Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 8 January 2017

Sunday Selections #309

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week?   I suppose it is a kind of a tribute to myself as a slow leaner.  All my life I have said I am not a terribly visual person.  Charts/graphs mean little to me.  I learn by reading rather than images.  However it has (finally) dawned on me that I spend my life looking at and for images.  I delight in changing light among other things.  And other minutiae.  So here are some of the things which have caught my eye recently.






The clouds came rolling in and it absolutely bucketed down briefly.  Very briefly.  I believe we had an inch of rain in less than half an hour.

After another storm later in the week I delighted in the light.  The road was steaming too.






 
I adore the architecture of spiders (you may need to embiggen to see their work).



And the sky.






The last two photos in that segment are reflections of the same sky.
And our avian visitors.



Not visual?  Colour me deluded.

And, in other news.  Himself has a significant birthday tomorrow.  We have too many 'things' and increasingly we give each other experiences as gifts.  Shared experiences.  For the past year I have been planning (and saving up for) an extravagant treat for himus.  We are heading off early this afternoon and will be back tomorrow afternoon.  I haven't yet told him about it, and hope he likes it as much as I expect.  Think big cats and luxury.  We both adore the big cats though I am probably the more luxury loving one of the two of us.  Photos will follow in the fullness of time.

123 comments:

  1. Dear EC
    Stunning photos (as always). Wow, the rain!
    It took me the best part of forty years to realise that I am a 2D person, as colour and texture really appeal to me. However, reflecting on that, I realise that I have always liked to feel material, even though it was the colour and pattern that drew me in, even as a small child.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: I am a tactile person. I need to pat, stroke, feel things. However it seems I am also visual.
      Have a great weekend.

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  2. I always admire spiders.. Have a great time.

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    1. Gosia k: I do too, though I treat them with caution. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  3. -3 degrees last night and the lake out back is frozen over. Oh summer. I am jealous of you. It is miserable outside. Man nor beasts should be able to survive in this kind of weather.

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    1. donna baker: I would swap weather with you in a heart beat. Some world wide weather moderation would be nice.

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  4. Beautiful photos, and...that rain...I hope you both enjoy the birthday plans!

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    1. eL Thank you. I am feeling a bit anxious at the moment (he is still asleep) wondering whether I planned his birthday treat for me. I hope not.

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  5. Scary looking spider. Hope the other half enjoys his birthday surprise.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: That was a teeny weeny spider. Not scary at all. And yes, I hope he enjoys his birthday treat.

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  6. Loved this post about you and the pictures. Happy birthday to Himself. Experience gifts are wonderful fun.

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    1. The Happy Whisk: Experience gifts are wonderful. Easy to store, don't need dusting...

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  7. Can't wait to hear about the special event you have planned. What a nice thing to do instead of buying something.

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    1. mshatch: Not only do we have too many things, it is hard to think of anything more that either of us want (except books). I really hope he likes his treat.

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  8. Who wants to look at graphs when we can look at the beauty and wonder of Nature that surrounds us?

    I hope Himself and Yourself enjoy Himself's special birthday treat. I'm sure you will. It sounds like it's going to be very enjoyable, indeed. I'm sure I speak for everyone....we eagerly await picture proof!! :)

    Seeing you'll be off to a good start...I hope the rest of your week follows suit. Cuddles to Jazz and Happy Birthday to Himself. :)

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    1. Lee: Thank you. I hope our week gets off to a flying start.

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  9. The photos are stunning, as always. It's good to see Charlotte has emigrated to Australia.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Charlotte (and her family) are very happy here.

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  10. big cats and luxury? swoon

    Have a wonderful time!

    xox

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    1. kylie: He is now up and I have told him about it. He is, as I hoped, excited. Thank you.

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  11. Amazing photos! I do like the rain but you captured the warmth of the sun too! My favorite is the lily and of the spider. I sometimes like to go on Mindful walks in nature. I have been amazed by snails and spiders too!

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    1. Ginger Dawn Harman: I am amazed so often by nature. And grateful. Very, very grateful.

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  12. Beautiful photos as per usual. Big Cats and luxury? You bought the 2 of you a Jaguar. right and have to travel to pick it up?

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Good guess. But no. And it would take me more than a year to save up for a Jaguar.

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  13. Now we are really guessing. I like Anne's comment above. It appears to be a curtain of rain falling. I like the dying light photos after the storm. Have a great time away.

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    1. Andrew: It was a curtain of rain. A noisy curtain. I liked Anne's guess too. And thank you. I hope/expect we will have a wonderful time.

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  14. I hope he has a wonderful birthday and that the surprise is just as you hope it will be. Can't wait to see photos.

    Loved the pictures you shared. I am always amazed by spider webs- they are so beautiful and fragile looking- but stronger than we think. ;)

    You are a visual learner- just not in the way you were originally thinking.
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: Thank you - from us both. I am certainly a visual appreciator, but need words to learn with.

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  15. Love the rain photos! You can keep the spiders... *shudder*
    I'm sure Himself and you will have a wonderful time. Looking forward to the pics of your adventure!

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    1. River Fairchild: And an adventure it will be. I have been getting increasingly excited, and now he knows about it he is too.

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  16. I don't see how you could ever have thought of yourself as a non-visual person when your photos continually prove otherwise. Today's selection is a fantastic example. That first one with the clouds in different shades of grey and the trees under those clouds in so many shades of green. The two with the sun shining through, the rain which looks more like a sheet of clear plastic, pouring down. And of course the Corella and those wonderful reflections. You are a photographic artist.

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    1. River: I really didn't think of myself as visual. An epic fail. One of many.

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  17. P.S. Happy Birthday to the skinny one and I hope you both enjoy the gift.

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    1. River: Thank you. I think we will. I am hoping it is something we will be able to hug to ourselves for a long time to come.

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  18. Oh the treat sounds most intriguing! I am so glad himself likes the sound of it, and I hope you both have a wonderful time!
    I'm a visual person too, as well as a word one, and I love small detailed things (but not spiders...)
    The light in the road scenes after the storm is beautiful. Go well, EC.

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    1. Alexia: Thank you. The treat is an extravagance, but I hope it lives up to expectations.

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  19. I know, but I'll keep zipped.No spoilers here!
    I am, of course, a virulent shade of green...

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    1. dinahmow: I would be green if anyone else I knew was doing it. And the more I learn the better it gets...

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  20. Delightful collection of photos leading to a wonderful ending

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    1. Martin Kloess: Thank you. And the ending was a delightful beginning.

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  21. How exciting! I hope all goes swimmingly and look forward to hearing all about it. Happy Birthday to your loved SP.

    And ... of course you are a visual person. Often we are blind to our own talents. I wonder if it's because we get a certain definition in our heads when we first learn a word, and it takes a pretty big shift to see it differently. I've done the same.

    Love the photos you've given us to see today.

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    1. jenny_o: Sadly, like too many people, I accept criticism MUCH more readily than praise. And really hadn't considered myself a visual person. Learning all the time...
      The birthday was/is wonderful and a kazillion photos need to be sorted.

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  22. Happy birthday to him then!
    I think you have a great eye for what makes a catching and unique photo. Don't sell that ability short.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Thank you - on both counts.

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  23. I have a little spider's nest right where I walk into my house. The mama spider was there for a long time but she is gone now. I'm looking forward to spring so I can see the babies.

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    1. Birdie: I hope that your spider mama can keep her babies out of the house.

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  24. Oh, I hope you both have a GREAT time! Happy for you!

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    1. Bookie: We did. Photos to follow when I have charged the camera and sorted through them - even by my standard there are a lot.

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  25. You sure have an eye for beauty! I Love your photos. Always memorable. I hope you and him have a great time, look forward to pics

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    1. Kim@stuffcould...: I am a beauty addict. We had a lovely time. Post probably Wednesday to celebrate.

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  26. Wonderful photos! Wish we had colorful birds like that here in Canada!

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    1. Hairballs and Hissfits: Love your name. Welcome. We have lots of colourful birds here - and I love them.

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  27. We have had rain too but not as much as you.
    We usually have masses of spiders all webbing up at night all gone in the morning but this year not many at all but lots more bird much more than normal.
    Merle...............

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    1. Merlesworld: We could do with some more rain. That was a brief (and dramatic) downpour. It is stinking hot and I would like some rain today. Doubt we will get it though.

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  28. Hi EC - life giving rain ... what a delight to see and you're so right the light varies so much. Spiders are extraordinary aren't they ...

    Have a wonderful 36 hour break - sounds a real treat .. congratulations to you both: him for achieving the anniversary, you for saving hard ... - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: I do love the rain - as you say it is life giving. Still his birthday here, and we are still in celebratory mode.

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  29. Beautiful picture and you had RAIN!!! Please send some over if you can. It is SOOOO dry in Perth and not a drop of rain in sight, just more hot days.
    I was admiring a web outside my workroom window the other day and commented to Phil how beautiful they are (provided I don't walk into them!).
    Your sky pics are wonderful and that corella WOW! I think that would a long-billed corella, am I correct?

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    1. Mimsie: It is indeed a long-beaked corella. They are very fond of green apple and here most days at the moment. We would like some more rain too. It is hot here today. And yesterday. And tomorrow.

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  30. enjoy your big cat experience... if it is the one I'm thinking of you can have my share too :) I'm sure you will both love it!

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    1. Anna: I wonder whether we are thinking of the same thing. It was truly lovely, and himself said he would happily go back.

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  31. I love the light shining through! Hope the big cats will be contained when you visit. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story.

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    1. Granny Annie: The big cats were contained. Very close to us, and very beautiful. And I hope to put up a post about it on Wednesday.

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  32. As always, your sunset/sunrise pictures are divine. The spider webs really came through well, didn't they? Thank you for brightening my world with little corners of yours.

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    1. Carolyn McBride: Thank you. What a lovely thing to say. I hope your world stays bright.

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  33. That's a great idea, giving experiences rather than gifts. I look forward to the pictures. And that picture of the rain? We don't get rain like that, usually anyway, and I love to see it. Those spider webs are pretty, and I'm glad I'm not afraid of spiders! :-)

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    1. DJan: We don't often get rain like that either. It was absolutely bucketting down. And the experience gift was a great success. I didn't have to wrap it either. Or dust it.

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  34. Your visual delights transform into such a treat for me. Thank you for the beautiful pictures. You are a photographer, a light recorder.
    My husband and I no longer give material gifts either. We have enough stuff. Because he's been ill, we missed celebrating both our birthdays. So next week, we're off to the ocean.
    Have a great time. Happy Birthday to him.

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    1. Myrna R.: I hope that both of you have a wonderful delayed birthday celebration at the ocean. And that his health continues to improve.

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  35. Love that sky. As a hiker, always watching my footing, I have to remind myself to stop on the trail and look up. It is so rewarding.

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    1. Author R. MacWheeler: I love the sky too, in all of its moods. And have gone base over apex more than once because I wasn't watching my footings.

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  36. 1. we are in a big storm off of the Pacific, and your sunny photos give me hope for tomorrow.
    2. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!
    3. I adore you and can;t wait to see where you went

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    1. Cloudia: I hope your tomorrow was dawned bright and sunny. Hugs.

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  37. Love your photis! You don't give yourself enough credit! Hope your experience was everything you wanted and hoped for.

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  38. I did enjoy all of your Sunday Selections, thank you.

    Have a lovely time, and looking forward to seeing your photo's.

    Happy Birthday to him!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~ Jan: Thank you so much, from me and from him.

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  39. Lovely, just lovely photos! What a treat on this cold and rainy Sunday!

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    1. Sandi: Cold? Rainy? We are very, very hot and some rain would be welcome. And thank you.

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  40. Wow, that is pouring down, that rain. I can't wait to hear what you two did for his significant birthday. I have no idea how old either one of you are.

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    1. Strayer: He turned 60 today and I am a year and nine days behind him. And he loved his birthday treat.

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  41. Did you say "big cats and luxury?" Omgggg, excited to see photos as you KNOW I love, adore, worship big kitties.
    Great photos. Love the spider web! xx

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    1. My Inner Chick: Definitely luxury. Definitely big (and medium) cats. Watch this space.

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  42. Wow! Awesome photos, love them all.

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  43. Wonderful selection. Don't things look so good after the rain....always.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: They look good, and they smell good too.

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  44. Beautiful collection EC, I loved the last one, excellent picture.

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    1. Bob Bushell: Thank you. They are beautiful birds.

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  45. You definitely know images, E.C. You capture such beautiful images. Just stunning. Happy Birthday to Himself and I hope y'all have a wonderful time.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. We did have a wonderful time. Tiring, but lovely.

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  46. Big cats and luxury.... you are going on safari?
    Or perhaps to the zoo in a Rolls Royce?

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    1. Shammickite: Close, but no cigar. I wonder whether anyone has ever done a safari in a Rolls Royce? I suspect the answer is yes.

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  47. Wondrous pics, especially the sunlight on the road.
    Can't wait to hear about the treat for himself's bday. Places and events are the very best gifts.
    Significant bday....30? :)

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thirty is a long time ago now. A good year, but not this year.

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  48. And eye-catching they are! This is a collection of earth's most beautiful things.

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    1. cleemckenzie: You have given me an earworm now. These are a few of my favourite things is dancing in my head.

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  49. Replies
    1. Diane Tolley: We do live in a wonderful (and very beautiful) world.

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  50. Happy New Year EC. You live in a beautiful place filled with perfect skylines, plants, creatures great and small filled with sunshine you've captured on camera. Treasure these time capsules and their secrets with wonder and awe. They're telling us to live!

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    1. Spacer Guy: And a Happy New Year to you and yours. I live with awe and wonder as almost constant (and welcome) companions.

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  51. It's always nice to look your photos from the other side of world, they are lovely.
    Wish you happy Tuesday.

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    1. orvokki: Thank you. I like seeing your world too. A very happy day and week to you.

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  52. Aaaahhh, how I've missed visiting your blog. Always a fun post with your Sunday selections. I am a sucker for beautiful sky shots, and you have shown many in this post. I also like that photo of the spider and its web. Very nice. I always love seeing what your lense captures. =0)

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  53. Hope you had a great birthday experience!

    Love your sky shots - but it does look hot over there!

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    1. Lady Fi: He loved his birthday treat. And it is very, very hot. I am in meltdown mode, despite knowing that other parts of Oz are even hotter.

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  54. You're very talented with that camera. I'm especially transfixed by the second photo - its layers of depth and nuances of light. Remarkable.

    Enjoy Himself's birthday with Himself to the fullest.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: You always say the nicest things. Thank you. He did enjoy his treat, and I have spent hours going through the photos (mine, not his) this afternoon. A post will follow (probably tomorrow).

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  55. What gorgeous photos, as always, and hope you had fun!

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  56. I, too, love the light. You captured some exquisite contrasts in your photos. I took painting lessons for years and what stayed with me was noticing the light. When I drive I am always searching for shadows and clouds and beautiful skys. Thans for sharing that.

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    1. Glenda Council Beall: Do you still paint? That is a talent I really admire.

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  57. I'm with you on changing light! And you are an artist photographer, so of course visual.

    Wishing you an armful of amazing shared experiences, for this milestone and always. (Big cats make me think of Africaaaah....where Elephant's Child got his nose job done :)

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Thank you. I would never have the temerity to describe myself as an artist.
      We did indeed have an amazing experience. And when I think of the Elephant's Child I think of the banks of the great, grey, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever trees...

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  58. I delight in images, too - yours are so wonderful. Love the photos of the street and the drenchness of the drenching.

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    1. Lynn: If drenchness isn't a word it should be. I will certainly adopt it. Mind you, we could do with some moisture from the sky now. It has been hot, it is hot, and it will be hot. And no rain is forecast.

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  59. That spider pic is awesome! I have one I took a very long time ago at my barn. I shot it in the morning with drops of dew on the web with the red barn in the background.
    R

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    1. Rick Watson: That would be amazing to see. Red barns are always picturesque in themselves, but add a bejewelled spider and web...

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