Every Year

Every year we get these boxelder bugs, because we have boxelder trees that attract them, but this year there seems to be bumper crop. Adult boxelder bugs are around 1/2 inch long and black with orange markings or black with red markings. The red ones you see in the pictures are the nymphs or young bugs that have not reached maturity.



These bugs do not bite, they are primarily a nuisance. In mid July the move to female seed bearing boxelder trees and lay eggs on the trunks, branches and leaves. During late summer to early fall they leave the tree and try to find protected areas for the winter. That's when I have a problem with them. I DON'T want them in my house.



There are two trees like this in my yard. That's a whole lotta bugs lookin for somewhere to winter over. Do you have any ideas on how to keep them outside where they belong?

365/31 Rendezvous with the Groundhog

Okay, tomorrow is the big day......

What's it going to be?

Well you know my favorite thing in the world is sticking my whole head in a snowbank.
And I love to rub my face in the snow to cool off.
And I can play frisbee forever without getting to hot.

But the snow in the back yard is getting pretty deep and now it's over Mom's boots and she's not likin that very much.
And I heard her say that she's gonna get a rope and tie me to it and throw it out the back door instead of taking me out.
Guess that would mean no more frisbee.

Could ya?

Would ya take a bribe?

Thanks! Let's seal it with a kiss.
Until next year, Friend.

365/22 Ladybug House

This is my ladybug house out by my garden. Talk about Home Makeover, here's natures version of it. These birds decided is would make a great home for them, so they took over. What do you think of their renovations?

I know what you're thinking. You didn't just take this picture. Nope this was last summer. I'm under the weather, so I'm cheating a bit on the 365 pictures. The Day Care kiddos gave me their bug..and boy am I feeling low. Going to the dr's tomorrow. I have the weekend to recover, then it's back in the trenches. Just kidding, I absolutely love all my time working with the little people.

365/5 Bobcat

Not everyone can leave their desk at work and in a matter of minutes have the opportunity to photograph a bobcat. Today was a sunny, but cold day and the path to Taz's cage was a bit icy; but I wanted my picture for 365, so I persevered. If you'd like to see this cat up close and personal come to the Nature Center in Howell and visit him in person. Howell Nature Center's web page is here http://www.howellnaturecenter.org/

In My Own Backyard!

Okay, getting close enough to photograph twin fawns may be an easy task where I work (at a nature center), but this is in my own backyard. These fawns have not been hand raised, nor should they be used to humans.

How'd I do it? Patience is a virtue! I started right by the house, snapping a picture-taking a step; snapping a picture-taking a step. I managed to get pretty close before they stood up and starting heading towards the wooded swampy area (due to all the rain we've had).

Although, I get plenty of opportunity to see deer in our area, these two little guys/girls were so darn cute I had to try to get a picture. It took me forever to post them because, I wanted to try out some features of Photo Shop Elements 6 on them, but just don't have the time right now, so finally decided to post them as is.

Assignment #3 - Better Composition

#1 - Rule of Thirds

Images shouldn't be smack dab in the middle, but located along the lines of thirds.




#2 - No background clutter.

My dog, a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier named Elora Danan

#3 - Viewpoint

Sydney looking for the Nutties. That is "squirrels", for all of you who don't know Sydney.

#4 - Fill the Frame

Carson kissing Lilly. He was a fast kisser, I had to be faster.

# 5 - Lines

I found it difficult to choose between two pictures, so posted them both. However, I lost the second photo during an edit . Ugh! I long for the day this all will be easy for me.

#6 - Details

I call this one the floating cat head and then just to show you that Maggie does have a body and how cute she is, the whole body shot.

#7 - Know the Subject.

My great niece, Lillian. Is there anything more precious than a sleepy, suck-a-thumb baby?

#8 - Break the Rules

Although this picture breaks the rules regarding cutting people off at the joints, other ways of cropping seemed to lose something that this pictures has. It's slightly blurry, someday I'll invest in a tripod.

Assigmnet #2 - White Balance

Assignment #2 - Understanding White Balance

This was also a two-part assignment. Take photos at different times of the day of the same subject with the same setting, to see how the light effects your photographs. I must admit I skipped this part of the assignment due to my working schedule, rainy days and a safe place to set up my camera. I did however, view fellow photographers pictures they submitted and saw that some had little differences and others a huge difference; I assume due to weather patterns in their area.

Part two was take a picture using a white balance setting that you feel is right for the type of lighting you are shooting in.

This is a pair of cranes in a neighboring farmer's field taken on an early, foggy morning. I tried more than one setting, but this is the one I liked the best.