Chapter 8 - Walkin' on . . . 5/23/20

This is the new thing - ordering the food from Walmart online and then parking the car and having your groceries loaded for you and off you go. 

It's kinda crazy and a workable adaptation to this COVID Pandemic. And I appreciate it. I've got at least three of the markers for being in the group hardest hit by this virus and it does make me cautious. From what I've learned, it is not a pleasant way to walk on.

So here I am, sporting my brand-new OD Green Gaiter to help keep me and others safe from the virus. Ahhhhhh, never saw this one coming.

So this how it works: you pick out all your items and at check-out, you choose a time slot, usually a week away, to pick up your groceries. 

On the designated day, you get a text, etc., notifying you the order is ready. You drive to the store, park and then use your cell phone to let them know you're there.

A couple of kids come out pushing a cart, load up your car and off you go, shopping is done.

Ah, hell, it works, I guess. I have to admit, I do miss the actual shopping. 

I had sent out a plea for puzzles to the family and I've gotten two. The first was a fun Hawaiian Mickey Mouse and Minnie puzzle from the El Paso Seagrove's. I'm working it now.

Then, a couple days after, I got this package.

It's from Lexi and Cade out in Montana!! I think I'm gonna like this one, too!!

I've been sitting out on the deck sometimes in the morning. And, on occasion, I get to treated to this, a thoroughly saturated cardinal scratching for seed around the feeders. 

He was soaked!!

And I got my patio furniture!!

Now I have to monitor the weather so I can take in my cushions before the rains come. I swear, it never ends.

And last night it came!! In spades!! You can see a little of what it looked like during the shower. It was coming down pretty good.

And that Old House keeps calling me; daring me to get a 'just so' picture. I'll keep at it, I promise you!!

Hahahahaha!!

There's an excellent picture in that Old House somewhere and I'll keep pushing at it until I find it!!

But, yeah, I like these. I think I'm getting closer.

And the front of the Old House got some attention, too. Working on my composing skills here. I'm trying to think also about the other parts of the scene that could help frame my subject.

I cannot adequately express in words the pleasure and happiness I receive from my photography. 

It helps, maybe forces, me to see the world that would normally pass me by.

And I especially enjoy seeing the flowers and shooting same.

They're such easy targets so the real challenge is in composing the picture. It's in seeing the picture within the total scene and then capturing it in a pleasing and aesthetic way.

And, now and then, I catch some piece of whimsy. I just like this total scene. I shot it wide, below, and the with two more shots each closer than the last. I liked all three of them. Couldn't throw any of them away.

And more of these Glories of God. 

It is so much fun. It really occupies me for the entire time, this taking pictures thing.

The hardest part is the editing where I have to pick some to save and throw away the others. I am absolutely no good at that. I think they're all swell and hate to throw many away.

I'm working at it.

I appreciate, greatly, the ability of this camera to reach out and get crisp and clear pictures.

I love it!!

See what I mean about not throwing anything away!?! But I think all these have some merit. Some thing which compels me to keep them.

Hahaha, I likes'em.

It was a pleasant day. I'll be pining for these days soon as the weather moves towards warmer and sultrier weather.

I am not looking forward to that.

And the dandelion grabs my eye, too.

I've rarely noticed this weed when it is in its last cycle. What a treat it was for me to 'discover' these on my walk and to begin shooting them.

Nature can even make a common weed look good. 

And the beauty of the small world. Oh, another reason I enjoy photography so much is that, while on a walk, it provides me a guaranteed built-in excuse to stop walking for a while when I get too tired. I just pretend I'm shooting something very interesting while I catch my second wind.

The color.

And, sometimes, I get the composition a little bit right to go along with the color.

What can I say. I am just a weak platform to capture this natural beauty.

If I could do all that walking, I'd do it for the majority of the day just to be able to see, and shot, the beautiful world around me.

Even in their last days, these flowers amaze me. 

Maryland celebrates its Memorial Day much more than Oregon. I can't remember seeing small flags out for this Holiday.

Some house, more than a few, even decorated their homes for this day.

Course, I think these flags have been up for longer than a day.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Just sitting there radiating beauty and waiting to be noticed.

I'm working on my composition skills, my aesthetic eye.

And these were all in one yard, the one with the flags on their mailbox.

And I've been taken by the tree leaves lately. Especially those that are backlit. I like the lines, the symmetry, and, yes, the chaos . . . in an orderly manner.

Whup!! Here's another one of a tired and, almost, spent dandelion.

What a kick, eh!?!

It works for me on several levels. 

KA-POW!!

This is a Chipping Sparrow . . . I think.

Oh, and those 'things' on the fence are not a result of anything this fellow did. That stuff was already there.

And I end this walk-about where I started, at the Old House.

I know there's a picture there!!

Stay with me. I'll find it.

Someday.

Adios, y'all.