The Birds of Lake Carroll

Lake Carroll in Carrollton is a haven for flocks of Canadian Geese, ducks, and other waterfowl.  These are some photos taken from one of my visits to the lake.

Mother Goose

Canadian Goose drying off feathers

The geese flocked to the water to preen their feathers.  This looks like a picture of flight, but the geese would actually just flap their wings and stroll a little ways across the water.  I guess they were just trying to dry out the feathers and get them all oily and shiny again.

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These colors don’t run!

Enough said…

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Dragonfly

I have a friend that took me over to Barnsley Gardens this weekend. What a gorgeous place! I took lots of pictures, but this one was my favorite.

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Macro

I got a new macro lens that I’m learning to use.

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Lantern Flowers

My landlady has a gas lantern next to the driveway. It has this flower vine that is wrapped around it. It blooms a couple of times a year, but this spring it is really showing off. I don’t know what the name of it is, but I call it the Lantern Flowers.

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Spring, Spring, Spring!

I went to Alabama today and took my new camera into the national forest. Lots of things to photograph there, and I’m still learning how to use this camera. I’ve got another lens on the way now because it was out of stock when I ordered my camera. This lens is a little bit soft, but that’s ok as it has been a learning experience for me. I have developed more enjoyment out of just photographing things. I’ve learned to listen when I’m outside to hear what’s going on around me in addition to seeing it. I found what I think is the Brown Thrasher, the Georgia state bird if I’m not mistaken, over in Alabama. Maybe that will let me “break the rules” a little bit here!

;-)

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English Dogwood blooms—this is the first time I’ve seen it bloom this well.

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Flowers

I love flowers, and I love to photograph them. These flowers belong to a friend who had invited me over to take some pictures.

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Something Old, Something New

Now I’m like Stephen. I got a new camera–the Canon Rebel XTi. I absolutely love it. Have no idea how to use it yet. I’m still waiting on one of my lenses to arrive, but in the meantime a friend let me borrow one of hers. I snapped over 400 pictures this evening, and here are a few. You can enjoy the rest of them on my flickr page.

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Callaway Gardens

I have lived in Georgia for several years, but I’ve never been to Callaway Gardens until this weekend. It is a beautiful place at any time of year from what I hear. The flowers are breathtaking, not to mention the lakes, streams, and wildlife. The “Birds of Prey” show was very good. Hope you enjoy the pics.

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You can go here to view my Callaway Gardens set on Flickr.

 

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Me again

I always post here in the spring, because well, it’s just my favorite time of year. I almost thought I wasn’t going to get to post because I lost my password for this site. Luckily, Wordpress came through. Hope you enjoy!

Pear trees on US Highway 78

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Last year’s Bartlett pear for this year (2008)

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A friend

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“and bless Mommy and Daddy and little squirrely…”

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My two therapists

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Macro Photography

I’m experimenting with macro photography.  My little Kodak doesn’t let me get quite as close as I’d like, but it’s still fun.

That is, until I step in an ant bed today and started dancing a jig!

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These are from a bouquet of flowers I bought at WalMart a few days ago. I use them for practice shots.

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Here’s one of a bug I found today before I got in the ant bed!

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And a magnolia “cone”

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Enjoy!

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Stone Mountain Laser Show

I went to the Stone Mountain Laser Show last night.  It was a sight to see as I’d never been to one before.  I have a lot to learn in snapping fireworks pics, but I thought I’d include a couple here for you to see. Please try to ignore my amateur photography “skills.”

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Azaleas and Such

The flowers at the homes on the street where I live are absolutely breathtaking every year.  I love to go out and take pictures of them.  As you already know, I love to catch all the bumblebees in a pose as well.  Here are some that I hope you enjoy!  Some are clearer than others, but it’s so darn hard to get the little boogers to be still!  And I don’t dare make one of them angry!!!

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And this is an unusual blend!!!

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I hope the bees are happy with all this pollen we’re having in the south. Wow! I’ve never seen it like this.

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That’s all for now! Don’t want to hog the blog!!!

;-)

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More Spring!

Have I told you I looooove spring?!?!?!?  Well, I do.  This is a tree in the neighborhood here in West Georgia.  I don’t know what kind it is.  Sorry, but I’m not a botanist by any means, but I think this tree is gorgeous!!!

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Spring!!!!

Yay!!!

 I love spring!!!  The flowers are gorgeous this year as well.  I took a few pics today of some fruit tree blossoms and found a nice little honey bee in one of them.  Of course, he was the only one that would be still long enough for me to take his pic!

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Fall in West Georgia

I walked up the street this evening and got a photo of this beautiful maple tree.  Fall colors are a little unusual in the south because about all that ever happens is the leaves turn brown and die.  We’ve had a few cooler days and nights this fall so I think that’s the reason for our colors.

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Summertime Flowers

A very good friend of mine lives near Cartersville, and she recently did some landscaping around her new house.  These are some of the flowers she has.  They are beautiful!

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Link to Photo

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San Francisco

I just got home from a trip to San Francisco for an event called PowerSchool University.  If you use a student information system in your school you know what I’m speaking about.  PowerSchool is a product that was recently sold by Apple to Pearson.  It’s a good product, although it can be tedious to use, but I guess just about all of them are.  Anyway, while at the conference we got to do a little sightseeing in the evenings, and I spent an extra day after the conference ended to visit Fisherman’s Wharf.  I’ll be posting some of my pics soon.  I’ve got to get them compressed first.  However, here is a sampling.  We had a group outing on Tuesday night which was going to AT&T Park to watch the San Francisco Giants play the Texas Rangers.  It was a blast.

Barry Bonds

Yep, that’s Barry Bonds at bat.  I’m not a big fan of his, but nonetheless, history is being made when you watch him.  We had seats in the nosebleed section of left field, and my camera was zoomed in to the max here!

Bay Bridge

This is a view of the San Francisco Bay Bridge from AT&T Park.

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Entrance to AT&T Park

 

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More Georgia Butterflies ;)

My mom took this picture today at her house.  I was very proud of her as this was her first experience with a digital camera, and look what she found!!!  Not one, but TWO butterflies in the same shot!!!  I just had to show it off!!!

 

Georgia Butterflies

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Georgia Moon

This is a pic I took through my telescope.  It’s not great because this can be difficult to do.  The moon moves fast through a telescope, and I don’t have one that is hooked up to the computer.  This is something I’d like to get better at, but it’s going to take time.  I want to be able to get clearer shots of the craters and all.  Not bad for my cheap little Kodak that does all of my other shots.

 

Moon

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