The Front Porch

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Taken after a hard day's work hauling boxes from my attic up to Donnie's attic.  The chairs came out of my dad's house.  I had just finished cleaning them up again.  They sat on my uncovered back deck all winter and were yucky.  The only thing missing here was a 'beverage'.  We didn't sit long but hopefully some other day we'll have great temps, no bugs, and time.  Donnie's bluebird house is just off the deck to the right.  They have a half nest and no eggs.  I think the hawks may be scaring them away:-(

Great Blue Heron at Lake Crabtree

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Well, we didn't make it to Duke Gardens yesterday.  The rain, and I guess some sleet, moved in quick and heavy.  Donnie and I had a picnic lunch with us, so after our appointment, we swung into Lake Crabtree and parked looking out over the water to have our lunch in the car.  I saw a Kingfisher, several types of ducks, and various other birds.  It was calm and lovely.  I took a few pics through the window.  On the way out of the park, I hollered STOP as I saw this heron close-by looking for fish on the docks.  Of course Donnie obliged, and I was able to snap quite a few pics of him.  He was in the snatch a fish pose for a long time but never dove for a fish.  My daily image was captured as he stood up and moved to the other side of the dock.

I've altered the image using Color Efex Pro Detail Enhancer, Eye Bright Action from The CoffeeShop Blog, and Orton filter layter 25% also from The CoffeeShop Blog.

Here's the original cropped to the same size as my daily.

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These pretty daffodils were also in the park.

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Hoping now to go to Duke Gardens on Saturday.  We'll be reasonably warm and sunny again by then.  I am sure we can kiss our spring goodbye in about a week.  It will go form 50-60 to 85 in no time.  I saw 80 in our temps for next Wednesday so hopefully some of you still very cold will at least warm up some.

Swallowtail Day 2

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I spent about 15 minutes taking pictures under my big yoshino cherry tree today.  There were quite a few swallowtails in it and enough bees that the trees was buzzing.  This was the best shot I got in my opinion.  Unfortunately this guy had a break in his wing.  I fixed in PSE.  Here's the original.

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If I didn't say so yesterday, this tree is HUGE.  I should stand back and take a far away shot tomorrow.  Here's a shot showing part of the tree canopy.

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Hoping the weather holds out today.  Donnie and I have an appt. not too far from Duke Gardens and we're going to go visit the tulips!

First Swallowtail of the Year!!!

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The yoshino cherry in my front yard is blooming, and the swallowtails were spotted for the first time this year today.  I am so excited!  I snapped this quick shot while transplanting some camellias from my yard to Donnie's yard today.  5 quick snaps, and this was the best.

Here are Donnie and Debbie helping with the plan relocation.

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Bluebird Egg

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The bluebird house in my front yard has an egg!  They lay one a day.  I'll check back Saturday to see how many are in the nest.  Wish the birdies luck because the last two years this box has had a nest and eggs but the eggs have not hatched.

NC Zoo Easter Weekend 2013

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I can't pick a favorite.  I got a bunch of good family and animal shots.  You know me, I'm the collage girl.

They had special Easter egg themed treats for various animals when we were there last Saturday, and we got to see several of the animals in action with them including the bears, lemurs, and seals.  We particularly enjoyed the river otters both at the glass and then being cuddly in their outside exhibit.  The moving dinosaur exhibit was AWESOME!  See us all afraid in the Jeep? And Donnie upper left and Madi middle right fighting for their lives from the ferocious creatures?  There are 2 baby gorillas at the zoo right now and a third on the way.  I was delighted to capture a picture of one of the babies.  We enjoyed the sunny day, each other's company (when the kids weren't wrestling Donnie), ice cream, and the long walk that is the NC Zoo.

Bald Eagle on the Haw River

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Happy Easter!

We went to the NC Zoo yesterday.  It takes about 90 or so minutes to get there, and we take a route down US Hwy 64 that crosses over the Haw River.  I've gone over the bridge before, seen a great blue heron on the rocks, turned around, and walked onto the bridge to take pictures.  Yesterday, I spotted a Bald Eagle.  I've seen them at the zoo before and at other wildlife preserves but never in the wild.  I was just sure the instant I saw the big bird with a white head and dark body that I'd truly seen a Bald Eagle.  Donnie was quick to make a u-turn, park on the shoulder, and let me walk out onto the bridge.  Thankfully this location has at 4' plus shoulder so it's reasonably safe but the cars travel by at 55mph at least and it's windy and the bridge moves with the cars.  Anyway, I took a ton of pics both with my optical and digital zoom and then took the shot below zoomed out at the area.  Donnie figures the Bald Eagle was 300' out there.  He's on the right in a tall tree about halfway into this frame, but I doubt you can spot him in the shot.  Donnie wondered how in the world I could spot him.   Just my Eagle Eye:-)

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We had a great time at the zoo and I'll post zoo pics tomorrow after I've had more time to process them.

We dyed Easter Eggs last night.  Joey dyed with us although somehow is not pictured.  We had fun with the traditional vinegar tablets as well as food color mixed with some olive oil in the spinner device we had plus some sparkle glue and Joey trying salt and pepper...go figure.  Fun!

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