The above underwater pictures were heavily post-processed using Picasa. The human eye is pretty good at automatically adjusting the color balance so that what you see looks more vibrant. Here are a couple of the underwater pictures as they looked right out of the camera: and the "after" versions: At least with my camera and its waterproof case, it is really hard to see what you are taking a picture of, especially if you are zoomed in a fair bit. Starting with the none-too-bright LCD display of the camera, which is hard enough to see in brightly lit conditions, put it in the waterproof case which adds another layer of plastic, and then add in the swim mask your are wearing which is usually a little bit fogged, and it is mostly a guess as to what you are taking a picture of. The fact that the sea urchin in the earlier images is centered and in focus, at the equivalent of a 300mm zoom is beyond lucky. On one of the three attempts at snorkeling on the island the glass lens of the waterproof case fogged up, pretty much ruining most of that set of images. Below is the best one of that set straight from the camera, and after post-processing.

Give a weed an inch and it will take a mile! This is Purslane. Yes, I know that to many folks, it is good eating. Tossed this little clump on the compost pile last Thursday. This long tendril had grown out of it by yesterday.

Thank you for the responses! Jim, if I were to post a picture of a person green with envy, it would be a picture of me! So instead, I'll post these. I had no idea these little guys shed their skin, but I caught him in the act yesterday morning when I went out to water. He seemed to have trouble moving, and when I stood very still, he quit watching me and was turning his head, grabbing the edges of his old skin. Seemed to be pulling off bits and pieces and eating them. I found it very interesting! Rusty

Big bug (1" or more) that kept bouncing off of the door's glass panel last night. It flew to the lights when I went to see what was making all the noise. Anyone know what it is?