It has been the most amazingly beautiful day of the year, and I’m so sad I slept through a big part of it this morning. This afternoon I packed up my cameras and walked to the Celery Bog. The goal of today’s photo adventure was to practice manual shooting. I took my digital and SLR. I’d missed my Canon (SLR) so much. I seriously had a “moment” in the middle of the woods as I peered through the lens and heard the sound of its shutter. I feel I can’t “see” with my digital, but with my Canon the world all seems so clear.

I always feared living in a city would leave my life sterile and paved over, but I’ve certainly found my middle ground utopia here in West Lafayette. I can walk 5 min from my subdivision and find myself immersed in nature. Along the way, I pass all sorts of people. Today I saw twin girls with twin poodles. I don’t stay on the path long. I like it to be just nature, my camera, and me. I love the crunch of the leaves and twigs and carefully moving briers out of my path. The post image was taken on the path, and I got funny looks squatting next to a tree. I’d definitely title the photo “arm of nature” or something.

Friday, I saw a swan but had no camera. Today, I saw a pair of mallards with a muskrat. As much as I enjoy risks to get the photo, I knew that wading in to the bog would not only leave me a mess, it’d just scare them further away in the process. All the people I must pass along the way has put a damper on my willingness to get dirty which kills my stealth approach. Back at the farm, my shoes would be caked in mud, my jeans riddled with sharp objects, and my arms bleeding from the briers. I must visit home often so I don’t get too wussified. As soon as it’s more consistently warm, I plan to get my hands dirty in my flowerbeds. I’m going to have every flavor of mint herbs possible, so when I sit on my porch, the air will smell so sweet & minty. Oh, I can’t wait for spring break & summer. I will be inside as little as possible…canoeing, hiking, 4-wheeling, outdoor concerts, random exploring & events.

That’s probably enough rural musings for one post. It seems one of my friends was at the bog the same time as me, also taking photos. He calls himself a “beginner,” but I’m sure it will look otherwise. I have a sixth sense for people with an eye for nature & photography.