FMTSO: Fresh

It's time for the Friday My Town Shoot Out.  This week's theme is FRESH, meaning new to one's experience; not encountered before. Recently made, produced, or harvested; Free from impurity or pollution; pure. 

I went to a funeral this week in Tulare, California.

There were lots of opportunities to take photos of fresh flowers but I figured everybody would post flowers so I tossed that idea to the side.  Then I thought about taking a picture of the fresh hole in the ground, which I did but the casket was kind of overpowering that image so I tossed that aside as well.

The next day after the funeral I drove to Visalia to take a look around in a camera store and on the way back I saw these two giant 3D cut-out signs of farmers.  I thought it was the neatest thing. 

It was fresh to me and It made me smile so I hope it makes you smile too and I hope it's fresh to your eyes as well.

This week's link-up had some really fresh ideas for this theme.  You should check them out by clicking here.



FMTSO: Things that begin with the letter B

Today's Friday Town Shoot out theme is things around my town that begin with the letter B.

Boys, big and small wearing blue shirts and baseball caps.

Baseball in action

Batter up!

That's all I've got for today.

I think you will enjoy looking at other B photos by clicking on this link.

Floral 2000

Since I've been a member of the Nevada Camera Club, I have had so many opportunities to photograph many different things and go many places that might otherwise be inaccessible.  One of our members, Harriet Smith was a florist for many years.  She owned five shops at one time.  Harriet retired in 1999 and her two daughters took over the two stores she had in Vegas. One is a wholesale floral shop and the other is a retail floral shop. The other day, we were lucky enough to be invited to come and take a tour of the wholesale shop and photograph flowers.  There were several displays that were set up with lighting and background so that we could capture the simplicity of each flower.  The store was huge and I was really amazed at all the work that goes into each flower arrangement and the business side of the shop. 

I took over three hundred pictures, but as always I can only post a few.

Lots of lighting on this one.

These baby roses were my favorite, so small and tiny.

Baby roses sprayed with water.

These were the orange colored roses and I played with my editing software to get this look.

These are the baby roses turned into abstract.

I like it.

FMTSO: Night In My Town

Las Vegas at night is an awesome sight to see.  The lighted buildings are amazing and look spectacular in pictures.  In person, you can feel the energy of the city and you automatically want to become a part of it.

I took this photo from the top of the Rio parking garage just as the sun was going down.

Looks so peaceful as if the city lights don't exist.

A few minutes later and a slightly different view.



I like to call these the golden casinos.

This perspective is still from the top of the Rio parking garage..

Sophistication and Style.

Playing with the lights by zooming in and out while the shutter is open.

Love the colors in this one.  I think it's a cool photo.

Do I have any Elvis fans out there?  

I am a huge Elvis fan.

This view is from the top of the UNLV parking garage.

Every year in Las Vegas we have an event called Helldorado Days.

The celebration pays tribute to the wild west.

There's carnival rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, and a rodeo which is the main event.

This year I went to the rodeo on opening night and captured a few photos.

This little guy is only 18 months old.  I thought he was the most adorable boy.

A Mexican Cowboy is called a Caballero.

They are know for their trick roping skills.

Caballeros start out young. That's why they are so good at what they do.

Took this shot as we were leaving the rodeo.

Watching the sun set in the desert.

My husband

It sure is good to be back in the Friday Town Shoot Out.

Can't wait to check out all the other participants this week.

I think I found myself again.

This morning I dreamed about my blog. I awoke with images of  Spin, Drop, Rest. I saw monkeys jumping from the arms of one human into the arms of another human and then dropping onto the ground.  I saw ferris wheels spinning, basketballs balancing on fingertips while spinning in circles. I saw leaves dropping from trees and dogs lying on their rugs and babies sleeping in their beds.  Yes, it seems as though this past Friday's theme really made an impression on me. Although I haven't posted in awhile I have clicked onto the Friday My Town Shoot Out home page to see what the theme is.  I've even taken photos to post for most of the themes for the past five weeks.  But, I think I have been preoccupied and as much as I have wanted to blog, I just haven't been feeling it.  As of today, I'm pretty sure that has changed because I'm feeling like my old self again and I'm ready to write and take photos and let everyone know that I am back and I have many things to say and document. 

I want all of you to know that I have missed you very much.  I also want to say thank you for caring about me.  It really means a lot to me and you have no idea just how much your reaching out to me has improved my outlook.  It's so nice to know that people I've never met in person really and truly are my friends. How can I call you strangers, when you touch me so much by sharing your lives in blogland?  You all are truly amazing.  Thank you Camella for your concern.  You are very thoughtful and I am grateful that you reached out. Special thanks to Pauline who truly is one of a kind and whom I value greatly.

Lately, I have been lonely for my old childhood and high school friends because they GET me.  I don't have many friends here in Vegas and the ones I do hang out with just don't reallly know who I am and we don't have as much in common as I'd like.  So, I'm extremely happy to have my blogging friends and I can almost bet that some of you will be lifelong friends whether we meet in person or not.

No pictures today....... just wanted to let everyone know that I'm back.

MY FIRST MEETING WITH A FELLOW BLOGGER

This is Doreen who blogs at My Reflections As I Shutter Along.

I had the priviledge of meeting her last Friday while she was in Vegas for her son's wedding.

I picked her up on the strip and took her to lunch at Applebee's where Gayla works.  I know what you must be thinking.  A visitor from Michigan in Vegas and I take her to lunch at Applebee's.  What's wrong with me?  Well, I really wanted her to meet Gayla and I wasn't sure if there would be another opportunity. Doreen was a good sport and allowed me to push my itenerary on her.  A coctail with lunch helped us get through the ordinary lunch much better.

I thought we clicked pretty well. 

 Doreen was very nice and laid back and boy did she have an accent.

The truth is she thought all of us had an accent.

After lunch I played tour guide and drove Doreen out to Red Rock Canyon so that she could take some photos.  It was very thrilling to watch her because everything was so new to her and it allowed me to see through her eyes and to appreciate the majestic rocks that I sometimes take for granted.

Here she is posing for a snapshot.  Isn't she cute?

Doreen pointed out the people climbing the rock.

Can you see them?  you might have to click on the photo so you can really see.

Doreen also noticed this guy standing on top of this rock and pointed him out to me.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of this.

I wonder what she sees through her lens. 

I'm sure she has some pictures on her blog.  You should check them out.

I added an HDR effect to this one just to get more detail in the background.

Can you see the city lingering behind the rocks?

After we took some photos of Red Rock I drove Doreen to Bonnie Springs because I wanted her to see the wild burros. 

The wild burros are really quite tame because they are used to tourists coming and going and offering them food so they often seek people out for a snack or two.

We actually were able to pet them.

By this time it was getting kind of late so we decided to head back to town. 

Doreen got a call from her son who asked if I would mind driving Doreen to the Tuxedo shop to pick up his tux.  I didn't mind.

I thought I knew where I was going but apparently I did not.

My GPS on my phone sent me to the wrong side of town and I was zig zagging through neighborhoods to get back to the road I need to travel down.

I could tell that Doreen was getting stressed.  She said her son could call a taxi and go pick it up himself but I was on a mission.  I didn't want to give up.

We finally found the place and by the time I drove to the front of the hotel/casino I'm sure Doreen was quite relieved to be out of my car. 

I don't blame her.

Sorry Doreen.  I think you are really sweet.  I hope I didn't get on your nerves too much in the end.

FMTSO: Scavenger Hunt; Round, Square, Triangle

Time for the first Friday My Town Scavenger Hunt!  Circle, Triangle, Square

Guide Lines:

* straight out of the camera, no editing

* one photo per word

* three words for each hunt

* add a fourth photo if you can find all three hunt words in one (or just post this one photo)

* hunt area includes your town, surrounding areas, surrounding countryside

Round

Square

Trinagles

All of the above pictures were taken at the Griffith Observatory in Hollywood California.

It's not my hometown but I was there visiting my sister.

Join in on the fun by clicking here and adding a link to your blog.