Here it is, the last week of September, and this is what my apple tree is up to:
Nikon D5100 f/8 ISO 200 1/250 sec 55-300@300 mm – Autumn 2012
These are a result of those beautiful apple blossoms last August. Now it is a real race; will the apples ripen first? Or will the frost prevent their maturation? It is all endlessly fascinating to me 🙂
Moving as silently and smoothly as she can, trying to hide…
Nikon D5100 f/5.6 ISO 800 1/250 sec 55-300@300mm – Autumn 2012
She is still pretty sure I see her.
I saw a flicker of movement under a log by the pond, so I moved the log.
A small snake was revealed. He held very still while I tried to ease closer. My movements startled two toads, which leaped over the snake… The snake was more concerned with hiding from me than with finding breakfast, so nothing happened. All remained very still.
Can you just feel it? Â Cool, crisp air, early morning sunlight warming your whiskers…
Nikon D5100 f/4.8 ISO 400 1/350 sec 55-300@120 mm – Autumn 2012
What better time and place for your morning bath?
The summer was so dry in Oklahoma that we were worried we wouldn’t have any leaves left by autumn.
Nikon D5100 f/5 ISO 400 1/350 sec 55-300@170mm – Autumn 2012
You can see for yourself, there are still a few leaves, especially on tough trees like these Hackberries. Wait! There is a hackberry tree growing around and above this one, but these leaves are those of the native wild plum.
Nikon D5100 f/16 ISO 400 1/90 sec 55-300@240mm – Summer 2012
We have not been overwhelmed with rain. The soil is still dry and dusty.
Nikon D5100 f/4.5 ISO 800 1/180 sec 5-300@98mm – Summer 2012
But we have had cool enough weather that the dew point was higher than the ambient temperature, resulting in a pleasant silvery mist at dawn.
The ripple between reality and reflection:
Nikon D5100 f/11 ISO 800 1/250sec 55-300@300mm – Summer 2012
The texture of this old log caught my attention.  I admired the contrasting texture of the water all around the log. I loved the reflection of the log in the water beneath. The ripple between reality and reflection completed it for me 🙂
The sunlight picked out several prematurely orange leaves.
Nikon D5100 f/8 ISO 200 1/250sec 200mm – Summer 2012
Glowingly beautiful in death. Drought thins out the underbrush!
Buttercup at age 7 3/4 years. She will be 8 in October!
Nikon D5100 f/8 ISO 400 1/250 sec 68mm – Summer 2012
The Dutch Shepherd has been the perfect breed choice for our active son. She will help him guard or catch his chickens, accompany him on his bike rides or hikes, swim  with him, play fetch, and even participate in 4-H dog shows. And, although she has never yet met a person she doesn’t like, we still feel confident that she would protect her boy against an attacker. She butts in if family gets too rough and makes him squeal or laugh too loudly, and I think she would be more assertive with a stranger. Good Dog, Buttercup!
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