Knockout - Another View

Knockout - Another View, originally uploaded by TNEmily.

This is a different view of the knockout rose - actually a different rose altogether. This image has really grown on me over the past couple of weeks so here it is.

I have really lacked time lately to truly blog. I keep thinking about maybe just ditching my public blog, but I do like sharing my photos, even if only a handful of folks actually look at them.

Check out Laura's blog if you don't regularly - she's gone back to Africa (Goma to be precise). Hers is one of the most thoughtful blogs that I read - her experiences in Africa (or at home in Texas) are just good readin'. She's a smart gal, that Laura.

Mama Said Knock You Out!

Mama Said Knock You Out!, originally uploaded by TNEmily.

We have one (or maybe two - I can't remember) knockout rose bush that is just HUGE! It's creeping onto our stairs that access our deck, and is in full bloom with just tons of flowers.

Our secret?

We do nothing. Absolutely nothing.

We don't make time to do the landscaping; it's hard when you've got two younguns. A barely finds time to mow the lawn each week, and well, landscaping is just not a big priority. We have been told that we need to trim that rosebush back - I'll try to do it when it stops blooming towards the end of the summer. I've also been told that I should split my day lilies but that sounds awfully - complicated.

Anyway, Southern Living is not going to be popping by for a photoshoot anytime soon. But this rose is pretty, huh?

May Flowers

Lantana, originally uploaded by TNEmily.

I'm getting so lazy in my constant use of Flickr for my blog these days...

I love the ability to take macro shots! I have a lot to learn but wanted to share this. I really like lantana; I think it's the teeny-tiny delicate clusters of flowers that I enjoy.

We're going to my inlaws' this weekend and I always get to take some pics there (the onsite babysitting service is EXCELLENT). Their garden should be going pretty well so there's an opportunity right there. I can't wait to see what my father-in-law has planted - we've heard of blueberries, strawberries, and cherry trees. I hope he's growing tomatoes again, as you can't beat homegrown and I am very much a "I Love Tomato Sandwiches but Only When they Tomatoes are In Season" gal. Anyway, I know Jackson will want to see his garden - A planted a few tomato plants here in our small town mecca and Jackson has been VERY interested in their progress. Now if I can get him to eat the tomatoes...

Photo Friday: Relaxation

Relax, originally uploaded by TNEmily.

Is there nothing more relaxing than laying under a fan running at high speed on a hot summer day?

This cute little cord pull has helped me relax a few times while visiting our inlaws. With summer coming - and a likely Memorial Day weekend trip there in our near future - I think I will be pulling this chain soon.

Easter Weekend

Blue at the Vineyard, originally uploaded by TNEmily.

I hope everyone enjoyed there Easter weekend. I'll blog more later - took some nice photographs this weekend so I'll have much to share - but I am having trouble getting blogger to upload for me so this will have to suffice.

Taken at Holly Ridge Winery in Overton County, TN. It was VERY cold over the Easter weekend here in Tennessee, and the owner mentioned to us that unfortunately the severe cold snap has likely killed off his grapes this year. We did purchase a Riesling which we have yet to open, and some Blackberry wine that was excellent (the owner informed us that it's his most popular).

Anyway, I captured this little flower (sorry, I'm not plant-savvy so I can't tell you what it is) outside the winery. This hardy little thing took the cold like a champ!

Photo Friday - Textured

My entry for this week's Photo Friday. As mentioned previously, I have been playing around with my camera settings, and seeing what aperture can do. This is a hat my mother-in-law made for Tucker. I thought the textures were neat and took a few shots.

I am starting to add the watermarks (I think that's the right term) to my images. It's not that I think "oh, I am such a great photographer that someone's going to pirate my image", but I keep hearing about this happening to folks, and I want to be proactive.

I actually had time to play around with this one as both boys, by some small miracle, are napping at the same time!

Aperture Experiments

I've been experimenting more with aperture since buying the new camera (LOVE IT) and took these a couple of weeks ago. My mom wants to sell my brother's trumpet, and left it with me to take it to our local middle school band director to see if he can sell it. I took the opportunity to play around. I love slightly abstract shots like this and love music and instruments. And it is a beautiful trumpet.

I think it's obvious here that I am going for a "view while playing the instrument" shot. It would have been way cooler with a blue sky background, a la marching band, but that was lacking at 11pm or so at night. So you got "trumpet a la as much light as I could muster in our bedroom without waking the boys". I did this shot where the entire instrument remains in focus, but due to the ceiling background versus a real sky, this is the better shot:

This second shot has its faults - technically I should have focused on the first key (and meant to do so) but I am still learning on the D-SLR, folks. I got some good critique on it as a subject on a online website I sometimes participate in. A lot of people thought this was a radio dial when just viewing the thumbprint: