Like Spring, in the Middle of January

We can't complain about the spring like weather we've had the past few days - like winter forgot to show up this year.

No worries, it will be back tomorrow night - a blast of cold and snow is on its way.

We took advantage of the perfect weather, clear skies, longer days with a visit to the stable.

As a bonus, friend Jordan and her mom groomed Caesar before we arrived, so all Erica needed to do was saddle him up and the girls were ready for their first trail ride of 2012.

The sun was going down, so they timed things just right.




I was concerned it would be too dark when they finished, but I didn't care when I saw the scene in front of me as they walked back to the stable.





A perfect ending to the day.

Linked to Communal Global.

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Another Sunrise and Sunset

But not the typical prairie sunrise and sunset.



Not the best capture, but given the circumstances (leaning from the center seat, across my teenage daughter's "space", trying to manually focus because the camera was emitting little bursts of light to grab something to focus on, dealing with my daughter's complaints about the light and my being in her space), it turned out OK.



We're not on the prairie tonight.

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Tulips, Hipstamatic and Instagram Apps

Last Thursday, Melody, who hosts Team Up Thursday asked the question of how to stay inspired during these winter months.

I replied that I buy myself flowers that I love and I photograph them.

That response prompted me to buy a small bouquet of tulips on Sunday. They were relatively cheap ($5 for the 8 stems) and so far have brought me joy. [Even my daughter remarked about how pretty they were]

Yes, I have photos on the big camera, but today I'm posting some photos I took with my iPhone.

Taken with the Hipstamatic App, sporting the John S "lens" and Kodot "film", a favorite combination of mine:

I love this app - so many cool effects and vintage looks.

The Instagram App is another one of my favorites, which allows you to add effects after the picture is taken:

The best thing about this app - it's free!

I guess another way to stay inspired is to use these fun apps!
I hope you find some fun inspiration today!

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SOOC Saturday - Row Of Trees

Taken yesterday, a lovely day.

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I Heart Faces Challenge - Silhouette

When I read that this week's I Heart Faces Photography Challenge was Silhouette, I knew which picture I would post:



Taken during a spell of warm weather in September. My son couldn't resist the sprinkler that evening.

There's still time to enter your Silhouette picture at I Heart Faces.

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The Trees are Bare

Some spooky trees for your Halloween Morning.

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SOOC Saturday - The Via dell'Amore of the Cinque Terre

Or the Lover's Walk.

The easiest walking trail in the Cinque Terre takes you between the southernmost village, Riomaggiore, to its sister village of Manarola. Most visitors to the Cinque Terre National Park start in Riomaggiore and as a result, it is the most crowded and most traveled.

Along the walk, locks and graffiti adorn the fence line, even the rocks. Couples write their initials on the locks, along with a date (maybe an anniversary, maybe the current date), in order to represent "locking" their love forever.



The graffiti is mainly the "Lovers 4ever" type, in all languages. While I understand the sentiment, I didn't quite appreciate the defacing of this naturally beautiful coastline.

Lastly, the famous "Lover's Chair". A lovely piece of artwork, again covered with graffiti, so I was glad the sun light allowed me to capture a simple silhouette of the famous chair that so many clamor to sit on (with their lover, of course).

It was a easy start to our day hiking between all of the villages of the Cinque Terre.

Today's photos are SOOC (Straight out of the Camera). I'm still working through my collection from Italy, and will take every good SOOC shot I can!

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Out for an Evening Stroll

I don't like dandelions, but love those globes of white. As long as they stay far away from my yard....

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Best Shot Monday - Longer Days

I haven't posted a Best Shot Monday in a long time, and I really liked this picture I took last week when the weather shot up to summer temperatures. A reminder why we like this time of year.



Hope you are enjoying the longer days, too.

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Black Crow Resting

This one brought the lyrics to Diana Krall's Black Crow to my mind.



Artist - Diana Krall
Album - The Girl In the Other Room, 2004

There's a crow flying
Black & ragged
Tree to tree
He's black as the highway that's leading me
Now he's diving down
To pick up on something shiny
I feel like that black crow
Flying
In a blue sky

I took the ferry to the highway
Then I drove to a pontoon plane
I took a plane to a taxi
And a taxi to a train
I've been traveling so long
How'm I ever gonna know my home
When I see it again
I'm like a black crow flying
In a blue blue sky

In search of love & music
My whole life has been
Illumination
Corruption
And diving diving diving diving
Diving down to pick up on every shiny thing
Just like that black crow flying
In a blue sky

I looked at the morning
After being up all night
I looked at my haggard face in the bathroom light
I looked out the window
And I I saw that ragged soul take flight
I saw a back crow flying
In a blue sky

Oh I'm like a black crow flying
In a blue sky

One interesting tidbit about this album - I bought it along with my D70, back in April, 2004. Little did I know then how much I would come to love photography over the next six years.

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