The Beauty of Fungi.

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote a post.  Life can overtake you if you let it.

I took some time today to slow down long enough to smell the roses, so to speak, and discovered some amazing little fungi.  It was a wet day, and we had to park a distance away from the school due to traffic.  My son asked if we could take the long route back to the car, and I'm so glad we did.  We walked passed a few raised flower beds, and under some bushes and shrubs discovered a haven of amazing little fungi.  Tiny little mushrooms, hidden in the leaves, out of sight.  Some days I'm in a hurry, and don't have the time or inclination to look around me.  Other days, like today, I allow myself to slow down and pay attention.  You'd be amazed at what you find, when you're looking for something out of ordinary, or simply something wonderful.

All of these pictures were taken with my iPhone.  They say the best camera is the one you have on you.   I concur.

Camping

Camping is one of my favorite things to do.  As a child, my family and I went camping every Spring Break.  Tents, sleeping bags, metal cups, plastic plates, gas lamps, camp fires, stars, shared restrooms, timed showers, nature.  I love it all.  Since being married, my husband and I have enjoyed a few camping trips. Our kids love it.  There is something quite wonderful about sleeping in a tent.  The sense of security offered by the billow of material surrounding you is out of proportion to the thickness of the fabric separating you from the elements, bugs, snakes, wild animals and other people, and you know it, but it doesn't seem to matter.  (My apologies in advance to friends and family who believe that having an RV = camping.  It doesn't.)

Life is just simpler when you're camping.  The choices for meals is limited to what you could fit into the cooler.  The time in the shower is limited to how many quarters you have, or how many people are waiting in the line.  Your choice in background music is limited to the number of CD's you brought.  And if you forget something, you just have to go without.  Note to self:  Yes, pillows take up a lot of space in the car, but a sweatshirt just doesn't cut it as a pillow.  Games and activities for the kids are limited to what you could fit in the space between their clothes, shoes and toiletries.   iPhones are not an option because the charger only works when the car is running.

My favorite part of any camping trip is the time spent around the campfire.  Dinner is finished, the dishes are either done, or soaking in a bucket.  There may or may not be music playing - it depends on whether you remembered the spare batteries for the CD player or not.  Home-made cookies are passed around, marshmallows roast on skewers, and people are talking.  Laughing.  Sharing memories, stories, ideas and plans.  The starts shine brighter, and you can see so many more of them.  Camping creates perfect moments for me.  Moments when life is good.  The kids are tired, but always up for just one more marshmallow.  The adults are relaxed and unharried by e-mails or text messages.  And people are talking.  Sharing.  Enjoying each other's company.  

There are lessons to be learned from camping.  

Fireworks

This is the second Fourth of July that I have tried my hand at photographing fireworks. I did my research on suggested camera setups, and followed the experts advise on ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings. Let me just say that the world of information and knowledge available to us at the click of a mouse is truly something to marvel at. 

Capturing fireworks is a delicate blend of camera setup, and timing.  Out of the 85 pictures I took (yes, 85 - isn't digital wonderful?), I have 9 that I am excited to share with you.  Enjoy.

Botanic Gardens

The South Coast Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite places to take photographs.  They have subjects galore for any photographer to spend hours filling their memory cards.  Today my goal was to get a photo of a blue dragonfly.  I saw lots of them, flitting about, darting and dashing through the air.  I never once saw one land anywhere for longer than a split second.  After a drawn out chase in the children's garden, a spectacular red dragonfly seemed to break down and kindly sat in one spot while I happily snapped away.  His blue brethren, however, were not in such a giving frame of mind.  That's okay.  I feel a little like now I have a challenge, a quest, a nemesis.  Something to look forward to.  A goal to strive for.  I'm happy with the pictures I have from today, and one day I will post a picture of a blue dragonfly.  Until then, I will simply enjoy the beauty I captured today.

Black and White

My new photography class is Picture Black and White, and I'm really enjoying it.  I find removing the color from some pictures adds a dimension of emotion that wasn't there before.  It seems to add a melancholy tone.

Enjoy.

The rewards of stopping.

We were on our way home.  We had spent the morning tubing in the snow, had stopped to eat lunch, and were heading down, trying to beat rush hour traffic home.  And then we saw it.  A gorgeous vista.  Snow kissed trees.  Fog cascading down from the mountain top.  And we stopped.  We stopped to take it all in.  So glad we did.

Inspired by the rain.

I love how the air smells after a good rain.  Clean and crisp.  I love how after the rain colors seem brighter and the trees and grass are full of the sparkle of raindrops.   It rained all night, and this morning the sun was shining.  I was inspired.

Update.

These are some of my favorite pictures since my last post.  I'd love to know what you think.