We have an ornamental crab tree in our backyard that produces the most beautiful flowers, filling the air with a lovely scent.  In each of the three Springs that we've lived in this house, I've watched with anticipation for the moment when the tree blooms.  It comes on quickly, the buds forming and one day just popping open.  In each of the three years, the flowers opened and within minutes a storm whipped through and knocked all the petals to the ground.

This morning, the flowers have started to open.  And as if on cue, a storm is on the horizon.  Seeing the flowers and knowing that they won't last long, I ran outside with my camera, not even bothering to change out of my pajamas.


They may not last the afternoon, but at least this time I was able to take a few pictures before they fall to pieces.


And I'm finally figuring out how to use my camera to take the kinds of shots I imagine.  Photography has always eluded me, never patient enough to learn about aperture or exposure or any of the other things that require skill beyond point and shoot.  But today I found some new settings on my camera, playing around with exposure and lighting settings and focus, and WHAT DO YOU KNOW?  The image in my camera matches my mind's eye.  FINALLY.