Seeing the Light

in late afternoon as sunlight glows through neighborhood trees.

Now that the days (finally) are much warmer and longer, we've resumed our local walks. We don't go walking every day, but try to get out a couple of afternoons a week, in addition to regular morning "Y" visits. Yard work also gets us outdoors more now.

This tangled maze of branches was not budding a couple of weeks ago.

Afternoon light creates unique patterns especially when coupled with special effects. These shots were done "straight out of the camera" (SOOC) using varied camera settings.

A fish-eye setting with an added "zoom" effect can make the world seem to go "faster."

ENJOY your weekend — hope that your weather is better now too. 

Seating for 1 or 2 ?

Grenville thinks this will make a dandy patio seat for two – or maybe one?  WHAT do you think?

This was part of the mighty oak tree that was removed from the Frog & PenguINN front yard last weekend.

Grenville also thought this would make a great puzzle, but hasn’t yet figured out how to package it.  ANY suggestions?

Maybe he has too much time to think – you think?

The Mighty Oak

This oak tree has been in the front yard of The Frog & PenguINN since Grenville and I bought our home in 2003, so we’re not exactly sure of its age. However, this lovely and very large tree started  losing many branches in wind storms the past couple of years.

We decided not to chance the tree falling on the house one blustery day, and consulted a local tree specialist about trimming some of the larger limbs away from the house.

To our dismay, we learned that trimming the branches would be nearly as costly as removing the tree. We were shown an area in the lower tree trunk which could split in cold weather. Hearing that we could trim some of the tree, only to have it split, fall and possibly damage the house another time, we made the decision to have the tree entirely removed.

Live thy Life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;
Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed
Soberer-hued  (Alfred Lord Tennyson)

Hearing that we could trim some of the tree, only to have it split, fall and possibly damage the house another time, we made the decision to have the tree entirely removed this past weekend.

The front yard is much more open and the pecan tree on the left will be able to open up after being blocked by the oak tree. We will miss the oak tree and may plant another tree in its place next spring.