Birds, Bison and Nature Painted Butterfly Wings~

We were going to visit with the in-laws of my oldest daughter Hillary one afternoon, and as we came around the curve before their property line, I snapped this Great Blue Heron, trying to hide from view.
For seven months now, I have been struggling with a pinched nerve in my neck.  The actual diagnosis that has been reviewed for me is called Cervical Radiculpathy and Cervical Spondylosis.  I went through six weeks of physical therapy that ended last January.  It had not done much, if anything to improve the constant feeling that I have an electrical current feeling going down my left arm, causing great tingling and sometimes numbness all the way from my neck into hand.  The only time that I have some relief, is when asleep.   All of this being stated, and after conversing with my Neurosurgeon and my family, as well as viewing online articles, we have decided for me to undergo a C5/6 Anterior Cervical Disectomy and Fusion on August 5, to hopefully correct the problem.  This is 80 to 90% effective and I am hoping to be in the majority and not the minority.  There will be 2 weeks of no driving, YIKES and no lifting, pulling, etc anything more than 5 pounds.  I would very much appreciate all good thoughts going up to get me through this time.  I appreciate each of you so very much.  I am so sorry that I had very limited time to access my desktop to be able to leave comments, but I was able to visit many of them and view the beauty from my laptop.  Have a wonderful week~ 

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slide show presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Add some rain, some Turk Cap Lily pollen and a Black Swallowtail Butterfly and you have a watercoloured Black Swallowtail.

It was really neat watching the butterfly get its wings drenched in colour from the pollen, as it took in nectar.

 The wings look like they had been dipped in magenta paint.

So beautiful!  

Sad, but oh so true!  This Red Fox vixen has Sarcoptic Mange and she will more than likely carry it to her kits and to any other fox member of her family.  This happens so much both in the country and the city and most of the times, the entire family is wiped out.  If there were only a few, then Have-A-Heart capturing of them and treatment for a few weeks would rid them of this disease, but it affects so many, and it is impossible to care for all of them.  These images are difficult to view, but it tells a story of nature that needs to be heard~

Yes, we have Buffalo/Bison in the state of Kentucky.  They used to roam this state many years ago and then they were gone.  Ranchers who raise them for their meat have brought many back into the state.  We had taken the dogs for a morning ride and stopped so that I could photograph them.  They were coming in my direction, when I decided to whistle for them.  Oh My, that was a mistake, as they turned and ran, no make that, they turned and stampeded away from me.  I hope the rancher did not see that~

Barn Swallows, baby Barn Swallows, what can I say, feathered hearts, that do amazing work, love, love them~

My neighbors Sue and Mona have lovely flowers in the Summer and I got these Skippers at Mona's~ 

Fritillary at Sue's home~

Black Swallowtails~  

One still beautifully formed, the others delicate wings torn and yet beauty still holds on~

Sue's dish plate sized Hibiscus~

This old house was quite interesting.  I had traveled further out into the county to have a day with 2 of my grands, Braden and Maci.  This place is on the back roads to their place, right in between 2 lovely homes.  I wonder what those walls would have to share, if the could speak~

I have shared Mona's garden in past, but every Summer, I enjoy walking across the lane to see what kinds of butterflies have come to sip the warm nectar from her garden flowers.  Here is some of her garden art~

Horace's Duskywing below was a first ever for me.  I really enjoyed it's beauty and watching it flitting about rather quickly.

Thank you to Eileen Hildt Wise for helping me with proper ID for this beautiful butterfly.

Just beneath the Duskywing is a sweet little Pearl Crescent Butterfly~

My 7 year old grandson Braden helps his little sister Maci Marette get down the steps to feed their pet pig Bella~

Maci loves our dogs and really loves her own dog, Lexi~

The bird nesting boxes have mostly been taken down by the good people of Foxhollow Farm.  OH SIGH!.  I always enjoy watching the many Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds that use these boxes~