Eric waits patiently playing second base. Note: ready position actually means bending your knees with your glove at the ready. Seven-year-olds can only maintain that position for so long, and I can’t blame them; there are no strikeouts in Junior Minors, so games can be very, very long. One more game to go Tuesday night. Need to hurry back from work.

One last word on this one: I went with a larger aperture (f5.6), which kept Eric in sharp focus while softening the leaves in the background. In short, I’m beginning to learn what the all the buttons do on my Nikon (’bout time).

More flower photos…these lillies were in bloom right after the Iris saw its last days (at least until next year).

I slowed the shutter speed and tried to keep my family (foreground) in sharp focus. It came out okay, not great, just okay.

When I first peered into the bush, these little chicks were sqwawking at me with mouths wide open. When they realized it wasn’t “mom,” they drifted right back to sleep again.

Okay, so I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but this is one of the most unusual visitors we’ve had to date. It goes by the name of Rose-breasted Grosbeak; and by gros I presume “large,” and so the big, broad-beaked bird is aptly named. This thing could crack a walnut without trying.