ABC Wednesday - X is for Xanthophyll

X is for Xanthophyll............







Looking at this photo - I bet you think I got my weeks mixed up - this is Y for yellow, not X.

But that is precisely what this post is all about.

The substance that makes that gorgeous yellow color in the autumn leaves is called xanthophyll.

And there is plenty of it in this autumn leaf.

No trickery this week, my friends, but I must say, finding these words for these letters is getting tricky!





This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas







Another Holiday season has arrived, and I am sending holiday greetings to all my friends.

Hope this time is a special one filled with love and joy.

Be safe in your travels and enjoy this beautiful time of the year!

ABC Wednesday - W is for White

W is for White............







I found this white mushroom at the lake this past fall.

We had been going there every day, and this guy just appeared overnight.

There were quite a few that had grown in that short time around the sandy area.

Within three days time, they had turned all black and were beginning to deteriorate.

Such a quick lifetime for them - glad I had my camera that first day!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

View Under the Tree

View Under the Tree







In my last post I showed the view from the end of the pier.

This is the view of the pier from under a lone tree on the edge of the shore.

We were there on a gorgeous fall day, I can just imagine what this view is like when there is a storm.

The water must crash over the top - what a sight it must be!

ABC Wednesday - V is for View

V is for View............







We had seen this long pier from across the harbor on the other side of the river.

You could tell it was long, but in the distance it looked really small.

We were on the New Hampshire side when we first saw it, and the actual pier was on the Maine side of the harbor.

The next time we visited the ocean, that pier was where we headed.

It was gorgeous fall day and we found it was part of a fort in a big park.

We walked over 5 miles that day - and it was worth every step!

This photo was taken at the very end of the dock, looking back towards the land.

More photos to come!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Underwater Case and Camera - My World

Underwater Case and Camera - My World






In my last post, I showed a point and shoot camera in a case under the water.

It was pretty hard to tell what it actually was in the photo, so here is what it looks like out of the water.

It's just a little tiny one - an older one that I picked up online.

The plastic case is perfectly designed just for it, and it is quite water tight - I tested it out in the sink before I put the camera in it.

The brand has been removed so I can use this photo as a stock image.

It is a Canon and so is the case.

ABC Wednesday - U is for Underwater

U is for Underwater............







It is hard to recognize what this image is, but it is my camera.

I have a small pocket digital camera that has a waterproof plastic case that is made for going underwater.

It is really cool - all of the buttons on the case line up with the camera, so it is still completely usable.

It says the case is made to go to 10 meters in depth - and that more than covers anywhere I will be going with it.

I have seen too many interesting things while swimming, and with this little guy by my side, I can capture them.

I checked on one for my DSLR, but it costs almost as much as the camera itself.

I will stick with this one and enjoy it just as much!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Birds on a Wire - My World

Birds on a Wire - My World






Okay, I know these few birds are not very impressive, but I wish I had brought my camera with me on a trip to town this past weekend.

There are a bunch of power lines that span the river, and there are usually a good number of birds on them during a certain time of the day.

But I had never seen anything like what was on there last time.

All the lines were loaded, and they were all packed close together.

That would have been a terrific photo.

I am hoping they weren't just passing through and taking a break, as I will be on the lookout for them again.

Hopefully I can snag a photo - it was a sight to see!

She is Still Here

She is Still Here







I have posted about this Muscovy Duck several times over the past couple of months.

We went down to the lake earlier this week, and were very happy to see that she wasn't there.

The lady who lives across the street from the lake had also commented that she hadn't seen her in a couple of days.

We were all quite pleased that she had moved on.

We stopped by yesterday after a couple of errands, and wouldn't you know, there she was with the two Mallard Ducks that had been staying with her the last couple of weeks.

I saw some ice forming on the other side of the lake, and I hope they move on before it gets to this side.

Time will tell.

ABC Wednesday - T is for Thunderclouds

T is for Thunderclouds............







When you see these thunderclouds beginning to form in the summertime, you had better take heed.

These ones were not very tall - sometimes these things can get really high!

All fluffy and white on the top and dark and brooding on the bottom.

Then the really dark ones start forming under these ones, and that's when you know you had better get inside.

They are so beautiful though, as they usually come towards the late afternoon/early evening, and the sun is angled in the sky to give them the most gorgeous light.

The biggest and prettiest one I have ever seen was just a couple of days before these ones, and wouldn't you know, I didn't have my camera.

And I usually never leave home with out it - figures!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving







Wishing all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for each one of your visits and hope you enjoy this day with those you love!

Be safe in your travels, and take care, my Friends.

ABC Wednesday - S is for Stickbug

S is for Stickbug............







When I saw this bug, all I could say - they really are real!

You see, I admit that I am a farmville player on facebook.

And a part of the game has the player accumulating "collectibles", and a Stickbug is one of the items.

I didn't think they were real in the game - after all it is a make believe farm that has some made-up trees and animals.

Well, I found two of them that day - one all bent up on a glass door, and this one, all stretched out on a wall.

His two front legs look to be an extension of his body as he has them out straight.

These guys are a pretty good size - at least six inches long.

I was amazed to find them that day - on a government building no less.

And they really are real!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Deer Print - My World

Deer Print - My World






We have been spending quite a bit of time in the woods these last few weeks.

My husband has been hunting for that elusive buck that lives on top of the mountain that we like to hike.

I have been hunting for anything that catches my eye - a tree, view, animal - just about anything works for me.

The above image is a foot print of a deer - I was the lucky one that day.

I usually am though, and that's the way I like it - much to the disappointment of my husband!

ABC Wednesday - R is for Radish

R is for Radish............







They don't look it, but the radish in this bowl is cut into very tiny pieces.

I am not a big fan of this vegetable, but it's pungent taste is needed in some dishes.

So, I figure the smaller they are, the less shock they give to the eater.

I mainly use them in potato salad, and their pretty red color looks really good against the yellow of the egg yolk in the salad.

I really can't stand the potato salad either - but my family has given mine rave reviews for many years.

I'll stick to the green salads - they can have those eggs and potatoes all to themselves!








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Texture Image - My World

Texture Image - My World






I take a lot of images to sell as stock photos, and many designers like images that they can use as backgrounds.

So sometimes zooming in on ordinary things can give a unique image.

This can be used as a texture or background image - can you guess what it might be?

I have received questions in the past from curious readers, so I will let you all know.

This is a men's leather wallet.

By zooming in on the unique pattern in the leather, it made for a cool abstract photo.

Macros are my favorites!

Indian Summer

Indian Summer







The green grass of summer has been gone for months now.

The bright autumn colors have turned to dull brown.

The hard frost arrived a couple of weeks ago.

The scene has been set, and Mother Nature has delivered as she always does at this time each year.

The gift of Indian Summer.

The last motorcycle ride before all gets tucked away for winter.

The joyous feel of the sun's warm rays on bare skin.

We'll take as many of these gorgeous days as she wants to give us!

ABC Wednesday - Q is for Quack

Q is for Quack............







Back a couple of weeks, when we were on letter "O", I asked for help in identifying a duck that had been around the lake for a couple of weeks.

Jean, over at The Joy of Bird Watching and Living a Simple Life left a comment to let me know that it was a Muscovy Duck. Many thanks, Jean!

Well, two weeks later, she is still hanging around.

Today she had a pair of Mallard ducks with her, and they all seemed to get along pretty well.

Sad to say though, this is the second pair of mallards that we have seen with her.

We were hoping when the first set was there a week and a half ago, that when they left, she would go with them.

This is a new set, and we have the same hope this time.

The Mallards are smaller than her, and they are constantly quacking to each other in a low voice as they glide across the water.

I have never heard the Muscovy quack, but I am sure she must.

Perhaps being alone, she has no one to talk to.

My fingers are crossed that her new friends "talk" her into going with them when they head out for their winter home.








This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Photos to Art

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Art.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I have had my website for almost four years now, and I was so excited when I first set it up.

There were so many ways I could sell my photos - I could present and sell my art work in many different forms - all online.

But I had to have the website to do that.

These days, anyone can transform their images into beautiful works of art, and they do not need a website of their own to do that.

Art.com has a new product available called photos {to} art, that allows anyone to create beautiful works of art with digital photo files.

These images make great gifts and they are very easy to get set up and customized for a unique finished piece that is created by you.

The company uses high quality photographic paper that lasts up to 100 years or more.

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And the best part about all of this is the prices - their costs run 20-40% less than other sites that offer these services.

This is a great product for those who are looking to have their family portraits, pet photos, or vacations memories turned into beautiful art work to hang on the wall or give as gifts.

Even the casual artist would find this service a valuable tool!

 

Balloon Glow - My World

Balloon Glow - My World






This image was taken during the summer during a hot night in August.

There is a small park in a small town about 45 minutes from our house, and this attraction draws big crowds from many states.

The balloon festival lasts for a weekend, and weather permitting, the hot air balloons take off at 6 AM and 6PM over those days.

This was the first time I had seen the Balloon Glow, and it was just grand.

There were tons of people everywhere and my husband stood guard over the tripod so it didn't get knocked over by the hundreds of passers-by in the dark.

Some of the more rude ones actually stood right in front of my camera.

I was quite lucky to get some decent shots of these beauties!

ABC Wednesday - P is for Prickly

P is for Prickly............







It appears to be quite a prickly plant.

But upon closer inspection, each one of those "spikes" is really the center of a tiny flower.

This little ball has tons of these tiny flowers - all with their centers much longer than the bloom.

And they are quite soft, not hard or hurtful at all.

I found this plant beside the lake this past summer.

Even though it was right at waist level as one walked in the water - no one bothered it.

Perhaps it's "prickly" appearance saves it from the curious little ones who spend much time beside it.

I don't know what kind of flower it is, but I was quite intrigued nonetheless.







This is the seventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Orange Salamander - My World

Orange Salamander - My World






Technically, this isn't the greatest shot.

I found this little guy - who is about 2 inches long, under the leaves of my hosta plant this past summer.

It was so hot outside, and it was evening, so there was no light under those big leaves.

I was just getting ready to water the garden, and I saw him between the leaves.

My husband held a light and I got down as close as I could and snapped a few shots.

I didn't notice until I was working on the images, there are two slugs right next to him.

I don't think he was going to eat them - they are way bigger than him, but I had to laugh that I didn't see them at the time.

He kept moving, and I just wanted to get a decent enough photo of him.

I love to see these little salamanders in the garden - I know they are helping to keep the bug population down.

The more the merrier!

Crow Watching a Rainbow

Crow Watching a Rainbow







In a previous post, I had mentioned there was another viewer admiring the rainbow as we were during a summer storm.

He is hard to see - my lens would only zoom in so close, and one reader, Kay in Alberta, mentioned she thought she could see a bird on the right.

She is correct - a crow was sitting at the very top of a tree in the pouring rain.

He seemed to be admiring the view - I wonder what was running through his mind - if they saw things the same way we do.

He must have enjoyed it though because it was raining really hard, and he was the only one we could see that was getting soaked.

Thank you all for stopping by and commenting on my previous posts - it is appreciated!