Blossoms up Close!

Mid to late summer, I took some time to wander in my garden

and take a close-up look at the flowers in bloom.

Way

close

up.

Today, if you have gloomy or cold or white snowy weather,

think back to last season.

Here, I will help you......

The pistils inside the orange day lilies were amazing!:

I LOVED that the bee "matched" the flower!:

And this fuzzy cutie laying in the "fireworks" center of this pink flower

just begged my lens to take a shot!:

He deserved a closeup!:

The Hollyhocks were so delicate...weaved, see-thru petals, that looked like silk woven threads:

An orange explosion, led by golden dustmop centers!:

Speaking of explosions.....

the center of these flowers looked like fireworks to me!:

Whereever you are today,

don't forget to look at the DETAILS

around you....

they are amazing. 

You just need to take the time to notice.

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HURRY!!!

Today is the very last day for you to enter November's

FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

The theme is:

CATS and/or DOGS !!!

Enter your photo no later than midnight TONIGHT

following

THESE RULES!!

More summer butterflies.....

As predicted, we got hit with another huge snowstorm a few days ago.

But for today,

we will once again revisit late summer.....because I don't want you to get tired of snow pictures!

And who can think of summer without

butterflies???

Two beauties:

Have you ever seen a butterflies EYES????:

(holy moley!)  But his wings were all chewed up...so maybe he still is in trauma. LOL

An orange beauty:

Two bees and two butterflies! Do you see them all???

I love these pastel yellow butterflies, but they are very hard to photograph, especially in the sunlight.

They have a pink rim on the outside of their yellow wings, but it is hard to see in this shot.

They are lovely:

These shots make me so melancholy as I am sitting beside a window overlooking

my yard full of white.....Next blog pictures will be more  of our winter snow....stay tuned!!

*****************************************************
Hurry!!!
You only have two more days to get your winning photo into my
FREE PHOTO CONTEST
for NOVEMBER 2011!!!!

The theme is:

CATS and/or DOGS!!!!

Get your photo in my midnight, Nov. 30th, 2011
following
THESE RULES!!!

First Snowstorm: Part FIVE

I took a ton of photos of our first snowstorm this year...so today, we continue:

A branch of color and white:

Pines loaded with snow:

A woodpecker looking for treats in the snow:

Our woodpile, ready for the weather!:

Two lovey doves!:

And three huddling during the storm:

The plow cleared the snow!:

Every winter here, my camera and I find this particular driveway into someone's property on the opposite side of the lake because I am smitten with their gate full of snow!:

Finally!

Clear blue skies after the big storm!:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! AND First Snowstorm: Part FOUR

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE!!!!!

I count all of you as a blessing in my life, and I thank you for sharing in my life and in my blog and photography.

I hope you are surrounded by good food and company today!!

*****


More winter wonderland photos for you today (which looks more like Christmas than Thanksgiving):
(Maybe they will get you in the mood for Christmas shopping?) LOL

Lake Michigamme in winter snow:

Our lake will freeze over, but it is not there yet!:

This is looking off my deck at our lake. I loved that the sun was making it sparkly that day:

It doesn't seem that long ago, that I was taking wood roads covered in autumn leaves for you, and now

just look!:

I love when the skies are dark blue and the snow is fresh and then the sun peeks out

just long enough for a photo:

I loved this bent over, snow laden branch.

It reminds me of how I feel when I get back from Christmas shopping at the mall. LOL:

Love, love, LOVE winter skies with snow!:

And, open water and snow:

May your day today, be as bright as the sun on fresh snow

and full of as much magic!!

We have a WINNER!!!!: October's FREE PHOTO CONTEST: Theme: The Epitomy of Autumn!!!

Yes indeed!!

The Judges have finally picked our winner

for

October, 2011's FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

The theme was:

The Epitomy of Autumn!!!

The Judges (individually) said they were torn between two or  three photos.....

but when all was said and done,

they finally picked just ONE.....

And here it is:

"September Morn'" by Muffy.....

Congratulations to you, Muffy from her blog, called: Muffy's Marks!!!!!

The colored leaves, the mist, the mood:  certainly does capture the epitomy of autumn.

Special mention also goes to:

--Judy W.
--Sara
--Sharon W.

Thanks to every single one of you who entered this contest...we got a wonderful set of images for the Judges to choose from. Your creativity and imagination on the themes always blows me away.  Keep entering and sharing your wonderful talents with us!!!
*************************************************

And, don't forget to enter NOVEMBER 2011's FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

The Theme is:

CATS and/or DOGS!!!

If you don't have a cat or dog, go visit your neighbor's!!




Enter your photo, no later than midnight, Nov. 30th, 2011
follow THESE RULES>>>>

You don't have to be a Blogger to enter!!

First Snowstorm: Part Three

On the day I am writing this, we actually got our SECOND big snowstorm,

but I am behind in sharing the many pictures I took during our FIRST snowstorm,

(so I will continue with those for you today).

It didn't take long for the first icicle to appear:

Nothing feels more like Christmas then snow-laden pine trees:

The river leading into our lake had frozen and I loved the clumps of snow on its ice:

This is actually a shot of the river leading into the lake and not our lake, but I loved the frozen ice and snow on it:

Heavy wet snow broke off many branches during that first storm:

The west end of our lake, where a river runs into the lake.

A great Perch catching place! :

Looking at our lake from the west end. Our house is on the left shore up a ways from this shot:

Believe it or not, I still have some photos to show you of this first snowfall, and some photos left over from summer yet too to share.

(A photographer's job is never done). LOL

****************************************************************

Don't forget, you just have a few more days to enter my

FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

This month's theme is:

CATS AND/OR DOGS!!!!

Send me your winning shot no later than midnight on Nov. 30th, 2011!!!

First Snowstorm: Part TWO

Continuing today with photos I captured when we received

12 inches of snow

during our first snow this season on Nov. 9th.

Thinking of flying south, no doubt!:

Branches with leaves laden with snow:

We still had apples on many of our trees:

Cattails of white!:

Doves hiding for shelter:

Remember my garden frog?

Well, his umbrella wasn't ready for THIS!:

Snowy autumn leaf:

These leaves won't stay green for much longer!:

We went for a ride later in the day and got some more snowy shots for you, so stay tuned....