tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86537957962968930022024-03-13T15:02:26.606-07:00Wisconsin Bound<a href="http://www.fliben.com">My Photography Website</a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-83082086691343520422010-07-05T08:18:00.000-07:002010-07-05T08:18:48.409-07:00Crescent LakeThis is the first lake I went swimming in since I've been living here in Wisconsin. I've been here for over a year now; and while there are tons of lakes all around, I just hadn't really thought about swimming much. Well now that I know how nice these lakes are (well there are some that would be too weedy to swim in) but I'll be going out again soon. Not far from us is another lake (Sunset) that is another perfectly clean and clear lake to swim in. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TDH3SViTN_I/AAAAAAAABLA/XV7kQUHWkQQ/s1600/Crescent+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TDH3SViTN_I/AAAAAAAABLA/XV7kQUHWkQQ/s400/Crescent+Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-69100060779103394602010-06-10T21:11:00.000-07:002010-06-10T21:11:22.127-07:00On Vacation - A day at the zoo...Clayton's mom and Pat are here visiting and I am on Vacation while they are here. It's so nice to have time off and to explore Wisconsin even more. We went to the Marshfield Zoo today, which is only an hours drive away, and it was a beautiful day and I was so surprised to see such great animals at this zoo. The bear, well Miss Grizz did not seem so happy, she needs a new place to stay, and they are trying to raise enough money to get her a new 'dig'; she looked really old and when she walked it kind of just broke your heart, I did manage to get some 'happy' looking pictures of her, but I almost got tears in my eyes watching her. Most of the others seems pretty happy, well as happy as an animal can be being behind fences and in a small confined area. The Eagles made my day! finally I got up close and personal with a bald eagle, WOW; they prairie dogs were a hoot! Loved them and the Wood Duck oh so colorful was a very pleasant surprise. So here are a few pictures with a link to a slide show of the rest of the best....enjoy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fliben.com/2010/zoo/">Click here for a slide show of the Best Shots of the day</a> </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1L8zPknI/AAAAAAAABK4/KUM0ioJisMQ/s1600/IMG_9524a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1L8zPknI/AAAAAAAABK4/KUM0ioJisMQ/s400/IMG_9524a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1EU5ZkuI/AAAAAAAABKg/aTUldP4ALdg/s1600/IMG_9470a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1EU5ZkuI/AAAAAAAABKg/aTUldP4ALdg/s400/IMG_9470a.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1ByWlHzI/AAAAAAAABKY/NvXXXoq-qas/s1600/IMG_9442a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG1ByWlHzI/AAAAAAAABKY/NvXXXoq-qas/s400/IMG_9442a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG09EqaeyI/AAAAAAAABKQ/8wwmKaCgyNc/s1600/IMG_9406a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG09EqaeyI/AAAAAAAABKQ/8wwmKaCgyNc/s400/IMG_9406a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG07GZ8_yI/AAAAAAAABKI/p2XcNDOIqEk/s1600/IMG_9384a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG07GZ8_yI/AAAAAAAABKI/p2XcNDOIqEk/s400/IMG_9384a.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG04vi6R2I/AAAAAAAABKA/-MOHj7fuTCc/s1600/IMG_9379a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG04vi6R2I/AAAAAAAABKA/-MOHj7fuTCc/s400/IMG_9379a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG02bcHLfI/AAAAAAAABJ4/_YD76GY-WdU/s1600/IMG_9296a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TBG02bcHLfI/AAAAAAAABJ4/_YD76GY-WdU/s400/IMG_9296a.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-76237407943046879552010-06-01T16:46:00.000-07:002010-06-01T16:51:04.360-07:00The Deck is DoneNow all we have to do is decide on a railing system and add stairs. But in the meantime, we've been enjoying it out there. Since these pictures, I've cleaned up the court and deck of all leaves and small branches from our last storm which passed. They both clean up quickly with the leaf blower. We have played several games of Boccie Ball and well it's nice to finally get some relaxing done. All that hard work paid off; it was totally worth it. These pictures also have the chairs we bought and stained, they look pretty colorful out there in the vast green surroundings. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZq_mD7lI/AAAAAAAABJY/-3zWocou9jY/s1600/IMG_8746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZq_mD7lI/AAAAAAAABJY/-3zWocou9jY/s400/IMG_8746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZsgltUqI/AAAAAAAABJg/qfz0wQ95G5g/s1600/IMG_8747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZsgltUqI/AAAAAAAABJg/qfz0wQ95G5g/s400/IMG_8747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZxcHFwxI/AAAAAAAABJw/a68g2yrtoh0/s1600/Reserved_8812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="380" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZxcHFwxI/AAAAAAAABJw/a68g2yrtoh0/s400/Reserved_8812.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The chairs above have RESERVED for signs on them. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Clayton's mom and Pat are coming for a visit and we wanted </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">them to see what is waiting here for them when they arrive.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZurytAOI/AAAAAAAABJo/w3MYhuQZViU/s1600/IMG_8788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/TAWZurytAOI/AAAAAAAABJo/w3MYhuQZViU/s400/IMG_8788.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-44436168725978712362010-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:00:31.506-07:00MOTHRATonight I saw this guy fluttering on the sliding glass door. It was 9PM and dark and the auto focus did not work and manual was hard, I just kept slightly turning it and hoping it was in focus. Several of them were.<br />
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I googled this description of a reddish moth with blue and black spots on the wing, couldn't tell what species for sure but it is some sort of Silk Moth, I think.<br />
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His wing span is like 3-4 inches and I was literally right on top of him. Very cool <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t5sw4eDI/AAAAAAAABIw/QXYPkmXo41A/s1600/Moth_8697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t5sw4eDI/AAAAAAAABIw/QXYPkmXo41A/s400/Moth_8697.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t70qx5nI/AAAAAAAABI4/v5MwmmdsB3I/s1600/Moth_8706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t70qx5nI/AAAAAAAABI4/v5MwmmdsB3I/s400/Moth_8706.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t-dUU53I/AAAAAAAABJA/jWndii8p0tw/s1600/Moth_8715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3t-dUU53I/AAAAAAAABJA/jWndii8p0tw/s400/Moth_8715.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3uAj2cXAI/AAAAAAAABJI/Y44V6_P1vU4/s1600/Moth_8716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="373" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3uAj2cXAI/AAAAAAAABJI/Y44V6_P1vU4/s400/Moth_8716.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3uC1EoFpI/AAAAAAAABJQ/Q4-kaDyMFa0/s1600/Moth_8720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_3uC1EoFpI/AAAAAAAABJQ/Q4-kaDyMFa0/s400/Moth_8720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-88539211302724376932010-05-24T06:53:00.000-07:002010-05-24T06:53:06.918-07:00End of second weekend - the Deck is progressingI didn't take any photo's on Saturday. Something sad happened though on that day. We had left our garage door open, and there is a nice clear window on one of the walls. Well, when we were done with working and putting stuff away, I found a dead hummingbird right under the window on the work bench. What a very sad way to die...I felt so bad......<br />
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Here is our deck progress from over the weekend, Sunday we got off to a slow start due to some other stuff we did in the morning, didn't even start till about 1PM. By late afternoon I was wishing I was ice fishing again instead of deck building. It was pretty humid and I got a little too hot. Clayton kept at it for an hour or so longer after I left him and went in and cooled off and took a short nap.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDrBJd5qI/AAAAAAAABIQ/64RUYSV74E4/s1600/End+of+second+weekend_8680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDrBJd5qI/AAAAAAAABIQ/64RUYSV74E4/s400/End+of+second+weekend_8680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qD0YeLLJI/AAAAAAAABIo/59XOeL5ZRgo/s1600/IMG_8688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qD0YeLLJI/AAAAAAAABIo/59XOeL5ZRgo/s400/IMG_8688.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDu8OuUGI/AAAAAAAABIY/7r39jNycS6s/s1600/IMG_8685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDu8OuUGI/AAAAAAAABIY/7r39jNycS6s/s400/IMG_8685.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDxd0FC4I/AAAAAAAABIg/n9SjQSIuPVo/s1600/IMG_8687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_qDxd0FC4I/AAAAAAAABIg/n9SjQSIuPVo/s400/IMG_8687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-32920092253512835892010-05-19T18:23:00.000-07:002010-05-19T18:23:52.327-07:00back lit leavesThe sun was setting to the left top corner of this picture; it looked so pretty from the window, I had to take a picture. But then I had to play with filters; the leaves are not really yellow that is just the light filtering through and back lighting them....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_SOw2P8nlI/AAAAAAAABII/B2kBxKYbhns/s1600/illuminated+leaves_8677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_SOw2P8nlI/AAAAAAAABII/B2kBxKYbhns/s400/illuminated+leaves_8677.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-13832520227942688412010-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:002010-05-17T16:17:03.723-07:00Day 3 - more deck building progressWell day three felt like we slowed down a bit, lifting all that wood, moving it from point A (top of driveway) down to point B (Deck area) and hammering, sawing, cutting, drilling, measuring, leveling, holding, thinking, re-thinking and pulling all those little trees and bushes and weeds takes alot of energy. We didn't exactly make it to where we wanted to be, but we got close. We still need to block around the tree and block the first row joist boards. <br />
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Something interesting happened after we stopped working while we took a rest in the gazebo before putting everything away. During the day, we had yet another run to Lowe's (you never have everything you need, no matter how much you prepare) well I decided to buy a fuchsia plant they had them there in a 10 inch pot for only $10. A great price from all the other garden stores I'd seen, I've seen them as high as $30 for a 12 inch pot. But going back to sitting and resting in our gazebo, I had put that fuchsia on a pillar stand in the area where I prepared for planting and while we were sitting there two hummingbirds came to the flowers and started feeding out of them. I was so happy they found it so fast. But here is the great part to the story, all the sudden a hummingbird came flying straight into the screen of the side of the gazebo. It got stuck and fluttered three times trying to get out. I thought his toes nails had gotten stuck in the screen, but Clayton was sitting closer and it was actually his beak that got stuck in the screen; poor little guy, I was just about ready to get up and help release him when he finally got out on his own. Of course he did not appear to be hurt, much softer to fly into a screen than into a window like alot of birds do here. But it certainly was an interesting thing to witness!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HKxBAKrCI/AAAAAAAABHY/wR46Hb0eV4M/s1600/IMG_8652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HKxBAKrCI/AAAAAAAABHY/wR46Hb0eV4M/s400/IMG_8652.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK0zFUVfI/AAAAAAAABHg/dQQJCgQN0Ag/s1600/IMG_8653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK0zFUVfI/AAAAAAAABHg/dQQJCgQN0Ag/s400/IMG_8653.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK4Gu-M9I/AAAAAAAABHo/36QE3a9PNQA/s1600/IMG_8654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK4Gu-M9I/AAAAAAAABHo/36QE3a9PNQA/s400/IMG_8654.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK7rngn5I/AAAAAAAABHw/PYT0cp1OQr8/s1600/IMG_8655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK7rngn5I/AAAAAAAABHw/PYT0cp1OQr8/s400/IMG_8655.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK_lrRxGI/AAAAAAAABH4/5CS_0C0_Rc0/s1600/IMG_8656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HK_lrRxGI/AAAAAAAABH4/5CS_0C0_Rc0/s400/IMG_8656.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture above shows the area I pulled all the trees, bushes and weeds from, only leaving a few tiny pines, and some wild flowers and you can't see them, but I even left a few small (tiny even) oak trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HLDW46-TI/AAAAAAAABIA/pqPOc5Io8Us/s1600/IMG_8657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S_HLDW46-TI/AAAAAAAABIA/pqPOc5Io8Us/s400/IMG_8657.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-34597454209163606792010-05-15T17:55:00.000-07:002010-05-15T17:55:36.134-07:00Deck Progress - Day 2<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We got quite a bit done today, considering we had to stop and make two Lowe's runs to get stuff we needed and didn't have. Well one trip was first thing in the morning before we started, but Oh and on the way to Lowe's the second trip, we saw a Black Bear! So cool to see it. It was not far from the road, and I did have my camera, but only had my 55MM lens. So here is a picture of it but it's not very close.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-u6jBemI/AAAAAAAABGI/oCvvsjec4qw/s1600/IMG_8632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-u6jBemI/AAAAAAAABGI/oCvvsjec4qw/s400/IMG_8632.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Then here is our deck progress for the day and it was a perfect day today; Not windy and the temp just about 70. The size of this deck is approximately 35 feet by just under 15 feet wide. We sort of went a bit big, but it really has to be big since the boccie ball court is so long. We are happy with our progress, however i was hoping to get a little further, but we are still on track for finishing the under structure by tomorrow. Maybe if we are lucky we will even get a few deck boards down. <br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-1DVv8aI/AAAAAAAABGQ/77wG9feoI5k/s1600/IMG_4766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-1DVv8aI/AAAAAAAABGQ/77wG9feoI5k/s400/IMG_4766.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-3-aw2AI/AAAAAAAABGY/lColNSj7PQM/s1600/IMG_4767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-3-aw2AI/AAAAAAAABGY/lColNSj7PQM/s400/IMG_4767.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-7RkPKNI/AAAAAAAABGg/WEAUbr2fYq8/s1600/IMG_8647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8-7RkPKNI/AAAAAAAABGg/WEAUbr2fYq8/s400/IMG_8647.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_Fd9uFkI/AAAAAAAABGo/2F0VfJsRkkw/s1600/IMG_8648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_Fd9uFkI/AAAAAAAABGo/2F0VfJsRkkw/s400/IMG_8648.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_H0VW2YI/AAAAAAAABGw/Zo58qZZF0pU/s1600/IMG_8649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_H0VW2YI/AAAAAAAABGw/Zo58qZZF0pU/s400/IMG_8649.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_K6tOY-I/AAAAAAAABG4/NCUyLVE7-vU/s1600/IMG_8651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_K6tOY-I/AAAAAAAABG4/NCUyLVE7-vU/s400/IMG_8651.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I got sidetracked for a moment and saw this spider, Clayton needed me too, but I made him wait. I just had to get a picture of this thing. I have no idea what kind of spider this is, but I sure am glad I didn't see him on me, I would have freaked. Look how scary he can make himself when he feels threatened. With a Butt like that; I will most definitely only get as close as this to take a picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_PjUpEwI/AAAAAAAABHA/-YClrSHg_iY/s1600/Spider1_8641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_PjUpEwI/AAAAAAAABHA/-YClrSHg_iY/s400/Spider1_8641.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_RqcF75I/AAAAAAAABHI/kvIqLd4da5Q/s1600/Spider2_8646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-8_RqcF75I/AAAAAAAABHI/kvIqLd4da5Q/s400/Spider2_8646.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-33373868809300075212010-05-15T07:12:00.000-07:002010-05-15T10:23:59.219-07:00the Deck Project has begun<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today, Friday May 14, we started building our deck next to our boccie ball court. And here are the pictures to show our progress so far. Tonight I'll probably post again of our progess from day two.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6p61gajrI/AAAAAAAABE4/cWt-eWg1etA/s1600/IMG_4752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6p61gajrI/AAAAAAAABE4/cWt-eWg1etA/s400/IMG_4752.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6p-4yPsEI/AAAAAAAABFA/rfdRKNMv1Xs/s1600/IMG_4753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6p-4yPsEI/AAAAAAAABFA/rfdRKNMv1Xs/s400/IMG_4753.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qGHuLq0I/AAAAAAAABFQ/XkhMUuopN9g/s1600/IMG_4754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qGHuLq0I/AAAAAAAABFQ/XkhMUuopN9g/s400/IMG_4754.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qNHdA1FI/AAAAAAAABFY/jVA0_Z4c14k/s1600/IMG_4756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qNHdA1FI/AAAAAAAABFY/jVA0_Z4c14k/s400/IMG_4756.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qPYsMMPI/AAAAAAAABFg/eEvylQTxerc/s1600/IMG_4758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qPYsMMPI/AAAAAAAABFg/eEvylQTxerc/s400/IMG_4758.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qTf0sbII/AAAAAAAABFo/NWKOGHs0C0A/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qTf0sbII/AAAAAAAABFo/NWKOGHs0C0A/s400/IMG_4760.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qWrLfqQI/AAAAAAAABFw/iPNxIkMRD8w/s1600/IMG_4763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qWrLfqQI/AAAAAAAABFw/iPNxIkMRD8w/s400/IMG_4763.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qZkxyOFI/AAAAAAAABF4/Qf_aw2IcPtA/s1600/IMG_4764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qZkxyOFI/AAAAAAAABF4/Qf_aw2IcPtA/s400/IMG_4764.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qcqB3RuI/AAAAAAAABGA/CV1ItaLnPYg/s1600/IMG_4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-6qcqB3RuI/AAAAAAAABGA/CV1ItaLnPYg/s400/IMG_4765.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These last three however are from last weekend when we dug the dirt up and tossed in some peat moss to make a little flower garden bed. I'm not sure what will end up here yet, but I'm sure soon I will think of something; and if Idon't then I think it will just plant a hodgepodge of plants just to get some color here. Then there is the area to the right that still needs attention...but it's coming along and my goal is to keep is as low maintenance as possible.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4A95002zI/AAAAAAAABEo/BhGYSnsmtIg/s1600/IMG_4749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4A95002zI/AAAAAAAABEo/BhGYSnsmtIg/s400/IMG_4749.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4Ay0uuYcI/AAAAAAAABEg/tUe1mPJeRcU/s1600/IMG_4748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4Ay0uuYcI/AAAAAAAABEg/tUe1mPJeRcU/s400/IMG_4748.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4BIXgCkvI/AAAAAAAABEw/BiQfgp7t6h0/s1600/IMG_4751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-4BIXgCkvI/AAAAAAAABEw/BiQfgp7t6h0/s400/IMG_4751.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-14960355886831962342010-05-07T20:09:00.000-07:002010-05-07T20:36:16.928-07:00My Bleeding Heart and SnowThis morning when I went out with Sparky for our walk I noticed our neighbors flowers, one of them was this bleeding hearts plant and I thought to myself, I have to go back later and take a picture. These flowers are so pretty, so perfectly shaped like a heart, and it really looks like it's bleeding and dripping. So incredible! Then this evening shortly after 7PM it started to snow. It had been raining all day and well if this snow keeps up all night long we may have a foot of snow on the ground in the morning. Stay tuned for mornings outcome.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTRSXQZvI/AAAAAAAABDg/Ky41364oEBg/s1600/Bleeding+Hearts_8516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTRSXQZvI/AAAAAAAABDg/Ky41364oEBg/s400/Bleeding+Hearts_8516.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTd-6xykI/AAAAAAAABDo/plEDot9mEzg/s1600/IMG_8520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTd-6xykI/AAAAAAAABDo/plEDot9mEzg/s400/IMG_8520.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTkXVPRxI/AAAAAAAABDw/JXZiwCiJ0kQ/s1600/IMG_8521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTkXVPRxI/AAAAAAAABDw/JXZiwCiJ0kQ/s400/IMG_8521.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTrp27LTI/AAAAAAAABD4/pdkUFyQ5LIw/s1600/IMG_8523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TTrp27LTI/AAAAAAAABD4/pdkUFyQ5LIw/s400/IMG_8523.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While I was out taking these photo's Clayton was in the kitchen making us dinner, yummy Chile. It was delicious. Then I helped get a fire started, we haven't had a fire in like two months and just thought well hey, it's snowing so we should start a fire....sounded so nice...so we did. And I enjoyed it while I ate my yummy chili and sipped some wonderful wine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TUbb6XNvI/AAAAAAAABEA/_ns2Hmax-4g/s1600/firenwine_8536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TUbb6XNvI/AAAAAAAABEA/_ns2Hmax-4g/s400/firenwine_8536.jpg" tt="true" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then just shortly after 9PM, I decided to see how much snow had fallen. Well so far it looks like 2-3 inches. I keep thinking that if it continues at this rate, we will be snowed in tomorrow morning. We will have to dig out the snow blower; it will be just like that morning in December (I think Dec 9th when we had the blizzard and it dumped just over a foot). Well we'll see....I'll update in the morning. Maybe take another progress picture though before heading to bed....wow, this is great. It's Friday night, don't have to work tomorrow and I may have the chance to build my first snowman in Wisconsin in May. How great is that. On the down side, it is a heavy snow, trees are being weighted down and branches are breaking. There could be a lot of damage in the morning as well. While I took these pictures that follow I heard branches breaking.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVZS48UqI/AAAAAAAABEI/8JjcrH9Gt24/s1600/IMG_8540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVZS48UqI/AAAAAAAABEI/8JjcrH9Gt24/s400/IMG_8540.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVfKNbmrI/AAAAAAAABEQ/-tF-wbQ1514/s1600/IMG_8542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVfKNbmrI/AAAAAAAABEQ/-tF-wbQ1514/s400/IMG_8542.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVjoJkmtI/AAAAAAAABEY/3xheFnimH0o/s1600/IMG_8544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-TVjoJkmtI/AAAAAAAABEY/3xheFnimH0o/s400/IMG_8544.jpg" tt="true" width="266" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-30409838145209535722010-05-04T19:30:00.000-07:002010-05-04T19:31:33.365-07:00Thunder and Lightening and the RainBow Which Came After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This evening we had a really exciting storm blow in and out with an hour. I went outside to stand it the rain and watched up in the sky as the lightening flashed all over. The thunder was loud and rolled on and on as more flashes lite the sky; the thunder still rolled. I just love that! So soon after it passed the sun peaked. I thought it would be a perfect time to go see if there were any rainbows. There was one very large rainbow which was disconnected and all that was visible was the very left side and the very right side. Below are two pictures, one of each side. While not taken at the same spot in the road, they were taking a mile or so apart. Had it been connected....WOW that would have been incredible! I'm now looking foward to the next strom. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-DVRJjJb-I/AAAAAAAABDY/KMZ1GPr90uI/s1600/Lowberg_Panorama1+Low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-DVRJjJb-I/AAAAAAAABDY/KMZ1GPr90uI/s400/Lowberg_Panorama1+Low.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-DVPNOtFCI/AAAAAAAABDQ/6wRSp2qrwPI/s1600/After+the+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S-DVPNOtFCI/AAAAAAAABDQ/6wRSp2qrwPI/s400/After+the+rain.jpg" tt="true" width="330" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-8444361866403245162010-04-21T02:03:00.000-07:002010-04-21T02:03:00.258-07:00An Otter Popped Up!What a surprise it was to see this little guy come along. I had been driving along a nice little road which followed the lakes shore. As I drove past I couldn’t help notice the reflection of the birch trees in the still mirror like water in a small opening through a field. So I parked the car and walked through the grassy field to the shores edge. I only had zoom lens and didn't have a wide angel, but I decided to take four pictures of the scene and would later stitch them together. (Noting to myself to go back with my wide angle lens cuz it really is quite pretty) While I was there I was also looking around for wild life, and at first I didn't notice anything, not even birds, no duck, geese nada. Then all the sudden I looked up, and saw the cardinal in the tree above me. He hopped about on the braches as he checked me out, and then flew across the water to the little island right across from me. Then I noticed the female; they landed on a fallen log and looked so pretty together. Just a bit too far for a photo though. I stood there and just watched...I slowly started to notice a few other birds flying around but nothing that came close enough to capture. It was right as I was getting ready to go that I saw it. I saw a head moving through the water, at first I thought it was a beaver, it was a ways away, but was coming in my direction and swimming along the shores edge. I squatted to get low to the water and waited. He didn't see me, until the moment I took the picture. He heard my camera as I snapped the photo. I took him by surprise too. He stopped right there in front of me and popped his head up to look at me more closely, then sort of circled around and went on his way....soon after, so did I. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S86-72tQCHI/AAAAAAAABDI/PtfJZAAUFt8/s1600/IMG_8122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S86-72tQCHI/AAAAAAAABDI/PtfJZAAUFt8/s400/IMG_8122.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-25434907770327544902010-04-17T10:16:00.001-07:002010-04-17T10:29:44.867-07:00If Only . . . . .If only that tree was not in the way! If only the bird spotted a fish on my side of the tree...If only I could catch fish this easily...If only I had brought my tripod...If only I had set my shutter speed faster....If only I could eat fish whole...ok well not really but man this could have been a nice series if only he was fishing the other direction. Darn Tree. This is by the way my very first image where I bird catches a fish; when I was panning him as he flew off the tree branch he was sitting on, I really thought he was going to go up; I was hoping to get a nice shot of him in flight...but to my delight, I got to see him hunting for his breakfast then got to watch as he swallowed it whole. Previous shots I captured him throwing something yellow up; liquid type stuff...sort of gross but interesting non the less...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntJhekgXI/AAAAAAAABCo/lU1w3jSjAGE/s1600/IMG_7637+fish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461156771024634226" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntJhekgXI/AAAAAAAABCo/lU1w3jSjAGE/s400/IMG_7637+fish.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntJ2m0U1I/AAAAAAAABCw/e7ivkgQKbNY/s1600/IMG_7651+fish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461156776696370002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntJ2m0U1I/AAAAAAAABCw/e7ivkgQKbNY/s400/IMG_7651+fish.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntKRo2enI/AAAAAAAABC4/5jgdG9k_n64/s1600/IMG_7656+Fish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461156783952657010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntKRo2enI/AAAAAAAABC4/5jgdG9k_n64/s400/IMG_7656+Fish.jpg" /></a><br />But at least nothing was in the way of this Red Winged Black Bird as he flew towards me to land in the tree behind me.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntKg8IOpI/AAAAAAAABDA/A-0Ha-RVUTg/s1600/IMG_7501+Red+Winged+Black+Bird+FlightLow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461156788060043922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8ntKg8IOpI/AAAAAAAABDA/A-0Ha-RVUTg/s400/IMG_7501+Red+Winged+Black+Bird+FlightLow.jpg" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-58510375960426880062010-04-12T19:20:00.000-07:002010-04-12T19:25:54.362-07:00Pileated Woodpecker<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8PVjI6IJvI/AAAAAAAABCg/XxSTZ27lFpU/s1600/Pileated+Woodpecker_7164.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8PVjI6IJvI/AAAAAAAABCg/XxSTZ27lFpU/s400/Pileated+Woodpecker_7164.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459441972966598386" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8PVimbkGsI/AAAAAAAABCY/2hxWSmUknko/s1600/Pileated+Woodpecker_7206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8PVimbkGsI/AAAAAAAABCY/2hxWSmUknko/s400/Pileated+Woodpecker_7206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459441963711601346" /></a><br />I just shot this pileated woodpecker; I was making lunch and then wandered over to the window and saw him. Ran like a bolt of lightning to get my camera, changes lenses and then snuck out the back door and around the side of the deck. Man I keep thinking wish I had my new lens; I hope I see him again. This sized woodpecker and this varietal is not as commonly seen as the others…. My new lens should arrive on or before Friday; I'm hopeful that there will be a noticeable difference in my images. There better be. <br /><br />I just ordered a new "L" series lens, 70-200 f2.8 IS II USB, if it is all they say it is, I'll be posting a review rating it a 5 star as well :-) I can't wait to get it. I also ordered a 2x teleconverter. Oh My....Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-63780150980486424462010-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:002010-04-11T19:26:25.630-07:00This is BuddyI have never seen a horse roll and scratch its back before; it was just like a dog would do, even the shake afterwards. He rolled back and forth several times, Sparky just did the same thing while I'm writting this message. Too cute! Buddy struted his stuff before he took a roll in the hay and dirt. Gotta just love this guys tail!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDbTzMe5I/AAAAAAAABCQ/nK46wyJCelg/s1600/IMG_7059.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459070203521170322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDbTzMe5I/AAAAAAAABCQ/nK46wyJCelg/s400/IMG_7059.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDa1WMN9I/AAAAAAAABCI/khqkwMtjDWA/s1600/IMG_7064.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459070195346454482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDa1WMN9I/AAAAAAAABCI/khqkwMtjDWA/s400/IMG_7064.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDaIMb_hI/AAAAAAAABCA/OShhhNNGumo/s1600/IMG_7119.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459070183225949714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDaIMb_hI/AAAAAAAABCA/OShhhNNGumo/s400/IMG_7119.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDZRm6mfI/AAAAAAAABB4/OM_zP6PfaHk/s1600/IMG_7133.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459070168573057522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDZRm6mfI/AAAAAAAABB4/OM_zP6PfaHk/s400/IMG_7133.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDYkfi_tI/AAAAAAAABBw/HSjWIJcZ0_w/s1600/IMG_7134c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459070156462554834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8KDYkfi_tI/AAAAAAAABBw/HSjWIJcZ0_w/s400/IMG_7134c.jpg" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-14457151686603261952010-04-10T15:12:00.000-07:002010-04-10T15:52:58.462-07:00First Images of Blue BirdsIt's been over a year since I've lived here; I've seem many, but never around the house usually it's just been glimpses of them as I'm driving by fields or walking the dog. This morning I decided to go over to Lake Emily, a nearby lake, and see what bird activity was going on. The first birds I saw were Robins, they were busy hopping around a grassy picnic area plucking worms out of the earth. Even got a picture of that with worm in beak. Then I saw several geese in the lake slowly paddling along and honking occasionally.<br /><br />Then I started to walk a path that follows the lakes edge over to the beach area. Well, I saw blue and stopped in my tracks. I couldn't believe it, didn't even think I'd see them there so this was a very nice surprise. I quickly aimed the camera and took a few pictures, but I was so far away I knew they weren't going to be very good; I spotted a rock under a tree near the fallen branches they were perched on while they spotted their insect prey. And of course I scared them all off. Well I waited, and waiting, my butt got sore sitting on the rock it was pointy not flat, my knees got sore too in the squatted position and my foot even fell asleep waiting. I argued with myself wanting to move on, but the other part of me said no, just wait a few minutes longer and they'll be back. So I did, and so did they. Unfortunately they didn't come as close as I had hoped, but I was still excited about getting to see them as close as I did. I really had to crop into the original picture to get these compositions.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458639569401748178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8D7xGsVGtI/AAAAAAAABBY/Enjm3lFEf6w/s400/Blue+BirdIMG_6911.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458639560022737090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8D7wjwMwMI/AAAAAAAABBQ/3WJak02G5DA/s400/blue+bird_7008.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458639558252920754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8D7wdKPf7I/AAAAAAAABBI/zi774xHuA7E/s400/Blue+Bird_6914.jpg" />And after I was done there, I decided to keep on walking, I saw some other birds I'm not sure what they are called, like the one below, and I saw several red winged black birds, woodpeckers, chickadees, crows and then I spotted the Sand Hill Crane. The sun coming through the wing was a nice surpise, I did make this a little more dramatic by using the flashlight lighting effect which darkens the edges and brightens the bird. (same thing is on the middle blue bird)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8EAUiTk-nI/AAAAAAAABBo/6cGi3ljc5FI/s1600/No+Name_6896.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458644576156056178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8EAUiTk-nI/AAAAAAAABBo/6cGi3ljc5FI/s400/No+Name_6896.jpg" /></a> <p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458639580384579730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S8D7xvm10JI/AAAAAAAABBg/sLuv4QhUcFU/s400/Sand+Hill+Crane_6966.jpg" /><div></div><br /></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-90334801920414840022010-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:002010-04-08T06:52:28.828-07:00Beer Bottle Label<div>On Easter Day we had a beer and wine making party with two other couples; it was a great day in all with a BBQ braut lunch and a very good Ham dinner with all the fixings. But the main event of the day was brewing three batches of beer and two batches of wine. The wine this time was a first; but if it turns out well; there will be more of that in the future; as it was quick and easy and much cheaper than buying from the store. <em>Update on the wine in about a month or so.</em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>I created a beer bottle label last night; sent it off to the brew masters to get their opinions and see if it will be one to use. Here it is:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 363px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457763565827825042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S73fC_E8nZI/AAAAAAAABBA/2ISYvzNtTt4/s400/sample+label.jpg" /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-81294175666183319412010-04-05T20:19:00.000-07:002010-04-05T20:48:31.635-07:00Booming Prairie ChickensI had an unexpected surprise and opportunity on Easter Morning! It was something I had on my list of things to do in April. I got an invitation to go to Buena Vista Grasslands to see the Prairie Chickens Boom. This booming is created by sucking air into the two orange sacks on either side of their neck. This mating ritual and the booming sound and other sqacks they let out attract the females and then the males fight and defend their territory. Females choose the most impressive male during this time to mate with. We saw only 7 birds; they were all male. I might try to go back in another week or two and see if I'm lucky enough to see the actual mating take place.<br /><br />We had to stay inside blinds the entire time. We woke up about 3:30 and left on our way at 4AM. Got there and with flashlights and forehead lights we walked about 1/2 mile in the dark to the blink area. It wasn't really that dark as we had clear sky and most of the moon shining down. One of the guys who I went with is a very serious and professional photographer and had made a motion detecting camera and brought his own blind so his 8 to 10 inch lens could fit through an opening. He had a 500MM lens with a tele-converter on. I was impressed but when I picked up his tripod with camera on it; the weight would kill me; it was very heavy, and the desire to have one quickly went away. Don't get me wrong, I still want a new and more powerful zoom lens, just not that big. Might settle for the 400MM or even 300 with t tele-converter.<br /><br />So here are a few of my best shots...These were taken just as the sun was rising. I did take a video with my camera's as well, but I'm not sure how to reduce the file size and get that posted. I'll play and see if I can get it up here soon.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsoJDsl0I/AAAAAAAABA4/ZtwY2FJT8v8/s1600/IMG_6669.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456863704138946370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsoJDsl0I/AAAAAAAABA4/ZtwY2FJT8v8/s400/IMG_6669.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsn113nWI/AAAAAAAABAw/jYM3Fbp3Vg4/s1600/IMG_6649.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456863698980674914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsn113nWI/AAAAAAAABAw/jYM3Fbp3Vg4/s400/IMG_6649.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsm80dKpI/AAAAAAAABAo/2qzRsk3OqYw/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456863683673926290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsm80dKpI/AAAAAAAABAo/2qzRsk3OqYw/s400/IMG_6602.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsmoNE6QI/AAAAAAAABAg/N18QngDO5DE/s1600/IMG_6587a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456863678140049666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsmoNE6QI/AAAAAAAABAg/N18QngDO5DE/s400/IMG_6587a.jpg" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456863669940814450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7qsmJqOgnI/AAAAAAAABAY/ELKKO2ZayYc/s400/IMG_6544.jpg" /> </div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-41517273396809161082010-04-02T14:42:00.001-07:002010-04-02T15:04:42.126-07:00Birds in FlightThis morning I went back out to where I had saw the two cranes yesterday, but as I had guessed they were not still there. So, I went to another nearby lake called Collins Lake and on the way over there I came across this wetland area (fist picture below <em>note: the cranes in this picture are cut and paste out of the third picture below. I just felt it needed birds</em>). Birds and frogs were singing like crazy; all the red winged blackbirds were everywhere but off in a distance; I could hear so many of them but only saw a few. Then I continued down the road and arrived at the lake. Just as soon as I got there, the two Sand Hill Cranes flew over my head. I had time to snap three pictures <em>(one of which is the third image below),</em> then the geese on the other side of the lake started honking; funny how you always hear them first. I quickly zoomed in and panned them as they flew then all the sudden both of them like rolled back showing their bellies.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7ZmXqKateI/AAAAAAAABAQ/AgsNBzuIPxQ/s1600/Cranes+over+water.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455660555246941666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7ZmXqKateI/AAAAAAAABAQ/AgsNBzuIPxQ/s400/Cranes+over+water.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7ZlB5i8iLI/AAAAAAAABAI/zK3bCk4jSbI/s1600/Geese+in+Flight_6492.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455659081907603634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7ZlB5i8iLI/AAAAAAAABAI/zK3bCk4jSbI/s400/Geese+in+Flight_6492.jpg" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455659067266627906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7ZlBDAQ-UI/AAAAAAAAA_4/nGCyIkpyz8Y/s400/Cranes+In+flight_6488.jpg" /> </div><div> </div><div>The bird in flight that I missed this morning was a very large looking Eagle, I pulled over on the side of the road just as he turned to circle and headed off into the distance. Hopefully I'll have other opportunities to capture the Eagles around here.<br /><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-36350019282681733432010-04-01T17:43:00.000-07:002010-04-01T18:26:12.939-07:00Shall We Dance - Crane MagicI had a very exciting morning today! I saw these two sand hill cranes and passed them on the way home this morning, thought to myself; 'turn around ... go back ... the lighting is perfect' so I did. I changed my lens to the medium lens I brought as I thought to myself, ‘why didn’t you bring your zoom lens, darn you’ then pulled up slowly and parked on the side of the road.<br /><br />Four of us went out this morning, we met at 7:30am just a few miles away about 10 minutes from the house. We took pictures of two barns before work this morning, and I also took pictures of this little swinging bench seat built and secured in an arbor. I had seen that there last time I drove past and wanted to see if Clayton would be able to build us one. Then on the way home this is what I saw. The barns were nothing compared to these, that is for sure!<br /><br />Laurie and I had just been discussing my video capability in my camera; I could just kick myself in the butt right now. Because I just got so excited about seeing the way this guy was jumping up and down and he did this repeatedly even, and I didn’t video tape it!!!!!<br /><br />I've concluded, after several other people mentioning this, that this would be what they call the ritual mating dance of the Sand Hill Crane!<br />.<br />Beautiful; it was just incredibly beautiful to watch. I've posted a slide show as well if anyone wants to see 45 pictures flash by and watch as he dances away; you can almost hear the music play while you watch .... This first image make me feel like he's singing an Opera<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455342484655676290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFFg3_m4I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/YnR3hOzN8ng/s400/IMG_6455.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFycp_mrI/AAAAAAAAA_w/n_tyNmkE9BI/s1600/IMG_6468.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455343256617327282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFycp_mrI/AAAAAAAAA_w/n_tyNmkE9BI/s400/IMG_6468.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFyOD-dkI/AAAAAAAAA_o/-Q4grhBjTCg/s1600/IMG_6465.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455343252699772482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFyOD-dkI/AAAAAAAAA_o/-Q4grhBjTCg/s400/IMG_6465.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000066;"> .</span><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFxVNqTNI/AAAAAAAAA_g/e2aGDgpqVWY/s1600/IMG_6464.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455343237439573202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFxVNqTNI/AAAAAAAAA_g/e2aGDgpqVWY/s400/IMG_6464.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000066;"> .</span><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFxPegCxI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CewzIajq9_o/s1600/IMG_6463.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455343235899591442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFxPegCxI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CewzIajq9_o/s400/IMG_6463.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFE3Cia5I/AAAAAAAAA_I/x8Sqx6SpxBU/s1600/IMG_6452.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455342473425611666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFE3Cia5I/AAAAAAAAA_I/x8Sqx6SpxBU/s400/IMG_6452.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFEZMd0WI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Q5WFY4BWnu8/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455342465414189410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFEZMd0WI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Q5WFY4BWnu8/s400/IMG_6446.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFEI5G6eI/AAAAAAAAA-4/5-JHZd3T7e4/s1600/IMG_6445.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455342461038029282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFEI5G6eI/AAAAAAAAA-4/5-JHZd3T7e4/s400/IMG_6445.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFDlY_m8I/AAAAAAAAA-w/BL6M4p1PeYc/s1600/IMG_6441.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455342451508091842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S7VFDlY_m8I/AAAAAAAAA-w/BL6M4p1PeYc/s400/IMG_6441.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Still want to see more? ok, <a href="http://www.fliben.com/2010/crane_magic/">click here to see the slideshow </a>of about half of what I took </div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-64673119353936092742010-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:002010-03-28T17:32:37.116-07:00Landscaping begins<div>Yes we are still working on the Boccie Ball court area and even built a very cool score board. Clayton built it last weekend the colored balls are wooden beads and you just slide them across the bar they are on. It works great! And adds a bit a color out there. </div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453846419561800002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 357px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6_0bEGEYUI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/5fqXjMO5TZM/s400/score+board_6275.jpg" border="0" /><br />The second picture is the beginning of our landscaping around the gazebo area. I photoshopped the benches and plants in so it looks more colorful and you can imagine another seating area other than inside the gazebo itself. (we need to buy some patio and gazebo furniture soon) All those rocks came from the property. Clayton went out with the ATV and trailer and hauled them all over. I'll be planting a lot of impatiens on either side of the gazebo door and in pots around like I have them here. I will also put some daffodils around all the rocks too outside the walkways. And then some hasta's up against the court walls. It's really going to be a nice place to unwind, or read or nap once we are done.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453846670432546290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6_0pqqULfI/AAAAAAAAA9g/518eSlZBmnY/s400/begin+landscape_6274.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><br /><div>We've got something else planned for out here as well, (besides a deck on the other side of the court, that is in outline stages right now......but the other idea we have will be a surprise for later blogs.<br /><br />We got sore working today, we just got out of the Jacuzzi tub; man that always makes us feel better. </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-12686637488239559112010-03-24T16:20:00.000-07:002010-03-24T16:42:47.988-07:00Butterflies have tongues...<div><div>Today I was looking out the window and saw the first butterfly of the season. So I ran with my camera and took it's picture. Then when I opened it in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">photoshop</span> and zoomed in, I noticed something, it was a tongue! I search the Internet to see what came up and yes indeed, Butterflies do have tongues. It is very interesting and something most people would never see unless magnified or zoomed in. This butterfly seemed to be trying to drink off the blade of grass, however I am not sure how much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">moisture</span> was there as snow has been melted and no rain for at least two weeks...maybe I should get the hose out and water my brown lawn.....</div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452348879365973490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 351px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6qiawIbpfI/AAAAAAAAA9I/wxBpdh8HZlE/s400/butterfly+tongue_6270.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452348888839844338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 364px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6qibTbLcfI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/zaXOUUv6OQI/s400/butterfly+tongue+Close+Up_6270.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><br /><div>Did you know...<br />...that butterflies don't have mouths that allow them to bite or chew?<br />They, along with most moths have a long straw like structure called a proboscis which they use to drink nectar and juices. When not in use, the proboscis remains coiled like a garden hose.<br />Some moths, like the Luna moth don't have a proboscis. Their adult lifespan is very short, and they do not eat. They simply seek a mate, reproduce, then die.<br />The Asian Vampire moth pierces the skin with its strong, sharp proboscis and drinks the blood of animals.</div><br /><div><br />Did you know...<br />...that butterflies taste with their feet?<br />Their taste sensors are located in the feet, and by standing on their food, they can taste it!<br />All butterflies have six legs and feet. In some species such as the monarch, the front pair of legs remains tucked up under the body most of the time, and are difficult to see. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Want to learn more: <a href="http://www.milkweedcafe.com/fascfacts.html">http://www.milkweedcafe.com/fascfacts.html</a></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-87480422179036336312010-03-21T18:13:00.000-07:002010-03-21T18:22:43.687-07:00Impressions of Nomads....in.....Wisconsin<div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6bFM9Q4iGI/AAAAAAAAA8w/vrqJOAOrP_U/s1600-h/Impressions+of+Nomads+in+WI.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451261225373042786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6bFM9Q4iGI/AAAAAAAAA8w/vrqJOAOrP_U/s400/Impressions+of+Nomads+in+WI.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ok, so here is one of my barn images...transformed into a Bedouin tent-ish type image. I am not sure what possessed me to do this, but I think it was the fact that the snow looked more like sand to me and then it went on from there. Anyhow, I sort of like my transformation...Clayton likes the origainl image better...which is below.</div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451262244896000082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S6bGITSGSFI/AAAAAAAAA9A/Q0ii8LtrMAs/s400/Barn+Project_6199.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-19315029803242240932010-03-13T14:45:00.000-08:002010-03-13T15:01:33.103-08:00Spring Fever - Garden Grow Light Apparatus<div><div><div>First project of the year has been built. Several weeks ago we had bought several seed starting green houses, and I had bought a box of a gazillion impatiens seeds. So today Clayton built the Grow Light Apparatus to hang the light on and the shelf the containers. We have it set up down in the basement in my workout room, maybe I'll use the exercise bike more now that I have some plants to look at :-) It was a nice quick easy project and I sort of even like it enough to move it outside after it warms up enough, I can keep potted plants on it and hang a few on it. Clayton got several vegetable seeds, which he will start soon. Mine will all be impatiens flowers!</div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><div>Notice how nice it fits inside the window, and doesn't really hide the view outside. Look hardly any more snow...well at least on this view. Still got couple more weeks of snow melt before all ground if visible. </div><div><span style="color:#000066;">.</span></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448255542085708242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5wXjKeSadI/AAAAAAAAA8I/BsxZF-aJ8-Q/s400/ready.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448256007100182594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5wX-OyYMEI/AAAAAAAAA8g/IU_rIzJxNJQ/s400/cutting+legs.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448255550966906434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5wXjrjuvkI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/DJsV3icR5YY/s400/shelf.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448255545687876594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5wXjX5HI_I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/o-6Wcrpdye4/s400/setting+up.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653795796296893002.post-4896898755729618892010-03-06T16:31:00.000-08:002010-03-06T16:45:29.625-08:00Bottling Beer - Red Ale<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L2FQJY80I/AAAAAAAAA8A/joFOrQjrFaE/s1600-h/IMG_6034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445685469538480962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L2FQJY80I/AAAAAAAAA8A/joFOrQjrFaE/s400/IMG_6034.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div>It's been two weeks since we brewed the wort; and so today; we bottled it. With 5 gallons of beer, you get 2 cases of beer. In the pictures here, we used a box of 20 ounce bottles so that is why it looks like only a case in a half. We tasted it again, and it's pretty darn good. It will be interesting to notice the difference being cold and carbonated makes them. We will have to wait now for two weeks before we can pop one open to find out. </div><div></div><br /><div>Our other batch, which was an Octoberfest is still fermenting; that has about two more weeks to ferment though, so we will bottle those while popping open the Red Ale to taste. Now I get to start the creation of our own personalized beer bottle labels.......Cheers!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445684533773010850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L1OyJhB6I/AAAAAAAAA7g/P6jvYMILJzs/s400/IMG_6032.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445684554475207618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L1P_RTe8I/AAAAAAAAA7w/t8cbqSfQfxk/s400/IMG_6036.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445684530814871394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L1OnIPZ2I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/jcPTOmPtptQ/s400/IMG_6030.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445684831483131314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b86v8dFuBgQ/S5L1gHNI9bI/AAAAAAAAA74/sKf5JDrEqcs/s400/IMG_6037.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>In case your wondering why I did these in Black and White; I did it mainly because the fluorescent lights made a really bad yellowish orange cast on them and I didn't like that and I couldn't correct it to my liking. Also well I like the first picture where the beer coming down the tube is in color, while everything else is not. </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031240651794502890noreply@blogger.com2