Happy Birthday

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This started out as some fun with the kids and LED lighted balloons and ended up as a birthday card.  No, it's not my birthday or Donnie's or the boys'.  Facebook doesn't tell me that I know anyone with a birthday today either.  But, if it's yours, have a great day:-)

The original shot shows Joey and Johnny stacking 3 balloons into a triangle shape in the dark so I could take photos.

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I'm a fan of inversion, and I just liked that result.  The background on the daily comes with Photoshop Elements 11.  I've just upgraded from PSE 7.  The main improvement I'm noticing is that it seems to use less memory to run.

Researching for my blog post, I discovered that apparently I'm not the first person to think these balloons would make a cool picture.  I love to use Google search and see what others have done.  In this case after the fact but sometimes before.

I ended up making this shot my cover shot on Facebook.  You can see Joey left and Johnny right enthusiastically helping me out.  We hung the balloons with yarn in their bedroom as a cool night light.  They really liked that!

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This was their idea of a fun shot:-)  Yes, Joey has a boo boo on his face.  He's all boy and didn't want me to put anything on it.  Sigh...

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On another note, there are mockingbirds nesting in the shrubs near the carpool line at the boys's school.  I am going to get a better shot!  This is what I got so far.

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I saw the hawk flying over Donnie's yard again today.  I'll keep an eye on them for a nest!

Red-Shouldered Hawk and Mouse

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I was walking back and forth on Donnie's driveway today to get some exercise when I heard a hawk in the yard.  First I saw one in a tree and then the mate.  This is undoubtedly the same pair I saw a couple of weeks ago.  I was able to snap just a few shots before they flew away.  How cool that the one hawk was working on a meal (mouse).

I used Color Efex Pro to take the shot below and make the daily.  What a difference!  

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Here's an even tighter crop if you want to see the mouse better.

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Mr. Bluebird

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Spring is right around the corner, and I noticed Mr. Bluebird sitting in the big Tulip Poplar tree out in Donnie's front yard today.  Looks like he may have guests in his bluebird box again.  Hope so!  His mate was nearby:-)

Glitter Glow

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I saw a photo on Facebook earlier this week where someone had taken a glass bottle and mixed a glow stick with the chemicals activated and what they called diamond glitter mixed in to make Fairy Dust.  I loved the picture and the idea and wanted to try it.  I have a bunch of glow sticks lying around for various photographs and special occasions and bought some inexpensive 'fluffy' glitter at Joann Craft and Fabric Store.  If you've ever used craft snow, well, that's what diamond glitter is like.  You don't want the metallic small stuff.  You need light weight somewhat see through stuff.

Cutting open the glow stick wasn't too difficult.  I had one of those 5" sticks (purple) and just used sharp scissors to cut off the top.  Obviously if you try this you should be as careful as possible not to come in contact with the chemicals.  Also, before handing the bottle to a child securely put on the cap.  There's not much liquid and I didn't have to worry about the bottle being too water tight. Most of the glow and wet glitter stuck to the bottle sides.

I was immediately amazed at what my concoction looked like.  Donnie was pretty impressed too.  And, Johnny volunteered to be my helper.  I had some ideas what I wanted for pictures.

Here's Johnny with his enthusiastic smile.  You can see the bottle.  I used to have honey in it.  I liked the flatness of the front and back for good viewing.

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I thought it would be cool if Johnny held the bottle in the dark and we saw his fingers on the jar.  Pretty neat, huh?

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Love this curiosity of a child shot too.

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Of course I had to take some macro shots too.  I posted one of them as my daily.  I applied several filters but what you are mostly seeing is the Picasa Cinemascope filter. Here is another macro that I liked.

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This one is inverted.

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Here's an article that talks about how glow sticks work.  Pretty interesting!

Stray Kitty?

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Three black and white cats are hanging out near the elementary school dumpster where Joey played basketball.  I took this photo at Joey's last game to see if the cat's ears were snipped.  Raleigh, NC has some new laws in place that allow Operation Catnip to trap, spay/neuter, and release cats back to where they were picked up.  From their website:

     (Operation Catnip was) Founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997, Operation Catnip is an     
     all-volunteer organization dedicated to reducing feral and free-roaming unowned cat   
     populations through sterilization.

Before rereleasing, they snip the left ear so that the cats are visually identifiable as having already been spayed/neutered.  This cat may or may not be a stray and does not have a snipped ear.  Sure is pretty!  Must be some good vittles in the school dumpster too!

Squirrel

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Noticed this cute guy outside my upstairs bathroom window yesterday.  He cooperated while I ran for the camera and opened the window:-)  I liked the extra growth on the tree limb and the pretty blue sky but not the shadow. Oh well.

The cold is really lingering here.  40s and windy today.  The sun makes it look deceptively warm out.  Wishing for weather warm enough that I can enjoy being outside taking pics.

Beautiful Day

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Still a bit chilly out there today, but it sure is a beautiful day!  A high view looking down the street in front of my house.  Notice the oaks are starting to bud out and the pines are looking their usual green.  Come on spring!