House In A Bubble

I intended to take a short blogging break that has turned into over a month long absence. I went to visit my two Granddaughters for a week and then they returned to my house for two weeks and then we took them home and stayed another week. My time away was filled with Grandma duties and I had the most wonderful time. I'm still catching up on rest but thought it was time to begin sharing some of the photos I've taken the past few weeks.

The two photos above were taken as my daughter played with the girls making big bubbles.

I set out to capture the bubbles and was totally pleased with these results. The reflection you see in the bubbles is of my daughter's home. If you look closely in the first one that's me in the doorway taking the photos.

These are straight out of the camera with no cropping or extra processing. I intend to try more of these. In fact, I already bought the bubbles!

Because the house is white and fits the theme this week I'm linking up to Tara's LEM Photo Challenge and for Weekend Reflections with James and Alicia's Summer Photo Challenge (bubbles).

Edited: YEAH! I was picked as one of Tara's favorite's this week!

Thanks Tara!!!

LEM Photo Challenge: Food

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." ~ Ernestine Ulmer

(Enlarge image for mouth watering deliciousness.)

Posted for LEM Photo Challenge.

LEM Photo Challenge: Bunnies

I could not have planned this shot if I'd wanted to for today's LEM Photo Challenge which is Easter, bunnies, etc. Tuesday evening I was walking through the house and glanced out the sunroom window when I saw this little bunny nibbling on the corn we had thrown out for the doves and turkeys. I usually see one or two bunnies wonder around the property from spring into summer. I think it was quite magical that he decided to appear during Easter week and he gave me the perfect photo I needed. I thought I'd be posting marshmallow bunnies but instead I got the real thing!
Posted for Tara's LEM Photo Challenge.

LEM Photo Challenge: Spring

Spring is starting to bloom in our yard. Yesterday when Hubby went to the mailbox at the end of our long driveway he came back with a handful of daffodils. I told him I hoped he hadn't picked them all and he said we have LOTS more to bloom.
Since I shot them against a white background with not much natural light left in the gloomy day I decided to pop it up a notch by adding a texture and then erased the texture from just the center daffodil. This one is my entry for the challenge this week with the prompt of spring.

I've included this photo for the purist of you photographers out there who enjoy the original image.

For more Spring pics join Tara at Live Every Moment.

LEM Photo Challenge: 'Anything'

The theme for Tara's photo challenge over at Live Every Moment this week was 'anything.'
Mr. and Mrs. Downy Woodpecker come to dine at our back deck daily. Usually one comes and then the other. A couple of times this past week I found them both dining at the same time. Usually the Mrs. hanging around on the deck floor picking up dropped crumbs. It was a matter of waiting patiently to capture them both on the suet feeder together. Here they are enjoying each other's company for a late afternoon snack. They don't always seem to get along. Yesterday I saw the Mr. being a little 'peckie' towards his mate when she got to close to his side of the feeder. They need to be kind to each other. I want to see baby Downys!
To join in the challenge visit Tara here.
For more Camera Critters visit Misty here.

LEM Photo Challenge: Orange

This week's photo challenge over at Live Every Moment is orange. I fully expect to see lots of images of oranges in one form or another. I had oranges in my fridge and believe me it certainly crossed my mind. I had hoped to find something different and Ms. Cardinal sitting on a limb and waiting for her turn at the bird feeder gave me a perfectly natural orange to capture. Unlike her counterpart, the bright red male, her brightest feature is her orange beak. She became my orange inspiration this week.
To join in the challenge visit Tara here.

LEM Photo Challenge: Blue

The theme for Live Every Moment's Photo Challenge this week is blue. This is the backside of a glass starfish necklace that I draped over a conch shell.
Congrats to last weeks winners in the Black and White challenge and although I wasn't one of those lucky ones I'm honored to have been in the list of Tara's favorites. Thanks Bunches Tara!!!
(Posted here.)
To take part in the challenge click over and join Tara here.

Project 64: Out of the Box - Indigo

The color for this weeks's Project 64: Out of the Box was Indigo. I didn't find this color easy. Each time I thought I had it I really didn't. This is as close as I got. It is a pair of earrings I saw at the store and liked but didn't buy. A few days later when no better indigo came along I went back and got them. I wear lots of blue jeans and blues so they will work well with most everything I have. It might not be a perfect indigo but I got a new pair of earrings!
I hope you'll click and enlarge this so you can better see the edge of the crayon paper. The color there better matches my earrings!
To check out Project 64 click here.
Posting early for Midweek Blues with Rebecca.

LEM Photo Challenge: Black and White

My Hubby brought home some white tulips a couple of weeks ago. I have posted original images HERE and HERE.

I converted one of the original photos to black and white and then framed the photo with a swirly frame and added a black border.

For more Black and White goodness for today's challenge join Tara here.

LEM Photo Challenge: Valentine's

Tara at Live Every Moment hosts a weekly photo challenge. The theme for this weeks photo was Valentine's.
I set out to capture the look of a vintage valentine. I took a photo of two of my Tom Clark figures that I've collected over the years. I took them with a plain white background and then added some texture and played with the light and finally added a frame.
All in all I'm pretty pleased. I hope my friends and family who see this totally forget it. It will probably be my Valentine Card next year!
To see more participants in this challenge join Tara here.