Swing

Tot's Swing
17 July 2007

The metal chain from the nearby Tot's Lot's swing. Still practicing how to use the Macro Lense and the DSLR itself.

The Color of Sweets

Tic Tac Mints Fruit Fantasy
limited edition

A trip to Bed bath and Beyond got us these colorful mints. I love the colors. They taste nice too. Sometimes I use one to bribe my son, just one and it always works.

The Symbol

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis

• The Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet; it is the city's best known landmark and a popular tourist attraction.
• Construction began February 12, 1963 and the last section of the Arch was put into place on October 28, 1965.

More info in Gateway Arch Riverfront Site

Gettysburg

A History Harder to Forget!

Civil war re-enactment at Gettysburg Pennsylvania not too long ago. Actual tents where the participants slept for 3 days I think.

Herpetarium

Shake Rattle and Roll
a resident of St. Louis' Herpetarium
14 June 2007

This is an Eastern Diamond Rattle Snake. It must have been very hungry because when we got there (his cage) he was moving around, very restless. My husband and I took turn on taking the photos, like we were almost in competition who gets the best one, ha ha ha ha. I am still practicing with my macro skills and how to use the camera.

According to the Herpetarium management:

This impressive, heavy-bodied snake may exceed eight feet in length, making it the largest of the rattlesnakes. It makes its home in the burrows of armadillos or gopher tortoises. Range around Southeastern United States and the Florida Keys most commonly found in woodlands; abandoned agricultural and logging areas.

Destruction of its habitat threatens this species, especially in Florida. Another growing threat in the Southeast are rattlesnake "round-ups." Zoos and other conservation groups have long been critical of these events, and support their regulation or prohibition. Did you know that this snake is venomous?

Somewhere out there!

One of the shots I took while trying to get used to the macro lens we just got for our DSLR. It's harder than I thought. A tripod would be useful. Anyway, this seems to turn out okay! I am happy with it anyway.

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel
Berrien Springs, Michigan
Nikon D70
June 2007

I had to crop way much for this photo, a macro lens is not really ideal to take wildlife shots. This little guy was trying to stay still as much as possible so that we won't notice him, so he thought.

A flower for you!

A day's Lily
Battle Creek Michigan
16 June 2007

Camera: Nikon D70, EX/Sigma DGMacro 105mm 1:2:8
Software: iPhoto

a spring's confirmation
life is here after a dull's earth tone

This flower is called "Day Lily". Each flower only last a day hence the name. These flowers can be found on roadside, meadows, borders, and blooms from May through July. It reproduces from its roots, and the entire plant is edible. The flower buds (the green buds, not the open flowers ) taste like green beans when cooked and served with butter.

Tropics in St. Louis

Indonesian Wax Ginger
7 June 2007
St. Louis Botanical Garden
Camera: Canon Ixuss55

This on is called TAPEINOCHILUS ANANASSAE, native in Indonesia and Australia, taken at St. Louis Botanical Garden at the Tropical Plants display. This plant is sometimes called Indonesian Wax Ginger, resembles an upside down pineapple.

Father of the Country

The Obelisk As It Stands, 122 yrs later
Washington DC
22 January 2007
Camera: Canon Digital Ixus55
Software: Apple's iPhoto
Editing: No alteration done

The Obelisk, popularly know as "The Washington Monument" was completed in 1844 constructed for George Washington recognized as the father of the country. The photograph was taken on January in the middle of winter.

Where the bear lies!

Sleeping Bear Dunes
Saturday, 2 June 2007
- took this photo while waiting for the sunset
- same camera

The park is named after the Chippewa legend of the sleeping bear. According to the legend, an enormous forest fire on the western shore of Lake Michigan drove a mother bear and her two cubs into the lake for shelter, determined to reach the opposite shore. After many miles of swimming, the two cubs lagged behind. When the mother bear reached the shore, she waited on the top of a high bluff. The cubs, exhausted, drowned in the lake, but the mother bear stayed and waited in hopes that her cubs would finally appear. Impressed by the mother bear's determination and faith, the Great Spirit created two islands to commemorate the cubs, and the winds buried the sleeping bear under the sands of the dunes where she waits to this day. The location of the "bear" is a patch of dark sand, which once covered the entire bluff top and was visible from the lake. Wind and erosion have caused the "bear" to be greatly reduced in size over the years. Visit Wiki for more info.

Aerial view of the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Photo borrowed from Wiki.
More info in www.michigan.org
Click image for bigger view