I may live in a crowded lake subdivision, but my studio sits in front of a large picture window that overlooks a few empty lots and a small wooded patch. My in-laws allow us to garden a large portion of the area. The rest they have landscaped with numerous flowerbeds and large trees.
I will admit, I have the best view in the neighborhood! It may not be of the lake, but it is filled with songbirds, butterflies, squirrels, rabbits, hummingbirds and other wild creatures. Although I do not spend hours staring out of the window, I do look out it often enough to catch amazing moments in time.
Take this spring day a few weeks ago … I looked up as a pair of deer wandered out of the woods and into the “park,” as my in-laws sometimes call it.
We have noticed tracks in the garden and my mother-in-law’s tulips and lilies are often tasty treats for the deer, but we rarely ever see them — especially in the middle of the day. I quickly took a photo with my cell phone so I would have proof this happened, but I knew it would be a bad picture, since they were so far away. I wanted my real camera, which was in another room, but I was afraid to move.
I watched for a few minutes and the deer seemed in no hurry to leave. I asked them if they would wait while I grabbed a camera. Naturally, they didn’t answer me, but they did wait for me to get my camera and change the lens and take numerous pictures before something spooked them and they ran back into the woods. These are my favorites …
There is nothing more exciting than being able to observe wild animals in nature.
And, I am pretty impressed with my camera’s ability to take pictures through less-than-spotless windows!
Creative Passions is a wonderful place, by the way … we stayed in the small space in the back of the church, called CP2B, which comfortably holds four with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fireplace. There was plenty of space to cook (or to set out the junk food, which is what we did) and crop. The owner provides so many amenities, including breakfast, bottled water, hair dryers, shampoo, lotion, every channel possible on the tv, WiFi and even a pencil sharpener! I loved my time there and cannot wait to go back. I only made it to two of the restaurants but I did find the best gluten-free pizza north of Detroit at the bowling alley. And, I was able to find a few Christmas presents in town, as well. It was nice being away from all of the hustle and bustle and big box stores for a bit. I have got to book another trip …
candy scraps 