The Little Things...

Last Friday was Texas Independence Day...for those who did not know... Therefore, I had the day off from my "day job". Once I got my kids off to school, I pulled my
hair back in a ponytail and took off...in search of SOMETHING to assure me that Spring was indeed right around the corner. So...the Carleen Bright Arboretum it was.



Funny thing about the Arboretum...you can drive there, circle around their driveway, and never see the beauty of it all. If you aren't looking, that is. I used to do that...do a quick drive-thru, see no wonderful blooms out in the open, and take off. But then one day I went there and just needed peace and quiet. So I got out, lugging the camera along with me, and found a world of beauty hiding in the shadows. What looks like wet grass from the driveway is actually an entire world of glistening diamonds and lakes and rivers...at least from a bug's perspective. I am sure I must look quite funny...I will walk down a path, leaning this way and that....trying to find the right light. And when I do.....I go into super-shooter mode! I have currently misplaced my tri-pod so I have to rely on a steady hand to get the shot...therefore, I shoot....ummmmm...perhaps a million shots...of a tiny droplet!!


Occasionally, I am truly blessed and a "critter" (what I call any living, animated thing) will stop by to take a drink or to load up on pollen. This past Friday, I had no such luck. But soon enough.....there will be bees and lady bugs and road runners....OH MY!!!

Go enjoy some nature!





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I have a theory about leap-day...that once-every-four-years day that will make its appearance tomorrow. When I was young I had a hard time remembering which year was leap year. I also had a hard time remembering which year was a presidential election year....and for that matter, which year had the Olympics going on...back when the winter and summer games were in the same year...GUESS WHAT...THEY WERE ALL THE SAME YEAR!!!

My theory is that we had SO MUCH going on that they had to add an extra day. Of course, as I've grown older (and much much more weary) I am convinced we have the extra day so that we can be TORTURED by politicians....ugh!

Anyway....let's not dwell on that.

Guess what??? I have "SPRING FEVER". I am trying not to...knowing that there is likely bad, cold weather ahead of us, but have you FELT the vibes lately? I take my daughter in at 6:30 most mornings....and I grumble about it a lot....but by the time I get back to the house, I find myself amazed at the birds chirping and the fresh smell in the air....beautiful.

As a photographer, I am usually fighting stereotypes....we all do. But photographers are SUPPOSED to like wildflowers and spring scenes and longer days. I confess...each summer, as the remnants of the last flowers are withering in the hot sun, I take stock of my spring shots and decide that SURELY I have enough photos of bluebonnets and Indian blankets to last a lifetime. I swear that NEXT YEAR I will forgo the urge to run out to the Arboretum and snap away. But guess what....I always return. And I find myself taking deep breaths and nudging whoever I dragged along with me and saying, "Just SMELL that.....have you ever smelled anything so beautiful?"

Two years ago I went out after a rain and found droplets of water on the daisies, reflecting other daisies. You would have thought I scored a touchdown! I've got some shots of our football guys running off the field after a great win, and they are 2 feet off the ground, pumping their fists in the air....that was me after getting the shots of the daisies and water droplets.... Just goes to show that there is always room and time for one more look, one more shot.

Last year, with the drought in Central Texas, I kept waiting and waiting for the flowers, and basically they never showed up. Therefore, I am doubly anxious this year to spot the first bluebonnet peeping through the ground.....stay tuned....

In the meantime, enjoy some from years past. And remember....if you are going to take shots in the bluebonnets....seek out the patches in parks and the ones that are WAY OFF of the road.... SAFETY FIRST!!!