[Boudicca]

I spent a very wet week in Delaware back in late June, and it rained all day and every day. For a distraction, I wore a rain slicker with a hood, took a folding chair and my camera, and sat among the plants at the edge of my brother's beautiful pond gardens. I got some wonderful close ups of dragonflies and birds, but this one is my favorite. Hubby removed an old "painting" which was only a paper print, and replaced it with my photo. The frame maketh the picture I do see though, that I need non glare glass. Its a always a sumptin (Rosanna Danna Danna)

[Parker]

It is a beautiful picture, of a beautiful subject, with special family significance. Perfect for one's home. Very nice!

[Uptown Girl]

Wish they took a picture of YOU (in your yellow slicker) taking the picture!
Maybe next visit!
That is a wonderful pond sanctuary..... it had to be a lovely experience for you that day!

[tainsley]

Beautiful pictures! Love the dragonfly!

[JAV0108]

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed. Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

[gomoho]

Wow - your tale almost tells a story of sobriety and addiction. Very nice!!!

[getdul981]

Goes to show that sometimes you just gotta take a chance.

[BarryRX]

reminds me of Monets water garden at Giverny. Very nice!

[quirky3]

Beautiful place to be relaxed and serene....and beautiful picture!

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by shrandell

I spent a very wet week in Delaware back in late June, and it rained all day and every day. For a distraction, I wore a rain slicker with a hood, took a folding chair and my camera, and sat among the plants at the edge of my brother's beautiful pond gardens. I got some wonderful close ups of dragonflies and birds, but this one is my favorite. Hubby removed an old "painting" which was only a paper print, and replaced it with my photo. The frame maketh the picture I do see though, that I need non glare glass. Its a always a sumptin (Rosanna Danna Danna)

I hope you keep posting your pictures, Shrandell, what an eye you have for photography and thank you for sharing with us. I love your work!

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by shrandell

I spent a very wet week in Delaware back in late June, and it rained all day and every day. For a distraction, I wore a rain slicker with a hood, took a folding chair and my camera, and sat among the plants at the edge of my brother's beautiful pond gardens. I got some wonderful close ups of dragonflies and birds, but this one is my favorite. Hubby removed an old "painting" which was only a paper print, and replaced it with my photo. The frame maketh the picture I do see though, that I need non glare glass. Its a always a sumptin (Rosanna Danna Danna)

shrandell, you did all this without macro and photoshop?

[dotti105]

Shrandell, your photos are true works of art.

You have a great eye (and probably a great camera)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You certainly have "the eye" and I am glad you are so generous in sharing your works with us.

Thank You!!

[Boudicca]

Kitty, and Dotti, my camera is an entry level $99 pocket Cananon Power Shot. I don't know what a macro is, nor photoshop. I may take 15-20 to get one good shot, but that's the beauty of digital. I only recently discovered the manually operated zoom button, and that's when I took the moth and dragonfly photos. The only changes I make to my photos, is the size, and crop them to exclude things I did not see in the area of my subject. This is a hobby I acquired since coming to TV, and am learning by trial and error. I have a LOT of patience

[kagney123]

Originally Posted by shrandell

I spent a very wet week in Delaware back in late June, and it rained all day and every day. For a distraction, I wore a rain slicker with a hood, took a folding chair and my camera, and sat among the plants at the edge of my brother's beautiful pond gardens. I got some wonderful close ups of dragonflies and birds, but this one is my favorite. Hubby removed an old "painting" which was only a paper print, and replaced it with my photo. The frame maketh the picture I do see though, that I need non glare glass. Its a always a sumptin (Rosanna Danna Danna)

Soo beautiful...you are so cool to sit in the rain...I wanna be like you...Your brother's pond is like receiving a greeting card from God.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by JAV0108

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed. Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

I think that I am that water beetle and I ended up here in this beautiful place.

I know that I am always astonished and overwhelmed at Shrandels eye for beauty.

What a way to start the day with my eyes and mind delighted! Thank you for your story and your picture, Shrandell and Java.