* ANOTHER SURPRISE IN THE SKY *

I think more than my love of clouds, is my love of hot air balloons!

They are so majestic.

I really need a camera that will take clear 

and close-up pictures of far-away objects. 

Five balloons floated silently over our neighborhood

 a couple of evenings ago. 

These are the only pictures I got that are half-way decent.

Although I didn't get great pictures, I experienced pure joy in looking up and watching the surprise overhead. 

The Splendor of Clouds and Sky

I think I've mentioned before how much I love to take pictures, and how I keep asking Santa to bring me a really good camera for Christmas. I guess he actually does know if I'm good or bad, because it's been three years now, and I still haven't gotten one! Oh well. I can make do with my cheapie camera until the real thing comes along. La Di Da...La Di Da....

Below are some of my favorite clouds photos. 

These first two were taken from my front porch. Beautiful dark clouds along with the sunset.

The next two were taken from my deck. I don't know why, but that afternoon, these white, puffy clouds were bright white, so bright they hurt my eyes to look at them very long.

I thought these next two were so unique, like pulled taffy, or paint strokes.

Dark, ominous clouds but nothing developed. The first one looks like the Loch Ness Monster is on the left. I love the second one because it appears as if there are dark mountains behind the houses, and weird clouds above them. 

This is one of my favorites. I took it from my window seat in an airplane .

This was just a few days ago. It was after some storms and the sky was this gorgeous color of violet and the street reflected it, too, just as it shows. It was unbelievable.  

Last, this picture is from tonight. I was on the deck with The Ronald and Vern. It was close to sunset and I walked over to the edge and saw these clouds, ran into the house, grabbed my camera, and took this. 

"You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds." -- Henry David Thoreau

Intense Colors & Joy

I've mentioned before that autumn is my favorite season. I wasn't sure what kind of affect the crazy summer weather would have on the leaves in my part of the world, but I must say I haven't been a bit disappointed!

When I've been in my car the past few days, I could barely keep my eyes on the road due to my "Tree Admiring, Shrub Gawking, Foliage Observing" driving!

I thought many internal "Oohs and Aahs" and even shrieked some outloud....all to myself, while meandering through winding roads.

When I left to go on errands today I even took my camera with me. I realized immediately, though, I wasn't going to be able to stop and take pictures.

I would've been stopping every few feet, rolling down my car windows, taking pictures of gorgeous trees in people's yards....and would've probably had the police called on me! I'm going to have The Ronald drive me and see how that works. ☺ 

So..when I got back home this afternoon, it was time for Vern's walk. We try to go on one every single day. He gives me the incentive to do it even when I don't really want to, because he just loves it! AND, an added side benefit to that is....it certainly has helped with my weight loss. I've lost between twelve and fourteen pounds, depending on how well I eat any certain day! I plan to lose at least eight more.

Vern snoozing last Saturday evening, after a hard day....consisting of one walk and lots of rest!

Anyway, while on our walk today, I picked up a few lovely leaves to share with y'all. These were right in my neighborhood which is just breathtaking.

While stooping down to pick these up, a flood of school day memories hit me: Walking home from fifth grade, shuffling through the fallen leaves carrying an armful of books, seeing a pile of burning leaves at the edge of the street, hearing the crackling noise and inhaling that intoxicating aroma, reliving the two-sentence conversation I had with the current boy of my dreams....Ahh, it seems like yesterday.

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." ---Carol Bishop Hipps

* Tuesday's Tidbits *

As some of you know, I like to participate in different blog memes. At times, they're about table settings (tablescapes), or tea cup collections, which of course require photos. And as some of you also know, I've been lamenting for a LONG time about the pictures my camera takes. Very Poor Quality. Yet I still love to play around with it and take photos, especially when sunlight and shadows are involved. Below are some I took in my dining room, as the sun was going down Sunday evening. (if you click on each photo, you'll be able to view a really BIG picture!)

The one above was taken at table level. I love both the light and shadows.

I like the way the sun shown on the goblet and napkin in this one.

This one has nice sunlight and shadows, as the sun came through the blinds.

I had a great weekend, just doing the usual things around the house. I also attended our Saturday Writers meeting and had lunch afterwards, with writer friends of course! Anything relating to writing is fabulous, you know! 

I truly hope all of you had a wonderful weekend, no matter where you are or what you did. 

Hello & Welcome to The Thumber, my newest follower! I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." ~ Ansel Adams

"Writing is my time machine, takes me to the precise time and place I belong."  ~Jeb Dickerson