Thursday, September 6, 2012

A thank you and photo potpourri

Last week I was so busy getting ready for my son's visit and dodging a hurricane that I neglected to give my sincerest thanks to Hilary of The Smitten Image for choosing my post, Dragonflies and an Itty Bitty Surprise, for Post of the Week! So here is a great big ol' Cajun THANK YOU! It is always an honor to be a POTW recipient. I implore you, if you're not following Hilary's blog or subscribing to her posts, you are really missing out on something special. Mwah! You are awesome, Hilary!


Today I made a repeat visit to Hilltop Arboretum. I couldn't stay very long because I forgot my bug spray, but here are some of the shots I managed to get:

Brown Thrasher
This is some sort of woodpecker; perhaps a juvenile.
He was quite vocal

Yesterday I played with the Raynox macro lens again:
Hibiscus bud
Zinnia
Barreling towards New Orleans we noticed that the opposite side of the freeway was absent of any vehicles except police cars and police motorcycles. So I got on Twitter and found out that it was Obama's motorcade. He was here to survey the damage Hurricane Isaac left behind. The interstate was blocked off for a very long stretch and by the time we got to the beginning of it, the stacked up traffic made me very glad we were going the other way. There must've been 50-100 law enforcement vehicles that had I-10 westbound all to themselves.
The black spots are spattered bugs on the windshield. Sorry.

This is my little granddog, Leo. I took this with my iPhone one morning as the kids slept. He was being so sweet!


Linking up with Rural Thursday

47 comments:

Deanna said...

Well, congrats on your post being the Post of the Week...how fun!! Love your bird captures, quite delightful as is your macro shots. Love them. Glad you weren't in the Pres traffic..bummer to those that were.

Shug said...

Big congrats on your Post of the Week!
This is a big honor and speaks volumns about what all you've got going on.. Your photo shots are always the bomb!! (my grandkids tell me that being the bomb is awesome, so consider that a huge compliment)
Enjoy your Friday!
Shug


TexWisGirl said...

cute little grandpup. :)

that's a juvenile red-bellied woodpecker. i love the zinnia budlet!

Lisa Gordon said...

Congratulations, Gail!
This is truly well-deserved.

I love the little bird, and you are really rockin' that Raynox. Just beautiful.
xo.

the wild magnolia said...

Yes, Congratulations on Post of the Week.

Love your photos, so crisp and clear! BooYa!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I agree...Hilary's the best, isn't she? Great shot of the brown thrasher. Oh, and the juvenile woodpecker. Oh, and...well, all of them. :) Even your bug splatters are better than mine.

Rosemary Aubut said...

Well deserved and congratulations! Love your series of photos! Great post!

Brian King said...

Congratulations on your post for Post of the Week! Great bird shots! The little woodpecker obviously had something to say. I love your macro lens! Those are fantastic! Those motorcades are quite impressive, huh?

Anonymous said...

Your shots are just stunning. That hibiscus bud is exquisite.

And congrats on a well-earned POTW.

Unknown said...

Congrats to you on getting the photo of the week. No surprise cause your photos are awesome my friend.. LOVE you macro shots here..

And the little puppy is so sweet, it has me smiling..

Linda~

Dave said...

I specially liked ypur bird photos Gail. Congrats on getting Hilary's POTW - Dave

Dave said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kerri Farley said...

Great captures!! The birds of course steal my heart and your macro shots are AMAZING!! The pup is a sweetie :)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Congrats!

Your shots are always amazing.

Do we follow each other on twitter? We should. I'm @varunner7

tinajo said...

I can´t believe you managed to get those bird shots, I never succeed with that! Cute granddog too! :-)

hootnonny said...

Congrats on Post of the Week. Your work is awesome so I expect more of this!

Wonderful images, Gail. The brown thrasher is the state bird of Georgia, though I don't know if I've ever seen one in person.

Your granddarling is adorable. Hope he got along w/his aunts/uncles.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Gail, on Post of the Week! I love the Brown Thrasher as I haven't seen mine this year. The other bird looks like a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Leo is a cutie!

Michelle said...

Congrats on being featured...I'm not surprised. Your photos are always spot on...and continually inspire me to keep trying harder. I love the birds, but the clarity of the hibiscus bud with the soft focus around it...♥♥♥!

Anonymous said...

Oh, nicely shot, Gail, & the I love the focus on the bud & Zinnia, so so so pretty! And what a cutie pie grand-doggy! heheheee Too cute =)

Anonymous said...

PS Sorry, I meant to say congratulations on the POTW award 1st... =)

rainfield61 said...

Tok, tok, tok

The woodpecker is knocking.

Lynn said...

Congratulations on both POTW and capturing some great nature photo’s. The granddog is precious. Happy Friday. Where on earth did this week go?

Tina said...

HI Gail. Glad you survived that hurricane with minimal damage...can't imagine what it must be like to live through those...the worst we ever get it a huge thunderstorm and of course some snowstorms. Happy to hear your birds faired well too. And so wonderful that you had such a great visit with your son and his girlfriend! ENjoy your weekend!

Starla said...

Your photos always take me to a peaceful place! Even if it is just for a couple of minutes, they are so refreshing!

Kerry said...

Dynamite pic of the thrasher. It's hard to get such clear shots of birds, and you're so good at it. Just beautiful.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Congrats on being POW~ that dog is adorable. And as always all your pictures are award worthy!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Your photos are incredible and LOVE your granddog! Congrats on blogger of the week...well done.

Tricia said...

Congrats on the Post of the Week, Gail! You're work is always so beautiful. I'm really loving those macro shots!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Great photography! I love all your arboretum shots.

likeschocolate said...

WOW! I am jealous! You must have a telephoto lens! So happy you are OK after the hurricane!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

WAHOO on being chosen post of the week!! That dragonfly was Phenomenal and deserved recognition.
That Zinnia, mind boggling what you can do with that lens. Love the peaches and cream like background!!
Good to know all is safe!

Suzan said...

Hey Gail!! Way to go girl!! You more than deserve the Post of the week with your amazing photos. Like Tammy - I also loved your dragonflies. You were really up close and personal -- in his eye type of shot!! Puppy is adorable!!

Unknown said...

Totally wonderful photos!
And congratulations on POTW!
Good job.

Vagabonde said...

What a delight to look at your hummingbird photos! Some come close to my window but I don’t have a feeder so they move very quickly and I don’t see them well. Your photos provide so many details. Last Friday while visiting the museum in Chattanooga I looked at a hummingbird painting by Martin Johnson Heade. It said in the brochure that his wife had tamed hummingbirds and there was a photo of her with many hummingbirds on her shoulders and arms.
Congratulations for being chosen blog of the week – you deserve it as you posts are so lovely.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Congrats on post of the week- cool macro shots, especially the zinnia.

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Those are great and Hilary's website is great too. Now, tell me what you use for your macros. they are too fab!

Phil Slade said...

I like all your bird shots today Gail, especially the thrasher and the pecker which I think is a Red-bellied but clealy a juvenile - saw tham in Canada many moons ago. What a fine portrait of the little doggie.

Arti said...

Congrats on your post being selected as the post of the week!
And your captures are wonderful as always, the bird shots especially are stunning.
Have a happy sunday Gail :)

Dianne said...

congrats on POTW
Hilary is a gem
just like you :)

I love flower buds, your shots are sweet

Leo is adorable

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the comment about onemillionmoms.com - I, too, fear the traditional family is going to be a rarity... it's scary what's happening these days.

Hilary said...

Oh thanks for that sweet shoutout.. you're more than kind. :) I absolutely love the photo of the xinnia.. the details and the background colours just touch me. And that Leo is a little love bug!

Reena said...

Congrats on your POTW! Well deserved. And as you know, that is a teen red-bellied woodpecker. They visit my feeder frequently but I haven't seen the juveniles though. Great shots!

Barbara said...

Congrats on the POTW!! And you are totally right about Hilary. She's a gem! Gail, your macro shots are divine!!

Anonymous said...

I need to get that Raynox lens! Your shots are totally awesome and my macro lens just doesn't get it. Where did you get yours?

LindyLouMac said...

As always a lovely selection of photos and news Gail. I am impressed with your use of 21C media to find out about the road!

Larry said...

An excellent post and well worthy of the prize Gail. Nice shots of the Brown Thrasher and the juvie Red-bellied Woodpecker and Leo, very cute!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Love the hibiscus bud! Beautifully done!