2-14-10 Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

2-13-10 Honey Locust Trees

Honey Locust Trees are native to the United States and are primarily found in the moist river valleys. This one was found in Swanson Park, a wooded park near our house. I'm very familiar with these trees as they are also found on our lake property in northeastern Kansas. The thorns are very strong and if stepped on at the correct angle, can go through a flip-flop, sandle or watershoe.

2-12-10 Lady of Fashion High Society

This is an English bone china figurine my mother-in-law gave many years ago. It is from the "Ladies of Fashion High Society" collection by CoalPort. My mother-in-law was only able to give me this one and another one before she passed away, so both are very special.

2-11-10 The Arch

The Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture using the wide-angle view. I then found this limb arching over a walking path at a nearby pond and wondered how it ended up growing like this.

2-10-10 Krispy Kreme's, Anyone?

The Publications Class was selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts tonight at Parent/Teacher Conferences to earn money towards purchasing a camera for their class. Out of 100, they sold almost half tonight. They will be selling them again tomorrow as we have conferences all day. I think they will make their goal.

2-9-10 Valencian Girl & Goose

These two pieces of Lladro (pronounced "yah-dro") belonged to my mother-in-law. She loved collecting Lladro pieces and would purchase them relatively inexpensively when she would visit her family in England. She had quite a collection and when she passed away, the collectioin was divided between my husband and his sister.

2-8-10 Scenes From A Snowstorm

Since I was up at 5:30 a.m. to see if we were having school, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of our back deck. With the way the snow fell on the patio furniture, it almost looks like a scene from underwater on the Titanic.

2-7-10 Disney U. Bound

Daily Shoot suggests "taking 3 objects and making a digital picture story." Well, our son leaves for Orlando, FL today, for a 6mo internship with the Disney College Program. He will be working in the Transportation Dept. at Disney World and discovering what it is like to be involved with a Fortune 500 corporation. Say "Hi" to Mickey for us.

2-6-10 Coils of Air

As it was another dreary day in Oz, I turned to The Daily Shoot for an idea. They suggested taking a photo with "a sense of movement with curves". Then as I was walking through the garage I spotted my picture. This is the air hose to my husband's air compressor.

2-5-10 Another Dreary Day

This is what our weather has been for the past several weeks. I realize it's winter, but this is getting old. (sigh!) When will spring be here?

2-4-10 A Little Spring All Year Around

If only I could grow ferns like these. These lovely ferns belong to our counselor. She puts them out under her trees and on her back deck from spring through late summer. Then once school starts, she brings them to my classroom and I get to enjoy them from fall through early spring. I'm glad she wants to share. (Keilo is there for perspective!)

2-3-10 Sharp As A Tack

Today's Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture that was "sharp". That's what I did.

2-2-10 Good Morning, Sunrise

Although it was another foggy morning, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch the sunrise. The sun has shown so little here over the past month, that I wasn't sure what it was. If Punxsutawney Phil was here in Kansas, he definitely would have seen his shadow.

2-1-10 Fort Snow

Went to get the mail today and noticed the neighborhood kids had built a snow fort. I like the utility flags on top. I wonder whose yard they took them out of? Can't you just imagine hiding behind the wall while launching snowballs at your friends??!!!

1-31-10 Project Linus

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of delivering these hand-made, tied-fleece, blankets to a chapter of Project Linus. Project Linus is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes hand-made blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need of security, warmth and comfort. The blankets that are collected here, stay in the area and are distributed to local hospitals, children's homes and other services that deal with children. I learned about them through the Disney "Give A Day, Get A Day At Disney" web site.

1-30-10 Olive Garden

Went out to eat at Olive Garden with some friends. As we were leaving, my friend commented on how pretty she thought the entrance looked with the snow, vines and lighting. I'd have to agree.

1-29-10 I Buried It Here Somewhere...

For a dog who hates to get wet, this one loves the snow. I let him out this morning and laughed as he ran and played in the 6 inches of snow that fell. Not exactly sure what he is looking for however.

1-28-10 Morning Sunrise

On my way to school this morning, I just couldn't pass up the sunrise. That's all the sun we received today. The temperatures have been steadily falling all day. Snow, heavy snow, is forcasted for tonight and all day tomorrow. (sigh!) Winter is not over yet.

1-27-10 Bridge Over Calm Water

This footbridge is one of several in Sedgwick County Park. We love going to this park to run, walk, Geocache, and people watch. Many of it's structures are popular for taking portraits.

1-26-10 A Bird's Eye View

The Daily Shoot suggested to get a "Bird's Eye View". So to the second story I went; opened the window and hung over the edge. I have to admit this shot would look a lot better in late spring when the flower pots are full of pretty spring flowers.