A Run in the Park, Snow and Fog~

The image above was from 2 weeks ago, when we had a brief break in the cold weather that winter has brought our way.  
Our youngest daughter Ashleigh, was running about with our oldest daughter Hillary's twin boys, Cullen and Kerrick~

I am linking up with Mary for:

"Mosaic Monday"

at:http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

and

I am linking up with Stewart at:

Wild Bird Wednesday

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

It has been quite a while since a Fox Sparrow has paid a visit to Tingsgrove.  
The last 2 winters, I have watched for them and then the other day, there were two.  I have not seen them since, but here is hoping that they have not gone so far away, that they will not return for some more photo opportunities~

White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers, make frequent daily visits to the suet cake feeders I have placed in the side garden, just outside 3 windows, where I can easily sneak in some photography sessions with these fine feathered friends~

 

Nature's adornments left over from the Sweetgum tree~

I love how the male Mallard Duck seemed to be saying...Hey, how are you doing and what goodies did you bring with you today... sort of looks like a smile, to me~

 

 Not sure what kind of fruit was lingering on this tree, but it certainly looked lovely on this cold winter's day.  We have been holding in the upper teens, and upper twenties all week.  And below, spring buds already formed and ready~

 

My beloved Survhee Pipka, named because she survived so many obstacles 18 months ago.  She is thriving and at times, seems more like dog, than cat.  
She is nothing short of sweet and pure entertainment~

5 year old Meaka is such a happy dog and she and our 2 cats get along beautifully.  
Meaka has about 6 weeks, if all goes as hoped for, to become a big sister to a new Long Coat German Shepherd, which we have decided to call  Sylvie Aleit ~

The fog was so think last Saturday, that we could hear the boats on the Ohio River, but we could hardly see anything in front of us.  I love fog and what it brings to the mystery in nature, but it can also be so dangerous, especially when you have fog and ice...not a good combination~

 

It is not very often that I think about it, yet, I know the reality of life... and one day, my husby and I shall be buried in a plot on a hill, where I stood to take these photographs.  
It is a very special place, overlooking the military section of Cave Hill Cemetery, which is even listed on one of Louisville, Kentucky's best places to visit when touring the city.  
A well known botanical garden, as well as much wildlife abounds within the high bricked walls of this place~

 

 Below, frozen water reflections at one of the old walk bridges that crosses the creek on Tingsgrove~

This car was in front of us on one of the warmer days 2 weeks ago and I just had to get this capture of a St. Bernard enjoying an outing with it's master~

The sun was coming up and these Crows were getting excited as they began to move about at one of the hospital lamp posts in Louisville recently~  

 

 

Mallard Duck With Young at Dawn's Early Light~

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

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a post on helping a female Mallard Duck and her seven ducklings make it across a four lane road and to safety.  I had checked on them a couple of times, always hearing the adult, but never being able to see them.  They seemed to be getting closer to the water, when I spotted this female with 2 ducklings that would now be about the right age.  I have no idea if this is the right one, but something about this female just gave me pause.  There were no other Mallards around and this would be the correct point of entry into the water.  The male was not with them, but took off as soon as I appeared on the scene.  Fun to think that this may be the adult Mallard that I helped and that at least two ducklings remained.  The lake images were taken at Crystal Lake near where I live at dawn's early light.  Happy SkyWatching and have a great weekend~

Spring Continues to Show Itself~

Weeping Willows have begun their green up beauty for spring as have the Redbuds and I was able to get some fair pond reflections using them.  I was digging up some spring transfers and happened to also dig up this little Salamander which I quickly took to a covered area in one of the shade gardens with nice large rocks and it slithered underneath just as I took this lone image.  The ducks were at a pond in the "big city" and they of course are always delightful just doing their thing.  The flight image, while not very clear, was still a fun one to share...and why not...~ 

Pom Poms and Fruit~

On our recent visit to Cave Hill Cemetery I gathered a few images of their one Pom Pom Duck and while it looks like a bit of snow on the ground, that was not yet the case as it is now, but the feathering that was floating about as it groomed itself.  The berries and crabapples are also in a few of these images, just to make the stark white of the duck images, a little more colourful...ya gotta do, what ya gotta do sometimes;)~

Two Species, Two Days, Two Lakes~

My vacation images are finally winding down, and I had wanted to firmly ID one of the birds before posting it, and I am pretty positive that it is an immature Double-crested Cormorant.  Though it is difficult to tell from the images, the ducks were a pair of Mallards. I took both sets of images while visiting the Dakotas~