Day #274 Let The Games Begin

Spent the day at the Maryland Renaissance Festival . It goes on every weekend for about two months and has a couple weekends left. Boy I never realized how many people really enjoy this event and dress from head to toe in medieval garb. It was hard to tell who was being paid to be there and who paid to get in. I think the most popular show and there were many was the jousting. If you've never been it is something to see. Was a great day to step back in time......

Day #273 Cornfield Sunset

As we were leaving a retirement party at the park I notice a cornfield and the sky . Quickly I ask Bob if he'll pull over so I can get a picture. Wanting to get up a little higher I climb the three foot fence and balance on the 2 x 4 rail. I can hear Bob laugh behind me. It was not a good year for the corn crops here.

Day #272 Change is Happening

Took a drive out to Blackhill State Park looking for the change of the seasons. Yes it is happening right before my eyes . This place is going to be amazing soon and I just can't wait....

Day #271 The Land Of Pumpkins

Stopped by Butlers Orchard today before pumpkin land kicks off on Saturday. Thousands of families will probably visit during the month of October. Today I had it all to myself and got some wonderful pictures. I went for a picture of the pumpkin field so here it is. Happy 60th Birthday Butlers Orchard
I hope you have many, many more..............

Day #270 Spiders Meet

What's worse than forgetting to put the SD card back in the camera? Driving forty minutes to a corn field maze and having purse, camera bag, tripod, crystal ball and NO CAMERA. Can't believe I left the camera on the table. Well lesson learned. Decided I'd hang my spider web on the front porch and take a picture of that. I have so many halloween decorations it take me hours to get them all out. The web is just the beginning.....

Day #269 Apple Pickin Basket

Drove back to Rockhill orchard for some more apples this time with my apple basket. This basket is pretty neat because it folds flat when not in use. It was a christmas gift from my son and daughter in law that they picked up on their travels while living in China. I believe it is from Thailand but I could be wrong. Being a Tuesday afternoon I had the orchard practically to myself so wasn't to self conscious laying on the ground getting my shot.

Day #268 Pretty in Pink

A day around the house catching up after a long weekend away. I did come home to lots of blooming flowers around my birdbath out front so that's where I headed.  The good thing was I remembered I could increase the ISO since there wasn't enough light yesterday in the tent when taking band pictures but the bad was I forgot that it was set at 800 till I came back in. I was lucky it was early and  headed back out a little while later. Still learning..........

Day #267 R.J. Booker Band

Ended my fun filled Sunfest weekend at the beach watching one of the headliner bands. What's so special about the band? Well, I went to high school with the drummer so how could it not be my POTD. There really aren't many human photos in my album as they're not my strong suit so when I was asked to take a shot of them after the concert in front of a big sunfest sign it was a push for me. This shot is during the concert taken from me seat.One Hundred Days To Go... The countdown continues............

Day #266 Sunrise Sensation

This one knocked my socks off when I loaded the card on my IPAD and hit slide show to view my shots. Took my frame to the water this morning and got some interesting shots with it. Spent the day in Rehobeth bike riding, outlet shopping and seeing Joe and Chucks cars at the car show by the boardwalk. Tomorrow we head back home after three fun filled days at the beach.

Day #265 Early morning rise

After last nights wonderful sunset I'm up early to see it rise. I got a new tripod for my birthday that has a case with a strap. It worked out wonderfully across my back as we rode our bikes to the inlet at the boardwalk for this picture. I have a small bag that fits on my handlebars that snugly holds my camera. Another great day at the beach...........

Day #264 The Colors Of Sunset

Heading to the beach for Sunfest Weekend. First stop was Blackwater Wildlife Refuse for some wonderful shots and a couple stops for photo ops along the way. It's great to have Carol with me, she loves to stop take pictures, explore and make friends with the wildlife. As we watch the sky change colors from a park at the beach, it was a wonderful day.

Day #263 On My Way To Mexico

What a lovely day it turned out to be after yesterdays rain. Stopped by the State Park on my way to lunch with friends and yes another butterfly picture. I did meet a volunteer that was leaving the visitors center who asked me if I noticed whether the Monarch was tagged. I happened to see a round white sticker underneath its left wing. She told me they had just released a lot of them this morning and they would be heading to Mexico after filling up on the flowers. According to her the school children would be looking to find these butterflies as a school project. I never knew that we tagged Monarch butterflies here and tracked their migration. It was a very interesting morning. Oh, and I was very excited to see this ladybug when I loaded my card in the computer......

Day #262 Drip Dry

It has rained all day today. Seems to have just about stopped so before night sets in I took a walk around the yard. My sedum is in full bloom and has been full of bees lately. Noticed just two who seem to be sleeping and waiting out the rain.

Day #261 Weed Walking

Visited Blackhill State Park today. Took pictures of some bees, butterflies, trees and these weeds. This shot of the weeds with the sky and clouds was kind of pretty don't you think?

Day # 260 A is for Apples

Took a short drive to Rock Hill Orchard planning on a picture of their pumpkin patches. Sadly they were but not letting you to the patches yet. What I didn't realize was they have 135 acres and also grow about ten different types of apples. So along with my pictures I bought home fresh apples I picked right off the trees.

Day #259 Goodbye Fairs

Happen to be taking a class in Frederick this morning and the Frederick Fair was only three blocks away so after class I headed to my last fair of the summer. It's hard to believe I attended three this summer because it's such a great place to find a picture for my project. Noticing the trees on my drive home there is just a hint that autumn color is on the way... can't wait

Day #258 Line forms to the Right

Headed home from the beach and have wanted to stop at this hodgepodge store that sits on the side of the road.  The yard is littered with hundreds of scrap metal pieces of art. So much caught my eye. Inside you find more, it was amazing.  I settled on these dalmatians lifting their legs. I smiled when I realized how the artist posed them.

Day #257 The Golden Boy

Passed this street performer while walking the Ocean City boardwalk. From the top of his hat to the soles of his shoes he was gold. As we walked toward him he was playing his golden harmonica. All the sudden he stopped and froze like a statue. I started snapping shots all around him. Think I got this one crouching down and looking up. He didn't move a muscle.  Placing a couple bucks in his hat and he sprang to life playing his harmonica and drawing the crowd in.

Day #256 Broken

The good news is I'm at the beach. The bad is I'm here because of a speeding ticket I got in July heading here. I try never to speed so with a clean record I'm heading to court in the morning hoping to only pay the fine and drop the points. Noticed this fence last visit while out riding my bike on the path. With the sun setting I took a few quick shots before heading back before sunset.

Day #255 A Hop, Skip and A Jump

Stopped by Butlers Orchard on the way home from work today. Bought some delicious gala apples from their orchard and visited the flower garden. You can cut and purchase quite few varieties of flowers but I just took a lot of pictures. I'm really going to miss the butterflies.

Day #254 Stalker

With the temps dropping into the 70's it was a perfect day to visit the zoo.  Dusted off and filled up my pocket vest which hasn't seen the light of day since spring and headed out the door. I was surprised so many animals seemed to be inside instead of out in the lovely weather maybe they had an exhausting weekend and were recovering. Did get some good pictures and watched as some zoo keepers feed the seals and sea lion. After a game of eenie, meenie, minie, mo here you go.....

Day# 253 ButterBEE

Meet back up with my high school girlfriends for lunch . We had a great time and drove our handsome young waiter nuts. He was a great sport with all our demands and taking  pictures of us all with each of our cameras. He was tipped well. We headed over to our old high school at my suggestions and I got some great fun pictures. Came home to some butterflies in the yard as I watered the flowers so of course grabbed my camera. Then off to a pontoon ride on the lake with Bob just before sunset. Had reserved that weeks ago not remembering about lunch date. Again some great pictures while we were on lake and the sunset that happened after the ride but what makes it into my project the butterfly that happened right in my front yard !!! I was so focused on the butterfly that the bee was a big surprise and the background was just amazing to me....

Day #252 Flash

Was a fun afternoon with a group of friends from high school. We all started reconnecting on facebook and even formed a closed group that continues to grows. It's been amazing and we try to meet up a close times a year for those who can make it. This photo is so wrong but for some reason I really liked it as I viewed it on my monitor. Thirty plus years gone by in a FLASH......
SOOC
 

Day #251 Walking Around Town

Met my sister in law Carol in Old Town Frederick this afternoon to see what kind of picture I could come up with. Tried my hand at some street shots. This is actually a mural on the side of one of the building and that window sure looks real but it's not. As I set to take my shoot from across the street these two girls start walking into the picture so I wait till they are under it before I push the button. I'm so glad they walked into my shot and love that the street sign happens to be on walk. Wish I would have had the nerve to ask the four guys taking a smoke break outside the tattoo parlor if I could take their picture. They were each a piece of art.

Day #250 After The Rain

Needed to clean the pond filter this afternoon so after the rain shower I headed out to the front yard. While working at the pond I notice a spider has spun a large web from my car antenna to the tree in front of it. Last year I would have grabbed the broom but this year my first thought was camera. The spider was nowhere to be found which is a little scary....

Day #249 Streaming Light

Well at  five twenty p.m. decided I better get off my butt and head out for a picture. Since I only went as far as the yard yesterday thought I'd make a little more of an effort. Decided on Blackhills and got quite a few dragonfly pictures and bug bites. Guess I should have sprayed some Off spray on myself.Ended up taking some sky/clouds pictures because they were pretty awesome to. Love these kind of shots with the sunlight streams so here is my first attempt at trying to capture it. By the way this place is going to be amazing in the fall. Got some great photos last year when I first got my camera and had no idea what I was doing so they should be so much better this fall...
Time will tell

Day #248 The First Of Many

Just walked around the yard today snapping a few pictures. The first flower has bloomed around the birdbath and it looked kind of interesting. Hope to take another shot when more of the flowers have bloomed and if I can capture a bird in the bath now that would be icing on the cake.

Day #247 We've Been Framed

Okay technically I did everything but push the button on the camera, which I had my neighbor Peggy do. Wanted the shot in my project so here it is. Got the idea from a fellow on another 365 site. Love the way it turned out. Need to do it one more time adding Bob and Margaret...

Day #246 Bee Happy

Spent the day with family celebrating the Labor Day weekend and my nephews eighteenth birthday. A day of grilling, chilling in the pool, and catching up with the extended family. As I sit and talk I see one of the biggest bees I've seen this summer so what I'm I to do but follow him around the yard. The bees will be gone soon as summer comes to a close and I haven't been stung yet, knock on wood....

Day #245 The American Trail Opens

A new section called the American Trail opened from 8-12 for zoo members today so back I went with Bob in tow. Originally a total renovation of the seal and sea lion pools that were built in the late 1970's.I guess like when you start a project at home and it just balloons that is what happened at the zoo. You will find a bald eagle, ravens, beavers, gray wolves, seals, pelicans, and ducks. It looks amazing. Once again it's so hard to choose one picture but my excuse to go was the American Trail and this raven was welcoming us in.  SOOC