Powwow Wild Berry

I guess you're wondering what in the world that blog title is talking about...

• A new shade of lipstick
• A flavor of candy
• A Native American dessert
• A raspberry variety

Nope.  Ah, you've probably already scrolled down a bit and realized that it's floral in nature.

I experienced a weak moment on one of my weekly visits to our local farmer's market.  Seriously--my heart beat just a little faster, and I got goosebumps.  In July.  Who can resist all those amazing colors and all those incredible varieties of flowers?  I certainly can't.  Who is crazy enough to plant a flower in July?  I am.  I'm so glad I have two little sun gardens in my front yard.  And I'm glad there was an empty garden spot just begging for this intensely beautiful color.  Enjoy the new addition to my front yard!

I have to say just one more thing.  Sure, I edited these images.  But I did not manipulate the color.  I couldn't.  The real color is already intense.  There's a reason this variety is named Powwow Wild Berry.  Okay--now enjoy.

And that, dear readers, is Powwow Wild Berry. May your Sunday be as intensely colorful and bright with the Lord's love!



Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook

365 Project -- #197-203

This is the time in my week when I have the opportunity to look back

at the images I've captured the week before, and choose my seven favorites.

These seven--one for each day of the week--are featured below.

Enjoy!!

Last week was (hopefully) the hottest week of this year.  I type hopefully because I don't want to experience it again for quite some time.  What a week to do senior portraits!  That said, I must warn you yet again that the shots I've chosen for the week are all (but one) macro images.  If I could do a portrait session with my macro lens, I'd probably do it.  :)

[197] July 16 -- First plum tomato

[198] July 17 -- Pretty weeds

 [199] July 18 -- Pool pump working hard

 [200] July 19 -- Logan's portrait session

[201] July 20 -- Hot, hot, hot

[202] July 21 -- Morning in the garden

[203] July 22 -- Watering the veggies

I had fun taking shots of the watering hose above.  I've been shooting in Manual Mode as much as I can, and it has been a lot of fun.  As of July 22, the Chicagoland area had one of the driest July's on record.  And an hour and a half after I soaked my garden, storm clouds rolled in, and blessed us with a huge downpour.  Figures.  Then it rained (we're talking major thunderstorms) again Friday night (6-7 inches overnight, a record), Saturday morning, Saturday night, and another one Sunday morning.  Then I heard on the news Sunday night that Chicagoland now has one of the wettest July's on record.

Hmmm...  There's a possible theme for this week's images.  I'll have to think about it.  Have a great week, y'all!  I'll be visiting you throughout this week, in between enjoying this wonderful summer season.


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook

Macro Garden Tour -- The Vegetable Garden

Mmmm.  Love love love my macro lens.  The first installment of the Macro Garden Tour was my front yard.  And I now present...

~~  The Vegetable Garden  ~~

Up Close and Personal

The June Garden

The five raised beds below are in my back yard, and are a labor of love from my dear husband and incredible sons.  (Guys--if your wife/mom/sister is an "acts of service" gal, take note!  Built over the last three years, this was the best series of Mother's Day gifts I have ever received.)  And this year, two friends are gardening with me!!

Now, fewer words.  Just lots of "mmm-ing" as I post photos and dream of yummy things to eat.  :)

Flower from a purple onion

The flower on my garlic

Rosemary (mmmmm...love its aroma!)

Jalapeño blossom

Tomato blossom

Snow pea plants

Snow pea blossom

Snow peas and mesclun mixed lettuce

Climbing pole beans

Carrots!

White onions

Just-picked radish

I'll end with a few more shots of tomato blossoms (since I LOVE garden tomatoes), with a surprise in the last shot.  :)

Hi, Mr. Bumblebee!!

Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook

365 Project -- #190-196

This is the time in my week when I have the opportunity to look back

at the images I've captured the week before, and choose my seven favorites.

These seven--one for each day of the week--are featured below.

Enjoy!!

This is the first time I'm late in posting!!  I've taken lots of photos, but none are interesting enough to feature here.  We've been de-cluttering and deep-cleaning...our basement.  It's cool down there--aaahhh.  Plus it really needed it.  I've listed over 100 items to be sold (via online photo album--lots of fun!), and have four large boxes of stuff to document before taking them to Goodwill.  So most of my photos are of progress occurring in our basement, and to-be-sold items--boring.  I did run out a time or two to capture some images.  I'm still stuck on macro--I don't know why.  Our family doesn't travel a lot--even locally--so my images are very close to home.  Still, I hope you enjoy them, a few days late.  :)


The below was actually taken on July 11 (Monday).  An 8:00am storm blew through--literally.  That's my husband's beloved grill, and it is big.  Wind can be a dangerous thing!  Amazingly, the grill still works, though it's slightly misshapen now.

[190] July 9 -- What wind can do

[191] July 10 -- The first cherry tomato

[192] July 11 -- Unwelcome guest

[193] July 12 -- Flowering lettuce

[194] July 13 -- Cayenne

[195] July 14 -- Wispy weeds

[196] July 15 -- Ants on thistle

Yep.  Stuck on macro.  Still more to come next week.  I think there'll be some different ones--finally.  Not that summer is boring or anything...!


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook

365 Project -- #183-189

Ah, the joys of summer!  We're in the midst of it now, with hot, humid Chicagoland days, a bunch of pool-splashing fun, grilling, and warm lightning-bug evenings.  And Independence Day fireworks!  What fun.  Here are my images from last week.


Three families got together one evening to have a Folk Music Jam.  Two grandpas came with their harmonicas, and they were the absolute highlight of the evening, playing old songs, reminiscing, telling stories, and making us laugh.  What a blessing the wisdom-crowned were (and are) to us!!

[183] July 2 -- The Harmonica Guys (my dad is on the left)

Just before I took the below image, I snapped one of Betsy trying to play the harmonica "hand-less."  Then Dan turned and watched her.  I loved his expression, and titled this image accordingly.  ;)

[184] July 3 -- Um, can she play?

Ellie came with me to an Independence Day celebration, and she captured some cuties that afternoon!  This little guy was featured in another of my 365 Project posts--Daddy was tossing him high in the air.

[185] July 4 -- "Dad, you have a text message"

Fireworks.  Awesome view.  Great camera.  Tripod.  YES!  This was my first time experimenting with fireworks using Ellie's Manual Mode.  I had a ton of fun, and just loved the below photo.  I don't know if it was supposed to look like a palm tree, but I absolutely love this image!

[186] July 5 -- Palm tree fireworks

The below is a BONUS!  It's the fireworks finale, and it's so pretty--with the sliver of moon toward the bottom right--that I wanted to share it with you all.  :)

BONUS -- Fireworks finale

This little creature was hard to capture.  I had my macro lens on at the time, and could get only so close before he flitted off to another landing spot.  I had to lighten this image significantly, but it still turned out decent.

[187] July 6 -- Dragonfly on garlic

Soon-to-be yum.  No explanation needed.

[188] July 7 -- Soon to be eaten

I've been playing with Manual Mode more often, and with the below image, I forgot to change the exposure, resulting in a dark image.  I corrected it and took a more well-lit image, but I really do like the mysterious darkness in this image, and how the light catches the edges of the cabbage leaves.  (My friend Lori is gardening in my back yard, and this is her cabbage.)

[189] July 8 -- Lori's cabbage

More photos are already on tap for next week--including some wild weather we experienced just this morning!  Stay tuned--and get out there with your family and your camera and enjoy this fun season!


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook

365 Project -- #176-182

Well, I've made it halfway through the year with our 365 Project!  I have more flowers to show you, plus a few other shots you'll wonder why they're here.  I'll explain below.

I'm still exploring my gardens, and more of the results are below.  :)

[176] June 25 -- Asiatic lily

[177] June 26 -- Bumblebee visit

[178] June 27 -- Lone tomato blossom

[179] June 28 -- Yucca flower

Explanation required:  We helped a family move, and our guys wanted a couple of their friends to ride in our Suburban to the family's new home for unpacking.  We drove with a vehicle packed with guys and furniture.  Don't worry, I'm used to being the only female.  :)

The reason I just love the photo below--besides the fact that six burly teenage+ guys are crammed back there--is that Joseph saw me stick my camera up and click.  And I caught him grinning!  (In order to appreciate that, Joseph is autistic; and a grin, with eyes that are connected to me, is RARE.)

[180] June 29 -- Pack the car

Mini devotional:  the adorable little lady below is the five-year-old in the family we helped move.  That afternoon, at her new home, she decided that she would be my companion and helper.  She even held my hand so that she would stay with me wherever I went.

At one point, she told me matter-of-factly, "Where you go I go!  What you do I do!"  Oh, for the faith of a child that would say that to the Lord!  (And there's your devotional!)

[181] June 30 -- Little companion

One more explanation:  Over several days last week, I cleaned our master bedroom closet.  After I stacked unwanted items aside, I took pictures of everything so that I could either sell things or document the items we give to Goodwill.  I ended up giving the below globe to a friend and her family.  I really like the photo below, silly as that is.  I love the lighting, and even with the box in the background, it's still neat with the hand holding the globe.  It made me think of that song...  (Please don't hum it the rest of the day, now!)

[182] July 1 -- He's Got the Whole World

~~~  Happy Independence Day!!!!  ~~~

Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
Find me on Facebook