This pretty snapdragon flower stem is from the garden in our last house. That location had one really great feature of getting late afternoon sunlight, almost from the horizon. What a flower photography bonus! If you’ve read my “7 Secrets” of better photos (free download at the right) you’ll know I’m a big fan of sideways light. Anyway, it’s reminding me to plant some snap seeds this year.

Frilly snapdragon flowers

Linking up to Today’s Flowers, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Photog Friday, Catching the Light, Scenic Weekends and Macro Monday. To view a few more photos here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks so much for visiting, and come back soon.

The NW Flower & Garden Show is coming up in a few weeks here in Seattle at the Convention Center, and my daughter Lila and I will be there at Love That Image‘s booth 2806 with the book, the jewelry, and now prints as well. So exciting! Naturally (besides madly making jewelry pretties) I am taking a look at some past favorite flower photos I have taken there. This one just thrills me. I have no idea what the textured yellow ball flowers are. Anyone?

Calla lily bouquet with mystery yellow ball flowers

Joining up this week at Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Ruby Tuesday 2, Photog Friday and Macro Monday. To see about ten more photos here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you again soon.

Here’s a little peek back into summer for you. These red glads (gladioli?) were taken in my backyard at the beginning of August. Oh, it will get here again, I am sure.

Dark red gladiolus

Participating in My Romantic Home, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Ruby Tuesday 2, Photog Friday and Macro Monday. If you’d like to see about ten more photos here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks!

I am happy that a few of my spring flower photos are on display at Today’s Flowers this weekend. I know it is rushing the season, but spring is so wonderful for those of us who just love flowers. This bouquet of pink and white tulips is a simple one, but so satisfying to me. The flowers have long faded, but the photo lives on. Not to get too spiritual about it, but maybe this is why flower photography has such a punch. It’s like cheating death, in a way. In any case, hope you enjoy the image. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Pink and white tulip bouquet

Joining up at Today’s Flowers, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, and Macro Monday. If there’s only the one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for the rest. Thanks for visiting, and please come back soon!

Every New Year’s Eve I cut up some vegetables for our after midnight snack, along with the crabmeat and cream cheese dip, with potato chips! Hey, the veggies cancel out the yummy fats, is how I think. Hope you had a wonderful celebration, and the luckiest year to you in 2013.

The carrots and broccoli are from our backyard!

Joining up at Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters, Ruby Tuesday 2, and Macro Monday. If there’s only the one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for the rest. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon!

As this year comes to a close, this photo of two kayakers on Bowman Bay, right off of Deception Pass in western Washington State, really “floats my boat.” It symbolizes the feeling I have of moving out into life, alone but with a companion, on water which is dangerous but gives so much pleasure. The blue sky and water, the calm day, the companionable silence, and the feeling of freedom, make this a picture of my wishes for you in 2013. May you have these blessings and more.

In the ancient system of I Ching, water is the symbol in two of the eight basic parts of the hexagram. One is the symbol for Danger, and one is the symbol for Lake, or Pleasure. I love that.

Two kayaks on scenic Bowman Bay, WA

Participating this week at Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters, Ruby Tuesday 2, and Mellow Yellow Monday. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon! If there’s only the one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for the rest of the pretty pictures. Thanks!

There’s a lady not too far from my house who really goes all out with the holidays. She does amazing things at Halloween and July Fourth, as well. But the Christmas display is my favorite. At this time of year, in this northern latitude, we love lights! Below is the view from the road in front of her house, showing the reflection on the top of my car as I steadied my camera, and below that is a closer view which includes Santa in the gazebo. There’s a huge Christmas village inside the home, but we’ll save that for another day. Merry Christmas!

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, Mellow Yellow Monday, and Weekend Reflections. If you’d like to see the latest photos, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks!

Normandy Park, WA holiday lights

Santa waving from the gazebo

This summer a new attraction opened in Seattle at the waterfront, a huge ferris wheel. Do you see the two sports fields in my rearview mirror? So many curves in this photo! You can still drive on the viaduct past it, but not for long. I haven’t ridden on it yet, but I plan to. Even though the gondolas are enclosed, I am betting that the view will be spectacular. I will bring my camera.

Joining up at Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters, and Weekend Reflections. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon! Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see some other neat images.

Seattle’s new, enclosed-car ferris wheel on a typically gray day

On my visit to Port Orchard, Washington last week, of course I had to look at the boats and reflections at the water there. A gull was so helpful in flying by right as I was taking a photo. Thanks, little gull!

Participating in Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Scenic Sunday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters, Camera Critters and Weekend Reflections. To see all the latest photos, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon!

Seagull and a cloudy sky in Port Orchard, WA

Here’s a view at Seattle’s Woodland Park Rose Garden, from a June solstice a few years ago. It’s been raining here, or completely overcast, since the second week in October and I, for one, want to look at sunshine and flowers. Hope you do, too.

Joining up this week in Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, and Ruby Tuesday 2. To see all the latest images, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks for stopping by, and hope to see you again soon!