Fun in the Yard

I know this is turning into a picture blog. Thanks for bearing with me as i keep working on my hobby and figuring out my mad (not!) photo skills.

I had fun snapping these pics of the girls playing in my garden cart. Really, who needs a little red wagon when they have mom's garden cart? It gives a much better ride, lol!

Run! Madge is chasing us!

Time for the littlest one to pull

Sun Flare and a Rock

Notice how the rock is in every picture

I finally agreed to take a picture of the rock

It is almost impossible to get the two to smile at the same exact time

... Oh, and to get them to look at the camera while they're smiling

What? Leaving so soon?

Of course! It's Tubby Time (time to pet Tubby)

Better Than Thunder, Prettier Than Lightning

Emmy was so excited watching the fireworks in "one of america's best small cities."

Anyhoo, she chattered nonstop, first she was scared, then she was excited. Finally she exclaimed, "i love fireworks! they're better than thunder, prettier than lightning!"

She cracked up the people around us!

They were beautiful. I didn't realize the number of blue and gold fireworks there until post processing. Welcome to Mountaineer Country!

I took about 100 pictures, and about half of them turned out fairly well. I used an aperture of f 11 and a shutter speed of 4 seconds, less for the grand finale. I put the camera on a tripod, and because i don't have a remote, I used my 2 second timer and just hit the button as soon as i heard the firework shoot off. I had to use my 18-55 mm lens, because that's all i have. someday though, i'll have better lenses...after i sent up a savings account, lol!

Here are some more of my favorite shots:

at the park, getting ready to watch fireworks

More blue and gold

Did you ever find yourself giving fireworks names? I do it all the time, lol! Here we have the "patriotic fireworks".

Heaven help me, it's so hard to pick favorites!

I call these the "princess firework" because of the pink glittery look

Overblown a bit because i was as excited as emmy and couldn't make my fingers work the right buttons!

Princess fireworks! all pink and glittery!

I think i'll name this "star trek"

Blue and gold?

And the rockets' red glare...

I swear, i'll stop soon...

Stars and stripes! I love it!

We had such a great time, so glad we braved the crowds and went!

Flowers are Blooming!

Totally, totally, totally procrastinated on running errands today. My excuse? Oh, look at these gorgeous flowers! Who wouldn't want to hang around the house all day, windows open, doing much of nothing!

Besides, I hate shopping.

(My library books are going to be late, but oh well.)

My yard looked like big green weeds, giant weeds, until these beauties popped out.

And so, it's time to figure out the camera, and it's time to try to be "artsy" with my pics. I was trying to capture "flare", too.

Oriental lily, I bought 3 for 1.99 at a local hardware store.

Okay, there's a reason my face is not focused. Because i don't know what i'm doing! The flowers look great though. (My face looks like it's glowing because there's "flare" on it! I look angelic, lol!)

Ooo, flare!

Gladiolas, also bought at local hardware store, 1.99 for 10!

Ooo, flare and gloriosa daisies!

Ooo, flare and coneflowers. Looks like a bubble, want to pop it!

This pic was a pleasant surprise. I think it's one of my favorites.

no mom, i didn't look directly into the sun.

This is my favorite, bar none. it has bokeh and flare. I'm learning.

Have a beautiful day!