tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46444112006887532862024-03-12T21:53:50.898-04:00Photography by KMLPhotography by KML features the fine art and stock images of photographer, K. Libby. KML specializes in Landscape and Nature photos. The stock photos include concepts, food, backgrounds, abstracts, sports, architecture, transportation, and people.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger841125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-66935732873326355322022-02-18T17:50:00.001-05:002022-02-18T17:51:22.268-05:00A Walk on the Lake<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Stock-Images/Nature/Ocean/i-2sq9FGd/0/7c0d01d9/M/IMG_9525-M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="338" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Stock-Images/Nature/Ocean/i-2sq9FGd/0/7c0d01d9/M/IMG_9525-M.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was one of those warm winter days where the temps hovered around freezing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The sun was bright and the skies were clear and blue.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a good day to venture a walk on the lake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our lake days are in the summer where we spend time swimming in the designated areas which are not too far from the shore.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's a treat in the winter when we can walk as far as we want from the shore on the frozen water.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Usually the snow builds up which makes it hard to walk, but this winter has brought so much ice that the surface was virtually clear of snow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were no snow machines to disturb our peace.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There was no wind whipping around our ears to freeze them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our little dog had the whole lake to herself and she took full advantage of it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We're not much for outdoors in the winter anymore, but these kinds of days are gifts that have us enjoying it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-51761947873383413322021-05-17T21:17:00.000-04:002021-05-17T21:17:00.727-04:00Spring on the River<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-cwK9cJf/0/057611a7/L/IMG_8231-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="477" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-cwK9cJf/0/057611a7/L/IMG_8231-L.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The colors of spring are a most welcome sight after a long winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And this year was no exception.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The river was running a little high.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The trees were starting to bud.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The warm day had a slight breeze that kept the annoying black flies away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was such a treat to take a stroll through the field that led to the river.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The bees were happily buzzing from one dandelion to the next - the first food flower of the season for them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Little May flowers and sweet violets grew in patches in the shorter grasses.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The maples were sending out their seeds as the birds called their spring songs from up in the branches.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mother Nature sure knows how to bring joy to the soul.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Each season has its own special gifts, and this day was one of Spring's finest.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-12874091969660864422021-03-12T20:54:00.002-05:002021-03-12T20:56:31.734-05:00Ice Art<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Nature/i-xPrDtrv/0/66fbe08e/M/IMG_8043-M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="349" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Nature/i-xPrDtrv/0/66fbe08e/M/IMG_8043-M.jpg" width="465" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rain was coming down and freezing upon contact one February afternoon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When it finally stopped, I was anxious to get outside, but being in the middle of something, my walk was delayed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The temps were quickly rising, and I could see the ice falling from the tree branches as I watched from the window.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was going to miss my ice photos opportunity - one is lucky to get these perfect conditions once a season when it all comes together just right.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time I made it outside, there wasn't much ice left on the bushes, berries, branches, or pines.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A few mediocre photos made it onto my camera, and I was getting ready to retrace my path back into the house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye. That perfectly shaped ice leaf - all alone hanging from a branch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It had separated from the leaf on which it had been formed, and it was just there - in the empty space between the branches.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I snapped a few photos of this little beauty before it joined all the other ice creations that had succumbed to the warming temps.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I had been fretting not ten minutes before about being too late in getting outside. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had I been earlier, this piece of ice art wouldn't have been finished and I would never have seen it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And just a minute later, I would have missed it as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Timing was perfect for this shot, and I was most lucky. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Things do have a way of working out if we just let them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-38790693074606123282021-02-05T20:46:00.000-05:002021-02-05T20:46:10.897-05:00Winter Color<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Abstract/Abstracts/i-ThS67SB/0/419c1cc3/M/IMG_7961-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="338" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Abstract/Abstracts/i-ThS67SB/0/419c1cc3/M/IMG_7961-M.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just after a fresh snowfall, when everything is still covered, black and white are the predominate colors in the winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The red of the cardinal birds stands out beautifully in the trees.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The blue of the sky beyond those trees is just as vivid as the red birds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it's pretty hard to find other colors in a winter landscape after Mother Nature lays down a new snow layer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That was the case today on my afternoon walk - no cardinals or blue sky to be found.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just a lot of black and white with varying shades of gray in between.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There was one stray flash of color though that caught my eye as I passed by.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The white of the snow against the lime green of an overturned pail really stood out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It beckoned me to take a closer look.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My phone was small enough to fit between the thorny branches and get close enough to capture the shot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A winter abstract, with a splash of color - makes for an interesting composition.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-87311389978470868102021-01-13T21:17:00.000-05:002021-01-13T21:17:15.687-05:00Winter in Rye Harbor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWnwEldsBIUGPOYGduPr6YQ7nUrPNgciRqHloCTzDDn3EDT66gcUF5xsH-lXddaC3StsY9PWKvsOWRpD6231huCJIH7HgcEe7HrsQ0nF2JAtSNWzpmHNtrhuL0SZvNVzy1pH25TVsyaEU/s2048/IMG_3880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWnwEldsBIUGPOYGduPr6YQ7nUrPNgciRqHloCTzDDn3EDT66gcUF5xsH-lXddaC3StsY9PWKvsOWRpD6231huCJIH7HgcEe7HrsQ0nF2JAtSNWzpmHNtrhuL0SZvNVzy1pH25TVsyaEU/s320/IMG_3880.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This photo was taken about four years ago on a winter trip to the ocean at Rye Harbor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Part of the State Park system in NH, we have visited here at least a couple times a year for as long as I can remember.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This past year we were never able to make the trip and the ocean was surely missed by us both.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No matter what time of the year, there is nothing like smelling the salty fresh air and seeing the everchanging beauty of the water and waves as they rush along the shore.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The sea gulls, ducks, and sand pipers that are numerous in the summer are no where to be found in the winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But if one is really lucky, there are a couple of Snowy Owls that have been known to visit the area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To them, this is their "south" as they nest and breed in northern Canada each spring and summer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have never been able to get a decent photo of one of these beautiful owls, but I was lucky enough one winter to see one.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He was easy to find though - the group of tripods and photographers were a dead give away that something interesting was going on down by the shore.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They were respectful and kept their distance as not to scare him away so we could all enjoy his winter visit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-36288976878675065412021-01-01T20:02:00.002-05:002021-01-01T20:02:48.195-05:00Frosty Mullein<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTn92pTJ5mB1zKCPjkwtImheNb4V8oePs2lmW5EPnkwLM80ELuB9s-SKIgRuMpLPhXZpq0LJNsE51gcV1rbOvmc0u-FZNbexEEA_XkpjvOc8NIjjeXeeCji2gs-H-MIxIodwDaBr2fBk7/s2048/IMG_7810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTn92pTJ5mB1zKCPjkwtImheNb4V8oePs2lmW5EPnkwLM80ELuB9s-SKIgRuMpLPhXZpq0LJNsE51gcV1rbOvmc0u-FZNbexEEA_XkpjvOc8NIjjeXeeCji2gs-H-MIxIodwDaBr2fBk7/s320/IMG_7810.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mullein leaves covered in frost on a cold New Years Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snow is expected tonight so tomorrow will find these fuzzy leaves covered once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mullein happily grows in poor sandy soil and can often be found alongside the road in the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a first year plant as there were no dried flowering stalks left over from the past year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is also very small as these plants and leaves can be quite large - I've seen them taller than me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valued for it's respiratory health properties, it can be harvested and dried when it is in season so it can be used when it is needed year round.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The leaves are covered in fine hairs which can be an irritant to the throat if they are used in a tea, so it needs to be strained well before drinking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Viewed as a common weed by many, it is a gift from Mother Nature to those who recognize its worth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-46802053245873004502019-01-20T18:05:00.000-05:002019-01-20T18:05:28.316-05:00Puppy Profile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Stock-Images/Nature/Animals/i-KNWQ53L/0/ab12b4e3/S/IMG_0336-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Stock-Images/Nature/Animals/i-KNWQ53L/0/ab12b4e3/S/IMG_0336-S.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got this little sweetheart of a puppy dog about a year and half ago when she was six months old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is a Yorkie-poo, a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a small Poodle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a large breed dog many years ago right after we were married, and he lived to be thirteen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has been gone for over twenty years, and I wasn't so certain I really wanted another dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the shedding, the smell, the care, and expense of a large animal wasn't something I really looked forward to at this point in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always figured cats were the way to go for a pet - they were better able to care for themselves, and a purring kitty is very calming and soothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then, I met, Mya.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's tiny - about 12 pounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has hair, not fur, so she doesn't shed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her weekly showers keep her ever so soft and oh so clean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She follows us everywhere - inside and out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going for a ride is one of her favorite things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And she is most entertaining in her playing and prancing about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those bright eyes and that wagging plume of a tail show us her love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little soul makes me laugh, and brings such joy into our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really don't know how we got along without her all these years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is such a gem, and a more perfect match for our home could not be found.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is good with this little puppy dog!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-18782730488017675312019-01-13T17:31:00.000-05:002019-01-13T17:31:38.789-05:00Frozen Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-fvDWT92/0/c1ea02fe/S/IMG_1636-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-fvDWT92/0/c1ea02fe/S/IMG_1636-S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spend a lot of time during the summer at the lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A daily swim is not unheard of for us two old timers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our winter visits to the lake are usually short and we only go a couple of times during that season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a recent visit, we were surprised to see that the usually snow covered lake was missing it's snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was solid ice and was just beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so smooth too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all the years we have been at this lake, I have never seen it in this condition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a treat, and as it was a sunny day - it just added to the enjoyment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't have my dslr with me, but my phone sure worked overtime that afternoon.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-15182816328763721602018-12-21T16:28:00.000-05:002018-12-21T16:28:39.311-05:00Winter Solstice<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-6VbHW3x/0/631a1414/S/IMG_3816-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-6VbHW3x/0/631a1414/S/IMG_3816-S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter began for us here in New England long before the Winter Solstice date on the calendar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we begin our journey to Spring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be cold and probably long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But each day we gain a bit more light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good thought to get us through the snowy freezing months ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The older we get the more daunting these months seem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the beauty and healthfulness that comes with it keeps us here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A happy and healthy holiday season is wished for all!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-28281306472155373352018-02-10T18:18:00.001-05:002018-02-10T18:18:43.032-05:00Windswept Snows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-NhkFRj7/0/b227895f/M/IMG_2566-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-1/i-NhkFRj7/0/b227895f/M/IMG_2566-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been quite some time since I have made a post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find myself using my phone camera more and more these days and I miss using my DSLR as I have in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps once the warmer weather comes back this spring things will change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, I will try to post some photos now and again.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-25280978922058943182015-09-25T10:55:00.000-04:002015-09-25T10:55:24.241-04:00Workshop Participants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently participated in a day long workshop that was run by one of the top colleges in our state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scientists, teachers, and students put together a probable scenario about the climate in our area in the year 2100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using statistics from the past 40 years, they were able to project what the climate would be in 2100, and how it would effect our land uses and water needs as the population of our state tripled in numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's just say it was not a pretty sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The water was disappearing at a rapid rate, and what was around was polluted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What few farmers there were were growing on polluted land and only the very wealthy could afford their produce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the climate - just forget it - we were dying of heat with our extended summers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We weren't getting the snow cover we do now in the winters which affected the water supply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The extreme heat affected the water supply also by evaporation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many small factors that we don't even think about were being affected too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have plentiful maple trees that supply syrup and fall foliage - both big tourist draws to our state which brings in income for many industries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those trees had all died off from the heat and the maple tree line was now well into Canada.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The run-offs from the rivers into the ocean had made the environments along the coast incapable of supporting life which affected the availability of food for us and other sea life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the list went on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole purpose of this exercise was two-fold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were considered a civilian jury and had to all come to an agreement in the end, after much deliberating, which was the most important in the year 2100 - water, climate, or land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My group chose water, with climate being right on it's heels. We just couldn't convince the last guy that we could eventually adapt to the climate, but we could not go with out water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband's group chose water also with climate second, but not as important as it was to our group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The results from all the groups will be sent to us in November.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second part of this exercise was the civilian jury format itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the first time it was used and they wanted to get the views of the community which could be used to make decisions for the towns and states.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found the whole workshop to be very interesting in all regards, and was very happy to be selected to participate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listening to other's thoughts and everyone working to come to an agreement opens the mind and makes you feel good when it's all finally resolved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would I do it again? In a heartbeat - I hope we get the chance!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-74127806077110517432015-08-10T21:30:00.001-04:002015-08-10T21:30:29.892-04:00A Different Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can remember my first photo assignment when I was in my photography class many years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were given a roll of film with 36 exposures on it, and sent out in front of the school, each with a different subject.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mine was a tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was winter, so it was bare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No leaves or buds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an overcast day, so the light was really drabby, and with the snow all around, everything looked black and white.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no idea how I was going to get 36 different photos of this tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, that was the whole object of the assignment - to open the mind and eyes to more than the obvious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Move in, back up, go under, look down, try different angles, don't forget the textures, check out the lines, patterns, shadows, and highlights, and most importantly, take a different perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a little harder these days to get the low shots - the knees and back don't contort like they used to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it still is a lot of fun to try to get the different angles and perspectives of a subject.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-14400026406659544922015-07-11T18:08:00.000-04:002015-07-11T18:09:50.312-04:00The First Chick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It happened a little over four weeks ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After sitting on her clutch of six eggs for three weeks, the first little peep hatched.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mama was very protective yet proud to show us her baby chick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next couple of days two more little ones joined the first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We candled the other three eggs, and since they didn't have any chicks, we removed them from the nest box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching these little chicks grow has been a great experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And watching Mama teach them has brought many smiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see these small chicks mimicking the larger ones is too cute - especially the dust bathes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More pics to come, for sure!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-23286820324858701892015-06-02T17:39:00.000-04:002015-06-02T17:39:21.746-04:00Phone Camera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am finding that as I get older, lugging around all my photo gear is really quite tiring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate the idea of being without my camera, and I have set aside some of the lenses to make the bag lighter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only is the weight a problem, but the thought of somebody conking me over the head and running off with my gear has also been a worry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neither my husband's or my reflexes are what they used to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the white hair does make us more a target.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the money I have invested in my gear, I really don't want it ripped off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, as an alternative, I find myself using the camera in my iPhone more and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And many of the photo agencies I contribute to will accept the images.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very easy to upload from the phone while on wifi with the various apps that are synced with my accounts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Way too cool. Way too quick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And most of all, way safer for my camera and me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many instances where only my dslr will do the job, but these phone cameras have really come a long way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I just need to find my glasses so I can see the photos on the phone screen! </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-87755022107350783122015-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:002015-05-16T10:03:40.028-04:00Brooding Hens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with the flowers and the green grass of spring, all the little animal babies are beginning to arrive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The goats were the first to bring new life to the farm, then came the brooding hens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, these ladies are not to be messed with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are very serious about sitting on their eggs, and they will put up with no nonsense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Especially from the humans around them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No sweet talking them for them and forget about touching them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The raptors from Jurassic Park are reincarnated in these hens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noise included.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the feathers on the head stand on end - that's the first warning to come no closer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The raptor noise starts, deep in the throat, if you pay no mind to that first warning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, if you have a fairly pleasant hen normally, she will not attack with a peck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She'll just keep up with the feathers and grumbling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But a more aggressive one has no problem delivering a few pecks to the hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These mama hens pluck their belly feathers, deny themselves sun light and dirt baths, and stay in the coop to keep their clutches safe and warm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They eat very little so they don't have to leave their nests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This goes on for 21 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the chicks arrive, they are a whole different hen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they are a joy to watch with their little followers scampering around the yard!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-48835035370823647322015-04-04T22:16:00.001-04:002015-04-04T22:16:13.411-04:00Baby Goats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mU5D6hyphenhyphenI1uXdgS-VqkoXIOvhIZNeyPIM_tv1BRsfUDS2IQa4E23wiIB5wjpr83btSfUeughqKBOz7Z9NP1WKvPR7Q-sHJoE7sEKQJ2TndGc2HBCqqC1kjFtDEkh6v0hQmx1GAXb_DZMx/s1600/kay32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mU5D6hyphenhyphenI1uXdgS-VqkoXIOvhIZNeyPIM_tv1BRsfUDS2IQa4E23wiIB5wjpr83btSfUeughqKBOz7Z9NP1WKvPR7Q-sHJoE7sEKQJ2TndGc2HBCqqC1kjFtDEkh6v0hQmx1GAXb_DZMx/s1600/kay32.jpg" height="282" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The little farm of my daughter's is growing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chickens and rabbits and goats have been added over the past year, and now that spring has arrived, the babies are coming too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hens are brooding on their eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rabbits are still separated at this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the goats have been the center of attention for the last few weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been a set of twin girls and two single births that were each male.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two of the mamas were first timers - as was my daughter to all of this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was nervous about it - but those mama goats handled it all themselves without any problems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The little baby goats are so cute and full of life as they hop around and play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two more ladies who will be delivering their babies next month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her little herd is increasing at just the right pace for her to handle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chickens are next to have their babies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And those little peeps will be just as cute as those baby goats!</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-88673533441554037332014-09-01T10:20:00.001-04:002014-09-01T10:20:40.893-04:00The Chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.photographybykml.com/photos/i-ZmXDSSc/2/S/i-ZmXDSSc-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographybykml.com/photos/i-ZmXDSSc/2/S/i-ZmXDSSc-S.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the end of May, the chickens that were hatched on March 1st were almost three months old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They had been kept indoors due to their small size and the cold nights that we have in northern New England.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So coming to a new home in a hay filled coop was going to be some different for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The long trip from my daughter's house didn't seem to bother them too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they took to the coop like they had always been in it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By instinct, I guess, they knew to go in to the enclosed part at night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We kept them in the coop with the built in pen for a couple of days so they could get used to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we opened the door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three of them couldn't wait to get out and explore their new surroundings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the hens was quite timid about leaving, but once out, they all stuck together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They stayed around the outside of the coop for a couple of weeks until they got braver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are now free ranging all over the yard - eating all the bugs, seeds, and greenery they want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three hens with their rooster protector.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And do they have names - but of course - all pets do!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-29001644516301796212014-08-18T23:10:00.002-04:002014-08-19T10:37:41.141-04:00The Coop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.photographybykml.com/photos/i-H6wP7fN/1/S/i-H6wP7fN-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographybykml.com/photos/i-H6wP7fN/1/S/i-H6wP7fN-S.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a while since my last post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it has been a very busy spring and summer this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The warm weather started with a construction project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, neither of us are experienced in this activity, but we used our wits and came up with a plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We needed a small chicken coop for four new life forms that were going to be joining us in a matter of weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We each drew what we thought would work, and when we compared our diagrams, we had drawn the same style of coop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was a good start - no disagreements to overcome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My main concern - it had to be strong enough to withstand the many types of wildlife that visit us regularly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want my chickens to be their meals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We built it sturdy and strong - both the coop and the attached pen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thick wood and hardware cloth instead of chicken wire will hopefully keep them safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comparing what we built with the ones available at the hardware store, I would say we did a fine job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cost was minimal as we recycled most of the parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After adding the hay, the chickens new home was ready - and just in the nick of time for their arrival!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-55256655304983803372014-05-02T20:06:00.000-04:002014-05-02T20:06:15.237-04:00Whop! Whop! Whop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.photographybykml.com/Stock-Images/Concepts/Symbols/i-NkgTb8S/1/S/workglvs-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographybykml.com/Stock-Images/Concepts/Symbols/i-NkgTb8S/1/S/workglvs-S.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each connecting swing of the hammer made the pitch change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never knew that nails had such a song as they were driven into hard wood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could tell when the swing was perfect and when it wasn't just by that song.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the smell of the wood sawdust as it fell to ground from the back of the circular saw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweet and fragrant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would have been grand to have been out there with my camera to capture these actions - and they probably would do well on the stock sites too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we are constructing a chicken coop - for my four new chickens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I want to help build it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Besides - I would have missed the song of the nails if I was paying attention to capturing the action instead of participating in it.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-60973525374415938412014-04-01T21:42:00.001-04:002014-04-01T21:42:52.191-04:00Winter Hanging On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.photographybykml.com/Nature/Nature/i-tXXWczg/2/S/lakeice-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographybykml.com/Nature/Nature/i-tXXWczg/2/S/lakeice-S.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been one of the coldest, and certainly, the longest, winters that I can remember.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I have been around for a few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have had some late season storms, but they usually came and went quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have never hung on as this winter has.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The edges of the lake are beginning to melt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The robins have been here for weeks now even though the poor things still have no grass to forage in around here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may only be a short spring - one month instead of three.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I know it will be the most appreciated one in years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Especially by two people here in New England.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-43009701632520597552014-03-15T12:33:00.000-04:002014-03-15T12:33:25.389-04:00New Old Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is always so much to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My photo website has taken a back seat for a while now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it will probably be that way for a while to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has a way of doing that - throwing one curve ball after another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have images that were processed a while ago that still need to get uploaded as well as new stuff from the past year that I haven't even had a chance to look at yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck, some of it is still on the camera needing to be uploaded to the computer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the poor camera - it hasn't been used in months - the battery was so low it wouldn't even turn on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But, when I do get a few minutes, every now and then, I will be trying to upload what I have to my website, and to several of the microstock sites that I contribute to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of it is a couple years old now - but it's all still new here.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-83885304274197447772014-02-06T12:06:00.001-05:002014-02-06T12:06:47.835-05:0043 Days Til Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The days have been getting longer - it doesn't get dark now until after 5:00.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They may be longer - but they certainly haven't been any warmer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bitter cold has made this winter seem even longer than it usually is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the big snowstorm we had yesterday, it was good to hear the news lady mention we only have 43 days left until the first day of spring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's on it's way, and I can only think it can't get here soon enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mother Nature paints a beautiful scene with her snowfalls, but they are nothing compared to the glorious spring season that she will deliver in a few weeks time.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-91954934421139034212014-01-01T13:57:00.000-05:002014-01-01T14:00:11.952-05:00Happy 2014!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoping for a Happy New Year for all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May the gift of each new day bring more joy than sorrow as we all begin another trip around the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Health, happiness, and all the best to you, my friends!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-19085993268352865502013-12-20T09:18:00.002-05:002013-12-20T09:18:31.115-05:00Another Winter for Rusty<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each winter I fear will be his last.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But with his determination and spirit, he always makes it through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rusty, our pet feral cat, came to us over 14 years, that we can figure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually I think he has been around longer than that, as I remember our pet cat chasing him out of the yard, and he has been gone for over 15 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He refuses to come in the house - the wild in him just won't allow it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But he is with us every time we step outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He follows us to get the mail, to shovel the snow, or just to walk around the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we are working outside, he will be laying beside us, keeping us company and purring all the while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He permits a pat, just barely tolerates being picked up, but when the brush comes around, he can't get enough of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has put his winter heft and thick coat of fur back on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he is still at the door every morning and evening - he is not about to miss a meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will continue our care for him as long as he wants to stay around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And from the look of him, I believe he will make it through another tough New England winter.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644411200688753286.post-54007815374392349322013-12-05T12:44:00.001-05:002013-12-05T12:44:59.002-05:00Iced Cosmos Bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.photographybykml.com/Nature/Nature/i-fMhzLnj/1/S/cosmoice-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographybykml.com/Nature/Nature/i-fMhzLnj/1/S/cosmoice-S.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The snow came before the frost did earlier this season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The delicate Cosmos blooms do not survive the frost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But a bit of wet snow didn't seem to hurt them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bending under the weight of what is left of the ice crystals, the bloom popped back up once it all fell off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A rare, beautiful sight, as the frost usually takes these flowers before the snow ever falls upon them.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0