In the field

One of my New Year's resolutions was to improve my photography skills, so I recently took a one-day class on nature photography taught by our friend Dan, who now has his own business. Part of the class was spent in the field where I worked on my macro (close-up) photography, even though I don't yet have a macro lens. Thus, it's really poor man's macro.

And when I say we spent time in the field, I mean an actual field, where there was very little to photograph but snow and branches.

Anyway, here are a couple of the (unedited) shots I took that day:

I kind of like the above photo because, even though it's dark, it looks like it could have been taken underwater. It kind of looks like glowing sea urchins.

This next one is a little drab, but hey - it was January in Minnesota. There wasn't a lot of color out there.

I just thought this tiny field pod was cute and begging to be photographed:

We're back!

Back to blogging, that is, after an unplanned hiatus brought on by a distinct lack of blog-worthy happenings in our life. I've also discovered that, because I write for a living, writing is often the last thing I want to do when I come home at night. But I vow to be better, to those of you - if any? - who still have enough faith to keep checking in.

Anyway, we just returned from a road trip to Ottawa, Canada, where we went with my family to celebrate my Aunt Maureen's 70th birthday. Bob and I drove up with my mom, while my sister and her family drove up together. Here are some photos of the trip:

Bob attempting to fit in with the locals.




A cat on Parliament Hill. I know, I know... I just can't seem to help myself.

Like the cat, this falls under the "animals we have here at home but still felt the need to photograph while in Canada" file. A woodchuck - otherwise known as a groundhog, marmot and (inexplicably) whistlepig - forages outside of Parliament. Even though our neighborhood is crawling with these guys, ours won't let us get within 20 feet. This guy let me get close enough to touch him (I didn't). It was quite a big moment for me.

Out on the town, watching the chef perform at a hibachi restaurant.

Maureen and Jean Paul celebrate her birthday hibachi-style.

Mom and Maureen

A fabulous spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois named "Maman" stands guard outside Ottawa's art museum. Her belly is filled with large eggs made of solid white marble.

A super creepy sculpture in downtown Ottawa called "Nature Girls" that curiously purports to depict "the innocent joy of girls playing in the wood, and the bleakness of children gone missing." It's what I like to call an "all-around" sculpture.

This is "Bush Girl."

Bob proves there's truth in advertising.

The War Memorial and Chateau Laurier at twilight.

Parliament at night.

Natives take to the streets. Mothers, lock up your daughters.