SUNFLOWER SNAPS

ORCHIDS

2012-03-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

At the Orchid show several weeks ago, this one caught my eye.

Appears to be human like.

Way too delicate for me to have in my home.

A very different orchid with a three points pink petal.

Sorry I don't get names very well, I just take photos.

Most anything purple will stop me in my tracks.

This one is sort of like the yellow one I posted last week.

More colorful, and it looks like a person to me in some ways.

Nuttall's Woodpecker

2012-03-08T20:00:00.017-08:00

Nuttall's Woodpecker

I was informed this is not a Acorn Woodpecker from a ornithologist.
Apparently these Nuttall's are nearly unique to California.
Some get into Baja too.

I get Acorn Woodpeckers and the Downy Woodpeckers too.
I guess I better be looking at the bird book more close.
Or contact my ornithologist for advice.

The truth of the matter is I get photos from my deck.

Been so busy.

I look at blogs, check my people, see great stories and wonderful reads.

Thank you all for being so entertaining.

Will be visiting my blogger friends, you know who you are...

Anniversary Orchid

2012-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

DEROCLES

STOVE LOVELY

In February I posted one of many orchids I saw at Orchid show in Santa Rosa, California.

Except the one above was a gift from my husband for our anniversary.

He realized that I have taken a liking to orchids since my other 4 are blooming for the second year.

What I did not notice about this orchid until I took photographs of it?

The heart in the middle.

Look close because it was difficult for me to do a lot of focusing this morning.

I think I need to practice my focus, and get my eyes in gear.

Yellow and red flowers are hard for me to achieve.

I was stunned when saw this today and the heart.

If you have eyes like mine, we need all the help we can get.

I highlighted the heart to be seen better.

Thank you visitors and followers for your great comments.

As you can see I have not given up yet.

Quit or Stay

2012-03-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

This is the big question for me the past few weeks...

I promised to post more orchids.

I love orchids, and have a lot of photos to share.

It just didn't happen yet.

Contemplating if I should keep my blog active or take a long break.

This evening I decided to post a view outside from my deck.

No I am not dead, I'm retired, and never bored.

Just wondering why I have a hard time doing things that I love to do?

Actually I have a lot of things I think I should be doing.

Wondering if blogging makes makes a person insane after time.

What are your thoughts?

Orchid Time

2012-02-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

Last week there was the annual Orchid Show in my area.

I went last year, you would not believe how many species of orchids they had there.

They do sell them, and educate people on how to care for them.
The Orchid Club of course encourages one to join their group.

I have three orchids of my own.

Currently they are blooming since January.

It feels good to know they are "still alive" after a whole year in my care.

I received a pretty yellow one for my anniversary last week.

Maybe I will take photos of MY orchids and post them this week.
Thanks Ellie for that encouragement.

More Cats

2012-02-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

Got Hair?

2012-02-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine not having any hair?

I am so glad there are people that adore their pets.

Did you realize that pets such as this has to be carried around in a blanket?

What is your guess on this critter?

Name it...

Friends

2012-02-03T15:38:00.000-08:00

Some of my Santa Cruz posts are giving me more experience.

I updated to to "trial" for the Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 on my Imac.

Playing with the treatments is half the fun.

Hair in the front is actual, I did fill in one spot so the face would not be visible.

Not until now I see an extra shadow in the photo on lower right.

These two women are very good friends.

Since I didn't ask them if I could post the photo, I won't mention their names yet.
No they are not surfers.

Striving to keep up the pace of one photo a day again.

But you have heard that before...

Surfers at Sea

2012-02-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

I have known a few surfers in my life back in the day.

"Surfers never die, they may loose their grip".

When I saw this man come out of the waters of northern California, I knew this had to be his passion.

Continuing to surf later in life, in the cold waters, with no wet suit.

Tough skin or what, I admired his spirit.

I took this photo last year, and knew I would post it on my blog someday.

I did tinker around with the treatments for this one.

While driving to Santa Cruz, California last month I stopped along the shore several times.

I took this photo on my return trip, early evening just before sunset.

There were a lot of people out on the water with their huge sails up in the air.

This is about as close to a sunset photograph that I can ever seem to do or to find.

There was a woman standing in the water with her surf board watching the skies.

The clouds and sky opening up for that last peak of sun bursting down.

I didn't mind watching on the sands.

Scrub Jay

2012-01-31T21:57:00.000-08:00

I have been absent from blogging again.

This evening I decided to post this Western Scrub Jay that took over the feeder last week.

Sometimes I feel like a Scrub Jay.

I can't turn blue.

However I do hang out and take time to notice the birds in my yard.

Ocean Side of Santa Cruz

2012-01-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

On the way to Santa Cruz I stopped several times to watch the sea.

I met a man there who was fishing, he said, "the water is good for your soul".

How true…

The waves crashing down, rocks moving, birds flying, with the sunshine.

A bit cold but I am not complaining.

This is what Northern Calififornia is all about.

A short 24 second video of the ocean side, sounds of the sea.
There is something to be said about sitting on a rock watching nature.
I think it does feed the souls of many.
It sure did for me.

Pier Photographs Finished

2012-01-18T15:58:00.000-08:00

Here is the Sea Lion with mouth closed giving me the eye.

(see prior day with teeth and mouth open)

This has to be the family living under the pier, swimming around close by together in the sun.

Mother does her nurturing thing, while dad stays close by.

I then see what appears to be an older sea lion, looking tired.

He was not moving much, sleeping a lot.

All along you can hear the others in the background.

All in a days work.

This is the end of the pier photographs that I am posting.

Tomorrow will be more of Santa Cruz life, water, and beautiful weather.

California Sea Lion

2012-01-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

When you walk on the pier in Santa Cruz, California, you can count on seeing seals.

I stood there for a long time listening and watching them.

There were groups, some young and some very old.

This guy looked up at me begging for a photo.

more tomorrow...

Santa Cruz, California

2012-01-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

Santa Cruz, California
Immature Western Gull

I have been out of town for the weekend to visit some friends in Santa Cruz.

Thanks to Jim, Becky, Linda and Bill for a really great weekend.

Before getting to their house I stopped at the Santa Cruz Pier.

Seeing the ocean, and the sound of the seals were all calling to me.

You can see the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in background.

"The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park ^[1] and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States".

I was looking at it remembering many years ago I came here with my husband and children for the amusement park adventure. I hope they remember it, because I sure did.

Then all of a sudden I had a Immature Western Gull in front of the roller coaster landing on the railing with wings expanded.

I decided that I would post one photo a day of my time in Santa Cruz.

If you know me, otherwise I would dwell on all the pictures at once, then procrastinate on which photographs to post.

to be continued tomorrow...

Whimsy Me

2012-01-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

Went out to do some errands this afternoon.

Limping along in some gardens.

Difficult to keep up with the blog daily.

I thought I could do one photo a day.

Will keep trying.

Catching Up

2012-01-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

January 1st, 2012

Yes I did...

Went to the lap pool and hot tub for the New Year start.

Not necessarily a resolution but a way of life.

Kicking did not bother my foot.

I lost a lot of my ability to swim laps not doing anything for the past two months.

Yesterday and Today

January 3rd and 4th

Our two grandsons staying with us.

To help our son and daughter in law with school being out.

We have been quite busy.

Yesterday out to breakfast, then to get my oil changed.

The shop owner said he has never seen such great kids WAIT for a car to be serviced.

They always get those compliments out in public.

They even order their own food with yes please, no thank you.

We hit the polo field so they could really BLAST golf balls as hard as they wanted to hit.

Proud Gavin (6) on the left got in tree his first time on Christmas Day with his dad's help.

Miles on right (8) goes up the redwood all the time.

Our prior house has many redwoods that they did NOT climb.

Our current home has one GIANT redwood, and of course they love it.

So I guess we are going back to the polo field now.

They will go home late afternoon today...

Almost 2012

2011-12-31T22:38:00.000-08:00

Oh the days in this past year have flown by...

Speaking of flying, this Acorn Woodpecker was at my feeder along with three others.

They all took turns for most of the afternoon.

I took this photo through the sliding glass window out on the deck side of house.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to all my friends, bloggers, followers, old and the new to come in 2012.

I do not think I will be up to bring in the new year.

Usually we go out to dinner on New Years Eve.

Passing this year.

Maybe the hibernation mode is settling in.

Our winter is not its usual this year.

A few sprinkles yesterday, but now just cold and frosty.

The sun comes out in the day, I should be out there.

Big question?

Will I get back to swimming and spending time in the hot tub?

This is my goal.

Good Night

Sleep Tight

(yes this is me back in the day)

My Fish Tails Video

2011-12-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

The story behind this trial and error video...
Music included, turn on your speakers!

I tried to video with my Nikon Camera.

Then used my iphone4 video feature to compare.

The iphone4 video seemed better to me, and easier to post.

Not so sure of the exact quality, the Nikon was not focusing right.

Viewing this just before posting, I wonder why the video is so small?

I thought it would be bigger.

I do see the viewer can have option to enlarge.

User may need to practice!

and she will...

Featuring my fish tank in live living color during feeding time this morning.
You will see the ground feeders going for the sinking tablets better known as "cookies".

OK well I viewed it again and do not see the Blue German in my tank!
Will feature him next time, he is quite unique.
Will go check and see if he is still in the tank.

Five More Fish

2011-12-29T16:05:00.000-08:00

Blue Gourami

They are middle dwellers in the tank.

Peaceful in tank community as long as there aren't other males, they can be territorial.

To me they look like the moon in the sky.

This is a male.

I have ALL males in my tank.

Black Skirt Fish

I have three of these, because they do better in a group.

Groups are usually in threes.

For some reason they do better, they have friends as they go schooling together.

Black Neon Tetra

These are the newest to my tank.

I have nine of them.

Middle top dwellers, it is so fun watching them schooling all over the tank.

Cardinal Neon

B l U R R Y little fish won't be still.

Use to have six, it is now five, one got eaten because it was the runt of the tank.

Platy

Platys are gentle fish that get along with everyone.

I like their colors.

I have others and a swordtail that hang out together, but they wouldn't let me take their photos.

TOMORROW

I hope to present you with a live video of my tank, because the others never stand still.

Lets see if my procrastination gets me down between now and then...

Keyhole (remember the big guy from yesterdays post), is the only one who stays still in tank.

If you gave him a chance, he may just lay down on the rocks.

To be continued tomorrow...

My Fish Tales

2011-12-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

Exploring My Fish Tank

I received a new lens from my husband for Christmas.

One that I wanted for a year or so.

Meet Rubbernose...

the scientific name for him is Pleco.

He looks odd, but I adore watching this fish among the others in my 25 gallon tank.

I thought I'd feature two or three different fish each day so you can see all the varieties I enjoy.

Rubbernose eats mainly the algae on the glass.

He is more of a bottom feeder, but yes he swims.

However you will see photo below of him eating "Sinking Wafers".

I call the wafers "cookies".

Isn't he cute?

He has some freckles, and beady black eyes.

Every morning I feed the fish flakes.

He doesn't come to the surface to eat.

The sinking wafers or cookies are dropped in, they sink to the rocks.

If you look close you can see him trying to open his mouth to get a WHOLE one in.

He gnaws on on the wafers.

Above is another character in my tank.

Dojo...

they are loaches, and they look like eels.

Beady black eyes, with whiskers.

He eats the flake food, and he likes the wafers too.

This guy is funny as he lays his long body across the greens in the tank.

My grandsons love watching him swim.

All the fish were eyeing me last night.

They are more active in the evenings, but seemed to be parading back and forth more so.

MOSTLY KEYHOLE!

He is the biggest and the oldest guy in my tank.

Shy in the day, sleeps late in the mornings.

Last night he was in rare form.

He got right up to the glass front and wanted all of the attention so it seemed.

People think fish have no personality.

Most of them really do, they get use to a routines, and are amazing to watch.

To be continued with more fish tails tomorrow...

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

Silver is bright, easy for me to notice with I walk in a room filled with decorations.

I think the sparkles, the shines, are nice.

But I do notice the little things in life.

Fires are peaceful.

This was in Ledson Winery, near Kenwood Ca.

The winery looks like a castle on the outside.

Thinking of my blogger friends old and new.

I will continue to look for my followers, as they do me.

I appreciate all the sharing we do.

Christmas Eve here in my home this evening is very quiet, candles, music, not a sound in the house.

My family arrives tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing them.

Good Night...

Flowers & Grandsons

2011-12-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

A little time on the deck today during sundown.

A corner in the sun, it felt good.

Winter is here, no rains, heavy frosted mornings.

The birdbaths freeze.

Finally I ordered plant covers so I don't have to use sheets and dishtowels.

A quick trip to Chateau St. Jean Winery down the road.

In their gardens I see what I call Ornamental cabbages.

When I came home and saw this photograph on computer,

I saw little hearts on the edges of this plant.
Do you see them?

I would like to try growing them in a pot on the deck next year.

Suddenly it dawned on me that this would only entice the deer all the more to our yard.

I may try it on the deck with a cover at night for those night time grazers.

I did not mention that I had the grandsons for the day.

Twelve hours, school is out, and I offered to watch them.

Since we live on a golf course, they LOVE to golf.

We got them two real clubs to whack the ball around.

BUT I need to be out there to watch them.

There are rules and generally they are pretty good.

Golfers that come by are so friendly.

They often give the boys more golf balls to keep.

Today a man gave them a new box of three golf balls to use.

Perhaps he was watching the huge swing the eight year old has developed.

What I would really like to have is a croquet set.

I use to play this when I was a child with my brother and sister.

It would be more my speed since I choose NOT to golf.

I don't want a new set, used would be fine.

Should I ask Santa?

Meet Rudy and Shag

2011-12-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I went to the flea market with my husband to wander.

Hobbling around I should say, in the cold.

Usually I do not purchase things unless they are practical or needed.
My fun is watching other people and what they buy.

Suddenly I noticed dogs that go to the markets with their people.

This Basset Hound caught my eye.
I suppose because they look so sad, low to the ground and my sister adores them. Whenever I see a hound I usually try to photograph it and send to her.

Meet Rudy...

He was strolling along at the ripe age of 12, and never missed a thing.

Not the type to sit and mosey slowly said the man holding his leash.

"Ruddy goes with me everywhere, he boasted"

I could see why, all the dog lovers (usually women) stopped to talk to Ruddy.

Rudy spent a lot of time looking behind him.

I think he thought he may of missed the deal of the day...

Then there was Shag.

He was in a puppy carrier that hung on the back of his owner.

It was so darn cute.

His head bobbling like it was on a spring.

He was curious, but happy to be safe in his bag carrier.

Some of you know I am not a dog owner, and sometimes fear dogs.

But these two had me stopping in my tracks.

I told Rudy's owner not to try and pose Rudy, I would just follow them.

And I did.

What is not to love about a white fluffy ball of fur like Shag?

He reminded me of the dog I had as a child.

A Cock a Poo, black, named Inky.

Inky never got to do what dogs do today, coming in the house, rides in the car, or even a walk.

He had a big back yard with three kids to chase around.

Winding Down

2011-12-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

Not a Christmas ornament

Not my earrings or necklace

Just a wind hanging piece on the deck outside.

I was sitting out there a few days ago, saw the light...

Trying to overcome a busy week.

I do see the light, looking for the New Year.

Foot Progress

2011-12-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

October 12th I had Bunion Surgery.

Nearly 10 weeks ago.

Two and a half months ago seems like ages to me.

As I sit here writing my LONG LONG over due post, I think I have made great progress.

Prior to that I felt it would never heal.

How do I feel at this point in time?

I can walk.

I have been driving for two weeks.

YIPPEE
NOT DRIVING FOR TWO MONTHS was the MOST difficult for me to accept.

December 2nd I went to doctor for more ex-rays, he told me the bone is fusing together nicely with the screw in place. Then he adds the next two weeks could be challenging to walk without that BOOT. Because the boot was totally FLAT on the bottom with no flex when walking. Meaning I have to bend the foot and the toe!
I can wear shoes now, but found only ONE in my closet that I can comfortable tolerate.

Which shoes can Jane wear now?
"TEVA MARY JANE'S"

I continue the exercises of bending the big toe for more flexibility.
Doing this early on helped me be where I am today with walking.

Doctor has been upfront with me all along.

There will be swelling for SEVERAL months.

IT TAKES A FULL YEAR TO BE TOTALLY HEALED

Apply ice, and then heat for swelling or pain relief.

The pain is nothing like those first couple of weeks.

Everyone heals differently as we all know.

Some people require a shot at this point in time to walk.

I did not think this was necessary for myself.

The swelling evolves by the later part of mid day.
This is the only thing that seems to be painful, unless I put on a binding shoe.

There is hope!

BEFORE FOOT SURGERY PHOTO
is all behind me now...

Remember that I seem to be procrastinating on my blogging.
When I look at it and the people that I follow daily.
Be patient, I am not giving up on myself...