355/365 - Ripples

A quiet day at the pond.

318/365 - Fallen Flower

Rainy day.

262/365 - Pool Party

Aunt Carla and Uncle Johnny hosted a grill cookout and pool party-- an Independence Day weekend tradition, now, since Granny and Aunt Carla both have birthdays right about then. (There are a few more photos of the day in my Flickr photostream.)

207/365 - Cross-Processed Alligator

We went back to the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail(s). This time, we tried the Rosemary Dunes trail. I didn't like it as much as the Twin Bridges trail or the part of the Catman Road trail that we've seen-- too hot and "beachy", not enough shade. It might be nicer on a less blazingly sunny day, though.

On the plus side, the trail had cacti with yellow blooms, lots of skittering five-lined/blue-tailed skinks, and. . . an alligator.

Though we had just seen a sign alerting visitors to the presence of alligators, I was still surprised when we spotted this one in some water just off the trail. (When I took this photo, I'd guess it was just 10-15 feet away.)

Did you notice the dragonfly perched on the gator's head? So funny! I wonder if the dragonfly knew what it was standing on and just didn't care or if it thought it was just a floating log. . .

(There are a few less processed photos of the alligator in my Flickr photostream. I chose this one because I liked it best-- at the moment-- but I realize that this more highly processed look isn't for everyone.)

196/365 - Abstract

When all else fails (and you don't want to photograph a dog, a flower, or a bug), there's always the handy abstract.

This, in case you were wondering, is a photo of dew on the window of a car.

You can tell how much thought and effort went into this one, can't you? ;o)

162/365 - Droplets

. . .one of the vents for my parents' new house (not installed at the time) after a rainy day. . .

85/365 - Rings in Water

It started sprinkling while were were on a walk around the pond.

It had warmed a little today, but after this rain (and possibly sleet) comes through, we're right back to the very cold weather again. Pile on an extra blanket and prepare to cozy up inside for a while. . .

57/365 - Water Ruffled by Wind

It was a chilly twilight. A sudden wind ruffled the water's surface. . .

Sunset reflections in water-- another latest photo-obsession.

(I also posted a photo of Donald and myself, but it wasn't nice enough to deserve the honor or being photo of the day.  I'll try to get around to taking a people-photo now and then, though.  Nature photos probably get boring after a couple hundred or so.)

49/365 - Pine Reflection

...Still learning the ins and outs of the new camera.

I took this down at my maternal grandparents' pond on a sunset walk. I guess fish were making the rings.  I didn't see them, though, so maybe it was a pond mermaid. ;o)

2/365 - Shadows & Reflections

The change from a warm and muggy yesterday to a breezy, crisp, and cool today was more than enough of an excuse to wander up and down the easement with the camera. There were a few wildflowers-- an ever-changing canvas of cloud and blue sky-- delicate, sunlit greens still untouched by frost-- drifting leaves and pine straw-- but my favorite photo today came from a humble mud puddle in the dirt road.

This is why I love our macro lens best. A puddle that looks messy in "real life", is rendered beautiful (imho) by that lens (and a touch of Photoshop).