Keeping With The Times

living, learning, and keeping with the times

In My Own Back Yard

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I took at least 50 photos yesterday, and deleted about 40. I don’t usually have such a poor outcome… but nature, light breezes, and sprinkles of rain can play havoc on a scene.

daisy, insect, photography

I did manage to get three insects, which made me happy! Two were taken with my 40mm fixed lens.

insects

This Hemaris Thysbe paid me a visit when I was trying to photograph some lilacs. Well, I failed miserably on the lilacs, but Mr. HT saved the day.

hemaris thysbe, hummingbird moth

And, one of my favourite flowers, the anemone is in bloom. It’s sort of taking over the garden, and that’s fine with me.

anemone

Thank you for stopping by, and here’s to a productive day for all!

Willow Catkins and the Art of Avoidance

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willow-catkins-2

Today I woke up early, enjoyed my coffee, checked e-mails, poked around some blogs, primped my own blog, ate French toast for breakfast, and had a nap.

willow-catkins

I walked down to the lake’s edge and sat and listened to the birds. Geese, ducks, seagulls, and loons. It’s a regular cacaphony of hoots, cackles, and wails (got that from the dictionary).

willow-catkins-1

I admired the willow catkins that seem to glow in the sunlight. Then of course I had to pick a few which I spent an hour arranging and photographing.

Which brings me to the question “when am I going to start preparing for that dinner party for 8 that we’re hosting on Saturday?” Egad. I truly wish I could walk into the sunset and leave that one behind. But I cannot. Tomorrow I start.

Pansies, Greenhouses, and the Smell of Spring

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pansy, garden quote, kim klassen, barb brookbank, texture, texture tuesday

Yesterday it snowed. Lots. It was actually a mini-blizzard.

As I sat at the computer trying to work, my mind kept wandering. Something was calling to me… something bright, warm, and filled with flowers.

I knew what I had to do. I had to finish up a draft of my next tutorial and send it off to be approved. Then I would have to wait, wouldn’t I? The person who approves it is halfway across the world in Australia and was probably still asleep. This would give me a few hours where I could do whatever I wanted… so off I went…

the big, greenhouse

 ah, yes… welcome, indeed

I spent about an hour walking up and down the aisles, dreaming and scheming. When I looked around at other people, they all had a hint of a smile on their face. The saleswoman was wearing a tank top! Oh, now doesn’t she have the best job in the world!? And the smell… the smell of soil after a rain… gah, it gave me shivers…

It’s too early to buy anything for the garden, but I could indulge in one little pot of sweet smelling pansies. It’s now sitting on a rough little wooden bench in my kitchen where the sun pours in all afternoon.

After I left the greenhouse, I headed to my favourite junque shop and stocked up on… (oops, that’s for another post).

I’m joining in on the fun at Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen. Today we were to use any of Kim’s textures and add some wise words. Well, I’m not so wise, but I loved the quote.

Credits:

Kim Klassen: Textures kk_3003_2, kk_3003_1
Anna Aspnes: background paper, masks, brushwork, envelope, loop-da-loops
Beads: Amanda Taylor
Vintage Typewriter

 

A peek into my garden . . .

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We’ve been having quite the rainy spell lately. Some days it pours, other days it just sprinkles. But it sprinkles all day . . . I’m quite OK with it since I love rain.

Yesterday when the sun came out briefly . . .

I managed to take a walk around the yard and snap some photos . . . chives are one of my favourite flowers in the garden – they are so cheerful and make me think of good cooking . . .

Hubby put up this shed over the weekend – it took almost three days . . .

Isn’t it cute? I can’t wait to get my stuff in there before he gets his stuff in there . . .

Wild clematis and Google + adventures

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There is a wild clematis vine growing in the bushes at the front of our house. Ten years ago I remember seeing one or two blossoms on it. This year there were probably more than fifty! I find them very fascinating. This one is on it’s way to going to seed.

I’m (trying) to join in with Rosie at LeavesnBloomStudio on Google +. She is starting a circle for this meme and I want to play. Trouble is, I don’t have a clue what I’m doing . . . so I e-mailed Rosie and she is walking me through the process. She is a treasure! and has helped me with other things (wrestling with fb, for one thing).

I tell you, I am floundering here . . . but I’m determined . . . hope Rosie can stick with me . . .

Perennial poppies

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Last spring I took a pot of flowers which I had bought at Walmart and stuck it in the garden to add some instant colour. And there it sat, blooming happily all season. However, I did not expect to see any of them again! Granted, it did say the flowers within were perennials but . . . I was skeptical and it didn’t matter anyway so I simply enjoyed them for what I thought would be one year.

So now I have this lovely poppy blooming it’s heart out. There have been about 12 blooms so far and I see no end to the buds. Don’t you just love it when something like that happens? They look almost fluorescent against the sea of green that is my garden.  It cheers me every time I walk by.

An unexpected gift.

Macro Monday Hibiscus

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When I took this photo it was almost noon so the lighting was quite harsh (plus there was a breeze blowing) so I was quite pleased to see that I had captured a decent macro!