Fireworks

Since I have blog friends around the world,

thought I'd share our

American Independence Day tradition...

FIREWORKS!

For years, we packed up coolers,

and the kiddies

pulling it all in wagons to

plunk down on blankets awaiting

the dazzling show.

This year, on July 3rd, we simply walked out on the deck

of our friends' beautiful cottage overlooking

Long Lake.

No real organized show here...but lots of

individuals shooting off the smaller fireworks.

Here we are awaiting the spectacle

against a glistening summer sunset

with '70s music blaring

from a TURNTABLE...

yep, the old vinyl albums.

Doesn't get much better than that!

I had never photographed fireworks,

so working from an Internet tutorial print-out,

I set my camera and screeched

with excitement at EVERY colorful poof!

I was hyped at the results!

Now I was ready to capture

the larger show on the 

 Fourth of July.

Oh, my GOSH

they were pretty!!

And, the rockets red glare...

The bombs bursting in air...

Gave proof through the night...

That our flag was still there!

I'm proud to be an

AMERICAN...

Where at least I know I'm

FREE!

I LOVE fireworks!

Artist of Miniature Paintings

 

I am in a photo club where we love to meet for photo outings

and at our monthly gatherings, we share photography ideas and techniques.

 

One of the photo clubbers is not only an awesome photographer,

she's an amazing painter and brought along her artwork.

Jan Knoll first photographs interesting places

and people.

Then she paints the scenes.

The stunning thing is...

She paints them in miniature!

They're no bigger than 3 by 4 inches.

Jan's been painting for twenty years and loved to paint

"small".

She never painted anything bigger than a 16 X 20.

Then she read a magazine article about miniature paintings

and was fascinated.

She flew to Florida where she learned the craft from a

miniature artist.  Well, the artist was normal size, but

the art was teeny.

She uses a magnifying glass and strong light

plus teensy brushes.

The fine details are exquisite on such a tiny canvas.

Each painting takes 30 to 40 hours to complete.

 

I am fascinated with people's talents!

Jan attends miniature art shows and

even competes in miniature contests.

I just HAD to share her vast talent

with you.

Thanks, Jan!

Happy Rain

I told you I joined a local photo club.

Our assignment this month was to shoot

APRIL RAIN.

THAT was an easy subject...it seems like

it has rained all dang month!

The problem was...

I don't like to get wet.

But the month was winding down and

photo club is tomorrow night.

Yesterday, I FORCED myself out into the rain.

I didn't venture too far.

Just out the back door where I found rain pounding

on our red grill.

I thought the red would brighten up

the dark, dreary day.

So with raindrops splashing all over my camera

that I thought was secured in a plastic bag...

I fired off more than 200 shots...

Trying to capture 

SPLASHING RAINDROPS.

After filling my card with photos,

and soaking my jeans to the skin.

I rushed to my computer to see what

I had captured.

Even though the weather was

drab and depressing...

I thought these pictures were

HAPPY!

They made me smile.

I placed a pretty yellow plate out

and it soon filled with rain.

SPLASH!

Looking this close...

it appears

RAIN IS HAPPY!

Now for the not-so-happy news:

All this rain made our roof leak.

Tom, our terrific carpenter

scared me to death climbing onto the roof in

the pouring rain to check it out.

Look at that gray sky! 

UGH!

Rain, rain....

GO AWAY!