89/365 Captured Moments - Spring Abstract

For myself this image embodies a perfect spring day, the sun was shining, beautiful bright spring trees were casting reflections into the slow moving water, the occasional fish jumping, along with ducks swimming by breaking up the stillness of the water.  Down the way a fisherman waits patiently in his boat for a strike as he floats along. And the birds were singing.

Nicomen Slough - Deroche BC

88/365 Captured Moments - Riches

How rich I am, for I am able to see the beauty in the thousands of rocks that sparkle like diamonds upon the waters and along the rivers edge.

87/365 Captured Moments - This Bud's For You

Easing my way into another work week with a cup of coffee and one of my favorite images from the weekend.  

It's a mystery image, as I'm not sure what flower these buds are going to become, they are new to me.  

They were strung out along a wire fence and were quite plentiful.  

A return visit will definitely be in order for later in the week to see if the buds have opened.

86/365 Captured Moments - The Greening of Spring

Yesterday was a day of being chased by the rains, three times I had to sprint for my car trying to protect my camera gear.  

In this image you can see the rains coming down the mountain slowly obscuring it from view. The warning signs were all there but as always I am saying to myself just one more shot.... and then I got wet, again!

Spring is the season of greens and there is nothing more vibrant then wet spring greens spreading across the landscape.  

85/365 Captured Moments - Pirouette

A graceful pirouette by a sweet delicate apple blossom.

84/365 Captured Moments - Maui Sunshine

Sending out a little bit of Maui sunshine in the form of this sunny hibiscus to get your weekend off to a happy start.

"If you have good thoughts, 

They will shine out of your face like sunbeams

And you will always look lovely."

~Roald Dahl~

83/365 Captured Moments - Misty Rain Falls

Capture the Moment

Carry the Day,

Stay with the chase as long as you may.

Follow the dreamer, the fool, and the sage,

Back to the days of the innocent age

"Dan Fogelberg"

82/365 Captured Moments - Season's

The soft diffused light of the morning tenderly awakens the blossoms, bringing with it memories of seasons past.

 The Season of Awakening

81/365 Captured Moments - Baaaaaaa Back to Work

It's always so hard to go back to work after a long weekend but on the upside it's a short week!

80/365 Captured Moments - Inch Creek

The day started out overcast, being a light chaser it's not the type of day I like to shoot in and there was also a good chance of rain on it's way.   I decided to drive out to Inch Creek if nothing else it's a nice quiet walk

and the water there is a beautiful green.  Today it's moving fast, widening it's path as the snow melts, no longer the lazy creek bed. 

The movement of the water is hypnotic as I stare into it's depths.

I was fascinated by this huge elephant shaped rock 

As I moved up stream the sound of the rushing water intensifies as it fights its way through the large rocks.

A strange little oddity flat upon a rock, how creative is nature.

And then the rains came.......

79/365 Grateful - Exotic Road Side Beauty

Not all that is beautiful is good.

This exotic little road side beauty is a flower belonging to a Broom bush growing wild.  Broom is not a native plant to British Columbia, it was first brought over from Europe and introduced in Sooke BC. 

This invasive shrub has rapidly spread throughout Vancouver Island, the lower mainland and up to Hope, BC.  A hardy shrub it can grow in harsh conditions often found along roadways.  It is slowly pushing out our native plant species and needs to be controlled.

"At one time it was considered a beneficial plant, during pioneering times, the seeds of broom were roasted and used as coffee substitute, while new shoots were used as a replacement for hops in beer production. However, it is now known that the leaves, buds and pods of broom contain toxic chemicals or substances that can affect the nervous system and the heart."  More about Broom and what the government is doing to control it. 

78/365 Captured Moments - Twilight Creeps

On gentle feet twilight creeps, silently with no sound, barely noticed, softly fading away to dark.

Heritage Park, Mission BC

77/365 Captured Moments - Morning Has Broken

Good morning world!  No words of mine could ever express the beauty of the morning as expressed by composer Eleanor Farjeon.    Morning Has Broken

"Morning Has Broken"
Originally composed by author Eleanor Farjeon

Sung by Cat Stevens

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

76/365 Captured Moments - Family

As we approach the long weekend for Easter, thoughts of family come to my mind and heart.  Families are held together with love and memories.  As we age the memories might fade a bit but the love stays strong.

This image I made has what I call the "awe" factor and fits the theme of family.  I love how the colt stays so close to mom that her tail is draped across him.

Family

75/365 Captured Moments - Freedom Awaits

Some times I am taken with an image, even though not perfect it captivates me.  This is one of those images, the sun was bright and the left hand side of the bird got blown out, but I liked the framing of the bird on the old metal gate and felt it had potential so I played with it in Lightroom and am much happier with it. 

I couldn't decide which I liked best the black and white or color,  which do you prefer?

Freedom awaits for those who dare to spread their wings and fly.

74/365 Captured Moments - Cloud-Scape

A sky to dream upon, with it's soft swirls of pastel tints,  painting the sky with harmonious color.

73/365 Captured Moments - Cascade Falls

On Sunday I drove up to Cascade Falls.  It is one of those local spots that is relatively close yet you never seem to visit.  The drive is easy, about 45 minutes or so, and the hike up to the top lookout is a easy climb on a well maintained system of stairs and bridges.

I was enamored by the bright green moss on this fallen log spanning the river.

Working on blurring water, very challenging without a tripod handy. I like the shine and color that the water brings out on the rocks.

A nice spot down river from the falls to soak up the rays and bask in the glory of nature.

72/365 Captured Moments - Traveling a Country Road.-A Photo Montage

I have begun to park my car and venture out on foot both for the exercise as well as to see more.  I never would have seen this little bird singing, or the cat on the fence if I was driving. Although I might have got some shots of the peacock landing in the middle of the road....yes you read that right a peacock, he began to move off as I got closer.  As I walked along all became clear as I came across a small farm with chickens, and other fowl, including peacocks.  I hope you enjoy my walk as much as I did.

A small bird pays homage to the light of day with song

The magnolias stretch open their petals to welcome the sun

A old work truck slowly rumbles along the country road, we wave in passing....

A cat slumbers in perfect balance on a fence railing.

Getting down and dirty to admire the little world beneath our feet.

 And the soft velvety feel of a horses muzzle

71/365 Captured Moments - Narcissus, Jonquils, or Daffodils? Seems to be the question.

The fields are filled with an abundance of daffodils so many different kinds, from the traditional bright yellow ones which were the norm when I grew up to the many new varieties.  

This is my go to field to buy daffodils, I was happy to see the Canada flag was still on the fence post,  a little on the tattered side but still proudly flying.  

****All images were all shot at the Flower Stand in the Bradner Area, more info at the bottom of this post.

These are the ones I bought if I remember correctly I bought them last year also.

Romance

I like to buy them when they are like this and watch them open.

I love the contrast between the yellow centers & white petals.

So bright and cheerful!

And last but not least a beautiful elegant white jonquil.

This is the little stand that I visit.  They have a wonderful selection of both cut and potted daffodils, payment is based on the honor system so make sure you have change with you.  Remember to support your local growers they appreciate it more then the big box stores.

The price is $1.75 for a bundle of 10 blooms.  The potted daffodils are from $10.00, these pots are big! 

Bradner Area                       

70/365 Captured Moments - The Muddy Creek

Tonight I found this still creek, there was nothing remarkable about it, in fact the water was a dirty muddy brown. I looked closely and found beauty, as the bluish purple of the evening sky, the soft pink blush of the clouds, and the grasses and trees along the creeks banks cast their reflections upon this unremarkable creek transforming it into a thing of beauty, if only for a moment.....one memorable moment captured.

Open your eyes and hearts to the unremarkable, it can be life altering.

69/365 Captured Moments - TGIF Ohhh Happy Day!

TGIF my favorite day of the week, it's such a wonderful feeling to know that I just have to get through one last day of work and then I have the whole weekend to look forward to.  

It's going to be warm and sunny, and nothing is going to stop me from whooping it up, singing with the birds and dancing with the blossoms in the trees.  It is going to be a FANTASTIC weekend! 

I wish you all a weekend as good as mine!

68/365 Captured Moments - The Promise

The clouds drift low in the sky, 

dark and ominous.  

But the light beckons us with it's promise.

67/365 Captured Moments - Days End

When I headed out tonight to take pictures, the sky was mostly soft shades of grey, with wonderful areas of luminous light.  I wasn't expecting to see these glorious hues sweeping across the sky but as the sun sank in the west the sky filled with an exquisite saturation of color.  It was a very relaxing way to end the day.

66/365 Captured Moments - Dawn's Tulip

In the language of flowers the pink tulip represents happiness, confidence, and caring.  
To my dear friend Dawn who has had to make some hard choices in the midst of a great loss I give to you my first pink tulip of the season.  I wish you a new season of happiness (when the time is right), the confidence to trust the choices you have had to make, and the knowledge that you are loved.

65/365 Captured Moments - The Rooster

Still down on the farm, we can't have a bunch of hens without a rooster near by. And what a cocky fellow he is, strutting around, shaking his tail feathers, how could the hens resist such a handsome fellow.   

I love the colors of his feathers, a darker version of peacock feathers.

64/365 Captured Moments - The Hens Gather

A short 5 minute drive down the road and i'm in farm country with all the usual characters hanging about.  I imagine these ladies are plotting the downfall of Mr. Rooster who was strutting around the coop like he thought he was all that.

The rooster may rule the roost but the Chicks rule the rooster!

63/365 Captured Moments - Relieving Stress

Today was hard, I'm not sure why because normally i'm pretty laid back, but by the time I left work my stress levels were over the top.  So to relieve that stress I went out with my camera and found something bright and cheerful. And after wandering through a field of happy faced daffodils all traces of stress were wiped away.

62/365 Captured Moments - Meadow Blossoms

Poufs of delicate petals the color of spun cotton candy blanket the trees, the scent lingers in the air, tantalizing the senses, evoking memories of days gone by.