Wildflowers Photography Expedition

I signed up to go on a photography expedition with my friend, Cherrie Travis. It was being taught by a fellow I went to school with, Jon Williams. We had been watching the weather all week and it didn't look good. I woke up to rainy skies, bundled up in layers of warm clothing and put on my new Keen hiking boots, which I had waterproofed last night. Amazing to be digging out my warm clothing in the middle of June! We met at Jon's studio, which is down a beautiful pathway from his house, which is across the street from the Beus Trailhead in South Ogden.

We went up Trappers Loop and found wildflowers here and there. It was pouring rain during most of our trip.

I learned a few good tips and more about using the manual settings on my camera. Most of my photos were taken in manual mode. It's about time I took this next step in photography.

Everything was so green. This was taken somewhere along Trappers Loop, I think. We drove over to Wolf Creek, ate in Eden and then took the North Ogden Divide road to the 23 acre nature preserve on Mountain Road, which Ogden Nature Center manages. I didn't know there it was there. There are lots of trails and opportunities for photographers.

This beautiful pink striped flower was taken just before you enter the nature preserve.

Here's Jon showing Cherrie how to do something on her camera.

The photography students, taken on Jon's property.

Keen Sale

I left work early today to attend a shoe sale at a fellow's house in Sugarhouse. He is a sale rep for Keen shoes, my favorite brand. Twice a year he sells his samples out of his garage. He only carries size 7, so I'm lucky it's the size I wear. I got there just as the sale started. I was on the lookout for a good hiking shoe. I picked up a few different styles to try on, but because I couldn't carry all of them, I just picked up one shoe of each. I decided on the "perfect one" and went to get the other shoe. It was GONE. I tried to find it and asked the rep if he had seen it. He looked around too and we eventually found it on SOMEONE ELSE'S FOOT! And she would NOT take it off.  She kept saying, "Would you consider onsies and twosies?" Not sure what she meant, (JACKS...maybe???) we were probably about the same age. I declined, over and over again. She said," But it's just the right color and fits my arch well and I like the style." Well, DUH! That's why I wanted it! I wandered around and waited and waited, but she would not take off that shoe. I politely told her I was there first and would like the shoe. She responded: "HOW do you KNOW you were here first??"  (I had seen her walk in - she was wearing a very bright jacket) She just kept that shoe on her foot. I wandered around some more and she again asked, "onsies and twosies?"  (WHAT! Are we in Kindergarten??) I politely declined AGAIN, told her I was ready to check out and needed the shoe. She did not answer. I finally got in line and when it was my turn to check out I handed over ONE shoe and said I wanted to pay but I needed the other shoe, and that I had arrived first. He walked over to the woman and said she needed to take off the shoe. I HATE confrontations and was shaking by the time I walked out - WITH THE PAIR.

I picked these up for Joanna for her baby, Jane.

Kathy's Yard

My friend, Kathy Hewlett, lives in Fruit Heights and has the most wonderful yard bursting with personality. I bought an arbor for my garden last week and have been debating what type of vine to get for it.  I called to ask her what she had growing on her arbors and ended up going there after work. It's always such a pleasure to walk through her yard. It inspired me to go home and dig in the dirt.

She built this grape arbor herself. I remember how amazing it was all decorated for her daughters wedding reception a few years ago.

Spirals of lettuce. How COOL is that!

Valley Nursery in Uintah

I haven't been to Valley Nursery in Uintah for a number of years. Walking through all the varieties of plants and flowers is almost as relaxing to me as photography. I picked up some Black-Eyed Susans, Four-O'Clocks, and Nasturtiums- all old-fashioned plants that I love.

Gutter Weeds

Yeah...well...I do like plants growing on my front porch, but this is a little much. SOMEone definitely needs to clean out the rain gutters.

The Last of the Snowballs

The rain has been very good to all of the plants in the yard this year. I'm sad to see the snowballs starting to turn brown.

Poppies & Pole Beans

Cathy Rohde called today and said her poppies were as big as she's ever seen them and that I should come over and take pictures. So this evening I put my camera backpack in my bike basket and rode around the corner. I was so tired when I left, but came back revived and rested; which is usually what happens when I get a camera in my hands.

The grandkids dropped by. I asked them to plant the pole beans. So much serious concentration!