Saturday Night Special Sunset by: brendasue

Welcome My New Friends!  
Most of you I will never meet in person. I live alone in a cabin in the deep woods not around people. Very likely I will not run into any of you in the woods!
  I will be long gone when some of you arrive at this class. I want you to know it was important to me to venture out on this super highway Internet just to say hello and hopefully inspire you to get outside, take some photos, to live in the here and now of nature.
My adventures have enriched my life.
Through our photography blogs and garden blogs we are building a network of people who want to be good to the Earth and to other Humans. I want my grandchildren to have birds and flowers, butterflies and trees. What do You want? What are your goals for Earth? 
There is really only 2 ways to go on this issue: create habitat for life or create destruction for us all. I am on the side of creating good habitat for Life. I am hoping the sun, the earth and life continues for all.  Together we can make a difference on this Planet!

Patti's Pink Hibiscus                     by:  brendasue


Today we have a guest to Open our Class:

My Son                 by:  brendasue



Let The Class Begin!


Thank you, Bubba, for coming by today and helping me get the rest of the hummingbird  feeders hung!  The Summer Hummers thank you and the class thanks you for the signal to begin. 
(If you know this guy, you do not need to tell him I posted his pic!  He doesn't come to my class, so he will never see it!)


Anyway, Many of my younger friends on facebook have been posting pictures of their kids starting school this week.  My son started school on Monday and by today (Saturday) he has grown up, got married, has a career, has a home, and has a new baby coming in a few weeks!
I do not know how this time warp happened in just one week but it did. This rapid growth of 35 years (or so) happened only to him.  It appears I am still young!


Let's get on with the photostudy!

Sunset of August 27, 2010 Friday Night       by brendasue


The photostudy tonight will feature the setting sun of last night (real time).  I am going forward with documenting the summer Texas sun everyday I can. It is a great show. It is a nice happy hour at the end of the day. Good practice in series shooting with your camera.  I hope you are keeping up with your exercises with your camera. The more you shoot, the better your work gets with that camera. (In my opinion). If the camera stays on the table and you in the chair, you are not going to get that shot!!!  This is all the same sunset. Enjoy!

Our Sun by:  brendasue

On the road again, 77 Sunset Strip (Texas)      by:  brendasue

For Elaine, who likes the barbed wire in the sunset    by:  brendasue

*Note:  I did not paint the sky orange, it came that way into my camera!  I do not use photoshop because I do not know how (yet).

I did try to put the 'eye' of the stay in the sun. You just have to wait until it gets down to the fence!

Do you see what I see?     by:  brendasue

Barbed wire fences are very common in this part of Texas (Waller County)  It is hay growing under the fence. The stiff chain in the middle is called a stay as it helps the strands of barbed wire stay in place. This stay above is a little bent. This type of fencing is not to keep people out as much as it is to keep cows in. People could get through this fence, but most people do not want to walk on others people's property out here. (You will get shot).

Sun kissing the ground                by:  brendasue

My Daddy and I spent time together watching sunsets most of my life. When I was a little girl, Daddy told me that the Sun loved Texas so much that everyday it came out of the sky to kiss the ground.
Now maybe that wasn't exactly true, but it has not harmed me in anyway to believe (still) that the Sun kisses the Earth at Sunset!

Making Hay while the sun shines           by:  brendasue

just because                  by:  brendasue

Don't fence me in       by:  brendasue

Star Wonder, Star Bright             by:  brendasue

Please say that you will    by:  brendasue

Oh won't you stay just a little bit longer      by:  brendasue

Another point of view     by:  brendasue

Hot Tamales      by:  brendasue

Hide and seek in the trees         by:  brendasue

You are the Sunshine of my Life               by:  brendasue

Going, Going, Gone       by brendasue

Sweet Kiss Goodnight to You          by:  brendasue

Heading Home On A Country Road                      by:  brendasue




This concludes our sunset photostudy. I encourage you to just start shooting stuff and see what you get. You must develop your mind's eye.

Summertime and the living is easy....    by:  brendasue



...this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek.










katescabin@gmail.com




















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Photos of Butterflies in Love! by: brendasue

Welcome to all the new friends joining our little mini Nature Class and photography ideas. I hope to encourage you to get outside with your camera and take some nature photos!  What is in Your Garden???   I have a couple of surprises for you tonight, so come on in and kick back for a minute on a Nature Break!


For my friends who can not go outside for whatever reasons, I am bringing the outside in to you!  Sharing the joys in my Garden while creating a garden photojournal for my kids and grandkids to know what everything is in the yard. If I can do this, you can do this.
Together we can make a difference on this Planet!

Two Spot has returned to his favorite branch                     by:  brendasue


Look at this precious hummingbird.  This is Two Spot. He has claimed his branch as if he has never been gone. Fact is he left Kates Cabin last November headed for Mexico where he spent the winter. I do not know where he goes for the spring and first part of summer.  Some go as far as Canada.


But this week, Two Spot came home to Texas and his Kates Cabin. He will stay with us now until November.  This little tiny bird has been on a big trip flying all over!  For now, he will rest, eat and play.
I will watch. I know now the joy my Mom felt when her birds returned every year.  I know, it is stupid to get attached to wild birds. They just have a way of capturing ones heart!

Inside the Porch looking at Hummingbird Wall              by:  brendasue


Okay-You have to look closely to see this:  See the one red feeder hanging in center of pic?  Under that feeder outside the top open window is a black spot sitting on a little twig just above the wooden 'sill'.   Well, that is Two Spot on his branch! He is guarding 'his' feeder.

The Return of Elvis             by:  brendasue

Elvis made it back to 'his' cage on the porch!

Hi Everybody, I am Elvis, the Star of Kates Cabin Hummingbirds!     by:  brendasue


Let The Class Begin!


(Thanks, Elvis)

Our photostudy today is on Butterflies in the Garden

I hope you are viewing these photos and asking yourself what it is you are seeing. That is what I said when I saw the butterfly. It was about twilight yesterday and I was mowing on the little tractor. I saw a large butterfly resting in the bushes. Then I saw something else in front of it  like a leaf or something. I am a blind old bat.  Anyway, I ran into tree cause I was looking at the strange butterfly. So I got off the mower to go have a closer look.

The first photos I took (without flash) were just too dark to reveal anything but an outline. These photos displayed are with flash.
Still for me the old dingbat, I still was not sure what I was seeing!
Is that 2 butterflies?

What are they doing?  They seem to be stuck together.


Oh, Duh........They are mating!

Well, I did not know as I have never seen butterflies mating before.

As I was able to get shots from different angles, we all now can see what is occurring with the butterflies in love!  Who Knew????

One of them is hanging upside down. (for along time).

These are swallowtail butterflies, but I am not sure which one.

The Black one is much larger than the brown one.

This concludes our photostudy in the garden with butterflies in love!
I hope you have learned something of this behavior by viewing the photos.


I learned 2 things:
What Butterflies in Love look like
and (2) do not be looking at them while driving a mower near a tree.

...this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek.  Night All-


katescabin@gmail.com

My Summer Hummer Book           by:  brendasue


Click on this Link below to see the preview of my book. (You can see Elvis and Two Spot):


http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/909524



*Note to photography students:  check out this book site. Try to make a book for yourself. It is fun and great Christmas Presents. b










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Photostudy Today: The Crape Myrtle Flowering Trees by: brendasue

Welcome To The World: 
Come in and visit Kates Cabin On Rainbow Creek, A Private Bird Sanctuary in Northern Waller County, Texas, USA, Earth.  
I am brendasue and I try to bring you my photoArt of the livings things around Rainbow Creek.
A little mini-Nature Class on a Page. I began this book for my grandchildren to learn the things living here with me at Kates Cabin.
I feel it is a good idea to photodocument the Nature around Your Place. I try to give you examples to look at from different points of view, to give you ideas for taking your own photos. I encourage you to get involved with a camera, take a few lessons, and head out on your own adventure into the world around you.
You can take a good photograph with most digital cameras. If you want to take great photographs, you will have to begin upgrading your camera equipment and knowledge. 
Personally, I am happy just to remain a beginner. You have your choice to go whatever direction you want to go into The  Photography Hobby. Good Luck. Have fun and share what you find with all of us!  There is a great network of like minded people sharing their photography, experiences, gardens and tips on the internet. Join us and write History!

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory    by:  brendasue


These are beautiful delicate flowers, but Beware planting in your flower beds. Very aggressive and the vines will kill other plants.  I planted mine in the woods and watch them from a distance. Hummers love them.

Ballerina is Back                    by brendasue

I remember this bird from last year as she does not drink from the inside of the ports, only around the edges of the port! 
Welcome Home 'Little Ballerina'!  (She just got here today. They are slow coming in this year, compared to last year).

Hi Everybody!        by:  brendasue

Let The Class Begin!


(Thank you, Little Ballerina)

'Twilight' Crape Myrtle Flower At Twilight         by:  brendasue




Our Photostudy today will be on a Flowering Tree named the Crape Myrtle. These trees are popular for their panicles of colored flowers with crepe-like texture. 

Shedding the outer Bark       by:  brendasue




These trees differ from most other trees because they shed their outer layer of bark as they grow. When the bark gets too tight, it splits and pops off of the new bark that has formed underneath it.

The little balls each open with a flower        by:  brendasue




I am mixing up the flower photos with the shedding bark photos so you do not get bored!

Under the shedding bark is a new smooth skin!           by:  brendasue




These trees grow in the south of France,  all of Italy, Asia, Australia, India and other warmer climates.  They were brought to the States in 1790 to Charleston, South Carolina.  Since then, they are all over the south (generally south of zone 6).

This concludes our photo study today on the Flowering Tree:
Crape Myrtle.  You can discover more information on these trees at the link below:




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia

A little ray of sunshine in a sky of black clouds    by:  brendasue


For Elaine who likes the barbed wire in the sunsets!

I bet she likes this one the best!        by:  brendasue



Thanks for stopping in. Apparently, there are more of you clicking in than clicking off-


I invite you to follow my blog (buttons below; or with Google friend connect)  You can also leave a comment where you are on this Earth. (I would like at least one friend from everywhere on the planet!)












katescabin@gmail.com












...this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek.
 'Nite All

This place belongs to my friend I call "King of the Road"        by:  brendasue












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