Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #144 – Taking Flight

“Flying…how often have you thought about how amazing it would be to simply stretch your arms and soar? When you think about it, the number of flying “objects” is quite large. Yes, of course the birds. But beyond them, butterflies, bees and other insects, airplanes, balloons, bubbles, kites….well, you get the idea. So this week, although I’m focused on some of the beautiful birds of Kiawah, please feel free to be creative and choose whichever flying objects catch your imagination and your lens.” This is Tina’s challenge to me.

Watching my dog Charlies fly off my bed, race down the hall, and retrieve his ball reminded me of an event I attended almost 10 years ago, “Petapalooza”. I captured some dogs flying at the Splash Dogs tank event.

That ball is mine!
I’ve got my eyes on you!
Having fun in the summer heat!
I’m flying!
Big splash!
Now to dry off. Stand back!

All these dogs were having so much fun. I’m hoping that as my dog matures he will get to a point where he is not so anxious, and I can show him the wider world. This CoVid stuff really hurt his socialization growth. Last week he attended the Sactown Doodle Romp where he saw Doodles of all sizes.

Time to share the squeaky ball!
This is Charlie’s Aunt Kona! (on his maternal side for the genealogists)
Charlie and Kona together
Charlie steps away.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #143 Colorful April

Amy reminds us that “When winter melts away, spring brings a new beginning; colors begin to awaken under the warm sunlight, April showers, and gentle wind.” So our theme for this week is “Colorful April”.

Tulips abound at Crystal Hermitage Garden. It has been some time since I visited. This used to be an annual visit. Darn CoVid 19 gets in the way. Such a peaceful place set in “Gold Country”.

Colorful tulip path

Another place I used to visit was Daffodil Hill in Amador County. Its popularity caused this traditional Spring shoot to close. About six years ago I visited during a cloudy weekday. The daffodils provided a backdrop for the Seeing Eye puppy Labrador retrievers out for a day with their puppy raisers. The

These puppies have no problem posing!

2019 was the last year this family opened up this “gem” to the public. Hidden away the roads were not equiped to handle the traffic.

The last flower of the spring that I just love to photograph is the California poppy. Last weekend some friends headed up to search for a field of orange. Found these beauties in flower pots in Sutter Creek, and not in the wild as I had hoped.

California poppies showing off their bright orange color.

Spring has sprung here in Northern California. I would just love this mild enjoyable weather to stick around for a while!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #141 Geometry

In this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #141:  Geometry Patti invites me to share images that feature geometric shapes.  I am having so much fun looking through my library of images, and trying to remember the correct geometry names.

I photograph hearts in nature! I see hearts everywhere. Do you?

Hearts decorate our lives.

Circles around me in Bodie California.

Curves are interesting to follow.

Resting Flamingo
This garden in aMazing. Getty Center in Los Angeles

Yosemite National Park and Mirror Lake provided me with this image.

Reflection on Mirror Lake complete this quadrangle.

I enjoyed looking through my archive to find some geometry terms. I hope that when you are out and about you look a little bit deeper and see some shapes also.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #140 Change of Scenery

I have accepted Beth’s (Wandering Dawgs)challenge to get out and look for a change of scenery. It is officially Spring, and that means the natural world around me is changing. This is especially true here in the Sacramento area.

Almond Trees blossom in the Capay Valley orchards.
Almond trees blossom anywhere from February to March
Camelia showing off its beautiful flower
We have some late ripening oranges ready to pick from our tree.

This year instead of planting tomatoes, squash, and peppers my husband is preparing to plant a lemon tree (very pretty), and a mandarin tangerine.

Mustard blossoms all around
My Subí Blue ready to search out a change in scenery!