My Photography Weekend

Oh WOW!  Talk about photography overload.  From Thursday late afternoon until noon today (Sunday) I was immersed in photography.  I didn't want the weekend to end.  Not only because of all the learning but because I also was spending it with a couple from Indiana who have become friends. (We met at the event last year and have kept in touch.)

Thursday night was Birds of Prey shoot at a local nature center which cares for injured birds and also has other animals.  They bring them out special for us to photograph.

           
          Here is a female elk.                                        And a male.

These next ones are a golden eagle.  His only problem was he had lost the "thumb" of his right claw.  Still looks pretty dangerous to me.

       
         

               Now for a couple owls.
    

Some flowers just because.

        

Here is a snake having his supper (a frog).  The one on the right is titled "a frog in my throat"

And a really pretty Box Turtle.

 

   Another cute owl.

And I just have to have a barn which I took on the way back from the bird shoot.

I'm not sure why I couldn't line up these pictures better.   Maybe I will try again later.  Right now, I just wanted to get them posted.  I will work on posting some other pictures later.

Where is the Summer going?

I can't believe it is July 20 already.  Seems like the Summer just started.  But the temp and humidity is telling me that Summer is WELL under way. 

I had a great evening yesterday.  A friend and I went to The Barn Theater in the little village of Augusta to see the play West Side Story.  That was a favorite movie of mine when I was much younger.  And I think I've worn out the soundtrack album.  That was back when they put songs on LPs.  Remember them? 

The Barn Theater is Michigan's oldest resident Summer Stock theater.  This is the 62nd season.  The first time I went was with the high school dance band.  We saw The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Then I went a few years later to see On A Clear Day.  I love plays in small theaters.  I don't know why I don't go more often.  We did get tickets for Shenandoah for next month.  Another musical.

This coming weekend is my 2nd SWMCCC photographic weekend at Hope College.  I'm so looking forward to it.  I'm excited to meet up with friends I met last year.  There are so many great sessions it's going to be hard to pick.  I do know I'm going on a Wild Birds of Prey shoot.  I got some great pics last year.  I know one of my friends is going on the shoot too.  Will be fun.

Been playing golf on the ministry league this summer.  I've had some really great holes,  quite a few great shots, and I'm getting my money's worth.  LOL  It's fun though.  Leaves lots of room for improvement.  LOL

Until next time...

July 4th weekend

I can't believe it is almost over with.  So far the weather had been absolutely perfect.  Once this weekend is over, it always seems like Summer is half over even though it only officially started about 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday I went over to Lake MI and observed all the crowded beaches.  Then it was on to my brother's for supper followed by a sail almost the whole length of Lake Macatawa (about 3 miles) to watch the fireworks.  There is nothing like watching fireworks from a sailboat in the middle of the lake.  There is the glow above and the reflection in the water.  Our biggest challenge was finding our way back to the marina in the dark.  Thankfully they have lighted buoys every half mile or so.  Gotta watch out for the unlit ones though.  (We did.)

Today I took my 13 year old nephew fishing.  What a great day.  We probably caught close to a dozen fish.  We are sport fishermen -- we throw them back.  We were out for about 2 hours.  This was his 2nd time fishing and he loves it.  Just have to get him taking his fish off his hook. 

Tomorrow is, hopefully, a game of golf with a young man I just met yesterday.  He is up here visiting from NC.  He is a friend of a friend of mine. 

Tonight I watched a terrific movie -- August Rush.  It came highly recommended and I loved it.  I might watch it again before I return it.

If I get the golf in, it will be a perfect weekend. 

Happy Birthday, USA!!!

A great day!

Today has been an absolutely perfect day.  A friend called and asked if I wanted to go for a bike ride  I said sure.  Well, we had a ride!  A little over 23 miles in 2.75 hours ride time. (Not bad for only the 3rd ride of the season.)  We rode on a a bike trail the whole way.  What a nice way to ride.  We rode about 5 or 6 miles along the Grand River.  Our destination was the town of Rockford which was having their Summer Festival.  Heard a really good band who were doing a lot of songs from the 60's .  They were really good.  Then we shared a chicken sandwich and Jicama slaw.   Delish.  Then it was back on the bikes for the return trip.  By the time we got back to parking lot where we started my back side was really sore.  I don't think I'll go for a bike ride tomorrow.  LOL  I think I'll sleep well tonight.  Hope I can walk tomorrow.  LOL

Health

Tuesday night I attended a meeting for a group I belong to.  The lead-off question was: On a scale of 1 - 10, where do you rate the importance of your own health?  Think about it and answer for yourself.

Now based on your answer,
1 - How much time/effort do you put into maintaining and improving your health?
2 - How much money do you spend on maintaining and improving your health?

Do they match your answer for the importance of your health?  Many in attendance had to say no to that answer.  I was able to say I am really working on it. 

I've been walking about 30-45 minutes several times a week.  I've hauled out the bicycle and ridden a couple of good rides.  I even walked while playing 9 holes of golf the other day.  But I've also started eating much better and begun working on detoxifying my body. 

Think of the toxins/chemicals we come into contact with every day in the air, water and our foods.  Think of how rampant disease is compared to 50 years ago.  It is scary and I believe there is a link between toxins and disease.  I've decided I want to live a healthier life. So more and more, organic food is finding its way into my diet and I started the Isagenix program a little over 5 weeks ago.  I love it.  My weight is going down and I've lost inches!  I also feel more energetic and I can focus better.   For more information click here .

What are you doing to improve your health?

Golf ? ! ? !

Tell me why we play this crazy game. Actually I love playing but oh, if I could only be consistent!

Last Friday I went out to play in the first game of the season for the league at work. Oh I did just great. NOT! I got the highest score of the group. Don't you get a prize for that? Then Tuesday I took the day off the play with my nephew who is on leave between graduating from the Coast Guard Academy and reporting to his first duty station in FL. I taught him to play 6 or 7 years ago and he's never beaten me. Until Tuesday. By one stroke. He started out great but fell apart on 2 holes. I fell apart on more than that.

Well, after two rounds like I had, I decided lesson(s) were in order. I went to a local golf course that was running a special and signed up for 2. Was able to take one that afternoon. I now know what my problem is and how to solve it. Doing it is a WHOLE 'nother thing. So I went to the driving range and hit more balls. Bottom line -- Chiropractor says I'm not 20 anymore!!!!!! Man, was I sore. Needed an adjustment that night. I'm better today. And I need to head out to the driving range before league on Friday afternoon. Hopefully I can remember what he told me and put it into practice.

In the meantime, if you see me on the course, I'm yelling FORE before I even hit the ball. LOL

Tulip Time in MI

Sunday afternoon and then again this afternoon/evening I spent time roaming the city of Holland and it's tulip gardens.  Talk about God being an artist -- Wow.  How did he come up with all those colors for the tulips and flowering trees... and daffodils ... and hyacinths... and even buffalo.  What a Creator He is!

 

I have no idea who these people are but I just had to  take the picture.  They were posing so nice for daddy.

 

 

 

 

I just love the beds of multi-color tulips.

 

 

 

 

  And lavender ones.

 

 

 

 

And enjoying the gardens along with so many people.

 

 

 

  Even the buffalo were enjoying the   scenery.  Oh wait, he was looking at me! I think it was a stare-down!  I won, cuz he left.

 

 

There was even an original windmill from the old country.  Each piece was numbered, it was taken apart, shipped over here, reassembled and it works perfectly.  They actually make flour there.

 

 

 

The windmill is located just off to the left of this Dutch village.

 

 

 

 

This really is a tulip.  It is a peony tulip.

 

 

 

Isn't this one cool!  I love the pointy petals.

 

 

 

 

 

And I just have to show another red tulip, fringed this time,  just cuz I can!

 

 

 

And then there are these variegated ones.

 

 

 

 

And then these here just got the tips gently bushed with white.

 

 

   And I can't forget the daffodils

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  I think these are are flowering crab. The one below is on Hope College campus.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  This forsythia is also on Hope's campus.

 

 

 

 

Between the two visits to Holland I took 340+ pictures.  Did I say I love digital?!?! These are just a tip of the iceberg.  But you get the idea.   And I'll be going again Saturday for the parade and a cookout.