Day 91 ~ Chocolate Bunny

One of my friends has the cutest Easter decorations out!  This "chocolate bunny" is one of them - it's actually metal.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 11:17 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: .62 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 65 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 90 ~ Spiderweb

It rained today and there were water drops all over the funnel spiderwebs.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  6:15 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 130 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 89 ~ Ripening Dewberries

The dewberries all over our property (similar to wild blackberries, but smaller) are starting to ripen!  And I haven't seen any signs of the animals getting to them first :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  6:18 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 105 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 88 ~ Spring Flowers

I was visiting a friend and she had some Johnny Jump Ups (Violas) planted in a pot.  They were so bright and cheerful - spring is here!

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  11:14 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 95 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 87 ~ Service Project

The youth from our church did a service project tonight.  They did some yard work for an older woman who had injured herself.  Notice that it takes 4 boys to hold the bag open while only 1 picks up the weeds :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  7:31 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 34 mm
Flash Mode: I used the flash to fill in the shadows since it was dusk.
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 86 ~ Rose Bud

I love yellow roses.  They remind me of my grandma.  This rose bush didn't have any roses blooming yet, but this bud looks like they will be beautiful!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  7:19 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 170 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 85 ~ Peaches

We have peaches growing on our trees!  The trees are actually too small since we just got them this spring, so my husband picked most of the fruit so they can concentrate their energy on growing instead of producing fruit :(  But we saved a few to enjoy!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  6:45 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 135 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 84 ~ Chicks

The chicks are getting more active!  They are eating and drinking lots already and it's fun to see them running around - they're quite fast :)  (There are marbles in their water dish to keep the water shallow so they won't drown.)  I listed them on Craigslist today to see if we can sell some of them since we have more than we need.  If we don't sell them, it's not a problem.  And if we sell them all, we'll just have to hatch more!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 5:22 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 36 mm
Flash Mode: Flash on to compensate for the red light they are under.
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 83 ~ Caterpillar Nest

My husband showed me this nest of caterpillars in one of ours trees.  I don't think I've ever seen one before.  I need to find out if they are "good" ones or "bad" ones!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  5:19 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 90 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 82 ~ Baby Chicks

The first chick hatching in the incubator
f/4.8, 1/60 sec, ISO 4000

After they've dried and fluffed under the warming lamp
f/8, 1/60 sec, ISO 500

We hatched baby chicks this week!  We started with 26 eggs from our Rhode Island Red chickens.  I accidentally broke 2 of them while candling them (seeing if there was movement in the egg using a light), one of them was unfertile, and one was an early death for some reason.  So as of day 8, we saw movement in 22 eggs.  All 22 of them hatched!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Mode: Aperture Priority
Flash Mode: Flash on
Image Alterations: I cropped the photos and adjusted the levels.

Day 81 ~ Sunrise over Windmill

Now that the time has changed, the sun is just coming up when I get home from picking up my son which gives me more time to stop and take photos :)  This morning we stopped by the windmill again so I could get a photo showing the morning rays of light.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:32 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 80 ~ Field of Bluebonnets

The bluebonnets are in full bloom everywhere and they are beautiful!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  3:07 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/16
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 90 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 79 ~ Daybreak

This morning on my way home from picking up my son from early morning seminary, I stopped and took this photo just as the sky was beginning to lighten.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  7:00 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/2 sec
ISO: 5600
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I also reduced the noise using the noise reduction filter.

Day 78 ~ Peacock

There is a person that sells peacocks, pheasants, and other birds that parks their trailer on the main road almost every Sunday.  We've watched for months to see if they are there any other day of the week, but they aren't.  Today we stopped on the way home from church so I could take a photo of one of their peacocks.  My husband's grandparents had peacocks and he thinks we should consider getting some.  But they're very expensive - $200 each!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  2:14 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 77 ~ Wildflowers Revisited

I thought I'd take a few more photos of the wildflowers before they were gone.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  4:08 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 135 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 76 ~ Texas Wildflower

The wildflowers are in bloom everywhere and they are so pretty!  I took this photo using my close-up filter.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day:  3:06 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 80 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo only.

Day 75 ~ American Flag

I took this photo while we were out running errands today.  I've taken lots of photos of flags trying to get one I like.  I'm getting closer :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 2:58 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 170 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I had to clone out a nearby light post.  Then I used the Colorful Center photo effect and the Recessed Frame photo effect in PSE 10.

Day 74 ~ Calf Injections

We treated the older calves for worms today.  The new calf already had her deworming shots before we brought her home.  My husband caught and held them while I gave them their shots.  I'm not as nervous giving shots as I was the first few times!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:49 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 3200
Focal Length: 80 mm
Flash Mode: Flash on
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 73 ~ Baby Brangus

I got a new baby calf today!  She is a brown Brangus and she is only 2 weeks old :)  This is her still tied in the back of the trailer we brought her home in.  I haven't decided what to name her yet.  My son and husband want me to name her Cocoa, but they pronounce it Coco-uh.  It's the family joke of how they pronounce the cocoa you cook with.  But I'm not sold on the name.  I'll let you know what I end up naming her - any suggestions?  By the way, we'll be keeping her to breed.  We won't be eating her :)  Back to bottle feeding again!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 5:52 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 26 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 72 ~ New Computer

My laptop quit working - my son said my hard drive is corrupt.  So after working on it for a couple of days with no luck, my wonderful husband told me he was taking me computer shopping!  I tried to find a basic laptop I would be satisfied with, but of course, my husband and son thought I needed it all or I would regret it later :)  So I am the very happy owner of a new computer!  Wow - two very nice new toys in the last week and a half or so.  I am SPOILED!
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 9:22 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 48 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 71 ~ Flooding

f/22, 1/25 sec, ISO 800 Aperture Priority

f/32, 1/10 sec, ISO 280 Shutter Priority

It rained HARD today - about 4 inches!  After it stopped raining we went for a drive.  There were places where water was running over the roads and dragging debris with it.  In this area the water had already gone down significantly.  Funny thing is I had never noticed the "High Water" sign before today :)

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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 3:49 pm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the images and adjusted the levels.



Day 70 ~ Wheat

Some of the winter grass we planted has grown quite tall - of course this is outside the fenced area where the calves can't reach.  I noticed today that some of the wheat has grown heads!  I must be a real country girl now since I have farm animals and even wheat :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 4:18 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 52 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 69 ~ Vultures in Tree

I was out driving around the neighborhood today and saw these vultures in a tree.  It was raining earlier today and they were spreading their wings to dry.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 4:10 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 90 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and changed the image to black and white.

Day 68 ~ Cherry Tomatoes

I only have one cherry tomato plant, but it has lots of tomatoes growing on it already :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 12:15 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 67 ~ Coins

My husband bought me some close-up lens filters and they came in the mail today!  It was too dark to use outside, but I loved the reflection of multiple colors in his change jar.  I'm excited to try it outside on flowers and insects!
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 7:46 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 180
Focal Length: 70 mm
Flash Mode: Flash on
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 66 ~ Windmill at Sunrise

This morning when I went to pick up my son from seminary, I passed this windmill and happened to have my camera out and ready.  I rolled down the window, and took this photo as I passed - it was a country road and no one else was on the road at the time.  I was pleasantly surprised to see how it turned out :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 6:38 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.3
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 95 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the image and adjusted the levels.  I also had to photoshop out an overhanging tree limb.

Day 65 ~ Wood Pile

Some people down the street have a GIANT woodpile.  Whenever I drive by I enjoy looking at the interesting patterns in the logs.  This is just a very small portion of the pile.  Zoom in to see the textures and patterns.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 1:07 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 64 ~ Flowering Vine

Many of the pine trees here and also where we moved from have vines growing up them.  I'm sure they probably aren't too good for the trees, but this time of year when they are flowering, they are quite pretty.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 5:32 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 36 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the image and adjusted the levels.

Day 63 ~ Peach Blossoms

We bought 5 peach trees a few weeks ago and they are just starting to bloom.  They are too small to produce any fruit this year, but I'm excited to see them blooming.
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 5:04 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8 for both
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec and 1/100 sec
ISO: 400 for both
Focal Length: 200 mm and 105 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I slightly cropped the first one adjusted the levels on both.  Believe it or not, I didn't adjust the saturation on them.

Day 62 ~ Sunrise

We had a special church training meeting this morning with Sister Elaine Dalton, the General Young Women's President.  It was about an hour and a half away and I took this photo of the sunrise through the car window on the way there - I wasn't driving :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 7:18 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 82 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.

Day 61 ~ Egg Incubator

We bought an egg incubator with our neighbors and it came in the mail yesterday.  Chicken eggs have to be kept between 99.3 F and 99.6 F and at 40-50% relative humidity while they are being incubated.  I put 26 eggs in it this afternoon and hopefully in 21 days, we'll have baby chicks :)  (I just put the eggs in when I took the photo, so the temperature and humidity hadn't readjusted yet.)  Also, the eggs have to be turned a minimum of twice a day, so we decided to get the unit with the autoturn cradle so we wouldn't have to worry about turning them.  We only have 3 hens and 1 rooster at the moment, so we would like a few more hens.  We'll probably sell the rest of them. 
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Camera: NIKON D7000
Time of Day: 12:44 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/3 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 56 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the image slightly and adjusted the levels.