Day 193...My "Sunny" Morning Misadventures!

Day 193

This morning I decided that it would be my last chance for 2012 to get any shots of the Sunflower fields so off I went, Tonganoxie bound,

Sonic Cherry Coke safely in the cup holder!!!

Only one problem......so far...

As I approached downtown KC MO I realized I'd forgotten my step stool... :/

See, the Sunflowers are extra tall this year and if you want to be above them, 

it definitely requires having a ladder, of some sort...

OR stand on your car as I saw some people doing and ...

 That option was NOT for me!!!

Not knowing what else to do, I remembered Strasser Hardware on SW Blvd 

which really was not "on my way,"
but it was the nearest place I could think of to purchase a step stool...
so, I am now the proud owner of

ONE, DAMN HEAVY TO CARRY AROUND A SUNFLOWER FIELD,

STEP STOOL!

Back on the highway again, I was headed West!

Once I arrived I met a gentlemen and his wife who were from Lawrence and wanted to take 

MY PICTURE...oh geez, being on the other side of the camera is not my comfort zone!!

But, I happily obliged, he emailed them to me and now

I have a photo memory of me at the fields!

After carrying that new step ladder, for what seemed to be a LONG ways,
 out into the field,

 I realized it wasn't the scene I wanted....ugh

so, I just hauled that shiny new step stool right back OUT of the field...

only to realize once back at my car, that my cell phone was missing...

OK, retrace steps...trek back into the field, scanning the ground...
YAAAY, cell phone found!

I'm lucky I didn't collapse from the heat.

Perspiration was pouring off of me 'cause you know...

ladies "perspire"...we don't "sweat" ... HA

At this point, red faced, drenched in sweat (yes, sweat,)

I was determined to get a few more shots so
as I hauled that dreaded step ladder to a new position
I met yet another man coming out of the field, 

said hello and went about my photo taking!

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that he was taking my photo up on that step stool...

I couldn't think of why anyone would be taking a photo of me, 

but laughingly just thought to myself

"oh goody, another "flattering" photo of myself"....lololol

When I was finally about to leave, he and his wife were standing at their vehicle and with the equipment he had hanging around his neck, I knew he was more than a hobbyist like me so I asked if he had a website that I'd like to see his Sunflower field shots...

That was when he told me he worked for the Associated Press and gave me his card!

Wonder if a photo of me, standing on that dreaded step stool in a field of Sunflowers

will pop up somewhere out there in the news world???

Now... on the verge of heat stroke, 

I loaded my step stool, dropped a donation in the box and headed home.

After a glass of Iced Tea I was ready for an afternoon of canning Salsa!

Got that done too but we had our first ever jar break in half inside the canner...

what a mess...

took a couple more shots of backyard flowers and I was ready for bed!!!

My photo's for the day...

 you can see the heads of the Sunflowers are starting to droop

 my own little wildflower garden

pretty little moth of some kind came in for a landing 

just as I was about to shoot this flower growing up into my Basil

Day 192...Evoking Memories...:)

Day 192

I've heard many people say, many times, that anything can bring on a memory...

a smell, a taste, the feel of something...anything...

Well, today, for me it was fried fish!

I was flooded with memories of eating fried fish every summer, all the time! 

Multiple times a week!

I learned at a young age, before filleting fish was the thing to do, 

how to de-bone my crappy and catfish with the best of them!

I never knew when I was younger that someday having
fresh fish to fry would be such a special treat.

I don't have anyone in my life who fishes and brings it to me to fry anymore...

When I became an adult my Dad would bring it to me and we'd have a big fish fry!

We'd have the fish (and Hushpuppies sometimes,) corn on the cob
and sliced tomatoes from dads garden...

Just like the meal I fixed tonight thanks to one of my husbands co-workers
who gave us the fish...

It brought back sooo many memories...

I took those times for granted, never thinking in a million years that you could miss some

insignificant thing like a childhood meal so much...

I miss you Daddy

Unfortunately, my photo does NOT do this meal justice

It was wonderful!

Day 191...Sunflowers Galore!

Day 191

A short little trip out West to the Tonganoxie/Lawrence area
will get you to here! What a view!

Sadly, they don't last long...especially with the hot summer weather this year! 

The Sunflowers bloomed nearly a month early and grew taller than normal 

but are wilting faster than normal due to the heat... :(

Hopefully, anyone who loves the flowers has made their way out to see them! 

Day 190...Smiling Faces :)

Day 190

Had a really fun day today with good friends and new acquaintances!

Baby showers are always fun!

While I had my camera up to my face this little guy LITERALLY

walked right up in front of the lens...

Good thing for auto-focus!

He was adorable and smiled no matter where he was in the room whenever he saw me pick up my camera...

except when we wanted him to...now isn't that typical!!!

His Auntie Sarah is the new Mommy to be

I know she's anxious for her very own baby boy to arrive!!

Day 189...Yellow Flowers & Duckies!

Day 189

It's amazing what one small inch of rain can do.

Although we need so much more, my flowers look sooo alive!

Everything seems so refreshed...

for today anyway.

Got Cupcakes? 

Check!

Day 188...Cupcakes!

Day 188

Who doesn't like cupcakes???

Of course, I'm a cake lover so any form of cake is good to me!

Cupcakes are just fun! 

Started baking this evening for a Saturday baby shower!

Baked photo today...

Decorated photo tomorrow!

Day 187...Hope And A Facelift

Day 187

I took these shots after leaving work this evening...

I love these big, puffy clouds...Hopefully this beauty brought someone rain.

I was really happy after uploading the image when I saw the flock of geese flying through...

I hadn't noticed them when the camera was up to my eye......I like!

The shopping center where I work needed a fresh new look and it's getting it!

I know it will look so updated when it's all completed.

It's just what the salon needed...like the clients who enter the salon door!

A fresh new look for their hair! We deliver! 

Day 186...The Finest Lace

Day 186

Spent most of my day cleaning house (which it needed desperately)

canned another batch of tomato juice, had a quick dinner with Mark

and then it's almost time for the favorite TV shows to begin so the scramble is once again ON!

I did take one photo earlier in the day, but I wanted more!!!

I'm like a dog looking for a cat...lol

What to shoot, where should I look, what to shoot...

the garden is always there, ready and willing to be my subject 

whether it's dead from the blistering heat, barely surviving or in beautiful bloom

There is always something.... :)

 I've never planted Queen Anne's Lace...

It showed up last year and I'm glad it came back!

So delicate...it really does look like a crocheted lace doily

There is fried Okra in my very near future!! 

I've taken a photo of the Kale before but I love the colors so much 

and it looks so pretty despite the terrible heat. 

What caught my eye was the drops of water all over it from the garden sprinkler.

It looked so refreshing, even in the heat! 

I took this photo around 7:15 pm... it was still 100* on my thermometer.

Day 185...A Really Fun Subject! :)

Day 185

This GiGi needed a Jaxson fix!

And a drive to Lawrence got me what I needed! 

I could've used more but any amount of Jax time, is a good time :)

I realized a couple of very important things while taking some snapshots today...

A darkened room, shades pulled, on camera flash photography, a moving target....

GiGi needs some practice with these conditions... :/

But, I treasure these photos more than any of the others

that I work so hard to make right.

And...I'll figure it out! 

What a fun afternoon with my little guy, his mommy and my son!

I'm a happy GiGi........for now :)

Day 184...A HOT, Summer Sunday

Day 184

Another normal Sunday at the Kane house.

Laundry is done, ironing is done and naps are taken.

Today was no different.

Except in the morning there's usually coffee drinking and newspaper reading on the porch.

Not today. It was already too hot by the time we got up for that...And we get up early!!!

After dinner, (which was a really lame chicken casserole, by the way...lol) 

I took a drive to see if I could find any crazy people 

out in the blazing heat at the park near my home...

Honestly, I was hoping for that barren, deserted park scene to shoot,

then I would write something about the heat, no one being at the parks, etc...but not so!

I found a mom and dad sitting in their air conditioned truck while their three kids played.

Can't say that I blame the mom and dad for their choice of seating!!!

I thought I might look funny myself out on a 100+ day, 

with a camera in hand, so I moved on.

Sprinkler park here in Liberty was my next destination...

Now...I think I may have driven into the craziest part of town ever!!!

An adult ballgame was being played on the field there, people and cars were EVERYWHERE 

and either a small family reunion or

a super large family picnic was going on too...

I couldn't believe all those people were really OK to be out in the heat like that...

but I figured it was probably a planned event...

so what else to do but go ahead with the plan!!!

Once again, I drove on not wanting to be the "stranger with a camera" 

lurking about at someone else's family gathering!!

By this time I've only been gone from my house for maybe 15 minutes but the frustration is setting in at not having a photo for my day and my "park scene" idea had been foiled by all these people who were either crazy... or not as wimpy as me!

I drove on wondering where to go and ended up at the cemetery. 

I always find them peaceful and I always sit, say a little prayer and then take a walk.

Today it was not much of a walk...I parked the car and got out next to the statue!!!

This statue was erected in 1904 in honor of  200+  

Clay county, Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War.

Heading home I drove through the park by my house again and now found it empty...

like I'd originally thought it would be...

Mom, Dad and kids obviously didn't stay for long.

Looking at this lonely, dry photo of a playground, I can just feel the heat of the day. 

No children willing to stay and play for long...No picnics and family fun going on here...

those will be plans for another day

...guess I got to write that after all... :)

DAY 183...HALF WAY THERE!!!

Day 183

Wow, I really can't believe I've made it half way through my 365 photo a day challenge!

With the exception of one single day, May 21, 2012, I've taken at least one photo a day and posted it under the date it was shot. Sooo, by the calendar, I am one day behind because I chose to number only the days I took a photo on.
Technically, yesterday was day 183 of my photo a day year
but, I missed that one, dang day... :/
Although I'm still having fun with this personal challenge, I do seem to have hit a "motivation snag" since the weather has been so terribly hot....It just seems that garden photos are getting pretty darn boring but as I said once before, I know it will be fun to look back at and remember just what went on that day!
I have an "album" of photos to post today!
It was a fun AND productive day!
This is my "I've made it half way" celebration post!!

this cute little guy was "people watching," helping his family out at city market...
I think his job surely must have been to "sit there, look cute, attract customers!"

 these girls were not only beautiful but amazingly talented!

tomato varieties

 now, this little guy was adorable as well but
working a bit harder for his stake in the family profits!!

 The Vietnamese market

Buddha Bellies!!!

"I think I need a gardening hat, Hon...which one do you like best?" :)

Renting a bike is now available throughout the downtown area!!!
Very cool idea!!!

Now for the Chinese Market!

 "Please DON'T take me home with you! I don't want to be your dinner!" :(

Brunch...Mark and Gayle style!!! YUM!

When winter comes, Mark always says the tomato juice is "the taste of summer in a jar!"

 DQ to top off my day!!

Day 182...In The Food Chain

Day 182

Forming a line, waiting patiently for it's turn...

I wouldn't get pushy with that big ole bee either!

Head hanging low, she's had her day of beauty...

The finches are beginning to feast now!

Day 181...Survival Of The Fittest

Day 181

I know for sure what plants will survive the hottest summer in our local history.

Moss Rose, Purslane, Begonia and the the ever beautiful Vinca!

This photo was taken right before I did my watering and 

I hadn't watered the front porch in three days for sure, maybe four.

Even though this is just a close up, the entire plant looked this good! 

Yaaay for hardy, heat tolerant plants!

Believe me, my other flowers didn't look this good.

My Favorite Vinca

Day 180...Remember That Hornworm Hummingbird Moth?

Day 180

Well, that somewhat pretty Hornworm Hummingbird Moth 

I posted about a while back...laid eggs everywhere in our tomato plants...:(

These gross worms have trashed a portion of our plants already
 and Mark's sure there is more.

We just haven't found them yet...It will be a daily hunt from now on. 

Mark found the first one before I got home from work on the 

neighborhood tomato plant he planted out front!

Tomato plant for the neighbors!

These were #2 and #3...:(

I've never seen a worm so gross...and these guys are small compared to
what the ones we don't find will grow to be while chowing down on our tomatoes...:(

Day 179...Hospital Time

Day 179

This was my yesterday...

 This was my today...