Fishy Photos

I am hooked on the fishies at the moment. I have a couple spots where you can often see them feeding. They are just carp, but gosh, still fun to watch. The one that lives closest to me I have named Carl (or Carla, since I really don't KNOW). Last week I saw a bullfrog tadpole swimming in the creek. Oh how I wish I could have caught him for my pond at home. I have the cacophony of pond and tree frogs, and it would be well rounded with the bar-rumph of a bull-y frog.
So here are the fishy photos, Carl first. Next is one from the slough.

And to finish today's log off a

lovely peaceful photo of the Rock River.

How easy it is to unwind after a day

at the office when you can stop at the

River for 5 or 10 minutes. Only thing

better would be to have a huge cup

of coffee and a lounge chair while I am

doing that. Ah! Life is good!

Wait....are those alligators in the

water?????

Is this Lake Placid????

Just the Right Photo

I was talking about taking pictures at work one day, and one of my coworkers that doesn't know me real well asked if I carried my camera with me all the time. I was a wee bit surprised that she asked. My answer: yes!

Back when it was early spring...like in April. I saw the coolest 'picture' of a dead tree mirrored in an old backwater pond. Well THAT day, I didn't have my camera with me and was so disappointed to have missed a perfect photo. So I started carrying the camera again. But the weather never cooperated. It was either windy, rainy or too darned cold to get out of a warm car to snap a photo.

I have an hour commute to and from work each day, so I am always on the lookout for a good photo. I really wanted this photo bad. Finally after about 3 weeks the perfect day came again and I stopped to take the picture. I was very happy with the color and texture of the final shot.

While I was there, I thought I would go to the other side of the road and snap a shot of the swamp there, figuring with the sun shining on that side the shot would be nothing to speak of. But I was there, so over I went. I took my shot. Then I was standing there absorbing the peace and tranquility. I love water. Something about it is very soothing and restorative.

I looked over the edge of the bridge into the water.....what a shock for me. The water was perfectly clear. I figured it was stagnant swamp, but in fact it is a slough (backwater (3) : a creek in a marsh ) and the water was running through it. So I took a photo of how clear the water was. And stood there absorbing more peace and quiet, when zip! a big old carp came swimming out from under the bridge. I didn't have my camera ready so he got into the reflective area before I could capture him. Not to worry, 3 more zipped out and I got them. Then about 6 more came out and I got part of them. What a thrill for me! These little puppies are about 12" long and as you can see, well fed.

I hope you have enjoyed my fishy story. It continues. I stop often to see how they are doing. Some days they are not visible at all. One morning I did get a photo of them laying near the top of the water. I will post it later.

Aaahhh! How I wish I was there right now. Western Pennsylvania. Makes me wish I had a big mug of coffee and a handfull of snails. Heaven. Now before you start retching, snails in W. PA are actually pastries. They are like pie dough rolled with cinnamon, sugar and butter. My grandma used to call them sugar-pies.

This photo is from Linn Run State Park and it is a beautiful spot east of Pittsburg about an hour. I love it there. As you can see, there is still snow on the ground in patches. It was March '07 when I was there last.

That water is so clear. Around here....Northern Illinois, it is rarely THAT clear. It is mountain fed, so I suppose that explains most of it.

blogger empress--not

Guess I am going to have to get busy and keep this up to date. I will win no prizes for blogging, will I? I have a new grandchild due anyday now. That is always exciting to me. My daughter is hoping for a girl. She has a son 8 yrs old. We had several of the kids and grands here for a bonfire last Monday night (memorial day).

One of my kids gave me a new digital camera and I have been having a ball with that. Of course, I had to take photos of the birdies at the feeder. We have tons of wild canaries. We have had indigo buntings, orioles, purple finches, morning doves, and rose breasted grosbeaks. And the hummers are back too.

Went to see Pirates of the Caribbean III, and LOVED it. Yes, we dressed in costumes. We were the first in line and we interviewed for the local paper. Our 15 minutes of fame.

Hubby has been rebuilding the support beam on the front porch. We both took a week off of work to get some projects done here at home. I have been working in my scraproom, cutting all the cereal boxes I have saved into ACT forms (artist trading cards), so I have well over a 100 blanks ready to go. Anyone want to swap? Here is one I did for a mega swap on Swap-Bot.

My sister came to visit last weekend. She only lives 20 miles

away, but she spent the time here because she wanted to. We went to a Bead Retreat party. She had never been and was so overwhelmed that she said she loved her bracelet, but never again. LOL the next day she got into my stash and made 2 bracelets, one for each of her daughters. So I went to Wally and got her a small stash of her own and shared part of mine.

She is having some medical problems and can't work right now, so she has the time to 'play'.