Thought you guys may would like to see a small peice of
my daily entertainment ..
Oh how life, love, and nature amaze me!
I could never have enuff fingers, in this life, to enable me to count my many blessings.
Some of my 'entertainment' ..
How gorgeous, Magpye. I happen to love critters myself. I love to sit on my porch in the mornings and evenings and see what the day brings.
That is really a beautiful picture, Magpye. Jdee, I like to sit on my patio in the morning and evenings to see what the day brings. It is really relaxing. Especially if you see a butterfly or hummingbird that you have never seen before. Take care, Chuck and Loida
RE: sit on my porch in the mornings and evenings and see what the day brings
jdee .. Would you agree - it's usually a wealth of blessings most every day?
heehee .. Think I'd give up my hubby before I'd give up my front porch! (or is it, my digital camera?)
Ahh, no matter .. haint gonna willingly
part with any of 'em!!.. LOL .. LOL ..
Oh, definately a wealth of blessings. It never ceases to amaze me.
Whew! .. It's been one very busy day for us! Also, this afternoon .. we finally got some much needed rain! It even cooled the temps a good bit!
It was simply xtra spectacular to watch the entertaining antics, of what had to be some dozen or more Ruby Throated hummers .. while we sat on the front porch and shelled about 4 big ol buckets of butter beans!
Regretably .. all I could ever 'catch' was just six of these lil winged jewels .. at any one time! .. (dagnabbit)
There'll be about 7 pics of these little beauts . . .
I titled this one 'Look out! .. Incoming!!'
Hummers !! Pic #2
.. it's self-explanatory! .. hee
Hummers !! Pic #3
.. 'Whoa! What wuzzat?' ..
Hummers !! Pic #4
.. Four hummers at one feeder ..
Hummers !! Pic #5
.. haint she plum sweet lookin'!! ..
END of the .. Hummers !! Pic #6
.. mr handsome & co. ..
Oooops!! .. one more of the Hummers !! Pic #7
I got too excited - so, the pic is a bit blurry ..
but here's six of 'em in one shot ! ..
ohmi ohmi ohmi these are wonderful.
It figures you would have darling little hummers who share their feeder and don't fight instead of eating.
I think 'plum sweet looking' looks a bit preggers compared to her svelte companions.
Blooms... think 'plum sweet ..' was just fully relaxed, and letting her feathers 'puff and air out' a bit! But I certainly dunno - she could be! .. hee hee
Look at this pic of the same 'plum sweet' ... Think she was lookin' deep into my 'heart' .. in this pic!
Wow! Great pics. Tell me about your camera as it is about time I went digital. (I'm assuming you already have).
Gorgeous pictures. Mine were all so blurry. I would be so happy if I saw more than one hummer at a time at the feeders. I know I have more than one hummer, because I've seen them chase eachother away. I wish they'd realize that there's going to be plenty of sugar, and learn to share. It would be so fun to watch them.
Magpye, your photos are just great. What kind of camera were you using. I can't magnify to get as good a shots as you do with my Olympus D-40. I have never been good enough to get a picture of a butterfly. We don't have many here even with as many flowers as I have. Your butterfly picture is so pretty and clear. Donna
I truly appreciate all of the wonderful posts and comments from all of you!
For those that have inquired >
My digital camera is the Fuji S5000 3.1 MP with 10X optical and 2.2X digital zoom, and uses the xD picture card. She uses the rechargeable 'AA' batteries, and they last an amazingly very long time! I've been able to take as many as some 130 pics on (1) 256 MB XD card (I've YET to fill up the card!!) .. and still not run out of battery strength!
Of couse, so much depends on the functions that one accesses and uses most (auto focus, zoom, etc.) .. as to the life span of one 'charge', naturally! Ya learn to keep plenty fully-charged 'on hand', along with at least one .. additional memory media too! The camera comes with a 16 MB xD card!! But I have no doubt, that most any of us, would have that 'eat up' in no time flat - maybe 5 minutes out in our yards and gardens!! .. hee ..
My first digital was the Sony Mavica FD-71 (floppy disk storage)! It's currently still in active use; sold her to a neice and she passed it on to her Mom, my sis-in-law! Think she's some 4 years + 'old' now .. and still shooting faithfully!! .. Hee .. Ahh, the memories !!
I've tried a couple of the Olympus brands, but .. I, personally found the menu functions & (its) manipulation to rank right up there with my learning how to overhaul an automobile engine! And that took me 6 months! .. hee
A bit too involved and complicated for me! Hung on to each for all of two weeks, for I WAS determined to master their menus. Fortunately, Circuit City allowed returns with reciepts within so many days of the purchase .. for the other Olympus I tried, was no simpler either! Probably ideal for any NON-novices!! hee It seems so long ago now, I don't even remember the models I'd tried.
If anyone is interested: On the WalMart website, the Fuji S5000 is 'currently' priced @ $338. And note - the prices most definitely do vary drasticly, each day, with WalMart!
I paid $334 on one day, and the very next day .. the price escalated to $392!! And it's varied just as much since! I was shocked .. (then immediately relieved) ! .. lol ..
Incidentally - I've found that WalMart usually does offer some nice competitive pricing .. for such as digital/electronics. But, that's just my humble opinion. Certainly pays to compare, no doubt!
As somewhat remote as we live ('city' with any major retail shopping) is approximately 1 hour away .. due north or south of us!! I do my 'leg' and home work via the internet!!
I'll try to remember to post this 'digital camera' info to the other applicable forum also .. just in case!!
I spent my morning ... blanching some of our first Golden Bantam Sweet Corn (naturally, only after I got thru shooting more Hummer pics!) ... If memory serves me correctly, I'm relatively certain I managed to get about 10 or eleven of these acrobatic wonders, in one shot!!
Post them here .. shortly!!
This message was edited Mar 24, 2006 10:50 PM
Thanks Magpye for all the good info. And I certainly do agree with your feeling that the Olympus is not user friendly. My nearest town with a photography shop is 3 2/1 hours away. But there is a Costco 2 hours away and a SuperWalMart 1/2 hour away. My problem is lack of money. The Company that I had been investing my money with for 35 years, just suddenly without any warning to investors decided to go into bankruptcy last Dec. ThankGod I didn't have all my money in that one company, but did have more than half, so now I am trying to live on half of my retirement money, which doesn't leave any money for anything much except necessities. I wish I had known a little more about digitals when i bought mine 2 years ago. I had had a couple of other Olympus cameras over the years and liked them. This is the first digital, guess I didn't research enough. Donna
rutholive .. don't dismay .. Try to remember, there's a much higher authority at the helm ..
I understand very well what you're talking about .. with money and retirement. Too well! Just as you'd stated - far better to avoid having all of your eggs in one basket!
Makes for better investment, and just plain ol simple 'preparation'. I, for one, am most glad for you, in that respect ..
We could all learn a lot from paying far closer attention to our wildlife and the insects we see in, near or about our gardens! .. hee .. Heck, I'm still learning ... from the wildlife and MY life!! I'm in a constant learning mode myself .. hee
Just know that I'd not meant to come across perhaps sounding like I was knocking Olympus tho' .. Sure hope you, nor anyone else .. haven't taken it that way! if so, please accept my apologies ..
Whether it's electronics, or what ever else it may be - it's pretty much like living our lives, in general - it's by experience that we learn, and we learn to avoid and/or to overcome.
Besides, research before making a purchase, is wonderful .. but sometimes our pocketbook$ will afford us only certain things. Therefore research is futile! .. ha ..
I'm sure that any one of us has been in the same position when it comes to such 'luxuries' also. And digital cameras and other hi-tech equipment is just that! Ha ..
Plus, if you're like me .. you could maybe consider yourself mitey blessed to have been able to get ANY digital camera in the first place. hee I need plenty more hands (& feet) to keep up with my many blessings ... When things get a little bad or cloudy tho' - seems we always seem to forget the times that they've been 'good' .. or, at least better, anyway.
We all try daily to gain some new perspective on how to 'stretch' our dollar$. Or, as many of us have heard the old adage: 'squeeze that nickel till the buffalo bellers!' ... (from the days of the buffalo head nickels). With inflation and the current prices of fuels - we've all gotta wonder how 'on earth' are any of us are gonna make it.
Hang in there hon .. just hang in there ...
This message was edited Mar 24, 2006 10:47 PM
Rutholive, Good luck. I am sorry to hear about the company. I am on a fixed income too and I know what you mean about stretching your dollars. Chuck and Loida
Thanks for the camera info! Before retirement I had heard of how tough it was to be on a "fixed income." Now I know.
A few pics of some 'flutterbyes' in the zinnias this afternoon.
Could use some input on helping me identify a couple of the 'Skippers' in these pics also ...
.. The Spicebush Swallowtail ...
'flutterbyes' in the zinnias .. Pic #2
.. Great Spangled Fritillary ..
'flutterbyes' in the zinnias .. Pic #3
Maybe someone could help me ID these two, from the Skipper family .. ?
'flutterbyes' in the zinnias .. Pic #4
This lil feller appears to be a member of the 'folded wing' Skipper family .. Any ideas .. ?
'flutterbyes' in the zinnias .. Pic #5
( .. same as pic #3 .. just no additional lighting! .. )
... The 'Patriotic' Ruby-Throated Hummer !! .. And he's sportin' that ruby colored throat just for my shot too!! .. hee ..
great photos
I love your picture of the patriotic hummer. It's perfect.
Pic # 4 is a male of the Fiery Skipper - Hylephila phyleus http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/Butterflies/html/fiery.html
Edited to add the link
This message was edited Jul 29, 2004 6:52 AM
Pics 3 and 5 are the Silver Spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/5092
I want a digital camera, dadgumit! Aghhhhhhhh!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! I want hummers to come to my garden!!!!!!!
Gorgeous photos....I'll just have to admire your's until the little guys 'n' gals find my yard. :)
Thank you, kennedyh .. very much!
Some more 'flutterbyes' ..
These are pics from a couple or so years ago ...
Some more 'flutterbyes' .. Pic #2
Some more 'flutterbyes' .. Pic #3
Very tiny lil thing ..
Some more 'flutterbyes' .. Pic #4
Some more 'flutterbyes' .. Pic #5
Thank you for more lovely butterfly pictures. The first is of course a Monarch Danaus plexippus, then:
Pic #2 is the Buckeye Junonia coenia
Pic #3 is the Phaon Crescentspot Phyciodes phaon
Pics #4 and #5 are both the American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis