Sisters

There are several photos - equal time don't ya know!!

Emily's Sister Ania Helps With Her Hair

Or is it helping??

All Combed Out

Ania

Grandpa's Crafts

Craft Table

We've had 2 granddaughters all week and for the most part Grandma has been in charge of crafts and entertainment.  (Although Grandpa was in charge of taking in the "snake show" [refer to my other blog for details]).  Last night Ania and Grandpa worked on making photo weaves - she's better than grandpa, or at least quicker.  The granddaughters will be taking home a lot more "stuff" than they came with, but that's what grandparents are for...

Today they tell me that a hawk was chasing one the finches who feeds at our feeder.  I think the finch knew what he was doing, but he took at dive at our picture window with the hawk right on his tail and at the last moment veered away from the window.  The hawk, on the other hand, not knowing the window was there, plowed right into the window making a big thud and left feathers floating in the air.  He shook it off and went to hunt elsewhere.  Sure wish I'd been here to get a picture - but who would have been ready anyway.  Will miss the girls when they go - it's been fun and they've been good.

Church Softball League

Every chance he gets Noah is on the field with his Dad.  You can tell he is anxious to play...

Sitting Eagle

I was walking in a building and felt this "presence" above me.  I turned, and what did I see, but a sitting eagle....

Ok, so it wasn't a real one, but hey, I gotta shoot 'em where I see 'em!!

White Butterfly

I chased this little guy and he just wouldn't open his wings - just wanted to suck nectar...  I swear I can see him smirking...

Static Ball

Didn't want to get too close - was afraid it'd zap my camera.  But, it did look cool...

Waterloo Center for the Arts

Exhibit Art The Waterloo Center for the Arts

Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival

The Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival kicked off their 5th Season yesterday with a free concert at the Waterloo Center for The Arts in downtown Waterloo.  There were about 80 people in attendance.  The photograph is NOT one of the audience but is an art exhibit - one of those stuffed people...

Busy As A Bee

Ania Sorting Photographs

We have granddaughters staying with us this week and Ania decided it was time I got "organized".  I thought I was - I had them in a pile here, a pile there... basically I knew where they were.  But, now I will have labeled boxes and files so there will be no doubt where I can find them.  We're both a bit confused - where do you file a picture of a girl standing in front of a tree holding a purple flower? -  nature, portraits, trees, flowers, purple flowers, or leaves?

PS Don't tell her but there are probably 6,000 photographs (I have 20,000+ digital)...maybe we should count them?

Wilsons Glove

Church softball league last night...

Red Berries

Ity Bity red berries in my back yard.

 

Green Glass

White Rose

A Tough Life

Looks like this guy has had a tough life - battered and torn - pieces missing...perhaps he landed here for his last moments...

Guess not...

Red Parachute

I went out to the Hawkeye Junior College Arboretum to take MACRO Shots of flowers and butterflies.  I was looking for a Monarch butterfly, but they seemed to be everywhere except in front of my lens.  I imagine there's a technical name for this flower, but I'll just call it the "Red Parachute".

A Hot One

My Grandson James took this photo with his iPhone - makes me laugh... the squirrel found a cool place...  he looks plum tuckered out.

Birds of a Feather

How many birds can you fit on a feeder?  I love the bird on the left caught in mid-flap...

RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI stopped by overnight at our church.  We had groups from all over the U.S.

Red Glass

Bath Tub

This leaf has formed a little bath tub for bashful spiders and bugs.  Not sure what they use the brown leaf for - lunch while they bathe?

Red Headed Finch

Hello There!!

We went to Lowes today and were wondering around in the garden area and the plants were filled with butterflies.  I asked the Department Manager if it was ok to take some photos so I chased the butterflies...(actually they sat pretty still)... (shot with my Canon 100MM f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens).

When Is It My Turn?

When is it my turn?  He is waiting patiently above the feeder waiting for the crowd to clear...

Bashful Spider

I had a spit second to focus and fire - he then disappeared into the plant.  I waited - but, he didn't come back.

Safe At Home

Ity-Bity Purple Flower

I love the new macro lens...this flower is smaller than the nail on my pinky finger.

Grandma's Helpers

Grandma has a lot of help in the kitchen...

Lakeside Bird Condo

Even the birds have their condos t Clear Lake...

Macro Red Flower

A Macro red flower...

Blue Flower

I took this at a friends house in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Perhaps Mother Nature could tell me what kind of a flower it might be...

Behind the Scenes

Art in the park at the College Hill Art Festival - is that behind the scene, or behinds in the scene?

This Guy Won't Give Up

He keeps coming back - 

Calkins Nature Center

I visited Calkins Nature Center in Iowa Falls, Iowa yesterday working on an IFHS Class of 1969 Project.  I used a Neutral Density filter, really for the first time, since I was taking photographs in the middle of the day in harsh sunlight.  It softened the light a bit and kept a blue sky blue.

I didn't go inside the TeePee as it was 95 degrees outside with a humidity of at least that...  I have no idea what the heat index was but it had to be 1,000 (I exaggerate for effect).

Macro Flower

New Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro Lens

Chief Ted E. Bear

The "Chief" helped me out this evening and modeled for me while I tried out a new light meter and background.  Had a particular difficult time with skin tone and the Chief just wouldn't sit still.  Patience persevered...

Saddleback Dragonfly

My grandson James called the other day and wanted to make sure that I brought my camera when I picked him up for his week long visit.  It seems he had discovered a dragonfly in a spider's web and he wanted me to take a picture.  The above is a "painted" version of the photograph - both James I think its cool.

For the purists here is the original photo.

Young Construction Worker

This young construction worker was helping his Dad on a Habitat for Humanity Project.

Red Pepper

Back in the isle at HyVee (Grocery Store).  

Foul Ball

Unfortunately the catcher caught it and she was out - the 3rd one for the inning.

On Your Mark...Get Set...

Go...

Eyes

Eyes -

A Few Damp Moments

The Day was wet and rainy - skies cleared for the fireworks, but...it was damp now and then.

Fireworks

This year my photos are better than the last several years. I have learned a new technique or two and they seemed to work - you be the judge.

July 4th fireworks at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids. Here is a link to the other photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rallenhill/sets/72157624426418602/