Oh yeah because I've been horridly busy with work and the new puppy and my Mom anda anda....so getting out to take photos anywhere hasn't happened.  So I'm taking a new approach to my photography right now and just finished another class on Flower Photography.  I love love doing flowers and close up stuff but I really just SUCK at it.   So with the equipment I have as I went through the class I attempted to get a start at it.   I like doing this as it tests my technical ability with my equipment and honestly I don't have to GO anywhere (or not far anyway).These are all from my yard/gardens and I already have learned that my eyesight and my hands  are not steady enough to do close work and get the focus  points I want without  blur -- and we all know how I hate my tripod!   I can autofocus  with my lens and the smallest extension tube I have but  the bigger ones it just can't handle.   I also  need mucho more practice on manual settings!   That's my story and I'm sticking to it.