Photo Hunt 7-9-11

Today's photo challenge is Near.

I'm a a day late on this---just busy yesterday and when I could've done it early, the picture I wanted to use was in another city on the camera, with Larry and Bess.

I got very near to this bee while taking this picture. This is a sunflower that Bess has been growing from a seed in the front of the house. We have some in the back, too. I got very near the flower and used the setting for objects nearer than 28 inches.

If you want to see more near photos, then go to TNChick's website. Her picture is cute! (Jamie says I use that word too much. I have noticed I use it a lot, as he's pointed out every time I say "cute.")

Next week's theme is backwards. I wonder what I will find?

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, January 10th

This week's theme is aftermath. Besides my first thought about the aftermath of our flooded house (I am so ready to forget about that), and the aftermath of the most recent hurricane (which I don't have pictures of anyway), I thought about the aftermath of the forest fire in Yellowstone. The fire was in 1992 and I visited in 1993.

Here's my shot of the aftermath:

By this point, the underbrush was beginning to grow and the ground was all nice and green. The burned tree trunks were still standing in place. And the good news is, because the trees were not there, and we had some more spectacular views. In the aftermath, the earth benefited, I am told. I wonder if these wildfires are nature's way of replenishing the earth and have been going on for all of time.

For more aftermath pictures or to join in yourself, go to TNChick's website. Next week's theme is hat(s). Come back and see what I find!

Slices of this Week

J was 3rd chair french horn in the All City Band! This is all the kids from his school. There are now 4 junior highs in our town. Way to go, J!!

This is my favorite spontaneous shot of the week. This was a sunrise, taken right before I got in the car for work. Aren't the mornings wonderful this time of year?? I actually wore a jacket. Great!!

This was my favorite moment at school this week---a dad came in and talked about his business---a Kolache shop. Kolaches came here from the Czech Republic, and the original was prune flavored. My favorite is cream cheese or cherry, but the guys in my family like the sausage ones.

Here are our things we made at B's party---I picked them up on Thursday. Love B's little blonde gnome! ;-)

Have you noticed J's weird avatar on the right sidebar?

Galveston Pictures

These pictures were taken in 2002. We went camping at Brazos Bend State Park for Father's Day. It's a really great park in Fort Bend county, 28 miles SW of Houston. There is absolutely no getting in the water, though. It has many alligators there. One of our days, we drove from there an hour and a half to the beach in Galveston.

These two pictures are from the trip. J was only 6 and a half and B was 3 and a half.

I did not get a picture of the seawall itself. This was pre-digital-camera, and I had to make the most of my film. But here we are at the base of the wall. Just to the left of this picture was the wall---ten feet tall. Those pictures of the water crashing into the wall in Galveston? That is ten feet---at least---above our heads in this picture. These are the rocks put here to hold back that water---to combat the erosion. I say this for the benefit of my relatives who've never been there. I was compelled to watch the footage of Galveston's destruction because it was so amazing that the water was so high. I think I saw a picture of the Joe's Crab Shack that we've eaten at. I saw the flooded parking lot of Moody Gardens where we went at Christmastime to see the light display. I have seen that Ramada that they keep showing. I know people who've stayed there, even.
It's one thing to see destroyed houses, but another to see places you've been. And a whole other thing entirely to see your own home. I can't even imagine that.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 13th

Today's theme word is wild. We had a fabulous time looking at wild animals at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center on our Girl Scout end-of-year trip last spring. These zebras were so fun to watch.
Later, a zebra snapped at my hand as we were feeding them! No doubt they are still actually wild. And another wild moment---

At the end of our driving tour, we had a bag of animal food, and this wild ostrich came into the car with his head and neck. The girls went wild---with screaming and laughter. Te ostrich grabbed the bag and left with the bag on his head. wooHoo! That was so funny. :-)

Hope you are having a safe and wonderful weekend. I am writing this Thursday morning, because the hurricane may come early saturday morning to the Texas coast. Although I am pretty far inland, we may get some wind and have power out.

Next week's theme---road. May have to break out the college road trip pics! That would be a fun journey down memory lane.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, August 2nd

Today's photo hunt theme is Clouds.
I took this one this week in the town nearest church camp when we picked up B early to take her to the track meet. Bandera is a town of about 3000. Classic water tower shape. It was a beautifully sunny day, if not deadly hot. :-) The clouds are remnants of hurricane Dolly.

If you want to see more clouds, go to TNChick's website. Join in!

Please leave me a comment---I love to see where everyone's from. :-)