Looking Back

Since I'm not posting my photo a day any more (until I do a summary post on the weekend), I thought it would be fun to look back at 2011 and post some photos that never made it here.  Mainly because I never got around to editing them.  And since one of my goals for 2012 is to get 2010 and 2011 photos edited and printed (yes, I'm still working on 2010 - but I'm as far as August, so I'm getting there!), I can kill two birds with one stone, as they say.  :)

So tonight I bring you a few photos from our trip to the local zoo back in July 2011.

Pretty (or handsome?) black swan

Slow-moving tortoise

One of the birds in the bird cage

Alex wasn't too sure about letting the birds land on him to eat.

A lioness taking a snooze.  I took this through a window in case you are wondering how I got so close.  :)

More "looking back" photos to come soon ... as I get them edited.  Hopefully soon!  :)
          

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Photo of the Day: October 21

Remember about a month ago, we found this super cool looking caterpillar?

Well, we only had it for a couple days before it transformed into this ...

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/60s, 18-55mm lens on Nikon D40 - Shadowhouse Creations texture added


And there it remains.  I suspect it will be like this until Spring when it emerges as a gorgeous butterfly.  At least we're hoping!
   

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Farm Tour 2011 - Part 2

Every fall our county hosts a Farm Tour.  You drive from farm to farm checking out what it is they do there.  This year's tour consisted of four farms.  I already showed you some photos of our fun from the first two farms (if you missed that post, click here) ... now I will finish out our fun day.  The last two farms we visited were right next to each other.  At the third farm ...

we got to see some beautiful horses ...

and pet a cow or two ...

(The kids remember that these are my favorite cows.  I just love the coloring and their big brown eyes.  :) )

we observed a few cows that were too afraid to come to us ...

and took a break on a few bales of straw.

And we got interviewed by a reporter from our local paper!

Here's what he wrote ...

At the farm, where more than 900 acres is used to raise grain, milk cows and horses, the Vensel family took a break to enjoy -- what else? -- some cartons of milk and other snacks.

Kimberly Vensel brought her three children: Keira, 13, Nick, 8, and Alex, 5.

"This is our tenth or 11th year.  The kids love it and we always have fun," she said.

In years past, the family has enjoyed hayrides and seeing different animals.  In 2011, Nick Vensel said, the biggest thrills were "petting the animals and buying pumpkins. The only pet we really have is a dog."

Now before I move on to more pictures, I need to explain the quote by Nick.  Ed, the reporter, promised Nick that he'd feature him because Nick has never been in the newspaper while Keira and Alex both have.  Keira had her picture appear in the newspaper on the very first farm tour we went on.  She was 3 at the time.  And Alex had his picture in the paper in April 2010  when his preschool hosted the Canine Ambassadors.

Nick didn't believe that Ed was a real reporter because he didn't have a camera.  (Hmmm, wonder where he gets his ideas from.)  Ed explained that he wrote the stories while another man, the photographer, took the pictures.  I still don't think Nick believed him until his name was actually in the paper.  :)

Okay, moving on to the next farm, which was right next door, we saw lots of chickens ...

we had a melt down in the corn maze ...

we also had some fun in the corn maze ...

I love the way Alex is swinging his arms in this picture.  It cracks me up!


we saw pretty grass ...

and, of course, lots of pumpkins ...

We saw honey production in an observation bee hive (no pictures though) ...


and we finished out our day by trying to catch a praying mantis.

The kids decided it would be better to just photograph it since it didn't want to be caught.  :)

So that was our fun!  We're already looking forward to next year's farm tour!

     
                                Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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Fun Friday Stuff ... Hickory Horned Devil Flashback

Just over a year ago, I came across this crazy-looking caterpillar in our back yard.  

At first I was hesitant to pick him up.  I mean, look at him! 

So I snapped a few photos, then went inside to look him up on the computer.  Turns out he is completely harmless ... a hickory horned devil caterpillar.

So I got up the nerve to pick him up first and the kids followed.  Nick first.  He was very tickley.

Then Keira.  She's totally faking this grossed-out face.  She loved him!

Alex wasn't having any part of this guy ... therefore no pictures of the two of them together.  :)

He was huge and scary looking, but we had a blast with him.  (This is my hand holding him, so you get an idea of how big he was).  We let him crawl all over us for about 15-20 minutes, then put him down.  He had been looking for a place to pupate and we interrupted that.  

As soon as we put him down, he started digging himself into the ground where he would spend the next year or so changing into a very boring looking moth.

I'd love to be able to tell you that we saw the moth emerge, but no such luck.  Not really knowing when he would emerge made it a bit difficult to see him again.

But we definitely enjoyed the few minutes we had with him.

  

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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Flashback Friday ... on a Saturday :)

So you'll forgive me for being a day late, won't you?  :)
A year ago (August 14, 2010) I won 3rd place in my age group at the Roebling's Run 5K.  I was so surprised and excited!  It was my 3rd race ever.  Keira took this picture with the little Casio pocket camera we used to have ... that just got broken recently.  I love how Alex is peeking out from behind the tree.  He looks so little!

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Flashback Friday ... Snow

I've seen this Flashback Friday on other's blogs but have never participated ... until now.  :)

This is just a friendly reminder for those of us who are complaining about the hot, dry summer that this is what we had in January.  This is Alex, my 5YO, buried in the snow.  And, of course, eating the snow.  I wonder what this winter will bring.  It gives me chills just thinking about it.  :)

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