Blooming and Buzzing

Manzanita blooming...

and Bumble Bees buzzing!

Wordless Wednesday - Dots

♥ 8th Annual Mad Tea Party ♥

Another Mad Tea Party is being hosted by Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist this July 11!  If you want to join the fun (and they are tons of fun), click the badge up at the top right!

Memorial Day

Remembering, and thanking, all those who gave their life in service of their country...

Other Worlds

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."  Henry David Thoreau 

I see mysterious undersea creatures when I look at this photo...

Wednesday's Winding Road

Or path, in this case.  The little path winds around Lake Gregory, and it's a lovely walk on a spring day during the middle of the week when there are few people around.  One can hear the lapping of little wavelets against the shore, the breeze in pines and the calling of birds...nothing else. 

Sunday Sunsets

Between the clouds and the Marine Layer...

A Thought for Saturday

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing."  Camille Pissarro

Sunday Sunlight

This is a repeat because, out of all the photos of dogwood blossoms I've taken, this one is my favorite.  I took it years ago on a Sunday while I was out for a walk in the afternoon.

Janu-May

There was a lot more snow than this (about 5 inches), but I didn't have the heart to take any more photos.  I went to bed last night listening to the welcome sound of the rain ... some time during the night it turned to snow, heavy, wet, tree-killing snow.  I lost two lilacs, one cherry tree and one Ash Leaf Maple.  My husband and I pruned as best we could to try and save what's left, but only time will tell if the rest of the lilacs, cherries and maples survive.  I'm hoping the little cherry fruits on the unharmed trees will ripen for the birds.  Our high was only 34 today.  Tonight will be down in the twenties.  January in May ... a mixed blessing, that's for sure.

Wednesday's Winding Road

Blessing From the Sky

Birds and Snow

Mrs. Grosbeak is standing above a little snow/hail (mostly hail) that we got earlier today.  It melted quickly; afterwards, the ground didn't even look wet.  Very strange.  It's still cold and cloudy late this afternoon and there's a chill little wind ruffling the spring leaves.

The Grosbeaks have been back from their winter homes in Mexico and Baja California for about a week now.  It's always good to see old friends...although I think Mr. Grosbeak might be a little put out with the weather!

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Sunlight

 

Purple and White

And lavender, too!  I wish I could send the scent of these photos to everyone who looks at them! The lilacs have been blooming for nearly three weeks here.

Usually, they only last about a week.

All my lilacs are covered with blooms, which is surprising to me since we've had so very little rain.

Only the white lilacs seemed to have a hard time producing blooms, but the blooms they did make were huge! 

I leave the windows open all day so at night the house still holds the strong scent of lilacs.  It makes for a wonderful night's sleep...

The Joys of Motherhood

Late yesterday afternoon I spotted a mama Scrub Jay and her baby in an ancient, nearly dead apple tree.  This is what I'm sure (imagined) I heard them say to each other:

"Hungry, mama.  Gettin' real hungry..."

"Well, I'll zip down here and see what there is for you to eat.  Be patient, honey."

"There...I think..."

"Mama, my tummy's growling!"

"Just a second, honey.  I see a nice, fat... 

At this point the mother hopped off the log and caught a large, beautiful bug of some sort and fed it to her hungry baby.  I'm sorry I didn't take a picture, I just couldn't bear to watch the baby eat the poor bug.  But, the poor mother.  Was the baby grateful?  This is what the baby said after eating the bug:

 "Well, it took you long enough!  Is that all there is?  I'm hungry..."

Poor Mama.  I'm certain I heard her sigh loudly as she flew to search for more bugs...

Sunday Sunlight

A Quote for Monday

"My breath would catch at the sight of violets, so common in the woods at home, so surprising in the mountains.  The violets' message was 'Keep up your courage, stay true to what you believe in'."  Jessica Stern

Happy Easter

I hope the Big Bunny was good to you!

A Magic Potion

 

I didn't get a photo of the eclipse (it happened too early in the wee hours of the morning here) but I did get a photo of cherry blossoms in the moonlight.  The lilacs are in bloom right now too, and the scent of the air was intoxicating!  I had a headache when I went out but, after thirty minutes in that air, it was gone.  Cherry blossoms, lilac blossoms and moonlight...a magic air potion to cure what ails you, it seems...

Faeries Friday - Ravenwing Moonrider

She's a Faery to be careful around!  Very moody, she doesn't like rude people (human, animal or fae) and hates sunlight.  You can imagine how annoyed she was with me when I had to use the flash on my camera to get this picture.  You can see the irritation flying off of her in little blue sparks...I'm lucky I'm still here!

Wordless Wednesday - Determination