Thank you for the kind words. I'll tell you my best secret. Find the time to take pictures, whether it is an hour, a few hours or all day or night and go alone.
I know we have spouses that indulge us in our hobby but when they are along and you are busy trying to get a good photo they are always in the back of your mind. Your thinking "I hope he/she doesn't mind if I'm here another 15 minutes or 2 hours, I could stay here all day and do this". I think that your mind needs to wander and be open to the possibilities that you see and want to capture. Even if it's in your basement or spare room "studio".
I don't mean to endanger anybody's safety, you can tell your spouse where you are going and when they can expect you back and have your cell phone with you.

The camera I use is a Nikon D300. The lens used for the photos in this challenge was either a 35mm f1.8 G, a 50mm f1.8 D or a 55-200mm f4-5.6 G. All very good and sharp and inexpensive as lenses go. The 4th lens used for the table top photos with a sheet of black acrylic is the Nikon Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8G.
I use Lightroom 4 for editing. I hope to get Lightroom CC as a Christmas present. I hope that this helps. If there is anything else, please ask. I do not know all though, I'm still learning.