So Thankful!

R improves, slowly and steadily. I am so thankful for the fact that he is still here, that he is home, that he is gaining weight (slowly, but still gaining), that he is gaining strength and healing, that his spirits remain positive and focused on recovery. I am grateful that he reached his hospital goal of eating a normal Thanksgiving meal, and that he was able to enjoy it. Still quite a way to go, but he is moving forward. We take things one day at a time, and enjoy each day together as the gift and blessing that it is for us.

Raindrop Tips

Just a couple from the other morning, after the morning rain and when the sun actually peeked through for a minute or two. I was thrilled to get a sunflare as well as a good refraction! I was practically lying on my stomach on the sidewalk for these...not comfortable!!

same shot, angle, but wider open with the aperture.

Desperation leads to strange subjects....

I have not been able to get out to do any shooting since R got home; just too busy, and the weather hasn't been too cooperative lately, either. Even the produce in the grocery store is starting to look like interesting macro subjects! I saw this plastic wrapper on the gravel in front of the house and like the way the condensation had formed inside it. So, why not take a shot? At least I am using my camera.

On the Way Back!!

R has been home from the hospital for just over 2 weeks, and is getting his strength back. He has gained 8 pounds...still has about 25 or so to go, but he is moving forward. He has more stamina and is walking now without a walker, doing the stairs well, and has even tried out the treadmill, although on the lowest, slowest setting. Today it was so gorgeous outside that we went out and he walked to the end of the driveway and back 3 times, then sat in the sun for a bit. Just to get outside, breath some fresh air, and feel the sun was a big treat! He is eating just about everything (other than rich, greasy, spicy, fatty) and some of it even sticks...at least it reminds his gut what it is supposed to be doing. The big treat is that he gets to eat things he hasn't been able to eat in years; his new espohagus is working beautifully. It's a long road, but we are moving down it slowly and carefully, and we are both very cautiously optomistic about the long run. Of course, some things we won't know until after the next surgery, but so far we are encouraged.

Anyway, it is nice to have him home, nice to have him cracking jokes and watching TV, nice to have him rooting for BYU, and just nice to HAVE him!!!!

Tropical Surprise

When we went to Hawaii this year, I discovered proteas, and promptly fell in love with their bizarre structure and look. They don't look like flowers; they almost look like something that God asked the architectural committee to design. See blog link for protea I found in Hawaii: http://frenchfotos.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-love-flowers-in-hawaii-so-many.html

But I found THIS at our local grocery store!!! Imagine my glee!! I bit the bullet and bought it so I could bring it home, photograph it, marvel over it, and enjoy it. A single bloom costs almost as much as a small bouquet, but these last a long time, and as far as I am concerned, it was worth every penny. I grin like an idiot every time I see it sitting under the light on the kitchen table. It looks like birthday candles and fuzzy angora yarn and fancy ribbon, all combined together. How can anyone NOT be happy to see something this unique?

Unwelcome Visitors

This was the view out the living room window this morning--my few remaining dahlias being snacked on by this stupid cow elk. Took this from the LR window--I would've tried the downstairs bedroom window, but she was almost too close to use that window. She brought some friends. These little calves are cute, but I sure wish they'd wander somewhere else!!
They finally wandered over to Frank-Next-Door, but 20 minutes later about 15 of them paraded back through the yard. By then I was so disgusted that the only thing I wanted to shoot them with was a gun!!

Rain, rain....

Lots of rain in the last couple of days--somewhere between 6 1/2" amd 8 1/2" total, depending on where you get your info. The rivers are swollen and people are scrambling with sandbags, but it's dry today and the water is starting to go down. This is the bend near our house; it is usually at least 4' lower than this, and considerably narrower.
And the Falls....ah, the Falls! I just LOVE it when we have lots of rain and the Falls are full and tumultuous. The mist was so heavy today that it was like being in the middle of a rain storm. I was only able to grab a couple of shots before I was soaked, and didn't want my camera suffering the same fate.

It's all in the details

I love the incredible amount of detail that an individual leaf can exhibit in the fall. Each one becomes a work of art, and a masterpiece lost underfoot unless you are on the lookout for the treasures beneath your feet...

Out-of-Season Beauty

Thanks to Deb for the lovely out-0f-season surprise, and the beauty that unfolded for me!!

Leaf drops

After another week back in the hospital, Rick is home and doing much better. Today while he was taking a nap I went out between raindrops to capture a few refractions, and reflections, before all the leaves are gone. Our rainy season is hitting with a vengeance; I am hoping we get some snow, or at least frost, this year!!

I just couldn't resist the way this Japanese maple leaf was resting, tips only, on the driveway. The reflection was just too fun to pass up.