The Friends of Manito

Twice a year, the Friends of Manito put on a huge plant sale to benefit special projects at the park.  The selection is huge, the volunteers are excited, and tens of thousands of dollars are raised.

The Farm Chicks

My sister and I had a wonderful morning exploring the annual Farm Chicks sale...so many wonderful things to browse and buy, and better yet, to photograph!  We attended one of the first of these sales at the Five Mile Grange, and have followed it to Fairfield, Washington, and now to the Spokane Interstate Fairground.  Though the venue has changed, the spirit has not- we love the Farm Chicks!

Syringa

How lucky am I to live in the Lilac City....We have had a cool, wet spring that has brought out the lilacs a bit late this year, but the wait was well worth it.  We live a few blocks from the marvelous Manito Park, where there is a garden dedicated to Syringa, also known as the lilac.

These pictures are SOOC...no editing.  I want you all to see how amazing they are... just as they are.

My absolute favorite lilac "sensation."

The quintessential lilac.

More "sensation."

Did you know there are pink lilacs?  Now if I could only send their amazing scent to you.

Mother's Day at Littlebrook Farm

I am extremely lucky to have this beautiful gem nearby to photograph- this is the family home of my husband, and was built by his great-grandfather over 70 years ago.

Up Close

I have been wanting to dabble in macro photography recently...and as I started to do more research, I realized there are a couple options: spend thousands of dollars on a quality macro lens, tripod, and other necessary gadgets, or $10 on a set of four macro filters that let you play around a bit.  Guess which one I chose?  As I continue to find with photography, the more I learn, the more I realize I know nothing!  Macro is a whole new world of manual focus, crazy depth of field, and careful lighting.  Plus I now realize why it is necessary to have a tripod!  Anyway, here are a few of my first macro pics...all are SOOC...I am feeling too lazy today for editing!

Whoa mama!

For the second time since I've had chickens, I've gone to the coop to discover an absolutely massive brown egg awaiting me....the last time I got an egg this big, it was a double-yolker, and I'm pretty sure I've got another one.  It's just so darn cool I can hardly bring myself to crack it open!

My girls.

Tipping the scale at well beyond "extra large."

The carton will not close.....