Day #91 Let's Go Fly A Kite

It was a Kite Fest Day . First stop was at a park close to the house.  Could have stopped there and had my POTD but DC was also having it's Cherry blossom kite day at the monument so off I went with a girlfriend in tow. If I thought the park had a great turn out the mall was an amazing maze of people and kites. Makes me wonder would we have all fit if the Cherry Blossoms had waited and bloomed when first predicted. While this photo doesn't show how truly crowded it was I liked that it shows the monument, sky and this little girl flying the kite that was made up of dozens of little kites. While I'm really enjoying this challenge it sure is taking up a lot more time then I ever thought it would. But that's the obsessive side of me......

Day #90 Pre - Bluebird

                           Was so lucky...A girlfriend from work yesterday posted a picture of her bluebird box with eggs !!! So of course my reply was can I come get a picture. It was amazing and I even got to see the parents. She was very surprised when she lifted the top and saw them. Like everything else it is about a month early , hope they make it. I also went and picked up a bluebird box today so maybe I'll get lucky ....  Thanks so much Emily for sharing your bluebirds with me

Day #89 Reflections

Was a wonderful day today with some amazing clouds. I headed out the do some shopping and as I got close to the area I spied a hotel that was built out of a lot of glass. It was glistening in the sunshine and calling to me. So after my shopping I headed on over and tried to capture what I was seeing.
  Mirror , Mirror on the .........

Day#88 Another Sign Of Spring

The robins are back in town. Doesn't he look regal. He's on the lookout for worms. He let me follow him around for a bit taking his picture. As my attention wandered he found his prize a worm. Well that would  be an interesting picture so one day soon if I'm lucky and quick enough maybe it will show up in my challenge.

Day #87 My Little Weed

Couldn't believe I'm lying on the ground getting pictures of a dandelion but that's where my eye was drawn.The sun was shining on it with shadows from the fence shading areas around it. Who decides the weeds from the flowers ? Herbalists consider it a valuable herb that can used as a food and medicine. It can change over night to a white ball of seeds and I'm looking forward to taking some kind of picture of that.

Day #86 My Dogwood Tree

It is my favorite tree in the yard and has really grown in 20+ years since we bought it. I just love all it's white flowers that fill the side yard. While I've taken plenty of pictures of it over the years never have I focused on it's flower petals. I look at so many things up close and personal now that I've taken on this challenge.

Day #85 After The Rain

A new week begins with the rain clearing and the sun trying to break through the clouds. I knew what picture I was looking for as I walked out the door. A fellow shutterbug Jeni T. posted a shot of her sidewalk covered with blossoms with a lovely saying yesterday on her Facebook wall. A sidewalk covered with blossoms wasn't to hard to find . It's sad that the bloom on cherry, bradford pear, and tulip trees are all falling. We only had a week because of the wacky weather but I sure did enjoy them.  Here's my little O To the blooms :
The Cherry Blossoms Have Fallen,      A Sign That Spring Is Here,      The Wonders Of the Season,
                                             Before My Eyes Appear

Day #84 100 Years of Life Renew

With rain happening all day today I've decided to post one more Cherry Blossoms pic from Thursdays outing. There are five different types and about 3750 tress around the Tidal Basin and Haines Point.  This  one is a Yoshino 100 year old tree with new growth on it's trunk. The life expectancy of these trees is 47 years so I guess just like us if you can avoid a deadly disease or accident and are well taken cared of 47 is only a number....

Day #83 Fragile

It's been a busy week of pictures for me. Rain is forecast for Sat. and Sun. so with the temps rising into the eighty's today why not go to the zoo. There is a small zoo with some large animals about 30 minutes from the house. Although by the picture I chose I could be in my neighbors yard. No worries I purchased a yearly membership and have 80% of  my album to complete. The tulip trees are also in full bloom and losing their flower petals. Not too bad for my first attempt and it may be my last if the weatherman is correct and the storms and colder weather arrive in a couple hours.

Day #82 Petals Fall

                                   Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to the blossoms I go. With two good friends in tow back around the Tidal Basin one more time.  Crowds are growing as the blossoms are at peak and rain is expected for the weekend. The petals are starting to fall. See them in the water which is one of the reasons I chose this picture. Plenty to chose from and I haven't even looked at the ones on my cannon point and shot . HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY DC CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Day #81 Jump Jump

Out driving around the neighborhood to get my POTD. Almost posted a lovely tree that I finally was able to find with no wires, no house, no signs that would share the spotlight but I just had to post this one. Who knew if you put a couple trampolines in a pasture of goats they would relax on them. Had to pull over and get this funny site. As soon as I started crossing the street one stood up and all eyes were on me. I think they were happy to see me because they all started to talk and come greet me. I had to snap the picture quickly because the seen was changing. Wonder if I had driven by earlier would they have been jumping or playing with that big ball?  lol   

 

Day #80 Colors of Spring

Happy first day of spring. The day finally has caught up with the weather. The colors are everywhere I look. I think Spring has Sprung....

Day #79 Blooming in DC

Did something I have never done before. Hopped on the metro and headed to the Cherry blossoms by myself. It was a wonderful warm day so unlike last year no coat and no gloves. Walked all the way round the tidal basin taking pictures. There were plenty of people but nothing like a weekend. I also asked a few families if they all would like to be in the picture I would gladly take the picture with their camera. Looking at all my family pictures, my dad was missing from most because he was behind the camera. So many pictures to choose from for my POTD. Flipping a coin, here it is.

Day #78 Me and My Shadow

Woke up to fog and thought maybe I could get an interesting picture at Blackhills Lake . Almost at the park and I spot a hawk sitting on an electric box so I turn around park, change my len and get out of car.  Got one pic of his back before he took off .  Hopefully will see him again. Lake fog not that interesting looking but it did have a couple fisherman on it fishing . One in a canoe and that could be a POTD. But then I spotted Mr. Groundhog while driving through park so I once again pulled over parked and got out of car only to have him dart for the woods. For some reason he stopped right before the brush and let me get a couple shots. Groundhog trumps fishermen....

Day #77 Never Ending Friendships

When you attend a small high school you pretty much get to know everyone even if it's only their name. I attended one such high school and can you believe 35+ years later we are still getting together. Well mostly it's because of facebook that these get togethers are happening in addition to the regular class reunions. The internet is an amazing tool that just keeps evolving for better or worse.This picture takes me back to lunch times in the cafeteria / gym.  Remember it was a small HS.....  Old friends, good food, green beer it was a memorable St. Pats Day.

Day #76 Blooming

My Hibiscus is blooming like the weeds all around it. I actually had to pull a bunch from the front to get this picture. It's so hard to believe that's it only March. So much is blooming and I'm really looking this year because it might just be my POTD.

Day #75 Forgotten in Time

Noticed this lonely home a week ago and knew I'd be back. The clouds this afternoon were amazing so I thought since I was in the area I'd drive by. There's no trespassing signs posted and the chain going across the drive was down so I took a deep breath and pulled in. Got my shots without being shot at and headed home ... lol

Day #74 Baseball Caps

Another nice day so decided to take a walk around the lake. Once around the lake is about a mile and a half. There are plenty of benches all around the lake if you need to take a break . After a trip around I decided to take a seat and people watch. This little group was so cute and well behaved . Think they had just finished a picnic lunch. They are looking and pointing to the ducks. Loved the way their caps go all different ways and are a one size fits all. They will probably never out grow these caps. Having raised two boys I can only imagine what a hand full these four could be. It's March and the temp reached 80 degrees I think that might be a new record. Winter barely arrived this year.

Day #73 Busy As A Bee

On the way back from visiting my mom I decided to stop by Brookside Gardens since I was so close and it was an amazing almost 80 degrees. I was there two weeks ago when I got my first heron picture. So much is blooming and it's only March. This is the first bee I've seen since fall and boy was he busy going from flower to flower. Ready nope, ready nope, ready nope, finally just focused on this one flower and waited for him. Got Ya !!!!  

Day #72 Found Our New Home

As the birds start to migrate back they will be making nests. In fact they are making nests in our gutters on the house. We have gutter guards but there's a little opening by the downspouts that they are flying into. Bob plans on cleaning them out and figuring something no stop them from getting in. This bird house is at Black Hills and Mr. Blue seems to have taken claim to it. He wasn't letting anyone come near it. They told me what type he was Saturday but I have forgotten and don't seem to see it in my bird guide. I do know he is a month early arriving, guess it was the mild winter. Saw a new yellow bird at my feed today when I got home so hope a get his picture soon. He is a Carolina Chickadee ....

Day #71 Loved The Hat

                    Lizzy's Lodge held a fund raiser at the local bowling alley. They are a private all volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats who are at risk of euthanasia in area shelters . My girlfriend Chris adopted Bob a four year old russell terrier three weeks ago from them and asked if I would go. We were teamed up with four other animal lovers. Our teammate Colette was wearing this wonderful hat that I couldn't take my eyes off. Okay what's the harm in asking  if she would mind me taking some pictures. After explaining my 365 project she smiled and said of course. I quickly went to my car stopping as I stepped on the pavement remembering I had my bowling shoes on. So in socks  I went and retrieved my camera. lol   Had a great time for a good cause."Saving one dog will not change the world...but the world surely changed for that one dog."  Unknown 

Day #70 Just Hangin

This is probably the same guy that made my Jan. 20th POTD. Signed up for a 2 hr. bird watching tour at Black Hills this morning. It was 32 degrees and windy but I dressed for it. We went to three different spots and saw an eagle in flight (to high the photograph), a couple different types of birds and ducks. The tour passed up this spot at the lake and I'm so glad I stopped by it before heading home. Coming off the trail in the woods I couldn't believe what I was seeing practically in front of me. Stopped backed up a bit and started snapping pictures. Will he let me move some to get the sun behind me? I don't know why but it was as if I wasn't there. I could walk and move within feet of him. He even caught a fish and ate it in front of me. I was switching to my IPhone to get a video so I missed that shot. It was really hard to pick my POTD shot because there were unbelievably so many. We had a 20 minute glamour shot session before he finally flew off leaving me with a camera full of pictures and a smile on my face

Day #69 Grazing

Been waiting to get this picture for awhile. This farm is minutes from my house and I always enjoy the view of the cows. They had three different pastures and this one is right along the main road into town. They come down the hill in single file, see the paths they have made. Hope to one day capture their picture as they all come down the hill on the paths or head back up for the night. I chose chicken for dinner tonight.

Day #68 Wrapping and Winding

The woods along the path are coming back to life. With temps hitting the 70's today Bob and I took a long walk down the path . This vine caught my eye with the sun shining down on it. How high will it climb, I guess as high as the tree will let it.

Day #67 So Close

Star Light Star Bright All I See Is Moon Tonight. lol 

No I see stars but the moon is not high enough in the sky yet. Goggled when it would be rising so I would be ready. At first my moon looked a lot like the sun but I didn't give up and finally got it to look like what I was seeing. Tomorrow is the full moon but the weather is not looking good with rain expected so here is an almost full moon.  

Day #66 Got Milk ?

Found out by accident through my Facebook wall that Oreo would be celebrating it's 100th Birthday today. Americans still eat almost 12 billion Oreos every year  and 50% of all Oreo eaters pull apart their cookies before eating. Decided it would be fun to make it my POTD. Since it's 100 I made the photo B&W. First attempt at bubbles. Will Oreos be around another hundred years? My bet is they will. Now I have a whole bag of Oreos to eat.... BONUS

Day #65 Big Red Barn

Noticed this barn a couple weeks ago . It's not  far off a road I travel on all the time. With no other pictures in mind I went to get one. The sky is a total white and it started snowing. The red is what first caught my eye but as I got closer the size was enormous . Not sure what it is used for but it's definitely still used for something. Look at all those fake windows but the huge sliding doors are real. Wonder what it would look like in front of blue skies. Guess I'll be back ...............

Day #64 Brave Little Soldiers

Lazy Sunday just spent around the house. My miniature daffodils are trying their hardest to bloom and stay alive. We've had two days of down pours this past week that have really weighted them down. The temperature has dropped today with a possibility of some snow flakes tonight. Hang in there my little troopers.

Day #63 Froggy Jamboree

Not sure if I'm really happy with this picture but I want to put it in I'm project. Was a nice day and I'd already gone out and took what I thought would be my POTD. Decided to go take a walk down the path this time with my husband and camera in tow. The path is divided in two sections by a road.  This time we walked the path on the other side of road . As we begin our walk you can hear what it thought was geese squawking in the distance. As we come upon a small pond of water by the stream (rain over flow I think) my husband smiles and points to my geese. Lots and lots of frogs are swimming and singing. It was amazing to see and I even took out my phone and got a little video of their singing. Didn't enter my mind at the time but my camera does video too.... lol

Day #62 Scenic View

Heading to the movies and left a little early so I could pull off highway at the scenic view exit and snap a couple shots. Was surprised to find a gentleman flying a remote controlled jet plane in the grass. It was an overcast day and as you can see most of the view is now blocked by trees and overgrown brush. Came out of movies to rain so glad I stopped and thanks Mr. Jet guy for unknowingly being my POTD.

Day #61 LOOK, Moon in the Day

Lets see first thing this morning got some pictures of my crocuses opening to the sunshine. It was a wonderful near 70 degree cloudless sky after yesterdays rain soaked day. Called a friend and walked around the lake three times with a few shots of ducks and squirrels. What to choose what to choose ???Little did I know I wasn't done yet because I noticed the day moon in the sky as I arrived home. Took a picture from driveway but with no clouds it wasn't all that interesting so off to my favorite sculpture I went. Tried to keep both in focus so couldn't make moon as big as I would have liked but think it turned out okay.