You Capture - Chocolate

This week's You Capture subject is chocolate and although, we were in Colorado all week and didn't get home until almost eight o'clock last night, You Capture Chocolate stayed in the back of my mind.

Easter Sunday when my granddaughter, Tessa, told me she was going to go wash her face, she must have been really surprised when I said, "No! Wait!". Then I snapped a few pictures of her little chocolatety mouth.

Then a couple of days later, I posted pictures I'd taken of foxes and mountain bluebirds but I held back the pictures of the wild chocolate rabbits running rampant in the back yard so that I could use them for You Capture.
Not only was I able to capture photos of these seasonal creatures, I was able to physically capture one as well. Here was it's fate.

Well that's all the chocolate I have right now. To see more creative chocolate pictures, go to Beth's I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Foxes

Here we are in the wilds of Colorado - or maybe just the foothills of Colorado Springs. Whichever it is, it feels rugged and wild and beautiful. We're staying in Dan and Teresa's house while they go to school in Kansas to prepare for Dan's stint as a Battalion Commander. This role also involves the wives of the commanders and that's where Teresa's classes came in.

So we're here with three of our wonderful grandchildren - getting to spend some quality time with kids that we just don't see enough of.

And here's what we discovered in the lot adjoining Dan and Teresa's property and what's been entertaining Mr. Right and I while the kids are in school.

And although it looks like these kits are out here on their own, they're not. Their watchful mother was never far away.

She was patient though and let them work out their differences on their own.

This little guy seemed to be checking out something in the sky. Soon we'd see why they periodically peruse the sky.

In the meantime, the play continued.

And so did the watching.

Suddenly all their attention was drawn upward.

A large bird approached and they all watched it's flight path.

It landed in a nearby tree, and Mama watched it's every movement.

After it flew off, her attention was drawn to this large dog in an adjoining yard.

She wasn't impressed though. Evidently she knew there was no way he could get to her.

Next she trotted right up to where I was photographing so that I had to get my shots between the deck railing.

She disappeared, the babies went into their burrow, and I went downstairs to see how my pictures turned out.

Meanwhile Mr. Right went upstairs and got the money shot. Mama was back but not for long. Soon she went running for the opposite side of the vacant lot.

Now I don't think foxes are known for being great jumpers but I never would have expected to see her jump to the top of the fence and perch there momentarily.

Before she landed on the other side and proceeded on her way.

And the kits? They fooled around outside for a couple of minutes more before heading deep into the safety of their burrow.

Wow, up until now, the only place I'd seen a live fox was in a zoo. We felt quite privileged to have witnessed this saga. And to think that people who live out here enjoy sights like this all the time.

You Capture - Pastels/Easter

This week's You Capture subject(s) left lots of leeway of which I fully intended to take advantage. However, although I took lots of pictures of each subject, I find myself leaning toward my interpretation of pastels taken mostly from my own backyard.

As soon as I read that the subject would include pastels, I resolved to capture the best pictures I could of the beautiful bluebirds that visit our backyard. But first a couple of flowers starting with the same tulip that was a White submission last week.

And the lilacs that were just starting to explode when we left.

Now on to the bluebirds. Dictionary.com says that pastels are colors having a soft, subdued shade. Surely this lovely female Eastern Bluebird qualifies.

And even the shade of blue found in this male Eastern Bluebird 'fills the bill' as far as I'm concerned.

But the real money shot for me was when I spotted this Mountain Bluebird here in the foothills of Colorado Springs.

What a vibrant pastel blue he is!

To see more pastels and a lot more Easter photography, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

You Capture - White

Beth's You Capture subject this week is White and as usual I turned to my yard for inspiration. I had several white flowers but I settled on the Korean Spice Viburnum to try to capture the subject. (Maybe I was drawn by its fragrance.)

Anyway, I tried several different angles and backgrounds and these are my favorites.

Then there was one lonely white tulip. Eventually it would be pink but at this stage of its young life it was still mostly white. And I loved the background.

And finally I changed it up a little. I did my best to capture the whitecaps on a windy day on Lake Michigan.

For more White and perhaps to participate, go to Beth's I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Elijah Harrison Through The Years

Thursday was Eli's second birthday. What a milestone for a really special little boy! And I was out of town. Sometimes things work out that way and this time I felt needed in Louisville so that's where I was. I love to feel needed so that was good but oh my the timing. We have more unusual 'timing' issues coming up but that's a story for another post.

This post is about a baby who was exceptional from his conception. Yep, that early. I remember when Beth sent the family ultrasound pictures of Eli in utero and his Aunt Amy exclaiming more than once, "He looks so masculine already!

And he did.

Then he was born and still doing amazing things. Like gripping the side of his bassinet.

Then realizing that we were talking about him and getting shy.

And finally relaxing and falling back to sleep.

I even thought it was exceptional as I sat across the room and took pictures of his little feet and hands waving busily from the top of the bassinet.

And from the get-go he was a Mommy's boy and Mommy didn't mind that at all.

Now fast forward a few months and watch as he works to remove his socks and all the while maintaining the cutest expressions EVER.

And those expressions just keep coming and coming.

And here he is at almost two years old.


So Happy Birthday, Eli, a little late. Later on I'll have pictures of him with a cake and two candles if I have to bake it myself because, alas, we're going to miss his party too.

But nothing can take away from the fact that Eli is one of the cutest and sweetest little boys imaginable with a personality that just won't quit.