Do you know what kind of bug this is???
It looks like a praying mantis, but it’s about the size of a nickel. What do you think?
Bugs and flowers aside, my daughter came home for a visit last week, so I’ve also been happily focusing on family. 🙂
What are you taking a closer look at lately?
Tell me, I’d love to know!!
HAPPY MONDAY!
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Coleen Patrick 
Beautiful pictures of spring. You really know how to see through a lens. Looks like a praying mantis (baby) or a small grasshopper?? Anyway, I loved your photos.
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Thanks, Patricia! After such a long, cold winter, it’s so nice to see spring!
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Baby praying mantis – cool! As always, love your pics. We’re getting a new puppy this week so I’m sure she’ll be occupying a lot of our time!
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I can’t wait to see the pics of your new puppy, Jennette! So exciting. 🙂
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Love the flower pictures – which is exactly what I’ve been focusing on: my garden, getting the weeds out, deadheading, and planting veggies. Nothing like sun, fresh air, and flowers after a long, long, winter. Happy Monday to you too!
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Is it the cold winter that’s got me thinking weeding (and puttering in a garden) sounds so relaxing and fun? 🙂
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People from my past keep falling into my lap (or so it seems) I’m enjoying old HS buds & childhood friends on FB. Its amazing! I’m loving it. I always enjoy your posts & give mom a kiss & a hug from me.
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Sorry I didn’t identify myself
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Re-connecting with old friends has got to be one of the best things about all this technology! Since I moved a lot, I always thought saying goodbye to someone was kind of a forever thing. Not so true anymore! I will send my mom your hugs and kisses. 🙂 Thanks, Pat.
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Your pictures are always amazing. So inspiring. Thanks for sharing. The baby praying mantis, believe we’ve seen a few of those in our yard.
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Thanks, Debra! Cool to know we’ve got similar strange bugs in our yards even though we’re on opposite coasts!:)
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Loved that Susan Orleans quote, Colleen. Just what I needed today!
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I’m glad! I found the quote while flipping through an art book at the botanical gardens. It just fit. 🙂
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Beautiful photography Coleen. You have developed a great eye! It does finally make us feel that Spring has arrived.
Enjoy your time with your daughter. Man, wish I was back in my college days!
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College days–me too. All I can seem to remember is how little real world responsibility I had and oh yeah, the fun. THanks, Phil!
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Love the photo’s Coleen you have a keen eye for the beauty of nature. I too enjoy bugs and also like to draw them. The small world down there is fascinating to me and my family.
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I’ve been enjoying your drawings on your blog, so I bet your bug drawings are fantastic!!
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Sharp, awesome shots of the flowers and bug, whatever it is! I’m trying to focus on finishing my short story but I wind up blogging instead! lol
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Oh I hear you about the blogging distraction. I have trouble weaving different creative endeavors and often have to separate them like two misbehaving kids. LOL
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What gorgeous photos! So beautiful and spring-like! And so true about the importance of looking at things closely. I need to whittle a whole lot of things down to a manageable size!
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We can start with Godiva chocolate. That’s something I can easily whittle away at. 🙂
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That is a green assassin bug nymph. Am I a nerd for knowing that? haha Love the photos, as usual! I’ve been getting a closer look at my backyard lately. Spring has sprung!!
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Yay, Amy! Thank you! I really wanted to know and it’s nerdy in the oh so cool kind of way. 🙂
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Great pictures. I’m still waiting for our spring color to arrive up here in my neck of the woods. Going to be a short spring, I’m afraid. Have fun with your family!
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That was me commenting above. Sorry, I didn’t log in!
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Hope you get some spring colors soon!!! THanks, Kate. 🙂
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Coleen I loved this post! Perfect spring post to bring in the glorious feeling flowers give us of the first burst of sun that sticks! As for your daughter; Enjoy her my dear! It’s always a grand day when a mothers child comes home!! Inion & I would love to leave something inspiring but unfortunately we’ve been cooped up in our writing room so the only thing we’ve been taking a closer look at is our book! lol. Sharing these beautiful pics now in hopes of passing the beauty to others! 😉 ❤
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Thanks ladies! Can’t wait to see what’s blooming in your writing room. 😉
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My guess on the bug is – baby praying mantis. Or maybe a stick bug, but they’re usually brown.
Love the photos. You have such a clever hand with a camera. I hope you enjoy every moment with your daughter.
What am I focusing more on? Me. In a good positive way.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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I love that you clarified your focus, because sometimes I can focus on the stuff I do, etc with not such a great attitude. Thanks for the reminder, Patricia. 🙂
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So glad you got a chance to visit with your daughter Coleen! Those are moments we cherish. Lovely pics by the way. And I do believe it’s a pray mantis. I think most everyone I know is downsizing their life. I am no exception. Although, it did feel good to post a blog. Thank you for your support! Take care! 🙂
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The busy and exciting things can be awesome, but there’s definitely relief in taking it all down a few notches! Thanks, Karen. 🙂 And I always love your blog posts!
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Hi Colleen-
Susie sent me over. Thanks for checking out my blog. I love these spring photos (although it feels barely like spring up here in southern Maine). Also love the idea of taking a “closer look”. I am working with a similar theme, the idea of “tiny travels,” but right now the only thing I am looking closely at is all the dust in the far corners of my house as I prepare for a short visit from a Japanese exchange student!
Cheers!
Dianne
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An exchange student–how exciting! As for the dust, I say sprinkle a little glitter over it. 😉 Maybe we can start a trend. Thanks for coming by, Dianne
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That is a baby praying mantis. Our toads woke up and were croaking last night! This spring is amazing!
Thanks for bringing this to the blog party! I hope you met some of the new guests and hit the dance floor!
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Yes, thanks for hosting another awesome party, Susie!!
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Ahh Beautiful Spring is finally here!
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Yay!!!
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I love the quote and your photos, Coleen. What does it say about me that my favorite photo is of the dandelion puff? Those things are miracles of transformation.
Like you, I’ve been focusing on family as my mother is visiting me in Texas.
Your husband and daughter have the same smile. Nice!
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I’ve got a dandelion puff on my window shade in my office. They make me think of wishes and hope!! Hope you’re enjoying your family, Pat. 🙂
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I like the narrow focus of your lens, Coleen! I, too, have been focused on family of late. It’s been pretty hectic, but in a way, I’ve been grateful to spend some time on things that matter in the 3D world.
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I feel like I re-learn the concept of balance on a weekly basis! 🙂 Thanks, Alarna.
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Now that’s just the loveliest quote, I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been looking at nature too, trying to work around the yard to get ready for our warm spring weather ahead!! xx
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Gotta love possibility–and warmer weather! Thanks, Barbara. 🙂
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It looks like a lot of different bugs got the opportunity to do a photo shoot on that one particular white flower — you had them all sitting in separate containers waiting for their photo ops, right? We’ll wait for the behind the scenes footage. Anyway, great pictures!
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So this explains why the spiders keep sneaking up behind me in the house–they’re totally hoping for a photo shoot!! 🙂 Thanks, Chris!
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Gorgeous pictures! I absolutely love macro photography!
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It’s surprising what you can stumble upon, because I didn’t even notice the green bug until I got very close! Thanks, Lisa!
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Hi Coleen! Thank you for asking. I’ve been focusing on getting my new website up and going and you are featured on the ‘Creative Talent’ page and I’ve also blogged your image at Slate Agency! Keep up the great work and thank you for being such a positive energy in my life.
http://slateagency.wordpress.com
In spirit,
Toni Slate xoxoxo
P.S. I added your “freedom” banner to my ‘Balance and Energy’ page (scroll down a bit).
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Yay! Thank you, Toni. 🙂
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Lovely photos. Susie sent me. Yes it’s time to look a little closer. Focus until the image is sharp.
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Thanks! And thanks for stopping by. By the way, I can’t say I hate peas, but they are a strange thing. 🙂
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