“This bud’s for you!” No, not that bud–flower buds! (sorry!) Its that strange time of year when hints of spring are everywhere, but where we get snow, hail, rain and even sunshine all in one day.
forsythia buds
buds
fir tree buds
cherry tree buds
cherry tree buds
Rhododendron buds
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
We had a huge storm here about a month ago. Branches and trees blew down all over the city. We live near a wetland area, where pussy willows grow large; happy to have their feet wet all the time. Pussy willow branches broke off in the storm and littered the sides of our little country road.
Pussy willows at dawn
I discovered that even when pussy willows have been snapped off from the tree and even when they’ve laid on the ground for 2 or 3 weeks, the downed branches still have enough life in them to put forth pussy willows and continue the cycle of life.
Pussy willow catkins
There is a lesson here for me. Although at times I may feel broken by life’s storms; although I feel that pieces of me lay scattered on the ground; there is still life within me. I can summon that life to grow anew. I can go on.
Pussy willows with pollen
Pussy willows with pollen
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
My husband gave me a basket of primroses for Valentines Day. He knows how much I love them. They always give me hope that spring is around the corner and they help me get through the long, gray days of February.
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
If you’re looking for the blog hop, it’s here: Copper Components Blog Hop
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
The big snow storm that hit us in late January has affectionately been dubbed Snowmageddon in the press! First we had 11 inches of snow in 24 hours, then we had freezing rain, which coated everything with a heavy layer of ice.
The ice was followed by a windstorm with gusts up to 60 mph. Whole trees snapped under the weight of the ice and the force of the wind.
The ornamental cherry trees that line our long driveway were severely damaged. A tree toppled down at the end of our road and landed on the overhead electrical wires.
We were without electricity for 3 and a half days—brrr! We live in a rural area and are on well water, which is pumped to the house via an electric pump, thus we were without, heat, light, telephone, running water or flushing toilets for those 3 and a half days. We were entirely snowed in for the first two days, so we couldn’t even drive to a warm restaurant for food.
The stuff in our freezer was melting, so my husband gathered up the thawing chicken, and made barbecued chicken soup! Not many people can claim to have eaten barbecued soup! He also made barbecued hot tea for us. I took these pictures when the snow had just started. My husband took the picture of the downed tree (admittedly not a macro shot), that zapped our electricity.
Chochi has been here.
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
I think this is one of the best pictures I have ever taken and I’m very happy to be able to share it with you today.
Snow melt
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
I had these pine cones on display for Christmas. I love their spiraling patterns and wanted to share them with you, for your Macro Sunday enjoyment. And now that I’ve shared them, I can pack them away until next year.
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
We have a large barrel cactus that we’ve had for over 20 years. In the summer it sits out on the deck – hence the pine needles in some of the photos. In the fall we haul it back indoors.
One time, many years ago, the woman who cleaned our home, accidentally backed into it while she was vacuuming. She told me later that her husband wanted to know why she had so many pin pricks on her butt! Believe me, she never made that mistake again!
Center of the cactus with new growth.
Caution: These hurt!
Youch!
Top of the barrel cactus
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori for links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
My husband found a molted snake-skin in the garden. All our snakes here are harmless and I am fascinated by the patterns formed by the scales. I hope this doesn’t creep anyone out.
molted snake-skin
Molted snake-skin.
Molted snake-skin.
Molted snake-skin: the snake's head
Molted snake-skin: the entire snake
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥ I know I kind of dropped out of this for a while. But, hello, I’m back!
I absolutely love autumn colors! They are so inspiring to me. The macro shots really capture the complexities of the colors along the veins of the leaves.
Autumn Leaf Close Up
Red and Yellow Autumn Leaf
Fall Leaf Close up
Autumn colors also inspire my jewelry design. I just added “Smoky Autumn Earrings” to Linda Landig Jewelry on Thursday. The great autumn colored lampwork glass leaves are handmade by Havana Beads. I accented them with flawlessly clear smoky quartz, carnelian and brass bead caps.
Smoky Autumn Earrings
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
~-:¦:-••-:¦:-••-:¦:-• Here’s a link to my Bead Soup post. •-:¦:-••-:¦:-••-:¦:-~
Its time for another ♥ I Heart Macro Sunday! ♥
I was taking macro photos in my friend’s garden when she noticed that a grasshopper had found a comfy spot in one of her dahlias. I zoomed in and here are the results. I wish I could have such a lovely space in which to sit!
Grasshopper in a Pink Dahlia
✿✿✿
Lori of Studio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.
Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings 