Day 60 ~ "Black Panther"

This is our little black domestic panther stalking in the grass.  He followed me out to the garden this afternoon while I was watering my plants and I noticed him in the grass as I was leaving - stalking his prey.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 5:21 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.

Day 59 ~ Bacon & Eggs





One of our hens laid quite the abnormal egg today - it was very small and dark, compared to the usual light brown one next to it.  Maybe a small bird wandered into the chicken coop?  And no, we didn't eat it since it was abnormal :)  But we did have bacon and eggs for dinner tonight.  I can't tell a difference in the taste of fresh eggs, but their yolks are a lot darker - almost orange.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 5:32 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8 on all
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec on all
ISO: 400 on all
Focal Length: 200 mm, 80 mm, 70 mm
Flash Mode: Flash on
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.

Day 58 ~ My New Camera!

After years of owning and loving our Nikon D70S, we had a problem this past week.  First it lost some photos - even after buying a new memory card, and then yesterday it just turned off as if it had a dead battery - only it was freshly charged.  We got it to turn back on after some manipulating, but who knows if there is really anything seriously wrong with it. 

So, this afternoon I had to take my son downtown for a routine doctor appointment and my husband called just as I was leaving and asked me to stop by his office on my way home.  He told me his car was idling funny and he needed a tool out of my car.  When I got to his office, he brought out a box wrapped in Christmas paper :)  And when I opened it, I found a new Nikon D7000 camera!!  I am still in shock!  We will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in April, so he said it's an early present :)  I'm so excited!!  This gives me about 6 weeks to get used to it before our oldest son gets married.  Perfect timing!  And what an awesome husband!

This camera has some great features - it records to 2 memory cards so you have a backup of every  photo you take (to avoid problems like we had last week - especially nice for once in lifetime events like weddings!), it's extremely fast, it has 2 user programmable settings that you can set for whatever you like, and THOUSANDS of other fantastic features I've yet to learn about!

I guess now I don't have to decide if I want a new camera or a new lens :)
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 8:53 pm
Aperture: f/4.2
Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec
ISO: 80
Focal Length: 14 mm
Flash Mode: Flash, Auto
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 57 ~ The Friendly Steer

This is Danny, one of our Holstein steers.  He loves having his neck rubbed - and my husband gave in and gave him some attention :)
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:55 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 34 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.

Day 56 ~ Tractor Work

My husband LOVES his John Deere tractor!!  And he uses it often :)  He has really worked hard to get us settled here and I love him!
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:45 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.

Day 55 ~ Waiting Behind the Bus

We got stuck behind a school bus this morning, waiting for it's every stop.  Luckily he turned before too long and we went straight!
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 7:11 am
Mode: Scenery
Aperture: f/3.9
Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 10 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 54 ~ Bluebonnet

I finished my last Master Gardening class today - 84 hours of training!  Now I only have 60 hours of volunteer work before becoming a Master Gardener :)  During lunch I wandered the gardens and found a bluebonnet in bloom - it's so early this year!  It's still only February!  I haven't seen any blooming on the side of the roads yet, but I'm sure it won't be long.
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 12:41 pm
Mode: Macro Zoom
Aperture: f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
ISO: 80
Focal Length: 4 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 53 ~ Red Brangus Calf



Annabelle checking out our dog, Cali
f/8, 1/100 sec, ISO 200



Look at her long eyelashes!
f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO 200



f/8, 1/50 sec, ISO 200

We had a 'Tim the Toolman Taylor' moment here this week.  My husband decided the electric fence wasn't powerful enough so he bought a new unit rated for 15 miles.  When he plugged it in, it sent out long sparks from the wires!  He adjusted it, but you can still hear it sparking.  Cali, our dog, won't go near it even when we call her :) 

I spent some time in the pasture this afternoon with the calves.  I'm trying to get my heifer, Annabelle, to be friendlier.  The other calves will bawl and come to see us when we go near the calf pen - they want us to pet them and give them attention.  But we have to be wandering around longer for Annabelle to warm up to us.  I'm hoping to change this.  I can't believe she's already 5 months old today!
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:57 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and cropped the photos.

Day 52 ~ Leaf Footed Bugs

These leaf footed bugs were on one of the plants at my Master Gardening class.  And no, they aren't the good guys.  They don't realize their lives are about to end!
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 12:19 pm
Mode: Macro Zoom
Aperture: f/3.3
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 80
Focal Length: 4 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I also sharpened the image.

Day 51 ~ Bubbles

In one of the many water puddles on our property there is some type of air bubbling up from the ground.  My husband captured some of the air and tried to light it to see if it was flammable, which it wasn't.  In fact it doesn't have any oxygen in it either as it immediately put out the flame each time he tried to light it.  Quite interesting.

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 2:55 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I changed the image to black and white and darkened the shadows.



Day 50 ~ Dewberry Blossoms

We have wild dewberries on our property and they are just starting to blossom.  They are similar to blackberries, except they are quite small.  I tried to pick some last year, but since we weren't living here yet, they were mostly eaten by the deer.  Hopefully this year I'll be more successful :)
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:18 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I darkened the shadows.

Day 49 ~ Spiderweb

It rained HARD all night and then sprinkled today off and on.  There are water puddles everywhere!  I found this wet spiderweb up in a tree.  Maybe it thought it was too wet to do near the ground :)
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 7:42 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 95 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and darkened the shadows.

Day 48 ~ Turtles All in a Row

It's another rainy day here.  Too rainy to go out and take photos - especially since I have a sore throat :(  So here's one of the photos I took at the arboretum last week.  All of the turtles were basking in the sun on a log.
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 1:09 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 47 ~ Toothache Tree

This is the trunk of a tree on our property commonly called the Toothache Tree.  I've never seen one until we moved here, but it's a native tree and we have a few of them.  It has wicked thorns!  If you chew on the bark or leaves of the tree it produces a numbing effect.  Apparently early settlers used it for toothaches and for teething babies.  Rather interesting :)
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 7:50 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec
Focal Length: 170 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 46 ~ I Like Yellow

f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO 80, 4 mm



Kumquats
f/3.3, 1/60, ISO 80, 4 mm



I was busy all day with church responsibilities and didn't get a chance to take any photos.  Here are a couple more photos I took yesterday at my Master Gardening class. 

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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 12:18 pm
Mode: Macro Zoom
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photos and adjusted the levels.

Day 45 ~ Buzzing Bees

I had my Master Gardening class today and during lunch I wandered through the gardens.  The bees were all over this poppy!  I happened to have my small camera with me in my purse and captured this photo.
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 12:39 pm
Mode: Macro Zoom
Aperture: f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
ISO: 80
Focal Length: 4 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I also sharpened the image.

Day 44 ~ The Rain is Over

We didn't get as much rain as I expected, but we did get rain off and on all day.  It cleared up late this afternoon and it's supposed to be 75 degrees tomorrow!  This has been the strangest winter - it froze on Sunday morning and now back to 75 degrees? 
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:03 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
Focal Length: 18 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and slightly increased the saturation.

Day 43 ~ Water Drop

It's raining again and there's 100% chance of rain tomorrow, so I would say it's a safe bet it will continue for a few more hours.  I took this photo in between showers.
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 4:49 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 42 ~ Kitties

We've been  babying the kitties for the past few days and letting them spend more time inside.  Why?  Well, my husband thought it was time for the kitties to lose their manhood.  So the other day after work, one of my husband's friends came over and helped my husband do the deed.  He figured he's castrated calves and pigs, so why not a cat?  I only allowed him to do the black kitty so we could make sure he healed well before taking care of the other one.  He'll have his turn soon.  And the black kitty is healing very well and he isn't even mad at us :)  Who needs a vet in the country!
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 10:45 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5
Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 65 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 41 ~ Squirrel

We have very few squirrels at our new property.  I'm sure they'll find us before too long though.  This one was enjoying some type of seed off a tree.

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 1:37 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 40 ~ Arboretum



Water Lilies and Koi
f/8, 1/400 sec, ISO 200, 62 mm



We had a field trip to the arboretum today for our Master Gardening class.  There wasn't a lot in bloom yet, but the daffodils, camellias, and some of the magnolias were in full bloom.  I'll have to go back to see everything else in bloom.

Daffodils
f/8, 1/400 sec, ISO 200, 90 mm

Cypress Knees
f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, 95 mm



Japanese Magnolia
f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200, 105 mm



Camellia 'Funny Face Betty'
f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO 200, 75 mm

   

Waterfall
f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200, 120 mm





Day 39 ~ Hen and Rooster

This is our rooster and one of our hens.  We are down to only 3 hens and the rooster at the moment since we changed to only having Rhode Island Reds and gave the other ones away.  (The other ones weren't producing so they're history!)  I would like a few more hens, so my husband is ordering me an incubator tonight.  I'm excited to raise some chicks :)

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 4:12 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
Focal Length: 135 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and darkened the shadows.

Day 38 ~ Moss in the Forest

We've had so much rain in the last month and a half that we have moss growing on the ground in places.  It's quite pretty.
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 4:22 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I darkened the shadows.

Day 37 ~ Wind Chimes

I love listening to my wind chimes when we have a breeze.  They have a deep, rich sound.  My husband bought them for me at the Renaissance Festival a few years ago.

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 3:15 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec
Focal Length: 29 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and darkened the shadows.

Day 36 ~ Bucking Brangus

We let the calves out onto the pasture this afternoon.  They've been in calf pens until now, but my husband put up an electric fence so they could be let out to eat grass.  They were very excited to be out!  This is Annabelle, my Red Brangus heifer.  She was running and bucking, along with the other two calves.

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 2:51 pm
Mode: Shutter Priority
Aperture: f/4.5 and f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 44 mm and 130 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the images.

Day 35 ~ My Camera

This is my main camera - a Nikon D70s.  We've had it for many years but it still works great so I haven't quite justified the expense of a new one yet.  My main lens is a Nikon 18-200 mm VR.  It's awesome!!  With the vibration reduction it gives me equivalent of 3-4 f-stops lower and I can take many photos handheld that I couldn't otherwise.  I love it!  I have another small camera that I carry in my purse.  I used it to take this photo.
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Time of Day: 11:34 pm
Mode: Macro
Aperture: f/3.3
Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 4 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: None

Day 34 ~ Texas Purse

My purse is all Texan!  The front of it looks like the Texas flag.  My mom and I found it at a flea market of all places and I absolutely love it :)
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 2:26 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/5 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 112 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I used the healing brush to eliminate a blemish on the leather.

Day 33 ~ Charred Wood

We had a few camp outs on our property before we moved here.  This charred piece of wood was part of the remains of one of those campfires.
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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 5:40 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 150 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I darkened the shadows slightly.

Day 32 Extra ~ Snapping Turtle

My husband found quite a large snapping turtle this evening out in the calf pen.  It hissed at him and did not retreat into its shell at all.  I've never seen one out here before.  It sure had wicked claws!

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day: 8:57 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/7.1 for both
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec for both
ISO: 800 for both
Focal Length: 65 mm & 120 mm, respectively
Flash Mode: Auto Flash On
Image Alterations: I darkened the shadows slightly.

Day 32 ~ Railroad Tracks

It was foggy this morning and misting again.  I drive over these railroad tracks every morning and finally remembered my camera today :)

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Camera: NIKON D70s
Time of Day:  7:12 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/4.2
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 35 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I darkened the shadows slightly.