Fire!

FIRE

It is amazing the designs that are within flowers and all of nature, for that matter. All you have to do is look closely. Take the time to ZOOM IN, you just might find some nice surprises. "Fire!" is a detail of some brilliantly colored late summer daisies that I digitally painted to emphasize the great designs and rich color.

Home Grown Tomatos

Yum, there is nothing like a sweet flavorful home grown tomato. Finally I have one that is almost ready to pick. I have no idea why they are taking so long. Not enough sun, maybe? There is a tree that is blocking my patio garden and they are too hard to move every day. I guess I'm going to have to figure something out for future tomatos. These are of the Beefsteak Variety, someone told me that theirs were also late in ripening. It could be the weird weather. Anyway, I can't wait to taste it. Another day or too, I want them to ripen on the vine as much as possible. Maybe I'll consult the Organic Gardening Guru for some tips. He probably knows how to grow Killer Tomatos!!!

Who Will Stop the Rain?

Will it ever stop raining? I just don't remember this much rain and violent stormy weather in a long time if ever in my lifetime. Well maybe there will be a Rainbow at the end! But not today at least. However last year after a storm, we were treated with a double rainbow and some super sweet light. If you look closely you can see the outer rainbow very faintly. By the time I ran in and got my camera it was almost gone.....anyway I was standing in my front yard looking east and the warm light of the sun lit everything up and with the rainbows, it was quite a sight.
See The Science of Double Rainbows
Creative Commoms www.mrscienceshow.com

Let There Be Light

QUALITY OF LIGHT
Light can make or break a photograph. It is the most important element in a photograph. Likewise, lighting is also important when viewing a photograph or any other artwork. When you go to a museum, you can see how lighting is used to enhance the artwork. Light can also destroy photos and artwork. The ultra violet spectrum of light is where the dangerous light rays fall.
Check out Solux Art Light to see how you can display and protect all of your photos and artwork that is on display.

All about Dynamic Views for Readers

All about Dynamic Views for Readers
I just came across this. Looks like a way to get a good overview of someone's blog and can save in search time, especially if you are new to the blog and you want to get a feel for its content. My favorite is the mosaic view. Maybe it is because it is full of prepared food photos and I'm very hungry right now....LOL! If you want to spruce up your blog, check out the link!
Then visit this link for details on how to do this: All About Dynamic Views for Authors

"Bring Me Sunshine"

"Bring Me Sunshine"
Do you have spring fever? Not just the normal spring fever from dreary winter weather. How about spring fever from the gloomy news media and the gloomy economic forecast....yeah that kind! Well I do and I'm sick of it.....so I'm purposeful on finding some sunshine and happiness...I found this video today on Flixxy.com and I want to share with you.
P.S. The photo of the sunflower is my own personal touch to invoke some sunshine, after all, what better flower than this magnificent one that reaches up toward what it was named after.

Who Is John Muir?

This engraved rock with a quote by John Muir is at the Nature Center in Rocky River Reservation of The Cleveland Metroparks.
John Muir (1838-1914) was America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist. He is one of California's most important historical personalities. He has been called "The Father of our National Parks," "Wilderness Prophet," and "Citizen of the Universe." He once described himself more humorously, and perhaps most accurately, as, a "poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc. !!!!" Legendary librarian and author Lawrence Clark Powell (1906-2001), (anticipating an event that was not to occur until 2006), said of him: "If I were to choose a single Californian to occupy the Hall of Fame, it would be this tenacious Scot who became a Californian during the final forty-six years of his life." More recently, famed documentary film maker Ken Burns said, "As we got to know him... he [John Muir] ascended to the pantheon of the highest individuals in our country; I'm talking about the level of Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, and Thomas Jefferson, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jackie Robinson -- people who have had a transformational effect on who we are."
To learn more visit the Sierra Club website.

Being a Good Steward of Mother Earth

I am of the belief that we should be good stewards of Mother Earth and all of her species, whether flora or fauna and all of the resources she provides for us. We can't keep taking and taking and ravaging her, she does a fine job of that herself. But that is her right. We on the other hand don't have that right. We need to respect her and all life. We are all connected and we our not only hurting ourselves but everyone and everything.
Yes, even pesky 'Rocky Racoon' is important in the Circle Of Life.
I took this picture in Rocky River Reservation, which is part of our beautiful Metroparks System in Cleveland, Ohio that is fondly known as The Emerald Necklace.
As I was browsing today doing research on some wildlife, I came across this interesting link of a Washington State Zoo.
The Cougar Mountain Zoo and Zoological Society of Washington are dedicated to increasing the understanding and appreciation of the earth’s wildlife and the role of humanity in nature through education, research, captive breeding, conservation, exhibition and recreation.
Visit the link below to learn more.
Cougar Mountain Zoo

Floral Abstract or Thinking of Spring

I'm thinking of spring and hoping it will be here soon. I'm sick of shoveling snow, cleaning off my car, wearing boots and still having cold and wet feet, wearing a million layers of clothing, ice, slush and high heat bills. Okay so I 'painted' a pretty picture to look at and it made me feel better. Here is my bluegreen floral abstract. It is a digital photomontage painting.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Floral Heart Mixed Media Collage Digitally Rendered.

Dandelion Dreams

Some see Dandelions as bothersome weeds on their front lawn. I see them as beautiful edible plants. They also inspired me to create the above digital painting.

The common dandelion, enemy of suburban lawns, is an unusually nutritious food. It's leaves contain substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, and B Complex as well as magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron and silicon.
Source Lifescript - Healthy Living For Women
To learn more...Visit lifescript.com

Snow, Leaves and Winter, #2

Here is my next upload from my snow and leaves study. This leaf was a survivor, even though it had seen better days, it was still 'dancing' in the snow. I thought it had an interesting shape. It almost reminds me of a gown of that a snowflake faerie would wear in a ballet. It is just amazing on how many unique captures I've been getting. Just when I think that I can't possibly find another shot different enough to photograph, I turn around to go back in the house to get warm and I see another one!

Snow, Leaves and Winter

For whatever reason, I have been extremely fascinated with leaves on snow....this year more than usual, I still have stray leaves falling on top of the snow in my yard. Some of them are frosted over with a neat textured layer of frosty snow crystals. Some are floating on top with just a sprinkling of snow. Some are partially in the snow, and/or are at odd angles. They make very interesting compositions, especially with the texture of the snow itself, and the different times of day and quality of light. Some of them are in mini drifts or areas where the snow started melting and then got covered over by new snow...I will share some of these in the days ahead. Here is one of my favorites....actually I like this one because it is one of the more unique ones....one leaf is in front of a snow drift, and the other is partially imbedded in it. The other reason I have been so interested in taking these photos is because I am trying to complete "Ode To Winter" part two in my Four Seasons Project Series....it's not quite there yet but I will post it as soon as I am happy with it.....
As I have said in my Squidoo Lens ZoomIn Don't forget to zoom in on the small bits of beauty that is all around us. Even in winter when it is freezing cold, just dress extra warm and brave the cold...even if it is only for 20 minutes....you might just find a treasure to capture and make 'immortal'...

Ode To Autumn

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS, FRIENDS AND FELLOW BLOGGERS!
This is the first print in Four Seasons a new four part series. It is titled "Ode To Autumn" It is a photomontage and my interpretation of the season of Autumn.
It is cold outside and the ground is covered with snow. Bare trees have mounds of snow on them in all kinds of whimsical shapes....maybe an idea is born for "Winter", part 2 in my series....