Expectations . . .

Ahhh.  The best laid schemes of mice and men . . . yup, they certainly DO go awry.  I guess Robert Burns knew a thing or two about human nature.  I had such plans for today.  I was going to be little Miss Productive and get a lot of things crossed off the to-do list.  Can't say I got much crossed off, and know the list has grown longer!

Although I had great expectations (is this turning into a literary referencing post?) for certain things to be accomplished, there were other things I did NOT expect to accomplish (and hadn't made to the to-do list!) that were taken care of.

I expected to have adults in the public work force return e-mails and phone calls today; that didn't happen.  I expected to provide information to the schools' payroll department so that when I do sell tickets at sporting events I can get paid for them; that DID happen.  I expected that when I got on the computer to deal with e-mails and facebook, that I would be able to do so efficiently without a lot of interruptions; what the heck was I thinking - that RARELY happens!  I expected to stop at one of the MetroParks to get some pictures taken; by the time I left Mom, I had the start of a headache, so that didn't happen.  I revised the picture expectations to be able to shoot the hummingbirds in the backyard, and while I caught several of them at different times over a two hour window, they just weren't good shots for the most part.

Female goldfinch.  She let me get relatively close and take a few shots before she flew off.

I liked the reflection on top of the green tomato . . . you can see the sky as well as the leaves above the tomato.

I'm still trying to figure out the expectation thing.  I think we need to have expectations, but not be governed by them.  It's good for me to expect to take fabulous shots of the hummingbirds so that I will work toward that end; it's also good for me to not be terribly upset when the hummingbird doesn't cooperate or there's some form of user error involved.  It's good to expect that most people will do the right thing in a given situation; it's probably wiser to accept that many will disappoint.

Shall I expect to have more realistic expectations?  I don't think so.  If I lower the expectations, especially for myself, why would I want to improve?  There are a lot of shots I've shared with you all that I'm not thrilled with, but I'm proud of my improvement in getting a better shot.

Photography, just like much in life, is a skill that takes much practice, patience, and sometimes chance.  The ability to be the best from day one is a rare talent in any field; most who rise to any level of critical acclaim will tell you of the need for discipline and practice.  That works for every aspect of life, from being the best garbage collector or CEO, or becoming the next Mother Teresa.

Lovin' Bloom

Yes, the title is intentionally grammatically incorrect.  It's also a bit of a pun.  In my little world (which you are now visiting), a pun trumps grammatical incorrectness.  Usually we hear the phrase "Love in bloom."  Well, I'm loving the blooms in my backyard (and what that brings along with it), so if I figure my love is in bloom for the blooms . . . and lovin' bloom is much more poetical than bloomin' love!

Yes, you will be subjected to some photos from the good ol' SW Ohio backyard.  Actually, I poached a couple of shots into a neighbor's yard.  They have enough bird feeders that I would bet they go through 40 lbs. of bird feed at least every other day.  They also have squirrel feeders, and are the same neighbors that feed the feral cats (and for you newer readers, they also trap new feral cats, have them neutered/spayed, and checked by the vet before releasing them).

It's been a muggy day, raining off and on, or threatening to at times.  It's been cooler than normal, which is a welcome relief, and the rain is desperately needed.  I figured my best opportunity to photograph much of anything in any form of comfort would be to hit the back yard again.  I wasn't disappointed.

I didn't realize how hardy verbena was or I might have planted some before this year!  I love the color, and it's handling the dry summer very well.  If only it were a perennial.

I don't have a clue what this is, but it has popped up next to the clothesline post with the trumpet vine vining around it.  Since I've had several suet feeders hanging nearby, I'm assuming it's a volunteer plant from one of the seeds from one of the suets.  Heaven only knows which one!

I'm more in love with the mandevilla than I am the verbena.  Part of that might be that it's a perennial, but it's also offset by the fact that it probably won't make it through the winter unless I dig it up and bring it inside in a pot.

I love the look of this piece of clematis that had died.  It has an ethereal quality to it.

I am anxiously awaiting the blooming of this daisy plant.  It's growing like crazy, but I haven't seen the first bloom on it yet this summer.  I don't remember if it's a late summer bloomer, but I'm hoping that's the reason for no blooms as of yet!

This is the pic where I "poached" my neighbor's yard.  Can you blame me?  How gorgeous are these birds??

I know this has to be a weed, but I found it absolutely fascinating!  Once again, it was a situation where I didn't see half of the detail when I took the shot, and was thrilled to see it "up close" on the computer.

And I waited outside again for one of the hummingbirds.  I guess if I want to catch a photo of the mature male hummingbird, I'll need to be out there around 11:00 a.m.  That seems to be when he likes to show up.  And I know it's a male because of the bright red gorget . . . it's a good thing that I've been inside when I've seen him because I have a tendency to gasp at how brilliant his colors are!

This is what the sky has looked like an awful lot today.  Either this, or bright sun.

I'm assuming this is one of the goldfinches preening, but it just looked so odd from where I was standing that I had to get a shot.

I think the hummingbirds are getting used to hearing the shutter on the camera - they don't fly off when they hear it, but they do stop feeding and sometimes hover instead of perching.  I'll just have to make sure I'm out at their feeding times to get them adjusted to hearing it.

I'm enjoying the challenge (and discipline required) of getting shots of the hummingbirds.  I haven't had to wait very long for one to show up (I try to be outside at least 10 minutes before the time they showed up yesterday, if that makes sense!) but I really have to remember to use the bug repellent!  I'm also going to have to get the camp chair out of the trunk of the car because it would be nicer to be at least a little more comfortable while waiting for them to arrive.

It's more than a bit ironic that I'll wait an hour or so to try to take a picture of a hummingbird, but can't stand it when I'm stuck behind someone driving under the speed limit, or someone who doesn't have their act together in the checkout lane at the store.  Hmmm . . .

And since you've made it this far, I'll give you another chance to enter the raffle for my 100th post.
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Sweet Success

Although it doesn't appear that ANYONE is interested in my little raffle (I get to keep the Duck Tape!!  I win!!!!), today has been pretty much filled with sweet success!

I had a phone call this morning that started the day off nicely - scheduling a job interview for tomorrow afternoon!  I had interviewed at the company before, but they decided on another applicant; they told me they'd keep my resume' on file, yadda yadda.  I must have made a good impression on the HR person because she's the one who called me now that they have another opening.  Yeah!!!!

After visiting Mom and working on a jigsaw puzzle with her for almost an hour (it's been a while since I've seen her interested in that), I had just enough time to type up minutes from a class reunion planning meeting and get them sent out before meeting friends for dinner at Milano's.

When I got home, I had time to sit out back with the camera watching for the hummingbirds to visit.  That turned into having time to stand out back because they didn't like where I was sitting (any slight movement and they would fly off).  But, I finally got to see some of the goldfinches (and caught them digitally) and listen to them serenade me as well.

I did see several goldfinches (both male and female), just about the time I was beginning to think I wasn't going to see many this year!  This has been a sparse viewing year on the goldfinches, so I was thrilled to be seeing them.

I'm still trying to get a good angle to show what I'm trying to do with the trumpet vine behind this bench (above).  It's a little hard to see the clothes line, but it gives a better idea of how far back the trumpet vine is from the clothesline.  I'm starting to look for a trellis so I can get rid of that blue rope (but it's working for now).

The shots above and below give a better idea of just how far the vines have to grow to reach the clothesline.  BUT, now that they've made it that far, I'm thinking the trellis will be sturdier, and hopefully add a little visual interest.

Still a work in progress . . . I'm hoping that next year the butterfly bushes will really take off as well as the trumpet vine creating the "bower" at the clothesline.  It would be nice if another volunteer trumpet vine would appear at the other clothesline post, but I may have to relocate one if it doesn't.  I really like the look of the one vining around the post.

I was DETERMINED to catch a shot or two of a hummingbird tonight.  I have seen several different times throughout the day when I've been at the kitchen sink, but those would have been crappy pictures, and if I'd grabbed the camera and run outside, it would have scared them away.  So, keeping an eye on the time and trying to remember some of the times I'd seen one at the feeders, I was ready to be outside for an hour to catch a shot.

I was thrilled when I was able to catch these shots, especially since I only had to wait about 25-30 minutes.

One of my favorite songs from teenage years is by Seals and Crofts:

Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.  Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.
In you I've found a fragrance.  I'll love you 'til I die.
I just love you, love you, love you.  I don't even know the reason why.
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.  Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.
The sweetness of your nectar has drawn me like a fly.
I just love you, love you, love you.  I don't even know the reason why.  Now,
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. Hummingbird don't fly away fly away.

I love to watch the hummingbirds, and feel honored to have them coming to the feeders regularly.

What a great way to start the week.  So much sweet success (and on a Monday, no less).  It's gonna be a FABULOUS August!

Fun Campus Pics

Well, I am totally and completely blown away at the number of people who read my late Sunday evening post.  I'm glad, because it was much harder to write than I anticipated.  Actually, the writing was pretty easy - the editing of it was the tough part.  What to leave in, what to take out . . . agonizing decisions!

I'm not into agony, so I'm gonna have a little fun with today's post!  I'm using more pics from my trip to C2A2/Con-U today; some are nature shots, some artsy fartsy shots, and some because the subject made me laugh.

Spotted this sunny little flower on my Friday evening trek . . . I like how it seems to be floating in mid-air.

Apparently honeysuckle is invading everywhere!

I've only seen a few goldfinches in my backyard, so it was nice to have a chance to catch one with the camera.

I watched this bee on the thistle for a couple of minutes.  He must have been shy 'cause he wouldn't let me get different angles of him . . .

Loved the detail in the shadow on this one.

From this angle, it looks like the chapel spire is growing out of the trees; I don't remember seeing pics from this angle before . . . remember being the key word.

There were 3 pieces of wood like this grouped together.  They reminded me of the sun-bleached skulls/antlers depicted from the western deserts.

Pine cones already?  It isn't even technically summer and they're out!

The way these bins were lined up so precisely made me think of soldiers in formation (or robots in formation); I also like the way their shadows cross the painted lines on the asphalt.

Is it just me, or does it seem that this pine cone is floating?

 I liked the way this turned out; it's where the water from a fountain is hitting the water . . .

Does anyone else see a person's face on the left??  I didn't when I took the pic; I took it because of the curves and angles and the green against the blue . . .

I don't believe the intent of the artist was to frame the fire hydrant with the sculpture, but when I saw this, I HAD to get a shot of it.

I liked the reflection of the spire . . .

And one of the lilies blooming around the chapel.

Today, it's about enjoying what we see, and being thankful for the different types of beauty to be found when we look for it.

Cox Arboretum

Yesterday's visit to Wegerzyn Gardens whetted my appetite for nature photography, so today I hit another of our metro parks - Cox Arboretum.  Our family has lived in this area for more years than I care to admit, but today was the first time I visited Cox.  I can guarantee I will be back.


I'm anxious for the butterfly house to open so I can get pictures there, but I ambled along for about an hour today, and am VERY happy with the variety of flora and fauna I caught, as well as some of the more artistic shots.  It was another 200+ shots that I'm trying to pare down to about 15 to share.

I think it's fun to see the turtles sunning themselves.  It's certainly a good indicator of a warm and sunny day!

There was a little girl who drew my attention to the chipmunk . . . I got quite a few different shots of him, but I like this one of him eating in his little leaf covered cabana.

It was a great day for getting the mirror image reflections off of the water.  The symmetry was amazing.

I thought this piece of wood was an interesting shape; it was certainly hard to ignore!

I don't know what this plant is, but when I first glanced at some of the blooms, I thought they were spiders!  Glad to realize they weren't.  Not a spider fan, unless we're talking about Spiderman.

My first goldfinch sighting of the season!  They were having some fun playing in the water, but were pretty shy.

This shot of the bridge's reflection reminds me of a Monet painting.  I'm seriously considering having it printed onto canvas and hang it upside down (so the bridge is right side up).

I loved the colors, as well as the mirror image here.

A different view of the bridge; from this angle the arch looks much higher than it does from the side.

Just a couple of turtles hanging out on a rock in the middle of the pond.  Too bad they had to climb over each other for lack of space . . .   :-D

I'm not sure what the food was (probably bread), but this guy definitely found it, and was not planning to share it!

An unusual shot, but I liked the reflection of the duck's head and bill with the back of the body and foot . . . a different perspective.  I was trying to get as close as possible to better capture the texture of the feathers.


I was really hoping to catch sight of Zipp.  He's a working border collie they use to keep the Canada Geese under control; since they started working him, the sidewalks are less hazardous, and definitely less slippery!


I've been to two different metro parks in as many days.  There are only 16 more for me to visit!  Then there's also Charleston Falls in Miami County . . . I'm going to be getting a LOT of photography practice in.  I must give the weather its due for helping make getting the shots so much easier today.  A bright sunny day seems to make it a snap (no pun intended) for some of these types of shots.  It also helps that I hadn't been here before, and was probably a little more alert and observant.  Gotta keep these eyeballs peeled for all different kinds of beauty around me!


Since I didn't subject you to all 247 photos, you couldn't know that I seemed to be taking a lot of pictures with the mirror image reflections.  I haven't been able to catch many of those type of pictures so they turn out looking as good as these do, but I think my brain was telling me something, too.  


Our lives reflect who we are, what we believe, and what's important to us.  What image am I reflecting?  I hope tomorrow's reflection is better than today's, as I continue working toward a sharply focused mirror image of my Creator.