Look who came for a visit :: Friday Foto

While home on the morning of the 4th of July, getting food ready for the BBQ with friends, and my kiddo’s bike decorated, this fellow lighted upon a cable that runs through our yard.  I debated whether or not to get my camera, wondering if I’d even have time.  I always keep my camera out and close by, so it was within arm’s reach, but I needed my zoom lens – and I knew I’d have to shoot through the window. I scrambled to make the switch, the whole time thinking that surely it would all be for naught.

But this dragonfly was just content to hang out and I would like to think that maybe he was posing for me?

Just look at that little ‘smile’!

Click to see a bigger version of me!

I have heard that a dragonfly is a symbol of good luck; so I did a little research to see if my hunch was true or not.  What I found was pretty impressive for such a small, fragile being.  There are a variety of myths and stories associated with the life of a dragonfly; but one striking aspect associated with the dragonfly is change.  It’s considered to be an agent of change and self realization, and around the world, the symbolism takes on different meanings…

• To the Japanese, it symbolizes summer and autumn; the Samurai use it as a symbol of power, agility and best of all, Victory.

• In China, people associate the dragonfly with prosperity, harmony and as a good luck charm.

• Among Native Americans, it is a sign of happiness, speed and purity.

All that for such a delicate creature – it would seem to be enough, but there is so much more to know about a dragonfly. They represent so many positive traits and a depth of character I think most of us strive to achieve.

What really made an impression on me was the idea that a dragonfly symbolizes power and poise. It’s can move in all six directions and can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour, hover like a helicopter, fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up and down and on either side.  And, it can do all this while flapping it’s wings just 30 times per minute – mosquitoes and flies flap theirs 600 and 1000 times!  Superfly!

The awe inspiring aspect is how the dragonfly does all this with utmost simplicity, effectiveness and power…

“the dragonfly has 20 times as much power in each of its wing strokes when compared to the other insects.  The best part is that the dragonfly does it with elegance and grace that can be compared to a veteran ballet dancer.”

So, yes, in my book, this all represents good luck.  I felt that we had a very special visitor stop by and sit awhile; a visitor that is usually flying, whizzing, and  hovering in all directions, too fast for the human eye to fully appreciate. I am so glad he sat for a bit and long enough for me to capture the moment.

Here’s wishing you a good luck kind of weekend!

PS:

Jeepers, June is over? How about a little June-a-gram

Friday Foto :: Dinosaurs needed coffee

This photo is from what is a now, sadly, an extinct coffee roasting spot in South Lake Tahoe. It’s been one of my favorite spots there for years and last summer when I stopped in to get my pound of Organic Italian Roast to have while on vacation, I was in complete disbelief when I drove up to the log-cabin style coffee house to find an empty shop.  Nooooo…

So, so sad – apparently that location just couldn’t survive the competition…not so much from Starbucks, but when the McDonald’s rolled into town. I’ve never had Mickey Dee coffee but I fail to imagine how it could possibly be as good or better than coffee brewed fresh from locally roasted beans.  But then, I am completely comfortable sharing that I am a self proclaimed coffee snob. So there.

The good news is that you can still find their coffee served up hot and fresh in several other spots around Tahoe and the Sierras, and you can order the beans online. And a bonus for me…I just found out that a coffee spot within a couple of miles from my house serves their coffee!! Wha- how did I not know this?  Guess where I am headed this fine Friday morning!   Thank goodness, or it might not just be the dinosaurs going extinct!

Curious? Find Alpen Sierra Coffee here!

{ hoping you have a good cuppa cuppa to get your Friday off to a jammin java start! }

Friday Foto :: make a wish

  {   My Wish?  That you have a wonderful weekend!  }

Treasury Thursday :: shutterbug

I have loved taking photographs ever since I was a kid; and still remember my very first camera. So how fun was it to find it on Etsy!

{photo via Etsy Shop AngiesIris}

This is the kind that used the square flash bulbs that popped into a slot on top of the camera.  My older brother gave it to me – I am sure I bugged him plenty to use or borrow his. Afterall,  he was always taking photos of me. You may think, aww, how cute. But no. Not cute. He would set up shots to make me look as ridiculous as he possibly could and then would take a photo to have forever.  I am just grateful we did not have digital cams back then!  You may be thinking that as you scroll down, you will get a sneak peak of some of those infamous shots. Guess what, you are right!  But first, check out this cool video of the Kodak Flash cubes! “It’s new, It’s now!”

So, here’s a peek into the past, where I was the unwilling, unwitting and often unhappy subject of my brothers’ mad photo skills and ever so twisted sense of humor. It’s ok, if he was here, I’d say the same thing. Oh, and in case you want to take even more pity on me [cuz, I know you will], he’s 9+ yrs older than me. So he was really picking on someone way smaller, unable to defend herself. Well, for the most part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I say unable to defend herself? Oh, I spoke too soon. I didn’t just get mad, I got even. A girl has got to stand up for herself!

I got ya, big brother. Don't move. Don't say a thing. You're mine now. All mine!

And now, finally, onto Treasury Thursday, Shutterbug. Some really great items and terrific ideas for the photographer in your life, especially if that’s you!

{ go out and capture some beauty, or shoot something amazing. Just make sure it’s not your big brother. }

* Important Note: no brothers, sisters, photos or cameras were harmed in the writing of this blog post.

Vintage Instamatic Camera, w… AngiesIris $12.50	Just Because Greeting Card: … adelynSTONE $4.00	A Camera Necklace…Photogra… EmilinaBalleri… $16.00
Argus C3 Brick Camera with S… heartkeyologie $45.00	Soap Snapshot (Vegan Friend… AndersonSoapCo… $5.00	Camera necklace missyindustry $90.00
Oh Snap Retro Vintage Camera… ProjectType $23.00	Letterpress Camera Art Print… sycamorestreet… $35.00	Scrabble Tile Pendant – I Sh… HipsterDesigns $6.46
Dry Erase Board Art . Photog… blueorder $29.00	The sx 70 – vintage polaroid… SusannahTucker $18.00	polaroid sx-70 vintage camer… MyanSoffia $30.00
DSLR Camera Strap Cover – in… adivaand3dudes… $15.00	Hobo Camera Bag with Removab… Martilena $90.00	Safari Camera Bag – Burgund… CopperRiverBag… $146.95
Camera Strap Cover with Lens… PaisleyMaizie $18.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Friday Foto Fun :: a little birdy came knocking…

Last weekend we were hanging out in the kitchen when I noticed these bright and unusual birds out in front of our home. They are not normally seen around here, so I grabbed my camera so I could capture a photo to send to a friend of mine who is a professional avian photographer. I knew that he would know; but I had to be able to show him the bird.  {Conversation without an image: um, its got feathers, and oh yeah, it’s beak is yellow, but kind of a darker yellow. And the feathers, they are blue, dark blue, but not navy. With some green, well teal color too. And not all blue, some white too.  Um, yeah, what kind of bird is that?” }. Yes, I definitely needed a photo.

So, good thing I got the image I needed.  I was about to walk away when I noticed one of the birds just walking [do birds, 'walk'? ], hopping?  from our yard over to our neighbors yard, and then up the front steps of their porch.

I was amused by the way the bird perched on the edge of the step,  as if paying a social call to the folks who live there. Good thing the bird had no idea of the very large St. Bernard who happens to live behind that front door.

The image worked and my friend replied with the avian four-one-one; it’s a Yellow Billed Magpie and also said that:

They are a close relative of jays and crows (as a group they are called “corvids”) and are only found along the central coast. Birders travel from all over the world to come here to see them, believe it or not. They have a close relative – the black-billed magpie – that lives just east of the sierras. A few years ago their numbers plummeted because of West Nile disease but they seem to be recovering.

This little bird also reminded me of simpler days when we could just drop in to visit someone; today our lives are so hectic, scheduled and busy. That old tradition has been often replaced by email, text and tweeting. Perhaps  this Yellow Billed Magpie was just stopping by to send a tweet?

{ Enjoy your weekend – take a moment to notice the simple beauty all around! }

Friday Foto :: First Friday of the New Year!

{personal photo}

We live near one of the two rivers in our community and this was taken New Year’s day on a family outing.  TGIF and enjoy your  weekend!