This week’s guest host Ann Gee has challenged us to walk around our yard or home and take close-up or macro shots or choose close-up shots from our archives.
Ann explained the difference between a macro and close-up. A macro is taken with a dedicated macro lens. A close-up is zooming in on a subject. All of my photos are close-ups since I don’t have a dedicated macro lens.
I often take close-ups in my garden. The image at the top of the page and the next two are interesting critters from last year’s garden.
Grasshopper on ZinniaGreen Lynx Spider
I experimented with some new subjects as I walked around my yard this week.
Here’s a look back at 2020 with a few of my favorite photos from the year.
Before Covid-19 shut down world, the first two and a half months of 2020 were pretty normal for me. Henry and I explored the beach close to home, enjoyed a fun getaway to nearby Savannah to attend a Willie Nelson concert and be tourists for two days, I puttered in the garden and planted Camellias, and I had fun going on outings with friends.
After the shutdown began in mid March my photography options were limited to things and places close to home. The weather was perfect for working in the garden, watching the birds and butterflies, and walking in the neighborhood or at the beach.
In July we ventured away from home to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Our original plan was to go on our first ever cruise. When all the cruises were cancelled, our plan B was to spend a few nights at the Jekyll Island Club. It turned out to be a perfect place for us to celebrate.
Birds and butterflies continued to keep me entertained during the hot, dry August. We were safe as tropical storm Isaias passed us by.
Fall arrived with cooler weather, clear blue skies, a walk in the park and more birds.
Our holidays were quiet with no family visiting from out of town and no neighborhood parties. Phone calls and Facetime kept us in touch with all of our loved ones. The Christmas lights in our neighborhood made me smile and there were some beautiful days for being outside.
Many thanks to Tina, Patti, Amy, Ann-Christine and the guest hosts for these wonderful Lens-Artists challenges. Thank you for giving me an incentive to keep taking photos and keep this blog going.
For many years we filled our home with decorations and my Snow Village shown above took up a lot of our living room. This year all we did was decorate our tree and display a few outside lights. I’ve made cookies and other treats and shared them with our friends. Presents were mailed with some arriving in time and some not making it in time for Christmas.
Even though we weren’t able to celebrate in the usual way with parties and caroling and most of our family will not be here we will still enjoy a holiday filled with love and joy.
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever
Jacques Cousteau
We’re challenged this week to choose subjects that begin with the letter A. My subject is the Atlantic Ocean.
I was born about 20 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and was a baby in the early 1950’s when my parents first took me to see it. As an adult I have spent many happy days on Atlantic beaches, riding in boats on the Atlantic, swimming or scuba diving in the Atlantic, or just watching and listening to the ocean waves.
Most of my views of the Atlantic Ocean are from the United States, mostly from Georgia and Florida. I’ve been fortunate to also see it from Ireland. No matter where I see it, being near the Atlantic Ocean always soothes my soul.
East Quaddy Light, Maine beside the Atlantic OceanOkracoke Island, Outer Banks, North CarolinaSurfer on overcast morning on Tybee Island, GeorgiaExploring a deserted sandbar in the Atlantic Ocean in GeorgiaNanny Goat Beach on Sapelo Island. GeorgiaDriftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GeorgiaAmerican Shoals Lighthouse in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic in the Florida KeysFish from our scuba diving days in the Florida Keys
Last year we drove many miles along the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast of Ireland. There were jaw dropping views of the Atlantic Ocean all along the narrow winding roads.
Beach on the Slea Head Drive, IrelandCliffs on the Slea Head Drive, IrelandCliffs of Moher, west coast of Ireland
This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. Turkey is traditionally the main course served for the Thanksgiving meal so this week, turkey is on my mind.
During our RV travels we encountered a few wild turkeys.
Wild Turkey in a campground in TexasWild turkey in Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoWild turkeys roaming around a campground in Georgia
THEN
Last year at this time I was frantically getting everything ready to host a family Thanksgiving. Months before the holiday I thought about how it had been a long time since my brothers and I celebrated a holiday together. I also thought about how life is too short to put things off so I called and invited them to our house for Thanksgiving. I’m so glad I did.
Thanksgiving with my brothers was extra special last year. We laughed a lot, reminisced, and sat up talking late into the night. Our son and one of our granddaughters was here part of the time to add to the fun.
NOW
This year will be quite different. We will have a small quiet Thanksgiving at home. I will be preparing a Thanksgiving feast, just on a smaller scale this year. In fact, I just got back from what I hope is my final trip to the grocery store. Let the cooking begin!
GIVING THANKS
I wake up every day thankful for the gift of today. There is so much I have to be thankful for – my health, my family, my friends, the beauty of nature, a visit with my grandchildren. This year I am extremely grateful that my family is healthy, well, and able to work. I’m thankful for everyone in the medical field for their tireless work. I am also thankful for the researchers and developers of a vaccine for the virus and for all of the volunteers who are participating in the testing of the vaccine.
Wandering Dawgs 