I've been wandering through the camera department of every store and leafing through the advertising flyers every Sunday for the past six months lusting after the new digital cameras. I have a nice 5.0 megapixel one that I bought probably less than 2 years ago, but...I wanted an upgrade. Something with more megapixels and less bulk. A camera I can slip into my pocket or purse without looking like I'm packing heat. Something sexier than the bulky model I've been lugging around.

I noticed the Kodak C763 in this Sunday's Office Max advertising flyer and, on impulse, ordered the camera on-line on Monday. I justified the purchase with free shipping, a free gift and a recent "if you want one so badly, just buy it" comment from the husband.

I got the camera last night, charged it up and started snapping before work this morning. Here are some photos of my gorgeous hollyhocks that I got from a friend here at work. They grow about 6 feet tall and flower from top to bottom (when I spray them before the Japanese beetles devour them). I have them lining my pool fence in an area that gets complete sun. They, apparently,like it there because they have greatly multiplied over the years.

The only problem I have with my hollyhocks being planted there is that they attract bees. Lots and lots and lots of bees... to the pool area ...where there are lots of people running around barefoot and half-dressed. Though, in all honestly, no one has ever been stung by a honeybee at our pool (though people have been stung by yellowjackets a time or two).

If you've never grown hollyhocks, you just don't know what you're missing. These things are incredible. They do take up a lot of space, but...they put on quite a show.

Currently, in this small 8 foot bed, I have five or six large plants (and a few more trying to start in between) that range in color from salmon to pink to crimson to peach.

Here, are a few photos I took with the new camera: