Testing and an Announcement

I made it past 100 posts!!

Okay, this is just a test. I found a new photo hosting site that I like, but I'm having a hard time linking.

ZOO!!

I realized last night that I haven't been updating very regularly lately. Well, yesterday we spent the day the the National Zoo in DC and I have a lot to show for it! :)

Here's you're first Zoo Picture!

Birthday #2

The 20th was birthday #2. I took some cute pictures of the kids and some strange ones of my sister. Birthday #3 is Friday and it's mine! :)

Skinky

These guys weren't part of what we were going for, but they were a nice surprise. I thought at first that we might get to see some action (which would have been a little disturbing) but they only felt like cuddling!

Old Tree

This tree is huge. I posed Michelle just to try to give an idea of how massive it feels. It's probably as old as the building it guards.

Fields

Michelle and I took a trip to see Rosewell this past weekend. We had a blast, learned some things and I got some interesting pictures.

I will miss you Michelle!!

1/3 iris

i have more pictures just waiting on my camera! but there's no time for that now :(

iris take 2

Iris

I was home sick today (nearly dead) and had some time to take a couple pictures. The thought was that these could go in my purple/blue bathroom or guest room. I wonder how it's look on canvas...

Bamboooooo

An old one for tonight. I'm off to bed now! YAY!!! It's the weekend!!!!

pear collage

Collage

Tried something a little different. Not sure I like it...

The Story of the Tree

By now, I've had a little practice telling this story. In fact, on Thursday, it constituted about 1/2 of my lesson (we were learning about imagery).

So, here you go...Once upon a time, there stood a beautiful tree. She lived in the front yard of a home that was by no means a castle, but was well loved anyway. The tree reached as high as the roof of the modest 2-story house and spread her curved and much-adorned branches over most of the front yard. Her name was Bradford Pear.

Now, Bradford Pear was well known for being the first tree to bloom in the springtime. As soon as Winter tucked itself away and his child Spring began to stretch her fingers over the land of Gloucester County, Bradford Pear would bloom. And she didn't just peak out a blossom or two at a time, she exploded in tiny white flowers that fell like snow when the breeze blew through. So early did she bloom, that by the time other trees were getting their first hints of life, she had already let loose her tiny leaf buds and was a beautiful array of white flowers and bright green leaves. And Bradford Pear was very proud of this.

Well, one day the people who lived inside the house that Bradford Pear guarded decided to go to the town's annual festival. And not only were they going to go, they were going to participate. They spent long hours ordering supplies and cleaning off silver to sell at the festival. They spent much money preparing and stocking and readying themselves for the festival. And they were excited to go.

But then the day of the festival arrived. The house awoke before dawn and began the last-minute preparations for the event. They bathed and dressed and checked and rechecked plans and lists and chattered happily like birds on a beautiful morning. Only this morning there were no birds. And when they looked out of the window, they saw why.

Over everything, there was a thick layer of newly fallen snow. The white flakes still fell from the sky and looked like the petals of the Bradford Pear when the Spring's breezes blew just right.
So concerned were they with the cold in the air and the 4 inches of snow covering the ground that they didn't even notice Bradford Pear who was shivering under her own layer of snow. But Bradford didn't care. She was being brave and facing this new and unknown enemy with great strength. Still, she could feel her already-laden branches start to shake and tremble under the weight of all of this strange white coldness.

The family continued to prepare for the festival because she was important to them that they go. The man braved the falling flakes and went to Carly the Car to brush the snow off of her and warm her insides. He didn't think of attempting the same with Bradford Pear.

As Bradford watched, the weight became too much. With a heavy heart, but even heavier branches, Bradford Pear decided to let down her beautiful arms and release her beautiful petals and bid farewell to her beautiful leaves. This new snow enemy was too strong and Bradford Pear was meant for warmer weather.

The man and the women that lived in the house heard the last words of Bradford Pear in the form of "Pop. Pop. Pop. CRASH" as her branches tumbled towards the earth in a shower of snow and snow-like petals.

And so, the day ended prematurely, not only for the festival, but for Bradford Pear as well.

Tweet!

Here's a little bird to wish you good morning! Does anyone know what kind of bird he is?

PS

I'm a little worried about tomorrow's entry. You may have to wait a couple of days for it. Tomorrow is the Daffodil Festival and I'm going to be VERY busy!

Pear again

Just a tree

I really liked the color of the sky behind it though. I'm trying to decide if it would make a neat print or if it's just too boring!

Pear, Pear Everywhere

One thing I didn't know about these trees is that they smell REALLY bad.

Shame

It's a shame. I took most of my Pear Pictures with the wrong white balance setting. They would have been (more) cool had they been taken correctly.

Spring!

This little guy wants me to know... Spring is here!

Cherry Again

Here's another of the cherry that was on here Thursday. I really like this picture of the cherry. I'm not sure there's anything special about it. It just makes me happy!