Red-Shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond~

A Little Part of My World...Tingsgrove~

2012-01-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

A little part of where I live, is a two acre plot in the middle of the woods in Oldham County, Kentucky. We built our home on this land 30 years ago and it is what we fondly call Tingsgrove~

One of my dear blogging friends asked me about the name...Tingsgrove.

Many years ago we acquired the second acre that joins our property. One day a feral cat that we had been feeding, went missing. I went looking for Tom and got into a mess of "Mother Poison Ivy Vines"...meaning the absolute mother vines to some huge strands of Poison Ivy that seemed to cover the entire acre. I was standing in the midst of this mess, searching for Tom and even though we have a 3 story home, I could not see it from all of the overgrowth on this wild acre. Once I finally made my way back home...without old Tom, I made a decision. I was going to clear the acre of the bad stuff and just keep all the good things in nature on it. It took me 5 years, every day that was clear, when I was not working at my position, I would walk across the little bridge, with a hatchet, a hand saw, garden gloves and my old tree loppers. After claiming the area once again to be free of all living Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac and wild Round Leaf Briars. my husby decided that the acre needed a name.

When I was an infant, I did not grow as quickly as my twin sister. My father nicknamed me little Ting, for little thing;~) It stuck. My husband decided to name the acreage Tingsgrove. In fact when he traveled, he used to send me mail addressed to Tingsgrove, KY and as long as the correct zip code was included they always arrived...kind of fun~

A creek runs between the two acres and then runs the full length behind and beyond it's boundaries. There have only been one, or two summers where dry weather completely dried up the drinking holes for the wildlife that come~

Some of Meaka's best friends are the White tailed Deer. They have some kind of know to one another that she will not harm them, or even run them off~

Thomas... my oldest grandson will turn 9 in April. When he was only 2, he wanted this pair of rain boots. His little brother Braden used them after Thomas had outgrown them. I just could not bring myself to pitch them so I turned them into plant holders in one of the shade gardens~

You know those large bright coloured spheres/globes that many place in their gardens...well, I could never find a copper coloured one, which is what I wanted. When I saw this clay designed one, I really liked it and so it sits near our entry gate. The French basket awaits spring posies. The red metal basket has dried autumn twigs and branches from a few years ago...I like the way they look now~

Spencer Ivy was one of 3 kittens that all fit in the palm of my hand when I rescued them from a promise to be drowned... I do not know if the person would have truly gone through with her promise, but I could not have gone to bed thinking she would. I raised them and kept the velvety black one as my own 14 years ago now~

I absolutely adore windchimes! My friend Linda works with a glass making company and she gifted these to me...and I treasure them~

My gardens could not be complete without some kind of bird adornments...right!

Survhee Pipka is only 8 months old and she is something else. She makes us laugh every day with her antics. She has a really funny way of sitting and I shall share that in an upcoming series. Her name arrives from Survivor. She was thrown from a moving car, had her inside thigh torn open, got a bot fly larvae in her neck which had to be cut out. Had a severe infection, had her needed surgery at five months, developed another infection and then there were the continuous ear infections, double pneumonia...let me just say...she has cost us a bunch, but worth every penny~

More windchimes and yard art. The little birdhouse has hung in the same protected spot for years and though many birds visit it, none have ever built a nest inside~

What secrets are these two rabbits sharing... for they have been on the grove for at least 2 decades and if they could talk, they would certainly have many stories~

I purchased this angel in 1993 after my sweet momma passed away. She had 2 angels visit her room 2 months before she died. I never had thought too much about the importance of angels in our lives until then. The concrete angel at the entrance way, is a constant reminder~

We cannot stop the passing of time, but we can make every hour, every day count for something~

An empty birdfeeder you may say, but hmmmm, it had been filled the day before and well, the Gray Squirrels and Raccoons emptied it onto the ground.
Thank you for visiting a little part of my world~

Please visit other Mosaic Monday entries with Mary
at
Little Red House

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

No...Not in Black and White~

2012-01-29T02:54:00.000-08:00

No, not in black and white. Very gray, ugly skies with one click of the contrast button...gone...wahlah...just like that.
The American Black Vulture was souring above a dead White tailed Deer and I really like these birds. To me they are quite beautiful, compared to their friends the Turkey Vultures. Both are very useful birds and when they soar, it makes me happy...what about you ;~)

I got the results of my Ultra Sound, for those whom have been keeping up with such things. I am certain all is fine, just going through the rather mundane and long days, weeks of getting the OK. Instead of just one nodule on the thyroid gland, the Ultra Sound revealed that there are multiple nodules. This Friday I go to Internist again, and then he wants me to see an Endocrinologist. Tomorrow, I see the Neurosurgeon about the 3 bulging discs that are putting pressure on my spine, in my neck area. All goes along with getting older, and I am doing it with joy in my heart...
I am looking at the beauty that surrounds me and I feel quite optomistic, for spring is just around the corner and I am so looking forward to warmer weather.
Have a wonderful day~

Tornado Warnings at Dawn and Snow Fluff by Dusk~

2012-01-25T03:59:00.000-08:00

This series is dedicated to the grandmother whom I never knew, and yet in a way...
I did and do know her.
I imagine her to have had a gentle manner, a sweet spirit.
My father was only 4 years old when she passed away and that was way before my time of birth. I have the collage image below hanging in my room and I view it every day and I think of her, my grandmother...one who passed away at such a sweet, tender age, leaving behind her son.
He always carried the scars of her loss in his heart and had life struggles along the way.

About these SkyWatch Friday images...

On Tuesday, January 17 th, we had some pretty crazy weather!
I had mentioned in another post that in the morning we had severe thunderstorms, then we had two tornado warnings...with nine touchdowns in our area.
By nightfall, the temperature had dropped some 30 degrees and we had snow fluff floating to the ground.
These images were taken between the morning storms and the tornado warnings...the sky had a really interesting feel to it and you can almost see the movement of the clouds in this series of photographs~

On the left is my grandmother when she was around 21, and on the right is me at the same age. I always felt a connection with her and my father thought that I looked like her. I have a twin sister, but he thought that I was the one whom most closely resembled her. That was always special to me.

After posting my grandmothers image on another post entry a few weeks ago, I am still receiving e-mails from a viewer from around the world, whom had been deeply touched by her face...and the story of The Waverly Hills Sanatorium...
Very heart warming...thank you again~

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

What Are You Caw, Caw, Cawing About~

2012-01-24T04:19:00.000-08:00

While sitting at the drive thru at the local bank, I could hear the caw, caw, cawing of a Crow...what was it looking at, what was it being so loud about. As I got my money and left the window, I drove my car toward the Crow and looked around. Aah, across the highway was what appeared at first to be a large hawk...
After clicking off a few images of the Crow, I drove across the lane to get a better look at the hawk which turned out to be a Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk, and it just appeared to be larger from the utility pole it was perched upon.
Of course a Kestrel is a small Falcon and of no threat to any Crow, but those silly Crows just are always on the ready for any morsels left behind by animal, or human kind...maybe the Crow was hoping for a good land from the Kestrel and then it could grab up something, anything afterwards~

~ Please be sure to visit other bird images from around the world

for World Bird Wednesday ~

http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Of Doves and Sipping Tea~

2012-01-22T17:33:00.000-08:00

Last evening and this afternoon, I prepared my Mosaic Monday entry and even though I could view the images from my desktop, they could not be viewed from my laptop and I already had a message that another friend could not view them either. I went ahead and deleted it and hope that this one shall work.

The Mourning Dove was just resting in the snow on our picnic table outside the patio door, where I stood and sipped hot tea. It was a few very peaceful moments and I took these images to remember them~

Another one beneath resting in the protection of a Honeysuckle bush outside the back window of the greatroom~

Happy Mosiac Monday, Happy Week~

Be sure to visit Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday entries at:

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Please, Don't Chop Down That Tree~

2012-01-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

The first fifteen years that we lived here, we had a wonderful large wild Dogwood tree just behind our home. It had a hole in it that took care of many a litter of Gray Squirrel over those years and before, as well as assorted Woodpeckers and even Chipmunks. Then a severe wind storm took just the top out of the tree, right above where the nest hole was and the Squirrels continued to use it a couple more years.
The trunk of the tree became weakened and infested with insects and that was about 3 or 4 years ago.
Every year, I have to beg Bill not to chop down the tree, just allow it to fall when it is ready. The birds really love it.
In this series of images you will see the wee little Carolina Wren taking some grubs from it, a Downy Woodpecker pecking on it, and a beautiful little White breasted Nuthatch.
I say, if it is safe to leave it, which it is, then allow it to be...afterall, we are not living in a beautiful well manicured park and I kind of like allowing nature to do it's thing, as long as our home, or us will not be harmed in the process.

Just saying...;~) Have a wonderful weekend and take care...be blessed~

I mean really, can you just see how happy this Nuthatch is with this tree, or maybe it was that we were finally getting a bit of snow...but it is sort of smiling~

Winter Sunrise Over Crystal Lake~

2012-01-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

One place on my blog, it shows this is my 102 nd entry for SkyWatch Friday, but in another one, it shows this is my 100th share...so, I placed this message on both;~

~ My 100 th SkyWatch Friday Entry ~

Thank you for all of the wonderful meme managers that make this come to life for so many!

Happy SkyWatching

An early morning journey out into the cold air to grab up a few things needed at the market and this was what greeted my pleasure one morning two weeks ago...it truly was a magical kind of slow rising of the morning sky over Crystal Lake~

I really liked how the image above came out...almost looks like it could be an oil painting~

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

The Weather, It Was So Frightful~

2012-01-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable weather in our area...and I am thinking as well just about every place else on this planet earth.
Eighteen years ago yesterday, we had the most snowfall, ever on record, for our area.
Yesterday we had temperatures in the 60's with severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, nine tornado touchdowns and by bed time, the temperature had dropped 30 degrees, with a bit of snow fluff blowing around on the ground...woosh!

Last Friday, I was standing at one of our patio doors, looking out at the bit of snow we had the evening before. I had been conversing by phone with one of my besties and that is when it happened...
"Maryann, I have to go, there is a Red Fox in the yard."
OK, for those who do not already know...my yard is 2 acres, and thus said, the Red Fox, while in my yard would better have been said to being on my property.
I grabbed up my camera and began taking a few images through the window...that was not working...too far away. I did not take the time to grab a coat, just slipped quietly out the front door and was hiding by one tree after the other, as I made my way closer. I had noticed while still inside that the Fox had grabbed a meal and it was thankfully busy, partaking of it, so I could move in a little closer and hope to get a better shot for an image. I was able to finally get 4 of very much the same images, and then the Fox turned and ran, and that was that..end of my only fourth Red Fox encounter in living here for 30 years~

Eating it's fresh catch of...well something...

And that was that...the end!

Whenever They See My Car Approaching...~

2012-01-17T02:41:00.000-08:00

I think that every Wild Turkey, Raptor, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird and White tailed Deer, know my car now, for I have one special place that I go to walk, muse and photograph, and as soon as they see my car approaching, they take run, or flight and then I have to sit and wait for them to become all happy again.

Though on alert, they finally will go back to going about what they do.

There were 2 turkeys Saturday and they would dash into the growth of trees, and then come back out again. What they really wanted...I finally figured out....was for me to move further away, so they could run across the 4 lane road into the wood across the street....

Now come on guys, why did you not just fly over, so I could have photographed that too...just a thought~

Note...don't you just love how nature provides the perfect elements, hues of colouration, to hide these creatures. The colours of the Turkey blend in so well with the elements here, that if I had not seen them dash in, I may have never noticed they were there.
Kind of like the Mourning Doves in previous post...unless they move, you might not have ever known they were right there with you...love it~

Note following one of the comments...

No, every frame, every image is a different j-peg, they just look very much the same as the Turkey walked along;~

Expressive Face of a Favorite on the Grove~

2012-01-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

There is just something so sweet and expressive about looking into the face of a
Mourning Dove.

Sometimes I can look into my 32 ' x 27 ' side garden and there will be 20 to 30 doves lying in the ivy ground cover, for both protection and a little bit of rest.

Yesterday afternoon my husby saw the one preening itself and sunning right outside the upper deck patio door. The pair shown resting out on the tree branch were taken on Saturday from about the same location.

They mate for life, unless something happens to a mate, which around here, sadly often happens from mostly Raptors~

Fourth & Final Sandhill Crane Entry~

2012-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is the final entry for my journey to view the wonderful Sandhill Cranes at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge last weekend. In these images, it gives you a better idea on the land where they have chosen to migrate to for several years now. Tens of thousands come and it is truly awe-inspiring to hear them. I felt like I was intruding on something wonderful, maybe from a distant and yet so close. It was one of the most remarkable nature encounters that I have ever experienced. Once again, as I described in the first 3 entries, the fog filled sky, the damp misty rain that fell the whole day, gave off a very magical appearance to the images, a soft quality that makes them to me, very appealing~

Is it Spring Yet...Oh Yes, Winter Just Arrived...

2012-01-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

When one realizes the minuteness of some of the flowers out in the garden, it is such fun these days, to be able to capture their faces in macros. From the tiny wild Violets found growing in the yard...those which I enjoy, while others consider them mulching material, right along with the common Dandelions... Also White and Red Clover...serves such a huge purpose in placing good things back into the soil and yet, we today, seek nothing more than to kill it off as quick as their sweet heads make their first spring appearances. We have very little sunshine on our 2 acre grove and so I have compacted so many flowers into such tight squeezes of garden space, I sometimes wonder, how anything manages to appear. Then of course there were the over 500 bulb plants that I so lovingly and tenderly planted one by one in the garden and it was such a hit with the Chipmunks, that well, I probably ended with possibly 200 plants and then of those, the rabbits and deer, have enjoyed mastering each season the technique of cutting the flower tops just as they are ready for their photograph appointments and, or bouquet cutting day... Nevertheless, I have been fortunate enough in the past 30 years to get a few captures and I often share the same ones in different ways, just because, well... they are what was left from those beginning plants and while I have planted hundreds more since then, many of them have also taken the same route as those which came before. Winter is a very lovely season where the land can rest, the mind, spirit and body can find a freshness and then we can await new beginnings.

Please be sure to view other mosaics from around the world

at the Little Red House, hosted by Mary for Mosaic Monday..

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Happy Monday, Happy Week, May It Be Blessed Abundantly~

In one of my comments from another blog entry, it had been suggested that I share my Sandhill Crane images with Mosaic Monday. I had already posted this entry as my Mosaic Monday entry and did not want to hold off and forget to share with any whom may also be interested in the Sandhill Cranes. I have 4 post entries that were made this past week and would appreciate and welcome your stopping by to take a quick look-see. Just scroll down to my labels and click on Sandhill Cranes. Thank you so much for your interest~

Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal Battle a Windy Light Snowfall~

2012-01-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

We had a nice light snow day before yesterday. The windchill was 3 to 8 depending on where you were out from the city limits and the temperature was 18 first thing in the morning light.
The images in this post were taken as many of my winter images have been and shall be, from inside the house, looking through frosty cold glass.
The female was tucked inside a Honeysuckle bush while the wind blew her nearly off of her perch. She later moved to a tree branch, protected by a post of our deck and that was also closer to one of the windows I was looking out.
The male was in his protective territory mode, keeping the other males a little off balance and in flight as much as possible, and then also all fluffed out, trying to stay warm from the windchill.
I too did my best to stay as warm as possible, and with a cup of hot Lavender tea, dressed with a heaping spoonful of honey, I did just that~

There is that pesky dead pixel in image above...can you see it...

Atmospheric Conditions Can Make All of the Difference~

2012-01-14T02:02:00.000-08:00

Atmospheric conditions can make all of the difference when it comes into play in photography. I seem to have the sun in the wrong location, from where I observe birds more often than I can attest to, and one must simply do the best with what they have been given, or lose an entire photo opportunity. Trying to get on the good side of the sunny side, and, or moving bird..., which is more accurate in my case.

The series of images in this post were taken at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge...the staging area for thousands of Sandhill Cranes, a handful of Whooping Cranes and a single Hooded Crane. The atmospheric conditions were constant gray, fog filled sky with a misty falling rain...not prime bird photography kind of conditions, nor even the least bit favorable, and yet, one has only a few hours to partake of what is offered, and so one settles in to what one has been given.

These images are not black and white, they are highly pixilated, due to distance and every other excuse that I can think of and yet...I find great beauty in these. I love how with one click of the contrast button on each image, the interference of gray, misty rain and fog filled skies, make for a clear observance of these graceful birds in flight, that may have not been seen in any other way, and so it is a pleasure to share them, even with any real photographic flaws, they are quite creative just as they were gifted...I hope that you enjoy them as well~

* On a personal note. Thank you so much for all of your kind comments, good thoughts and prayers on my behalf. The MRI results~

I loved how the Cranes would call out to one another while in flight...hear I come, do you see me yet...No GPS divice needed here~

Notice how the leader takes a peek back over it's shoulder...just checking on you mates~

Please be sure to check out other birds from around the world at :

http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

for:

World Bird Wednesday

~ ENJOY ~

MRI results are in...the finding was that 3 discs are bulging back, causing pressure on my spine. My Internist is going to refer me to a group of Neurosurgeons in the area, that are not of the thinking surgery is always best.
Another matter of concern however, was that of an "incidental finding"...a Thyroid nodule. My physician is going to order an ultra sound ASAP. My momma had an encapsulated carcinoma on her Thyroid, another reason to get this checked out.

Prayers and good thoughts appreciated~ Hugs

Peeking at the Setting Moon Through Winter Reeds~

2012-01-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

It has been my second rough week, but I am certainly encouraged. I had my MRI this morning and I am hoping to get the results by Saturday. If not, I shall have to wait until Monday, which is a long time, but then, I have waited 2 weeks as is, so I can be patient a little while longer.
We are going to be having snowfall this afternoon and they have decided to have early school dismissal, which means the weather person, just might be correct in their forecasting.
Three weeks ago I was en route to Bible study and church service when I spotted the moon setting in behind these very tall reeds and Pampas Grass, so I did a quick turn about and got these images. I thought that they turned out kind of neat~

~Happy SkyWatch Friday, and Have a Happy and Safe Weekend~

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Sandhill Cranes are Treasured Wonders...Post Series 2 of 4~

2012-01-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

The foggy and rain filled morning tried to ruin our little bit of time spent among the Sandhill Cranes and yet...I kind of like the look of these pixelated, animated images. The birds were all content in the cow pasture, and really could have cared less by my presence, and for that I was grateful. My greatest fear was unfounded, that of my dog barking at them, not to frighten them, but to say... come over here, let me get a better look at you.

I hope that you shall not find yourselves too bored with what has delighted me... these birds to me, just speak so much about nature, and how they strain to survive, and manage to fly long distances generation after generation. The plight of the Whooping Cranes, is so much more dire and one can only hope the same will not happen with this grand species~

Imagine this sound times thousands...that is what we heard Sunday and Monday...
http://www.savingcranes.org/sandhillcrane.html

Sandhill Cranes Are Treasured Wonders~

2012-01-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

Kentucky...my home, the land that I love... is just about the only state in the United States of America to vote in the legal hunting of the Sandhill Cranes late last year. I along with hundreds of other people tried to no avail to get the proposal stopped.

The only time that I had ever viewed these majestic birds was from a great distance in Wyoming last September.

Vickie Henderson was the one person instrumental in giving me the idea to begin a blog 3 years ago this spring. She also is the one person whom has shared so much of her heart and knowledge with those whom would be interested in knowing the wonders of these amazing bird. Some 12,000 Sandhill Cranes are now staging in and around the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Dayton,TN.

Though I have not been feeling well, this was going to be my only chance this year to view these magnificent birds and so my husby drove us down for a look-see on Sunday evening and we returned yesterday evening...a whirlwind 715 mile journey...

The images are all quite pixelated, for the distance is pretty far from the viewing of these birds. These first shares were taken from my car window in a cow pasture off of a well maintained road. Add to this, the fact that from start to finish we had nothing but rain, rain, rain...we were still pleased to have witnessed these beauties, just stunning!

Oh yes, and I came home with tummy flu to add to my woes...oh woe is me, I am not one of those...

" This year, the sandhills have a celebrity in their midst. On Dec. 13, birdwatchers spotted an Asian hooded crane, a species normally seen only in Southeast Asia, China and Japan. How the crane ended up in Tennessee is still a mystery.

Birding experts doubt the crane escaped from captivity because it hasn't been banded. Nor have its primary feathers been removed to prevent it from flying.
Most believe the Asian hooded crane is a wild bird that lost its way. Some even speculate its mysterious arrival may be related to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last March.
Scott Somershoe, state ornithologist for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, said an Asian hooded crane was spotted last year with a western flock of sandhill cranes in Nebraska and Idaho. This same individual bird could somehow have connected with the eastern population of sandhills to end up at the Hiwassee Refuge, he said."

Please be sure to stop by "World Bird Wednesday" for more bird images from around the world~

* Note: Vickie Henderson shared this with me, so I wanted to also share it, to be accurate with my information~

Only state in the east hunting cranes. The Eastern Population is a separate population that migrates in the Miss/Atlantic flyway and was nearly extirpated in the early thirties. Cranes have historically been hunted in the central flyway and have not been known to experience decline. I am not for hunting any cranes. They are too wonderful.

Hunting From the Fire Hydrant~

2012-01-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

The husby and I have begun taking our walks together a couple of times a week. Since I have not been feeling quite myself, he wants to make sure that I am OK.
When we walked on Wednesday, as we approached the place where we get out and park the car, I yelled, as I do often...stop the car! Right there at my eye level was a marvelous juvie Red-shouldered Hawk, perched and hunting from a fire hydrant. As many times as I have walked this area, I had never seen one do this before. Then yesterday morning, I came upon a fresh road kill...a gray squirrel. I placed it into a bag and took it and placed it by the fire hydrant. One never knows, for there are foxes, vultures, raccoons, and other assorted things that could have snagged the carcass. Today, I had to go to the post office and as I drove by...there was the Red-shouldered hawk, making a fine meal out of it's find~

A Not So Unwelcome Visitor~

2012-01-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

When the neighbors are away, I stay on call for feeding the furry children and the wildlife. Last week, I was making one of these visits and I aways have my camera on hand. I had noticed a group of female and male Cardinals at the large tray feeder. I took my camera to the door, opened it just enough to take one image of the group, moved my camera a bit to the left and could not believe my eyes. In fact at first, I wondered if I were looking at a reflection from further away. The Red-Shouldered Hawk was perched on a branch, just beyond the tray feeder and the Cardinals just kept eating away. In the distance, I could hear the Gray Squirrels doing their alarm calls, as if to say...guys, guys, do you not see the monster bird right next to you.... I went to another room to get a better look-see, but the hawk must have heard my footsteps and flew away. I went back round and the Cardinals were not phased in the least...I have put the time underneath each image, just to show how quick this all took place.
Nature, always something that we just do not expect, and we have to love it!
~Happy weekend~

*Note...I went to my Internist today and he has ordered an MRI for a week from today, at 6:15 in the morning... I am having some weakness in my arms and shoulders and some pain in upper neck area. Would appreciate all good thoughts. I am feeling very well otherwise, so maybe just feeling aches and pains of getting older~

4:16:47

4:16:39

4:14:31

4:14:24

Like Giant Bird Feathers Rising From the Earth~

2012-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

~ My 100 th SkyWatch Friday Entry ~

Thank you for all of the wonderful meme managers that make this come to life for so many!

Happy SkyWatching

There was something just very appealing to me about this viewing of trees. They looked like giant bird feathers rising from the earth, with the early morning sunlight coming up from behind.

Every week, I try to visit as many meme participants as possible, but last week failed to get to SkyWatch Friday entries and I do apologize! It took me a few days to get around to doing much of anything in fact, due to having some physical limitations. I am awaiting word from 2 different physicians and am certain that I will have to have an MRI, but am playing at the waiting game. Thus said, I have not been out and about as much, and so my selections have been limited as far as my sharing. I have quite a few in my saved folder, which I shall try to get to later. Until then, have a blessed week~

My Favorites Images From 2011 Blog Entries~

2011-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:00

~ Happy New Year 2012 ~

My favorite blog images for 2011...

They are the images that I just cannot delete from my memory card. They are the images that have reached into the very center of my being, for one reason, or another ~

Some of you may have already viewed these during the past year. Many newcomers will view them for the first time.

From the Great Horned Owl that took 2 hawks in less than 5 hours on my property last January 21, all the way down to the last entry of the gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk...all of these seem like they were taken just yesterday. How quickly a year passes.

Yellow Shafted Flicker~

Sunset over Land Between the Lakes, KY~

This Magnolia blossom became the cover on my recent book "Moments Like These"~

A tree frog that spent the winter hibernating in my turtle's tank, on release day~

Mute Swan above and Tulips below taken at Cave Hill Cemetery in KY~

Eastern Bluebird on Covered Bridge Road in Oldham County, KY~

Hyacinth in one of my shade gardens, can you see the spider at the water droplet?

Tree Swallow on Covered Bridge Road~

As close as one would desire to a female Bald Eagle~

Iris on sunny side of our wooded acreage~

The little duckling kept running up to the wall and slamming itself into it. Momma duck had to lure it away, before it got hurt~

Close encounter with a female Peregrine Falcon, Madison Indiana~

Male Whitetail Skimmer Dragonfly~

Red-winged Blackbird on Covered Bridge Road, Prospect, KY~

Tulip following a morning rain at Cave Hill~

Great Horned Owl had just taken the first of 2 hawks...this was an immature Red-tailed Hawk~

Juvie Red-tailed Hawk on hunting perch and then snags a field mouse, downtown Louisville, KY~

Monarch Butterfly, Iowa, South Dakota border~

Question Mark Butterfly~

A favored Red-Shouldered Hawk. I have followed this female since 1996~

Juvie Red-tailed Hawk~

Female Whitetail Skimmer Dragonfly~

Flowers from my neighbors garden~

Mr. and Mrs. Wood Duck. This was my first ever viewing of them, so beautiful too~

Baby fawn shall always remain in my heart thoughts. It ran and hid for several days and was injured. I later buried it's little body~

Raven at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming~

My favorite songbird is the CedarWaxwing, here on a Honeysuckle bush~

Thankfully Hostas grow in the shade gardens on our property, aah but deer do love them too~

Frosty berry of a Euonymus~

Red-shouldered Hawk~

Icelandic Horse~

As the moon was setting, the glow of the sunrise shown on the barn~

An American Avocet visited a nearby pond en route to it's summer feeding and breeding area~

An innerbreed of a Harlan's Hawk and a dark morphed Red-tailed hawk at Glacier National Park, Montana~

Frosty Alpaca~

Young Red-tailed Hawk, Covered Bridge Road, Prospect, KY~

Be sure to visit other World Bird Wednesday entries from around the world, and take the time to hush to hear the whisper~

Happy New Year Greetings From Tingsgrove~

2011-12-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

This is where my blog experience began 2 and 1/2 years ago, with the Red-shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove. They have been here for generations, but the pair that I have followed for many years has remained the same, though that can change at any time.

We have Great horned Owls in the area. We also have Red-tailed Hawks that normally do not take the slightly smaller Red-shouldered hawks, but can, if they get an opportunity.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know this female up close and personal for several years, especially when she is brooding her eggs and raising her young.

These images were shared individually on here last season, but I wanted to share them in one more time as my Happy New Year greeting to each of you.

The snow was falling and the female had been yelling for her past season's juvie. She finally tired of my taking photographs and flew in the direction of her mate and young one that yelled from the distance~

~ Enjoy ~

Icelandic Horses, Geese, Ducks on a Frosty Sunlit Morning~

2011-12-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

Oldham County in Kentucky is where my hometown is located. One of the wonderful things about our area, are the beautiful varieties in horses. Since it is KY and horse country USA, we haveThoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Arabians, to name a few, and we also have the wonderful Icelandic Horses. Within 12 miles of my front door, are found some leading Arabian horse farms. Go in an opposite direction the same distance, and you arrive at Gudmar Petursson's Icelandic Horse Farm in Prospect. Mr. Petursson holds the second highest number of Icelandic Championship titles ever earned with these amazing little horses. At their KY location, they hold riding lessons, horse training clinics, as well as importing and exporting these fine horses. Don't let their smaller size fool you, they are absolutely outstanding horses by all standards.

Every time that I ride into Prospect, Goshen and St. Matthews, I drive by their farms and I am always on the look out to take a peek at some of these amazing looking creatures.
The sunlight of the break of dawn was arriving just over the partially frozen pond. Both Canada Geese and assorted Ducks began their early moring ritual of taking a frigid cold bath, before starting about their day.
It was a glorious early morning and I am so happy to have opportunity to share with each of you. Hoping that your day is sunlit as well~

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

Enjoy more mosaics and the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

My Ride Into the Big City~

2011-12-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

What to say, just a very nice ride out into the country.
Every Monday, I drive into the big city. I often say that, but never name it...we live in a small rural town called LaGrange, and I drive into the small city of St. Matthews, just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.
We have I-71 just beyond our borders, and yet, I do not get on it often, for there are too many drivers, too many wrecks and to tell the truth, I love old country lanes.
Sometimes I take the same journey twice a week, and I can always view something new. Other times, like yesterday, I took a little different route, got a little bit lost, figured it out and had a very nice ride.
The Red-tailed Hawk hunting was a pleasant surprise.
The old rusty silos are in a tiny town along the river of Westport.
During the Civil War, they had Underground Railroads in this tiny city all tucked away.

I have driven by this old silo hundreds of times and never really taken a good look at it...pretty cool!

The White-tailed Deer was running along I-71 and the county lane that I was on, and I so hope it made it across the fence with the other doe that was with her...

Could You Please Move Away From the Wire~

2011-12-26T03:26:00.000-08:00

These Red-tailed Hawk images were taken on Covered Bridge Road in Prospect, KY.

Share with World Bird Wednesday~

I had to slightly alter the background on the bottom 2 images, as the sky was quite gray, once the hawk got further away from the wires that I was all but standing under when the bird took flight. We are having rain, rain, and more rain, no snow in the offing for our Christmas.

I really liked this image, not sure why, just really did~

I lightened the background on the following 2 images, as the gray skies were really murky the further away the hawk flew~

Tulips and Lilies in December~

2011-12-26T03:14:00.000-08:00

~ Tulips and Lilies in December ~

I am hoping that your CHRISTmas was blessed with family, friends and the peace that fills the air during this season.

May the reason for the season, continue to flow through your hearts this day and the whole New Year through.

Tulips and Lilies in December...
the entry was done long ago, and as I was searching my files the other day I reclaimed it. For whatever reasons, I had never published it before.

Happy New Year Blessings all around~

This entry is dedicated to my precious cousin EJ...Ervin Jerome Richards...

EJ was a devoted son, a dedicated brother, a wonderful friend to me, and many others.

I sent him my usual Christmas greeting, posted the day after Thanksgiving.

The other day, a post came by mail from the small town where EJ lived, and it was from someone that I had never heard of.
It was from the Judge Executive, whom also was a very good friend of EJ.
He was returning my Christmas greeting, along with a note that stated my cousin had passed away on October 26.
No one knew what to do about contacting the people in EJ's address book and thus waited on events such as sending a Christmas greeting to then relay the message that EJ had died.

EJ's heart had been strong and healty following an autopsy report.
He had simply gone to bed and his heart stopped beating, is what I was told.

EJ was not only my cousin and friend, but a world traveler and photographer. On Christmas Eve, I received a huge package from the Judge Executive...
all of the photographs that EJ had taken on his recent journey to Cambodia.
All other photographs, personal items, antiques galore, will all go on auction January 28...

My heart aches. I never heard from him Thanksgiving, and just thought, he must be traveling when I had rang him to greet him, when he was late making his call my way. Then time slipped by and I thought...I shall speak with him on Christmas day...and then I got the word.

Thankful for memories, thankful for family, thankful for EJ and his very sweet spirit always in my life, and the life of all whom had the good pleasure of knowing him.

Farewell EJ...
I shall remember you always with a special fondness in my heart~

Merry Christmas Blessings to You and to Yours~

2011-12-25T02:11:00.000-08:00

~ Merry Christmas Blessings from Tingsgrove~

Family is what makes the season so worthwhile. With my husband Bill, our 3 daughters and their husbands, our 4 grandsons, and sweet fav furry creatures all around...we truly are blessed abundantly!

Snow photographs were taken on Tingsgrove last Christmas season~

Christ is after all the reason for the season~
Be always blessed and continue to be a blessing, for I so appreciate each one of you~

Merry Christmas Blessings From Tingsgrove and Beyond~

2011-12-23T06:33:00.000-08:00

Seven month old Survhee Pipka takes stage left above, then our 4 year old long-haired German Shepherd; Countess Meaka Von Warfenburg of Tingsgrove is next, followed by 14 year old Spencer Ivy, all decked out as Santihoho's special pet elves~

Peeking through the layers of nature can be enchanting and the depth goes beyond what we can even begin to imagine~

I spy wild berries, massive white trunks of Sycamore trees, ivy covered trunks of others. Tucked beneath other berries are Rosehips~

Drenched in droplets of the nourishment of rain~

Spent Oak Leaf Hydrangea once dazzled, yet not forgotten entirely. Wild Rosebush canes come through from behind and alongside~

All that is missing is snow~

Cannot seem to hide the little dead red and green pixel, so I shall pretend that the Blue Jay is all decked out in Christmas colours~

Tingsgrove has never had House Sparrows visit, yet they do just down the lane...what is that all about...aahh, it gets me out and about to claim them for a bit~

First the female above and then the little male below...sweetness~

The last of the layers... was something that happened quite by accident, yet a little like Christmas enough to close this greeting.
I was sitting at a very long stoplight, across from a body of water. As the headlights of the oncoming cars passed, it made the water dance with colours, and so this is what I captured, just for the fun of it~

Happy new Year too~

Merry Christmas Blessings for SkyWatch Friday~

2011-12-22T04:54:00.000-08:00

Forty two years ago this evening, my husby and I were married in Dallas, Texas.

Happy Anniversary Bus~ Ting

The Australian Emu, met me at my car, and seemed to be pleading with me to give it some warmth. It had it's feathers all ruffled out and it was only the start of a very cold season with winter approaching~

The skies were shouting my name to look and take in the breath of the offering, for the gift soon was gone and new gifts followed...take time to stop and enjoy the heavens. I look up as much as I look down...so much would be missed otherwise~

Asian speices of deer, called Oriental Sika~

The sun was coming up and showered the homes beneath with gold dust aglow~

Goodnight moon~

~ Merry Christmas Blessings ~

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Nana, is That a Cat?~

2011-12-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

~ December 21... First day of Winter and day of my birth. Whenever we arrive at our birth date again, that alone is reason to celebrate ~

For the past couple of days, it appears that I may have been slightly missing in action, not completely though, for I have enjoyed scanning some of my favorite, old and new blogs...such fun too.
This morning, I traveled further out into the country to snatch up 2 of our 4 grandsons, and my youngest daughter. It was our annual Christmas cookie baking day.
I had collected the boys and we were driving through my favorite section of horse country, when 8 year old Thomas announced...
"Nana, is that a cat?"
No, not a cat, but a large Red-tailed Hawk protecting a raod kill of fresh Cottontail Rabbit~

The field on the opposite side of the lane was enchanting following a morning rain~

The hawk took a couple of breaks while we observed it from a distance~

The spring and summer colours may have been spent, yet the autumn grasses look amazing in the starkness of winter's chill, arriving officially at midnight tonight~

The boys enjoyed the lessons they were learning on this outing, though we all felt sad for the Cottontail...~

A handsome horse watched us, watching the hawks~

A younger looking Red-tailed remained on the fence, some distance from the carcass~

Do Camels Count...It's My Birthday Week~

2011-12-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

~ Have a Very Blessed Christmas ~

Mine is a wildlife/nature blog, but for this special week, I felt a desire to claim it as my own and share a little bit about from whence I come...I did include camels in front of the Sphinx, and that will have to count for the day.

I never knew my father Howie, yet he has always been a part of me. He and his wife Eva raised my father after his mother passed away at age 4. Father Howie and Mother Howie was what my father affectionately called them~

Dr. Joseph Morton Howell, would become this nation's first US Ambassador to Egypt under President Warren G. Harding's administration from 1923-1927~

He authored the book "Egypt's Past, Present and Future", which became controversial at the time, more accepted today~

Father Howie was one of the first American diplomats to enter King Tutankhamen tomb. Below is on the first of 3 such visits that he made~

My father was Robert Breslin Howell, and he stands to the left of his grandparents. His Aunt Lorena and her two children are also in the photograph above~

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Howell and my father, when a young boy~

Father Howie on far left visiting the Sphinx~

My father's beloved mother, passed away at such a young age, leaving behind my father at age 4.
* You may want to check out my SkyWatch Friday entry for December 7, 2011. I shared in it about Waverly Hills Sanatorium where Mrs. Howell and thousands more died during the TB epidemic~

In later years, my father performed in stage plays in California. That is him standing behind the lady seated center left. He was also the voice of Mo and Noah, much like the characters in the skits of Amos and Andy on Radio Manila, among other stations at the time~

My twin sister Haze walking with my father and me with our mother in Oakland, California, where we were born~

I was the one with momma and always the one with the ready giggles, while my sister was more shy. We moved from Oakland, California to Portland, Oregon. When we were 5, our family moved to Kentucky...back to where my father's mother had passed away, all of those many years before...home again~

Momma~

My parents Robert and Ginny~

Bill and I dated off and on for 6 years where we grew up in St. Matthews, Kentucky. We were married after he returned from Viet Nam on December 22, 1969

While Bill served in the Army, I went to work as a flight attendant for Braniff International Airlines out of Dallas, Texas~

We will celebrate Bill's birthday on 18 th, my birthday on the 21 st, our anniversary on the 22 nd and Christmas on the 25 th...all tucked into one week~

Be sure to visit Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday entries from around the world!

Frosty Morning Run~

2011-12-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

There was hardly a thing to photograph, as I took an early morning run, just to gain some focus. This is what I saw and I thought it was pleasant enough to share for today. I liked the way the morning light played from behind the red leaves out in the field.
Hoping the best for each of you~

It Is Just The Way That It Is~

2011-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

What a week in the blogging arena...first the image was made small, then it was lost altogether. I then uploaded several different options and all of the remained on the left margin and smaller than I usually have used past 2 and 1/2 years. Then I was introduced to all sorts of people via the blogger help area, who have had similar problems with the now year old new templates...what?
Anyway, I have copied and pasted codes, inserted them where they might have made a difference, I have then deleted them, when the preview showed nothing was changing. If the truth be told, where the one special code is to be inserted in my template, the words that are to be present on the expanded version, are not even in the body of the entire html coding page.
All of this said, I have changed colours until I am well, blue in the face... I am extremely colour sensitive and that is a shame, otherwise, I probably would have left the first attempt as it was, but alas, I think this morning I have landed on the umpteenth colour for the entire look and will most probably change it again... Silly me!
The American Black Vulture was the first to arrive on the sight of fresh deer killed along the country lane while driving through horse country earlier this week. It has really turned cold and icicles formed in many parts of the county, always so pretty! Have a very Happy weekend with family and friends and do not fret, I am fine with this blogging thing, just a wee bit frustrated that I cannot make it my own as I would enjoy~

Painted Glow of a New Dawn~

2011-12-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

A good day to the moon as it slowly begins to settle in the west, while the sun coming up from behind me, painted a lovely glow that lit up the red barn below~

The Black Swan was looking pretty cold when I got to the frozen pond where it resides~

The Alpaca looked pitiful out in the field, where ice had formed in it's fur...burr, it was really cold at 28'~

I would like to invite you to check out more 'SkyWatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Appreciating the Silence of Winter's Dawn~

2011-12-14T02:29:00.000-08:00

Another reason for appreciating the silence of the winter months, is that we can view the birds more closely.
I was taking a break from my meal preparation and looked out the window to view this handsome male Cardinal. The driveway entrance images were taken along the country lanes of some of our local horse farms and I thought the large red bows, would look nice with Mr. Cardinal. Hoping that you will agree~

Oh My Goodness Gracious~

2011-12-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

Whew...I feel as though I may have finally landed...on a new layout. For those who viewed the new one yesterday...it turned completely white late this morning. Then, I could not even find that layout on blogger...anywhere...yet it was there just yesterday...go figure, I was not that crazy about it anyway...so there blogger!

That meant that I had to locate another new one and I think that I have finally landed on one that will work, until it disappears too, hopefully not anytime soon.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker was enjoying some of the suet shared by other birds in the back garden area the other day. Of all of the birds in our area, they can be the naughtiest and yet I do love them anyway~

Nature's Christmas Greeting From Tingsgrove and Beyond~

2011-12-12T02:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my world done in mosaics especially for this season of Christmas...

Beneath are some of natures blessings upon the two acre grove that we fondly call Tingsgrove...

Home for over 30 years, where we raised 3 beautiful daughters and now where our 4 grandsons can explore and learn about this gift we all have before us in nature. It's beauty, intricacy, each season, so perfectly designed and we are the recipients, if we just choose to open our eyes, and our hearts to what we have...the goodness of the earth and everything in it's place, so unique in different parts of the world and yet all our own, for the taking, while we are here.

The little towns of LaGrange, Anchorage and Middletown are where I gathered some of the images to share in this blog with the beautiful adorned doors, Christmas sleigh, nutcracker and Santi hoho.

~ Merry Christmas Blessings to all~

Fondly, Mary

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday has many more wonderful mosaics to view...stop by and enjoy~

New Layout and Scrambling Squirrels~

2011-12-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

The past 3 days have been a blogging nightmare. The only good thing that I can say, is I have certainly been behind the scenes of the blogging world, and no matter how many codes, and brackets, and lines I copied and pasted, no matter how many sites I checked out to find the answers, nothing worked and evidently there are many others that this is happening to.

After giving in to the fact that my header image was going to remain smaller, and, or not fill up the center of the blog banner any longer, I gave in and simply changed my entire layout. It is a little more on the feminine side and a little flashy, and yet, it at least makes my smaller header image not look so swallowed up on the banner as it had been.

This Gray Squirrel had found an acorn and was looking for a place to tuck it away, and then along came one of it's friends. They scrambled around and underneath the broken bark of this decaying tree trunk for quite some time, before giving in and burying the nugget in the earth below.

The other 3 images in each mosaic collage were taken on one of the Oldham County country lanes, near home.

Happy Monday, Happy Week~

Towhee and Woodie~

2011-12-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely visitor yesterday afternoon, who has been in hiding since late last spring.

We hear them in the brush and shrubs at the rear of the property, but hardly ever catch a glimpse of them until near winter season hits here. This is a male and he was shinning in the warmth of the sun, just before last evening's chill hit.

The Downy Woodpecker enjoys the varied flavors of suet that I offer and will stay around all year long, but especially enjoys the special treats during the colder months~

When Pigeons Fly~

2011-12-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

When the Pigeons fly, you know that something must be on the hunt, or at least many of the times and in this case, they were.

Twenty - thirty feet to the far right and the sky light changed, as well as the appearance of the same Red-shouldered hawk, perched and hunting for rodents over a nearby field~

Letting go of a tiny bird feather, was all that remained after this Cooper's Hawk had dined ~

Yep, the second image in the middle of collage above...that would be raptor poop~

It seemed to be giving me a glare as it flew toward my car window~

* Some may have noticed if you look closely at any of my images lately...many have a tiny, single red and green dot. You can see these pretty vividly on these images...example the image above...the wing to your right has them on it.
I was told the other day, that I may have a stuck, or dead pixel... I just looked on line and there are different tests to check and hopefully correct this, and I shall see what happens in coming days~

Needing Some Help Here~

2011-12-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Something has gone terribly wrong with my banner image...ugh...it got way small on it's own...I had done nothing to change anything! I deleted the little image, that had been large until this afternoon, and went to upload it again and I cannot find it in my thousands of images stored. I then decided to upload another image and have done so several times and they are all way too small... I went to the "help" pages and I did exactly what they said, but part of what they say should be on the html edit page, is also not there...so I am stuck and have no clue as to how to remedy this situation...

The second thing that I give up on, is trying to ID the last bird in this post. All of these had come to the same Honeysuckle bush...why...I do not know, for there are only a couple of berries left on it, so they must have come so that I could enjoy their beauty, which I most certainly did. I then went to my trusty field guide and tried to locate this bird. It was smaller than a Thrush, it was about the same size as the Dark-eyed Junco.

Any help would be most appreciated on one, or both reasons given for this post title~

* Thank you so much Dominic Gendron...a sweet new little bird for me...yeah...

Hermit Thrush

Waverly Hills Sanatorium~

2011-12-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

This was my beloved grandmother Hazel Howell. She died many years before I was born from Tuberculosis at the now world famous Waverly Hills Sanitorium~

Waverly Hills Sanitorium took 2 years to build and opened in 1926. The top 3 floors had open air solariums where all patients were taken daily for 13 hours, 365 days a year. The electric blanket came about as a result of these patients needing fresh air every day, even in the cold winter months~

This bottle of wine on display was dated 1923, the same year that my grandmother passed away in what was to have been the first Waverly Hills Hospital. They began the building of the larger building one year later, right next to the first building~

The morgue was having to deal with over 24 deaths per day at the worst time of the TB epidemic and 64,000 patients lost their lives in this hospital before a cure was found~

This is the one room where all surgeries were performed. The physicians would use a method by which they would puncture and then deflated the lung and then place sandbags on the patient for a long number of days and then re inflate the lung in hopes that the lung would be stronger~

The "body chute"...used first for deliveries of food and things needed to run the facility. When it came about that one patient was dying every hour, those living became discouraged and so since the morgue was at opposite end of the chute, the administration decided that this would be the best way to exit the bodies, so the surviving patients did not have to witness it~

Many of the patients had large rooms with their own bathrooms. Others were housed in wards depending on their individual needs. Once the patients became near death, they were moved to small, more private rooms, and new patients moved in to the larger rooms, never leaving any empty beds, they were constantly filling up, as patients passed away~

Room 502 is the one room where even a worst tragedy occurred while all of the disease was going rampant. It may be the most famous section of the hospital. One of the head nurses hanged herself in this room in 1928. She was 29, single and pregnant, possibly by one of the leading physicians there. Then in the same room in 1932, another nurse who had worked in room 502, jumped to her death from a hospital balcony~

Women lived on one floor, some with children, while other children were in a children's ward, if they had no family. Men had their own floor~

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Three On A Wire~

2011-12-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

This series was taken on Thanksgiving. We had gone to visit my 88 year old father-in-law and I was all but kicking myself, not for visiting him, but what follows...
I always, always take my camera into his house.
This particular morning, I had helped carry a meal in for him and thought ever so quickly...I should go back to the car and get my camera...but did not...
Today dad rang me up to tell me that our visitor, had returned for a long visit again...and of course I was just all but kicking myself all over again.
You see, a very young, very large..probably a female Cooper's Hawk had landed right outside his breakfast window. We are talking no more than 15-20 feet from his breakfast window and my camera was right outside the back door, lying on the car seat.
After we left, I had to appease myself and so...I got these 3 beauties on individual wires. I always like to have them perched in a tree, yet around here, they really enjoy the hunt from the wire~

Here Comes the Christmas Train~

2011-12-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

In the little historical town where I live, the train tracks run right down the center of Main Street.
One time when our 3 daughters were small, the Barnum and Bailey Circus train came through and it was magical.
Several years ago, I managed a shoppe in town and it was such delight when out of town tourists would stop in and then the train would come down the center of the road, and they always seemed both thrilled as well as astonished by it.
This past Friday evening was the 25th annual lighting of the city for the Christmas holidays.
About an hour after the tree lighting, and some of the coral groups had finished their beautiful performance, a train made it's way through the city and that is when I took these images.

Just prior to the lighting of the city, one of my 2 year old twin grandsons, stopped to peek in a shoppe window.
I just melted when I saw him...oh so precious watching the wonder of a small child during this special season~

The Advent of Christmas is Upon Us~

2011-12-04T23:09:00.000-08:00

The advent of Christmas is upon us and every year just before Thanksgiving week, I adorn the Christmas tree. For many years we had live trees and then decided a few years ago to purchase this one and it has worked out fine. I have to still have the fragrance of a live three though and so I have a bottle of Balsam Fir tree to spray on the tree before turning on the lights...shhh, but do not give me secret away~

When the children came along, I would gather them up every year to select a very favorite adornment. Those were then packed away for them as they grew and then moved away from home. It is so much fun seeing those adornments now on their own trees. I have 2 on our tree that were given to me by my mother. They have been around for a few decades now...shhh, another secret~

Please allow me to introduce to you my family.
My oldest daughter is Hillary and she is to my right above. Her husby is Andrew and they have twin boys that will turn 3 in March. Their names are Cullen and Kerrick.
Next to them, is my middle daughter Brittany and she is married to Dale. They have two sons, eight year old Thomas and 3 year old Braden.
My youngest daughter is Ashleigh and she is single.
The black cat is 14 year old Spencer.
The pup-cub is 4 year old Meaka.
The blue-eyed cat was my beloved 9 year old Chloe' who died in August.
Survhee kitten came along in our lives just a couple of weeks before Chloe' passed away.
My husby Bill and I will have been married 43 years this month~

Hillary and Andrew both teach middle school in the county where we live. Hillary teaches Language Arts and Creative Writing as well teaches at the college level, at IUS 2 evenings a week. Andrew teaches Social Studies~

Brittany has just 4 more months before she has her RN degree. She also works full time at the local prison system as an LPN. Her husby Dale has his own small business.

Ashleigh is single. She lives between Los Angeles and home and is in the film industry. Pictured here with her is her best friend.... Jay Panther who is working hard toward his goal of competing in the next Winter Olympics. Watch for him on YouTube~

No Words to Be Spoken~

2011-12-04T05:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes there are just no words to be spoken. Our family is in a bit of crisis, and I just need a day to look up into the heavens and ponder over the quiet of it all~

45 Minutes + of Pecking and Observation~

2011-12-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

For at the very least 45 minutes I observed and photographed this little Downy Woodpecker pecking at this one leaf, which must have had goodies within it. I took these through our glass patio doors and these were the better of the lot.
While the Woodpecker was pecking away, for most of the same time, a Gray Squirrel in a nearby tree was also busy observing the same thing that I was ...nature ;)~

Odd Drinking Spot and 2 Close Calls~

2011-12-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

Now that was different...rain puddles on the ground and this handsome Cardinal thought that the water droplets upon the car parked next to us, was the best tasting;)

Woah, woah, woah...a Red-shouldered Hawk while in pursuit of a meal, was flying really close to the oncoming traffic.
It gave my heart pause, we pulled over, and fortunately the hawk landed in a tree nearby and was safe this day!
Geesh it was so close to the wild lands and yet chose to hunt near traffic...many sadly get killed hunting along roadways near and in the city limits~

We had another very close deer encounter on Wednesday morning, one week exactly after the first. This buck however, stayed close on my side of the car and we had time to slow down, photograph him and speak a sigh of relief as it ran across the lane and into the wood nearby. Two other bucks were running with this one.

It is both rutting and hunting season and so many are on the run~

A Glorious Ending to the Day~

2011-12-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

Coming home from market later in the day once in awhile, has it's advantages, especially when you get to view the sun setting in the west~

Enjoy your SkyWatching wherever in the world you are ;~)

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

The Canopy Lifted, Untucked Treasures~

2011-11-30T11:49:00.000-08:00

The wind came, then the rain and this was what remained in my view. once all was calm~

What remains of green shall be seen through the winter's heartbeat~

If you peek really close, you shall see the red of the fruits~

The fruit drenched and droplets formed, as they took in their last drink~

Two songbirds silent, as they try to hide from danger above~

Seedpods show their actual colour after the rains had ended..., rather than b&w~

Double click to enlarge and you shall see the red fruit still hanging heavy upon these trees~

Nothing much more life giving than the trees of the earth~

She flew, before she could partake, at least from this vantage point~

Kentucky State Bird Greeting for My World Tuesday~

2011-11-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

Blue & Scarlett~

2011-11-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

The stress days before the holidays, have been strained already, due to some personal issues taking place in our family. I wanted to look at some perky images that were taken last week, to get me out of the slump and here is their share for you~

Mosaics Done in White~

2011-11-27T14:07:00.000-08:00

Like many of you that may view this, I take thousands of photographs and thank goodness for digital...

Many are stored in folders in one, or both of my photo programs and I have recently been going through them and in one day not so long ago, I deleted over 10,000 images...yes the 0's are correct.

In trying to come up with my next Mosaic Monday entry, I came across some entries that I thought might go well together. They have been shared on my blog individually over the past couple of years, but they looked different when placed in mosaics done in white...hoping that you shall enjoy them and all Mosaic Monday entries from around the world~

Another Beautiful Encounter~

2011-11-26T15:09:00.000-08:00

Thursday was the actual designated Thanksgiving day for us, but our family goes in so many different directions and by the time all of the food is prepared...mine is all from scratch...it is exhausting and tummies are full, only to have to quickly gather everyone up and leave, just as dessert is finishing up.
Last year, I tried doing a brunch in lieu of my traditional meal for family...still the dashing out for the next stop.
That was it, and I had to be the big girl and make a decision...
We celebrated our families Thanksgiving today...
In truth though, every day that we are gifted is a day to be thankful.
The Red-shouldered hawk in this post, just happened to be in the right place at the right time...for me anyway.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend~

Close Encounter With a Deer and a Hawk~

2011-11-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

Oh My...you will not believe what happened on Wednesday, or it is possible that you have had the same kind of encounter...

The husby and I had taken the Meaka pupcub to feed there 3 feral cat colonies and then went by Starbuck's for our coffee...well his coffee, my cafe' mocha...yum!

My husby's car had been in the shop and we had to take some country lanes to arrive at the place where it had been repaired. Fortunately no one seemed to be on the road this time of day.

We were going the speed limit about 40 mph, when out of nowhere...seriously...out of came a large White-tailed buck, maybe running from would-be hunters. It came up on my side of the car and Bill swerved ever so slightly to reduce impact, the deer slid across the top of the car, landed on all 4 hooves on the driver's side, gained it's balance and off it ran into the field. I got out of the car and watched it, and it was out of sight really fast. I thought about that buck all that day and evening. It may not have been badly injured, yet it certainly had to have been in some pain...I mean after all, I sure would be!

The really neat thing, was the car had no dents, no sign of impact, except a 4" scratch on the car top. The antlers could have done so much damage, as well as those powerful legs, and nothing.

Bill and I had to look at ourselves and say..."did that just really happen"? Yep, it sure did... Had my camera in hand...no... there were no images taken, it simply happened just that fast! Another thing to have been very thankful for yesterday!

I was driving my car back home after retrieving his car, and spotted this beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk. I was going to try to persuade it to get off of the wire and into that tree, but it would not have any of it, so the wire works for me, since it was working for the bird~

Happy Thanksgiving for SkyWatch Friday~

2011-11-24T00:47:00.000-08:00

One hour intervals...

First the sky just following sunrise...

One hour later and the Canada Geese flew over~

Another hour later I drove by this field of spent grain.

The sunny clouds made me happy~!

It was a glorious SkyWatching day~

For my friends in America...I wish you a very warm and blessed Thanksgiving holiday with your family. We each have so much to be thankful for~

For my friends whom are not American citizens, but otherwise live in other countries, I would also like to bid you a very blessed day, and year, for I am also thankful for your very kind friendship along life's journey~

Take a journey with me as I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

What is Black and White and Red All Over...~

2011-11-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, there were two jokes that kept circulating...
"What is black and white and red all over?"
A sunburned Zebra...
"What is black and white and read all over?"
A newspaper...
Now, that I got that out of the way... ~;)

In the case of these images, it would be what is black and white and red all over?
A European Starling on black branches from a soaking overnight rain, cloudy-overcast skies and red berries dangling in nature's purest art form, along with some remnants of bird's nest from the season now complete~

What Are You All Doing Awake...~

2011-11-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

Recently I took myself to the Louisville Zoological Gardens.

Every other time that I go, I am with family, or friends, but this time, I was just going to have my own "chill day" and of course since I had planned it days in advance, I knew not what the weather would bring and what it brought was a cold rain all day long.

After visiting all of my favorite exhibits, I was beginning to get chilled to the bone and after having a light snack, began my walk back to the entrance to head home.

That was when I spotted one Black-crowned Night-Heron on the fence that runs along side the Giraffe exhibit, but it was too far to get any good captures, so I took a chance and walked around several other exhibits, to the far side, hoping to be a bit closer.

Once there, I was delighted to see that another Heron was also now present. I watched them for a bit, taking a few images, not great images, yet some to show they were there at any rate.

One of them flew across to the other side and that is when I spotted a couple more of them perched on the fence. The image of them was severely cropped to try to get all of them in and not take up the gravel area that was in the forefront of them~

Fitting In~

2011-11-21T01:40:00.000-08:00

Dedicated to a new blogging friend Theresa, for helping me ease my way through meme land;)