May 24, 2010 Purple Orchids

Today's Daily Shoot--Today's color is purple. Maybe you'll find it on a fruit. Maybe a flower. Or, maybe a sign. Make a photo and post it.

As I was waiting on Gus to finish up a conversation this morning, I went to get my camera to make pictures of the gorgeous blooms around Canterbury. I took lots of pics outside, but then when I wandered inside I saw this beautiful orchid. Its exotic look and seemingly out of place quality made me want to shoot it. AND it was purple!

May 23, 2010 The Gift of the Holy Spirit

It was truly a gift to celebrate Pentecost with a COH Commissioning service. Today we commissioned our second Community of Hope Class at Canterbury. We had 6 members commissioned--4 from Canterbury, 1 from St. Matthias, and 1 from Northriver Baptist. We have one more member to commission who could not be there yesterday. I hope that COH continues to grow and thrive at Canterbury. I am looking forward to our annual pilgrimage to Camp Allen, Texas, to attend the COH Annual Conference.

May 22, 2010 Lake LU

This picture is from the last week of classes, but now seemed like a good time to post it. I was heading into Livingston on the back road that went by Lake LU early one morning and thought, Hey the sun sure is pretty on the water. I almost drove on by, but then I remembered I had my camera so I stopped in the parking lot of the Livingston Community Center and took a few pictures. I thought this one turned out well.

May 21, 2010 Nananana Hey Hey Goodbye

Today was my last day of Physical Therapy at University Orthopedic Clinic Rehab. I have made lots of progress over the several weeks I have been going. I can do things now I couldn't even do BEFORE I broke my leg. For example, I can stand on a balance board and throw a ball at a wall and catch it! Pretty cool, huh? I am still not real good at standing on that left foot whether on the floor, the blue spongy thing, or the demonic half-ball device! But I am still working on my balance by using my Wii Fit board at Andy McGill's recommendation. This is the sign that hangs over the EXIT door, so I was sure to take my camera in to immortalize it today.

May 20, 2010 Tree-Angles

Daily Shoot Assignment--Work the angles today. Make a photo that gives us a unique perspective on an otherwise ordinary scene. Here is another tree photo, but one from down under to show the jutting angles of all the lower branches. It reminded me of what trees that have been in the path of a tornado look like at the top, but these were just the normal branches in these trees. I guess I don't look up enough to see the differences!

May 19, 2010 Drive Thru Surprises

Daily Shoot Assignment--Make a photo today that distills some simplicity from the complexity of the world. Sometimes in the midst of our busy-ness, we need to be reminded to find those things which touch our soul. I took this photo of these beautiful azaleas in the Drive Thru at Popeye's Chicken. They just really appealed to me as I waited on my food. Good thing I had my camera with me!

May 18, 2010 Tall, tall trees

I'll buy you tall, tall trees and all the waters in the seas
I'm a fool, fool, fool for you
--Tall, tall trees by Alan Jackson

I love this song and I love tall trees in the woods. It reminds me that I am small and sometimes I need that.

May 17, 2010 Irises in the Pond

Today's daily shoot was to shoot something black and dramatic. These irises were some of the last things Doug planted up at the cabin. I happened to be there at dusk just after the sun had gone down and got this shot of them.

May 16, 2010 Spring Bustin' Out All Over

When we were up at the cabin, the first buds of mountain laurel were about to burst. By the time we left, there were lots of blooms on the laurel all around the cabin. Here is my close up of the mountain laurel's herald of springtime in the mountains.

May 15, 2010 Computer Wallpaper

Daily Shoot--Make a photo that you think would work well as computer wallpaper, and try it out for a week! Here goes nothing. I was really taken with the mountains as you can see!

May 14, 2010 The Shadow Knows

Today's Daily Shoot--Find an interesting shadow--any shadow--and make a photograph of it. Consider your framing as you shoot. I chose this picture of a fading dogwood bloom and the shadow it cast. I am awed by the power of the morning light on flowers and the rest of God's creation. Maybe I should be getting up a little earlier to catch some more of this spectacular light!

May 13, 2010 More Blue Ridge

I had a great time with Jenny and Grannie at the cabin in Blue Ridge. It's amazing what you can do with a Home Depot barn and some well-laid plans. The rooms are amazing as is the porch, deck, fire pit, etc. I think I liked this shot of the trail going down to the Spring House because it symbolizes leaving civilization behind to find communion with nature.

May 12, 2010 HGH being stalked by Gus

Here is another picture from Mother's Day where Hallie Grace was doing her big sisterly best to take a seriously cute picture only to be annoyed by Luke. Then, just when she thought the danger of make a silly picture was over, Gus pretends to attack her in the background. So funny!

May 11, 2010 Goofy Luke

On Mother's Day, we went to Los Torascos to celebrate with Mom and took a few photos after dinner. Luke was acting goofy and I actually got it with my camera! So enjoy this goofy boy.

May 10, 2010 Reflections

This picture is one of the three lakes/ponds that are in the gated community where Jenny's cabin is. Of course, the gate are cattle gates, but they do keep out the riff raff! :) This was at dusk on the last night we were there after we had been far afield to find everything to make the cabin just right. I love trees reflected in water for some reason; it makes me see the cycle of life, I guess.

May 9, 2010 Mother's Day

This day's suggestion was to illustrated the DATE, but I chose to illustrate the DAY with pictures of the big kids with Mom. (Eli did not want to be in the little kids pictures, but joined us for this one!)

May 8, 2010 Weather Photo

This is not really from May 8, but this is a picture of what our front yard looked like after the deluge we had during one May afternoon. The sky turned black, and the rains came down. Then it started spitting pea-sized hail, then it rained some more and more and more! Those thunderstorms just kept a-coming that day. But, then the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared which I thought I took a picture of, but instead I took a video of it. So today's weather photo is of the front yard!

May 7, 2010 Flame Azaleas and There is No Place Like Home

Did you know that these orange azaleas grow only in the Blue Ridge Mountains? Jenny said that some of her friends had tried to transplant them to other places, but that they really only thrive in the soil, air, and water of the Blue Ridge. Wow! That is pretty amazing that they are so set in their ways (and needs) that they have to have it like they want it or they simply don't grow. I think there is a lesson for us humans in that.

May 6, 2010 Off the Grid

Today's Daily Shoot was to find a grid pattern and shoot it, but I chose to change my perspective and use a picture to illustrate what it means to be OFF the grid for a change. These are the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia.

May 5, 2010 Lilies in the Field

I love the Bible verse Matthew 6:28 "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." Sometimes we have to be reminded that we are God's people and He will take care of us. It can be so hard to let go of our control issues and let God show us the way instead of the other way around. These lilies in the flower bed at Canterbury in the morning light reminded me of this verse.

May 4, 2010 Bear Sculpture

This lovely bear stands guard at the Blue Ridge cabin envisioned by my Uncle Doug and Aunt Jenny. They have had this vision for a very long time and only recently did it come to fruition. Doug continued to work on the cabin during his illness and was happy to see it almost, if not completely, finished. He worked very hard to leave this as a legacy for Jenny, Matthew, Andrew, Courtney, and the Little Men. The bear sculpture has been on the porch of the cabin in all of its many iterations. It just says cabin in the woods!

May 3, 2010 Walls are in the eye of the beholder

Today's Daily Shoot--Make a composition of a wall and what is against it: art, shelves, etc. Consider the rule of thirds and watch you light. Okay, so I chose a ROCK WALL on the banks of the Black Warrior just to liven things up. I love capturing the early morning light on the water. I was pretty pleased with how this came out. What do you think?

May 2, 2010 Sunday Challenge from the Daily Shoot

Make a photo of something you cherish today in beautiful light. One of my favorite harbingers of spring/summer in the South are hydrangeas! These blue ones outside the back door at Canterbury are marvelous this year.

May 1, 2010

Today's daily shoot was to make two photos of the same subject: one with deep depth of field and one with shallow. Post your favorite of the two. Okay, since I am not sure what exactly depth of field is, I am putting my picture of my Celtic Heart wedding band here. I liked the closer shot.

Explanation of Hiatus from Fowler's Fotos

Actually, there isn't much of an explanation. The semester quickly drew to a close and I had grading to do for 5 classes--and this was supposed to be my easy semester! :) And then there was Physical Therapy for my leg. I went to Blue Ridge with Jenny and Grannie. And then Gus and I have been trying to make progress on the organization and decluttering of our home. Basically, this is to say that I have been slack in posting during May, but I have lots of pictures to share. I will start by using the Daily Shoot suggestions where appropriate and fill in with my own stuff. Happy Viewing!

April 30, 2010 Reflections on my yard

The weather this week has been wonderful. Cool mornings and warm, pleasant afternoons are beautiful reminders that God is in His heaven and all is right with the world. So I took pictures of all the things I like in my yard. The pine tree that has not succumbed to the tornado winds that have buffeted it in the 40 years it has been here. The brick path has been here that long, too. The other trees were probably here before that. I love watching the things in my change with the seasons; it does remind me that there is a time for everything.

April 29, 2010 Sweet Sights

I saw these lovely Gerbera daisies as I waited in line at the TCBY on McFarland Blvd. on Thursday afternoon after I got home from work. I wanted a chocolate waffle cone, but had to settle for strawberry since they were out of chocolate. Even so, this little treat of seeing the flowers and licking my strawberry cone made me a happy camper, black boot and all.

April 28, 2010 Looking Up

These trees are all around my house. I really appreciate them when I visit other people who live in newer subdivisions where all the trees are shorter than me. It is amazing to watch these trees go from stark, bleak branches in the winter to green beings with leafy arms in the spring. It usually takes just one good warm week and a good rain and then BOOM, here comes the green. So here is a picture of my perspective as I looked up at the trees in my yard.

April 27, 2010 Up Close Clover

I took this picture to get the image of the clover flowers. I used to sit in my grandmothers' yards and pick those flowers, carefully split the stems but not all the way, and string them together into rings for crowns, necklaces, and bracelets. I loved playing pretend with my cousins and siblings during summers at my grandparents' houses. I wonder. . . do kids do this anymore? I hope so. I think I need to teach this skill to Hallie Grace.

April 26, 2010 Sundown

Sundown, ya better take care. . . with props to Gordon Lightfoot. This picture was taken in my yard at about 5:00 pm. I love daylight savings time! I also liked the way the sun looked in the picture through the spring green of the trees.

April 25, 2010 The smell of spring

Honeysuckle vines are blooming in our yard! I love their smell, not too overwhelming, and a bit sweet. This smell really reminds me of spring. Mmmmmm, ahhh, breathe it in!

April 24, 2010 Snowball Bush

We went to see Jenny and Grannie today in Rome, GA. We stayed at our usual place at the Hampton Inn. The entrance had a beautiful snowball bush or hydrangea in other parts of the country! I didn't have my camera so I had to take it with my Blackberry, so the quality isn't very good.

April 23, 2010 Repetition

Today's Daily Shoot was to find repetition. I took a picture on the porch of Bibb Graves as I was waiting on my buddies to pick me up for lunch. The repetition of the bricks in an interesting pattern were begging to be shot, so I did.

April 22, 2010 Photo that shows new life

Here is a picture of a very interesting tree on the UWA campus near Bibb Graves Hall. It looks like snow or icicles hanging from the branches. I took the picture one day after lunch when I was hobbling back into the building.

April 21, 2010 Missing in Action

This is actually yesterday's daily shoot challenge. It was to take a picture of something that was missing so I took a picture of my desk in my office without my computer or printer. They were moved out into our office reception area so I could get up to the desk in a wheelchair because my office is too small to get the wheelchair in it. So here is my messy desk without the computer.

April 20, 2010 UWA Keychain

This is my lucky UWA keychain. I bought it last year in the spring after I was given the chance to teach summer school and to work the BEST program. I carried it last spring and all summer even to my interview. And, apparently it works! I got the job and am now a full-fledged member of the UWA family. And that is what make my life and job so good right now!

April 19, 2010 Metal Monday

Here is my inspired collage from the Metal Monday daily shoot challenge. All of these metallic things were in or on my desk at work. So we have the copper pennies, the silver paper clips, and the brass keys.

April 16, 2010 LHS

I had to borrow this picture from the Sumter County Schools web page, but I was at Livingston High School delivering professional development about how to create independent readers and how to encourage ongoing vocabulary development all day on Friday.

April 15, 2010 Gin Phillips at the Black Belt Symposium

Today was the beginning of the Sucarnochee Folk Festival in Livingston and I attended the luncheon for the Black Belt Symposium to hear Gin Phillips talk about her book, The Well and the Mine, and to hear her give advice to writers. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ms. Phillips and am eager to get a copy of her book. She read several selections from it and I was enthralled with the way she recreated the atmosphere of 1930s Carbon Hill, Alabama. So here is a picture of her reading to us.

April 14, 2010 Night

So tonight I drove Gus to the grocery store and was left in the truck with my camera. I am so glad that Gus has always reminded me to have my camera with me at all times because you can't take the picture if you have no camera. Here is the picture from that adventure.

April 13, 2010 Bibb Graves-A new angle

Today's picture was taken as I was balancing on one leg and had the camera on the car door. Lee had gone inside to get the wheelchair for me and I just thought the light on the front of Bibb Graves was beautiful. I had to go with the odd angle because I couldn't let go of the car to straighten the camera, but I think the angle works, too.

April 12, 2010 Morning light

This was the way the trees looked this morning when Gus and I were getting ready to head to Livingston for a professional development session. The sun was just coming up (it was way earlier than I usually go to Livingston) and it hit the trees in a cool way.

April 11, 2010 A twist on the Daily Shoot

The daily shoot challenge today was to take a picture of a bird. Now you would think that since my chair where I spend most of my time at home is beside a 5 x 8 picture window that I could snap a picture of the birds that are outside. I tried and failed at this. So, I chose to go for a winged creature instead of a bird. This big ol' Luna Moth settled on the window by my elbow and ever so carefully did I get the camera and turn off the flash to get this picture. Not as cool as a picture of a bird, but it has its merits.

April 10, 2010 The gray gravel drive

While not exactly the yellow brick road, our driveway has become for me the path out into the world again. I can drive, yes, but when I get somewhere, I can't get out of the car without help. And, oh yeah, can I ride, and then I can usually get out of the car by myself. Just getting out of the house and going back to work, to the store, to dinner, or even to the laundry has made me a happy camper.

April 9, 2010 Handicapped Parking--Whole New World

This is a shot of the handicapped parking place in front of our local Barnes and Noble where I can hobble up the ramp with my walker and my broken leg. It also happens to be right in front of the coffee shop. Gus and I have been in a couple of times and it is so nice to have a ramp to use. I never knew how important handicapped parking is to those who need it. I have noticed that there are some places that have them but don't have a ramp that is easy to use or that other parking places block. It's amazing what you notice when YOU are the one who needs the accommodations.

April 8, 2010 Awesome Azaleas

These azaleas bloom every spring in our driveway. Earlier this week Gus and I were wondering if they were going to bloom and by today, they had burst into awesome blossoms. They are a gorgeous way to welcome spring and April, too!

April 7, 2010 Wisteria Wow

We don't have many flowers blooming in our yard in particular, but we do live in a neighborhood with lots of trees and azaleas and other wonderful blooms. Here is some wisteria that is sort of in our yard and in our neighbor's yard. It lets me know SPRING has SPRUNG!

April 6, 2010 Blue

Not that I was blue on Tuesday,but here is a pic of the blue, blue sky. I was actually very happy because I went back to work and taught my classes. It was so great to be back at work this week.

April 5, 2010 HGH's House Tour

We celebrated Mom's birthday last night and Easter at Lindy's. I took the wheelchair so I was able to get around a bit better than my first visit to their new house. BUT while I could roll down the hall to see Luke's and Eli's room, I couldn't get upstairs to Hallie Grace's. Sooo I gave her my camera with refreshed batteries and asked her to give me the tour of upstairs, so she did. Here is the collage.

April 4, 2010 Easter at Canterbury

I got to go to church on Easter and was able to watch the big kids hide eggs for the little kids and take a few pics before my camera batteries were exhausted. (I am not kidding, that is what my camera said when it died!) So here is a great shot of Matteo in his blue seersucker jacket and pants.

April 3, 2010 Easter's Almost Here

I liked this display of Easter stuff at Barnes and Noble so I shot this picture. I remember lots of Easter Egg hunts from my childhood, but perhaps the most fun was when Lee was a sophomore at Alabama and Lindy and I were teaching. We went to church together at Canterbury and then took some spring pictures on the Quad and around campus. We probably had lunch together. Then, we went to our apartment where one of us hid eggs in the parking lot and sparse lawn for the other two. We had a great time despite the strange looks from neighbors. Great memory!