365 Project -- #295-301

This is the time in my week when I look back at the images I've captured

throughout the previous week, and choose my seven favorites.

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

October 22 - October 28

I actually couldn't decide which images to post in today's post...  I had a fantastic photo shoot over the weekend, with a beautiful and fun family who all love the Lord.  The boys were talkative and fun, and the girls stole my heart with smiles, talking, and plain cuteness!  I finished the photo shoot at their house, so that involved some shots in the woods plus a trampoline (maybe I'll post those next week!).  I also carved out an hour for a quick nature walk just minutes from home, so I had all those shots, too.  What to post?  Read on!

Just one image from my photo shoot, because I want to save the best ones for their own post.  I've mentioned the Naperville Riverwalk in a previous post or two, and that is where I shot the below.

[295] Off they go

At the end of our shoot, we found ourselves at the old rock quarry overlooking the Naperville Municipal Center and downtown beyond.  The sun was in that perfect spot, and its golden hour rays cast beautiful light onto the scene.  With no wind, everything reflected beautifully on the surface of the quarry water.  Below is the image I got.  Even though the Municipal Building is not the prettiest, the colors and reflections were amazing, and I love the sun lighting up Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in the distance.

[296] Quarry reflections

On to my nature walk.  I wanted to hold on to the peace and tranquility that the Lord showed me during my trip to upstate New York, so I was determined last week to hop in the car and find a nature trail somewhere.  Just a few miles from my home, I found myself in a little parking lot with a really short U-shaped trail through the woods.  I figured I could fast-walk it in five minutes, so I took Ellie, her kit lens, and her macro lens, and headed out on a slow amble.  Here is a tiny sampling of what I ran across (more in a future post!).

[297] Autumn berries

[298] Oak leaf on moss

I stopped about halfway along the trail, and turned back to snap a few shots.  I then turned forward, took two steps, and found myself staring at what I thought was a statue.  For about two seconds, my mind thought that this was part of the "educational aspect" of this trail--after all, there were placards, complete wth descriptions and explanations, all along the path.  But then his ear twitched, and I knew he was real!  (Silly, I know, but I wasn't expecting to see a deer on the path!)

[299] Standing watch

Initially, I had my kit lens on, and the young buck let me shoot a few shots.  But I couldn't get in as closely as I wanted, so when he went back to munching, I stooped down and switched to my macro.  The above image was shot with my macro.  After just a few minutes, I heard a noise off to my left.  I turned and saw the young buck's female "companion" peeking at me over some brush, and probably wondering what I was doing with her boyfriend.  :)

[300] Young buck's companion

These weeds were growing right at the end of the trail.  Super bright sunshine ensured I could set a higher f-stop and get a lot more depth of field.  I played with black and white in post-editing, and ended up with the below.  Aren't weeds fun?

[301] Black and white weeds

I have determined that I need a nature walk at least once a week.  Now to figure out how to actually get one in!  I hope your week was filled with goodness and fun surprises, too!


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

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Saturday Scenes from the Boat

Day Two at the lake.  I was feeling much more refreshed on our first full day at the lake.  Temperatures warmed up into the high 60s, and it was so cheerfully bright that when Rick, a lake friend, showed up and offered us a spur-of-the-moment ride on his pontoon boat, we all jumped aboard and were off to see the autumn wonders of the lake.

My parents enjoying the cruise

A seagull greets us

Just a tinge of autumn color graced the shoreline in spots, but I was so grateful to see even this hint of the beautiful change of seasons.

Sunlight through the trees on the shore

A cormorant dries its wings on the rocks

Below is our little piece of Bonaparte shoreline.

I got this cool shot of my older brother as we finished docking the boat.  We were preparing to surprise Tom and Bea, lake friends who had just arrived for the weekend.

Tom was sure excited to see Matt!

Later, it was Matt's turn to help out with burning some brush and leaves on the property.

At the lake, I have a ritual of setting up my camera and tripod on the dock each night to capture the sunset.  It was a bit of a surprise to realize that the autumn sun set in a different location than the blazing sun of summer!  I'm so glad our place is on the eastern shore--due to the mountains, sunsets on the lake are much better to photograph than sunrises.  Plus, I'm usually awake for the sunsets.  :)

My photographer's eye told me that the below shot was not one for a picture frame.  I usually look for clouds and the interesting reflections they cast on the water's surface.  But skip the picture frame this time!  My soul was refreshed by His beauty and peace, and I went to bed that night assured of His constant love.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12 NASB

To see the next post of my Lake Bonaparte getaway, click here.


Previous posts from my Lake getaway

Part 1 -- Autumn Lake Nature Walk
Part 2 -- Pontoon Panorama


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

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Stop by my family blog
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365 Project -- #288-294

This is the time in my week when I look back at the images I've captured

throughout the previous week, and choose my seven favorites.

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

October 15 - October 21

Though I miss the lake terribly, I've enjoyed my days back home.  Besides, I have photos to invoke memories, and more lake posts to create!  Now, I have peace in my heart and strength for the upcoming seasons, and I'm looking forward to the slower pace of winter.

It cooled down enough last week for me to break out a special treat while I contemplate harvesting the last of my vegetable garden.

[288] Sipping chocolate

Then the harvest started.  I had a ton of cayenne pepper, most of which was dry already so I processed that first.  Then I strung up all the remaining cayenne.  It hangs in loops from our countertop light fixture, and is colorful as the cayenne reddens and dries.

[289] Strings of cayenne

One sunny day left to get things "the rest of the way done" in the garden.  But first, Thomas found a little feather for me to photograph.

[290] Garden feather

My little rosemary plant was pulled, and it's now chopped and waiting in the freezer.

[291] Autumn rosemary

Autumn lettuce still grows in one corner, and I hope to actually harvest some lettuce out of it.  For some reason, lettuce does not like my garden.

[292] Autumn lettuce

A neighbor gave us a box full of strawberry plants, so we planted some in one of our squares, then gave the rest away to others.  We carefully mulched around the plants for winter, and since we were due for a few warm days, I told Thomas to give them a good watering.

[293] One last shower

[294] New strawberry plants

Hopefully we'll have strawberries next year!  That gives me something else to look forward to as the days grow colder and shorter.  :)

Let Your work appear to Your servants

And Your majesty to their children,

Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us;

And confirm [give permanence to] for us the work of our hands;

Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:16-17 NASB [bracket comments mine]

Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

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Pontoon Panorama

Day Two at the lake.  I was feeling much more refreshed on our first full day at the lake.  Temperatures warmed up into the high 60s, and it was so cheerfully bright that when Rick, a lake friend, showed up and offered us a spur-of-the-moment ride on his pontoon boat, we all jumped aboard and were off to see the autumn wonders of the lake.

My parents enjoying the cruise

A seagull greets us

Just a tinge of autumn color graced the shoreline in spots, but I was so grateful to see even this hint of the beautiful change of seasons.

Sunlight through the trees on the shore

A cormorant dries its wings on the rocks

Below is our little piece of Bonaparte shoreline.

I got this cool shot of my older brother as we finished docking the boat.  We were preparing to surprise Tom and Bea, lake friends who had just arrived for the weekend.

Tom was sure excited to see Matt!

Later, it was Matt's turn to help out with burning some brush and leaves on the property.

At the lake, I have a ritual of setting up my camera and tripod on the dock each night to capture the sunset.  It was a bit of a surprise to realize that the autumn sun set in a different location than the blazing sun of summer!  I'm so glad our place is on the eastern shore--due to the mountains, sunsets on the lake are much better to photograph than sunrises.  Plus, I'm usually awake for the sunsets.  :)

My photographer's eye told me that the below shot was not one for a picture frame.  I usually look for clouds and the interesting reflections they cast on the water's surface.  But skip the picture frame this time!  My soul was refreshed by His beauty and peace, and I went to bed that night assured of His constant love.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12 NASB

To see the next post of my Lake Bonaparte getaway, click here.


Previous posts from my Lake getaway

Part 1 -- Autumn Lake Nature Walk


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

Visit my website
Stop by my family blog
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Autumn Lake Nature Walk

Friday, October 7.  Lake Bonaparte, upstate New York.  Foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.

I have been going to the Lake my entire life; my dad spent most of his youth living near here, enjoying frequent trips to the Lake with his family.  His parents eventually bought a house (cottage) on the Lake, and he eventually bought the adjacent property and built his own cottage.  Lake memories fill my heart and I treasure them all.

This trip was extra special:  it was my very first autumn at Lake Bonaparte.  I accompanied my parents and older brother to this beautiful corner of the Adirondack Mountains, in order to help my mom close their lake house for the winter, but also to have fun, make memories, and reconnect with family and lake friends.  Most importantly, however, was a deep need in my heart to be rejuvenated, filled with the Lord's rest and peace, and strengthened with His strength to resume my hectic-for-a-season life at home.

Here is my parents' home at the lake, which is to my back.

The Lord graced us with the most perfect autumn weather we could have ever hoped for--temperatures in the 70s, and not a cloud in the sky for pretty much the entire time we were there.

On my first day at the lake, I grabbed Ellie, put on her macro lens, and wandered around to see what we would find.  Enjoy the photojournal of my very first autumn nature walk at Lake Bonaparte.

Mushrooms on a tree trunk

The leaves tell of autumn coming

More mushrooms!

Still some flowers around...

...and critters on the flowers

This little cutie showed up with a wave and a shouted "Hi!" as her great-grandmother and she walked up our sandy drive.  Since the macro lens was on, I had to stand waaaay back to capture her.

I wandered off down the single-land road, stopping to capture the beauty along the way.

Even weeds display the handiwork of God!

Ferns and leaves shout out His glory as well.

As I completed a very short circuit around the circular road (the whole circle is only about 1/4 mile!), I found a few more samples of the Lord's beauty at the roadside.

I love the trees at the lake.  Pine and birch dot the landscape, and I love the peeling white bark of the birch trees.

My first little jaunt into autumn nature at the lake was done.  Sometimes you have to look closely to see the amazing detail and care that He has taken with His creation.

The heavens are the heavens of the LORD,

But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

The dead do not praise the LORD,

Nor do any who go down into silence;

But as for us, we will bless the LORD

From this time forth and forever.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 115:16-18 NASB

To see the next post in my Lake Bonaparte getaway, click here.

Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

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