Day 88

Today started out rainy, all the way to work it was dark and cloudy, but the sun came out, so for the whole time I sat at work looking out the window it was sunny, windy but sunny. Then just as I was getting ready to come home I realized it was dark and cloudy again! What the?! So all the way home it was dark and rainy...the day ended just as it had started. I hadn't found a picture of the day yet, I should have looked at lunch but I had errands I needed to do, so I had to look after I got home. It was icky out, very dark, so I went down to the lake, I was hoping the sun would peek out as it neared sunset...it didn't, as I drove along the lake I saw the young willow trees blowing in the wind, I liked the way they looked against the stormy sky, their delicate branches with new leaves whipping in the wind, they kind of looked like fine feathers blowing. I don't know, I just kind of like the way this picture looks, which is all that matters I guess, I have to please myself first, then others will follow.

"Why not learn to enjoy the little things-there are so many of them." -Author Unknown

Day 87

In all the time I've been trying to photograph birds I've never gotten a good one of a cardinal, I don't know why, they would either take off by the time I got my camera or the picture would be out of focus or who knows, they just never came out. It drove me crazy, they were tormenting me, possibly because you can't mistake them for anything else, especially the males, they stick out like a sore thumb where ever they are.

Tonight I was on my way home from work, keeping my eyes open for the picture of the day when zipping by, right in front of my car was a little brilliant red blur, from what I could see from my semi speeding car it landed in a bush right by the road. So I stopped, backed up to check it out and got my camera and put the long lens on just in case I could find him. Did I mention I could be patient if I was taking pictures? Well let's just say it was a good thing I was alone tonight because I waited and waited and waited...and...waited for that little red tormentor to come out into the sunlight. I could see him flitting around the back of the bush while cars were whizzing by probably wondering what the heck was so interesting, but I waited, it must have been 15 minutes which doesn't seem like long but try it sometime, sitting for any length of time looking through a camera viewfinder, afraid to blink or you might miss the moment. Then, after a time it becomes a battle of wills...that bird isn't going to beat me...I can wait it out...he will forget about me sooner or later and show himself....no I don't have to go to the bathroom...my neck will uncramp eventually. Finally out he came, the late day sun turning his red body even more brilliant, he stayed for just a few seconds, I took five frames, three of those out of focus, one his head was behind a leaf and this one...see I knew I would win the battle...now can someone please pass the Tylenol for my neck.

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds'" -Aesop

Day 86

Spring brought us back to reality today, it was freezing out, it never got out of the 30s, it was nice and sunny but when you went outside the cold wind took your breath away. We've been a little spoiled with the unseasonably warm weather, but it's ok, the hot weather isn't far off, then we'll all be complaining it's too hot, but don't worry, I'll remind you about the cold days of winter... So for the next couple of days we'll suffer with the cool temperatures and by the end of the week it's going to be back in the 50s and 60s and we can go out and play in the sun!

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." -Charles Dickens