Atlanta in April

I arrived in Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Int'l airport Saturday night April 22nd (Earth Day).  I missed all the Earth Day and March for Science Activities since I left for the Airport at 8 a.m. MDT and didn't arrive in Atlanta until  6:30 p.m. EDT.  My sister, Brenda, met me at the baggage claim and we took the MARTA train to Midtown which is where Georgia Tech is located.  We were there to see Quinn, her grandson, and the campus before he graduated.  So much for plans.  It rained the 2  full days we were there. So we ordered an Uber and went to a shopping center with a Walmart and TJ Maxx.  I bought a blouse and Brenda found a swim suit after looking for 3 years. Sunday night we ate with Quinn at Marlow's Tavern.  Good food and atmosphere.  Monday we ordered another Uber to go to Atlantic Station to see the movie "Gifted."  It was a good movie and after it the rain had stopped saw we walked around and found a Publix to buy some supper and snacks.  It was close enough that we could walk back to the hotel.  The great thing was that we discovered what the high rise building we could see from our hotel was. It is the Atlantic which has lights on the top floor at night that make it look like a crown on top.

The Atlantic as it rains.

Buildings we could see from our hotel

Nighttime view from our balcony at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Rose we saw on the way back from Atlantic Station

Oregon grapes - common name - as it loses its berries.

Gustav Swanson Natural Area.

This evening I went to Gustav Swanson Natural Area for my 365 photos.  I have to select one for the 365 project so I picked this one.   However I like these others as well.

Riverbend Ponds Natural Area at Sunset

Earlier in the day I took some pictures in the back yard and then went to knit at Lambspun. 

 

When I left there I drove over to Riverbend Ponds to see if I could get some sunset pictures.  Much to my disappointment the clouds didn't turn a beautiful golden, pink or red color.  

This is what I managed to get at Trout Pond and closer to the Cache la Poudre River. 

 

Golden Hour at Horsetooth Reservoir

My Meetup Group "NoCo Amateur Photography" met at the Northern Boat Ramp of Horsetooth Reservoir at the 'Golden Hour'.  

 
 
This is the time just as the sun is setting (or after it rises) and the light makes everything softer and redder.  Almost everyone was prepared with their tripods, except I didn't bring mine.  I took pictures of the lake with shadows, the kayak that put out form the boat ramp and the sun disappearing behind the foothills.

This morning I took this picture of my pussy willow blooms.

My Yard in February

Exploring the yard today for photo taking ideas has resulted in these pictures.

  
With the unusually warm weather my grape hyacinth has come up in the front yard.

Fallen nest in the flower bed.



Chinese Elm bark on the tree in the back yard.

 Dried catalpa leave in the front yard.

 Dried poppy plant next to the back fence.

Chinese Elm tree branch.

Shadows

I noticed the shadow of the tree on the brick wall as I parked this morning and was inspired to take shadow pictures today.

 The tree shadow was too good to miss.

 Another shot with part of the tree in the picture.

 On the other side of the building this tree looks almost like a burned patch on the grass.

I caught my own shadow as well. Makes me thing of the old song Me and My Shadow.

My shadow on the rocks - large and small.

Before and After Yoga Class

Today I took some pictures at the Senior Center before Yoga and then went to the Gardens at Spring Creek to take some more.

 Copper Sculpture next to the Sequoia at the Gardens at Spring Creek.

 The Canadian Geese were spooked by me following them, so I stayed back and tried getting them with other points of interest.

   I didn't read the label to find out what this is.

 One of my attempts to get closer to the geese.

 The sun was beginning to set so I was trying for the color. 

 

Bittersweet.

Sunset clouds at the corner of Laurel and Colorado St.