Monday, May 30, 2016

A Couple of Reasons...

Surprise, I'm still here, altho you wouldn't know it by this blog.  A couple of reasons I'm back.  My friend, Kelly, who is part of our collaborative team of women who write Focusing On Life, said something profound on her personal blog, to me, "although i have been somewhat hit or miss lately, I am so grateful for this space…my tiny little corner of the inter webs.  For a million reasons, but mostly because it helps me to focus on the good in my ordinary life.  the beautiful.  the magical.  the little things that bring me so much happiness.  and as always, i am profoundly and eternally grateful for letting me share it with you."   In reading that passage I thought to myself, wow, I have really wasted my tiny corner of the inter webs by not sharing my joys, my everyday ordinary life, even sometimes my sorrows.  This is my space so consider this my new focus. I know, you are probably saying, I think she's said that before.  Yes, I probably have said it more than once, you know the saying, try and try again.  Well, this is that "try again".  The 2nd reason is I seem to be motivated by a plan.  The last time I blogged on a regular basis was the countdown to my 73rd birthday, listing 73 things that made me happy.  So with that in mind, I think today is a good day for plan #2. There are 100 days to celebrate this amazing season of summer, It is my desire to blog during these 100 days, sharing my thoughts and to focus on all the good in my everyday life. 


So here goes....I treated myself to a new lens this past week, the Tamron 150-600mm. And oh baby, this is a dream for photographing critters and birds. I bought a "used" one, saving myself a scant $100 on Amazon's Bargain Shop. And yes, it is heavy, but it does have Vibration Compensation, aka shaky hand help.  I have only tried it in my backyard, but I am tickled pink with the results. Above I captured this image standing on my back porch (door open) with the birdbath at the back of the yard. (granted I don't have a huge backyard, but still....)  Mrs. Cora Cardinal comes daily to bathe. 


And then....this is a teeny tiny wren that lives around my backyard every summer.  She may be small, but she can belt out those tweets.... (couldn't help adding the verbage).  The texture is by Jai Johnson, she is amazing, check her out on YouTube, The Daily Texture. 


The Spring flowers have pretty much sprung....

The Bleeding Hearts are wilting.


My Weigelia Bush has lost all of it's blossoms.  I have had this bush for darn near 40 years, when Lisa was a teenager I took her prom pictures by this bush.  If I would dig deep in the bowels of the basement I could probably find one, but not today.


And how about those alums...they are so regal standing tall with their royal purple flowers.


I will miss you Spring, but we have 100 days of summer ahead. Hallelujah!!!

Until next time....


21 comments:

  1. What a treat to find the link to your blog! I look forward to your beautiful pictures and your beautiful outlook on life.

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  2. Deana,
    Your cardinal picture is amazing! Yea for a new lens and birdie features. As usual, your flower photos are stunning.
    Looking forward to following you these 100 days of summer. :)

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  3. Good to see you back and what a fancy, nice new (used) lens you have there.

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  4. oh my goodness...those sweet birdies. we were just at the lake this past weekend and saw some eastern bluebirds. i was telling my husband that i would love to have a really good zoom to be able to capture these beauties. will check into this one! and i am wishing you 100 days of magic, and beauty, and light my sweet friend. xoxoxo

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  5. Needed to read and see everything about this post. I would love that lens. I do miss photography. The bird shots are stunning.and I look forward to more of them!

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  6. Hi Deanna Well at last you are back, I missed you posts so much as I was always greatly inspired by your photography. Now you have aa new lens, WOW! i can see you are going to have great fun with it. Now the Cardinal shots are fantastic especially the first one. I love all the close ups of the flowers, you are so good at photographing them. Now you have set yourself a new challenge and I look forward to the next 99 days and hopefully more. God bless.

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  7. Oh my Deanna . . . You have the best photos ever . . .
    The cardinal is scrumptious . . . curious about the blue in his/her wing . . .
    And the wren, bleeding heart and weigelia . . . so lovely . . .
    I enjoyed your "happy 73" and look forward to your 100 days . . .
    That new lens certainly delivered . . .
    Although your photos have always "delivered" for me!
    Happto read/see you today . . .

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  8. Stunning bird captures - you are really into that new camera lens! Well done. Such beautiful seasonal flowers too. I shall look forward to your summery postings!

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  9. Hey Deanna!! We all go through those blogging slumps but it's always nice to be back. THAT is a nice lens!!! Great shots-Happy Belated 73...Somehow I missed that post. I think the 100 days of summer is a great way to get your groove back. Happy to have you back.

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  10. I love your idea for a 100 days of summer project. I haven't posted on my blog since February and I really want to, but I'm having trouble deciding how to start. You've inspired me! I love your lady Cardinal photos - so sharp! Looks like you got yourself a great new lens!

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  11. Deanna, thank you so much for your beautiful images and meaningful posts.

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  12. So excited to see your new blog...and those photos...Absolutely Stunning! I love the idea of 100 days of summer and can't wait to see more! I use to have a blog, but something happened because someone else took it over? I guess you have to have a domain name? Thanks for sharing this beautiful post, Deanna!

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  13. Yeah I am so happy you posted on your little space of the (Inter Web) as it was such a treat. Gorgeous photo's of everything. Congrats on that new lens.

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  14. So lovely to see you and the treasures in your yard. I too wish I would make more use of my little space on the web, but actually, I've really enjoyed going back and letting the memories from earlier years give me joy. Today's memories will be documented...somehow...eventually. :-)

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  16. Hiya pumpkin!!
    Lovin that you have had gaps in posting too. (mine are more like the grand canyon) but you are so right, being able to make ones self be purposeful in expressing our gratefulness is important. Im working on getting my camera gear again and I will make note of your suggestion of your lens.

    Hugs doll... Claudia

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  17. Beautiful photos...as usual.

    Looking forward to those 100 days with you. Well...your photos. As you know, Summer in Texas, can be a challenge.

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  18. I so enjoy your photography. Hope you stay with posting :-).

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  19. Great to see you and your new focus. You are going to love that lens!! Beautiful shots!!

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  20. Those photos with the new lens are awesome Deanna! I'm happy that you'll be posting more often. I like seeing who's visiting and what's blooming in your yard.

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