Day 151-365 "Through the dancing poppies stole A breeze most softly lulling to my soul."

Day 151-365 "Through the dancing poppies stole A breeze most softly lulling to my soul.", originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

-John Keats

I thought about a soft portrait of poppies, but these orangey-red flowers should be seen in full color against a contrasting blue sky. Not an original type of shot, but certainly vivid!

Poppies also remind me of "The Wizard of Oz". Maybe I should have titled this,

"You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, You're out of the night.
Step into the sun, Step into the light.
Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place
On the Face of the Earth or the sky.
Hold onto your breath, Hold onto your heart, Hold onto your hope.
March up to the gate and bid it open"

Day 150-365 Hockey

Day 150-365 Hockey, originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

I don't get to shoot sports very often, so I'm not a very good sports photographer, but my daughter's boyfriend play ice hockey in the winter and roller hockey in the summer, so I get a chance now and again. This is so much better with all the natural light; indoor ice hockey is fast moving and dark.
It was a good game, he scored twice.

Day 148-365 Citrus

Day 148-365 Citrus, originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

Day 147-365 Faded

Day 147-365 Faded, originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

Day 146-365 "Blueberries in a White Bowl"

Day 146-365 "Blueberries in a White Bowl", originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

Tried a vintage slightly golden look to enhance the feel of the sun. Did it wash out the blue too much?

Day 145-365 Sinda

Day 145-365 Sinda, originally uploaded by saralonde (trying to catch up).

Had visitors this weekend. I had the human family variety and my cat Loki had the feline type. Lovely friendly kitty, but she and Loki were a bit wary of each other.

Day 144-365 Breakfast

Day 144-365 Breakfast, originally uploaded by saralonde (on a weekend break).

Got to take advantage of the seasonal fruit!

Day 143-365 Kayt

Day 143-365 Kayt, originally uploaded by saralonde (on a weekend break).

My daughter, Kayt. From a day playing around with reflectors and natural light.

Day 142-365 "On the River"

Day 142-365 "On the River", originally uploaded by saralonde (on a weekend break).

Sorry I haven't been here for awhile. I had some extreme computer malfunctions and haven't been able to download images or work on them at all. Luckily I have a computer savvy son who is working on it.

This was from a day we spent cruising down the river to a restaurant. Lovely just to dock there and eat out on the patio with family and friends.

Day 141-365 "Old Barn"

Day 141-365 "Old Barn", originally uploaded by saralonde.

I was always about the light a few weeks ago, looking for sunlight everywhere. Suddenly everything I post is all moody and dark. Really it's not my mood; I just have to keep changing.

Day 140-365 "Chive Blossoms"

Day 140-365 "Chive Blossoms", originally uploaded by saralonde.

I intentionally blew this out and then darkened it. Why? I don't know. Must be the back pain ;-).

HBW!

Day 139-365 Delicate

Day 139-365 Delicate, originally uploaded by saralonde.

Not sure what I was trying to accomplish here. I blame it on my badly aching back and lack of sleep.

Day 138-365 Fern

Day 138-365 Fern, originally uploaded by saralonde.

Day 137-365 "Wooden Thread Spools"

Day 137-365 "Wooden Thread Spools", originally uploaded by saralonde.

My mother loved to sew and was marvelously good at it. She could look at a designer outfit, sketch it and recreate it on her own. Her dream as a girl was to become a dress designer, but war and circumstances prevented that.
While cleaning out her house after she passed away, I found some old wooden thread spools. I don't know how many years it's been since they made wooden spools, but she must have kept them for a long time. Funny the things you decide to keep after a loved one dies. She saved them and so do I.
As a sidenote: I photographed them on an old wooden chest we took from my in-law's home after they passed away.

Day 136-365 "Just Weeds"

Day 136-365 "Just Weeds", originally uploaded by saralonde.

unning wildly into the spring wind chasing down all the dandelions before they turn into just weeds in a couple of years - Story People

Day 135-365 Pansies

Day 135-365 Pansies, originally uploaded by saralonde.

Day 134-365 "Tadpole Abstract"

Day 134-365 "Tadpole Abstract", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Hmm... looks like some frogs were having a spring fling on my pool cover.

Day 133-365 "Clay Pot Flowers"

Day 133-365 "Clay Pot Flowers", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Trying to create an old fuzzy photograph-look.

Day 132-365 Geranium

Day 132-365 Geranium, originally uploaded by saralonde.

This geranium was from last summer. It overwintered in the sunroom and bloomed again this spring. It's a bit gangly, but not too bad.

Focal length: 50mm
ISO: 100
Aperture: 2.5
Lens: 50mm f/1.4

Texture and vignette applied

Day 131-365 "Hide and Seek"

Day 131-365 "Hide and Seek", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Our maple trees are dropping their seeds everywhere. One tried hiding in a geranium bud.

Day 130-365 "Abundance of Riches"

Day 130-365 "Abundance of Riches", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Going to flower nurseries in spring is an exercise in self-control which I always manage to fail. Just a few of these, maybe try one of these, and those! Well, they are just gorgeous so we'll have to get a few of them!

My husband sort of shakes his head as he pays, but I notice he never tries to talk me out of any of it ;-).

Day 129-365 "Chocolate Covered Strawberries"

Day 129-365 "Chocolate Covered Strawberries", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Need I say more?

A little late in the day, but

"Happy Mother's Day!!"

Day 128-365 "Lily Shadow"

Day 128-365 "Lily Shadow", originally uploaded by saralonde.

It clouded over and looked so dreary outside that I brought my flower in.

Harsh (!) light camera left for shadow.

Crop and a little levels to get the background more white.

Day 127-365 "You have to remember to make it all over again every day, the angel said to me. Otherwise it goes all to hell." - Story People

Day 127-365 "You have to remember to make it all over again every day, the angel said to me. Otherwise it goes all to hell." - Story People, originally uploaded by saralonde.

I have to take these spring pics every day. The season is so short and it is my favorite time of year. It makes me happy. And isn't that the reason I took up photography?

I love that special green hue you can only find on tiny new leaves. Add a blue sky with a few clouds..ahh, heaven!

Day 126-365 "Spring Music"

Day 126-365 "Spring Music", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Day 125-365 "Kitchen Utensils: Colander"

Day 125-365 "Kitchen Utensils: Colander", originally uploaded by saralonde.

On top of my flat top stove, light shining from above.

Day 124-365 "Brown Eggs"

Day 124-365 "Brown Eggs", originally uploaded by saralonde.

I had to have those little violets make an appearance again ;-)!

Day 123-365 Violets

Day 123-365 Violets, originally uploaded by saralonde.

I love these little purple flowers. Definitely a part of spring!

Day 122-365 "Dogwood Blossoms"

Day 122-365 "Dogwood Blossoms", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Day 121-365 "Shoe Art Museum"

Day 121-365 "Shoe Art Museum", originally uploaded by saralonde.

Well, not really, but these shoes were displayed as such in a department store.

Used my little point and shoot. I always feel a little strange pulling out a dslr in a store.

365: April 2009 Another month down..

365: April 2009, originally uploaded by saralonde.

Must be spring, it's heavy on flowers this month!