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There's No Place Like Home

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On an early morning in 1998, after working a second shift, I went about my routine of grabbing some food and unwinding while watching some TV. Around 1am I came across a softball game on one of the ESPN platforms. As the game finished up, they announced that the championship series would be the following weekend in Durham, NC. The next morning I called a friend to see if she wanted to road trip to North Carolina for the weekend. We planned a whirlwind mini vacation and went to see the championship games. Some teams that were involved were the Orlando Wahoos, Durham Dragons and the Virginia Roadsters. At the championship game they were tossing out trading cards to the fans. I was lucky enough to snag a pack!! There was a lot of great softball being played over that weekend. I was able to watch pitchers Debbie Doom and Kaci Clark become the winning pitchers of the championship and grab their autographs. Debbie Doom on the mound during one of the games. The Orlando Wahoos warmi...
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Hope for the Holidays

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In November of 2013 I began a solo driving trek to Texas. Traveling brings me joy. Traveling with my camera even more so. This journey was a little different. Two weeks were planned with stops to visit friends and see some sights along the way. The biggest reason for the adventure was to pick up my furever friend. I would say rescue her, but really she rescued me. I won't get in to all the specifics, but the road to Texas led me to Austin (the place and my princess poochie). During my travels, I stopped to see the Biltmore and The USS Kidd. Upon arriving in Austin, I was greeted with a shy waggy tail and hugs from friends! I took a week to get acquainted with Austin before we would begin the journey to her new forever home. During that week, I was shown all the cool murals. We stopped by a place that had a lot of graffiti art. It was ever changing I was told. This was a space for many to express and to be inspired. When I visited, art was being created right i...
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Battling Reflections

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Birds are a curious creature. Observing them is a lot of fun. If you follow me here, you have seen many a post about our feathered friends. Some say when caridnals appear a loved one, who has since passed, is visiting. Caridnal's frequent the feeder in my neck of the woods. Their beautiful red makes them pop from the snowy scape in winter. While watching them move to grab food and back to the safety of the tree, I noticed some peculiar things. The males will sit on the side of the car and look in the mirror or the window. They will peck at their reflection. I hear at my bay window, tap, tap, tap. Even louder, tap. I wondered who is banging at my chamber door? Thanks to those who got the Poe reference. When I investigate, it is the cardinal banging repeatedly on the window. Tapping it's beak. Aggressively at times. I researched why... it seems that the male is protecting it's territory. Seeing the reflection, battles back. It seemed odd to me. Repeatedly to bang and ba...
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Backyard Bluebirds

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Since the last post, I have been observing the real bluebirds. Sitting in the backyard, relaxing. Sometimes with my camera and sometimes without. Letting these beautiful blue creatures become familiar with my being there. Noticing their habits so I can better capture the skiddish, fast feathered friends. I have still not been as successful as I would have hoped up to this point. They have a routine. They land in a certain tree, or on the fence and then to the ground to get their meal and fly away. They are fast. They do not come to close. The range of my lens is not quite what I need it to be to get the photo I wish. Either way, I enjoy sitting out in the backyard, observing and relaxing, as does Austin. The mission to capture the bluebirds will continue.
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Bluebrids, Swallows and Strawberries

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Bluebirds make me smile. I love the bright coloring of their feathers. Today I decided it had been way to long since having my camera out. My mission: capturing the bluebirds. We have a house they frequent. I have been keeping watch to see what times may be best to photograph. I was up early and snuck out the back door with Austin (my rescue dog of about 12 years) hoping to catch a glimmer of blue. A glimmer is about all I caught! Those cute little creatures are fast! They were going about their daily routine of feedings. One bird was hunting, while the other was patiently waiting for the food to return. When the other returned, there was a transfer of breakfast from one beak to the other. Then the process began again. They were uncertain of my presence and I, at times, got an evil eye... or maybe it was a curious one. The challenge was focusing on them. I have gleaned knowledge from other photographers to focus on an eye... easier said then done!! ...
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