Penning Photography Daily

I spotted this squirrel in our Maple tree whcih sits at arm’s length outside our sunroom.

I could have opened the window and handed him a nut, if I didn’t know he’d bolt.

It was a cold and wet morning.

I got the distinct feeling that this fella was waiting it out.

Earlier in the winter, I tossed some walnuts out to him, or some other squirrel which looks like him. He had been tearing apart all the hedge apples which adorn our yard. You could see piles of ripped up hedge apples all around the yard. I figured a few handfuls of walnuts would be a welcome treat.

Spring and new seeds can’t come soon enough for this guy.

Me too.

Until then, we hunker down and wait through the moments of cold and wet. We’ll get through it.

I took a tour of Lake Springfield today after work.

Looking for interest.

I found it in West Cotton Hill Park on the far south side of the lake near the I-55 exit.

A park, with some soggy ground, and no one around.

I gingerly stepped on the grassy parts and wound my way to the shoreline.

This tableau of picnic benches against the silhouette of trees with the waning sun behind spoke to me.

I can imagine the park is waiting to dry out a bit from the recent rains. Warm weather will bring families and friends to spend time sharing a meal and good times at the lakeside.

A cool breeze then would be welcome. Today, it was chilly.

Soon enough, laughter and warm friendships will fill the spaces here.

I worked on some client photos tonight and didn’t get finished.

So….

Here’s one from eight years ago.

Just the two of us. Karen & Matt.

The chair Karen is sitting in is from her grandfather. We carted it down from Minnesota years ago, then had it recovered. It still isn’t very comfortable. But, it has family history all over it.

The clock behind us is one that Karen worked hard for a few years to earn. She sold home decorating items in the evenings after teaching all day. It’s a beauty, but we don’t keep it wound often.

The things are not nearly as important as the two in this photo.

For thirty years, we’ve been together. Sometimes struggling, sometimes rejoicing, often comforting each other.

The fabric of our lives together keeps us warm, shelters us from harm, and provides a place of comfort for us both.

We got about 3 inches of “Thunder Snow” last night.

Thunder snow turned out to be very wet and heavy.

Look at these poor evergreens, how bowed down they are with their load of snow. There were lots of trees like that today.

The sun was shining as I was clearing off the snow on our cars. Tonight you could hardly see any snow anywhere.

As I was pushing off the snow, I was being pelted with the ice/snow chunks falling off the trees overhead. The warmth was doing it’s bit to clean up this snow.

This afternoon, it was all white puffy clouds and blue sky. Tomorrow it might get up to 60F.

Change happens no matter what we want. We might as well get used to adapting. Use it or lose it, I say!

The upper lagoon at Washington Park.

I was passing through, looking for a venue for a sky & clouds photo. The gray sky was full of rain today. I thought it might be perfect for something HDR-ish.

I saw this as I was passing by and pulled over. I took several angles. I wished for a tripod, as the light was low and I was keeping the ISO down for the HDR pull. I held it mostly steady for a half a second, thankful for what steadiness my in camera stabilization the Pentax K20D gave me.

I like how the wind died down in this one so I could get the reflection of the far trees in the water.

The branches above, empty of leaves, accentuate the mood.

Snow in late March. The never ending surprises of Mother Nature.

When I first pulled in to get out at the upper lagoon at Washington Park, this gray heron took off.

Dang!

I followed him with my eye, hoping that he would land on the far bank of the lagoon, giving me another chance.

As I was pulling my car around the drive of the lagoon, I spotted him, as he did me.

I stopped and switched lenses to the fine Pentax DA* 50-135mm f2.8 that I was carrying in my bag. I rolled down my window and started in. I got only two frames worth a darn out of about 10 I fired off.

That was enough. I got this one.

The bird was keeping watch on me as intensely as I was it. As I pulled away, the graceful neck twisted in line with my moving car.

I got what I came for. I hope this heron had enough for dinner.

Heron’s patiently stalk thier prey in water and marshes. Slowly moving and waiting for food to come thier way.

I was patient with this great bird, and was rewarded.

One of our favorite places on the island of Kauai. Po’ipu Beach with the dramatic Spouting Horn lava tube blowhole of water, and the sunsets. A great combination of nature.

On our last evening on Kauai, we went back to Spouting Horn to take in the sunset and say good bye.

The sunset was spectacular.

We met other photographers who were mesmerized by the beauty before us. Friends for the moment, taking each other’s photos as a token of caring. Nice.

I’ll always want to go back to this spot. It’s beauty is just a small part of the rest of the islands, but stands for so much in my mind.

Mahalo my friend, Kauai.