It may be a long haul until actual spring that has flowers and warm weather, but I am all psyched when I see these little shoots of daffodils emerging in winter’s melting snow. So brave and yet so tender looking! This inspires me, so I am calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Have a look at Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday for more neat photos. Perhaps do a search here for snow, or winter, first? Always return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

We had our first snow this winter two days ago. I love that brief time when the snow has fallen but no wind has come along to disturb the frosting on trees and shrubs. I went outside to our patio, standing under the eaves so my camera wouldn’t get the silll-falling snow on it, when I heard that familiar Anna hummingbird whirrr. There she was, and what a scenic, snowy backdrop she had as she rested on her red feeder! I like this for the snow frosting everything like icing as much as the beautiful little bird, so I am calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Since several of you asked, they do stay in this lattitude nowadays because people like us provide feeders. It is not usually freezing here, and if it does freeze, we take the feeder in overnight so it’s liquid in the day.

Snow counts as water for Watery Wednesday, doesn’t it? Also, visit Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Camera Critters and Ruby Tuesday 2. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog collection here. Or try a tag like “Scenic” in the right sidebar down a bit, or a search for “Snow” in the upper right field, perhaps, to see something new.

One of Seattle’s nice old brick buildings in the Greenwood neighborhood, with the winter tree shapes casting shadows on the building and reflections on the glass. I was driving by, stopped at a red light, and blessedly had time to get the window down and snap the photo. Sometimes you’ve got to be quick! I like the way the sky in the window is almost more important than the real sky, and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Weekend Reflections, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) new meme A Piece of Heaven, and Blue Monday are all fun places to visit. Remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

Happy New Year to all. I wish you, my loyal readers, all the happiness and love your heart can hold, in 2012 and always. And I wish you the joy of creativity! When an artist contemplates his or her work, it is one of the moments of true happiness that we have in this life. The world of the internet has brought people together in ways we never could have imagined. I am thankful every day for this blog (and my computer) which connects me to so many. Thank you for viewing my photos, and especially thank you to those who have taken the time to leave thoughtful, interesting comments. Much appreciated!

If you have a moment, check out Skywatch Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Watery Wednesday and Pink Saturday. Because I just want to keep looking at this image, I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week. Do click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner for the entire blog.

The other night at the lighting ceremony at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory, there was magical harp music. In that mysterious and romantic environment, it only sounded more beautiful, if that is possible, than harp music usually does. Wish I had a video of it, but I’m a still camera kind of gal, at least so far.

I like the special mood of this photo and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Take a peek at Thursday Challenge (Light), Color Carnival, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Ruby Tuesday, Pink Saturday, Mellow Yellow Monday, all tons of fun photoblog memes. Before you go, be sure to try a new tag or category here at Sara’s Fave Photos, just for a lark.

Well, sunset comes early now, that’s for sure, so we just have to enjoy it when we can. I missed a really spectacular sunset last week with just a glimpse as I drove along, so I was extra happy to see this sweet one that I could photograph, even if just delicate pink and not red. I’ll take it. And do you notice almost a rainbow reflection in the water? I can’t quite figure it out. I love the mysterious reflection and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Stop by Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Weekend Reflections, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, and Watery Wednesday for lot of photos on a theme. As always, especially if only one photo below, you can click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog here.

Happy note: Only 16 days ’til the solstice means just 32 days until days are lengthening and longer than today!

One way to take a break after a long car trip is to lie flat on your back on the carpet in the sunshine, like a cat. Naturally, the shadows really sing to me in this one. And the toenails. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, if you like shadows, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) for well seen shots around the blogosphere. Don’t forget that if there’s only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the rest of them.

You’ve got to love shades of gray to live in Seattle. This is a little waterfront town, Redondo, right on Puget Sound, the other day when the sky almost looked like snow. It wasn’t all that cold, but it sure felt like winter was around the corner. Coming back to this after a few days, I really like the simplicity of the forms. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Weekend Reflections and Wordless Wednesday for more fun with photos. Please click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks!

At a District Garden Club flower show not long ago, late summer flowers were in glorious abundance. I was a bit distracted as I was selling copies of my book there for the first time in front of the public. They were very well received, I’m happy to say. It was so much fun, meeting fans and signing books. But even though there wasn’t much time for photography, I did get this image, which I love very much. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week, too.

Visit Macro Monday, Macro Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Shadow Shot Sunday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Weekend Flowers, if you get a chance. But first, see the complete and up-to-date blog here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or on the banner above.

Farmers markets are so great. I took a look at the prices in our local Burien Farmers Market and realized that sometimes they are only a quarter of the cost in the supermarket, and fresher to boot. Next year I am going to make more of an effort to make the Thursday market each week. I like that the money goes right to the farmer, too.

Take a look at what people have posted at Macro Friday, Color Carnival, Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Shadow Shot Sunday and Thursday Challenge (Golden) for more interesting photographs around the blogosphere. And if there is only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see a nice bunch here.

With a nod to the king of peppers, Edward Weston, I choose this as my Best Post of the Week.

There’s nothing like natural light, is there? These cosmos from my garden were catching just a bit of sun in their vase on the windowsill. This image, like most of the ones I show here, is straight out of the camera. When the light is right, most of the photo is just right there for you. Keep your eyes open and be quick!

Visit Pink Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Color Carnival, Macro Flowers Saturday, Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Weekend Flowers, Shadow Shot Sunday and Macro Friday. See the complete and up-to-date blog here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or on the banner above. The light and shadows in this one float my boat so I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Camping! Can you just smell the woodsmoke? We love to get out in the woods for a few days and smell actual fresh air, day and night. Even a trek through the campground to the facilities can be a lovely experience. A warm day in August in the Pacific Northwest is like no other. I love the range of light to darks, with the blue sky peeping through, and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, and this week the theme of Unique Exposures Weekend Challenge is 100 Years Old (or more). It’s pretty close to qualifying for SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) but I did adjust the curves just a tad, so it doesn’t. But take a look there anyway. Remember, if there is only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the others. Thank you for visiting!