Photo Challenge #3 Bold Colors

Yippee, I finally got my Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. I'm not really sure of what I am doing. I guess I should read the manual. Years ago, I had an old Minolta  SLR. Everything about it was manual.
 I remember turning this and changing that to get different aperture settings. And learning about depth of field, shutter speed, manual focusing, different speed of the film you could buy. Certain ISO were for capturing birds in flight or fast moving objects. A tripod and a super slow shutter speed for capturing moonlight.
It's all different, now and I have so much to learn. I've never been a manual reader, so that alone is a challenge.
So it is starting from scratch for me. But not to worry my daughter, Karena has had a DSLR for about a year and she can give me some tips. She takes gorgeous photos. And while I am busy making all kinds of mistakes. I thought I might use one example of her work for this 3rd challenge which is Bold Colors

 The story behind this photo is:
Karena was out shopping one day, this past week, searching for a nice new summer dress. A rack of colorful dresses on black backgrounds caught her eye.
 Perusing through the bright assortment, she found that she wasn't the only one drawn to these somewhat tropical prints.
This unexpected admirer was just hanging around, clinging to the prettiest dress, right there in the middle of the bright lights and concrete floors!

This huge praying mantis looked right into the camera as if to say, "hey bug off this one's mine!"
She had the attendant gently capture her and escort her to the outside.

I have heard that the mantis is a symbol of good luck so I looked it up and this is what I've found.

Praying Mantis Meanings in the Realms of Animal Symbolism

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we've flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we've created.

After observing this creature for any length of time you can see why the symbolism of the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. The mantis takes her time, and lives her life at her own silent pace.

So that is my entry for todays challenge over at Laura Beth's blog A Step in the Journey

P.S. I hope I am not breaking any rules again, featuring my daughter, my teacher. I figured heck, if my tripod can take a picture then my daughter can. Plus I thought this one was really enjoyable, and it's not a contest, it's a challenge and it's all a step in the journey right?

Posting at Photo Challenge # 3 Bold Colors at A Step in the Journey

for Sweet Shot Tuesday

I just discovered this blog and they are having a photo challenge, called Sweet Shot Tuesday. So I thought I would jump in.
My favorite shot this week is of the lighthouse gardens down the street from my cottage at the beach.
They have a sweet spot that is perfect for the sweet shot.

It's a little hideaway. and I love how cool and cozy... when you open the gate, there is a little bench.

The Soul of a Flower

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.  ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Who says that the flower has no soul? 

How do we really know that? 

They effect us in such peaceful ways!

The flowers in my garden carry so many magical moments with them year after year as they return to bring me their joyous little buds... springing forth which such abandon.

Any container you put them in is happy to embrace them!

Any table set with flowers is instantly cheered.

Can't imagine our planet without their force.

Without their beauty

Their softness.

Understated glory.

Magic

Posting over at these parties

Masterpiece Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Making The World Cuter Monday  

Metamorphosis Monday

Easter flowers and fun in New Jersey

I am back in the New Jersey area to celebrate Easter with the entire family. My kitchen renovation is finally complete and this will be the first Holiday we share in it this year. Thought I might show some of the pretty spring things going on around here.

Fresh daffodils and hyacinths from my garden, with the morning dew. 

Going to link this one to the Live Every Moment Photo challenge

 I can see the dew melting off them as I arrange them. I do love this sort of thing.

The best part is they are all flowers the kids have gotten me over the years at Easter time, planted and returned each year. :))

An old lace tablecloth, I've had for 20 years. It is actually from the 1920's

I love the natural speckles on these organic range free eggs... no need to dye these.

I will dye a few of the white ones though. 

Cause you have to have pastel and pretty, for Easter don't you think?

I love my pastel fenton basket

and just a couple other baskets that I found years ago out thrifting.

My favorite is this pink one. 

Too pretty to even put anything inside!

 The underside of her looks like lace! I've never seen anything this lovely. My absolute fav!

A neat blue glass thrift store find from at least ten years ago filled with some eggs from long ago,  when the kids were little they blew out the egg and painted them in school. 

And 2 avon eggs my mom bought years ago.

It's fun to make the table pretty once in a while, with precious memories from the past.

I really enjoyed 2 things this Easter season.

1. Decorating the new mantle over my stove with flowers from my garden.

2. And I also enjoyed making this door decor out of 3 dollar store hats, 

and some bows and flowers that were laying around

 It was simple and quick... the way I like things...easy.

What did you enjoy most so far about your Easter Holiday?

Happy Easter!!

Joining these linky parties cause I'm just a party girl!
Easter Mantel and Treasures and Trinkets Linky Party!
Thrifty Things Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Chic on a shoestring

It's a Hodge Podge Life

Funky Junks Easter theme party

HAPPY EASTER~ FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

 Tatertots and Jello

Do it yourself Show off
Photo Feature Friday No. 3
LEM Photo challenge

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

Sarah's Saturday Mission 4

I am so ready for this one.
Flowers...check
Coffee...check
Beach...Double check
Ruffles... check
Prairie boots...can I do Flip flops? it's 85 here.

1. Flowers. ...When I stepped off the plane, Hubbo was waiting at the airport to pick me up, hubbo had these flowers in hand. Sweetie.

With a sign that said Eileen!!  ( He is a bit of a joker)    :))

He missed me, because I was in Florida for 3 weeks while he was in NJ.

And then he was in Florida for a week while I was in NJ

It was a month we didn't see each other!

 I put the flowers in some thrifted old milk glass vase (as per the Saturday club rules) :)

Sarah said fluff the flowers with some shells. I started and then I....

.... went a bit nutsy with the flower fluffing and the shells. Cause I have so many pretty shells . We have such a great beach.

Every shell found on my beach.

...forcing myself to stop.

Flowers and shells....Done.. Gee that was fun.

2. Coffee... every morning without fail, 3 cups to open the eyeballs... easy peasy ....Done.
3. Beach.. with teens on spring break? of course!  Easy again...done.. and I think it will be every day this week !! A different Gulf Coast beach. Manasota Beach, Blind Pass, Boca Grande, Siesta Key....Done and Tomorrow

4.Ruffles...  of course, A cover up for the beach. Mine happens to have ruffles, and OMG eyelet!!!
 How prairie is that?...Done

5. Prairie Boots... I had to draw the line here and substitute my pink flip flops with the bow. It's a bit hot here for boots on the beach.  I'm just a rebel from way back. I gotta break some rule...Kinda done

Sarah's notepad says DONE....KINDA DONE.....NEVER STARTED..... TOMORROW
I love it!
A beach cottage's Saturday club Mission 1V accomplished. (cept for the boots)