Purple Crocus buds

Here's some crocus I saw on Sunday. Spring is really springing here. I see flocks of herons getting ready to nest. It seems like the water birds of unknown types are up all night singing to each other. I hear lots of migrating songbirds singing in the mornings now and little critters scurrying around in the blackberry thicket. There was frost on the ground this morning, but Spring is really springing!

Taken with Nikon D80 and 35-105 micro telephoto

Here's another...just for fun.

New Stuff

The first new thing is that when I signed in this time, I was forced to switch to New Blogger using a Google account. Hope everything is working okay...

My computer is home again. It was gone only 3-4 days but it seemed longer. It seems to be very happy now although I am still trying to re-establish my software. One of the things that was changed was the addition of a newer, faster hard drive which meant any software living on my old C: drive was gone and had to be re installed. Mostly I had the .exe files but in the case of Photoshop, I could only find upgrade CDs and not the CD for the original 4.0. So no more Photoshop unless I wanted to pay $600. I opted for a trial of Photoshop Elements and I think it is going to be just fine. I never did separations anyway.

I really like my D80. I'm using my old 35-105 telephoto and so far so good. Here's a sample.

Looking down Puget Sound and using a polarizer on the lens. Click to enlarge.


As to a new lens, I'm trying to decide between a Sigma Macro-150 or a Macro-200. I'm not sure what all the implications are to having a non-zoom telephoto that is also a macro. I have a good macro-50mm that is non auto focus but is a good lens. I don't want to get into a position where I'm lugging around 3 lenses and carrying all that weight. Opinions?

I Feel Like Half of me is Gone....

I'm in a real dilemma. I had to take my computer in to the computer-doctor to get its DVD burner replaced and it had to be hospitalized over night. I find I'm lost without my computer to entertain me in the evening.

I'm writing this on Gooserock's computer. Yes, we each have our own computer sitting side by side in our living room. If that isn't strange enough, we even send emails to each other on them. LOL. Tonight we're taking turns at the terminal since he was kind enough to give me my own identity on his.

I don't have access to any photos either, so you'll have to settle for just a few words-only from me tonight.

My dilemma is that I'm a little disturbed that I miss my computer access so much. I should be able to find lots to do without it. I was so desperate a while ago that I did dishes BEFORE supper instead of waiting till 9:00 or so. It was bad enough when our power was out and there was no computer available. But then there was NOTHING available that required hydro so we had to live with it. Thank goodness, Little Mosque on the Prairie was on tonight.

I'm about to order a new lens for my camera. I think I'll go for a Sigma 70mm f2.8 EX DG Macro. That's a lot of letters to describe one little lens. But I can't do that either until I get my "little glowing friend" back tomorrow.

I'm sure there is a lesson in this somewhere....like get a good book to read, or take up knitting, or clean the house or whatever. I'll let you know about the lens later.

First photo for review

Okay, my friends. I've finally settled on a camera. I bought a Nikon D80 body and am using my old Nikon lenses, one of which has auto-focus capabilities. Here's a sample.

The above is a smaller, lower res version of a picture of Toto2 taken at a distance of about 8 feet. And here is a zoom in on just his eye.






I think I finally have something I can work with...

So this is a Nikon D80 with a Nikkor 35-105 zoom.