Cherish is my favorite word, and I cherish the ability of turning the routine into a beautiful moment.
Nature creates in me, a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance, into an otherwise ordinary day~
Mary Howell Cromer







Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Duck, Duck Goose at Dawn And a New Hat~



My oldest daughter Hillary will at times ring me up on her way to take her twin boys to school, before going to work and let me know that the sunrise is making a nice show over Crystal Lake where her little family lives. 
I dash out the door and grab my camera in a wake of dust to make it the 3 miles, before things quickly change. 
The above scene was the last chance viewing after one of her welcome calls~

To Chris of:
http://chrisphotonature

Pretty Incredible!

To have known Chris for over 3 years, blogging from Iceland to Kentucky...
Shopping at the market, admiring a hat, complimenting the woman named Pat, who was wearing the hat.
 Then being introduced to Pat's brother Matt , and his wife Béa, who happen to be visiting Oldham County, Kentucky, from Iceland. 
Then add in that I just happened to have a birding/blogging friend from Iceland, named Chris...
which I mentioned in conversation, and then the smiles, even tears of joy that swept over me...
amazing! 
Add in that now I also have one of those beautiful hand crocheted hats made by Ranae,  who is sister to Matt and Pat, and that she also happens to be very good friend, of a friend I have had for 3 decades Kris, who lives in Oldham County as well...well you get the picture. 
Ranae and I both live in the same neighborhood...can you believe it...it is true! 
Pretty amazing, all beautiful, got to  love it~



I am linking up with Stewart at:


Wild Bird Wednesday

(http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/)
as well as Sylvia at:
 SkyWatch Friday


I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:
http://skyley.blogspot.com/
 
 




She and her family also recently invited me to take in some play time at a nearby park.  There the following images of Mallard Ducks and assorted Geese were photographed~


The image above is not done in sepia tones, but was taken just as it was viewed and captured~
 
 
 
 
 
 


They swim about, bask in the sun, preen and then take baths! Wild and crazy baths, that show great joy in the undertaking of such raucous behavior~
 


I get one of those looks as if to say...what... are you going to be watching and if so...just stand back, because I am about to splash you with muddy water~
 
 


The family enjoyed a walk around the lake at the park and the water reflections were softened by their winter hues~
 
 
 
 

39 comments:

  1. I ALWAYS love visiting your blog! I'm never disappointed in the variety and quality of your images. Very beautiful post today!

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  2. sweet ducks and geese. love the winter colors reflected in the water. :)

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  3. A lovely serie of photos!
    Well done!

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  4. Beautiful dawn photo and the series of ducks and geese are great.

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  5. That was a lot of beautiful pictures! Even the common duck you captured very well here! :)
    Greetings Pia

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  6. Beautiful aquatic series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  7. Awesome captures of the Geese and ducks, Mary! Have a lovely evening!

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  8. Beautiful, beautiful photos Mary! The one of the mallard duck by itself is amazing. You can see it's feathers so distinctly. Love your new hat! It should keep your head warm on your photo jaunts. Blessings, Pamela

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  9. oh SO many lovely pictures! :) What a beautiful collection to view... a fun way to start my evening after work...just love them all!

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  10. That first shot of the fog is BEAUTIFUL! Enjoyed the ducks as well. :)

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  11. Wonderful post Mary and thanks for the story once again ;-) As I said before, pretty incredible... i love your geese pictures ;-)

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  12. I really like the mist on the water in the first photo! Cool shots of the geese and mallards too.

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  13. Fantastic photos of these critters! You must have an amazing camera, and love the hat colors!

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  14. Wau - where some great pictures / collages showing.
    Wish you a good day :) Hanne Bente

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  15. strange goose you have shot. Never seen any gooze with a bump in the head before. You did not mention what speces it is.

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  16. What is that Goose called, not the Mallards, but it is next to him/her. Otherwise, it is brilliant photos.

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  17. Tons of great pictures, wow. Funny how life works to and all intersect.

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  18. Your photography is astounding! The pictures are crystal clear like the name of the lake you mention! Thank you for visiting!!...:)JP

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  19. Great images Mary, the first one is real work of art!

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  20. Beautiful close-ups of the Mallards and that crazy bathing Goose Mary! That first shot of Crystal Lake with the fog is gorgeous! Love the new hat too ;-)

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  21. Your photo's a very very nice Mary...... my compliments.

    Greetings from Holland, Joop

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  22. These are such amazing photos Mary! So many beautiful ducks and geese. You have a knack for capturing them. Thank you so much for stopping to visit me. Have a great weekend.

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  23. Just professional photos, brilliant!
    Thank you for your lovely comment on my site!

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  24. Wonderful images, Mary. Mallards are certainly beautiful birds and your images do them justice. Great images of the swans as well.
    It certainly is a small world, I have had several instances when an of-hand comment has shown that a stranger or an old friend shares an unexpected connection across the miles.

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  25. Beautiful birds from your area. Lovely series you got here.
    From hilda

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  26. Mary, your post started off with a most stunning, peaceful image and continued on with fabulous duck, geese and water captures. All a feast for the eyes! It is always a pleasure to stop by and view your wonderful blog!

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  27. Congratulations. That top shot is breathtaking.

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  28. Love your ducks and your photos/post for the day are terrific as always! I do love the ducks and geese! Hope you have a lovely weekend!!

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  29. Adore your new hat. love the duck, ducks and handsome goose :>)
    Foggy scenes are so mysterious and serene.

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  30. amazing photography !

    please have you all a good friday.

    daily athens photo

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  31. What a wonderful series! I love everything about it. That natural sepia photo is wonderful. What a beautiful world you share with us! (I love the thought of your daughter phoning you with the sunrise news and your responding so quickly.)

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  32. Beautiful shots... really like that lake shot and the fog over the water.

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  33. Lovely series of photos for skywatch Friday. Good job!
    JM-Illinois

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  34. I love that mist rising! Great shots of sky and birds :)

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  35. Mallard are great bird - I think people would go a long way to see them if they were rare.

    Thanks for the link to WBW.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne.

    PS: sorry for slow reply - I been out of internet range in Tasmania!

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  36. Wonderful images, all. I love the sunrise and fog and the handsome Mallard!

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