Hearty, yet delicate - the pansy. I planted these last week and greet them each morning as we head out to walk - it's always surprising though how much of a 'dressing up' a little rainshower can do. I know you're probably tired of droplet photos - but - they do influence my muse... and I think they're perhaps some of my very favorite things!

What a refreshing sight! I went with a friend to take her daughter to college - we drove for almost 11 hours (round trip)... aside from the gorgeous fall colors creeping out - we took note of the amazing difference five hours driving distance can make in gas prices! I was paying close to $4.09 and looky what we found! Since this time, I've noticed that locally gas is going for $2.99 - wish I had a larger gas tank!

I have started to write twice about this event that occurs locally... but it's a lot to explain - and I gave up. But it's quite fun, so I'll attempt to tell you again.

Twice a year our church hosts these nights, once for middle school and another night for HS. It's sort of a military event - where the kids are split up into teams, and the idea is to get from one end of the playing field *at night, uneven terrain* to the command post at the other - without being captured and WITH a set of 'orders' to be stamped upon completion. Sounds easy, eh?


Well, peppered on the darkened field are rangers *dressed up in camoflauge* that are just waiting to capture you and tear your orders in half. Once captured, you can only be 'sprung' by a team mate giving up a stamped set of orders. Imagine all this going on - with search spotlights scanning the sky/ground... and a sound track of air raid sirens... The object is to be the team with the most stamped orders at the end of the evening.

The kids LOVE it and the adults LOVE acting like kids for the night! Winning team gets a commemorative T-shirt.

This photo is dedicated to my pal out in Midland - Jannn. She just loves the lens effect and I think of her every time I take a photo like this...

Long dry spell. Guess what today's theme is?
yep...
- glorious, drippy, droppy, wet RAIN -

this next photo is a bit odd, but work with me. It's a droplet hitting the surface in a pot - making the indentation on the surface before the ripples get sent out...