Change of Address

I've moved my photography blog to RLUphoto.wordpress.com

Stop by and check it out...

Orange You Glad It's Friday

Orange butterflies...

These guys were almost 'posing' for the camera. They were turning so I could get their good-sides.

Linking to:
Orange You Glad It's Friday

Saturday's Critters

I have been trying to get a good shot of this guy all summer. He is very elusive. I finally moved the feeder to right outside my dining room window. It worked!

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters

Floral Friday Foto - Ironweed

I came across this flower growing wild behind our house. After some research, I found out it's called Giant Ironweed or Vernonia. It has a very strong stem and beautiful purple blooms. Happy Friday everyone!

Linking to:
Floral Friday Foto

Black & White Wednesday

I've got back-to-school on the brain this week, so I took a few shots of some old books I bought at a flea market several years ago.

I think black and white suits them well.

Linking to:
Black & White Wednesday

ABC Wednesday - F is for Family

ABC Wednesday

Our second child leaves for college tomorrow. He's our first child to 'go away' to college. Our oldest attends a local college and commutes from home.

Although I'm excited for him to start this next chapter of his life, I'm really going to miss him!! 

So...for all of the families that face the upcoming back-to-school blues (whether it's pre-school or college)...

F is for Family

Linking to:
ABC Wednesday

Christmas 2014. Our family and my parents.

Our second child's high school graduation.

Mosaic Monday - Rose of Sharon

Here is a mosaic of a Rose of Sharon plant that has been blooming beautifully in my parents' yard.  Happy Monday!

Linking to:
Mosaic Monday

Shadow Shot Sunday - Day Dreamer

I snapped this 'shadow' photo while visiting the zoo today. He appears to be day dreaming. 

Linking to: Shadow Shot Sunday

Six Word Saturday - I Won Third Place...Not Bad!

Six Word Saturday - I won third place...not bad!

I entered one of my dragonfly photos in a local fair in my area - The Butler Farm Show. I won third place in the insect category! I was so excited!

Linking to:
Six Word Saturday

My ribbon

Original photo

Good Fences

I live on my deceased Grandparent's property and in the 1980's they raised buffalo. This pipe fence surrounds the property and at one time, it was used to keep the buffalo from roaming the neighborhood.

The buffalo are long gone, but some of the fence still remains. It's leaning, dilapidated, and rusty and the trees have grown around and between the posts. Such a unique site!!

I captured these shots on a sunny day this weekend.

Linking to:
Good Fences

ABC Wednesday - D is for Dragonfly

D is for Dragonfly!

Below are a few dragonfly photos I took recently. Until I started taking pictures, I'd never seen a dragonfly close-up. They buzz around so quickly. These guys sat still long enough for me to get some pretty good shots.

Linking to: ABC Wednesday

Mosaic Monday - Butterflies

Some of my butterfly photos from the past few days. Happy Monday!

Linking to: Mosaic Monday

Creepy Critters

Snakes are not one of my favorite things to photograph, but I've been seeing lots of them this summer, so why not...

Be assured, all of these pictures were taken from a very safe distance! 

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters

Floral Friday Foto

My new-found interest in photography has caused me to "stop and smell the roses" - literally and figuratively. I've seen the plant below my whole life, but not until recently did I see it as more than a weed or a nuisance.

That's what I love about photography. You start to look at things in a whole new way. The ordinary becomes extraordinary.

I learned this week that the thistle is truly a beautiful plant!!

Linking to:
Floral Friday Fotos

Black & White Wednesday

I've been experimenting some more with black & white photos. Here are a few I took this week.

Saturday's Critters

I found this little baby bunny on a nature walk in a local state park. He let me get very close, but then he sped away.

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters

Tiger Lily

I love the way the petals are curled back on this Tiger Lily. And the color is so pretty. I'm linking to Floral Friday Fotos. Happy Friday Everyone!!

ABC Wednesday - B is for Bee Balm

B is for Bee Balm!!

This is a new flower for me. I discovered it growing wild in the woods behind our house. After some online research, I discovered it is Bee Balm or Monarda.

The fuchsia color is stunning and bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love Bee Balm. (I didn't catch any hanging around though. Maybe next time.)

 This is my first link up to ABC Wednesday

Our World - July 21

I came across these guys on an evening drive around our neighborhood. They didn't seem to mind being models in my photos.

Linking to: Our World Tuesday