Day 418

While we were traveling from Philadelphia, PA to Richmond, VA, the clouds were beautiful and fluffy. I took photos of these amazing clouds while riding in the car. Some of them come out as a complete surprise, as photographing while not looking at my view finder (camera pointed up at the sky and sun) and in a moving car is difficult.

Day 391

Today, we had snow from late morning until late evening.

Day 253

Today, Kit and I traveled to Topping, VA to see a friend from Japan, her husband and his parents. They got married in Japan last year and wanted to celebrate with her family here. Her mom has an amazing garden and spacious farm.

Day 248

Today, we went to the nature preserve on Chincoteague Island. Instead of the beach part, we walked on one of the nature trails through the marsh.

Wild hibiscus

There were many butterflies fluttering around on the flowers and across the path.

If you look closely, you can see a resident.

This crane was hiding in the tall grass along a marsh water.

Female tiger swallowtail on a wild hibiscus

This deer was alone on the marsh eating grass and flowers.

Grasshopper

The marsh was teeming with them.

I love the spots on the back of this butterfly. Reminds me of a monster drawing.

Cattails

The white ones are about to drop their seeds. The brown ones are what most of them look like.

Day 161

Today's photos were taken looking out through some windows in my house.

I woke up to foggy bedroom windows. Since the dogwood and other trees have new growth, I though this fog would make a nice natural defuser. 

I looked down on the bedroom window sill, to see this little ant. I took it's photo before smooshing it. We have an ant problem every Spring and Summer. Sadly, I have to smoosh all of the ants I find, so less come in.

This is a Common Redpole chirping in Crape Myrtle tree. 

This colorful insect was on the living room window.

Later in the evening, a large moth graced Pippi and I with it's presence. I wasn't able to take a clear photo of it, because it was moving quickly and taking clear insect photos at night is hard work. I like the moth shadow this photo shows with the moth.

This is my fuzzy moth hunting assistant Pippi with her "prey".

This insect was clinging to the window. It stayed still for a while, until I started taking photos. Flash bothers insects, but it's the only way I can take clear insect photos at night.

Day 143

Today, I was still in Falls Church hanging out with some friends. While riding in the back seat, I took a few photos out the window of the car.

This one is by far, my favorite. I know what I see in this cloud. What do you see?

Later in the day, Kit and I headed back to Richmond. I dropped her off at her house, before I went to my house.

The trees above the driveway, have small green leaves growing on the branches.

On the way to my house, the sun was setting. I stopped in the parking lot of a community center near my house, to take a photo of it. I love how the lines from planes show in the sky and the sun radiates in circle.

Day 139

Today, I drove Alex to school, so she could go to her Running Club before school started.

Before we left, I noticed these clusters of fallen buds.

This is a panoramic of Alex's school from where I was sitting beside the track.

This is some of the trees along the parking lot.

This tree was towards the entrance. It was so far away, that I didn't see the flying bird that the camera picked up.

Day 129

Today, I wanted to try out my new camera in some old and new ways.

I like taking photos of the sun. This is the sun back-lighting the Holly tree. This is much clearer than with the old camera, though I still like the bleeding white style too.

We went to the city to have brunch with friends.

This is a Magnolia tree.

After brunch, John, Alex and I went to the Mayo Bridge to take photos.

I think these are Dandelions before blooming.

This is a panoramic view of the city, James River and Mayo Bridge from a river wall. The man on the right, is my husband. Click on the photo to see a much clearer and larger photo.

These were buds from a tree in the center of the ramp to get to and from the wall.

This is a panoramic view of the James River, Mayo Bridge and the city, from the Mayo Bridge. Again, you can see a larger photo, if you click on this photo.

If you look in the above photo, to the left right beyond the wall, there are birds on a rock. My camera is so powerful, that when I zoomed in on the birds, I was able to take this rather clear photo of them. I couldn't see this amount of detail normally.

These are the rapids behind the birds.

There was an field with many of these dead plants.

After the bridge, we went to my parents' house to pick up something and show my dad the new camera. John pointed out this cardinal. I took it this photo through a glass door and screen, so it's blurry. I wasn't able to try for a clearer photo, before the bird few away.

Alex and I waited in the car while John bought some groceries. I took this photo of the white blooming trees and this pretty cloud.

At our house, I noticed these plants had started to grow again. They are odd and one of my favorite wild plants that grow on our hill.