I'm sure a lot of you have noticed that it is winter time,
and to some that must seem like an understatement.
I hear news stories about large amounts of snow and rain
happening around the world,
as I sit in my own quiet corner
while surrounded by sunshine,
and I find it hard to believe.
Oh, sure, we have had some foggy mornings
and we do light up our stoves
as the late afternoon shadows settle in,
but through it all,
the sun perseveres with tenacity.
We are in a severe drought here
and while we did have some rain a few weeks back,
it certainly wasn't enough to satisfy.
The calender says it is winter
but our eyes tell us differently.
Things are not as they seem.
Our gardens know it is time to take a well earned rest,
and shut down the beauty they are known for.
But, much like the reason a lady applies make-up
before leaving her house,
the gardens are unable to hide their drabness
with a blanket of pristine snow.
This is winter,
but not in it's true sense.
Not as it should be.
Two of the dearest friends,
showed us some amazing photographs this past week.
June held back some beautiful and colorful flowers
from her summer garden
so that she might share and brighten these winter days now,
and Barbara showed the amazing effects
of her black and white photography.
Thanks to these two wonderful and talented ladies,
my inspiration for this post
is to take a small bit from each of them
and turn it into something a little different
that I hope you will enjoy.
A seed pod from a bright orange Chinese Lantern
These are a few shots of some of my summer photography
that I have taken a small step beyond
black and white.
I have changed each photograph
to the point where they resemble an oil painting,
in some instances,
or pen and ink sketches
in others,
with the help of Picasa.
These are strictly my interpretations
and I am making no claims
that I'm a photographer
with skills!
Tulips in a spring shower
A seed pod from milk weed.
"Some see this as a weed,
some see it as a wish."
Author Unknown
Our sweet Maggie
Sampling the last of summer's goodness
I learned the name 'pincushion' flower from my grandmother
A rose
by any other
name
would smell as sweet
A white heron walking on tippy toes
An unfurling fern frond..say that three times fast
No rain, just sun
A plate sized hibiscus
On golden pond
A beautiful lily from a special birthday bouquet
A sign of a past springtime
Sister and Brother
Tami's twin cats
Could be Sister, could be Brother
Your guess is as good as mine
A fallen leaf with long ago rain drops
A sunny California poppy
A summer visitor, resting awhile
One of my summer favorites
And another
Vinca, but I have always called it myrtle
A very clever ballerina
Bleeding Heart
June Bug, above
Our two adopted kitties
Lucy, below
Is she a movie star or what?
And last but not least,
our beloved Buddy
with something
you never saw him without...
Floppy jowls
and a dripping nose!
Turning your photographs into black and white images will amaze you.
You will see bits and pieces of the subjects
that you will never notice in its colorful state,
a true meaning of
things not being as they seem.
Thank you June and Barbara.
These two women have the most beautiful blogs
and their great talents show through in everything they do.
I can only hope that a small amount
could rub off
on me.
...Judy...
Jake and his sidekick, Cooper
Gone fishin'
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