Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 29, 2011

July 30, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Even though it was 103 degrees today, which set a record at nearby Dulles International Airport, I still found new buds emerging in the garden. This evening after watering, I took a moment to take stock of the flowers and container plants, and it’s not pretty. Most of them are showing the effects of what the weather forecasters are predicting as the hottest July on record in our area. This particular plant, however, seems unaffected and is still in full […]

Categories: Flower • Tags: artistic, bud, flower, green, macro, photography

July 28, 2011

July 29, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Gallop. An experience Teddy hasn’t had in a while, and he took full advantage of the opportunity on the first morning turned out in his 2-acre field. At first, he stayed close to me as we walked around checking out the boundaries, but slowly he extended his circle, first at a trot and then the canter. After about 10 minutes, he bravely trotted down the hill toward the pond, then turned and galloped back up, bucking and kicking in a […]

Categories: Horses • Tags: artistic, field, gallop, Oldenburg, photography, pinto, Upperville, Virginia, warmblood

July 27, 2011

July 29, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Today was Teddy’s big adventure. For the first time in the three years I’ve owned him, he shipped with me in my two-horse trailer. Thus far, he’d traveled to shows in Larry’s large six-horse gooseneck, so today’s excursion in the small trailer was a new experience. Thankfully, 4-year-old Teddy handled it like a pro, gazing out the windows during most of the one-hour drive and letting the breeze blow on his face (I could see him in the side-view mirror.) His […]

Categories: Horses • Tags: artistic, horse, photography, pinto, stall, Upperville, Virginia, warmblood

July 26, 2011

July 27, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

I’d just watered the container plants when I noticed several Daddy Longlegs running for cover from the dripping leaves. I didn’t mean to nearly drown them. In fact, I really never noticed how many were hanging out in the flowers on the front porch until I really studied them closely. There were a half-dozen meandering around, climbing from flower to flower or just hanging out on the side of the container. Because the rays of sun were softly illuminating the […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: arachnid, artistic, daddy longlegs, macro, photography

July 25, 2011

July 26, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

I think Peppermint would like to forget this day ever happened. First, it started out with a thorough brushing and nail clipping before her mid-morning veterinary appointment. There, she was poked, prodded, stuck with needles and weighed (her least favorite moment, I assure you). Then, the bad news. Peppermint’s test results came back positive for Lyme disease, a tick-born illness. So it’s Doxycycline for a month and then a re-test (more needles, unfortunately). To celebrate her return home from the […]

Categories: Dogs • Tags: burrs, Jack Russell, photography

July 24, 2011

July 26, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

The culmination of our day was an impromptu nine holes of golf at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. After a full day of activities, including golf lessons, shopping and the last Harry Potter film (which was awesome), we decided it was a lovely evening for a relaxing practice session before we returned home. It was still hot and humid, but a slight breeze and the abundant trees on this well-established course helped keep us cool. Cam took the opportunity to […]

Categories: Family • Tags: artistic, golf, photography, Shenandoah Valley, trees

July 23, 2011

July 25, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

The dog days of summer are officially here. And Peppermint will be the first to tell you that temperatures in the triple digits are no fun, especially for a fluffy Jack Russell. While Peppermint has always preferred to be an indoor dog, these past few days she doesn’t even want to venture out for a walk around the yard. She’ll barely leave the shade of the garage, and even then it’s only if she believes she might be heading from […]

Categories: Dogs • Tags: artistic, Jack Russell, photography, reflection, summer

July 22, 2011

July 23, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

What do you get when you put six boys in a room with sharp knives? Why, apple pie, of course! Cameron spent the week attending The Hill School’s inaugural Cooking Camp, hosted by parent Emily Tyler and teacher Christie Roberts. Several of Cameron’s classmates and pals joined him for five days of cooking, eating and swimming, including Jack (left) and Tug (center). I spent the morning attending camp, shooting photos and lending a helping hand when needed. With a dozen […]

Categories: Family • Tags: apple pie, Hill School, linkedin, photography, summer camp

July 21, 2011

July 22, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

This summer I’ve observed the Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies that have made our garden a regular stop on their rounds. Last month, they appeared fresh and beautiful, with rich colors and perfectly formed wings. Today, the two hanging out on the Marigolds were most definitely past their prime, with tattered and faded wings. Watching them collect nectar from the flowers, still energetic and eager, inspired me to pull out the camera. The juxtaposition of their looks with their actions reminded me again […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: artistic, butterfly, Great Spangled Fritillary, linkedin, macro, marigold, photography

July 20, 2011

July 21, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Well, since the Black-Eyed Susans are taking over the front garden, I thought I’d at least document them so after I thin the ranks I’ll be comforted in knowing that these beautiful flowers will bloom once again in another area of the yard. When I first bought the house, my friend Carrie went to the nursery with me to choose perennials for the gardens, helped me arrange hanging baskets and advised me on shrubs. Of all the plants we chose, […]

Categories: Flower • Tags: artistic, black-eyed susan, flower, macro, photography, yellow

July 19, 2011

July 20, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

This summer my garden has gotten a bit out of control—OK, well out of control. Each weekend that I anticipate working on it, something more important (or fun!) comes along to drag me away from the dirt, bugs and heat. I really do enjoy the results of an afternoon spent pulling weeds and trimming, and I often wonder why it’s so hard for me to put it at the top of my to-do list. Perhaps it’s the fact that our […]

Categories: Flower • Tags: artistic, black-eyed susan, flower, Instagram, photography

July 18, 2011

July 20, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

This isn’t the most flattering photo of the Eastern Phoebe nestlings, but I decided to post it since this was the one and only photo shoot I’ll take of them. My presence this close to the nest upset the parents more than I expected. I decided that since I want them to return to our yard again, I would keep my distance from now on. Thankfully, routine yard work doesn’t seem to faze them. The nestlings seemed unperturbed by my […]

Categories: Birds • Tags: artistic, bird, Eastern Phoebe, nestling, photography

July 17, 2011

July 18, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

OK, I couldn’t resist posting another sunflower today. Even though flowers were the goal during this workshop, I felt compelled to get out my 200 mm lens when I saw the Indigo Buntings and Goldfinches welcoming the dawn in the field. This particular bird was pretty oblivious to the photographers invading his territory and allowed me to quietly stalk him. Unfortunately, the sun wasn’t yet up when he made his appearance, but I managed a few low-light shots before he […]

Categories: Flower • Tags: artistic, bird, Indigo Bunting, photography, sunflowers

July 16, 2011

July 17, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

“Am I crazy?” I thought as I awoke at 2:30 a.m. and then quietly slipped out the door, only waking the dog. But while on the Beltway heading toward our meeting spot in Potomac, Maryland, I thought, “I’m really not that tired.” Duh. I’m not a morning person at all, but, really, getting up so early was like a night owl taking a short nap. My trek was so worth it, though, as I attended a Blue Ridge Photography workshop […]

Categories: Flower • Tags: artistic, flower, linkedin, photography, sunflower

July 15, 2011

July 17, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

This summer our friends Christy and Eric introduced us to a new favorite—white stilton cheese with apricots. The rich texture of the stilton is highlighted by chunks of sweet apricots. Even by itself it’s a wonderful juxtaposition for your taste buds, but when you pair this cheese with Nilla Wafers it’s simply amazing. While I’ve always had a sweet tooth, it seems that when you’re choosing cheese rather than chocolate it just doesn’t seem as caloric. Yes, that’s my fantasy, […]

Categories: Food • Tags: apricots, artistic, cheese, dessert, photography, stilton

July 14, 2011

July 15, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Today time was not on my side for photography. In between meetings and deadlines I managed a quick walk with Peppermint on The Hill School trail before picking up Cameron for Tae Kwon Do. After the storms of yesterday passed us by, we were left with a beautiful day, little humidity and a light breeze under mostly sunny skies. I experimented a bit more with Instagram, capturing this image of The Hill School’s big tree. Yesterday I saw a lightning […]

Categories: Scenic • Tags: artistic, Instagram, linkedin, photography, tree

July 13, 2011

July 14, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

Photo editing was on my agenda today for In Stride magazine, and I was finally able to spend more time viewing my images from the Upperville Colt & Horse Show last month. This photo of a horse and rider awaiting their moment in the show ring caught my eye, the alert and focused intensity of the horse and relaxed composure of the rider. It was no surprise that they performed admirably, jumping a clear round in competition for a blue […]

Categories: Horse Shows • Tags: artistic, horse, horse show, jumper, photography, Upperville

July 12, 2011

July 13, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

One of the more popular photography apps for the iPhone is Instagram. It works in concert with your iPhone to take photos and then transforms them using various filters. I’ve played with the app for a week or so, and I’ve enjoyed the way it encourages me to expand my eye for composition. Today’s shot is a cottage in Upperville that I walk by several times each week on the way to Tae Kwon Do. Ordinarily, I would usually scope […]

Categories: Scenic • Tags: artistic, gate, Instagram, linkedin, photography, Upperville, Virginia, welcome

July 11, 2011

July 12, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

I finally purchased a new hummingbird feeder after the bear demolished the last one, and I think my popularity in the backyard has improved. Just moments after I hung it up, I had a male ruby-throated hummingbird flying circles around it. As I sat on the deck steps with my camera, he dive-bombed me only once before heading to the feeder to try it out. This week’s goal is to accustom them to my presence so I can get a […]

Categories: Birds • Tags: artistic, bird, hummingbird, photography

July 10, 2011

July 12, 2011 by Tricia Booker Photography

It had been many years since I’d been to Maryland’s Washington County, a scenic area in the northern part of the state. Today I judged a lovely horse show for the Washington County Horse Council, and on my way home I decided to take the scenic route. The early evening drive took me past the Antietam National Battlefield, so I stopped in for a walk around a few of the monuments. Even though I was without a camera, I had […]

Categories: Scenic • Tags: Antietam, battlefied, Civil War, iPhone, Maryland, photography

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