There's nothing scarier than a clown!

The weather was perfect for trick or treating tonight!







We lit the lights so everyone knew we were ready with plenty of candy on hand.

I need a recipe, STAT!

Look at all of the green tomatoes that we have left, oh, my!  I already fried some so that base was covered.  Any other good recipes anyone can recommend?

Aperature Priority
F/5
ISO400
35mm
Nikon D5000

I'm sharing this photo for SOOC Sunday. Check out the other straight out of the camera images there!

Just Dessert

Pumpkin Mousse Parfait to be exact.




















Tony and I found ourselves alone last night and decided on the spur of the moment to go out to dinner.  We chose the Dilworthtown Inn knowing that the meal would be fabulous.  It was our first time back since we took the kids with us in May and it was, in fact, fabulous. 

I of course couldn't resist taking a picture of my parfait. 

It was the perfect fall dessert! 

Happy Halloween!

After the Rain

Rain drops on my nasturtium plants this morning.  As usual, I couldn't resist taking bunches of pictures.  Still trying for that perfect water droplet shot!

A Local Treasure

Hibernia County Park is a five minute drive from my door.  I've never taken advantage of it until recently.  Tony goes there quite often to hike the trails and I went with  Alexa a few weeks ago and with Tony last week.  Yesterday I even went by myself (Tony was shocked)!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

The maple tree in our front yard is at its peak.  Love  that I can see it right out the front window, just wish that the colors lasted a few weeks  months more.

A Rare Sight

Spiders are usually a frequent visitor around our house in the fall.  They build their webs around our outdoor lights and throughout the garden.


This year is different. I have no idea why. Do the stinkbugs keep them away?  We've had an abundance of those!  YUCK! 


If anyone else out there living in southeastern Pennsylvania is experiencing the same lack of web spiders I'd love to know.


So when I saw this guy, not the typical one I see around the outdoor lights, in the garden I snapped away.

I'm posting this for Shutter Love Tuesday.  The theme is collage.  To see more or post your own visit

Monday Morning Mums

There's a Lesson Here Somewhere

How many of us have felt this way on a Monday?  I know that I'm feeling a little sluggish today. 

Cha-cha-cha-cha changes

I've been trying to keep up with taking pictures of the leaves as they are going through the changing process.  It's amazing the difference a week makes. I returned to Hibernia Park, this time with Tony, to walk some trails and take some pics.  I'm also learning that taking a few moments to custom set my white balance saves me tons of time in post processing!

Balancing Act

There are countless number off times that I've been out and thought, If only I had my camera with me.

I don't know about most of you but I either don't remember to bring it or I just don't because it's just too darn cumbersome.

Today I bit the bullet and bought a Nikon Coolpix S570, just something I can keep in my purse to have when I need to capture that unexpected moment. It's smaller than my iPhone! 



I had very little expectations of it having any features that I've been practicing, the latest being setting the custom white balance.

An Odd Bumble Bee Sighting

I have a total of 6 blooming coneflowers in my garden.  The cold temps and fading daylight have taken their toll.  The bees are in stiff competition for the little remaining pollen. 

One of the benefits of the cooler temps is that the bees are moving slower and are much easier to photograph.

While taking pics I happened upon this poor fellow.

Another Year Older

Today is my birthday.  I'm turning 48!  There, I put that right out there. 

It's funny how 48 feels not that much different than 47, 46, or even 41, and I'm okay with that. 

Both my mom and my sister Carol left me my singing "Happy Birthday" voicemails.  I love that and it's something I count on every year! 

I got a birthday message from a friend this morning and it ended with "Make it count".  So true and words to live by every day.

Been enjoying having Alexa home for fall break and took time yesterday afternoon to take some portraits.  I decided that Tony is never allowed to cut down our messy Willow tree.  The filtered light beneath it is just too valuable!

I've been working with custom setting my white balance.  I can't believe what a difference it makes!

Making it count,
Nancy

I Have Crabs!

My husband gave them to me.  For my birthday.  Isn't he the best?!

No!  Not the itchy kind, EW!! 

The tasty, steamed, blue, Maryland, kind!  My favorite seafood!

Fall Wonders

My baby girl arrived home for fall break last night to much rejoicing! 

I had her company for most of the day today so we decided to take a walk through Hibernia County Park.  It was very blustery, but perfect crisp fall weather.  The leaves are almost at their peak, but still purdy.  A great opportunity to try out some things I'm learning from 31 Days to a Better Photo.

Equal Time

Not to favor one sweet child o'mine over another, here are some junior year portraits I took of Kyle yesterday afternoon.

After a bit of goofing off, I finally got some keepers! Boys...

Natural Beauty

My birthday present is arriving tomorrow! 

Alexa is coming home for fall break.  It seems like months ago that we left her at school and we can't wait to have her home, even if it's just for a precious few days.

I'm posting this picture of her for Midweek Blues. 

Alexa has the most beautiful blue eyes (in this mother's opinion).

Tomorrow can't come quick enough!

The One That Got Away

We had another slithery visitor on Sunday.  This one was much closer to the house, right in the garden off the back deck.

I heard my dachshound Joy barking the way she usually does when she finds a toad in the yard, but when I looked out she was jumping backwards.  Then I saw her pop forward and she flipped a snake right out of the garden, brave girl!

Small Wonders

Fall is my favorite season.  Now that the temps are dropping I'm seeing less and less of the little creatures who I've enjoyed photographing with my macro lens.  So for Macro Friday and Macro Monday I'm posting some of the small wonders that I'm going to miss seeing (and not seeing) around the garden.

Stirring the Pot

Yesterday my Dear Friend Angelee's church (where she is the pastor) was having their annual Apple Butter Festival.  I think this is their 5th year and it's grown leaps and bounds. 

Don't you just love her? 

I always think her church members are so fortunate to have her as their pastor.

She works the event like a pro (which she is) providing encouragement and helping out where ever needed-including the food station. 

The Portrait of Nancy's Chicken

Last week was chicken week in our house.  Chicken, chicken, and more chicken.  What can I say?  It was on sale. 


Tony never complains about it, though.  He'll eat anything I put in front of him, thankfully!  Everyday without fail he'll call home from work and ask, "What are you doing for dinner?"

Let's GO PHILLIES!!

Just in time for Skywatch Friday we're anxiouxly awaiting the start of Game 2.  Cheering for a Phillies win!!

You can join in the fun and add your sky image here:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Nationwide is on whose side?

After reading my sister Carol's Nationwide Insurance rant on her blog I was surprised since I'd had my own difficulties with them this week.
I've insured my cars with them for 31 years, following my parents who have been with them for several years before that. Tony and I also have had our homeowners insurance with them for the last 22 years as well. We haven't had any accident claims and only 1 windshield replaced and never, ever, ever claimed anything on our homeowner's. (Which believe me I am very thankful) In total, we've paid Nationwide approximately $30,000 over the last 10 years in premiums. Possibly more.










Just typing that makes my head nearly explode.

 

If only...

If only we could bottle the energy of our young...

 

4 in Row! Here we Go!!

For the 4th year in a row our Philadelphia Phillies have made the playoffs!
  This means nervous knots, serious sleep deprivation, money shelled out for new shirts and hats, but you know what?  We will be loving every dang minute!

A Sad Tail

Last Wednesday I saw a fox in my nextdoor neighbor's yard. I was excited to see it, we can hear them at night literally sounding like a woman being murdered, but we never see them.

Halictidae Augocholoropsis

This is the proper name for this little bugger.  Green bee is so much easier to pronounce, non?  Credit to the president of my Vermont fan base who found the correct name.  Props to you Mark! Mwa!