Dusty Gears

I was searching around the house today looking for something to photograph.  I found the old Underwood typewriter in the bookcase in the rec room.   The poor thing was covered up but it had a layer of dust on it anyway.   I thought I could get some unusual shots of it dust and all.    Here is the one of the gear mechanism.

I am joining Straight Out of the Camera Sunday with Jan at Murrieta365.   To join you must take a picture that you have not fiddled with.  Cropping is okay.  Post it to your blog and then link it to Jan’s.  Come on over and join the party.    Valerie

First Snow for SOOCS

Friday morning we woke up to a white world…the first snowfall of the season.   It wasn’t a lot of snow but it did cover the ground.   By mid morning the sun had melted most of it away.   I guess we can be sure that a lasting one will come along in the not too distant future.   Time to get the snow tires out of the shed.

I have a container by the front door with gerbera daisies and flowering kale in it.   It did not suffer too much.  Once the snow melted it was fine.    I am posting this to Straight Out of the Camera Sunday hosted by Jan.    Come on over and see other photos that have not been edited.   A crop is okay.   Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.   Valerie

Seasonal Signs for SOOCS

 

It isn’t hard to find signs that fall is here.  I found these interesting items in the front yard.


Maple leaves are falling from the trees.   In a few weeks we will have bare trees again until April. 

The Scotch Thistle in the front needs to be pulled out and tossed in the compost heap. I found it’s spent seed heads interesting. The fluffy stuff on the top is seeds ready to be taken by the wind to a new place to germinate and begin a new plant.
I hope you are finding signs of the changing of the season on your property too. Get out and take a drive or a hike before the leaves are all gone.  
 Join Jan at Murrieta365 for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday. Take a photo, don’t edit it….okay a crop is allowed and post it for us to see.   See you there.  Valerie
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A Recent Guest to the Pond for SOOTCS

A recent guest to the pond has been a leopard frog.   We have several green frogs that have stayed throughout the summer.  As this is the first year of our pond we do not know what the frogs will do when the winter comes.  We have enjoyed watching them.  My husband has been finding the odd cricket for them as well.  


I can’t take credit for this photo.  My husband took it with the telephoto lens. 
More Straight Out of the Camera Sunday photos can be found at Jan's  Stop by and if you have a photo that has not been edited beyond a crop you can post it for the rest of us to see.   Valerie

Magpie Falls for Straight Out Of the Camera Sunday

My husband and I took a side trip during our vacation to Wawa, Ontario.  If you have ever been to Wawa they have a huge Canada Goose at the Tourist Centre and you can take your picture standing under it.  We did that but you don't want to see that.   I took this photo of Magpie High Falls just outside Wawa.  It was quite impressive.

The sign explains it all.  This waterfall can be magestic one minute and nothing another if the hydro company decides to change the flow.

Join Jan, our host at Straight of the Camera Sunday at Murrieta365.com.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Valerie

Flowering Rush for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

The Flowering Rush or Butomus umbellatus is now flowering in our pond.   This is one of two plants we have in the pond.  The other one has a bud on it but has not yet opened.  I think it is very pretty. 

Straight out of the Camera Sunday is hosted by Jan at Murrieta365.com.   Take a picture but do not edit it.  You can crop it but that is all.  Post it to your blog and then link it to Jan's site.   It is fun and it is easy.  See you there.   Valerie

Ready for the Grill for Straight out of the Camera Sunday

The first zucchini for this year picked this morning.  It is going to be on the grill tonight for supper.  My husband, the barbequer will slice the zucchini in thin strips and then slather both sides of each slice in EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and some salt and pepper and then place on the grill until nicely browned on both sides.  Oh, it tastes so good.   Served with a healthy turkey burger and you have a good supper.  

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday is hosted by Jan at Murrieta365.  It is easy to join.  Take a photo.  Do not edit beyond a crop and enter your blog on the list.   Valerie

Hibiscus Bud for Straight Out of The Camera Sunday

My Hardy Hibiscus is just producing buds at this moment in time.  I am sometimes fascinated with the bud as well as the flower.  I like the lime green colour of the bud and foliage.  This plant is called Luna Blush and it has a very large saucer size bloom that is mostly white with a pink centre.   I will probably post it when it blooms.   For now join Murrieta365 for more Straight Out of the Camera shots.  Join us with your photo that is unedited with the exception of a crop.   Happy Sunday.  Valerie

Falling Water for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

Do you ever have trouble deciding what photo you want to post on any given day? Tonight I had that problem.  I wandered around in the yard for a bit looking at the flowers and the birds and the frogs in the pond.  Nothing really turned my crank.    I spotted the waterbarrel that used to be our only water feature.  My husband had fish in it and some aquatic plants.  It served its purpose until we finally decided to build a pond.   Now the poor barrel is falling apart.  If it wasn't for the liner on the inside it would not hold water at all.   We have an old fashioned hand pump that we circulate water through from a circulating pump in the bottom of the barrel.   To get to the point I decided to take a photo of the water dripping into the barrel.   It seemed interesting to me.   I hope you think so too.

For more Straight Out of the Camera photos visit Jan at Murrieta365.com  and see what others are thinking about through the lens.   Happy Sunday.  Valerie

Just Fresh Today for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

I know I just posted two daylilies yesterday but I just had to show you this one.   We were away today and when we got home we were out wandering around the yard when I spotted this little beauty.   Last year I was given a clump of this daylily (of course I do not know its name) in a gal's garden from my Horticulture Society.   I drooled over it as it was such an incredible colour.    I am sorry I am gushing.  Anyway, she gave me a piece and tada......

I will ask my friend what the name of it.  She is pretty good about names.   I hope you like this colour too.   More Staight Out of the Camera Sunday shots at Murrieta365.com.    You can participate too.  Just post a picture that you have not edited other than a crop.    Happy Sunday.   Valerie

A Trio of Gerberas

For Straight out of the Camera Sunday I chose a photo of three gerbera daisies that were used as a table decoration at an event I was at recently. For more inspiration in photography visit Murrieta365.com. Valerie

Can You Guess

Can you guess what these are?  They look like those little coloured glass stones you put in a vase but they are not.  Just having fun with the camera.  They are water droplets on top of the table cloth outside on the deck.   I thought it was just cool.  I used my macro lens.   For more fun look at the photos on Straight out of the Camera Sunday here.

Wild Columbine on Straight out of the Camera Sunday

Today I was was participating in a photography class about Photography in the Wild at the Koffler Scientific reserve at Jokers Hill near to where we live.   We took a three hour hike to photograph things along the trail.   The Wild Columbine or Aquilegia formose is a native plant that prefers a woodland setting to show it off.   I am really impressed with its tubular shaped flower.   More photos that are untouched can be found at Murrieta365.comMurrieta365.com for Straight out of the Camera Sunday.   Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
 Please excuse the poinsetta. I did not ask Blogger to put this here.  Blogger is being a pain in the ........   Is anyone one else have trouble deleting a picture?

Valerie

Leopard Frog on Straight out of the Camera Sunday

My husband actually took this picture.  I was jumping up and down with excitement because we now have a frog in our pond.  We built a pond  late last summer and is not completly finished.   I was thrilled that the fish survived the winter.  Now the plants are growing and the fish are thriving.   I consider the addition of a frog to the pond a wonderful bonus.  There was actually two frogs...one a leopard and the other a green frog.   I guess the old adage is true: "Build it and they will come".    Join the fun at Murrieta365.com for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday.

Yellow and Blue Dwarf Iris

It rained a bit here today. We need it as everything is getting crispy like it was July.  I took this picture of the dwarf iris with the girls name that I cannot remember.  It looked so pretty with the rain drops on them.  More Straight Out of The Camera photos can be found on this Sunday meme.  See you there.

Mr. Robin Redbreast

Mr. Robin was sitting on the arbor last night just surveying his kingdom.  More great photos can be found on Murrieta365 for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday.  Take a look.

First Day of Spring

Did you wake up to this today on the first day of Spring? The past week has been so warm and sunny with temperatures we could call balmy.  Everyone was out and about and I heard from other gardeners that they were compelled to go out and do a little something in the yard.   It was a perfect week for those with children off school for March break.    If you did not get away to warmer climates I think you had as good temperatures as those who did.   But, this morning back to reality that it is still March in southern Ontario and we have to get over the hump of the last of winter snow before we see the benefits of April rain.   Happy First Day of Spring to you all.   I am participating in Straight out of the Camera meme at http://www.murrieta365.com/    Take a picture and do no editing beyond a crop.  

Irish Pub

I went back into the archives from 2006 when we were in Ireland last.  This pub in Churchill looked so colourful with the hanging baskets on the windowsills.  As it is St. Patrick's Day on Wednesday I

thought I would enter it on Straight out of the Camera Sunday at http://www.murrieta365.com/search/label/SOOC%20Sunday

Calceolaria

Calceolaria or Calceolatia crenatiflora is a tropical plant that has the appearance of a lady slipper.  It is used typically as an annual or a houseplant.  The plant likes a cool, well ventillated spot with morning sun.   I just love the little pouches with the freckles.  I saw this on a recent visit to Allan Gardens in Toronto.  Visit

http://www.murrieta365.com/search/label/SOOC%20Sunday for Straight out of the Camera Sunday.

Macy's Wonderful Organ on Straight out of the Camera Sunday

A couple of years ago on a trip to Philadelphia my husband took this photo of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Macy's Center City at 13th and Market Street.  It is the World's largest operational pipe organ.  It was massive.  My husband and I listened to the organist play for quite a while.  It was amazing I came out of the store having bought nothing.   Please join Murrieta 365 for Straight out of the Camera Sunday at http://www.murrieta365.com/search/label/SOOC%20Sunday