Fifty Shades of Green!

We've just arrived in Illinois for a few days in the Midwest. Hitting the ground running, we've already been to Iowa to visit Dean's family, and are relaxing at home for a few days now to catch our breath. With all of Melinda's treatments, we've had to miss a few trips here - have not been back since the start of Winter! If nothing else, we're catching up on our shades of green! Many of the Spring flowers are long gone, but it looks like we're going to get rained on a lot, and the green is a welcome respite from the hot and greys of the desert.

We woke to the sounds of rain on the roof this morning, Melinda turned over to go back to sleep - I watched a little "Sunday Morning", then roamed the yard for the first time for a few shots. As I've stated in the past, if there isn't anything that catches your attention, get out the macro and move in for something interesting! So mounted up the macro lens with a small extension tube to let me move in even closer. At left is some of the rain leftovers on the back of a fallen oak leaf, and at right the same on a broad grass leaf. I've posted similar shots before - I love the effect of the close-up of the water drops acting like little magnifying glasses!

Another tool I've added to the arsenal lately is a long 300mm telephoto lens that focuses to 4 feet!  Supposedly it can be used to good effect as a "faraway macro" to chase down those shy creatures like dragonflies and butterflies that got away from me this morning with the normal macro.  In a test a little later today, at left shows how well it worked on some of the happy (and GREEN) ferns growing near the house.

We escaped to a movie this afternoon (Mad Max: Fury Road), then met niece Kathy for dinner afterwards. On the way home there looked to be a beautiful sunset with clearing to the west. The setting sun illuminated some low mammatus clouds and formed a spectacularly sight from our house - luckily lasting long enough for me to grab the camera.

And with that, I'll close for today with the simple observation that Melinda and I have been married 7 years today. The ceremony was about 30 yards from where I'm sitting, in our yard. It also marks the 7th anniversary of this blog, which she started, and I continue. It has been a great ride - I hope all of you continue to join us vicariously through reading, or living through it with us in person. It is nice having you along!