The county fair & photo exhibit + 3 bonus photos just 4 u. =)

 So, 1st: apologies for NOT POSTING in MAY. Wow.

(Throws biodegradable glitter to distract you.)

Fair Foto Fun

Annnyhow,

I entered some of my photos in a nearby county fair at the end of May.

Very exciting & less totally nerve-wracking than last time.

Perhaps experience breeds calm? Or, at least lack-of-total-freakout. =D

The fair itself was last weekend, and that's when I learned how I did.

Which is pretty well! =)

Got 1st & 2nd in 8/9 photos.

I'll take it! =D

I ALSO got to ogle other's lovely & inspiring work.

Which is MOST enjoyable.

One professional/advanced photographer's work I LOVED was Christopher Viney.

His 1st place photo in landscape:

gah!

And his 1st place agriculture photo:

How surprising & abstract is that for "agriculture?" Too cool.

So, I got curious & googled his name.

Apparently, when he's not being a rockin' great photographer,

he is teaching physics at UC Merced.

Clearly, not much goin' on, there. =D

Here's another shot I LOVED (flower)

but unfortunately didn't get the photographer's name in the shot.

Crazy good.

DH's party shirt (white horseshoes on red background)

& me & my Trader Joe's bad made some weird reflections, therein.

Also ogled sundry gorgeous cows.

 Mama & junior looking coy (typo was "cow"). =)

DH in his happy place: Part I

 Petting the cute little goats.

DH in his happy place: Part II

 Look out, honey, your Midwestern heritage is showing!

They have a pretty nice range of old tractors there so we took in the tractor parade.

Fun was had by all.

=)

Bonus Pics

And just for fun, the elegant sphinx moth (Sphinx perelegans) I found on our garden gate

(species ID confirmed by my moth-y expert friend, Dr. Dan Rubinoff)

"Don't see my eyes!"

This is a LARGE moth. From ~3.5" to 4.25."

Made my DAY.

And it blended in PERFECTLY with the faded grey wood. =)

Dr. Dan said they raise their young on manzanita (among other things),

so this pup could have grown up right here. =)

Last, this flower went into a windstorm with wet hair,

and now looks AMAZING! =D

And when open, this bee was VERY happy to be there.

Note the white pollen coating its legs. =)

Thassit! I hope your summer (or winter) is starting out well.

It's been AMAZINGLY mild & wonderful this last week, 

but is on schedule to fling itself into the 100s soon, 

so I'll have to start taking Stop Whining pills then.

For now, I will simply bask in the glory that is our world right NOW.

=) 

xoxoxoxobb