKDqISc6lcFP748a5jVm1PR0lhj1kDjAaJ-izHYffiyjNo376G55eg8LUXQqOiN3kGY5bgm7iz2r7cM4LFns8QA/s1600/blue+flowers+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxnSTBWvOeRdiRm9mfhI1k9U5-s48IY30WD0xCGVY0PsJDh0zAPJDhKDqISc6lcFP748a5jVm1PR0lhj1kDjAaJ-izHYffiyjNo376G55eg8LUXQqOiN3kGY5bgm7iz2r7cM4LFns8QA/s640/blue+flowers+dramatic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BG-ei3-VBZChxc7-EiHdPimJv8Z5LVO1W_8qjR1p4UYQ0V-4PoIG6aJLU9w3gurbT9S7-rC7rJzscR4pQu0anq07W8cEbigCh5I7wuemC5cJE6RydXhvpUVUeFl7V2UrvVlrlHoDurs/s1600/cobwebs+in+flowers+sinister+with+white+frame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BG-ei3-VBZChxc7-EiHdPimJv8Z5LVO1W_8qjR1p4UYQ0V-4PoIG6aJLU9w3gurbT9S7-rC7rJzscR4pQu0anq07W8cEbigCh5I7wuemC5cJE6RydXhvpUVUeFl7V2UrvVlrlHoDurs/s640/cobwebs+in+flowers+sinister+with+white+frame.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge3-6OmpRzdEPut6RQfXgvSALVQjeZIROwq0Trx8UfXeAyUq2usGeP2BqcZhyphenhyphenzOPFFAmtMtivviGkBDsPTAMrsaFE1qGHrLlRe79QnconMd-AG7eJQvo867YcWIVLi5DuVq7eJOI22ME/s1600/curly+pistals+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge3-6OmpRzdEPut6RQfXgvSALVQjeZIROwq0Trx8UfXeAyUq2usGeP2BqcZhyphenhyphenzOPFFAmtMtivviGkBDsPTAMrsaFE1qGHrLlRe79QnconMd-AG7eJQvo867YcWIVLi5DuVq7eJOI22ME/s640/curly+pistals+sinister.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnstP4G8jizJwyjktFw8fQu3wNWYN-64P7zZQrchb57BYt0zza2TRnaXVDsQXyDvB93k6jSALYBGXSOZlz6yqTMj7UaSWT7k-s2wEXHHNq5kXCVKT2LMqW56ilsQ1fxlfBLmKcMW0bU-4/s1600/exotic+flower+grouping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnstP4G8jizJwyjktFw8fQu3wNWYN-64P7zZQrchb57BYt0zza2TRnaXVDsQXyDvB93k6jSALYBGXSOZlz6yqTMj7UaSWT7k-s2wEXHHNq5kXCVKT2LMqW56ilsQ1fxlfBLmKcMW0bU-4/s640/exotic+flower+grouping.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJXLZHfqnswJHIgRUAJ8bS3tfCnUtTuOairti7o7CSUMsvX4_eoU_y32-oYSuYDuFrGY9ohz_LMuUQ9hUFlBRPNW_Riqoft4ksVFDSaiMq4AL-u2Syz2Gu6IfAI-kfqmUUX5jhh_Jwyw/s1600/flowers+by+the+wall+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJXLZHfqnswJHIgRUAJ8bS3tfCnUtTuOairti7o7CSUMsvX4_eoU_y32-oYSuYDuFrGY9ohz_LMuUQ9hUFlBRPNW_Riqoft4ksVFDSaiMq4AL-u2Syz2Gu6IfAI-kfqmUUX5jhh_Jwyw/s640/flowers+by+the+wall+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
\<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtLnFYfrIrdhrx-9F1VQO2ETckbquk-UhqviyD2zCia6ENnKJqaYd-T0JRK_TwlZMGB0xwKrawJATU0XtSMITFnexYaEH5LVhKvWpGv1p5qoGp3mWESLfCYpLnGcUVzChiG0WUenPNSI/s1600/flower+face+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtLnFYfrIrdhrx-9F1VQO2ETckbquk-UhqviyD2zCia6ENnKJqaYd-T0JRK_TwlZMGB0xwKrawJATU0XtSMITFnexYaEH5LVhKvWpGv1p5qoGp3mWESLfCYpLnGcUVzChiG0WUenPNSI/s640/flower+face+dramatic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4aT732rrZFlrR-zdH-pOxat19QYbVWElGnOu_t_9fHgsn_NvPrYAt4XSYONv0LjKQpJc5_uSNg4bQsUD1Hnx5F4Y-UydaiLyhwUZ0LlBI2x4ZkKup68cm452-fmFbpVIZZGoMhI4zXE/s1600/flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4aT732rrZFlrR-zdH-pOxat19QYbVWElGnOu_t_9fHgsn_NvPrYAt4XSYONv0LjKQpJc5_uSNg4bQsUD1Hnx5F4Y-UydaiLyhwUZ0LlBI2x4ZkKup68cm452-fmFbpVIZZGoMhI4zXE/s640/flowers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyofEGnjfoFCtL45IXpDRH_MTag_05Sa6FfR8z-0CadDfmwuyDB_-NvyWtvy7dhr30_ZzZOjsg7Hqt3FGwxM2jqmzAJ3cBi-1k4WmCWQfz5GfNESxMDTsgZ7VkDij6xJioLUngqefcRtw/s1600/four+pink+flowers+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyofEGnjfoFCtL45IXpDRH_MTag_05Sa6FfR8z-0CadDfmwuyDB_-NvyWtvy7dhr30_ZzZOjsg7Hqt3FGwxM2jqmzAJ3cBi-1k4WmCWQfz5GfNESxMDTsgZ7VkDij6xJioLUngqefcRtw/s640/four+pink+flowers+sinister.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5TDQySCkCj1YnQ4f3l6qtggOJX1RRw_TARtdpYaNVMmqebSQsLUJs6NwOv85nVysJnAZtbbgwXOj9aNCp-AwvhElTao6SNlmrmzTFfi1kO44wP2p5HMU1DnoRZmvlKjZTBsQOplmQyY/s1600/hidden+pink+beauty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5TDQySCkCj1YnQ4f3l6qtggOJX1RRw_TARtdpYaNVMmqebSQsLUJs6NwOv85nVysJnAZtbbgwXOj9aNCp-AwvhElTao6SNlmrmzTFfi1kO44wP2p5HMU1DnoRZmvlKjZTBsQOplmQyY/s640/hidden+pink+beauty.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXddEhCMZ7ITCjWZrnRMLEZ2uAiKmMHzVeyzppeVJcIk9fKXEKhqQ7hXAwt3LsCQTaGW1QIxI0-3bHLqBVUdBqHrFYD-0Vyd4VMPAIuffxWwm7y0UOwgeUicavsXt5dGKBEu7yHROcD8/s1600/pink+flower+and+palms+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXddEhCMZ7ITCjWZrnRMLEZ2uAiKmMHzVeyzppeVJcIk9fKXEKhqQ7hXAwt3LsCQTaGW1QIxI0-3bHLqBVUdBqHrFYD-0Vyd4VMPAIuffxWwm7y0UOwgeUicavsXt5dGKBEu7yHROcD8/s640/pink+flower+and+palms+dramatic.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkaI8u91fN-5v40p6llV0npeFQudHVZ7L0WQywbf60Q-nQW8EW__4491NHiLuYJ-9n-LNqudMN1Xjs9D6irs4cL11Rwb7AMKq5YHXO4YRNK9Rna6zuqtXrUPTZ15GriPNJC80RaDLRGQ/s1600/pink+flower+between+the+leaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkaI8u91fN-5v40p6llV0npeFQudHVZ7L0WQywbf60Q-nQW8EW__4491NHiLuYJ-9n-LNqudMN1Xjs9D6irs4cL11Rwb7AMKq5YHXO4YRNK9Rna6zuqtXrUPTZ15GriPNJC80RaDLRGQ/s640/pink+flower+between+the+leaves.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq6v_paHKwykmvditUgLJyJvcaZnfC8KJiAzNoAPGSFPFGhZDLeNQmzkd5cO527gPLcZbk7OZojqD0_OhE_mzgDT321gl6bjmxYmkpyPClRKuF8CvnlBKin_2LkCFtCQJ8IFqAX3zPnE/s1600/pink+flower+side+view+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq6v_paHKwykmvditUgLJyJvcaZnfC8KJiAzNoAPGSFPFGhZDLeNQmzkd5cO527gPLcZbk7OZojqD0_OhE_mzgDT321gl6bjmxYmkpyPClRKuF8CvnlBKin_2LkCFtCQJ8IFqAX3zPnE/s640/pink+flower+side+view+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeRB_lVjHOC-s-KQ0g4F7BcB3rGnnXHXgUrGsfn_xL3CVP90PaKd8p6KTD_TlTgBi_bkxF8EQcMD0j6xKT4mEMUW3KwVQfYrsunPo4HnJ9MvnasnArlyIRhBmIpnXXR3o8405ezEZ_cY/s1600/pink+flowers+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeRB_lVjHOC-s-KQ0g4F7BcB3rGnnXHXgUrGsfn_xL3CVP90PaKd8p6KTD_TlTgBi_bkxF8EQcMD0j6xKT4mEMUW3KwVQfYrsunPo4HnJ9MvnasnArlyIRhBmIpnXXR3o8405ezEZ_cY/s640/pink+flowers+dramatic.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog70G3spB-JiF0Kw1Z1HUF3OzE-J5gnfsmmvySH7ilSbB0GyHweKdE3qAnGykn2uM1eBlVfzrWmPhbnX6RSRwts6n7JtcIHHYWLTgs3uBZy2FQnFUfFXkYEOz3ffyTNLdSOLt-QpgrJc/s1600/pink+mum+like+flower+closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog70G3spB-JiF0Kw1Z1HUF3OzE-J5gnfsmmvySH7ilSbB0GyHweKdE3qAnGykn2uM1eBlVfzrWmPhbnX6RSRwts6n7JtcIHHYWLTgs3uBZy2FQnFUfFXkYEOz3ffyTNLdSOLt-QpgrJc/s640/pink+mum+like+flower+closeup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpj4ABYehI5LnUDUvDCrF6pwHd1mPPRNjXAycFLi7feD3sdPIGz5ak2ZSi-nVzD8V1dB9ZsYkiqxAkf0MP1ePZXzd0saCYg0WdLlIEhM9jqCmiGARd3XQuWlge0LD6DHCuv0WIIJfkqA/s1600/pink+wet+flower+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpj4ABYehI5LnUDUvDCrF6pwHd1mPPRNjXAycFLi7feD3sdPIGz5ak2ZSi-nVzD8V1dB9ZsYkiqxAkf0MP1ePZXzd0saCYg0WdLlIEhM9jqCmiGARd3XQuWlge0LD6DHCuv0WIIJfkqA/s640/pink+wet+flower+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57nXGM8mSZOlscshquehASMuLP1dBku7ADol_1nJVJfz4BKMXUGw6YTOvTte4QUAk23gDH0N9QUfoEMxTc7W92EMN8tCF60H0i0EU5WOKg6qqpJVQDoYPoV97MJ6scxercx9ZufQrjqA/s1600/purple+fan+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57nXGM8mSZOlscshquehASMuLP1dBku7ADol_1nJVJfz4BKMXUGw6YTOvTte4QUAk23gDH0N9QUfoEMxTc7W92EMN8tCF60H0i0EU5WOKg6qqpJVQDoYPoV97MJ6scxercx9ZufQrjqA/s640/purple+fan+dramatic.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2lN20FsTEr5CqFiQyTeXwmf7XzJk0ZWY0HF_LgEOADNOIjZWMnDf4B3NPH-xNc2fecszixO0PvpUc63HuunpqXVYa3hIZHWA46QqTzo4e4LJdr45ecKP9h-DwMdt90alYN7a1GN30q4/s1600/purple+flowers+in+glory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2lN20FsTEr5CqFiQyTeXwmf7XzJk0ZWY0HF_LgEOADNOIjZWMnDf4B3NPH-xNc2fecszixO0PvpUc63HuunpqXVYa3hIZHWA46QqTzo4e4LJdr45ecKP9h-DwMdt90alYN7a1GN30q4/s640/purple+flowers+in+glory.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwLzYLb0JqA1UkaWso82oLmTMN0HHgEVx5LGyycVLeJNCXF2kfHE7jnlNxdSRB_l1GQ5d-6WFKCvHQkj9rhN5lmW5TUS2vuH0Tk_302caEzLGNnsIRge3f2wvMMnujgv4OiK8Uu8L5pA/s1600/single+pink+beauty+pale+and+structured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwLzYLb0JqA1UkaWso82oLmTMN0HHgEVx5LGyycVLeJNCXF2kfHE7jnlNxdSRB_l1GQ5d-6WFKCvHQkj9rhN5lmW5TUS2vuH0Tk_302caEzLGNnsIRge3f2wvMMnujgv4OiK8Uu8L5pA/s640/single+pink+beauty+pale+and+structured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OO9XztLVIOOlPr87JCSn34ytWuDX45DsyIZbJHRaUXeRv-fHLlQcZNDR4bQgKm8i0nFKGsS6PA4GZBDhCpQr0W4ODUNX-nrWFJ7ABMza7Hh8BXU-Ik5dhpbuW9lQQ-VlJgq4mCpI_Ls/s1600/three+blossoms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OO9XztLVIOOlPr87JCSn34ytWuDX45DsyIZbJHRaUXeRv-fHLlQcZNDR4bQgKm8i0nFKGsS6PA4GZBDhCpQr0W4ODUNX-nrWFJ7ABMza7Hh8BXU-Ik5dhpbuW9lQQ-VlJgq4mCpI_Ls/s640/three+blossoms.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X4vGRftOg_n7oiSF-IVkBpMc_A4wBc2je4_c2dX_T_TcO11YPt5nF4lCVOZB2zLKDr3pEfexD_nwqF0BONFPFdg9-kxdRlwdJhiZoSEqWTh5JgimYYcnD57jSc4nAmmTLMBp1YzfOgA/s1600/yellow+hibiscus_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X4vGRftOg_n7oiSF-IVkBpMc_A4wBc2je4_c2dX_T_TcO11YPt5nF4lCVOZB2zLKDr3pEfexD_nwqF0BONFPFdg9-kxdRlwdJhiZoSEqWTh5JgimYYcnD57jSc4nAmmTLMBp1YzfOgA/s640/yellow+hibiscus_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNDV7UJGAOkBqWB-iSsALSXHyINZotcry-MC3PFEM8RH0ZvVsQmRYojd9PT4OpTEEQcNhd-V0TqzW4Y_kdP_p8rnfueBgnjv0SWjZJsoR28Eih26n0Rlq_JMK3mJ1t80WeskcfhbFhI8/s1600/yellow+flower+profile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNDV7UJGAOkBqWB-iSsALSXHyINZotcry-MC3PFEM8RH0ZvVsQmRYojd9PT4OpTEEQcNhd-V0TqzW4Y_kdP_p8rnfueBgnjv0SWjZJsoR28Eih26n0Rlq_JMK3mJ1t80WeskcfhbFhI8/s640/yellow+flower+profile.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmx0_hQPu7t9z-OG6LVnWR5mDPnHw5k8_OOKhX3iUXcaIVgMEY0zY3M0fGywhsXwoZjGh3s4M_m9xdSA6MwyONeg7zzJ1U-vyVzHGz6RUdHjwwBGRppPxVksdqA7kiM4K1b8beDAOK6w/s1600/yellow+flower+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmx0_hQPu7t9z-OG6LVnWR5mDPnHw5k8_OOKhX3iUXcaIVgMEY0zY3M0fGywhsXwoZjGh3s4M_m9xdSA6MwyONeg7zzJ1U-vyVzHGz6RUdHjwwBGRppPxVksdqA7kiM4K1b8beDAOK6w/s640/yellow+flower+dramatic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
If any of you know the flowers' names, please feel free to share in the comments on my blog...I will publish them for all of us to learn.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
This SO makes me yearn for Spring....</div>
<div align="center">
we have lots of snow and cold here and usually</div>
<div align="center">
'nothing comes up until April, and that is only crocuses....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
But, I am going to attend a destination wedding at the end of April,</div>
<div align="center">
and it is again in a tropical island....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
so I am READY to pack already!!!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Hope you enjoyed today's flowers on the blog...</div>
<div align="center">
and that it made your day brighter.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-46207525055035390052013-02-07T16:37:00.000-05:002013-02-07T16:37:22.361-05:00Ixtapa Mexico: Part TWO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
Reports are for blizzards today </div>
<div align="center">
in </div>
<div align="center">
many parts of the USA...</div>
<div align="center">
I say,</div>
<div align="center">
what better day to </div>
<div align="center">
post some Ixtapa, Mexico</div>
<div align="center">
SUNSETS???</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
So, here we go....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QjaTxWHF9nTABe-KfLmQglUDRE2CG_Bz3iKBuPByPeIF09d9IlnH-tRvsdhBiSajYlkIbSYcjUSX52Gduc1SJBwZWix1_7vsunaHMsMFru8oClkRriDUKEXGgF5UyY9ObeILdoNGFo0/s1600/beach+and+sunset+scene+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QjaTxWHF9nTABe-KfLmQglUDRE2CG_Bz3iKBuPByPeIF09d9IlnH-tRvsdhBiSajYlkIbSYcjUSX52Gduc1SJBwZWix1_7vsunaHMsMFru8oClkRriDUKEXGgF5UyY9ObeILdoNGFo0/s640/beach+and+sunset+scene+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
What I love is that every sunset, even if taken from the same general area,<br />
is that they </div>
<div align="center">
can look so incredibly different....</div>
<div align="center">
all with unique beauty...</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qTgQhRsSFDCLJKSk7iQCMegW7gHIgnuRkoJErKSMQEVq7SHFRJQcEmn3dshHvB9izCQbie6andQSexZqovMRmPsTGWqJYw7CsFTzjdXAayHNuP6g7T-eIoFe8IaMPrz2oMrq6AvhPU/s1600/beach+sunset+dingy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qTgQhRsSFDCLJKSk7iQCMegW7gHIgnuRkoJErKSMQEVq7SHFRJQcEmn3dshHvB9izCQbie6andQSexZqovMRmPsTGWqJYw7CsFTzjdXAayHNuP6g7T-eIoFe8IaMPrz2oMrq6AvhPU/s640/beach+sunset+dingy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL0IrutRe2iLIm4nowPfQu6pDu36fuU72gGdUlfRka14POzgosbpFkPuHDq7ja0FlRE6TU3dWaDdT9h90JkTIBZUB0J_48P-sXLwGkQzdOW4XIoyX7CLSB5ZsQDtuy77MtNdYnTpEeOo/s1600/by+the+sea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL0IrutRe2iLIm4nowPfQu6pDu36fuU72gGdUlfRka14POzgosbpFkPuHDq7ja0FlRE6TU3dWaDdT9h90JkTIBZUB0J_48P-sXLwGkQzdOW4XIoyX7CLSB5ZsQDtuy77MtNdYnTpEeOo/s640/by+the+sea.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGtcX9LkskH54AWOdxFgRzJgsVgqlc6vlMC3lpaVcf4O7N5hb7JsF1RWm4N8X5zoAwzEJkrLBsCa_pR5klBBFQcWclabC3jThUFXU1nntZTcicFCGOTMCQjDEQarFq292qCwK-m58pMI/s1600/boat+by+the+islands+at+sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGtcX9LkskH54AWOdxFgRzJgsVgqlc6vlMC3lpaVcf4O7N5hb7JsF1RWm4N8X5zoAwzEJkrLBsCa_pR5klBBFQcWclabC3jThUFXU1nntZTcicFCGOTMCQjDEQarFq292qCwK-m58pMI/s640/boat+by+the+islands+at+sunset.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
They can be be <br />
dymanic:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHXfkbognHvUd8zNqq1y9PLE8gaKJi7KH5rI4RF1meHvWMR9zeKzp7sMziTJ5KC4-e0qWMAxGRjuzSThlkn9dujRxsFUDkLQetUpUAX9UW3POIthDnhMRldtyGaHinWmjzrlyCrCC9UM/s1600/crashing+sunset+waves+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHXfkbognHvUd8zNqq1y9PLE8gaKJi7KH5rI4RF1meHvWMR9zeKzp7sMziTJ5KC4-e0qWMAxGRjuzSThlkn9dujRxsFUDkLQetUpUAX9UW3POIthDnhMRldtyGaHinWmjzrlyCrCC9UM/s640/crashing+sunset+waves+dramatic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
or</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
peaceful:</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOB2EYSPggVXTdvznAYdKiy5SkFkhzLzJ4_LMu_py8HDZK12_0QM9aK0kheCFAuELlAyroT77mPOta3wCnAImGJh23K8RQ-ZJKHmq1lV3bTT3jiZKYC8Ggebhnpf5gMJJJFj2AIPvR18/s1600/far+away+sunset+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOB2EYSPggVXTdvznAYdKiy5SkFkhzLzJ4_LMu_py8HDZK12_0QM9aK0kheCFAuELlAyroT77mPOta3wCnAImGJh23K8RQ-ZJKHmq1lV3bTT3jiZKYC8Ggebhnpf5gMJJJFj2AIPvR18/s640/far+away+sunset+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1287891502"></span><span id="goog_1287891503"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
But, </div>
<div align="center">
no matter WHAT mood the sunset </div>
<div align="center">
depicts...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
make sure you take a seat</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
enjoy, inhale, commune</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
embrace it....</div>
<div align="center">
each one is the Universe's glimpse</div>
<div align="center">
of heaven,</div>
<div align="center">
and you don't want to</div>
<div align="center">
miss</div>
<div align="center">
THAT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcK1Dy1_6Iz4cLu5VStpNBUD68SXld_T3whYsGkfoHaIdvdzjdSpHwmIC0QjS3jTfyqesJz2xlL9Cjs9KYI42OtlNSjIqxeOU3SvgYYMWlI075wL1zwBwZiL7c6ap11pRNtS283Ddfts/s1600/your+chair+awaits+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcK1Dy1_6Iz4cLu5VStpNBUD68SXld_T3whYsGkfoHaIdvdzjdSpHwmIC0QjS3jTfyqesJz2xlL9Cjs9KYI42OtlNSjIqxeOU3SvgYYMWlI075wL1zwBwZiL7c6ap11pRNtS283Ddfts/s640/your+chair+awaits+hdr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-6741816245470783882013-01-27T17:43:00.000-05:002013-01-27T17:43:11.668-05:00Ixtapa, Mexico: Part UNO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I am back from Mexico!</div>
Quite some time ago, actually, but I had to post-process my photos and I am STILL not done...
but here are some previews for you!
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I took along my "point and shoot" camera because I was afraid my DSLR camera was in danger</div>
<div align="center">
of being broken, or lost, or stolen...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I was afraid it wouldn't do a good job, but I was very happy with the images I was able to get without a tripod and just my trusty Panasonic Lumix point and shoot.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
So, put your pretty pedicured, sandaled feet (and men? Well, just put those luggers up on an ottomon) and let's take a peek, shall we???</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
What better to start with then our evening drink at sunset at the beach???:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DKF5mmil80DNrf2B6ULZ0klWK2YlT-992Od0kTfsSf2Z3htuxDFX0fBGKd60y9lA1Pm2yFDzC3lpXxB8RPziy2yAXX9AINnFMUFViuT1kZV3VXml65UJ_ygTOKGhKiuLmxr8SUdwM2k/s1600/sunset+drink+3+sinister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DKF5mmil80DNrf2B6ULZ0klWK2YlT-992Od0kTfsSf2Z3htuxDFX0fBGKd60y9lA1Pm2yFDzC3lpXxB8RPziy2yAXX9AINnFMUFViuT1kZV3VXml65UJ_ygTOKGhKiuLmxr8SUdwM2k/s640/sunset+drink+3+sinister.JPG" width="468" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
And?</div>
<div align="center">
Let's add a little Mexican mood music...</div>
<div align="center">
(I don't know...think "Spanish Eyes"??...I don't know any Mexican songs!):</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9c89saxuMRxYMJxDv9EWwHWSbT5JoA-im3DMvLNdKRacjHJ_wVlq3cDKbtbFgYkUiNf-Ny3WMOoq8NmQ0_8dp_rq8LVdkEBVSZzMYW9LtOC9svKBpUzUksAGbrYtHLS-i6xAyFEsXTI/s1600/accordian+player.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9c89saxuMRxYMJxDv9EWwHWSbT5JoA-im3DMvLNdKRacjHJ_wVlq3cDKbtbFgYkUiNf-Ny3WMOoq8NmQ0_8dp_rq8LVdkEBVSZzMYW9LtOC9svKBpUzUksAGbrYtHLS-i6xAyFEsXTI/s640/accordian+player.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
And, how about a beach vendor or two???:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLclR169RgqL4DOLc3wiNLJg4KHBUW_n_phlwQZtDjybpps696Su1bqveggyS668jlVbXzCjRwxnoL9QKXe4lnLK0bmKWC2N73dhcifDz9568NuiZPdnefitm1CrxwRkL-11mm-0X6HEU/s1600/another+vendor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLclR169RgqL4DOLc3wiNLJg4KHBUW_n_phlwQZtDjybpps696Su1bqveggyS668jlVbXzCjRwxnoL9QKXe4lnLK0bmKWC2N73dhcifDz9568NuiZPdnefitm1CrxwRkL-11mm-0X6HEU/s640/another+vendor.JPG" width="454" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
And maybe a palm tree, for extra measure....</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONFe8hpKVYt6FQPwo9Kr-x7XLBi4Gcz-JbsWkBr5wuuIurzNdbz8CCATktHTUP38NrLfHhsq5mxTaW-38yqZNEVKE5kQKz8xlHa7pd-jTTyHeagOd5O5rxmi64OtXTXSkll2QS-GJwu0/s1600/palm+tree+dramatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONFe8hpKVYt6FQPwo9Kr-x7XLBi4Gcz-JbsWkBr5wuuIurzNdbz8CCATktHTUP38NrLfHhsq5mxTaW-38yqZNEVKE5kQKz8xlHa7pd-jTTyHeagOd5O5rxmi64OtXTXSkll2QS-GJwu0/s640/palm+tree+dramatic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
That is all for today...</div>
<div align="center">
I have over TWO HUNDRED images to process people....</div>
<div align="center">
I can't blog here all day!!!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
(*smiles*)</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
More to come....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
(To add insult to injury, the week we got back home we had seventeen degrees BELOW zero farenheit and wind chills in the -30 range!</div>
<div align="center">
I have a horrible cold that is getting better today, so I am on the mend.</div>
<div align="center">
I am going out of town for 4 days too, so I will be back then and post some more of </div>
<div align="center">
my Mexico images.</div>
<div align="center">
Until then, stay warm!!! </div>
<div align="center">
P.S. Blogger looks like it got its sh*t together as these images posted fairly quickly for me, thank GOODNESS!) Keep your fingers crossed that I can now blog without further problems.</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-60725919354790476882013-01-08T22:07:00.000-05:002013-01-08T22:07:04.969-05:00Operation: "GOT HATTS"??? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
A reader said to load some photos on Picasa</div>
<div align="center">
and see if they could load onto Blogger any easier for me....</div>
<div align="center">
and this is working, so far.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
A pain because it is yet another step I had to take to post a photo, but for now I will use it, I guess.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
But, that is not what this post is about.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
It is about:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>OPERATION: "GOT HATTS" (<span style="color: red;">G</span>etting <span style="color: red;">O</span>ut of <span style="color: red;">T</span>own, <span style="color: red;">H</span>auling <span style="color: red;">A</span>ss <span style="color: red;">T</span>o <span style="color: red;">T</span>ropical <span style="color: red;">S</span>ands)</strong></span></u></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You see, it all starts every spring, when I take many of my nature photography prints and the Hubs makes homemade lovely birch bark frames for them and we start selling at craft fairs.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like this:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHr2jtmbNTY/UOzKDGWlZoI/AAAAAAAAO1w/HI8fexOVozM/s1600/framed+project+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHr2jtmbNTY/UOzKDGWlZoI/AAAAAAAAO1w/HI8fexOVozM/s640/framed+project+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And we make homemade stone jewelry too.<br />
<br />
Then, after all the spring, autumn and the last Christmas craft fairs,(which is hours and hours of hard labor, but we love it!) we gather up any profits made and pool the money together and plan a tropical winter getaway with the money made from our fruits of labor. <br />
<br />
Thus begins the" Operation: Got Hatts".....<br />
<br />
But it isn't a simple process. <br />
<br />
Oh. No.<br />
<br />
PHASE ONE OF COMMANDO OPERATION: Got Hatts: <br />
My job:<br />
1. Look for hours and hours at vacation deals on line.<br />
2. Call Hubby over to computer to ask him what he thinks of said deals, one by one.<br />
3. Hubby states (one by one): "whatever you want honey, you plan it, I am fine wherever you pick as long as it is warm".<br />
4. Look for hours and hours more and days and days more until I finally see one I think is the "best deal". Second guess myself at least five times and continue the search until I finally settle on ONE.<br />
5. Call Hubby over to computer one last time for final confirmation on price, place, dates. He agrees.<br />
6. Every so many days after reservations are made and paid for, Hubby asks me: "When do we go again? Where are we going again?" at least 10 times.<br />
7. Up to the final few days before departure, (no matter how many months/days before I book it) Hubby will act surprised as I begin Phase Two of the Operation and states: "I didn't realize we were going then." (and repeats #9) (And, just in case you were wondering, he does not have dementia or Alzheimers)...<br />
8. Go on line to make hotel reservations for where we fly from to go to Mexico...again look for hours and hours for "the best park and fly deal". Call Hubby to computer to double check and he says: "whatever you want honey, you plan it, I am fine wherever you pick".<br />
<br />
PHASE TWO:<br />
My job:. Packing process begins approximately two weeks before departure. This part is NOT pretty. (Those without strong stomachs may wish to not read the next part). Those of you that already read this on Facebook, I apologize!:<br />
1. Take out every short-sleeved outfit and dress in closet and place them on bed.<br />
2. Take out every lightweight skirt I own and place them on bed.<br />
3. Take out every swimsuit and coverup I own and place them on the now-mounded bed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Take out every pair of sandals I own, try them all on, declaire they are not cute enough or fit comfortably en<span class="text_exposed_show">ough, but pile them anyway by said-bed.<br /> 5. Try on said-bed clothes. Sigh. <br /> 6. Go shopping for new tropical vacation clothes and shoes.<br /> 7. Come home without much, and re-try everything on on said-bed and floor.<br /> 8. Put half of the stuff back in closets.<br /> 9. Take out every piece of jewelry I own to match chosen clothes (this takes an entire day)<br /> 10. Remembers I have to buy new underwear in case someone in customs searches suitcase, rush out to buy some.<br /> 11. Remember I have to buy new makeup to match expected tan, rush out to buy some. (Along with travel size deoderant, shampoo, etc.)<br /> 12. Finally squishes everything in suitcase and barely gets it shut.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4dFtNS894I/UOzbW0OjggI/AAAAAAAAO2E/M9ggJCAj0hI/s1600/sitting+on+suitcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4dFtNS894I/UOzbW0OjggI/AAAAAAAAO2E/M9ggJCAj0hI/s1600/sitting+on+suitcase.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> How Hubby packs:<br /> 1. Finds old speedos from 1980's, asks if he can put them in my suitcase, along with 2 shirts, 2 shorts, toothbrush and razor. </span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">PHASE THREE:</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Again, MY JOB!! (Are you getting the identified trend here?):</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">1. Call insurance company to insure we get health coverage on foreign lands.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">2. Call credit card companies to inform them of where and when we are traveling to a foreign country so they don't think our credit card is stolen while we are there. At time of call, Hubby states he doesn't realize we are leaving THIS Thursday.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">3. I call and make arrangements to have house checked, papers collected, mail held while we are away.</span><br />
4. I clean the house so if we die in a horrible plane accident or get kidnapped and held as slaves in the back fields of Mexico forevermore, when they come to have the wake at our house they don't see how messy we really were when we were alive....<br />
5. I wash clothes to get ready for the trip.<br />
6. This immediately triggers feelings of doubt and insecurity that perhaps I did not pack the correct wardrobe for the trip, which sends me straight to my packed suitcase to switch out some of the things I had previously settled on. (and of course the matching jewelry).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2U9sgVRTA0/UOzcr91fi9I/AAAAAAAAO2Y/-7uyCqEM-T8/s1600/passport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2U9sgVRTA0/UOzcr91fi9I/AAAAAAAAO2Y/-7uyCqEM-T8/s1600/passport.jpg" /></a></div>
7. Look at our passports for the umpteenth time to make sure they haven't expired since five minutes ago when I previously checked them.<br />
8. Go to bank to get cash for the trip. Agonize over the correct amount and how to distribute it between the two of us at the airport.<br />
9. Find carry-on bag and place plane itenary/tickets, passport, cash now-charged electronic gadgets such as tablet, Kindle, camera and then add a zillion MORE other things like bandaides, Tylenol, safety pins, and oh-my-God-if-you-need-ANYTHING-in-Mexico-come-find-me-and-I-will-have-IT!.<br />
<br />
Hubby's Phase Three job:<br />
1. Calls out for me in the house when he doesn't see me in the immediate area. When I tell him where I am, he asks what I am doing. When I tell him I am getting ready for our trip, he says: "That's TOMORROW? I thought that was NEXT week!"<br />
<br />
*************************************************************************************<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
But you see. I am fine with all the above.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because we will have fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will be swimming in the ocean. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will be drinking Pina Coladas at the swim up pool bar. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5ig9Wc7k2I/UOzdVjaHKOI/AAAAAAAAO2k/GaEAq8bPii8/s1600/pina+colada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5ig9Wc7k2I/UOzdVjaHKOI/AAAAAAAAO2k/GaEAq8bPii8/s1600/pina+colada.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will hold hands watching the tropical sunset every single night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The last night we are there?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
I will be turning to him and saying: "You mean we are leaving TOMORROW??" "I thought that was NEXT week!!"<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
*********************************</div>
<div align="center">
If you don't see posts from me for about 10 or so days, don't be alarmed...</div>
<div align="center">
I either crashed in the plane, got kidnapped in Mexico</div>
<div align="center">
or</div>
<div align="center">
am just recuperating from all of the above.</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-23628475270061284212013-01-07T16:07:00.001-05:002013-01-07T16:07:59.368-05:00Remembering Autumn.....<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I do not know what is going on with Blogger!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I went on the past few days to try and load my photos, it would not let me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">No way, no how.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I finally tried through Google Chrome and now it will only let me</div><div style="text-align: center;">go through a back door way and only through HTML</div><div style="text-align: center;">posting of my photos...</div><div style="text-align: center;">anyone else having these problems???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is SO frustrating, especially since I paid for the extra program</div><div style="text-align: center;">to have my photos published!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There, now that I have vented, let's move on, shall we?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a ton of pictures to still show you from spring through fall of last year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">as you remember I took some time off from blogging as I was doing so much photography </div><div style="text-align: center;">that I just didn't have time to post-process the shots, much less blog them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, here we go with some fall shots for you!</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I just loved these seed pods....I don't know the name of the bush that gives us them, but they are few and far between in the woods and when I see some in the autumn, I just have to stop and take some shots!:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIf6cogI3cjeanFD49HGYZipdp5dKACKxu_BmKlTJ4jDR19X8Igxwm0OGIVOYjYuBwoiTCniBRKOQHD2zKKqqKMK62jGpRu0jDhmJB5wbnHd4T_Xrr4f4BbLZcUmJzT4Fpmd-Zll_Qus/s1600/bushy+plant+seeds+dramatic+63+t+65_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIf6cogI3cjeanFD49HGYZipdp5dKACKxu_BmKlTJ4jDR19X8Igxwm0OGIVOYjYuBwoiTCniBRKOQHD2zKKqqKMK62jGpRu0jDhmJB5wbnHd4T_Xrr4f4BbLZcUmJzT4Fpmd-Zll_Qus/s640/bushy+plant+seeds+dramatic+63+t+65_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A storm 'abrewin':</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHgJHsXDBWf1GlAY5koVnURd4Yv11zUMIVgsL3pvvdxsDr7wmYxcUfgemo91QOYK3hAzGJbSovgwWNGAglI62mSuo5_BGqWSLl2VrmUyx6gk4dBb_bPu-IBYoVXCkym7BKSq3oBHNwKw/s1600/dark+sky+bog+78+t+80.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHgJHsXDBWf1GlAY5koVnURd4Yv11zUMIVgsL3pvvdxsDr7wmYxcUfgemo91QOYK3hAzGJbSovgwWNGAglI62mSuo5_BGqWSLl2VrmUyx6gk4dBb_bPu-IBYoVXCkym7BKSq3oBHNwKw/s640/dark+sky+bog+78+t+80.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">If you look reallll close, you can see two wild swans in the left side of the photo:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAGxDA8NIHdHOYJqaGsqwgAA5d9Ec3Fjj0noUORESeRhjSA_NAYOpHkEzxwZZ95zbCa5X5icJWjX0ZwPcVPZPcXfU6eZjJ70ysD5zuVu1ynb1VxY9mAR6z4o9D2qpn2G3SrCUIrfQ6ks/s1600/swans+across+the+pond+10+t+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAGxDA8NIHdHOYJqaGsqwgAA5d9Ec3Fjj0noUORESeRhjSA_NAYOpHkEzxwZZ95zbCa5X5icJWjX0ZwPcVPZPcXfU6eZjJ70ysD5zuVu1ynb1VxY9mAR6z4o9D2qpn2G3SrCUIrfQ6ks/s640/swans+across+the+pond+10+t+12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I doubt if these were edible, but these sure were colorful and full of texture!:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY3cqzNO0BUu5_MWIgwljWLmFxk3p3vgm9Qn7eKWw9IwVwBnW0CJNaXG3HilmirKIhkhpKPVIzjOIce2tYg_B-9wy9avJWFAbsL91C_5xnrAi9FwDoYR0M747_uU1tIGqiJqdoUcTuy0/s1600/double+plate+mushroom+dramatic+47+t+48.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY3cqzNO0BUu5_MWIgwljWLmFxk3p3vgm9Qn7eKWw9IwVwBnW0CJNaXG3HilmirKIhkhpKPVIzjOIce2tYg_B-9wy9avJWFAbsL91C_5xnrAi9FwDoYR0M747_uU1tIGqiJqdoUcTuy0/s640/double+plate+mushroom+dramatic+47+t+48.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here are the swans a bit closer up!:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPr0FfvljVWS1lfPWer5_PIqXDsxeMLZjCLDS7W4jVxdnzb_vB_giqLgxhiEwhED1I2I0gqjhFmCSafrh3H3wvMaSdVDrBTHEYCs7X7THG_sONOLbDFztVqBCGwOEKhyHbD7aI9tzQ3g/s1600/swans+in+golden+grass+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPr0FfvljVWS1lfPWer5_PIqXDsxeMLZjCLDS7W4jVxdnzb_vB_giqLgxhiEwhED1I2I0gqjhFmCSafrh3H3wvMaSdVDrBTHEYCs7X7THG_sONOLbDFztVqBCGwOEKhyHbD7aI9tzQ3g/s640/swans+in+golden+grass+13.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">If you are having my frustrations with loading your photos, or have any suggestions to help me through, let me know....</div><div style="text-align: center;">and, I am leaving for a tropical vacation to Mexico in a few days, so will be gone again for a week or so, but I shall return and will be reading your comments when I get back..</div><div style="text-align: center;">until then, stay warm and we will talk again soon!</div><br />
<br />
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-42199424799650423542013-01-07T15:34:00.001-05:002013-01-07T15:34:10.823-05:00HELP!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I purchased the new Google plan for more picture storage.<br />
Now?<br />
I cannot load ANY photos onto my blog!<br />
<br />
Is anyone else having problems loading photos on their blogspot.com blog account through Google????</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-9825109532621214892013-01-01T10:49:00.000-05:002013-01-01T10:49:24.853-05:00Parts of 2012 were for the birds.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
As everyone else, the New Year causes one to reflect on the past year</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and muse on the upcoming one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like you, I had highlights and down parts of 2012, but I am</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
happy to say, the highlights outnumbered the downs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And as far as "for the birds"? Well, I was honored</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to see some to photograph...and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
want to share these autumn bird shots with you today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is to wish you a Happy New Year...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one that I hope "takes flight" for you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and allows you to soar to the happiest year of your life yet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because remember....a lot of your friends and loved ones</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
did not get the privilege to see 2013.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFHpfbqDjTbVxoyAP5UkLMgn0YM168OOH1JLGcPMZYaqMOm1IerYVyM-cCT6HA5lmWP_xcMvMKMhDkfGqHj0wlEtZLubybrBl6axJExULHnJg2So4yLwjvp_PmWwTbmiJ3EBBGCQxSLI/s1600/bird+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFHpfbqDjTbVxoyAP5UkLMgn0YM168OOH1JLGcPMZYaqMOm1IerYVyM-cCT6HA5lmWP_xcMvMKMhDkfGqHj0wlEtZLubybrBl6axJExULHnJg2So4yLwjvp_PmWwTbmiJ3EBBGCQxSLI/s640/bird+back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
We read on line that if you take a hollow log (or in our case a hollow piece of birch bark) and put seeds inside, the birds like it...as they will get out of the wind, snow and rain and go inside the log to eat.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Sometimes, they stand on top of it and act as the "look out"...</div>
<div align="center">
like this blue jay:</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNhRqqd3FRZVb0a3xDAoLOYeczZvbCahhccmyjQ2MpEibvbn8jfiA-5M1C5I2A4kFDRUNqJFIMn9ue9Jz-4bdvXvZcUyGz_5_okqQ0cjfZLw6ZXOYCHKPAtCxusLCqQMZCMtoxMUGzpo/s1600/bluejay+on+the+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNhRqqd3FRZVb0a3xDAoLOYeczZvbCahhccmyjQ2MpEibvbn8jfiA-5M1C5I2A4kFDRUNqJFIMn9ue9Jz-4bdvXvZcUyGz_5_okqQ0cjfZLw6ZXOYCHKPAtCxusLCqQMZCMtoxMUGzpo/s640/bluejay+on+the+log.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Or just OUTSIDE of it...</div>
<div align="center">
as the "look out":</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8-AHZVUp0NWf0i-t7-XfsFUq3f4WmPPmxwj7bK739z6Lg3w5yiqXFz36VlTmeM9bOGh4XWR7u3IBn55-pV_8WWGtJp1LNSTF4yOVUnaxAXbCTDFkIMWsv2B_3dOYjXbtbcnX0xYL-CE/s1600/chickadee+in+the+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8-AHZVUp0NWf0i-t7-XfsFUq3f4WmPPmxwj7bK739z6Lg3w5yiqXFz36VlTmeM9bOGh4XWR7u3IBn55-pV_8WWGtJp1LNSTF4yOVUnaxAXbCTDFkIMWsv2B_3dOYjXbtbcnX0xYL-CE/s640/chickadee+in+the+log.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This little Junco had the right idea...just crawl right in there and pig out!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBe8a27YfH6_KbnnbC-DLf_k-lGTIcSwX0GaDHOonGGy0vNL3qVw7FanI6UDGq2eCjOzu1_J4GPhmY9U7Fag0S85DHGQxJZ7kOWxUoruUO9VEKLnA1ZKXdutfAmh5MkgEhjioIV23-O0/s1600/cute+junco+in+the+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBe8a27YfH6_KbnnbC-DLf_k-lGTIcSwX0GaDHOonGGy0vNL3qVw7FanI6UDGq2eCjOzu1_J4GPhmY9U7Fag0S85DHGQxJZ7kOWxUoruUO9VEKLnA1ZKXdutfAmh5MkgEhjioIV23-O0/s640/cute+junco+in+the+log.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
A male mallard in the golden fall leaves reflections:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-oYjo8-PjJ2iWiSh5SnYNOS_-5RQDB7DWv3JxIhXHdKI5Fnu4yFjhFBeblUhzcFx4lEoZIw3ZC6V-M2L-kpRWz9xcop3jxXLdsEiXAOwIpM1ELKRbkX8ltoVjjeZVO5nnn_RDzsYgcU/s1600/male+mallard+in+golden+reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-oYjo8-PjJ2iWiSh5SnYNOS_-5RQDB7DWv3JxIhXHdKI5Fnu4yFjhFBeblUhzcFx4lEoZIw3ZC6V-M2L-kpRWz9xcop3jxXLdsEiXAOwIpM1ELKRbkX8ltoVjjeZVO5nnn_RDzsYgcU/s640/male+mallard+in+golden+reflections.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaEVVQXqwDs9-KjakHWyeYc6eu01WInzvnj389gz5fgjaYSFpZ5FYACSbdzoTQdDjcVJhnnwKsWjbtli46fgWzi35qlle1qLHoaFOB5Jqq3OUPLYmN6MMRR-2PeRK12EwoFS39kDPSK4/s1600/single+male+mallard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaEVVQXqwDs9-KjakHWyeYc6eu01WInzvnj389gz5fgjaYSFpZ5FYACSbdzoTQdDjcVJhnnwKsWjbtli46fgWzi35qlle1qLHoaFOB5Jqq3OUPLYmN6MMRR-2PeRK12EwoFS39kDPSK4/s640/single+male+mallard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1JWve2Q8xOTuaI3j1SvBY86SO1cAwM_QAisVFVWw1gE3kup9hZuEOG8npva8QkmXO2bKSp75z1evu7Xh_KD4qe-97E7pEICrSqGpH-g-Q6zsisDfdqt6kx6sGIQHsrVLEyyhBSGqAqw/s1600/two+male+mallards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1JWve2Q8xOTuaI3j1SvBY86SO1cAwM_QAisVFVWw1gE3kup9hZuEOG8npva8QkmXO2bKSp75z1evu7Xh_KD4qe-97E7pEICrSqGpH-g-Q6zsisDfdqt6kx6sGIQHsrVLEyyhBSGqAqw/s640/two+male+mallards.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
A woodpecker having a feast:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCwV8Ba1roPSl0qafYmInlDyMDs8bcL_L1rS5MUSgft0yoBVh0nzVj1IMb_GIuPZYzAu5mwCVOFbIvhrRM3zbGn9xGm7mBDDmfB8_csRpdxI1uCl9X4D1V_ACwaMcdFnb05_7z9qvzlc/s1600/woodpecker+on+suet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCwV8Ba1roPSl0qafYmInlDyMDs8bcL_L1rS5MUSgft0yoBVh0nzVj1IMb_GIuPZYzAu5mwCVOFbIvhrRM3zbGn9xGm7mBDDmfB8_csRpdxI1uCl9X4D1V_ACwaMcdFnb05_7z9qvzlc/s640/woodpecker+on+suet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I hope you feast on life as you enjoy 2013...</div>
<div align="center">
and that you spread your wings and soar this coming year....</div>
<div align="center">
don't be "the lookout".............</div>
<div align="center">
just fly, fly, fly!!!!!!</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-74318350733588033962012-12-24T15:40:00.000-05:002012-12-24T15:40:08.823-05:00Merry Christmas Eve!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
Since I know</div>
<div align="center">
most of you are gathered with family</div>
<div align="center">
and it is a busy time...</div>
<div align="center">
I just wanted to post a</div>
<div align="center">
Happy Christmas Eve message</div>
<div align="center">
along with </div>
<div align="center">
a Merry Christmas too!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Thank you all for being in my life...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
You mean the world to me!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
This little picture was taken last year.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
It is a driveway across the lake from our side of the lake...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
but I loved the gate and the snow,</div>
<div align="center">
and somehow,</div>
<div align="center">
it just feels like the</div>
<div align="center">
road their family takes to get to a family gathering...a real</div>
<div align="center">
Christmas scene to me...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q9Afa_GOBS9E3aSOiXmbCXQjxpsaTnbk9JVz1Z9wtMpA1r-ZWIpfeh7ip8qo0XjG-4w7CUwPfDMTlMHeU7o4wDHNnniFBHxUucha0Z29nkdy3pYbHTLYFwiN7ha69uiHwkwnI2dUj68/s1600/snowy+road+with+gate+pse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q9Afa_GOBS9E3aSOiXmbCXQjxpsaTnbk9JVz1Z9wtMpA1r-ZWIpfeh7ip8qo0XjG-4w7CUwPfDMTlMHeU7o4wDHNnniFBHxUucha0Z29nkdy3pYbHTLYFwiN7ha69uiHwkwnI2dUj68/s640/snowy+road+with+gate+pse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also hope 2013 brings you good health and happiness!</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-6861908704804944262012-12-16T16:40:00.000-05:002012-12-16T16:40:24.528-05:00I can't get them out of my mind....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
I am like most of you...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
in mourning</div>
<div align="center">
over </div>
<div align="center">
those precious little souls </div>
<div align="center">
lost </div>
<div align="center">
in the school shootings this week.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I just can't get them out of my mind.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Recently, I visited a local cemetery</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
found this lovely angel headstone.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
She looked forlorn to me,</div>
<div align="center">
and </div>
<div align="center">
sad.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Now, she has taken on new meaning to me</div>
<div align="center">
as it seems she is looking down from</div>
<div align="center">
heaven </div>
<div align="center">
onto the earth</div>
<div align="center">
and wondering,</div>
<div align="center">
like us...</div>
<div align="center">
how this could happen................</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vX1TxxnkZtn1g1ZF8xrKFQIOkiLwZjfIMKxJUvGght929q9l18CTXjB9zdgsfFv9MnV5QGjiPkRgPPXOQLRa6Yn2fgjsRBjORJvqLpySgcTIwZE8NXXixSAfEda2_o6tIvoOKYGWMFQ/s1600/angel+vertical+hdr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vX1TxxnkZtn1g1ZF8xrKFQIOkiLwZjfIMKxJUvGght929q9l18CTXjB9zdgsfFv9MnV5QGjiPkRgPPXOQLRa6Yn2fgjsRBjORJvqLpySgcTIwZE8NXXixSAfEda2_o6tIvoOKYGWMFQ/s640/angel+vertical+hdr.JPG" width="408" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
May God be with all the families in compassion and strength.</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-47113373090901842892012-12-09T15:57:00.000-05:002012-12-09T15:57:48.370-05:00This and That from late Autumn.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, Google's blackmail did work.... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I ended up paying the new plan of </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
$2.49 a month</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in order to continue posting pictures on my blog.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though it let me post a few more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with smaller loading,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it stopped letting me load pictures again,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
saying I had taken up too much space.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So much for a "Free blog", huh?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I bit the bullet and am now paying to do this.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But since I have so many images </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I love to show you,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and because it has led to a few "jobs" for me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the photography world,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided to continue here.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have a few images from this past autumn.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am still so far behind in post processing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my many, many, MANY autumn images,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I may be showing you quite a few more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
over the next few weeks/months until I get caught up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are expecting a HUGE </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
snowstorm over the next few days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(The flakes JUST are starting outside my window as I type this).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, before I know it, I will be donning my snowshoes </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and getting out in the wild white wonderland to get some </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
winter scenes too!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouStG_jpKvtu7If3DzKYjQaONxCkPksivmejuNGvtXd6ZXoSZ1340ChMBwwYcbO3ktkaDuxVSate0Rwtp4MEHmDkbHe1k2OdSsXvhYiqGrcPtV2rdFOG-nwXXgEw2WTMluUSnyao95v8/s1600/yellow+and+green+pine+needles+with+droplets+deep+1++6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouStG_jpKvtu7If3DzKYjQaONxCkPksivmejuNGvtXd6ZXoSZ1340ChMBwwYcbO3ktkaDuxVSate0Rwtp4MEHmDkbHe1k2OdSsXvhYiqGrcPtV2rdFOG-nwXXgEw2WTMluUSnyao95v8/s640/yellow+and+green+pine+needles+with+droplets+deep+1++6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
I hope this big guy made it through this hunting season..I took this in November right before our hunting season began...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpbvA2gCpPNI_6xn3nLWExrTHl7yDBbUceiubuKx0osWOHJ0l-wT6sYMTXOYjay2kYp1DNeeEliTSbgX6oqHq5_CSVXd2HSu-882ztKhguVNIJlG8QOfRRrtGvBq_8AZM1X59QdqoyyI/s1600/another+buck+32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpbvA2gCpPNI_6xn3nLWExrTHl7yDBbUceiubuKx0osWOHJ0l-wT6sYMTXOYjay2kYp1DNeeEliTSbgX6oqHq5_CSVXd2HSu-882ztKhguVNIJlG8QOfRRrtGvBq_8AZM1X59QdqoyyI/s640/another+buck+32.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This guy is NOT legal to hunt here (yet)....a bull moose. We saw him a few days in a row, we found where he was hanging out....but then after that we went back the next week, and he had moved on from the area we saw him before.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1Vx2HSdolav0cKWyWagKvAzCctgfCyhlxBaavWvRvwxk87jeV__N4ykR-agwQfv3FmtOa-UdsNqSTbZeL1A7ra-H5D2xQvCw7wfZmL6Ohv7BB1poY2bpezy1IKTHQjEmkkYRlWShPQ8/s1600/big+george+57.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1Vx2HSdolav0cKWyWagKvAzCctgfCyhlxBaavWvRvwxk87jeV__N4ykR-agwQfv3FmtOa-UdsNqSTbZeL1A7ra-H5D2xQvCw7wfZmL6Ohv7BB1poY2bpezy1IKTHQjEmkkYRlWShPQ8/s640/big+george+57.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And despite the cold, cold weather, the same day we saw THIS....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
poor little thing was moving in slow motion (probably FROZEN). Sure hope he got somewhere safe to hibernate for the rest of the winter!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK4UwttjKTcVI6s8-kXTco0bH_OwIicgHbgRJBoxfowYE4dFY0tRElXHjb_mXPARfTpVJqc76-FpcK5QtQIjK-3jhpmGZRgaHN72buhDJ29VVFnAzCmbZjJzEmNeKdEU2HYu6avT9SWY/s1600/toad+in+the+pine+needles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK4UwttjKTcVI6s8-kXTco0bH_OwIicgHbgRJBoxfowYE4dFY0tRElXHjb_mXPARfTpVJqc76-FpcK5QtQIjK-3jhpmGZRgaHN72buhDJ29VVFnAzCmbZjJzEmNeKdEU2HYu6avT9SWY/s640/toad+in+the+pine+needles.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I better do the same????</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com9Baraga, MI, USA46.7352761 -88.301040146.3870446 -88.9327541 47.0835076 -87.669326099999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-41552547682891449672012-12-07T17:29:00.000-05:002012-12-07T17:29:33.873-05:00Gotta Love that Bokeh!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
Say WHAT?</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
What is Bokeh you say?</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
(I know, I had NO idea what it was either until I started into photography for reals).</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Bokeh means "blur"...it is when you do a closeup of your main subject and purposely blur</div>
<div align="center">
the background....</div>
<div align="center">
and if you want to experiment, </div>
<div align="center">
you can be creative with your bokeh</div>
<div align="center">
by making a lens cover for your camera </div>
<div align="center">
lens in shapes....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Here are some we did in photography class a few weeks ago!<br />
<br />
Believe it or not, I hung mini Christmas lights in the background behind these objects, but <br />
I cut out a "fake" lens cover with a snowflake design in the middle<br />
and used a rubber band to hold it around my lens and snapped away...<br />
and<br />
THIS <br />
is what you get!:</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s7TgHn2kRj7K7eQHGXBGhmmmOqCtQnUZGv6CHbeqjh2N2gDTxpv1ZyyZozeJtIvbcXAT1Bt1aBKHU6mNsya5syClh56jbxSLyuOhH2Nu-UWz9AHhFCyyQxMW0dgnK7AtJPNvarQlDhQ/s1600/moose+2+with+snowflake+bokeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s7TgHn2kRj7K7eQHGXBGhmmmOqCtQnUZGv6CHbeqjh2N2gDTxpv1ZyyZozeJtIvbcXAT1Bt1aBKHU6mNsya5syClh56jbxSLyuOhH2Nu-UWz9AHhFCyyQxMW0dgnK7AtJPNvarQlDhQ/s640/moose+2+with+snowflake+bokeh.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbSQkUEYrUpzXyAfPA27UAxyV2KBcFZe-ekRis8c2JH2pA6-sxrZ9DlSGGbiIYEfhDHKTqJOu-sdus1FXGnSX-vB5NL67D07CK76Q7QS2wnpbmz7nJwbAxI8pVuaQXA2iBNqYG2ZpNcM/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbSQkUEYrUpzXyAfPA27UAxyV2KBcFZe-ekRis8c2JH2pA6-sxrZ9DlSGGbiIYEfhDHKTqJOu-sdus1FXGnSX-vB5NL67D07CK76Q7QS2wnpbmz7nJwbAxI8pVuaQXA2iBNqYG2ZpNcM/s640/IMG_0088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Then, I used a homemade lens</div>
<div align="center">
where I cut out a little heart</div>
<div align="center">
in the middle</div>
<div align="center">
and rubber banded it</div>
<div align="center">
around and in front of my lens</div>
<div align="center">
and got</div>
<div align="center">
<br />THIS!!!:</div>
<br />
<br />
Now?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hOvAChTiaDUBRj4RbwSgF0qGNp9HinnC4dPn_NIUcA7r13Hfjl1K-zq6rfUlH6xBkbMef3iN1gCMJg2iEyOIOQzZ2kVdTxXWQgvxr1S4sErXxpOqyUgCYEGueeICqrLmInXORqpOTfw/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hOvAChTiaDUBRj4RbwSgF0qGNp9HinnC4dPn_NIUcA7r13Hfjl1K-zq6rfUlH6xBkbMef3iN1gCMJg2iEyOIOQzZ2kVdTxXWQgvxr1S4sErXxpOqyUgCYEGueeICqrLmInXORqpOTfw/s640/IMG_0094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
NOW?</div>
<div align="center">
I am bugging all my scrapbooking friends</div>
<div align="center">
to borrow their </div>
<div align="center">
cutouts to make more homemade lens...</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I think I have "bokeh FEVER"!!!!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803801517332763895.post-87168354801160592572012-11-16T12:42:00.000-05:002012-11-16T12:42:40.212-05:00All about late Autumn...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, I will start a series on some shots I got in late autumn </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(October, 2012)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoy!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
A mallard couple on the pond:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0z-oi5oVQcg1YGNdrdqec4D_weczMiZnQT8lGCJ_18t4ZLvQsRKQ8Vf4u-18dDi8qPefxomGsNN40Ak5mqFzfMnOU8WK2IDXCOkrIziKiiJ_JccRZG8PKO9xa3aiFgmh8Ei9OliMHcA/s1600/ducks+39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0z-oi5oVQcg1YGNdrdqec4D_weczMiZnQT8lGCJ_18t4ZLvQsRKQ8Vf4u-18dDi8qPefxomGsNN40Ak5mqFzfMnOU8WK2IDXCOkrIziKiiJ_JccRZG8PKO9xa3aiFgmh8Ei9OliMHcA/s640/ducks+39.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some hidden falls we saw down an embankment..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
there was no way to climb down to them</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
without risking my life. LOL:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRQTq-7e1jk-kvFrIZK_QiZd2EyQbvdkLhwCEDtKK-zOnc8ZOVNDhMfiFdPuJK4BtcRpB4xx_gi-mZCIMHSlVt-O5afNzfvV3vq1IGLzVvwmhT0GXNvtkp6aBZP7m2PerLqWqRtpdpno/s1600/falls+vertical+29+thru+31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRQTq-7e1jk-kvFrIZK_QiZd2EyQbvdkLhwCEDtKK-zOnc8ZOVNDhMfiFdPuJK4BtcRpB4xx_gi-mZCIMHSlVt-O5afNzfvV3vq1IGLzVvwmhT0GXNvtkp6aBZP7m2PerLqWqRtpdpno/s640/falls+vertical+29+thru+31.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Seed pods..just love them in the fall when they are like this!:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWQEtlgH4wNgqNeAZE9rgydO5i7p7hOx637WHQDqLTPT42wkbDdOTRSbX198YOyQudl8XqCOQVfnHAiX_ZK7PfG9epGwMRAGQ1NyHKCZZu403ukNwq-1RtslVmnBTChSU6nWde2l_9c/s1600/bushy+plant+seeds+dramatic+63+t+65_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWQEtlgH4wNgqNeAZE9rgydO5i7p7hOx637WHQDqLTPT42wkbDdOTRSbX198YOyQudl8XqCOQVfnHAiX_ZK7PfG9epGwMRAGQ1NyHKCZZu403ukNwq-1RtslVmnBTChSU6nWde2l_9c/s640/bushy+plant+seeds+dramatic+63+t+65_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
An impending storm at the pond....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv9Yq15RSQ8c3VT1nhHOa9skP4eG5JArujD9JfOhNM1pW-L4qTC81qUU3MLY5zfOz1Nv1zSkrOPsmNs6X1QyJHNE_pw8BT1yT9akeqXXqk7F86yah29hbzfFfeD9nKVV0j-52obpssdY/s1600/dark+sky+bog+78+t+80.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv9Yq15RSQ8c3VT1nhHOa9skP4eG5JArujD9JfOhNM1pW-L4qTC81qUU3MLY5zfOz1Nv1zSkrOPsmNs6X1QyJHNE_pw8BT1yT9akeqXXqk7F86yah29hbzfFfeD9nKVV0j-52obpssdY/s640/dark+sky+bog+78+t+80.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had to walk across a bog to get that last shot..I was afraid I was going to sink in!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More late autumn pictures to come on the next post, so stay tuned! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
The Retired Onehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02466803019073952351noreply@blogger.com11