Windy Day

The Wilderness has been very windy today. I had plans to go to the Old Mill in Lakewood to see if I could improve on my photo from last week but it was just to windy. In most of the photos you can see a dead branch but by taking it in "Portrait" style you can't see it.

I spent most of the day shooting in my backyard trying to get some good photos of birds and flowers but that didn't work so well either.  As you can see it was windy there as well.

I promised you a photo of the old house I shot in Star City.  I've not been able to work on it or anyother photos since I started this whole thing with getting up early and getting out before the wind gets a holt of the Wilderness and I can't do anything with it.

Arn't these nice.  The colors really show up--like I said in the old house photo I need to do something with the grass but other than that I think I can make a great photo out of it--Beautiful Skys.  I have a photo of this same house about 20 years ago.  It has a great story behind it and someday I'll tell you about it. 

Well its starting to get dark here and I guess I'd better get off; the birds are calling for me and I need to get some feed out for tomorrow.  I plan to shoot bird photos and that means I will have to get up early.  It seems the geese come over about 6:30 no matter what type of weather we have--- wind or not.   And then by the time I get out to the feeders the birds are ready to attack before I ever get sit up--but what they don't realize is I have a lot of patience.

Hope to see you out in the Wilderness.

Spring is in the Air

This has been a very busy week for me.  This past weekend I had to go to Fayetteville which meant I had to miss the trip to the zoo made my my photo club.  So with in the next few weeks I need to go and take photos of the zoo animals.  Today would have been a perfect day what with it being cloudy and all but it has a damp feel to it and I don't want to have to shoot being bundled up. 

In the Wilderness popcorn trees, Wild Plums and Redbuds are coming alive.  The Dogwoods are just starting to bloom out.  The woods are just full of them and I'm so thankful I am were I can enjoy them.  This morning I noticed wrens building a nest in our old drain pipes just under the porch, I can't wait to see the babies.  Blue Birds are starting to build in the boxes out front and hopefully there are nest being build in the big 8 hole birdbox out front.  There's going to be all kinds of new life here before long.  Even the squirrels are busy at it.  Spring is a wonderful time of the year--one of my favorites. 

I must plan a trip up to the Ozarks.  With all the rain that we've had and will be getting over the next 3 days the waterfalls should be great.  If you've never been hiking it's something you must try.  There are several good hiking books out.  A good one I like to use is "Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids & Families" by Pam Ernst.  It gives a lot of information pertaining to the trail-like how long it takes and what to expect plus they are short trips which makes it better if you don't live in the area. There are lots of books with all kinds of information--Get you a notebook and start your own--everytime you go: list the time, date, weather, whats in bloom or not, what you see.  Over the years this will become very helpful information to you.  Anytime you are out driving around you should note in a notebook/calendar book information pertaining to the things you see--not only list them on the date you saw them but also turn to the date you think you should return to take photos of it.

Well, it's time for me to go hiking around the Wilderness in my area.  There is all types of flowers for me to take a photo of -- the Mayapples are in full swing.  Hope you have a great day out in your Wilderness.

Rain! Rain! Rain! means Waterfalls

Rain!  Rain! Rain!  Will it ever Stop

I know what rain is good for besides the everyday use of it!  Waterfalls==at least to Tim Ernest.  He has published several books on waterfalls and in the springs goes and looks for new ones plus check on the hundreds of the ones he already has great photos of.  In April I will be attending one of his classes and I can't hardly wait to see what we take photos of.  He has for the last few years brought books to sell at our AOPC club.  If you like waterfall be sure and get one of his guide books showing you where some of the waterfalls are in the Ozarks.  Your money wont be wasted.


Tuesday while in Monticello I saw an old house with lots of flowers and a redbud tree which was just beautiful.  Its all I could think about last night and could not get any sleep.  I kept thinking about it over and over and finally at 6:30 I just got up and headed that way.  It was a good thing I did go early.  I got there before the wind picked up and got several good shots. It was a cloudy day but after about 8:30 the wind went to blowing so hard and with so many trees around the house and plus the flowers I'm sure my shots would have been blurrrr..d  If you know what I mean.

Tomorrow I will head for Fayetteville to see my 3 month old niece.  It will be the first time I've laid eyes on her and am really looking forward to seeing her.  

I told you that the "Wilderness" is all over Arkansas.  Hope you are able to get out and enjoy the WILDERNESS!

Ashley County

Today after church I will be heading south to the big town of Hamburg, AR.  Visiting family; but, while there I will be out exploring as well.  You never know what you will find in these small towns.  When I return I'll try to have some photos of what I saw.  The wind has finally stopped blowing so hard.  I just don't even try to take photos when the wind has been like it has been--not even my tripod will withstand that type of wind.  Its going to be a beautiful day so try to get out and enjoy some of natures own beauty in the Wilderness. 

Grand Canyon Trip

See where I've been-- The Grand Canyon.  I went to a convention that my husband had to attend and on the way back we stopped by the Grand Canyon.  Boy! what a site.  Its beautiful! !

  We stopped in Ok to spend time with family.
   His first grandchild "can't you tell"









On the way up to Las Vegas we got into two snow storms--One seemed pretty bad (it was at night and lots of traffice) It took us two hours to go less than 40 miles. The other one was mild but still it frighten me to no end.

While John attended meetings, I stayed in the room and read books and then we would go out at night and take pictures and eat at some of the nice resteraunt and look at the shows and sites they had to offer -- Lots of Walking

Las Vegas Night Life

Anniversary

Today is my 2nd year anniversary to John--its been a great two years,  And just as it was doing the year we got married its SNOWING although it did not snow the day of the wedding; we has record breakers the week of.
We plan to go to SIN CITY sometime this week on a business trip.  LasVagas is what you make of it and we will not be doing any gambling or anything else that God would not approve of.
I plan to take lots of photos and will be starting a new blog when I return since you can not post pictures to this blog site nor organize your folders the way you think they should be.  It will be connected to my web page "southernnaturephotography.net" so you can still read it and view the photos on there.  Please if you visit my site leave a note so I'll know that you been there.
When I woke this morning there was a nice dusting of snow all over and the sleet came which is just what the weather man said would happen.  I wondered around out in the Wilderness and decided that I would have to go further into the woods before I would be able to find any creatures.  With the snow so soft I knew I might be able to sneak up on some animal but with everthing so white I knew they could see me for miles before I got there.  Birds where everywhere and I had but fresh birdseed out so they were really hitting it.
 Its a great Monday and a good day to be out.  I hope you'll be able to get out and enjoy the wilderness.

Groundhog Day

Today would have been my sister 67th birthday.  I don't know but one other person who was born on Ground Hog Day and he goes to church with me.  So Happy Birthday Linda.
The Wilderness was full of birds today and I was able to get several good shots.  Early in the day the sun was not out bright; although later it got pretty warm.  Lots of rain is expected tonight and tomorrow so we will have lots of good flowing streams as well as waterfalls,  I love going to the Ozarks to look for waterfalls and maybe a chance to flo--w down the Buffalo.  The pond behind me is running full and has a nice overflow to it.  The sound of the water is so soothing-- it almost makes you want to take a nap but I have so much to do. 
As soon as I can figureout how I plan to insert some photos of the things I've been shooting.  I'd love to share some of the wonderful things I've been experiencing in the Wilderness of late.  Its such beautiful weather.  I hope you're able to get out and enjoy these georgeous days.