272/365

Wildflowers

Today I had to take my car to Firestone for an oil change.  They were going to do some other work on it too, so I left the car there and got a ride home, only about a mile away.

When it was time to get the car, I walked back to the shop and on the way I saw these wildflowers growing in a cluster.  I've seen them other places too but only when I was driving and couldn't stop to get a photo.

I don't know the name of the flowers, but they're just so sweet and pretty.

002/365

Rustic Steps at the State Park

I took a drive to the state park about ½ hour from here.  It's really not a very exciting park, but there were a lot of people wandering the trails and a lot of campers, probably because it was a holiday and the weather was so beautiful.  I love these stairs, but one can only make just so many images of them.  I've made one or two images in the summer when things are more green, but it still doesn't look much different.

At least it was some outdoor exercise and it was great to be walking through a forested-looking area rather than the track around the gym at the Y.

310/365

Tall Grasses

I read a book a number of years ago called "Tall Grasses".  It was about one of the internment camps in the United States during WWII.  It was a really good book...I should try to find it and read it again.

This image from my files made me think about it.

My heart is grateful that:

I got called to assist for a photo job, spur of the moment.

302/365

Field house and Track of Cooper High School

I've never seen this side of this school, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon this view.  It would have made a MUCH better image if there had been a runner or two going around the curve, but there wasn't a soul to be seen when I was there.

I love the curve of the track, and the field house and bleachers really put it into perspective.

My heart is grateful for:

the beautiful cool temps today with the brilliant sun

291/365

Happy Harvest

One of the decorated areas at the local zoo.  The zoo goes all out when they decorate for the Fall season.

My heart is happy today for:

smiles

289/365

Two Pumpkins

The local zoo sets up a hay maze every fall and within the maze there are many smaller areas of decorations.  I just thought this was really sweet.  Not a word class winner, but I like the simplicity of the pumpkins on the hay bales

My heart is grateful that:

nature is so beautiful

281/365

Scarecrow and Pumpkins

I'm not a fan of Halloween. Never have been.  Sometimes, if the decorations aren't too disgusting, I think they're cute.  

This display was outside the local YMCA.  The scarecrow is animated and randomly begins to move and say things and the pumpkins are inflatables.  

I miss the days when the grandkids were young enough to enjoy coming to my house and carving pumpkins.  We would usually make a day of it, culminating with the carving and putting candles in them once it was dark outside.  

Those days, sadly, are gone.

My heart is grateful that:

I had those fun times with the grandkids and we all still have the memories

15/366

Cement Wall

This wall is outside the now defunct train station in town.  I just heard the story today about how the wall was built because the train tracks used to flood when it rained hard and trains would have to wait until the flood waters receded.  So the tracks were raised up and this wall is part of the support of the raised tracks.  

I love the vine branches. There's just something so appealing about bare branches in the fall and winter.  Obviously in the summer the wall is covered in vines which is also beautiful. 

 6/366

Fallen Leaves

Until about 2 years ago I lived in an area of the country where the Fall colors could rock your world.

Not so much now.  I feel like I'm lucky to see any color, but on the plus side, the weather is better here.  I spent some time today walking around one of the college campuses hoping to see some photo ops.  There weren't too many of them, but then I saw this piles of leaves.

This is hardly a world class photo, but it speaks of the season. 

It's Monday

29/365

Some friends and I have started another blog on Wordpress (expressyourselfwithphotos.wordpress.com)

At the moment there are three of us participating and we each have one day a week when we're supposed to post at least one photo.  Monday is my day, and for the first time since we began, I remembered and actually posted.

I despaired this morning of finding an image, but as I sat in my living room and looked at the windows with the sun shining for the first time in many days, I noticed the shadows and knew I had discovered my image of the day.

The I started playing around with another object and came up with this next image.

It was such a beautiful day outside I finally decided to take a drive and see what I could see.  I didn't expect much since I took the exact same route I've taken so many times before when I've come home with nothing.

But today was a little different.  All the leaves on these particular trees are gone and the sun was low in the sky so the light was beautiful.  There's just something about the bare trees in the Fall...

Doodles the Clown

72/365

One of my friends is a caricaturist.  She goes to various craft fairs and fundraisers and does her magical "thing".  She's very popular at these events.

This was taken at the Altamont Fairgrounds during the fundraiser for the victims of the hurricane and flood that occurred last Fall.