Property Blooms & sprouts - Kimberly Kester Photography

It's that time of year again, time to drive you crazy with all the pictures of flowers, trees, bulbs & more, growing & blooming in our yard. Enjoy!

I'll start with a new Hyacinth we bought a couple weeks ago. I love that it's a bulb, that means it might not get eaten by the critters & I can plant it almost anywhere (probably down by the creek though, it has a sweet smell but it's really strong at times). We have another one with a bluish purple tone as well. They will look great by the creek.

Our flowering pear is in it's 2nd year of being planted in it's permanent spot, hopefully it will like the back yard sunset as much as we do ;) It's getting ready to bloom again so I guess that's a good sign, I'll take it!

The image above is our bleeding heart just starting to sprout, it's the 2nd year that we've had it & I'm super happy it made it through it's first winter here, it has hailed several times & I thought it was too delicate to handle it. Good to see I was wrong. 

These are times I wish I had a real macro lens. I was lazy this morning when I took the bleeding heart image & I didn't change my lens, I kept on my 24-70 2.8 & shot this at 2.8. It's in a black pot until I can determine where to plant it. The jack rabbits would love to nibble on this guy I'm sure & it needs shade.

Baby bloom buds on the Redbud bush in our front yard are so close to popping. Can't wait for the blooms, it's going to be anyday now & they don't last long. This morning it looked too good to miss & I thought I'd share how it looks before it goes into full bloom. This was shot at f4.

Daffodils are some of my favorite bulbs right now, mostly because I planted them a couple years ago, it's their 2nd year blooming & it brings some color to our usual red-clay-dirt-lava-boulder-landscape. I can't wait to buy some red tulips this Fall & plant them around the daffodils. I think it will look amazing.

Even Lady can't help but enjoy the front yard today, she's almost ready to fall asleep. It's a little chilly today but mama made sure she had her coat on, lol. According to how old she was when we adopted her (around 6), she should be 9 yrs old this summer & she's still doing great. We are lucky for each day we get with her & so glad she's here to keep me company when dad's at work.

I hope everybody has a great day!



How about a little snow this summer

The other day, Jon & I were talking about this day with Lady back in 2010, we both recalled how we laughed & laughed, so I decided to share it with you. We adopted her right about 2 years ago & she's been such a great dookie & although she's older (she was 6 when she became part of our family), she's still full of life.

It snowed her first winter with us & I don't think she's ever seen it before but that didn't stop her, she dove in face first....

Check out all the snow on those whiskers. She found one of her toys under the snow, after nose digging it out, she wound up playing, then eating the snow. I've never seen a dog eat snow before. She was so goofy.

At the top of the driveway, Jon took off  running back to the house, she got all excited & took off after him. When she caught up, she grabbed his robe & tried to drag him back to the house. So flipping funny, it was like she was getting onto him for running in the snow. I couldn't stop laughing, she made our morning.

I thought maybe seeing snow would cool you off, you know reverse psychology, lol. I felt the chill from that morning when I was editing them,....Well, can't blame a girl for trying. I hope you enjoy today!

CSHA Gymkhana Schooling Show - Cottonwood, CA

I LOVE horses.....their power, their beauty, their determination to make us happy, are just a few reasons, When I was little, I would just be amazed with thoughts of riding a big dog & at times they seemed almost majestic to me (along with the thought I might find a rare secret unicorn,...don't judge, lol). I used to sketch them all the time in High School & I still have a few drawing I did, just after Richie was born (over 22 yrs ago). I longed to have my own horse for many, many years. Back then, I didn't know many girls who didn't dream of a horse when they were little & thought they were just as majestic as I did. I don't ride but you don't have to, to love them.

This last Sunday I went to the Bobby Jones Arena in Cottonwood, CA to photograph, what turned out to be, some pretty amazing horses & riders, during a CSHA Gymkhana Schooling Show. Don't worry, I have absolutely no idea how to say it either but I had a blast.

The wind was kicking up pretty good, blowing hay, dirt, (someone also pointed out horse poo as well,... Great! lol) & sawdust all over the place. I'm still coughing, I'm sure I inhaled a ton of it (yes, Kristin, I'm still complaining, lol) but there were breaks in between events to get out of the sun & wind & I got to witness & meet some pretty talented people.

I'm totally jealous of all the riders, no kidding. I wish I was as good as some of them, right down to some riders that barely looked 7 yrs old. A friend pointed out that I was getting to do what I love (photography) while she got to do what she loves (ride) but that only made me more jealous, maybe I'll take up riding a little later down the road when Matt goes into High School, I'm going to start missing being a needed mommy like crazy & will need something else to soak my time into. 

You can see more pictures on my fb page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Kester-Photography/113161385442478 & remember please do not crop or edit my photos. I appreciate it, Thank you.

This last photo reminds me of a horse I rode a few times when I was in High School. Her name was Naughty & she didn't like her owner. I didn't ride her with a saddle & was super proud when I got her to run (and that I didn't fall off), especially after the owner said she wouldn't run (I always thought I had Native American in my blood & didn't need a saddle but honestly I don't think I have a drop, funny how a childs minds work.). One day she bit at her owner & he tried to smack her in response, when I was on her back & no saddle. She reared up & I was amazed I stayed on her. I didn't get to ride her after that, she was deemed too dangerous when in fact it was the owner that was dangerous & down right mean. She just didn't like him & neither did I. She was sold to a neighbor not long after that. Thank goodness. I want to go back & do this again, it was good for my soul (and the child within).

Ideas are a brewin' - Redding CA Photographer

I got my sensor cleaned at Crown Camera this last week. I can see the difference in the clarity of the images so I kinda got a little carried away sitting on my front porch the other morning on an overcast day. Click on the picture & you'll see the same surprise I did. Kinda scared me a little since I was concentrating on the bee & didn't notice it until I edited the pics. That bee was almost a meal.

The photo above is a bee critter that scares me more than the sneaky spider in 1st image.

Without getting all technical on you (that's honestly not likely to ever going to happen, lol) it has a trunk like thing, that got inserted into the pollen areas of the flower. It's body reminded me of a mosquito or mean fly but the trunk could be more like an elephants trunk, I just didn't see it flex. I kinda figured it was a bee though, as long as it's pollenating my beautiful blooms, that's all I care about.

The photo above has the teeniest bee I've ever seen & this next specimen below, I call, the Elvis bee, his tooshie was stripped like old time prison clothes & shakin' all over the place, it made me think of his song, "Jail House Rock".

Thankya, Thankya very much!

The super colorful flowers above are the Arizona Sun Blanket Flower. so happy, colorful & full of pollen, no wonder the bees like it. I didn't even notice how many variaties of bees we had in our front yard, until I started taking pictures of them. These photos show about 8 different kinds.

That's not a bee in the photo above, (Duh, I know you know), that's just a jumping spider checking me out. I think he was upset cause I was invading his personal space but I wasn't scared. I can take him. (Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever really reads blogs anymore, haha. If you actually read these, I'm so sorry, lol).

I planted this bleeding heart from a bulb not long ago & I can't believe I got to see it bloom this year, I was sure I'd planted it too late in the Spring. Well, I love little surprises & this was just a day full of them. It really makes me realize how glad I am to not be a small bug enjoying a flower right about now. Hope everybody has a great day.

I've got some creative portrait ideas sparking, it's time to see them come through. I just need the right people, like you, to help me.

Winter daffodils?

Here are the first blooms of winter? It's the first time I've seen my bulbs bloom since I planted them, so I'm happy for that reason but wish the ground had a little more moisture so it didn't dry out so quickly. I miss taking these kinds of photos, can't wait til my tulips bloom, they're pink!

Sugar likes the new bird feeding station we created in the back yard, she's all camouflaged in front of the rock in the photo below,...looking up at the feeder. Usually when I pull out my camera, she runs & won't look at me especially if I follow her around, trying to get a nice photo. I was a little bit lucky yesterday & caught her being herself for a few minutes. As you can see with photos below, I was rewarded with a few shots as she got all cute for the camera. Not the best time of day with all the shadows but I'll take what I can get.

Do you see what we're up against in doing yard work, lots of scrubbies to cut but well worth the scratches & fighting for the heating pad, to see our amazing sunset views.

(Like this sunset taken earlier this month, when we were cutting & burning some of that awful scrubby.) This sunset is nothing compared to some of them I've actually seen without having my camera. This is an amazing piece of property, it may not be ideal for some people but we feel very lucky & see the bigger picture 10-20 years from now (Yep, it's a true labor of love).

Jon can't get over how sweet & spoiled Sugar is. For a man that's never been a cat person, she's sure changed his mind. Funny how that happens when you least expect it. As soon as I can get Shadow to hold still again, I'll get some of her hanging out in her favorite spot in the yard....on a stump in the front yard, next to another bird feeder, lol, it's so cute. Silly girls!!I don't think Sugar could catch a cold but can't blame them for trying.

It's a Love/Hate thing...

This is Shadow, the kitten Marissa brought home over a year ago. We kinda have a love/hate thing going on. Sometimes she can be a real turkey but I've grown to love her. It's also the way I feel about the rain, I know we need it, love to see it, (especially when you don't have to be driving in it) but hate how dreary it becomes on the 2nd day (& the 3rd, especially the 4th...). The morning after a rain is amazing though, so I guess I gotta love it,...sometimes.

The other day, I decided to take advantage of her holding still at the window. She usually jumps away at the sight of the camera but I got a few lucky shots before she flashed me the evil eye & jumped quickly off the couch.

Most of the time she's a completely 'normal', calm cat but she still has her little wicked side (don't we all), like when she sometimes hisses at us, for no reason. Lately, she's been climbing on Jon's lap for some lovin & warmth (I think she secretly likes him but still playing hard to get, lol). He's like a furnace that runs every season & she's recently decided it's the best place in the house to sit. She makes a break for the couch as soon as he sits down.

Doesn't she look like a little stinker?

Sugar really stepped up to the plate (when Shadow entered our already full family) & really earned her name. Not that I was planning on getting a 2nd cat (MARISSA!!!!) but everything happens for a reason. There isn't a better cat in the world better than Sugar & who knows, maybe she secretly wanted a little sister. We rescued Sugar from Haven Humane in Redding, CA, where we also adopted Missy (our border collie) a few years back & Lady (our golden retriever, we got at same time as Sugar, which was totally not the plan). I'm still missing my boy Shane & I'm so sad for my niece Amanda & Geoff, for losing one of their dookies recently. But how can you not continue to love how our 4-legged critters get us out of the sadness funk in no time at all & we're blessed more each day for receiving their unconditional love.

The photo of Sugar above was taken in May 2011, not a great photo of her but it shows her intense, loving eyes. I'm trying to embrace the rain & love it just the same. The plants & trees deserve a drink too & this gloomy time should be spent practicing with my flash & PocketWizards....that brings on a whole new subject of love/hate, lol. I just wish I had someone besides Lady to photograph. You can't ask her to turn her head or show me pouty, it's just not the same without an actual person. I'm going to start looking for people who will model for me & you can have some photos in return. I think it's a win-win situation. Any takers?....Shoot me a message, I'm totally serious.

PERSONAL NOTE: I found a new wedding photographer that I'm absolutely inspired by, especially his images he creates with light (he's amazing trust me). He even has a technique named after him called the "Brenizer Method" http://www.ryanbrenizer.com/. Check him out, he's an awesome artist & you won't be disappointed. I really can't believe how many photographers are out there but glad I found him. It's great to get inspired by positive creativity. I'm having a great start of the year!!!

Chevy luvs Tori - Kimberly Kester Photgraphy

This is Tori (friend of my daughters) & Chevy. He really loves his Tori, can't you tell. I have known Tori for a few years now being my daughters friend & she enjoys horses like other people enjoy dogs & cats. She is with Chevy constantly when she comes into town & they have a special bond.

Ok, Tori really loves him back. Don't you agree?

This beautiful paint was in the coral as well & belongs to the owner of the property, these are one of my favorite breeds of horses!

I really like this b&w.

How funny I got this shot. Tori was holding onto Shamus, her moms brand new horse & Chevy started looking like Mr. Ed.

Tori & her mom both train the horses themselves & Tori has done a great job with Chevy. I know her mom is going to make a great horse out of Shamus.