Sunday, August 8, 2010

Eye Catchers

Almost anywhere I wander, I'm lucky enough to be surrounded with wonderful things which catch my eye. Scroll down and I'll share a few of them with you.



After a rainfall on a windy day, this simple oak leaf, with all of its water droplets, looked so pretty to me.




Once the rain ended, the sky slowly cleared. This was how the sun looked when it found a hazy break in the clouds above. I thought it looked a bit like a full moon but it was early afternoon. And I wasn't drinking.




While walking one evening, I glanced down to see these green leaves and an older rusty leaf laying in such a way that reminded me of a cartoon carrot. This time, I'd only had a bit to drink. Can you see it?




All around my pond, the wild chicory is in bloom. It's such a simple, yet lovely flower.




Earlier in July, we had a few rainy days followed by some lush vegetation growth - including these mushrooms.




The early morning sunlight creates long shadows when it dances on this row of trees standing tall like sentinels to the pond below.




On a hot, humid day, there's nothing like a bit of ice to cool you down.




Like looking into a crystal ball, you can see much of my surroundings in this bubble. It only lasted a few seconds before Benny jumped and took a bite out of it.




Late day sunlight illuminated this otherwise darkened berry branch. Gotta love the colours of summer.

Thanks for joining me. I hope my eye-catchers were pleasing to you too.

This was a scheduled post. If all goes according to plans, we're probably back up at the cottage for a few days. I'll be around to read comments and catch up with your blog posts shortly after I return.

50 comments:

L. D. said...

It is a wonderful journey. You have a good eye and appreciate so many neat things.

ds said...

Lovely, all of it! How did you manage to capture the soap bubble? It is such fun, seeing what you see. Thank you.

Dave said...

Lovely photos again Hilary, with good comments - up to your usual high standard.- Dave

dave hambidge said...

You do indeed have a good eye and steady hand! BUT, where is the gin that should be floating the ice?

gg

Sueann said...

Very pleasing! The leaf with the droplets on it is fabulous. All the pictures are magnificent, Hilary! Wonderful post!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Merisi said...

Summer captured!

I thought of a carrot too. ;-)

Brian Miller said...

nice. i like the mushroom heads, they provide a neat texture...and the bubble..is it as huge as it looks?

Gary's third pottery blog said...

chicory is the most beautiful color isn't it?

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

They are all lovely Hilary - I especially like the first and last.

NJ said...

Your images are always so amazing.

ellen abbott said...

I love these. They are so wonderful.

Daryl said...

Fun stuff ... especially the 'carrot' and the last shot of the shadowy berries

CiCi said...

I will look at your eye catchers any time. The picture of the mushrooms is awesome.

Maggie May said...

Loved the mushrooms, the bubbles and the carrot best.
Oh and the light behind that row of trees.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

DJan said...

You definitely have an eye for beauty, and yes, the carrot is right there! I think I'll go walking around in the rain today and take some pictures.

Leah J. Utas said...

Magnificent. Love the oak leaf.

LadyFi said...

Such stunning eye-catchers! Just gorgeous.

Dianne said...

of all the blogs in big wide world of blogland yours is such a delight to catch up on!!

I now have this vision of Benny chasing bubbles and it makes me smile

I love the ice cube - art out of the ordinary as I've said before

and I love all the birds in the previous post

hope you are enjoying the cottage

hugs to all

Zuzana said...

Hilary, these images are stunning. They speak of late summer to me, the colours are deep and dark. Yes, I saw the carrot with ease, actually I saw it as such immediately and had to look twice to distinguish the leaves.
The sun shot is amazing...
Have a lovely August dear friend,
xo

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Your site is not only entertaining but educational. I've always called those blue flowers "cornflowers." I didn't know they were chicory. And I, too, smiled at the mental image of Benny chasing bubbles.

Paul C said...

I like how you capture the beauty in every day life. One does not have to travel to 'exotic' places to find it.

Tabor said...

Many of these are worth framing and congratulations for being so observant.

Friko said...

Glorious pictures. I love all of them, no favourite.

Karen said...

Yes, I could see the carrot. That's just how my mind works...teehee. Loved the berry pict and the sun, with your funny comment. Just a joy to read/see your blog.

lime said...

i really thought that was the moon until i read. and kudos for catching the bubble before bennie did ;)

Cheryl Kohan said...

Pretty, pretty, pretty...all of these are sooo pretty! I love the carrot - can totally see it. I can just see Benny and that bubble...he probably wondered where the heck it went!

messymimi said...

The "carrot" was as cute as could be.

Have you ever thought of using the flavored bubbles for Benny?

A very refreshing time looking at your eye catchers.

VM Sehy Photography said...

Good eye. I can totally see the carrot. The berries are my favorite though. I'm a sucker for lighting that puts the spotlight on a subject.

Slamdunk said...

Fantastic images. Your row of trees and the early morning sunlight make me want to go on a hike right now.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Such an enjoyable trip - LOL that Benny jumps up to eat the bubbles!

Lori said...

Such amazing and beautiful eye catchers! I never tire of looking at your handiwork. Thank you for sharing it! Hope you and your have a had a lovely time at the cottage.XX

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful as always;) Enjoy your respite.

Suldog said...

You never cease to amaze me. The beauty you share with us...

Kat said...

Beautiful photos!

The first thing I thought of when I saw the two leaves was a carrot. And I've only had coffee this morning. ;)

That bubble was quite the capture!

Reb said...

So many to love, but the bubble just is perfect!

Linda said...

My favorite is the one with the trees and sunlight. That is so beautiful and peaceful.

Oh, and I did notice the carrot right away. Neat. Reminds me that I post a pic that was the work of one of my cats.

Sandra said...

The first and last are my favorites. And yes, I definitely could see the carrot, and I haven't been drinking either! :)

Anonymous said...

The berry and crystal ball are beautiful.. all cool pics!
:) The Bach

ethelmaepotter! said...

Oooh, the ice, the bubble, or the berries? It's a toss-up, they're all sensational!

I've been trying for a week now to get a great picture of one of the hummingbirds that are constantly fighting for territoriality at my feeder. ALWAYS have my camera around my neck. This morning first thing, I took the dogs outside, forgot the camera, and one of the birds flew up and hovered right in front of me for a good 6 or 7 seconds!

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

wordsareforwriting said...

The ice on the bench looked a little like a heart.

Awesome photos indeed!

Anonymous said...

you have a fantastic eye for noticing nature's small treasures!

Cricket said...

Yes, these certainly are eye-catchers. A wonderful little collection. You really have a way of capturing... I dunno, an interior light.

For personal reasons, I will choose for you China Cat Sunflower. That's what I hear.

You do the math ;-)

christopher said...

Eye catching indeed. The ice cube is a work of art.

Steve Gravano said...

The back lit berry branch is beautiful as are the rest. Carrot? you see a carrot? ;)

Anonymous said...

Ahh, the wild chicory really is an eye catcher as is the bubble. And I love the simplicity of the melting ice cube which would happen VERY fast in this heatwave.

Di

Indrani said...

Indeed delightful colors of summer. :)

Mage said...

I'll tag along here and tell you how lovely these are. Give me a smile. :)

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

The simple things sometimes make the loveliest photos! These are all lovely and very 'cooling' to look at too!

photowannabe said...

Hilary, I think you outdid yourself this time. Adore the bubble and the ice cube. Really good stuff!!

Hilary said...

Thanks so much, everybody. I hope you know how much I cherish your comments. Welcome to a couple of new faces. I'll be returning visits as soon as the season settles down and I have more than a day or two with an internet connection. Thanks always for your kindness.