Celebrate like the Simpson's

Celebrate the birth of your country by blowing up a piece of it.
f/20, 10 sec, iso 100. Cropped. cc

grass and fireworks

My husband had to work tonight but I still wanted to do something fun for my son so we went and got a small pack of fireworks. My sister is staying with us for the weekend and while we were doing fireworks they were teasing eachother and sticking small blades of grass in eachothers ears and nose.

And this counts and patriotic because we were outside having 4th of july fun!

Community Carnivals

Face painting and watermelon-eating contests at a community Independence Day carnival. (please excuse her hat hair:))

CC

Sky High

Sky High thoughts of armed forces, founders, brave women and men who fought and thought to make our country free! Sky High thank you from me! CC welcomed

Hometown American Pride

This is my brother, we were all down at the parade today and they were passing out flags and he stuck his in his hat, thought it was to good to pass up for a mission twenty four picture.

Patriotic Barn

Patriotic Barn in Sanger, TX

Tall Patriot

There were lots of things patriotic at todays parade- but for some reason this guy stood out to me. Hmmmmm.... wonder why. ;)

Sweet Land of Liberty...

The Veterans of our Country.
God Bless.

CHALLENGE: Patriotic

I know this is a regular challenge day, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to see all of your patriotic pictures!

So let's see it! Challenge: PATRIOTIC

Winners: Limit

Once again, we have a big multi-way tie for the winner.

Congrats to Alynn, AprilF, Melanie, and Teri, who all tied for the win with Limit: One, Creative Crayola, Heat Hath No Limit, and There is NO Limit...., respectively.

Temp. Limit

I think I misunderstood the length of time for the challenge, so I understand that this will probably be deleted, but I was able to do this challenge (the first in a while), so here goes:

My 3-year-old boy is very sick today, and this was his temperature. I REALLY hope it is the limit, because it always scares me when it goes so high. All he wanted to do was snuggle in something soft, and be held by me. It's so hard to see them sick!

CC welcome

Limit: Voting

With only seven entries for this challenge, please LIMIT yourselves to one vote for your most favorite. Don't forget shoutouts! I'll leave the voting open until 1:00pm Eastern Time tomorrow.

Limit: Pink Fabric

I'm visiting my parents for a week and a half right now, and I thought I'd add a little touch of "mom" to my entry today. My mom's love of pink and of fabric know no limit. I often think, however, that my dad would like to put a limit on her love of fabric. This photo is a drawer of pink fat quarters. I don't think this is even all of her pink fat quarters, but I could be wrong. Also keep in mind that this is just the pink drawer, and it's only fat quarters, not larger pieces of fabric.

Runners-up here.

CC

Creative Crayola

Crayola- giving kids everywhere limitless options for creativity.

I don't normally do black & white with color- but I think it works here. What do You think?

Its Everywhere You Want to Be

If you change around the words of Visa, Limit its everywhere you want to be. There are limits all around us. From stop signs to credit cards. These limits or laws are designed to allow us to enjoy more freedoms as a whole society. Given this weekend Im glad for the "limit" of our constitution and declaration of Indepedence!

As always here for more and CC is always welcome!

Limit: One

In this limitless bed of white flowers, they have allowed limited access to one yellow bloom.

(Look everybody, I submitted a picture that doesn't have one of my kids in it! : } )

-CC-

There is NO Limit....

When it comes to Oreo Cookies and Milk! My favorite snack.

All About Me!

NAME: Janette P. (ZealyGirl)

1. What camera do you use?

Canon S3 IS

2. What is your favorite photography subject? (or, what do you like to take pictures of the best?)

My kids, but I like macro shots, as well.

3. What camera equipment is on your wish list?

Digital SLR, preferably Nikon

4. What are your hobbies outside of photography?

Cooking, reading, piano, looking at real estate, being in charge of things, playing

5. Tell us about your family! (married? Kids?)

Married 4.5 years; 2 boys, one 3, one 1 year

6. Where do you live? (you don’t have to be specific if you don’t feel comfortable)

My home state of Idaho

7. Do you have a blog you would like to share? (family blog or photography blog?)

I have a blog, but it isn’t updated as regularly as it should… zealygirl.sampa.com

8. What is the best photography advice you have ever received?

ZOOM in & get at their level.

9. What (if any) editing program do you use?

I just got Paint Pro, and am still experimenting with it.

10.Can you share your favorite 3 pictures with us??

Heat hath no Limit

Today we reached the hottest temperature so far this summer. I couldn't think of anything for this spontaneous challenge until we went outside to hop in our pool to cool off. Imagine my surprise when the pool water was like bathwater (95 according to the thermometer) and therefore offered no refuge from the sun! I glanced up at our thermometer on the side of the house and gasped when I noticed that it was past the normal 110 - 115 reading. Yes folks, that says 126 degrees, blatant proof to me once again that desert HEAT hath no limit.

I used the "sunset" effect on the thermometer in PS to give it a "firey" look.

CC please!!

Reached Her Limit

My daughter apparently hasn't been feeling well this evening. She finally crashed a little before dinner - it didn't even wake her up when I picked her up off the floor and carried her to her bed. Poor little thing, she's reached her limit.

WACKY WEEK QUICKIE CHALLENGE! Challenge: LIMIT

Since we are shaking things up, I thought we would do a TRUE quick challenge!

TAKE YOUR PICTURE AND POST IT IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. That means at 11:04 a.m. PACIFIC TIME (12:04 Mountain time, 1:04 Central time, and 2:04 Eastern time) your picture better be here and ready to be judged!

Any entries posted afterwards, will be deleted. Just be aware!

CHALLENGE WORD: LIMIT

As in....TIME LIMIT IS 24 HOURS! GET GOING!! :)

Winners: Summer

Good morning everyone! Sorry I'm getting this up so late. The cable signal at my parents' house has been down all morning and I haven't been able to get online.

Your clear and favorite winner for this challenge was Cherry Oh Cherry Oh Baby!

Not far behind it, however, was Wildflowers at Dusk.

Please come claim your prizes. :)

Okay, now you all need to log back in under the anonymous poster login and add your name to the labels in your post, so we know who is who. If you add anything to your post (like a link to runners-up, or more info about the photo itself), please leave a comment on THIS post letting us know which photo was yours, and that you added to the post.

Mission 24 business -- WACKY WEEK

So, I had so much fun coming up with this challenge idea that I decided we would keep with the theme of mixing things up a little...

One of the things I hear often is that certain days don't always work for challenges...people work that day or are busy...and quite frankly, sometimes I find myself in a rut of hoping I get to go out and leave my house on challenge dates...so I can get a great shot. And I find I am DISCOURAGED when it doesn't happen.

SO...EVERYONE be on your toes. This week will be full of shakin' things up and mixing them all over the place.

We will contunue with a post each day...

BUT, You don't know when the challenges will be or what they will entail....when the feature photographer will pop up, and when the Tutorial will be presented. SO, be checking. I will make sure that each day we have the post done in the morning...

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED AND BE ON YOUR TOES!

And PLEASE, after the winners are announced, go in and change your submission to say your name so we can all figure out who did what! :) THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLAYING ALONG!

The big vote!

Okay everyone, I have to say that I AM SO impressed with your pictures this time around! Seems like there was a GREAT amount of submissions and such good talent! I feel so inspired--not only with photography, but by all the things that summer IS! :)

SO, let's vote! What picture made you feel SUMMER the most? Pick your favorite 2!!!

We will do the big reveal tomorrow....can't WAIT to put a name to all this talent!

summer time yum

cc always welcome

THis is what summer time is in our family. Getting lots of friends together and feasting

Whithering Heat

2 days ago this rose bush was full of white and now there isn only one. Guess that is what 2 straight days of over 90 degree weather and 60% humidity will do to flowers! Whithering heat for sure! More choices

Wildflowers at dusk

f/5.6, 1/80 sec, iso 400, sooc

One of my favorite things about summer is seeing all the beautiful wildflowers. This picture was taken at dusk in a park near my house. CC welcome!

The Swingin' Days of Summer

Here, summer = playsets and potatotes. =)

SOOC. CC welcome!

Summer Sunset

I love summer sunsets!! 

CC

Summer Night Sunsets

Summer brings the most BEAUTIFUL summer sunsets here. They are stunning.

Summer Scenery

One thing I love about summer is being out in nature, especially in the mountains. Hiking, camping, boating, we love it all! I took this on little family hike today as we explored a new area close to our home.

CC

SnoCones and Sunshine

Summer time means neighborhood block parties, face painting, snocones, and lots and lots of sunshine!

I Got Lei'd!

I didn't really get lei'd. I saw these at Joann's last night, and thought "What says 'Summer' more than a luau?" I loved the colors and the outdoor feel.

I'll post more after our big reveals.

CC

EDIT: Okay, it's Janelle. You can see my runners-up (I had lots of them) here.

Fresh Summer food

Love this fresh summer food...

Summer Green

I love when the bright summer sun turns the trees green!

CC

S'mores!!

"You're killing me Smalls! These are s'more's stuff! Alrite now pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the 'mallow. When the 'mallows flaming... you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good"-- Ham Porter; Sandlot

Pool Party

CC

Cherry Oh Cherry Oh Baby

You know it's summer when those first fruits are ripe on the tree.

Summer Strawberries

The end of June is ideal for picking your own strawberries. What to do with this bounty?

iso: 125
Aperature: 2.8
Shutter: .001s

summer is here

To me when the hydrangea's are blooming summer is here

Fun in the Sun

Summer just isn't summer without a trip to the beach/ocean.