It is going to rain really hard. All the news programs are showing a severe weather watch. The sun came out for just a minute and if you look closely between the tall foreground trees you will see a faint rainbow coming out of the treetops way back. I am fine as long as we don't lose power before I tuck in. Have a great weekend!
I was looking through some of my old photo projects and found this apple floating on an eye dazzling psychedelic background. I deleted the original background on an antique print dated 1804 and placed it on this background that was included in Photoshop Elements. I think I was using version 5.0 when I did this. You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it if you really want your eyes to hurt!
My friend Kelly has this hand-made sampler hanging outside the children's playroom. Even though they are very young, they follow these rules to perfection. I guess you might say they are learning by example from their wonderful parents.
I actually stopped my riding mower yesterday and got off to pick up this beautiful maple leaf. It survived in my big workshirt pocket very nicely until the photography session. I chose a black polar fleece blanket for the background and I am very pleased with the results.
I have tons on cleome or spider plants on my property. They reseed themselves every year.
The seed pods explode and scatter everywhere...or you can gather them and plant them where you really want them. You can mix the seeds or isolate them according to flower color.
Click on the image below and get a full-size image with two (2) seed packets per sheet. No need to use card stock ~ inkjet paper is fine. I love to gather and save seeds. These seed packages make nice stocking stuffers and Christmas card inserts for your gardening friends. Nice way to start a friendship garden. Enjoy and share! 
This is one of my favorite fall flowers. The photo was taken last year. No blooms so far but lots of foliage. The illustration is from botanical.com and they say it flowers in the spring. Maybe mine is a different variety because it only comes alive in the fall. I can't wait.
My friend Lynn is my guest blogger today only she doesn't know it yet. One of her homes is in the Berkshires on the top of a hill with this beautiful view. She took this photo one morning last year after a rain. I can take only a little credit. If you look at the original below you will see a little bit of her deck railing in the lower right corner. I fixed it by extending the road with the clone tool in Photoshop Elements 6. I adjusted the exposure with auto smart fix and then added a thin black border. You can always click on any of my photos to enlarge.
This hedgehog cement garden ornament was purchased new over 30 years ago and it finally looks old.
All eyes will be on the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China tonight. I copied the pictogram above from their homepage.
This might be considered a repeat photo. I used another version of this bluebird box in my very first post. I like this version better because it doesn't have anything intruding in the upper left corner. I love the blurred background.
I photographed this orchid at a friend's house. I have never owned one of these plants and I probably never will. They are lovely as long as there is a flower...but when the flower goes I lose interest completely. So I shall just be happy with OPO (other people's orchids).
I have not kept up with my mowing lately. Now I have to work extra hard to get my lower property looking like this again. I mowed after dinner for 2 hours so I am on my way! This photo was taken one foggy morning. See you on the internet tomorrow.
Mister Sharptooth by Joe Kerr
Illustrations by Robert H. Porteous
G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers
New York ~ 1903
I have always loved the watercolor of this wonderful stone and brick vine-covered cottage with a tile roof. It is on the cover of one of my ancient address books. I hope this is a real home somewhere ~ preferably in England. I wouldn't change a thing. It is absolutely perfect with a chimney on each gable end, a shaped hedge, wooden gate, brick walls for the garden, simple board and batten front door, and windows with brick surrounds. I think it would be low maintenance too. I am quite sure the interior is filled with 18th century antiques!
I don't have petunias this year. This photo was taken in my garden last summer.
I found this snakeskin at the base of a tree located outside my bedroom window. I tried picking it up in one piece but it was too fragile. I hung it in the tree in two pieces. I know this snake. I often see him sunning himself in this blue spruce and he is a very large, very fat, very long black snake. I searched the internet for poisonous snakes in New Jersey and decided he was not a rattlesnake because he has no markings...just solid black. So I am not afraid of him and I just leave him alone. I hope he eats his weight in field mice!
Upon closer examination, I discovered that he just crawled out of his skin and left the old eye sockets behind. Lenses and all! Isn't that amazing?
Here is a closer view of his old face. Looks a little bit like Gumby with scales! Well, that is my adventure for the day.