I just found out my newly fixed camera has macro, it's so cool. Here is a picture I took of the forsythia in my back yard.

Catching up on the photos. They are all great--nice colors, nice interest pieces.



Some alpacas. Alpacas are smaller members of the camelid family that includes llamas. Alpacas aren't as cool as llamas but they are still pretty cool.

How do they see anything?

That one in the background is quite clear faced .. I wonder if they shear around the faces like they do with sheep?

Okay, I don't have a picture to post today, so will catch up on comments instead...

Satguru: Thanks for the info on bridleways. I live in the Canadian prairies. We're quite familiar with horses as far as ranching and rodeo goes, but we don't have special paths for them here. Sadly, perhaps, we're not quite that "sophisticated" I guess - I've witnessed several typical "rednecks", while driving their ridiculously big trucks in the summer with the windows rolled down and upon spotting someone in a foreign verrrra small car, will yell "Get a horse!" lol. Also curious to see some of your feltpen art, sounds interesting!

Schoonie: Ty to you too for the details regarding your board. I'd love to try surfing, but I don't think my old bones would survive the experiment lol. Lovely picture of the Cook Islands as well ... reminds me of the sort of "colour contrast" that MadMags would be drawn to.

Speaking of MadMags: Thank you. And very nice to see you "popping in" here and there. Miss your fabulous "eye"/artful photographs lately.

bhs63: you do them too? Cool! You're welcome any weekend in March (it's still horribly cold here at that time compared to SC, but we've got lots of quilts and sleeping bags and the best rye whiskey in the world LOL)

Zorba: Love all the beach pictures and the frog pic is wonderful! (p.s. happy belated birthday!)

Magicjeanie: LOVELY picture. I've never been there, but In my "dreams" that's how I've always imagined a spring in England would look like.

Divine: good heavens, what do you mean you're not creative?? Everything I've seen from you so far has been interesting and/or adorable and you obviously have a "green thumb" when it comes to gardening!. Can I ask how much (average) the bugboxes are going for? And does hubby, perchance, build batboxes as well?

Molly: GORGEOUS pic of the forsythia! We're about 3 weeks from those blooming here (sigh)

Copago: I have two cameras and neither one of them (despite having "action settings") have EVER taken a decent photo of ANY sporting event (of course, the "problem" might just be the USER lol). VERY nice captures!

DeputyG: oh I don't know. I kind of prefer alpacas to llamas. They have prettier smiles (and MUCH more interesting hairdo's LOL)

The alpacas really can see. Here is a better picture of their faces:

http://i41.tinypic.com/2qi6att.jpg

They are sheared like sheep. This herd is sheared once a year. I believe it will happen in a few more months.

Great photos all! Loving the rodeo shots, the butterfly, the alpacas... everything

You never know what might drive by when you are waiting to cross the street...

Another rodeo snap.

Thanks for the comments, Jakeroo. I don't do anything, i swear. I only have a middle of the road camera (Olympus sp-570) and use the auto settings for the most part. I bought that particular camera since a friend had one and took great shots.
I have a seven year old son who doesn't keep still - I need a camera to catch him and get photos like this one!!!

Only one word for your photo Copago... Ouch!

It didn't hurt me a bit LOL

It is very remiss of me not to mention Mollygrue's pic. I love the detail in it - macro is fun to play with!.

And that is a great car, Liz but the thing that I really noticed in your photo is the traffic lights - the ones hanging from the wire. I dunno , I think I thought they were old kinds of ones. Is there a reason that they are able to swing like that as opposed to being fixed to a pole?

That poor cowboy dude has no head, Copago.

That is a neat car, liz. Good thing you had your camera because you're right--you never know what you will see.

This is a wind farm. There are lots of these around here, especially across the border in Minnesota. The propellors generate electricity as they spin.

Jakeroo, we have laws of the road here which put horses first. As they were there before other vehicles they now take priority on the road over any motor vehicles. That includes a vast network of exclusive paths where no other vehicles can go.

It's spring again in Hampstead Garden Suburb, the best gardens in the world.

Thanks, Jake. Lovely vintage car, Liz, it looks like the tree is growing through it. Copago, I'm enjoying the rodeo shots. Satguru and Molly, beautiful flowers. DG, I have to agree with Jake - the alpacas do look cuter. :P

It's too hot here right now (this coming from someone who thinks 20C is cold!). The entrance to the Zoo in Mumbai.

More of Hampstead Garden Suburb's typical cottages, hedges are also compulsory there so every house is surrounded by them.

The cenotaph at White Cliffs on ANZAC Day.

A typical British field in Oxshott, Surrey

That's a lovely photo, Jeanie!

I was feeling a tad patriotic yesterday .. here's the school kids at the ANZAC ceremony yesterday.

Sorry not to reply about the street lights before, but I think they're suspended so that they're directly over the lane they apply to, because one might have an advance green or somesuch... Does that sound reasonable?

I had a little helper when I was doing the laundry today...

Precious is very similar to Lucy, every time I see the cats here I want another one.

Another garden in Hampstead Garden Suburb

I hope no one's hidden the forum- I've got one ready for May now but nowhere to put it No suggestions please...

giggles at satguru : )