Goldenrod

 "The fragrance and the color and the form, and the whole spiritual expression of goldenrods are hopeful and strength-giving beyond any other flowers that I know. A single spike is sufficient to heal unbelief and melancholy." ~ John Muir

Rural Roads

  On our way to Wayne, Ne. we decided to take back roads and I am so glad we did.  It was a beautiful, overcast day (giant softbox), so quite and peaceful and so rejuvenating for my photography soul, I really needed to just be outside, exploring.  I try to remember each and every time to ask God to reveal to me what he wants me to see, capture and bring glory to him in some way.  When we came upon these two barns on one farm, I felt like God was saying here you go, I know you need this right now.

Believe Like the Bees

"According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway. Because bees don’t care what humans think is impossible."  Believe in the Creator and what He says you can be!!!

Silence

  When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. - Ansel Adams

Who Knew Turtles/Dinosaurs Grow On Trees!

  It had been a couple of weeks since I went out with my camera so went to the Sunken Gardens.  I started warming up with a couple shots of the trees, the soft greens and fruit on them were interesting but I didn't realize how interesting until I got home and looked at them on the computer!  When you zoom in on the 2nd one it reminds me of a baby turtle or dino (because I've seen so many baby dino's) LOL

Sign of Life

  It's always interesting to me when we travel some of the back roads on our trips to see what a appears to be an abandoned, run down house or farm but will have an active mailbox.  I wonder if there really is someone living there, are they just using it as a mailing address or if there are shenanigans going on that we don't want to know about or to get too close.  

Macro and Extension Tubes

I have enjoyed deconstructing the bouquet of flowers I got from Dan, today I  played with just my macro lens and also using extension tubes.  I also purchased a generic macro rail which is so very helpful, it works great for focus stacking.

36 Years and Still Crazy in Love

  Blessed beyond measure, that's what these years have been and I can only hope for at least that many more, married to my best friend.  He brought me flowers and I have been slowly deconstructing the bouquet.  As I have been taking these photos it overwhelms me looking at all the detail, differences and beauty in these few flowers that God has designed and this is such a minuscule sample of  all the millions he has created not including all the other types of foliage.  God is such an amazing Creator!!! 

I have no idea what this flower is but it was all decked out with ruffles!

Maybe I'll Try Again

  I haven't posted on my blog for quite sometime, it was easier on IG, just upload a photo and see if it spoke to any others.  I never post for likes but to share God's beauty.  I struggle with blogging because I'm not much of a writer and felt like I needed to be writing for a Pulitzer award but I feel sometimes I want to say more about what inspired me to take to photo and what it meant to me.

 Photography is the story I fail to put into words. ~ Destin Sparks

Lake Crescent NWR

It has been quite awhile since I have undated my blog, seems like IG has been where I have landed with my photos but I miss the journaling about them, it is like a photo dairy of the trips, the learning curve, equip used and just overall fun with Dan.  We went out to western Nebraska for a long weekend to explore this NWR and were blessed to see burrowing owls plus numerous other birds.  There is nothing like the wide open spaces of the sandhills, blue skies and green grasses for miles.

Burrowing Owl

This little guy has been on my photography bucket list ever since I saw Michael Forsberg's image of one.  While not the quality of his by any means at least I finally was able to photograph them in their natural habitat not in a zoo.  We went this last weekend to the Sandhills of western Nebraska, specifically to Crescent Lake NWR and were blessed to see many, many burrows with the amazing little darlings.

Avalon Danielle

This little one had been prayed for by many people for a long time and she has arrived and is perfect.

Avalon Danielle Bradbury made her debut on

June 14th 2017

00:32a.m.  7.4#   20 3/4" long

Timeless Transportation

  This is a photo from a couple years ago taken on Mackinaw Island.  I thought it would make a nice classic painterly type photo.  I used Topaz Simplify, Impression and Detail on this one.

Jaxson Starts Track

Jackson started track and loves it!

Take 2

I found the masking brush!  That was a huge find, allowing me to mask on and off and adjust the amount of the paint I was putting on.  I knew the feature was available but trying to learn to navigate the program is taking a little time.   It's little things that excite me now days.

Learning Curve

There is a learning curve to using Topaz but I am determined, practicing on a photo from a few years ago. Two different units of the collection trying to see how they differ and how they are similar. I am trying to learn when and how to blend the two styles together. This will take some long nights and lots of You Tube videos to figure out!!!

 

Simplify

Impression

Simplify & Impression Used Together

Columbine

  Cody had planted some new flowers in their flower bed for Easter but had no idea what they were. I love all the detail and lavender was our color of the month,  I found out at forum that it is a Columbine. 

Easter Blessings!

What a wonderful Easter we had, we are so very blessed.  Cody and Chantell had everyone over for a cookout, Paiton was able to come home for her first 24 hour pass and we got some family photos!!!