Burner

Back in September I had the opportunity to take photos out on the field at a hot air balloon race. As soon as I took this picture of one of the burners, I knew I wanted it in black & white. Yes, the burnished copper fittings were interesting, but in a way it just looked dirty.

WATCH OUT!

And make sure no one turns the gas on while your looking at it close up :)

Speaking of black & white, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my friend Mark over at Musings in Monocrome (http://www.highton-ridley.co.uk/blog/2009/10/october-freebie-prize-draw-now-open.html). He is once again giving away three signed, mounted prints in the month of October. You really should visit his gallery (http://www.highton-ridley.co.uk), choose your favorite and recommend it to others. Then, head over to his blog and let him know you want in on the giveaway. You can see all the details here.

Granny Smith

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

On a whim, we went apple picking this weekend. Drove an hour to do it and we were out in the orchard for less than 45 minutes, but it was worth it. The kids had a grand time and we've got a lot of yummy apples to make a ton of tasty treats.

This Granny Smith stood out because most of them were pretty dull. It looked shinier out in the orchard than it showed up here. But that one shine amongst all the other apples was certainly distracting.

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)




PS - Please stop by my ETSY store. I'd love to hear your opinions. Do any of my photos on "Picture This" cut the mustard as store worthy? Let me know.

Warm Wishes

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

This pool water isn't just distractingly shiny, it's mesmerizing.

It's gotten quite cold all of a sudden and I think we're in for a rough winter.

Even though it's been less than a month since my in-laws shut up the pool, I'm wishing for the warm weather again. Funny, I'm sitting here rubbing my cold feet together, wishing it was warm enough to cool off in the pool.

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)




PS - Please stop by my ETSY store. I'd love to hear your opinions. Do any of my photos on "Picture This" cut the mustard as store worthy? Let me know.

Slap

It's Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

I'm so sorry folks! Here it is Thursday morning and I'm just now putting this up. I've been sacked by a nasty cold and went to be early last night - so, so, so sorry I'm late!

Anyway, this was an "on a whim" photo. My daughter was irritating me with her slap bracelet. You know how something as repetitive as slap, slap, slap, slap can be. Then, you add in the younger sister with the, "Let me do it, let me do it, let me do it." Well, you get the picture. They lost the bracelet, but I gained a nifty, shiny photo :)

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)




PS - Please stop by my ETSY store. I'd love to hear your opinions. Do any of my photos on "Picture This" cut the mustard as store worthy? Let me know.

Princess Jewels

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

I was just bopping around the house looking for something shiny and I remembered the "jewels" in "The Princess Potty" (aka - my daughters' bathroom). This is a better picture than the one I have in my header. Yes, it's the same jewels, I just think this was way better lighting, color, and degree of shininess :)

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)




PS - Please stop by my ETSY store. I'd love to hear your opinions. Do any of my photos on "Picture This" cut the mustard as store worthy? Let me know.

Fire It Up

To see other Wordless-ness, click here.

Inside A Hot Air Balloon

I haven't played Ruby Tuesday in awhile. So, here I am :)

Although it's mostly on the orange side, I thought it was okay for Ruby Tuesday. Orange is made from red, right?

I got to talking to the pilot and his crew at the Hot Air Balloon Race this past weekend. As they were blowing up the balloon, one of the crew members took me to the slit they open when decending and let me stand inside the balloon.

That's propane firing into the balloon. Yes, it was hot. I had to make sure I stayed on the grass and not on the balloon itself. It was a difficult task because it was really windy and the balloon kept rolling from side to side. I'm lucky I got a shot this good, most of them were blurry because I had to keep moving.

I'll have more balloon shots coming this week. Once I talked to one pilot, it was really easy to talk to others. No more from inside the balloon, but some other close-up, cool ones.

To see other Ruby Tuesday shots, stop by Work of the Poet.

Classic Mustang

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

On a recent excursion throughout the neighborhood, this guy was making the rounds. Seriously, I heard him across the lake and was bummed that my camera didn't have a strong enough zoom to catch him. As it turns out, he was just cruising. Not speed cruising, more just showing off his cool, buffed, shiny classic. I heard the rumbling and knew he was heading my direction. I stepped out in the street to get him to stop. He was more than happy to let me take pics.

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)




PS - Please stop by my ETSY store. I'd love to hear your opinions. Do any of my photos on "Picture This" cut the mustard as store worthy? Let me know.

Fire Escape

I follow the photo blog of Heighton-Ridley whom I believe to be a pretty fine monochromatic photographer. His images have a very dramatic quality and I can't help but to study them so I don't miss anything.

He's having a giveaway in the month of September in which you can win one of his prints - you can see all his work at his main photo site (http://www.highton-ridley.co.uk). I personally like Church Yard Sentinals. I suggest you stop by and check him out and get yourself entered in the contest - you actually need to enter on his blog. To see the rules, visit September Freebie Prize Draw now open!.

Please let me know if you enjoyed my monochromatic image today by leaving me a comment!

Blue Glass

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

I thought I'd try something different. I picked out some of my favorite photos & opened an ETSY store! I really like this one. Let me know what you think - should I add this one or not?

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)

Old vs New

Another shot from Chicago. This was just a nifty building detail until I got to look at it closer on my computer. It's actually an indian chief's head dress above a bald eagle. I have no idea what the name of the building is, but I found it very interesting that it depicted the both the native americans and the symbol of a new nation in one architectual element.

Check out all the other fabulous sky pictures by clicking on the SkyWatch Friday icon above.

Outdoor Cafe

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

Even though I've walked past the local wine bar on numerous occassions and had never really paid much attention to the chairs. The sun was shining just right on this day. I couldn't help but notice those chairs!

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)

Sunflower

To see other Wordless-ness, click here.

Urban Savannah

Right here in Pleasantville we have our very own Savannah! There is also a baby giraffe & a trumpeting elephant!

Check out all the other fabulous sky pictures by clicking on the SkyWatch Friday icon above.

Engine No. 3

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

Another pic from our trip to Chicago last weekend. We were walking down to Navy Pier when we had to halt because three firetrucks and a rescue unit were pulling out of the fire house.

For some of our other Chicago adventures, visit Life Makes Me Laugh for stories about some of our adventures.

I've got lots of shiny stuff coming up for a couple of weeks based on this trip.

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

If you haven't played before, take a gander through your archives - I bet you've got something shiny in there :)

Guardians

To see other Wordless-ness, click here.

Chicago Skyline North

I got this view from a top the HUGE ferris wheel at Navy Pier (see my Wordless Wednesday post).

The tallest building is NOT the Willis (Sears) Tower. It is the Handcock Observatory. To see the Willis Tower, visit my account of that at my other blog,Life Makes Me Laugh (another great SkyWatch image, if I do say).

Check out all the other fabulous sky pictures by clicking on the SkyWatch Friday icon above.

Navy Pier

It's Almost Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

This week is all about our trip to Chicago this past weekend. Visit Life Makes Me Laugh for stories about some of our adventures.

We drove up on Friday and headed down to Navy Pier right after checking into the hotel.

I've got lots of shiny stuff coming up for a couple of weeks based on this trip.

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

Zip It

It's Thursday!!



Who isn't distracted by shiny things?

I've been so distracted by this new school thing (Cupie started kindergarten yesterday) that I completely forgot about getting distracted by shiny things! Since I've been on the school theme all week with my blogs, I thought I might as well stay with that. My Cupie's lunchbox zipper pull fits right in!

Please join in the fun and show us all your shiny stuff. All I ask is this:

1. Post on Thursdays - Mr. Linky is available now - so jump right in.
2. Choose your favorite, because only one picture is allowed each week.
3. Use the button code below in your post (putting it in your side bar is optional, but much appreciated).
4. Visit all the other distracted photographers out there.


<center><a href="http://www.photogra-me.blogspot.com/search/label/DBST"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/safetynet/Picture%20This/DistractedbyShinyThings.png" /></a></center>


Please sign up with Mr. Linky and leave a comment (I LOVE comments). Can't wait to see your shiny stuff!

Slipping Through My Fingers

To see the story behind this picture, click here.

To see other Wordless-ness, click here.

A Wheel Bug

A Wheel Bug (not a mis-pronunciation of "Real Bug") is easily identified by the spiny "wheel" on his back. Being 1 1/4 inches long and unusual in appearance, it can be quite intimidating. However it will make every attempt to avoid human contact. If handled, it may emanate a foul odor (it is in the same family as the stink bug) and try to bite.

The bite is more of a sting because it has a syringe-like beak (that reddish thing folded down under his face) that the bug inserts into its victims. It injects a venom which dissolves its prey's insides. In humans, this venom causes a burning sensation (similar to a bee or wasp sting) that lasts several minutes and leaves a wound that can take several weeks to months to heal.

Don't be too quick to shoo them out of the garden though. They are very beneficial because they eat soft bodied pests like caterpillars, aphids, moths, etc. I even read that they may eat Japanese Beetles!! Since we had an issue with Japanese Beetles this year, these bugs are more than welcome. In fact, my husband wants to look into how to encourage more.

They are a slow moving insect and generally won't land on you just to bite you. If one happens to land on you, gently brush it off. Once you know they have taken up residence, make sure you watch out for them when working in your garden.

Now that you've been educated on this nifty bug, check out all the other macro shoots here.