Foto Friday challenge - "Still Life"

A stuffed whippoorwill at Beaver Lake Nature Center. I am still figuring out all my options and the flash on my new Fujifilm Finepix S1500 camera!

This table was full of cool things from nature for us to touch and see...dry fungus, bones, a turtle shell, etc....

A stuffed Great Blue Heron hanging from the ceiling.

I focused on LIFE that was still for this challenge...or things that were previously alive.

This is the inside of a gorgeous tulip.

A beautiful water plant....

A huge rock in the woods...love the shadows from the trees.

Fallen trees...resting peacefully.

New growth out of a seemingly dead stump.

A lone branch sticking out of the pond.

New ferns opening...

Caitlin took this photo...

This coming week's Foto challenge is SKY/CLOUDS.

New camera...here I come!!

First off....I took this pic this afternoon in my backyard.  I discovered it is a Red Admiral butterfly.  Simply beautiful!

Sean gave me my birthday present early...a Fujifilm Finepix S1500 camera with a 4GB memory card.  Didn't cost him a thing other than his time working at NAPA for the past 15 years!!  :)  Thank you so much....I love you!!

I LOVE this camera...love what amazing closeup photos it takes most of all!!!  I also love the panoramic setting...that is fun to play with....

I've been following a young woman's blog for some time now and I've decided to join in her Foto Friday challenge....'Still Life" is this past week's challenge.

A visit to the cemetary...

Sometimes I like to take my children and walk through the cemetary that is near our home. It's a good time of reflection for me and a chance to amswer questions the kids may have.  These crocus were growing just inside the gate...so beautiful! This white one makes me think of Jesus blood washing us white as snow...all sins forgiven.

 A huge, old maple tree...overlooking many places of rest.

The kids were sad to see these two photos on the stones...just little angels whose lives were cut short, probably by sickness.

I don't think either little girl was older than 3.

This large stone belonged to an Irish Reverend who pastored for 26 years.

Another Irish pastor's resting place...1924.

This made me sad...all of these stones were from one family.

As we were leaving, i happened to look up these trees...an interesting shot against the beautiful blue sky!

This past Sunday was the first service of the new 'Bridge Curch' starting in Bville. It was held at the Red Mill Inn, formerly Mercer Mill!  A beautiful place....

It was a long day for us, but so worth it.  We attended our regular services in the AM, then met at 2PM to get everything set up. Sean helped with the technical aspect and Cara and I helped with the children. A nice catered dinner was served afterwards..the ziti and meatballs were incredible!! And the dessert...OH MY!!!!!

Before we left to go home, the kids wanted to see the river...

Looking directly across the river.

The main bridge in the middle of Bville.

Kendall playing with a water bottle, watching her siblings run around.

And a nice family photo...taken by Katrina! I can't remember the last time we had a nice one like this taken!

Easter

Sean's brothers took the initiative and hid 70 eggs for my 3 children and their cousin, Myah, to find.  It took awhile, but 69 were found..not sure where #70 is!! There was chocolate in some and money in others....the kids are counting their eggs and checking to see what's hiding inside!

This is Sean's maternal grandmother holding Kendall.

Playing with grandma's rug....

Big smile...and lots of drool!

A silly face....

Oops!! Rolling over....

Cara's spring concert...

Cara decided all on her own to join chorus this year. I'm so glad she did...she loves it! She's coming to the end of 5th grade..only 6 weeks of schooldays left! She's growing up before our eyes...a little too fast for my liking!! She's quite tall...already over my shoulders!!

Kendall's first swing experience

She wasn't quite sure what to think, but by the end, I think she liked it!

Se her toes curling?

We've been receiving the 'Family Fun' magazine for many months now...awesome ideas for families with children of all ages. This  past month we found a recipe for goop...consists of only corn starch and water(we added food coloring, but discovered the blue stained Brendan's hands!). 

A very interesting substance! When it is sitting in the plate you can 'walk' your fingers across it and it acts like a solid. But if you lay your hand on top, it will sink! And, if you pick it up in your hands, it will drip out of your hands slowly, almost like slow motion. 

Each of the kids had a different color, but as you can see, they shared their colors with each other!

Caty's

Brendan's

Cara's

Playground time!

This is the park referred to as 'The Firetruck Park'...my kids love this one and it is only about 6 blocks away. Two Saturdays ago, Sean and I decided to take the kids and just have some family time.  We stopped at Rite Aid for a couple cold drinks, then walked down.  The kids went right to playing and Kendall and I relaxed on an old quilt in the shade. 

Caitlin LOVES this...and always asks Sean to twirl her as fast as possible!  Enjoy the next few pics...

Gotta love the action setting on my camera...otherwise she would be a complete blur!

Can't believe her flip flops didn't fly off!!

Notice her pigtails...

Completely dizzy...falling down!

Now it's on to the swings...Caitlin has NO fear of heights.  She's our daredevil and always the one with all the bruises.

Kendall's second time in a swing....she's not too sure about I think!

Maybe she does like it!

Cara taking a break in the shade...it was almost 90F that day!! VERY unseasonable for April!

Caty at the top!!

Cara at the top...she's not too sure about the height thing!

Brendan posing...he was rocking back and forth on this like mad...so funny to watch!!