Wednesday Stuff

So much to do to get ready for camping this weekend, and here I am sitting on my butt.  I don't have much choice but to do it today, as tomorrow morning I've got my annual physical.  So here goes:

• make a menu
• go shopping
• take some pictures, try out new lens
• pack

I'm anxious to try the new lens out, it is a 12-24 ultra wide angle, for landscapes.  I am so going to have fun with this lens in Chama!  My problem nowadays is, do I want to zoom or macro.  Luckily my 18-200 can do both, although it isn't near as good as the 105mm for macro photography.  Now I've got another lens to pick from!  These are the three that are going on vacation, for sure. 

I love this picture of the lower garden, and everything is accurate color and brightness, this is what it looked like when I took the picture, and last night I loved it, but today, it looks kind of blown out. 

This is my coreopsis, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly.  It doesn't seem to be too happy where I planted it, only one or 2 blooms at a time.  I want to go after this one with the macro lens.  I guess I just need to decide what I am going outside for, birds or flowers when I make my lens decision.  I hate switching lenses, as I've read that the more you switch, the more likely you are to get dust on the sensor, but I have a sensor cleaner, but I still hate risking a trip to the store for cleaning. 

My black hollyhock seems to have adjusted to replanting, I hope it is happy where it is, and I hope it decides to grow straight up next year. 

After all the "these plants attract bugs" comments, I decided I'm going to spray my garden regularly, or as often as I can without killing anything I do want in the garden, ie bees, butterflies etc.  I sure don't want those nasty earwigs and jap beetles.  The flowers are definitely worth the work!  The only problem I am having is capturing the hollyhocks the way I want too.  I've got white and black.  Both colors are hard to get right!






The sunflower plants are going crazy!!  I guess letting nature take its course works out better sometimes than actually planting seeds. 

I actually got inside the kitchen garden yesterday.  Pulled a couple of weeds that were big enough to come out with a yank. 

Sunflower of the day: