July 10 on 10: Our Annual Adirondack Vacation

It is the time of year for our annual vacation in the Adirondacks. We have been here about a week and the weather could hardly be better. Also the mosquitoes and black flies are barely around this year which is a welcome change. 

We have been enjoying the hikes. This year we did a new hike up Mount Adams and it is the hardest hike I have ever done in the Adirondacks. We thought it would be no problem since it is only 5 miles, but, boy, it was tough! The view was worth it, though:

We also did easier hikes, like up Castle Rock which offers a great payoff for a relatively easy walk up:

And Goodnow (the hike was easy, but the fire tower was much higher than on Adams):

I have also been enjoying the early mornings going out for photos, with the lovely light mist (or heavy fog, depending on the morning).

We have one week left here at our second home and I will not want it to be over but we will enjoy the memories we have for a long time.

*********

This is part of the 10 on 10 blog circle. Please follow the circle starting with the talented Kathleen Ries.

July 10 on 10: Our Annual Adirondack Vacation

It is the time of year for our annual vacation in the Adirondacks. We have been here about a week and the weather could hardly be better. Also the mosquitoes and black flies are barely around this year which is a welcome change. 

We have been enjoying the hikes. This year we did a new hike up Mount Adams and it is the hardest hike I have ever done in the Adirondacks. We thought it would be no problem since it is only 5 miles, but, boy, it was tough! The view was worth it, though:

We also did easier hikes, like up Castle Rock which offers a great payoff for a relatively easy walk up:

And Goodnow (the hike was easy, but the fire tower was much higher than on Adams):

I have also been enjoying the early mornings going out for photos, with the lovely light mist (or heavy fog, depending on the morning).

We have one week left here at our second home and I will not want it to be over but we will enjoy the memories we have for a long time.

*********

This is part of the 10 on 10 blog circle. Please follow the circle starting with the talented Kathleen Ries.

April 10 on 10: Spring . . . Sort Of

We've had another typical start to Spring in Indiana: back and forth from some unseasonably warm days (even to almost 80) to cold, frost, rain and, even, snow, but my favorite spring wild flowers--wood anemone--have returned:

And there is dew on the grass in the mornings, which I always love:

Plus the return of colors to the landscape:

At the end of March, I got a special treat. I "had" to travel for work to San Diego. The work part maybe was not so much fun (although it ended up being much better than I was anticipating, and it was a productive trip), but going to sunny San Diego and having the opportunity to see my friend Kim for a few hours on one evening (plus meet Luciane) made it so much more appealing. Kim was so kind to take me to a few favorite spots in San Diego--Scripps Pier:

 And windandsea beach:

And my hotel was right across the street from the Salk Institute:

It was a quick trip, but I do hope to be able to go back someday--maybe even for a vacation . . .

********

This blog post is a part of the 10 on 10 blog circle. Please follow the circle to see what other photographers were up to this month, starting with Trine from Norway.

10 on 10: Maple Syrup Festival 2016

We went the Maple Syrup Festival this year. It was different than last year . . . a warm day for late February and no snow at all. This winter we had pretty much no snow, which is rather disappointing. 

Also this year there were no incidents like last year where I almost did not make it up an ice-covered hill because I followed directions on my GPS that took me on a road that is not maintained in the winter. Actually this time, Dave even found on the website for the festival a warning not to follow GPS and turn on that road :) 

The funny thing is I was telling my mother about going this year and also about going last year and told the story about getting stuck on the hill (last year) and she still seemed worried about it . . . even though it was a year ago . . . she wondered what I would have done if I had not finally made it up the hill . . . again, it was a year ago and I did make it up. Water under the bridge, right? I guess, though, I'd better consider myself lucky, and I do.

We had fun, of course. The festival was much more crowded, but we still had enough of an opportunity to enjoy ourselves with the activities:

We stayed overnight at the same hotel as last year and ate at the same restaurant as last year. My son, who prides himself on his memory (and he should) was a little bothered that before we showed up at the restaurant he did not remember it. But as soon as we walked in and saw the 'periodic table of pizza', he remembered everything :)

The next day, we 'forced' our kids to stop at a state forest (they just wanted to go get lunch and then go home), but, I mean, as you can see they had fun on the unseasonably warm February day in the woods:

I had fun, too.

This is part of the 10 on 10 blog circle. Please follow the circle, starting with Trini's post from Norway.

February 10 on 10

This winter, so far, has been especially boring. We have gone back and forth from bitter cold, gray and windy weather to unseasonably warm and wet weather most of the winter. I like snow, so I am missing it this year and I have not been good at all about getting outside no matter what because it just seems like there is nothing to do (I sound like my kids). My motivation is not stellar at all. I am trying to at least get some rooms organized and cleaned up around the house, but often I just don't get started. Being lazy does not suit me well, unfortunately. 

As far as shooting, I have been as random as the weather and as inconsistent as my mood. At times I have found something nice outside, like the dried hydrangeas (still a typical subject for me):

Sometimes finding opportunities for abstracts from nature (lots of post-processing required): 

And other times 'forcing' an abstract indoors--just looking for something to do--by spraying flowers,  

panning on everyday objects and adding texture layers

or placing a water drop on my water resistant table-cloth. 

***************

This post is part of the 10 on 10 blog circle. Please follow the circle to the talented Kristina Rust.