Day 183

July 2, 2011

     Today we retreated to the mountains.

Day 249

   Bald Cypress Tree.

Day 243

Day 192

Day 136

     We have the privilege of really great skies. Tonights wasn't the best, but it was wonderful.

Day 110

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Day 104

     Such a lovely day outside. I want so badly to just lay in the long-awaited sunshine. But I am stuck inside, inside behind the curtains, studying.

Day 101

     Beautiful day. Beautiful enough to wear short sleeves and shorts! As I came out of the library and saw it was overcast, I expected it to be cold. But it wasn't. The flowers were out and it was extremely nice. These are from a Magnolia tree, some of my favorites on campus.
     While I was sitting on the benches under these trees, doing homework, a man came over to me, as he had seen my camera, and we talked for a good half hour about photography. I don't know his name or how old he was, but it was extremely pleasant to talk with someone about a shared passion. Amazing how much you can learn from other people, particularly strangers.

Day 97

     Did some work out in the desert today. Helped put together some fences that are going to be used in a study conducted this summer. Even though it's been cold and cloudy this whole trip thus far, it has been good for my photography!
      And I love Joshua Trees. They are so amazing. They remind me of summers spent at my grandma's house, sweltering hot. And they are just some of the neatest things on this planet. And despite their pokiness, Desert Woodrats still eat them! How neat is that?

     And since this has been quoted so many times on this trip, I decided I want to share one of my favorite YouTube videos with you...

Day 95

     Spring popped! Where there were buds yesterday, there are blooms today!
     Zero grain. I zoomed in 200% and couldn't find any. I am so ridiculously excited.

Day 84

      Strange weather today. Snowy, rainy, slushy, cloudy, snowy, sleety, rainy, sunny.

Day 69

     Ahhh, Spring. You are finally here. And though you're welcome, you make me kind of homesick. Got to fifty degrees today. And I wore my celebratory Spring outfit, with skirt and sandals. People looked at me like I was crazy and was going to freeze, but I feel spring, and nothing's going to stop me.

Day 63

     Trees, trees, trees. I just love trees. And spruces and pines remind me of home. I feel spring coming.

Day 58

     For some reason, I have had a weird obsession with trees lately. Maybe because the snow melting and dripping off of the waxy needles caught my attention!

Day 56

     Since we've been having a warm streak (45 °F), I decided to wear sandals again to day. As soon as I opened my door, I had to turn around and change into my boots and grab my camera. We had gotten dumped on! And it was gorgeous. I didn't get to take many pictures, as I was running between classes and it was melted by the time I was out. I did snap a few, and to spice them up, I decided to add a couple fun elements to a fairly plain picture. I love winter. 

Day 54

     Still border-line disappointed from my photo mishaps last night. I have a lot of ideas floating around my head for cool shots, but I don't have the resources to do them. I could just try, and be more creative in the process, but I would rather be able to nail it than focusing on how to get the camera to stay up. haha. So no, I didn't attempt them today, but I'll figure them out sometime.

Day 51

     It sure is beautiful up here. Our dad took us on a wonderful drive through the mountains.

Day 39

     Every day I look at these mountains, see the trees dusted in snow. I want so badly to climb up. There's gotta be something magical there.

Day 21

     It was a pretty cold day. No one was out tonight, except for a couple of warmly-dressed students playing ultimate Frisbee. Almost all the building lights were on, cause everyone was indoors, and it was finally quiet. I found a tree, beautifully lit by streetlamp. But the plain picture was thoroughly displeasing. I had some fun with Photoshop. I didn't have any intentions or ideas for the picture going into it. I just added elements together, and had a lot of fun just throwing things together. I finally get the appeal of Modern art!

Day 17

     When I woke up, there was a plethora of birds outside calling outside of my window. It made me feel like I was at home. Haven't seen birds in a while here! When I went out, I found that they were Cedar Waxwings! Wow! As I sat beneath the berry-laden trees, they would gulp the berries down and zoom past my head. It is amazing what can happen to you when you just sit still. Here's one of the pretty little guys, no color enhancement added.