Been sick.  Getting better (slowly).  Be back soon.

Last week’s full moon, tucked in for the night in soft clouds, yet incapable of sleep . . . staring wide awake at the earth.  I do wonder, sometimes, if she’s looking at us as we’re looking at her!  How bright and shiny she was that night — even with passing clouds, unable to obscure her shiny brightness for more than a moment.

 

Any guesses?

 

Give up?  Answer below!

 

The eye of a cat-shaped flower pot holder!  Came from a friend that didn’t want it any more.  I thought it was so cute!  It’s rusting a bit now, so I’ll repaint it this summer.  I think he’ll keep the green eyes, though!

With an off and on fine mist all morning, I got out into the front yard before the sun came out and dried everything off.  This is some kind of ground cover (read:  unidentified weed) that is growing in patches, with tiny droplets of the mist gathered on the leaves.  Don’t know what it is, but I kind of like the shape of them, and they are about 1/2″ across.

 

This is a closeup of the berries and leaves (needles???) of the spruce or fir or whatever kind of tree my husband got for the front yard shortly after we moved into this house.  It was supposed to be one of those tall, slender, candle-flame type trees, but as it grew up, it grew out.  Whatever it is, it ain’t no candleflame!

It has these little almost blueberry-looking berries on it (that some kinds of birds love), but it sure looks better closeup in the details than it does altogether!  I kind of like this photo, but I really HATE that tree.  (Give me purple crepe myrtles, any day!)

 

In building the new wheelchair ramp on our front porch, the contractor removed the front steps–or some of them–that were in the way of the ramp sides.  The bottom step seems to have sunk in the middle over the years.  This was one of the bottom boards.  Kinda fits the theme “Warped” wouldn’t you say?  (No wonder that step was a bit bigger drop than the others!  lol)

 

One of the many things I must do in the morning before leaving for work is walking the dog.  This is Blubelle, pretending to be the great hunting wolf.  She’s death to June bugs, which come out in March nowadays (can anyone say “Global Warming”?)

We must go through this hunting routine every time before she will agree to “do her business”.  (sigh)  ;)

 

This is once again the plum tree in the front yard, though I played with this one a bit, with color and framing.   As you can see, Drop Shadow is one of my favorite things in Photoshop, as is Bevel/Emboss.  I use both regularly, as I just like the effects.  A fruit tree’s blossom is Mother Nature at her best!

 

This is the kitty that resides atop a bird-feeder holder.  (You know, the slender pole with the curved top and the hook on the end to hang the feeder on.)  He’s been around quite a few years, and the contrived green-hued patina to simulate copper has morphed into this interesting green/pewter/rust look (enhanced a bit with the Plastic Wrap filter).

He’s not in the yard just now, so he’s hanging around on the porch railing, waiting for his place near my garden once again.  He’s the only cat around that the birds feel safe with!

 

The new wheelchair ramp built for my SIL, who is handicapped.  He has a wheelchair and a motorized cart, so the ramp is for those.  (The dogs–theirs and mine–LOVE it!  lol)