Window on Cherry Pie Lane

Monday, June 1- It actually feels like summer and looks like it too with wildflowers growing and leaves coming on the trees. A few of the lilacs survived that late frost. I must get down there to take a few shots of them.  This is the Calla Lily that I bought a while back to do photos for my class. I had to do a water/dew shot for one of my assignments and this is what I submitted. I discovered these dewdrops on the tip of one of the lily flowers one morning and by the next morning they had converged into one big drop. I used incandescent lighting and reflector for the double drop shot and natural window light and reflector for the single. That is why the color difference. 

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Sunday, May 31 – Wow, the last day of May is already here. It is really feeling like it might actually be summer finally. We had 85 degrees yesterday and it is already 80 here at 11 on Saturday. Tonight is the dinner at the McLaughlin Center that Nick is the guest chef for. We are going with Carl and Roberta.  I started AI’ing the heifers today (artificial insemination). So that will keep me busy for the next couple of weeks. We are going to calve later next year to try to avoid the cold weather. I think there will be a visit to the cabin tomorrow if Walter finishes spraying the crops today. The photos that I am putting up today  are HIgh Key photos. That means that they are deliberately shot overexposed +2 or +3. They need to be flowers with lots of contrast  and the idea is to create a light, uplifting mood. I don’t know how uplifting these are.  I am such a black background person that this was really something daring for me. That poppy plant that I bought has really been a good model.

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Saturday, May 30 – I shot these of Emma with one of her pet caterpillers she caught at our cabin. She picked wildflowers so that he/she would feel at home. What a kid!!! More flowers to come tomorrow. I am finishing up my final assignment for my flowers class. I did some monet and zooming shots this morning of the wild sunflowers out in the pasture.  Something totally out of my comfort zone.

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Friday, May 29 – Another dewy rose shot with a bit of help from my spritzer bottle. I would do some of these outside if I had a rose blooming.  I signed up for two new online classes to take this summer. One is using the Lensbaby which I just ordered today. (same teachers as my flowers and foods classes) They emailed me recommending that I take the class and buy that lens. The other one is a Portraits class. I don’t do portraits other than the few shots I do of the grandkids. This class is using natural light, reflectors and diffusers and no artificial lighting. I figured I could use what I learn in taking shots of lots of things. Walter has been urging me to keep taking the classes. I guess it keeps me out of his hair. I used to spend so much time on a horse in the summer, guess I will spend my time with a camera around my neck instead.  I guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks!!

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Thursday, May 28 – Lived through branding and I am absolutely bushed tonight. I am heading to bed shortly. Even Walter is crashed already on the couch. We had a really good day though and finished without too many incidents. I had a blood vessel break on top of my knee that is now black and blue. Carl got kicked in the stomach by a calf and is really hurting tonight. I am wondering if he has some broken ribs. He sure is bruised. I didn’t even take my camera along, as I knew it was going to be dusty and I was going to be busy. So this mum is going to have to be my picture of the day.  It is a miniature mum that I bought at Big R and now needs a home in my garden. Shot with my 100mm macro and using selective focus showing the grains of pollen. Be sure to click on them to enlarge.

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Wednesday, May 27 – Branding day at our house. The men are finally done with their field work and have time to brand the calves to get ready for moving them to summer pasture in another month. So it will be a very busy day tomorrow. I have the food ready for everyone and will be heading out very early in the morning. Shot these Indian Paint Brush flowers at our cabin. I don’t know the ‘real’ name for them. They are growing all over the mountain along with yellow bells, buttercups, my favorite shooting stars(rooster heads) and mountain crocus.

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Tuesday, May 26 – went to our cabin yesterday and spent a fun filled day shooting wild flowers and just relaxing. Those photos are just downloading now, so hopefully will be able to share some of them tomorrow. We are branding the first bunch of calves tomorrow. Work, work, work!! I need to head in to get groceries to feed everyone.  I shot this Icelandic Poppy from a different perspective; below looking up through the petals. I have just this last week in Flowers class and I am going to miss it so much. I think I am going to take the Lensbaby class next.  It works so well with flower shots and I figured I was in the flower mode right now. The Lightroom class doesn’t finish for several weeks yet, so I have my plate full. 

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May 25, Monday – Memorial Day   Time for an up close and personal shot of a rose. I have a bathroom full of roses right now that I have been shooting. It is really a challenge finding those Perfect flowers.  Smith’s seems to have the best selection so far of cut flowers and even found my Calla Lily plant there too. I actually found  gorgeous poppy plants at Big R of all places. Those shots will be coming in the next few days. Now I need to find a place in my yard to plant these ‘models’.  My heart goes out to Jenn and Garry and their families for all the heart ache the fire downtown has caused. Their tenants are having to endure so much hardship right now having lost a place to live. My prayers are with each and every one of them.

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Sunday, May 24 – There are some gorgeous blossoms on the apple trees down by the Mitchell pool that I heard about from daughter, Billi. I made a trip down there and shot some pics before the wind got too bad. We are heading back to the cabin today to do some more work and just rest. Walter is taking his three day weekend very seriously.

 

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Saturday, May 23 – I finally am posting some rose shots I just completed. That 100mm macro lives on my 40D now. I really love that lens. We are heading to the cabin today, so hopefully will be getting some of those long wanted for wildflowers.  My sis surprised me with making a banana cream pie for Dad. Her pies are absolutely to die for; all from scratch!!

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