29 July 2010: An Unwilling Subject

Bill found this little white caterpillar that wasn't very keen on getting his photo taken but here he is anyway!

15 July 2010: Stop Buggin' Me

The next generation of our little bug friend from last summer seems to have returned. We'll see if we can find him again when he gets bigger.

29 June 2010: Slimy Slug Shoot

I found this slimy little slug wandering up in the woods near the edge of our property while I was picking some wild blackberries (YUM). He was rather photogenic so he is a nice collage of his photo shoot.

27 March 2010: Ivy Ivy Everywhere

We have a couple areas in our yard that has ivy. I HATE IT! It is so invasive and I want it to magically go away!

19 March 2010: Mow Mow Mow Your Lawn

First day of spring is tomorrow and our grass is already growing (at least the patches above the septic). Bill will be excited to get back on the riding mower soon!

6 January 2010: Water Wizardry

I was doing some dishes today and while cleaning a bottle, the water erupted off the top. I captured some cool stuff during this water fall experiment!

17 October 2009 Photo: Christmas In October

Confession number one...this photo was taken yesterday. So remember in blogs gone by when I talked about not being mobile due to a sprained ankle? Well...I decided sprained was not fun enough and amped it up. I went to the orthopedist yesterday as a follow up to make sure I was doing everything right to heal quickly. The doctor came into the exam room, asked me some questions and started pushing around on my foot/ankle while asking what hurt. He hit a part of my foot on the outside below the ankle and I said yeah...that really is still tender. To my surprise, he said well that is because you have a broken bone. WHAATTTT?!?!?!

Confession number two...I almost cancelled that doctor's appointment because my foot was feeling much better and I was able to walk on it a bit without the crutches. I could not believe my ears. Since it seemed to be healing so well, I said...I guess I will just keep doing what I was doing and let it heal au naturale. No such luck! "You will have to be in a cast for 6 weeks." WHHATTTTT?!?!? No, you don't understand, Mr. nice Doctor...I drive for my job ALOT! So is there is a cast you can put on where I can continue to drive. Again...no such luck! "So what color cast would you like?" Invisible?? Not an option. So he asked me if I wanted to see the x-ray before I got casted. Oh sure, why not. I am sure if the ER doctor couldn't see it, I wouldn't be able to notice it either.

Confession number three...I would like to go back to the ER and say not so very nice things to them. The bone that was broken was sooooo easy to see. I am not a medical professional (but I play one on TV) and I could clearly see the line going through the bone. WTF...did they think I opened up my skin and drew on my bone with a black Sharpie??? So off I went to the nice Ortho Tech who was to put on my cast. Again I was asked what color I wanted. I'd like a nice orange and black mixture. He laughed at me...we don't have orange. WHATTTT?!?!?! It is almost Halloween after all, so I thought it would be a good costume. However, when you live in Syracuse which is the home of the Syracuse University Orange, I imagine it is hard to keep in stock. So I went with a nice green. Lovely isn't it?!?!

Confession number four...I feel badly for Bill. So for the next 6 weeks I cannot drive...I cannot put weight on my foot...I cannot get the cast wet. What can I do? I can keep it elevated and I can go stark, raving MAD!!!!!!! If you know me, you know I am not one to sit still for very long so we will see who goes crazy first...me or Bill. Bill's driving alone might kill me.

Confession number five...I already am trying to figure out how I can get out of the house and do things like shopping, movies, continue taking pictures for the blog, and dancing (hey I might want to). Luckily both Wegman's and P&C have the little carts you can drive around with the basket in the front for groceries. And don't you worry you faithful blog followers, I will not let this foot get me down. The pictures will continue...

Confession number six...I climbed a ladder while we were apple picking. I didn't really need to climb the ladder to get the apples as they were close enough to the ground to pick without the ladder. However the photo opportunity I wanted was on the ladder over looking the apple trees down to the valley. No I didn't get the picture. No it wasn't worth it. But I did get a pretty green cast...Merry Christmas to me!

14 October 2009 Photo: Wearing Your Heart On Your Gourd

Bill went and bought gourds for our fall decorating. Doesn't it look like a heart on the front gourd? Unfortunately I am still not at capacity to do the outside decorating. Hopefully by the weekend, I will be mobile enough!

19 September 2009 Photo: Bumper Crops

We went to the Farmer's Market today and there were so many peppers and tomatoes. I wish I had time to make more salsa but not this weekend since I am only home for about 48 hours. It took all of my control not to start buying pumpkins for the fall/halloween. I guess I can wait a couple more weeks for when we can go out and pick them at our favorite pumpkin patch. It's almost time for the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

1 September 2009 Photo: Smooth As Glass

Today marks a couple things...my first day back out on the road for work and beginning my 9th month of doing this blog. As I was driving to Vermont, I drove through the Adirondack State Park and found this serene scene along the way. It was just so peaceful since no one was out and about yet and I had it all to myself!

27 August 2009 Photo: Fall Is Coming

The humidity is finally gone and the fall seems to have arrived - at least temporarily. I woke up this morning with a chill in the air and mist coming off the water. I am eager for the fall as it is my favorite time of the year but sad to see the long days of summer come to end.

20 August 2009 Photo: Lazy Lady

Here is a ladybug haiku:

Little ladybug
taking a nap on the leaf
wind comes, she flies off

17 August 2009 Photo(s): Katy Or Charlie

So those of you who check out the blog regularly may recall when I was "Chasing Charlie" a couple weeks ago. I thought that Charlie was a grasshopper but I think I am guilty of mis-labeling this insect. After stalking these bright green creatures all summer (http://wide-angle-lens.blogspot.com/search/label/grasshopper) I finally did a litte research because this latest one was making this strange clicking sound (singing) when Bill found it. Apparently it is related to the grasshopper so I wasn't completely wrong, but it is a katydid.

Anyway, Katy became my model and found herself on assignment in our yard. So do you think this is the same katydid whose picture I first took in early July and late July? I think I see the same sparkle in her/his eye. :)

To find out more about the katydid, check this out http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/true_katydid.htm.

Oh and the coolest thing...there are bright pink katydids. They look like flamingodids. http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2009/02/rare_pink_katydids.php. I hope I find one of those someday!

16 August 2009 Photo(s): Fields Of Gold

I went to the sunflower fields in Camillus again this year. I went several times last year when they had the sunflower maze. This year, since there has been so much rain and less sun, the flowers did not get as tall so I think they decided just to have these amazing fields of gold. They were still gorgeous but not quite as tall as last year and no maze. But if you are looking for a cool place to see thousands of sunflowers, the Veterans Memorial Park in Camillus is the place to go. It is free to park and walk around and the flowers are at their peak right now.

12 August 2009 Photo: Nearly Salsa

So I planted a whole bunch of tomato plants this year so I can continue to make my own salsa. They are finally getting red. Here is the first specimen!

9 August 2009 Photo: Prickly But Pretty And Purple

We have a fair amount of thistle growing in our yard so in staying with yesterday theme of Scotland, I decided ot make the national flower of this country the subject of today's photo of the day.

30 July 2009 Photo: Chasing Charlie

This is Charlie the grasshopper. Yes I named him because I spent the good part of the early morning chasing him around the yard. I know I already have a grasshopper pciture this month but he looks so good on the flower.

26 July 2009 Photo: Like Peas In A Pod

My best friend was visiting this weekend and we made pan fried gnocchi with pancetta and sugar snap peas. YUM! A few peas left over became today's photo...

10 July 2009 Photo(s): Patience Young Grasshopper

I found this grasshopper in my kitchen and captured him to bring him outside for a little photo shoot. He kept hopping all over the place...what's up with that? Add them to the list of difficult clients!

9 July 2009 Photo: Fruit Or Vegetable?

My tomato plants finally have little green fruits. Or is it vegetables? Either way I am glad the rain has stopped for now and my little Roma tomatoes are getting some much needed sun. The homemade salsa will be coming soon!!!