Dogwood fruit and 2008 flower bud against sky: Three years on Flickr

Dogwood fruit and 2008 flower bud against sky: Three years on Flickr

Image by Martin LaBar (going on hiatus)
The red objects are the fruit of dogwood, Cornus florida. This photo was taken at the Welcome Center for the state of Virginia, off Interstate 77, just over the border with North Carolina. The object at the upper left is a flower bud. Both the bud and the fruit are roughly 1/2 inch/2 cm in the largest dimension.

This is the anniversary of our first Flickr picture, uploaded on December 10, 2004. (My wife has taken some of our photos, or suggested that I take some -- I upload them, and do almost all of the commenting.)

Thanks to all of my Contacts, past and present, to other viewers, and to all of our Groups. Flickr says I have posted 877 photos, and that our photostream has had 90,192 views. We have made 26,460 comments, and currently have 22 photos in Explore (it will be more later today!)

More detail is visible at the large and original sizes. Here's another photo of the same tree, showing much the same thing. Here's still another, less spectacular one, showing some of the leaves.

Isn't God a great artist?

Dogwood Bloom, Flowing So Beautifully Free

Image by prayerfriends
This dogwood flower was exquisite to my eyes. May you know the
exquisite beauty of God's love for you, today

IMG_5883.JPG

These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: picasa.google.com/

Semester1_kdb7509

Image by Kathy1006
This class taught me to look at everything from different angles - take at different times of day - use different lenses - use different f-stops. I took pictures of my dogwood with an 18-55 mm lens in late afternoon.

Dogwood

Image by sunsets_for_you
North Chagrin Reservation ~ Nature Center

dogwood 2

Image by Dave Faris

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Day 44: February 13, 2008- A Father's Gift

Day 44: February 13, 2008- A Father's Gift

Image by ashley.adcox
I'm blessed enough to have a father, not a dad. Sure, we all have our flaws, but he truly is the leader of the house. He's quiet, but thoughtful. We certainly had our years (...upon years) of fights, but maybe part of the reason we fought was that we're so similar?

A few months ago I realized just what an impact he's had on my life, which is something that's quite often incredibly easy to overlook. I realized that I don't feel the need to date because of him. I've never in my life felt a lack of love. I couldn't possibly know what it feels like not to be loved unconditionally by my parents. That's a totally foreign concept to me. But I didn't realize this for far too long.

I always kind of rolled my eyes at comments about how a girl's relationships often stem from her relationship with her father. If he was distant and cold, she's probably desperate to find love in the world...etc etc. I spent a few years angry with my father for absolutely no reason at all- I still don't know why I was so angry with him (though I'm sure it probably was becuase we're so alike!), but he loved me through all that time.

My father showed me love in such a way that I would never have to hear the words "I love you" to believe it. And I think it's because of that that I'm comfortable enough with myself, and where I am, that I never felt the need to date. My parents have given me a blueprint of a nearly ideal marriage. Are there things I would do differently? Of course...every kid thinks that...but I know that I've been incredibly blessed to grow up with them as my role models...even though they're both horrible dancers and painfully annoying at times :-p

So yes. All that to say I got flowers today from someone who really means it- and isn't just going along with a silly tradition or trying to gain brownie points. And he's even a day early!

Flamenco dancer ¬ 0355

Image by Lieven SOETE
Molenbeek [Brussels], 13-04-2008 @ Maison des Cultures / Huis van Culturen | Dimanche Arabo-Andalou Zondag | Groupe: Camino Flamenco
*
Most Interesting Pictures of Lieven SOETE on Flickr via Flickriver

Colquhoun-5655

Image by nathancolquhoun

Flamenco dancer ¬ 0367

Image by Lieven SOETE
Molenbeek [Brussels], 13-04-2008 @ Maison des Cultures / Huis van Culturen | Dimanche Arabo-Andalou Zondag | Groupe: Camino Flamenco
*
Most Interesting Pictures of Lieven SOETE on Flickr via Flickriver

Flower girl.

Image by .Andi.
At my grandmother's father's Floral shoppe.

This was a whole picture, but I just chose people in the picture to take a shot of.

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June 2008 — Spring Flowers 25

June 2008 — Spring Flowers 25

Image by dugspr — Home for Good

June 2008 — Spring Flowers 19

Image by dugspr — Home for Good

June 2008 — Spring Flowers 10

Image by dugspr — Home for Good

June 2008 — Spring Flowers 16

Image by dugspr — Home for Good

London spring street flowers_0044

Image by Julie70

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Barbers' Garden 2008: Mandevilla

Barbers' Garden 2008: Mandevilla

Image by bill barber
From my set entitled “Mandevilla”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213952426/
In my collection entitled “The Garden”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandevilla

Mandevilla, sometimes also called Dipladenia,[1] is a genus of plants. It consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines belonging to the family Apocynaceae, the Periwinkle family.

Mandevilla is native to Central and South America and many Mandevillas come originally from the Organ Mountains forests near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The genus was named after Henry Mandeville (1773-1861), a British diplomat and gardener.[1]
Mandevillas develop spectacular flowers in warm climates. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, and red. As climbers, Mandevillas can be trained against a wall or trellis to provide a leafy green and often flowering picture of beauty. They have a tendency to attract insects like mealybugs and scales.

While Mandevilla scabra is sometimes as an additive to the psychedelic drink Ayahuasca, there is no evidence that it is psychoactive in its own right.[2] It is, however, considered to be toxic.[3]

The Barbers' Garden: Mandevilla

Image by bill barber
From my set entitled “Mandevilla”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213952426/
In my collection entitled “The Garden”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandevilla

Mandevilla, sometimes also called Dipladenia,[1] is a genus of plants. It consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines belonging to the family Apocynaceae, the Periwinkle family.

Mandevilla is native to Central and South America and many Mandevillas come originally from the Organ Mountains forests near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The genus was named after Henry Mandeville (1773-1861), a British diplomat and gardener.[1]
Mandevillas develop spectacular flowers in warm climates. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, and red. As climbers, Mandevillas can be trained against a wall or trellis to provide a leafy green and often flowering picture of beauty. They have a tendency to attract insects like mealybugs and scales.

While Mandevilla scabra is sometimes as an additive to the psychedelic drink Ayahuasca, there is no evidence that it is psychoactive in its own right.[2] It is, however, considered to be toxic.[3]

The Barbers' Garden: Mandevilla

Image by bill barber
From my set entitled “Mandevilla”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213952426/
In my collection entitled “The Garden”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandevilla

Mandevilla, sometimes also called Dipladenia,[1] is a genus of plants. It consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines belonging to the family Apocynaceae, the Periwinkle family.

Mandevilla is native to Central and South America and many Mandevillas come originally from the Organ Mountains forests near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The genus was named after Henry Mandeville (1773-1861), a British diplomat and gardener.[1]
Mandevillas develop spectacular flowers in warm climates. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, and red. As climbers, Mandevillas can be trained against a wall or trellis to provide a leafy green and often flowering picture of beauty. They have a tendency to attract insects like mealybugs and scales.

While Mandevilla scabra is sometimes as an additive to the psychedelic drink Ayahuasca, there is no evidence that it is psychoactive in its own right.[2] It is, however, considered to be toxic.[3]

The Barbers' Garden: Mandevilla

Image by bill barber
From my set entitled “Mandevilla”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213952426/
In my collection entitled “The Garden”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandevilla

Mandevilla, sometimes also called Dipladenia,[1] is a genus of plants. It consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines belonging to the family Apocynaceae, the Periwinkle family.

Mandevilla is native to Central and South America and many Mandevillas come originally from the Organ Mountains forests near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The genus was named after Henry Mandeville (1773-1861), a British diplomat and gardener.[1]
Mandevillas develop spectacular flowers in warm climates. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, and red. As climbers, Mandevillas can be trained against a wall or trellis to provide a leafy green and often flowering picture of beauty. They have a tendency to attract insects like mealybugs and scales.

While Mandevilla scabra is sometimes as an additive to the psychedelic drink Ayahuasca, there is no evidence that it is psychoactive in its own right.[2] It is, however, considered to be toxic.[3]

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Day 39: February 8, 2008- Shades Down Tight

Day 39: February 8, 2008- Shades Down Tight

Image by ashley.adcox
I haven't left the house in 15 days. I'm not sure that I see that changing any time soon. It's sunny out.

It's amazing how unenlightening this has been. You'd think after being nearly completely alone for 15 days, something would happen. Heck- maybe I could even find that I have a passion for making little cities out of cookware. But nothing of the sort has occured. I guess that kind of kills my little romanticized fantasy of running away and getting a hotel room for like...3 weeks- just sitting in there. thinking & writing. I guess that saves me about a week & 00!


She never mentions the word addiction
In certain company
Yes, she'll tell you she's an orphan
After you meet her family, Yeah

Yeah,
She paints her eyes as black as night,
Pulls those shades down tight
Oh, there is a smile when the pain comes,
The pain's gonna make everything alright
thats right.

Oh, she talks to angels,
Yes, They call her out by her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
Yes, they call her out by her name

She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket
She wears a cross around her neck
Oh Yes, the hair is from a little boy, little boy
And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet

she talks to angels,
Yeah,They call out by her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
dont you know that they call her out by her name

She don't know no lover,
None that I ever seen,Lord only knows
Yeah, to her that ain't nothing
yeah me,It means everything,Means everything.

Yeah,She paints those eyes as black as night
She pulls those shades down tight
Yeah, She gives a smile when the pain comes,
The pain's gonna make everything alright, alright yeah
- Black Crowes: She Talks To Angels



World happenings since I last stepped outside my front door:

-Giuliani Edwards & Romney step out of Presidential race (Romney with quite the touching speech. I've thought he was a bad/sleazy guy all this time, but he had a Hillary moment(haha) & showed some emotion. It was refreshing)
-Super Tuesday
-Kirkland, Missouri shootings
-Louisiana Tech shootings
-L.A. standoff yesterday, resulting in an officers death.
-Britney Spears goes into hospital
-...Britney Spears leaves hospital
-Amy Winehouse, Eva Mendes, Kirsten Dunst, Justin Champers all ended up in some sort of hospital/rehab as well. (Though I haven't a clue who 2 of those people are lol)
- Hillary Clinton raised 6.4 million dollars after her Super Tuesday results came out, thus already paying herself back the million she loaned her campaign.
- Mr. Obama raised 7.2(...don't quote me on the .2 part...I forget) :)
-The shuttle launched after a 2 month delay.
-Major developments surface in the Holloway case as Joran (essentially) confesses.
-The "how" of Heath Ledger's death surfaced.
-Tornado outbreak throughout the southeast/flooding in midwest.
-We moved from January to February...and I have yet to buy a 2008 calendar
-The Giants pulled off an amazing upset after a great game (...so I hear)
-Casting Pearls was in town, and I just sat here. (note that when I say "in town" I mean "as close as they ever come"...ie 3.5hrs)
-The last State of The Union from George W. Bush.

My Happenings:
-I've lived off Cran-Grape ocean spray juice & Austin peanut butter crackers
-I've taken 502 pictures (...actually, those are just the ones that are still on my computer, but yea)
-I got my W-2 Form, and haven't a clue what to do with it.
-I've slept anywhere from 2-18 hours a day/night
-I've probably watched a combined total of 150hrs of cable news shows.
-I've found I know some painfully condescending people.
-I've stopped wishing people would "understand" and cut me some slack...because I've found that I don't understand myself at all.
-I've continued to put off buying ATF tickets. It's in like...a month. haha.

I've gotten in to the following musical artists:
-The Bravery
-Amy Winehouse
-30 Seconds To Mars
-Breathe Carolina
-Owl City
-A Rocket To The Moon

TV:
-I've found that "The Morning Show With Mike & Juilette" is the most hilarious thing ever. Seemingly insensitive people trying to tackle 'hard-hitting issues'...it's a trainwreck. (10am EST people...seriously- watch it. You'll get abs from laughing at all the seriously awkward moments. The guy is oblivious & cold- and the girl is...well...clueless)
-The ER reruns are in the good seasons :)
-I watched this guy on HSN for about 20 minutes. He was on there selling flowers. And he felt the need to flex at every moment. He flexed when he waved, turned, held something up. His shirt was about 12 sizes too small, and he was orange. It was quite the show!


...I think everyone should stay in their house for 2 weeks. It's pretty amazing how much goes on during that amount of time that you would never notice otherwise.

SteBox78 Merry Xmas Page! :p

Image by stebox78
1. The sentinel..., 2. Autumn Taste!, 3. Santa Maria in Fiore (Firenze), 4. Nyhavn in Copenaghen, 5. Cigni, 6. Square in Genova (Italy) in HDR, 7. Nuclear Ladybeetles walking, 8. Casa di Colombo a Genova,

9. Old Job Tool, 10. Against the sun, 11. Black Boat on Naviglio Grande, 12. Sea & stars, 13. Titanic? ;-), 14. Two Ships ready to start!!, 15. Red Pagoda Resturant in the Brighton's Marina, 16. Trap :-D,

17. Ancient Nautilus in blue, 18. Light in the flower!, 19. Sunset on Lerici (SP), 20. Tramonto a Pregnana, 21. Fire!, 22. Piazza del Popolo from fountain, Rome (Italy), 23. Lights on the boats, 24. Sunset from PortoVenere,

25. Caramba a cavallo!, 26. A sunny day in Porto Cervo, 27. Carretto di frutta e verdura!, 28. Tramonto sul Lago di Como da Bellano, 29. Nature's paint, 30. The flight of seagull, 31. Fiat Stilo ART! ;), 32. The Sentinel 2!,

33. Perfect Perspective!, 34. Sunset on Toscana hills, 35. Go ladybeetle!!!, 36. Vecchio Legno sul mare, 37. Cervinia, 38. Vegetazione Sarda, 39. Portovenere, 40. L'onda arriva....,

41. Break in "Campo dei Miracoli", 42. Football World Champions 2006, 43. Piazzetta di Gallarate, 44. New Life!, 45. Scoglio alle 5 terre, 46. Copenaghen, 47. Bug's perspective!, 48. Ghosts night in the Brighton beach,

49. Ninfee by 6630, 50. Moon on the ocean! (with Nokia 6630), 51. La gabbianella & il gatto!, 52. Spider on the wall, 53. Baywatch all'italiana! ;), 54. RioMaggiore by night, 55. Scassinatore avvisato.... ;-), 56. Orgia di cagnotti ;-),

57. Ghiffa Lago Maggiore, 58. Xmas Time, 59. The ocean....viewed by an ant ;), 60. Neve nella notte, 61. Macchie di Colore su Firenze, 62. Green Tunnel, 63. Sun behind clouds, 64. Funny Light on quite water,

65. Military Night Butterfly, 66. Green Ice, 67. ....e poi se ne va!!, 68. 4 in Scout Explore for the 1° time :-D, 69. Miry over Byron's Cave in Porto Venere, 70. Mosaic with my favurite pictures, 71. My last favourite page! Find your pics! ;), 72. Stone on the beach

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