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Help stamp out Autism!!

Click here to help solve Mason's Puzzle!

It is estimated today that 1 in every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism. That number is increasing by 10-17% each year, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined. As of today the cause of Autism is unknown and there is no known cure.

Playing with the Rebel Xti

I needed some photo therapy tonight so I headed down to the property. I have been avidly reading my photography books and wanted to try out a few things...

I love how photographers make running water look smooth...

Tonight I was attempting to do this...I honestly should have gone down earlier as I was losing daylight...but the above photo is one of several that I took. We are in a drought right now and our creek is running slow, really slow and really low...I also used a polarizing filter to cut the glare on the water. Below were the settings I used:

Shutter Speed 4

Aperture Value 32.0

ISO Speed 800

Lens EF75-300mm

I gave up on the creek as the lighting down there was awful and moved up to the fields. I had problems there as the wind was blowing and everything was moving...just not a good night for photo therapy! The photo above is a Bull Nettle bloom, remember the ones you do NOT touch, lol I did crop the photo but other than that have not touched it...I had a UV filter on the lens and the settings were: ~ Shutter-Priority AE ~ Shutter Speed 1/125 ~ Aperture Value 5.6 ~ ISO Speed 800 ~ Lens EF28-105mm Focal Length 83.0 mm

I forgot to adjust my ISO speed from when I was down at the creek, ugh!! Silly me!

This is a common sunflower and I just love the itty bitty ant on it. Which mind you I did not see until I got home and brought the photo up on the computer. I once again had the UV filter on the camera and the evening sun lit the bloom up beautifully. I did not touch this other than to crop it! The settings were: Shooting Mode Shutter-Priority ~ Shutter Speed ~ 1/250 ~ Aperture ~ 4.5 ~ ISO Speed 800 ~ Lens EF28-105mm ~ Focal Length 105.0 mm

That is all the photos I had, it just wasn't a good night for the camera.

The world through Michaels Eyes

I looked at Michaels memory card in his camara today and saw he had some photos on there, lol...My son makes me laugh with his camera antics...there was one photo, I think, was his mouth! Ewwww...

Below is a slideshow of the photos that I could show you, another words they weren't x-rated!!

His memory card is cleaned up and his lens has been de-smudged so he's ready to go...again!

Photo Challenge ~ Food

This weeks photo challenge is food thanks to my Dear friend HELEN!!

I welcome you to Mamma Mia Wendy's Kitchen for the evening!!!

First we spread the dough out on the pan (oh by the way we are making a pizza) and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Next comes the sauce and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Ahhh the bootiful peperoni's are spread about and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Mmm then we shake the yummy Mozzarella cheese all about and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

We add some more Peperoni's (as we have a peperoni PIGLET in the house) and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Add a touch of bacon to half (as the little piglet likes nothing but peperoni's and cheese) and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Then gobs of Mushrooms and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

A bit more mozzarella cheese and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

Put it in the Oven for about 16 minutes and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

WELLA!! A Delicious Pizza for dinner and then we do the HOKEY POKEY and TURN OURSELVES AROUND!!

We cut ourselves a piece of Pizza and Hokey Pokey over to the fridge for a well deserved drink!!

Ahhh...(belch, Oops excuse me :o)

There I have accomplished my food challenge photos for the week, now after all that hard work a well deserved break for MOMMA MIA WENDY!! (Yea, hands clapping!)

Photo challenge ~ reflections

I have been trying and trying to post my reflection photos but between the lightning strikes hitting broadband towers and Blogger not being available I've had a rough time. Hopefully this time is IT!!

We are in a drought here and no rain to speak off so puddle reflections were not an option. I didn't make it down to the creek for photos either and most of you have seen my creek photos. I wanted something different and something new!! I really had to use my imagination but I think I did rather well...

Yes this is ME!! I wanted to use the mirrors in the bathroom but wasn't sure how and not show the yucky bathroom, lol...I think I need a hair cut...I look like a LION with a mane, Yikes!!

Then I had a good excuse to clean the truck windows, lol...I have dark tint on my windows and it reflects really well...

As most of you know I am not a native Texan but I got here as soon as I could, lol. I am a registered Texan and proud of it...

On my nature walk Sunday morning I saw the sun reflecting off this spider web, Nice! See you can find reflections in the woods even when there is no rain!!

I saw this reflection in my Mother in laws birdbath and thought oh SWEET!! That will work!

This is my crowning jewel...

I saw this reflection in a web that was over my head in the trees as I was walking down one of the ranch paths...I did NOT adjust this photo in PSE 6, what you see is what you get...I just loved the rainbow colors and started snapping away...glad I did too as in a few minutes the sun moved and the web was no longer lit up!!

Well I tried and think I did fairly well...it was not easy and quiet a challenge! I hope y'all enjoyed and thank you for stopping by.

~ Nature at the San Antonio River ~

Today we went over to my In-laws ranch on the San Antonio River. I love going for walks with my camera over there, it is so peaceful! I was able to walk around for 2 hours with out interruption and had a Fantastic time capturing photos of the wildlife...

Giant Swallowtail

I've found these butterflies are a bit timid so I can't get as close as I would like too!

Turks cap.

The hummingbirds were all over these today but moving too fast for me to get a photo, grrr...

Wild sunflower

Fungus! or would it be Fungi?

This little guy was down by the edge of the river and flitting all over the place...I was really trying for a good photo but these two were the best...not the greatest photos but enough for me to identify it.

White-eyed Vireo

I just love the old gnarled Oak trees that are all over the property, can't you just see little elves and fairies dancing on them! LOL...well use your imagination! I would have been building tree forts in them when I was a kid!

Dragon or Damsel Fly.

I saved the best for last...This butterfly is a Gulf Fritillary and just absolutely Gorgeous.

I spent over 30 minutes photographing this little darling and was so pleased with some of the photos. He kept flitting from turks cap to turks cap and didn't seem to mind me one bit! I had a really hard time picking out which photos to post on here...Fred said I am a bit obsessive at times, lol...Who me? Hey when you have a good subject, take photos!! and lots of them!!

I had a lot of fun over there today and was honestly surprised everyone left me alone...Normally they are honking horns up at the ranch house (trying to call me in), calling my cellphone (hmm left that in the truck, lol) or chasing me down with the 4x4 mule, ugh!! So I had two hours of uninterrupted camera time, YEA!!

Totally AWESOME!!

We had a storm come in about 10:30pm last night and I was playing with the camera getting photos of the lightning! I love attempting to get photos of it...plus I thought it would help when I attempt to get photos of the fireworks on the 4th of July.

The first 3 photos are taken from quiet a distance and not very good! I had to get the camera book out and read on how to get these photos as I didn't have a clue with this camera being on Manual.

I actually thought the storm above was moving away from us but was I WRONG!!

I stood on our front porch and got these photos using the tripod!

I was jumping up and down when I got this shot! YES!! Just love the forks!

I was YeeHawing big time when I captured this exposure! Fred came outside to see what the excitement was about, lol...When I looked at the viewfinder I was disappointed as all I could see was over exposure, I was so SAD!! But then we brought it in and pulled it up on the computer...I darkened the exposure in PSE 6 and YES, it was there!! Too SWEET!!