Camera Critters

I have seen this wonderful meme for several weeks now, but often can't pull it together for a Sunday post. Thankfully, I had time this weekend to join in. I posted the story behind Miss Penny last week, but ran across these photos the other night, and wanted to share them for my first entry in Camera Critters.









Penny bunny.....you are missed.

Photo Hunters~ Time

Being that I am always so short on TIME lately, I was thrilled to actually see that this week's theme was indeed fitting. TIME!!! It is perfect TIMING as I was just getting around to editing some photos from a trip I took early last month. There was a fabulous building that featured a wonderful clock. I was on my lunch break from the conference I was attending, as I didn't have the TIME to leisurely photograph all the things that interested me, but I did snap a few quick ones of this beautiful building. I only wish it had been a different TIME...one that would have made for a better photograph.







Thanks for coming by my blog this week. I look forward to taking some TIME to enjoy your posts this week. Have a great weekend!

A Perfect Day With Nature~ Part One

The Living and Loving household enjoys nature. Some more than others, but to tell the truth we are all at our best when out of doors. Hubby is without a doubt an outdoors type of fellow. Sugar takes after him in this fashion. Mama finds herself equally happy in and out of doors, but if I have to choose whether as a family we were to spend time inside or out, I'll always pick the latter.

We all have our own method of soaking in the goodness that is nature. Hubby usually has a purpose in mind. Fishing.....hunting.......camping.....and so on. I tend to refrain from those first two, and I indulge hubby, at least once a year, on the last one, but seriously it won't come as a surprise that I am all about the photography when I am outside. Sugar Bear....well....she is just along for the ride. She'll jump in and participate no matter what we are doing. She is easy going like that.

Recently, we headed out for a family drive, hoping to discover a new camp spot we can enjoy this summer. It was one of the first fabulously sunny days we have experienced this spring, and we wanted to take advantage of the joyful weather. However, with recent fuel price hikes, I spent the better part of the trip mentally lamenting the cost of this excursion, but in the end, I am glad we went.

The family dog, Daisy, was more than ready to shake off her winter blues, and readily assumed her post in the rear of out truck.



Sugar, always one ready for a new adventure, happily munched on some snacks from the comfort of her car seat, and dazzled me with her baby blues.





The scenery was fabulous. This particular lake was new to us, and we were smitten with the beautiful twists and turns of the land surrounding the cool water.





Lily pads were plentiful, and the water was a bit murky, but this did not deter our Daisy from enjoying an extensive game of fetch. I posted the photos of Daisy and Sugar Bear playing at the lake they other day. Daisy was thrilled to be swimming, and Sugar couldn't get enough of throwing things in the water for her. They make a fabulous team.



We welcomed the sun back into our hearts, and Sugar Bear was eager to try out her new super fly Dora shades. If you ask me....she was rockin these sunglasses. I especially liked how no matter how hard she tried, she simply could not get them to sit above her ears. Instead they liked to force her ears to jut out, which created a very fashionable look.







While Sugar kept busy helping Hubby gather some firewood, I busied myself photographing some signs of spring. I didn't get very many, as the freakish safety conscience part of me couldn't take my eyes of the Sug very long around the water. Even though I know Hubby is entirely capable of keeping her safe, I am just a bit over anxious at times. I did, however, capture a few nice ones. The woods around here are not colorful, but there are small signs of new growth if you look hard enough.





Once Hubby got a small fire going, we roasted some hot dogs, and Sugar Bear delighted in eating the second WHOLE hot dog in a bun in her entire life. She is used to mama cutting it up in tiny little pieces, so this was a real treat.





As I leaned back into a tree, I couldn't help but admire the beauty in the simple things. What a blessing it is to be a part of this amazing planet. How lucky I am to be able to step outside, and see new beginnings, and breath the fresh clean air. It is good.....life is good. It just doesn't get any better than that.



Or does it?.......look at this.....this new beginning.....what a breath of fresh air. Breathe Deep!



Be on the look out for PART TWO. You'll get the pleasure of viewing our day from Sugar Bear's point of view.....yes....Sugar Bear Snaps, again.

Three Corners~ April

It is time for this month's Three Corners Challenge. April's theme was Seasons: Spring Vs. Autumn. You see, being that we are in different hemispheres Lindy and I are in Spring, while Jeanette is experiencing fall. Please visit their blogs to see the three photos they chose to meet the theme this month. It was a fun month of photographs.

It was really hard to choose, but I finally narrowed it down to three things that really say, "spring" to me.

Flowers, flowers, and more flowers. I love all the stages of a flower. The buds, the tiny blooms and the wide open beautiful flowers. It is all good.



Oh how I love frogs. It makes my day to find a tiny frog in my yard. They remind me of my childhood. The sounds of frogs croaking in the night is so peaceful to me.



One of the first things I notice each spring is the arrival of the bumble bees. My yard is all abuzz. This poor fellow had fallen into a bucket of water. Sugar Bear and I rescued him, enjoyed watching his wings dry out, and finally fly away.



Do watch for the results of Month Three at the end of May. I get to choose the theme.....and it is a secret. yeah....that's it....a secret. It surely isn't that as per usual, I can't make a simple decision. nope....not that. Secret.....secret.