Is it spring?

It is finally starting to look like spring in Cache Valley.  You can tell it is spring because the flowers all have frost damage on them.  Here are a few of the ones that have weathered the cold - mostly.

Wellsvilles test shoot.

 I want to get a picture of the Wellsville mountains before we head south for the summer but it is still not spring enough for the landscape to look real great.  So I went out for a test shoot today just to scout out a location.  Never did get a good pic of the mountains... but I found some other things.  Enjoy.

There were a few water fowl in the area so I took a few test shots and then sat on the dock waiting for them to come in closer.

They were starting to get into a better range when both they and I heard a rather loud motor in the distance... so they left.

Then the guys and dogs with the motor came by and scared everything else away.

So I had to start shooting things that were not on the water.  Like this... this.... well this thing out in the field.

But I still found the water more interesting and I heard the motor coming back so I went back to the dock out of curiosity. 

Which was a god choice as the guys with the dogs pulled in the boat then took to training their dogs.  Meet Ginger - He was so anxious to get in the water.

Apparently just as anxious to get the water off.

This is Cooper.  Cooper loved the water every bit as much as Ginger.

Cooper wasn't a big fan of watching Ginger chase the target.  But did so obediently.

 

This was the shot I was waiting for. Though I think I just missed it.  I managed to cut off the reflection just a bit unfortunately.

Ah well - it was my first "wild life" shoot.  Learned a few things and had fun doing so - not a bad way to end the day.

South of Jacob Lake... just before dropping down onto the reservation.

Click for the big version.

A joyful tune...

Choir performance tonight... my little girl sounded great.  Oh the other girls were okay... but MINE WAS THE BEST.   :)

Sorry about the weird crops on a couple of the stitches... still trying to figure out the stitching software.  In my defense the girls moved!

Spring has sprung in Cache Valley

At 6:00 this evening it was 47 degrees and we had green grass... not so much now.  Just a couple hours later it looks like this.

What looks like a dirty lens is more of the sand sized snow - the first two shots are 30 second exposures. 

 

 

This is our back deck.  Look like about 6 inches or so.

Definitely a Cache Valley Spring

Discovered new tool....

I found my camera came with software to stitch together multiple pictures into a single panoramic image.

Here is my first attempt using tonight's sunset.  I'll admit it is not masterpiece, but it was fun to do.

A Force Full Christmas

I had the opportunity to help out the 501st Legion on their Toys for Tots drive this year.  They did all the work and I got to take some fun pictures. 

For a donation to Toys for Tots you could have your picture taken with a Star Wars character.

The Emperor and C3-PO at the departure gate for at the Space Port.

Some of the rest of the gang shows up...

Swapping Solo stories...

Trying to explain how he lost his speeder to a fuzzy little teddy bear.

Even protocol droids get checked by the TSA.

He really didn't want to go through the new security checkpoints.

A trooper enjoying the extra attention from the TSA check point.

Somehow these kids managed to get into the pics... they seem to do that a lot.

 New issue for the TSA.

The upgraded TSA weapons of choice.

 

Don't even think of trying to bring more than 3 ounces of liquid onto this space craft!

They confiscate my fingernail clippers and he gets THAT through security.

 Oh sure we have to go through all kinds of hoops to get on board, but not him. Guess there really are special rules for the ruling class!

Who knew the Emperor was a ladies man!

"I really don't know what George was thinking with the added effects in the director's cut... I liked it the old way."

Check out the 501st's site... great bunch of fans.   501st Home Page