Helene's Photography Blog

Griswald Monday "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" !!! from Griswald and Kya

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-04:00

My New Think Tank Airport TakeOff Rolling Backpack

2011-10-08T18:24:00.000-04:00

Griswald guarding my Fed Ex delivery

Hurray! I'm so happy! Yesterday my Think Tank Airport TakeOff Rolling Backpack was delivered and last night I was able to fit just about all of my camera gear into it...plus Griswald gave it his sniff of approval! I'll write a review after I've used it this week-end....I only have 3 lenses and 1 Digital SLR camera but my Lowepro backpack is too small for everything to fit...

My brand new, still in the bag, Think Tank Photo Airport TakeOff Rolling Backpack

Grizzy giving the Think Tank Airport TakeOff Rolling Backpack his sniff test of approval

Griswald Monday

2011-10-03T01:34:00.000-04:00

"I know you like me as much as I like you, just say it, I can wait all day..."

Lubber Grasshoppers

2011-07-21T10:52:00.001-04:00

There were so many Lubber Grasshoppers at Loxahatchee a few weeks ago when I took these pictures, I had to be careful not to step on them.

Griswald Monday

2011-07-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

"OK, one quick picture..."

"Papi"

2011-07-11T21:56:00.003-04:00

This is Griswalds' friend and temporary houseguest, Papi, a little french gentleman who is the opposite of Griswald in every way!!!

Having fun just before bath-time!

Are we done, yet?

Did you fix it so I look like I have a Mohawk?

Griswald Monday

2011-07-11T09:24:00.000-04:00

Burrowing Owls

2011-06-23T11:26:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday, I went to Brian Piccolo Park in Hollywood, Florida, to photograph Burrowing Owls . I was one of a small group of photographers led by Elizabeth Martin, a Moderator of The South Florida Wildlife Photography Meetup Group. It was an amazing morning followed by lunch and a chance to share our images and the fun we had spending time with these beautiful birds.

Burrowing Owls can be found year- round in Florida. They mate in early Spring and lay a clutch of 3-12 egg . Gestation takes 28 days. Burrowing owls eat moles, mice, grasshoppers, beetles, birds, amphibians and reptiles. (You can never know enough about Burrowing Owls!!!)

They're great to take pictures of because they're very active... they bob their heads a lot while hopping and flying around their burrows.

Burrowing Owls are protected by State law in Florida. Once a nest has been found, the area around it is taped off with yellow tape creating a visual barrier reminding people not to disturb them. The owls sometimes perch on the poles/posts that the tape is tied to, while guarding their babies.

Besides Florida, Burrowing Owls can be found in The Caribbean Islands, from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean and from the Canadian Provinces to South America.

You can find out if you live near any burrowing owls by calling your local Audubon Society. If you get the chance to photograph them, you will love it!!!

I cropped two of these pictures but didn't do any work in Lightroom or Photoshop yet. If anyone has any suggestions on adjustments that they need or criticisms of the pictures themselves, I would love the feedback. Thanks!

I think that this owl looks like one of the Muppets!

Griswald Monday

2011-06-20T23:31:00.001-04:00

Griswald Monday

2011-05-16T10:56:00.000-04:00

I'm not gonna drop this rope, I'm not gonna drop this rope...almost there!!!

Easter Sunflower

2011-04-26T10:14:00.001-04:00

This sunflower has lots of buds, I'm hoping it will bloom all summer.

As soon as I brought it outside, all of the flowers tilted upward toward the sun.

One of my son's friends gave me this sunflower for Easter. I put it outside this morning since I don't think it will get enough sun if I keep it inside on my dining room table...it's so pretty and "yellow" that I can't help but feel happy every time I look at it... April's my favorite month of the year...I grew up in New England and when April finally came it meant that summer was around the corner, heavy coats, hats and mittens could be put away and if there was still any snow on the ground, it was melting...even the air felt different; fresh and clean and by the end of the month, no matter where you were, you could smell the sweet scent of lilacs.

2011-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago my sons' sister, her husband and their almost-two year old daughter, Kylie Ruth, came for a visit. It was so much fun having them here and to have a "baby" in the house. Kylie's amazing, smart & funny (like her Mom) plus she was great with Griswald and Kya... like a little "dog whisperer"! Here are some pictures I took of her at the playground....I can't wait 'til they're next visit ...I miss them!!!

Griswald Monday

2011-04-18T00:01:00.007-04:00

Ok, I keep looking at this picture of Griswald and Kya and I want to add a caption....Griswald has that look on his face, I know he's thinking something... but I can't come up with anything that sounds just right.. any ideas, anyone? I hope so...please share them if you do and have a great week taking pictures!

Following Yolanda's "Giving It A Shot"

2011-04-16T10:32:00.000-04:00

I've been visiting Yolanda's Blog, "Giving It A Shot", every few weeks to see if she's posting again and there's a new comment from one of her friends letting everyone know that Yolanda died on April 8, 2011. If anyone else who visits my site had been following Yolanda's Blog, I thought you might like to know...I really enjoyed Yolanda's posts and pictures and I loved her positive outlook on life...there's also a link to Yolanda's Obituary on her Blog (in the comments).

In Memory Of Griffin

2011-04-15T19:13:00.002-04:00

Griffin, the Pomeranian puppy, who needed a kidney transplant, died this morning at The University of Florida Small Animal Hospital in Gainsville, Fl.
Despite the love and devotion of his family and the funds contributed by everyone who wanted to help him get well, Griffin suffered too many complications from his kidney failure to survive.
His family and his team of veterinary specialists did everything possible to save him...He was a wonderful dog!

The Rainbow Bridge

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears pricked forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

Griswald Monday

2011-04-11T18:47:00.000-04:00

If you're a bulldog, you can never drink enough water...

Welcome To The Saturday Bloghop

2011-04-09T01:06:00.034-04:00

I usually link the Saturday Blog Hop to my animal rescue website but since I post mostly photos of my dogs and of animals that I find in my back yard on this site, I thought it would be ok to link the Saturday Blog Hop to my photography blog just this one time. My friend's Pomeranian puppy is very sick and needs a kidney transplant... I'm hoping that a blog hopper will have some experience with a pet that's had a transplant. If you'd like to know more about Griffin or have any info to share please read my Friday post before you "hop away" to visit one of the pet blogs listed below...(if you don't see my Friday post about Griffin on this page, just click on "Home" and you'll find it there...Thanks

Please Visit My Friends Blog, "Save Griff!!!"

2011-04-08T19:30:00.005-04:00

My son's girlfriend just started a fundraising blog for her one year old Pomeranian pup, Griffin. Griffin needs a kidney transplant, a complicated surgery that's rarely done on dogs. In Griffins case, the Veterinarians feel the transplant will be a success because of his age and the fact that the kidney will be donated by one of his sisters so it will be a good organ match. The family loves Griffin and all of their Pomeranians so much that they're willing to take him to one of the few Medical Centers in the country that practices this specialized, lifesaving surgery. The financial cost is very high and they can't fund all of it on their own. The Veterinarians say that Griffin is a great candidate for the kidney transplant... the alternative to the surgery is euthanasia. Please visit the site that Domenique has created for Griffin...if you can make a contribution that would be great but if you would just take a minute to visit her site and leave an encouraging comment that would be so kind....It's awful to go through the ups and downs of a family health crisis, and if you're a pet lover, your pets are members of your family. In this case, Domenique is far away from Griffin since she's a graduate student living/studying in NYC and Griffin is with her family in South Florida... I think that support from the online community would be a big help. I know that most of the photography Blogspot bloggers are also pet lovers so I'm hoping that you will visit Griffin's website and leave a short message, Thanks everyone....

THE LINK TO THE BLOG IS SAVE GRIF LISTED IN "MY BLOG LIST"
OR CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST, "PLEASE VISIT MY FRIENDS BLOG"

Griswald Monday

2011-03-28T23:28:00.000-04:00

Today Griswald had the best day ever. This morning he rescued a baby Opossum that had fallen into the pool....I wrapped her/him up in a towel and brought her to The Wildlife Care Center In Fort Lauderdale...Griswald takes his lifeguard duties very seriously and would be happy to sleep outside tonight by the edge of the pool if I would let him...

"Playing Opossum"

Griswald Monday

2011-03-14T22:51:00.000-04:00

Don't tell Griswald but I'm playing a trick on him....he's taking a nap & thinks today is Sunday, so I decided to pretend to be him on the Blog for Griswald Monday...he'll never know!!!

Kya

Grizwald Monday

2011-03-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

I'm working on making French Bulldog greeting cards that I hope to sell on my pet rescue blog... this is my first sample/proof featuring.... Guess Who? Griswald, of course!!!

"Rain Dance"

2011-03-07T10:16:00.001-05:00

Egret

Griswald Monday

2011-02-28T15:03:00.001-05:00

Griswald stopped by the artists' Coop, The Arts Arena Gallery, in Delray Beach, Florida but it was closed. Grizzy loved the ceramic sculptures, paintings, hand- crafted jewelry and photography that he could see on display through the window so he decided to wait a little while just in case one of the artists came by to work in the gallery and wouldn't mind inviting him inside for a visit....

One Hot Tomato

2011-02-17T17:40:00.001-05:00

This plant barely survived all of the cold spells that we've had in South Florida this winter; it's weak & scraggly looking but I guess it's pretty tough because almost overnight, a small, yellowish on it's way to orangish- red, organic tomato appeared... hurray!!! It didn't get much help from me except for a steady diet of coffee grinds that I'd throw on top of the soil a few times a week...watching it grow as it soaks up the sunshine really is amazing...

Grizwalds' Valentines Day Monday

2011-02-14T22:12:00.001-05:00

Do you want me to read it to you? You know it's Valentines Day, right? It's ok if you didn't get me anything...did you?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE XOXO

Photoshop Trick

2011-02-10T20:32:00.000-05:00

I captured this image of Grizzy running toward me so that I could try a Photoshop trick that simulates "rear-curtain sync". I'd watched an online video lesson by Rick Sammon who said that he always tries to shoot sharp images and then if he wants a certain effect he'll enhance the image later using Photoshop. His technique was easy to learn and I like the results. Here's how I did it in case anyone wants to give it a try.
I opened the image in Photoshop and duplicated the background layer. The first step was to click on FILTER>CONVERT FOR SMART FILTERS>FILTER BLUR>MOTION BLUR; in the MOTION BLUR DIALOGUE BOX, I adjusted the angle to 45 but you can choose whatever gives you the look that's best for your subject and I adjusted the speed just a little. When I closed the MOTION BLUR Dialogue Box, I went to the bottom of the tools panel on the left side of my Photoshop window and made sure that BLACK was selected for my foreground color. Then on the right side of the PS window, in the panel, I clicked on the empty SMART FILTERS BOX. Next, I selected a brush (small,soft) from the tools panel and set the opacity to 100 (opacity is at the top of the screen in the menu bar) Then I started painting Griswalds' eyes and face, working my way from the center of his face outward....as I got further away from his eyes (where the plane of focus would naturally change, I lowered the opacity to increase the blur and continued to do that to the edges of the photo.

So instead of shooting a lot of images at various slow shutter speeds, I took one sharp image and then created the motion blur that I wanted in Photoshop. I know that some photographers like to do as little post- processing as possible but in the process of developing a workflow and learning Lightroom I'm discovering Photoshop and it's a lot of fun.

If anyone tries this out on their photos let me know or if you have any tricks to share I'd love to try them.

Grizwalds' First Visit To The Dog Park

2011-02-08T20:32:00.001-05:00

Griswald Monday

2011-02-06T00:01:00.003-05:00

Griswald Monday

2010-12-13T11:47:00.002-05:00

I took these pictures indoors with my flash attached directly to my camera; I tilted my flash backwards with the little bounce card extended.... I set the flash to TTL and my camera at 1/60 (1/50 for the B&W image) f2.8 ISO 1600... I did have a little available light coming from the window but not much....I put Griswald on top of my dining room table to try and keep him in one spot and he did a great job posing for me (treats!!!)

KYA

2010-12-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

Griswald Monday

2010-12-06T15:54:00.001-05:00

My Little Buddy

2010-12-04T12:47:00.000-05:00

Griswald Monday

2010-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

Missed Opportunities=Learning Experiences

2010-11-27T16:40:00.003-05:00

This sea turtle was in a tank with several small fish at The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida. I didn't realize until I got home that the camera captured my reflection on the glass wall of the tank in some of the images and I thought I'd use the idea to create a logo for my website... I went back last week to retake the pictures...I wanted to include more of the tank in the image but the sea turtle was gone and the tank was empty...The Nature Center is dynamic; they release the turtles as soon as they're healthy enough to return to their life in the ocean and the other wildlife and plants change their habits and transform themselves with the seasons. So when your taking pictures of nature you can't count on re-do's!!! Lesson learned; take lots of pictures and take the time to review them quickly since you won't get a second chance...

Backyard Visitors

2010-11-25T23:28:00.001-05:00

This little guy was on the outside of one of the back doors under the floodlight and didn't even move when I went in and out with the trash...she/he might be one of the poisonous frogs that we have in South Florida...the bumps on their back secret a toxic poison that can be deadly to any dog that licks it. They're easier to identify when they're full grown.

Grizwald Monday

2010-11-22T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's Monday and Griswald is back on the job doing what he does best; waiting and watching for something to happen at the pool. Ever since he found a baby Opossum struggling to stay afloat last spring, the first thing Grizzy does every morning is run to the side of the pool and peer over the edge expecting to find that Opossum again!!

Grizwald Monday

2010-11-15T12:26:00.001-05:00

"Did you need something?" "I'm kinda busy right now...."

"Downward Dog"-Griswald Style

2010-11-12T22:48:00.006-05:00

visit Misty Dawn's blog, Camera Critters, to find links to lots more animal images that you might like;

Griswald

2010-11-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

Griswald likes to hang out next to the pool whenever he's outside...I was trying to get him interested in something else so that I could take some new pictures of him but I couldn't keep his attention long enough... staring into the pool is Grizzy's thing...

"Now You Don't Have To Keep Opening The Door For Me!" "You"ll Thank Me For This Later!"

2010-11-03T16:19:00.004-04:00

"Hey!!!"..."Let Me In!"

2010-11-01T15:13:00.001-04:00

I tried to crop & straighten this picture but it's still a little crooked...is there a trick to straightening & getting it right?

Critters In The Pool

2010-10-30T12:58:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, my french bulldog, Grizzy, spotted this little ringneck snake floating around in the pool on a raft of leaves...

if you click on the snake's, head you can see it much better

Earlier that A.M. this curly tailed lizard had also fallen into the pool. I thought it was ok since it was headed for the swimout & shallow water. It must have gotten tired because all of a sudden it sank to the bottom then quickly struggled back to the surface where it did its version of "the dead man's float"! I still feel bad that it almost drowned while I was trying to get a couple of pictures... this lizard is in & out of the pool a couple of times a month so I didn't rush to rescue it. I scooped it up with a leaf & after resting in the sun for about 10 minutes she/he was fine & ran off into the grass.

you can see her/his eye just below the water- line

almost there!

doing great!

uh oh!, this isn't good!

R&R & a happy ending!

B&W Tattoos,The Cohasset Bridge, MA

2010-10-28T13:45:00.006-04:00

The big tattoo is of "Michael the Archangel", the nemesis of Satan & the tattoo underneath it is "the bridge" on Border Street in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Jumping off the bridge into the rapids below is a rite of passage for the kids who live on the South Shore. Lots of them who have grown up & moved away still jump when they're back in Boston. A man I got to talking to once ( in Florida), after asking him for directions, happened to be from Cohasset & raised his family there... the bridge was mentioned & he told me that all of his boys asked their fiancees to jump the bridge with them before they proposed to them. I had to laugh because my son has always said that he plans to do the same thing! I've never jumped but it's on my list of things to do someday....I think... I'm so afraid of heights I'm not positive I will really do it but I hope to give it a try in April.

It's Even Starting To Look Like Fall In South Florida

2010-09-13T20:30:00.002-04:00

Great Blue Heron Wakodahatchee Wetlands

"Batman"

2010-09-08T16:09:00.005-04:00

Griswald

Why am I always surprised when Griswald runs to the front door before anyone coming to my house has gotten even as close as the driveway? Grizzy's huge bat ears make him a great watch dog!

Yellow Aphids

2010-09-08T15:54:00.001-04:00

Aphids

The first time I saw Aphids on my milkweeds I was worried that they would kill all of my new plants & drive the monarch butterflies away. I tried washing them off the stems & leaves with the hose & when that didn't work I tried scraping them off each plant, one by one. Now, I know better... I leave them alone & enjoy watching them! They do feed on the newer leaves & stems of the plants but they attract ladybugs & other beneficial insects to the garden & the monarchs don't seem to mind. This is the 1st time I've seen them this year..

"Ready To Fly"

2010-08-26T15:05:00.001-04:00

This is a Gulf Fritillary butterfly. I found its Chrysalis a few days ago attached to a Passion Vine in the backyard. I moved the Chrysalis to my screen porch so I could see the butterfly when it emerged but I missed it! When I checked it this morning, the Chrysalis was already empty... the Fritillary's wings were dry & it was flying around the porch & on the floor looking for a way out.... I took a few quick pictures before catching it & setting it free...

Gulf Fritillary

"Mr. Handsome"

2010-08-24T12:43:00.003-04:00

My little buddy, Griswald...

Griswald

"My Girl"

2010-08-24T12:16:00.002-04:00

One way to cool off fast & rest at the same time...

Kya

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar & Chrysalis

2010-08-20T14:35:00.003-04:00

This Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar is munching away on what's left of a leaf on the very tip of a Passion Vine...

I found this Fritillary Chrysalis attached to the lower, leafier part of the same plant ...

Curled-Up & Ready To Create A Chrysalis

2010-08-18T15:48:00.000-04:00

This Monarch Caterpillar attached itself to the clothes- drying rack on my screen porch. This is the first time I've found a caterpillar curled up like this & ready to pupate (transform into a chrysalis). You can see the small patch of white silk it made to attach itself to the wood. The next morning, I found the new chrysalis & another caterpillar hanging in the shape of a J. Now there are 2 chrysalis and they'll be ready to emerge in about 7-14 days. Amazing!!!

Baby Sea Turtles

2010-08-16T00:01:00.004-04:00

These baby sea turtles are on the first floor of the FAU Research Facility at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The turtles are tethered with fishing line to the pvc pipes that you see taped in place across the top of the tank. The baby turtles are kept separated this way so that they won't harm each other. I took this picture from the 2nd floor gallery, which is open to the public. These turtles are being studied as part of the ongoing research conducted by FAU's Department of Biological Sciences.

Scorpion Fish Or Yip-Yips?

2010-08-14T21:58:00.002-04:00

I don't know if anyone else remembers the Yip-Yips from Sesame Street but they were little creatures from outer space who would travel to Sesame Street in their spaceship....anyway, the fish in the background reminds me of them because of his big eye. These are Plumed Scorpion Fish and they live in a small tank in the FAU Research Gallery at The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida...

There's Always Something New To Discover At Gumbo Limbo

2010-08-14T19:54:00.001-04:00

This Plumed Scorpion Fish is in one of the smaller tanks in the FAU Research Gallery at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. He/she is one of two that share the tank with some sea urchins, small fish & an anemone...The little Flounder was in an isolation tank all by itself...

PLUMED SCORPION FISH

FLOUNDER

Ready to Be Released

2010-08-11T21:47:00.000-04:00

This is "Coastie", one of the Sea Turtles that was rescued & brought to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Fl during January's cold spell. Coastie has been recuperating in the Turtle Rehabilitation Center & one of the things he was being treated for is a virus. The white coating that you see on parts of Coastie's' shell is where his shell was shedding & peeling as a result of the virus. The staff said that Coastie is finally healthy enough to return to the ocean & there was a chance that Coastie might be released today.

Spiny Lobster Leg

2010-08-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

The Spiny Lobster has 5 pairs of legs. Here's one of this lobsters' legs that it used for walking...

Spiny Lobsters Have A Pair of Horns Over Their Eyes

2010-08-10T12:46:00.000-04:00

The Spiny Lobster has a pair of large, hooked horns which extend over their eyes...

Spiny Lobster Shell At Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

2010-08-09T16:31:00.007-04:00

This exoskeleton, belonged to a female Spiny Lobster at The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Fl. She was molting & split her shell in half where her body met her tail so that she could crawl out & leave her shell behind. Usually, lobsters will bury themselves in the mud & sand or hide under rocks until they grow a new shell, which takes 2 weeks to a month. Unfortunately, this lobster (I think her name was Butter) was eaten by the Moray Eel who lived in the same outdoor tank with her.

After molting, the lobsters will usually eat their empty shell to replenish the supply of calcium that they'll need to harden their new shell....but in this case, the lobster (Butter) was eaten before she had time to devour her shell & find a safe place to hide from predators. Instead of claws like Atlantic/American lobsters, Spiny Lobsters have 5 pairs of walking legs. Next to Horseshoe Crabs, lobsters are my favorite sea creatures.

Intact Spiny Lobster Exoskeleton At Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

The 4th & Final Monarch

2010-06-16T21:12:00.000-04:00

1st Chrysalis Opened

2010-06-15T23:07:00.000-04:00

The first 3 of 4 chrysalis opened sometime early this a.m. The remaining chrysalis is 1 or 2 days older than the other 3...

empty chrysalis

pumping it's wings & trying to fly

the last chrysalis...it's so transparent I can see the butterfly inside

Inspired To Try HDR

2010-06-10T16:52:00.000-04:00

I'm inspired to try HDR after noticing the beautiful HDR images on some of the Blogs that I follow. What I'd like to create is a delicate, painting look. This is a sunshine mimosa which is a groundcover growing in my backyard. It's a pretty plant that opens up in the daytime & closes at night. The butterflies love it & it's a Florida native. This picture is an HDR version of the original image but it doesn't look anything like what I was trying for...I'm going to work on it this weekend.

Waiting For The Butterflies

2010-06-09T14:47:00.000-04:00

This is one of 3 Monarch pupa that I found yesterday. It's attached to the leg of a chair, another ia attached to the bottom of a bamboo table & the 3rd pupa is hanging from a metal plant stand. The butterflies should emerge in 9-15 days. Originally, there were 4 caterpillars on the same milkweed plant. All of them were about the same size/age. I took a picture of the last remaining caterpillar & posted it just before it disappeared. Griswald, my French Bulldog, is really the one that found the pupa/chrysalis's. He keeps checking on them, so I think that if the 4th one is nearby , Grizzy will find it & let me know. These Chrysalis are so amazing & perfect...

Munching Monarch Caterpillar

2010-06-05T14:57:00.001-04:00

The last few days have been really hot & we've had heavy rain every afternoon ... overnight my yard has become filled with lizards & butterflies. This monarch caterpillar is almost ready to find a place to attach itself & and transform into a pupa/chrysalis. The monarch's chrysalis is a beautiful shade of green with a spiral of tiny gold dots along its length. Hopefully, I'll find a few so I can post pictures of them & the new butterflies. Happy summer!!

Gray Fox Kits

2010-05-21T18:25:00.004-04:00

I found these baby Gray Fox Kits taking a nap in a small patch of sunshine next to the Boardwalk at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, in Boca Raton, Florida. They woke up when they heard the sound of voices nearby and they quickly scooted underneath the Boardwalk. The Staff at the Nature Center told me that there are four Kits in the litter and that their mother has a litter every spring. An interesting fact about them that I didn't know is that the Gray Fox is the only fox that can climb trees.

Alligator at Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge

2010-05-02T23:30:00.070-04:00

I came across this Alligator sunning itself on one of the banks along the Marsh Trail at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida, a few weeks ago. It was mid-day, the light was harsh and it was very hot but I couldn't resist taking a picture of this alligator.
/www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/

My Dogs...My First Blog Post

2010-05-01T19:35:00.008-04:00

For my very first post, I thought that I would introduce my dogs, Kya & Grizwald. I love them a lot & they each love me, but they don't like each other... you'll never see any cute pictures of them playing together or taking a nap in the same dog bed !!! But for now, in exchange for a few treats & assurances from me that each of them is my "Top Model", they tolerate each other while I get to develop my photography skills. I also post pictures of them & of pets that are available for adoption at: Grizwaldandkya.com

Kya

Grizwald