April Showers

The first burst of spring is fading like a firework just past its full glory. Petals shimmer and swirl through the air, their brief moment finished. Some pause to pose, hoping to be admired one last time before joining the drifts on the curb.

Macro Monday: Hiding

I'm hiding, I'm hiding
And no one knows where
For all they can see is my toes and my hair...

- from Hiding, by Dorothy Keeley Aldis

This little spider reminded me of the children's poem I learned long ago.





For less creepy entries, visit Lisa's Chaos: Macro Monday.

Shards of Shadows

I'm boring myself to death lately with my ho-hum pics, so I thought I'd try fiddling around with some special effects. These beams cast some serious shadow patterns, and I liked the image even better after desaturating it and boosting the contrast way up. What do you think?


Click the logo to find more shadow shots:

Only Five Months Til Halloween!

Just imagine what you could do with a set of these. I'm thinking something Pandorian, blue and furry, with gold cat eye contacts, long claws, fangs and a mane made of something that chimes when you walk.

Macro Monday: Holey-er Than Thou

Imagine the ages it took for a river to tunnel its way into the heart of this little stone. Someone took it away from its source, with other stones that had lain beside it for eons, to lie in the mud of an Indiana driveway. I wonder where it will be ten thousand years from now.

Check out more up close and personal entries at Lisa's Chaos: Macro Monday.

Shadow Shots: Moon Bridge

My shadow person seems to be admiring a real-world flower that is springing from her realm into ours, which I found delightful. Why shouldn't shadows enjoy us as much as we enjoy them?

This was taken on an arched bridge over a beautiful little pond garden at our library. The wind caught my open coat and gave me a big, bell-shaped shadow which I liked in contrast to the slender railings.

*Note: I don't know what the plant is, but all the ones they use are natives. *Update April 18, as EG Wow commented, it's a bergenia. Not native, as I thought, but pretty nonetheless. Thanks, EG!

*'Nother Note, to Self: Next time, lean forward and reach for the flower. That woulda been so much better.

Find more fun entries at Harriet's place. Just click the logo to go there.

Fondle Your Franklins

There's a new study that found people are happier, stronger, and better able to endure both physical and social pain after handling money. It doesn't even have to be their own money. Just touching the stuff has a profound, positive psychological impact.

Thinking about your bills, however, has the opposite effect. So don't do that.

Just sharing.

Macro Monday: Spring Violets

I had to get down on my tummy for this one, but it was worth it. Note the long spur at the back of the blossom and the near-white color. You don't see these very often, so it's a treat when they turn up.

Check out more macros at Lisa's Chaos: Macro Monday.

Shadow Shots: Underpass

I love the color of the underside of this highway bridge and the shadowy spaces between the girders. I always slow a bit to look up when I pass under it.

Sorry I haven't been around to post or visit much lately. Sometimes real life gets in the way. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

If you like shadows, you'll love the Shadow Shots meme at Harriet's place:

Happy Easter!

Suffering Fools Gladly

It's an oldie, but a goodie, and it's my all-time favorite BBC April Fool prank.

But wait, there's more: Check out the Top 10 April Fool Hoaxes of All Time.

Hope your day is full of fun!