Geek Dryer

- The new dryer for the laundry room finally arrived today. Unfortunately the shippers loaded the wrong washer on the delivery truck, idiots! But the dryer is awesome it even has a color LCD display, how fricking geek is that? Downside - the manual is about an inch thick but that's Cindy's problem, due to incidents in the past, I'm barred from doing laundry. Canon 40D, 1/160 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 100mm.

Garden Envy

- Made my first rip to Anderson-Wright Rooms & Gardens at 622 High Street in downtown Portsmouth, Virginia. This is the gorgeous interior courtyard. If you love gardens and landscape design, this is must place to visit. Canon G11, 1/50 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

Buds

- The Knockout Roses I planted in the Fall of '09 are really doing well this Spring. I was a little worried in January and February as the harsh cold seemed to be doing them in. But they bounced back great with more blooms than ever. Canon 40D, 1/320 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro late afternoon shade helped out a bit by the LED Litepanel.

Shadow Puppet

My four-year old grandson Robert was busy making shadow puppets as the morning sun was streaming in through the kitchen. I only got off two shots with camera and this one is a keeper. Canon G11, 1/1250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200 converted to black and white in Silver Efex Pro.

Espresso Brown

- Why is that colors these days have a first and last name? When was the last time you saw a can paint or fabric color just called brown? So yesterday I was took a picture getting ready to make an espresso, tonight it is the finished cup. This is espresso brown or Mr. Brown to those who are more formal. Canon 40D, 1/60 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens, LED litepanel.

Espresso?

- Can I interest you in an espresso? Well is not a "real" espresso but its pretty darn close for a home version. Made myself an espresso with my Nespresso machine tonight to enjoy with a little strawberry sorbet. Very nice. This picture was taken just before pushing the button to begin the magic. Canon 40D, 1/10 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

The State Flower

- The Dogwood is the official state flower and tree of the Commonwealth of Virginia. So why is Virginia officially called a Commonwealth rather than a state? Fiction author Clive Cussler once lamented it was because "Virginia considers itself too good to be just a state". Virginia has used the old traditional English term since before the founding of the United States. There are three other U.S. states that refer to themselves as a Commonwealth - Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The term implies a political community founded for the common good. As I watch Virgina's strange politics, I often wonder what has happened to the "common good". Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens, LED Litepanel.