Rose Overload?

I am hoping that most of my readers at least 'like' roses.If you don't care for them than this is certainly rose overload today.I do like roses and enjoy taking many images when I have the chance.

Here are some edited images.I had fun doing these.All editing was done in Lightroom and the frames were added in Photoshop

Thought for Today:

Don't walk in front of me————

I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me————

I may not lead.

Walk beside me————

And just be my friend.

Thanks for taking a walk with me through the roses.

Roses In Winter

Yes,it is still winter but we are in the home stretch now.

After all,in one week March will be here,so the warmer weather must come soon.

Until that time I will look for ways to enjoy the winter.

On a recent drive out in the country,I saw this scene,and although it is snowy and looks cold,it still has beauty about it.

And now without further delay,I bring you roses in winter.

I had fun getting pictures of these bright flowers,even though they didn't last very long.

Using the telephoto lens it creates a nice dark background.

Here is just another angle of one of these pretty blooms that brightened my day.

 The day after I brought these flowers home it was a very pleasant winter day and since a couple of the flowers were well past their prime,I chose those and took them outside.

I had not swept the snow off the deck railing and now that was the perfect place to lay my roses and capture image after image of them.I kind of like this wider shot,showing my yard in the background.

I hope these roses brought you at least a touch of joy today.

No profound thought for today,but the reminder to take the time to enjoy the little things in life.

May God bless each of you richly.

Recent Photo Delights

On Thursday,February 13,I got this text from my friend Sydney.

Hey,Ruth! I just saw the moon,and it looks fantastic! Good photo taking opportunity. :)

I stopped washing dishes and went to look outside,but could see no moon.

You see Sydney is attending Bible college about an hours drive from here.I fired a text back,telling her that I couldn't see a thing.Finished the dishes and took another look outside and this time,there it was in all it's beauty.

I grabbed two cameras and stepped out,but not before sending another text to Sydney.I love all this new technology,we are many miles apart,but still connected.

I took several pictures first with one camera and then using the Canon SX50,I got this image.

This is the best picture I have ever been able to get of the moon and all thanks to my sweet teenage friend. Thanks Sydney,Hugs.

From the moon up above to two people down on earth who bring sunshine into my life.

Steve and Kai made use of some of the snow hills on my yard.The picture is not great because it is taken from inside the house.I love seeing Kai and her Daddy having fun together.

On Monday,February 17,my cameras won out and I took them for a ride in the country.

We even found a couple of birds to capture.

The Black-billed Magpie is not a bird which waits around to get its' picture taken,so this is far away.At least the sky is blue and the weather was pleasant.

Also on Monday,I finally saw my first Snowy Owl of the winter and it was only a few miles from home. I would have liked to be closer,but am still happy with this picture.

I waited until after Valentine's Day and was able to pick up a dozen roses at a reasonable price.

There is nothing more cheerful on a winter day,than a bouquet of brightly roses.

I had seen some pictures of roses in the snow,so I had to try my hand at this.

The sun was shining and it was so nice to be able to be outside and have fun with my cameras.

 I have many more images of the roses and no doubt over time I will be posting more of them.

Thought for Today:

If we had no winter,the spring would not be so pleasant;

if we did not sometimes taste adversity,

Prosperity would not be so welcome.

Anne Bradstreet

Summer Memories

I know it is February,but that doesn't mean we can't dream of warmer weather.
All these pictures were taken with the iPhone and these go back almost three years.

Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I love watching the sky.
Since the phone is always with me I take many sky shots with it.
This is on my yard,but the important part is the beauty we see here. Looks like a perfect day to me.

Also in my garden. I love Day lilies,all colors and varieties.

This one is quite bright and a joy to see and photograph.

My Granddaughter wanted to pick some flowers,so we brought this one in as well as two more.

I cut the stems really short and set them into small bowls,she then arranged them on the table so I could take pictures.

What is a summer without Daisies. For me that would be a sad summer.I love my Daisies,or I should say,Jake's Daisies.

I know that seeing this many lens flares is really not what a photographer wants to have,but,I am the one who decides what I like and what I don't like. I like how this looks,flares and all.

I thought the lens flares formed a nice pattern.

Thought for Today:

My profession is to always find God in Nature.

Henry David Thoreau

The Varied Faces of a Sunset

I enjoy heading out of town when it looks like we might be in for a pretty sunset.Sometimes I am rewarded with loads of beauty and at other times the sun sets with very little beauty.

The evening I am sharing today,proved to be one where the sunset gave me many photo opportunities and left me with a sense of awe and wonder.

Just touching the horizon and the area lights up with beauty.

A little later the sky is a blaze with colour.The clouds reflect the light of the setting sun and make an amazing scene in the sky.

As the sun settles in the colour begins to fade,but still there is so much beauty. The colours become softer and more pastel.

 Turning the camera a little to one side or the other changes the look of the sky.The last pink strokes of colour will soon be fading away into night.

I always try to remind myself,when shooting a sunset,don't forget to look in the opposite direction.

Looking to the east on this night was well worth it. The clouds here were lit up by the last rays of the sun and gave me yet another pretty scene.

Thought for Today:

The sunrise is God's greeting - 

the sunset ,His signature.

Raindrops,Flowers and an iPhone

Time to share some more iPhone pictures. Since the landscape is white with snow and the weather people are telling me that we are in for cold weekend,let's warm it up with some summer pictures.

A while ago,I showed some buds on my Fern Leaf Peony and look what I found! On my trusty phone I had a picture of the plant in bloom.Isn't that just the prettiest thing? Each flower looks like a very full-petaled rose.Unfortunately each flower does not last for very long,but with pictures,I can now enjoy them all year.

Last summer while sitting on the bus,I captured this image.It was a rainy day and I liked how the raindrops were clinging to the side window. Rain is good,it refreshes the ground and makes the flowers grow.

After a rain I must get out there and capture the raindrops on the flowers.This Iris is my favourite of all the ones I have. I love that royal looking purple and now to have it decorated with raindrops,that is the icing on the cake.

Another favourite of mine after a rain are the Lupin leaves. Don't ask me why I think they are so special,but I really do love that look. I hope you enjoy it as well.

This bouquet of roses was given to me a long time ago,but I was able to preserve its beauty with this picture and many others. I think it may almost be time for me to treat myself to another bouquet of roses.My cameras would like that. :)

Thought for Today:

That which God said to the rose,
and caused it to laugh in full-blown beauty,
He said to my heart,
and made it a hundred times more beautiful.
Rumi

Sunrise and Snow Art

On my last post I shared summer scenes and now we are back to more winter scenes.

In Manitoba we have at least another month or perhaps more of winter left,so we may as well enjoy it.

Whenever I see the sunlight streaming through the trees like this,I am thrilled.There is just something so special about that sight and the way the sunshine paints the snow a golden colour.

A drive out in the country is sure to yield many snow sculptures.The wind carves unique designs into the snow,leaving sculptures so special they cannot be bought.

The variety is endless,so no matter where I looked I saw yet another pretty sight. Some of the drifts are quite small,yet contain very detailed patterns.

All of these pictures were taken in about the space of a mile,so you can see that there is great variety.

This is a little larger,but not what I would call large,perhaps about 12 inches tall. I am only guessing,as I was not going to go out there to measure.

I also like the way the snow is polished to a bright shine.

Back on my yard on another morning.The sun is low on the horizon thus casting very long shadows.This is the start of another cold  and beautiful Manitoba,winter day.

Here is a word of encouragement for you,

God created you and has a purpose for your life.

If the Creator of the universe fashioned you,you can know that you have infinite worth.

Down The Garden Path

It is February already.What happened to January?

It seems that with each passing year the months go by faster,while at the same time some days seem to drag on forever.

As I contemplated what to post on this first day of a new month,the idea of a path came to mind.

As we start a new month,we are at the start of a new path.We do not know what we will see along the path but we must travel it,one day,yes,even,one minute at a time.

Since walking down a path is so much more enjoyable in summer,I picked summer scenes.

Won't you join me as we walk along and enjoy the beauty on either side of the path.

We may need to stop for a while in the refreshing shade of a garden gazebo,but even from here we can see the path along which we want to walk.

A winding path draws us in to see what lies around the bend. You know,it won't be that long before we can actually wander down paths like this,enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

Another side path leads us through the beautiful foliage of the garden.Let's not walk too fast,or we may miss some of the small details in the plants and flowers.

This looks like a wonderful place to sit down and rest for a few minutes.Perhaps as we sit here we may be treated  to the songs of the birds or even the sight of a beautiful butterfly,sipping nectar from the flowers.

What will be seeing this month? I don't know and for that I am thankful. I do know that as I walk along,I want to strive to do so in the wisdom of the Lord.He knows the way,so all I must do is follow.

Thought for Today:

Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare,

and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit. (or see the flowers)

Anton Chekhov