Trumpets

  Posted on May 21, 2012 By

 79 Comments

Today is my seventieth birthday.  Seventy is an unbelievable number of years.  The number doesn’t compute in my head!  So…  today, I post whatever I like.  I like my trumpet flower pictures.  When I began this blog in January, the vine that covers the pergola was bare, gnarled and twisted bones.  As it always does, it filled itself with lush green.  Then, the trumpets started appearing everywhere along with the humming birds and the bees.  Hundreds of bees.  The vine is directly outside the screened porch where Rita and I spend a lot of time.  The birds come too.  Rita likes that although I don’t think she speaks their language … unless they understand, “Come here, Granny!”

I hope you like my interpretation of the wonderful Trumpet!

Nod to Shirley

I thought of you this morning, Shirley!  The trumpets are for you.  May your trumpeting call never be forgotten!

 Category: Bokeh, Flowers, Photography, Photos by George, Texas, Trumpet Vine      Tags: , , , ,

79 Comments on “Trumpets”

  1. Pingback: 7-Trumpet of Revelation 1 The Day Trumpet Hits Earth | The Great Tribulation is Coming

  2. Happy 70th George, hopefully we all get better with our age, just like a fine wine……….shalom en theos……jim
    “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”
    ― Lou Holtz

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  3. Happy Birthday from a fellow Gemini! Mine is the 20th and here was i worrying about being 47 just as you were joyfully posting lovely pics of flowers 🙂

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  9. I really hope you had an amazing day. 🙂

    Love the photos here, the bokeh that you got is amazing, specially in the second one 🙂

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    • Bokeh lives in my garden. The sun is always bright there. With the new Lumix and her prime lens, there is not bokeh. Sigh. 😉

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  10. I can hear the trumpets playing all the way in the midwest!
    Happy 7-OH
    Sorry I missed this post on your actual bday. But – hey – we celebrate life every day – right?
    {Birthday Hugs}

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    • Thank you, Rosy. Yes, we celebrate every day. I’m on the downhill run now so I have time to appreciate the little things … like sitting and watching my trumpets bloom! 🙂

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  11. I’m a bit chagrined to be offering this lame birthday greeting, after missing the event itself–but HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. In a few months, I get to do 65, so this is a watershed year for the both of us. However, 70 trumps 65 in significance, thus the flowers.

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    • I suspect that seventy is more significant than sixty-five. There is just something about the sound of it! This downhill run is dizzying. I have no idea how I got to be this old. It just happened one day. I still have all of my teeth and most of my marbles as I said in my “about”. However, suddenly I look OLD. I don’t mind, but I have a suspicion that the inside just might be as beaten-up as the outside! I did not inherit my mother’s beautiful skin. I can see from your photograph that you and she share that characteristic. Such beautiful faces!

      The funny thing is that I cross my arms and legs when I recline just like my dad and my feet look like his did at seventy. The older I get, the more I remind myself of him. Life is good at seventy. I wouldn’t trade it for any age I’ve ever been. I am fortunate to have done the things I did and to have met the people whom I met along the way. My family surround and support me. I have Boy to adore. I continue to find wonderful people like you. I am one of the lucky ones! Thank you, Lance, for your friendship and for your willingness to share with me. Bless you.

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    • Well, now, that’s sweet of you. I’m glad you like my flowers! And thank you for the birthday wishes. I’ll come on around to visit soon. 🙂

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    • You are so kind, Amy. Nobody ever re-blogged a post of mine. I am too excited! What a nice birthday gift. I just saw this and did I smile all over my old face? 🙂 I think you are my favorite girl! Bless you. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Scott. We go way back (to January), don’t we?
      Hey, at seventy, that might just be “way back”. I’ll have to think about it.
      I had a happy birthday. Life is good around here since I no longer have to get up and go to work. I’ve taken to lazy like a duck takes to water. 😉

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      • You’re welcome, George…and we do go waaay back to January. I’m glad you had a nice day…and don’t blame you one bit for taking an easier approach to life…seems like you deserve it now. I wish you many more happy days to enjoy your leisure…. 🙂

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  19. Happy Birthday sweet lady, may you continue being so young at heart and sprightly and good in health, some wealth thrown in too! Bless you today and always.I loved the photos, so clear and gorgeous.
    As for Shirley!!! awww

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  20. Good shots today. Happy birthday. At this point in life, I’ve mixed feelings about celebration. But the decade birthdays are always been special. I hope there’s something special for you today. All the best.

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    • I don’t know how old you are, but you aren’t old enough to worry about it! I can tell you that I am as well at seventy as I was at fifty. Stuff still works. As a neurosurgeon, you see the worst brains! 😉 Mine still works remarkably well considering the abuse its taken for seventy years. We’re as old as we think we are. Some days, I think I’m going on a hundred. 😉 You are just getting started.
      I hesitate to post this kind of photograph because it’s “artsy” looking. But, I like it. I am the quintessential drama queen anyway. If nothing else, Seventy is liberating. I can stay up all night and sleep all day if I want to do it!

      Thank you for the birthday wishes. I had a really good birthday.

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  21. Happy Birthday to You
    Happy Birthday to You
    Happy Birthday Dear Geo oorrge
    Happy Birthday to You
    And many mooooree! 🙂

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    • Ha Ha! You had me singing your comment. That’s too cute. I was just smiling away. Thank you, Lori. I think of you as my movie star girl from your photograph! 🙂

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  22. I want to wish you Happy Birthday, too! I hope you had a wonderful day. I’m glad we became friends, George!

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    • Me too, White Lady. I laugh about your blog title since I thought of myself in the same category when I lived in the old house in what I called The Hood. I bet nobody forgets you with that title. Thanks for the birthday wish. I had a good day, but then I have a good day every day since I do whatever suits me. One good thing about being old as dirt! 🙂

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  23. happy real birthday to you! I hope you are having a fabulous day. enjoy Charlie, Kelly, and son in law. love, Glenda. Gorgeous pics!

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    • Thanks, Glenda. I hope you have a wonderful retirement too. Sleep for a week or two and then come on down to see me when you wake up! 😉

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  25. Wonderful photographs… I am almost lost… I loved the colours, you captured them so artistic but especially number 5 fascinated me with the composition. You did great shots dear George, Thank you, love, nia

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    • Number 5 is looking through the lattice wall in the pergola. I happened to notice that I could see the trumpet blossom through it. Thanks you. I liked it too. I had fun with these images. You are so kind to me, Nia. I appreciate it. I had a good day today. Life is good! 🙂

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  26. Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! I hope you’re enjoying the day! And again, thanks for sharing those beautiful photographs and accompanying comments! Take care!

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    • Hello, Mensa Girl. Thank you for the birthday wishes! I love my artsy flowers. I am the quintessential drama queen, you know. You are kind to visit on my birthday! I have to come over to see what you are up to now. 😉

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  27. Happy birthday, George! Threescore and ten comes to my mind. May you have many more and reach fourscore and beyond. Thanks for sharing your lovely flowers. The years do seem to take us over like those trumpet vines! Have a beautiful celebration of life!

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    • Thank you, Jonel. I think I am truly “older than dirt”, finally. It’s interesting that your woody is pecking on the chimney. I saw a large pair of scarlet macaws at the zoo here. The male was trying to dig a nest in the hard clay on the bottom of their barren enclosure. I wish he had your trees. I felt so sorry for the pair. I am thinking of talking to the zoo personnel about the awful environment. No stimulation. Nothing. They have a smaller Amazon who is alone without even the minimal stimulating toys or foraging opportunities with which to entertain himself. I love the image of your Woodpeckers living in such a wonderful environment. I know you enjoy them. I appreciate the birthday wishes. I think seventy is some ridiculous percentage of one-hundred! 🙂

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  28. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Lovely pictures, they sure look like trumpets. Have an amazing birthday. 70 years is a big deal and deserves to be applauded. Wishing you many more in great health, peace, and love. God’s best always. Enjoy :)!!!

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    • Thank you, Boomie. I am on the downhill side and the ride is dizzying! I was the same age as the Dribbling Pensioner yesterday! He is sixty-seven. 😉 I remember him because of his clever blog title. I am calling him “Dribbles”. The English have that sort of sense of humor … I hope. You are so kind to me, Boomie. I appreciate it more than you know.

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  29. Seventy is a particularly sacred number in the Old Testament, I believe. Something to do with God? It is connected to numbers being letters in Hebrew, or should I say letters being also numbers? You would have to ask a scholar of Hebrew. However, I’m fairly sure that it is a very sacred number.

    Your photos are all stunningly beautiful. I don’t really have a favourite. There are some very original angles. And you managed to put in an eyeball. Well, not on its own, it’s true. It is a benevolent eyeball because of the face in which it sits.

    Have a very happy birthday, George, and may your year be filled with beauty and peace.

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    • Thank you for the wonderful wishes, Lady D! I will ask Shimon about the numbers in Hebrew. He is the Hebrew scholar. I didn’t see the eyeball. Oh, my! Eyeballs are stalking me. Joseph will be pleased, you know. I am happy that you like my photographs of the trumpet flowers. I can’t just photograph them and leave the photographs alone. I have to do my artsy thing with them, of course. But, I like them and it is my birthday. You are always so kind to me even though I am remiss in my visits. I think I am the oldest person here. Wonder if I get a prize? Nah, I doubt anybody is going to start giving prizes for wrinkles and beat-up old heads like me! I am going to smile all day though since I finally reached my husband’s last birthday! I told him this morning that I was going to beat him at something yet! 😉

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  30. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I can hardly believe how OLD we’re becoming! The trumpet flower pictures are great!!

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    • I think seventy is the magic number. The downhill run is dizzying! I’ve already outlived myself. Ha Ha. Everything after this is a bonus of sorts. I told Deano this morning that I’ve matched him. Well, almost. If I make it to July 31. 🙂 It’s time for you and Hazel to come back, you know.

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  31. Wishing you a beautiful day George! As beautiful as your trumpet flowers. Shirley is a brave girl!

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    • Thank you, Madhu. Yes, I have followed Shirley since she came to Hohenwald. CBS showed her reunion with Jenny after 22 years of separation. Shirley is a survivor. She makes me smile when I think about her. She is truly a magnificent example of what we all should be.

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    • You have to get the Carolina Trumpet. I had the ones you’re talking about at the old house. These bloom all summer. The vine is huge and invasive though so you don’t want it on a wooden structure that it can force apart. I didn’t know that so she’s slowly taking over my pergola and would take over everything around if Romero didn’t pull up the spreading parts every week. 🙂 I like her too much to do her in though. I bet the pergola lasts as long as I do before she destroys it! 😉

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    • Lord, Soma, I hope your wish for me comes true. 🙂 I am most fortunate among women. I am surrounded by people who inspire me and make me happy. You are one of them, you know. I cannot imagine that I have lived for seventy years. I know it’s true, but… I used to think seventy was ancient. I still do, but it’s me now! What a nice thought to send a birthday wish in a card. I never saw anybody on WP do that before. You are one sweet soul, Soma! Bless you!

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    • Thank you, Shimon. I just can’t snap a photo and leave it alone, can I? I have made my peace. I will never be a photographer like you. That’s okay. As long as I can manage to snap something that I like, it’s one heckuva’ good deal. I have wanted to ask you to post pictures from the fifties or sixties. I know you have some. I wonder how the old 35mm pictures translate into digital images today. That would be very interesting. Thanks for the birthday wish. I’m not counting after this one… 🙂

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      • Back then I used to shoot with larger negatives, 4×5, and 6x6cm. But I have published some, and will be glad to do so again. They come out quite well. And believe me, George, life is good in the seventies! But you’re right, You don’t have to count if it’s no fun…

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        • Oh, I was joking. I wouldn’t care if I were ninety as long as I can walk around and do my stuff! I would be very interested to see some of your photographs. I don’t know what “cm” means, but I assume we’re talking about the same thing. I will look forward to seeing some of your work. Thank you. 😉

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  36. George, I am signing on at just the right moment, I see. Nothing brings me greater pleasure today and in these many past weeks than to wish you Happy Birthday. You have no idea what joy you have brought to my life over these last several months. We entered the WP world at about the same time, I think. I feel it is an incredible honor to “know” you (as much as one can know someone in this blogosphere). May this coming year bring you many smiles (I know it will, because you can’t help it–:-D 😀 ) and lots of special times with your wonderful family and that precious grandson of yours. I’ll continue to look forward to your wonderful stories and photographs and life lessons. You are a very special person and are touching all of our lives here on WP in very meaningful ways. Thank you!

    The photographs of the trumpet flowers are really beautiful. You’ve gone beyond mastering bokeh and have now turned the art into an exquisite and expressive element of your images.

    Happy Seventieth Birthday, George!

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    • Thank you, Lemony Girl. You inspire me, as they say. I gave myself a birthday present: a camera like yours. Now, if I don’t produce a flower and a bee like yours, I’m sending it BACK. I sent your bee to my son-in-law who was impressed to say the least. I still have your “Howl” photo. It is as good as anything you do today, but you have mastered your style and your equipment. I am astounded every time I click on a new image. It’s just simply incredible what you are able to do. I watch your progress and I smile. I feel as if I have known you forever. Maybe so. 🙂

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      • George, you are going to LOVE the Lumix. Did you get the same model? (The LX-5). The more I use it, the crazier I am about it. It really is a fantastic camera. You’re going to take some amazing shots with it, so don’t even think of sending it back. Just give it a chance. It took me some time to get the hang of the macro function on it (I’m not sure why, because it’s as plain day in the directions… I just wasn’t following them correctly), but now, as you know, I’m hooked! Thank you for your very encouraging words about my photographs and especially for your support. You have no idea how much it means to me. I, too, have that feeling as though I’ve known you forever… It’s very reassuring to me. 🙂 I hope you’re continuing to enjoy your day!

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        • Yes, I got the LX-5 … just as you said in your comment to somebody. I would never have changed the model. I figured that I’d try it, and if I can’t figure it out, I’ll ask YOU. 😉 I am using a Nikon D-300 with a heavy Nikkor 18-200mm lens for my walk-around camera. I need a smaller compact camera anyway. I bought an expensive Nikkor 85mm macro lens that I could not use. The thing was so sensitive to focus that I couldn’t manage to get a shot while it was in focus. I gave it to my son-in-law who has a Nikon camera and a Canon. What I read about the Lumix sounded perfect for what I do. I can throw it in my purse and go. I will read the manual this time. I never read the D-80 or the D-300 manuals! 🙂 I will let you know how I do with it. Keep your fingers crossed. I was joking about sending it back. I might give it away, but I’m not organized enough to send anything back once I get it. I had a nice day today. Thank you.

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  37. Trumpets seem a very appropriate way to announce and celebrate a birthday. Lovely photos, all. I like the first and the last ones best, for their colorful character, complex composition, and timeless beauty–mmmm. Sounds sort of like you. Yes, a lovely choice for today! Happy birthday, George!

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    • Thank you, Naomi! You are more than kind. I like my “artsy” flowers. They are not good photographs, but they’re my kind of photographs. I took some decent photos of houses that bored me. I just can’t help myself. I see these details of stuff and I can’t see the forest for the trees! Then I have to gussy them up! Oh well, I am old so I get to do that. Huh? I can’t hear you… (Heck, I really can’t.) Don’t let anybody tell you that old is not fun. It is. 🙂

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