Blue Birds and Spring Beauties~

 

 Siberian Squil and Spring Beauties are some of the tiniest blossoms in our little gardens in the shade.
Above are Siberian Squil.  
One of my friends who is a beekeeper said that she found it fascinating to see the bees with purple pollen sacs.  (View further down) 
Melanie said that you usually see white, yellow and green pollen sacs.  
Sadly my Italian Bee colony either did not survive the cold of Winter, or they moved before it got too cold, but at least I saw this one bee and that means there are others nearby.  
The male Eastern Bluebird below was photographed on my favorite ride, that many followers have heard me speak of often, yet alas, may not be hearing so much about in future posts.
Some may remember that while traveling Covered Bridge Road last Mother's Day, a car coming toward me in my lane, hit me head on and caused over $4,000 damage and left me with a rental for 5 weeks.  
This past Wednesday, the husby, myself and the 2 dogs were en route up Covered Bridge Road and minding our own business.  
It is an absolutely gorgeous country drive, but the road takes many curves and can be dangerous.  
We were on a straight stretch of road, not very busy, due to it being Spring vacation break, when out of nowhere a brand new red Dodge was coming approximately 55mph...the speed limit in our lane.  
This time, there was no place to get out of the way.  
The husby, a former police officer, with excellent defensive driving skills, decided to make a quick stop, bracing for possible impact.  
It was one of the most frightening things that we have ever faced together!  
It was like one of the kids video games, when just before the blast of impact, the vehicle suddenly swerves out of harms way.  
That was our only blessing, that the driver finally got smart, only by a hair though.  
The 12 week old puppy was asleep in the back, and may have hit the back of the husby's seat, because she was screaming!
We rushed her to the Veterinarian, and she said, that Silvie may have hit her chest, but seemed more frightened than hurt.  
We brought her home and she cried off an on until she went to bed Wednesday evening.  
Needless to say, we feel very blessed, for it could have been a very, very bad accident.  
We never got the plate number of the driver, for they knew they messed up and they were out of sight, as soon as they realized what they had nearly caused. 
One never knows what may come in any given day, but we need to always be ready for whatever happens and pray for the best outcome~

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/)


My Eastern Bluebird images were taken at Foxhollow Farm in Crestwood, KY~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are Spring Beauties, that all but hug the ground~

 

 

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things~

These are a few of my favorite posts from this past year~ 

I wanted to share them in one full swoop and loaded them all in neat and tidy.  
When I sat down and began to write, I saw that the entirety of the first half of images loaded up, was no long here.  
Thus said, I shall go from the middle of the year forward and then tag in those missing the last of the month.
It has been a long and difficult two weeks for this family, but I can say that Brittany's health has begun to take a turn for the better this past 24 hours.  
She had to have another surgical procedure done Friday afternoon, and that seems to have brought her fever down to normal for the first time in 2 weeks of hospital stay.  
We are hoping that she can return home mid-week, to her sweet family and us.  
Thank you so very much for the kind comments over the past 2 weeks.
Your words have really be so very much appreciated, and brought much encouragement. 

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/)
  How does one choose their favorite images out of the thousands shared in a year...
For me this season, I decided to share some of my "just because" favorites along with some that had special meaning, that many followers of this blog may remember when they were first shared.

The selection above was my entry for the Derby season and below a pair of Mute Swans.  Later, one would be taken by a Coyote.
 I like taking photographs and holding on to those sweet moments when everything seemed perfect~

Remembering the 3 little Screech Owls,
 that my twin sister found in tree by her front stoop~

I always enjoy seeing the many dragonflies during the warmer seasons~

Missing our spring posies, but somewhere in the world, others are being able to enjoy their season with these beauties~

Oh and this darling little fawn, who spent the entire day with me back in late August.  Whenever I see a young deer near our acreage...I have to wonder;')~

For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to photograph a Zebra Swallowtail and late in the summer, I finally had my chance, taken at Foxhollow Farm~

Fresh Peaches, oh yum!

My great surprise toward mid-summer, was in learning that we have our very own natural Italian Honey Bee Colony on our 2 acres.  
As far as I know, it is doing fine~

Then there was my neat find one day, while photographing and I spied this Green Heron hunting from the center of this tree, overlooking the water's edge~

I adore Sphinx Moths, and seek them out all summer~

Last, but not least, was this late Monarch Butterfly...still fresh in my memory, of this past season in nature~

Natural Colony of Italian Honey Bees on Tingsgrove~

 

 

 

I just love when things happen that you never ever would have anticipated, and it turns out to be something really wonderful...

Who does not adore honey?

I love, love, love this miracle food. I can eat spoons full, or dollops on biscuits, scones and tea cakes. I enjoy my cold weather hot Lavender tea, with a nice heaping spoonful of this golden sweetness.

Never in a million years, and after living on this 2 acres, would I have even dreamed that I would have my very own Tingsgrove natural Italian Honey Bee colony, but, alas...I do;')

Last week, my husby had taken our pup-cub Meaka for a walk over on our second acre. She had tugged him in the direction of a tree that I knew well.

A few years ago, an Opossum, must have been hit by an automobile and then died in the hole near the base of the tree trunk.

Bill said that she went straight to that tree and stuck her face into the hole and that there were a bunch of bees inside, but that fortunately Meaka, nor he had been stung.

We have had our share of many stings from Yellow Jackets in the past, and I was puzzled, about the fact that they had not stung her especially.

I went to take a look-see, sure enough, there were a lot of bees of some kind. I took a couple of images and brought them back to the house and googled, both Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets. I could see a bit of hairy parts and that gave me hope and yet I was still not certain.

Facebook to the rescue.

I wrote a message on my status, that I was looking for someone local who may know a beekeeper. Only a few minutes later, I was put in contact with a friend's wife, who had her own hive. They would come by and take a look.

It only took Melanie and Kevin seconds to determine that what I did not have were Yellow Jackets...a great sigh of relief and what I did have was a nice size colony of Italian Honey Bees, the most docile of the Honey Bees around here.

We were elated that they had chosen Tingsgrove to make this hive.

Now I knew where all of the bees that had been visiting my Hummingbird feeders and birdbath had been coming from all summer. Melanie and Kevin shared some great information with me. The bees travel 3 miles to bring back nectar and water to the hive. They maintain a temperature within the hive of 92' all year round.

Today, we had a very hard rain, which we needed, but due to the position of the hive, many bees perished. The survivors are working hard to fix up the mess that was made. I really want to try to preserve this hive, if at all possible and will make every possible effort to do so. More to come later then.

 

*Special thanks to Kevin, Melanie and their son Doug for their friendship and thier expert help...

I really appreciate it~

 

Also in this post are many of the flowers on and around the grove, that produce sweet nectar for the bees and more. 

I have also added in a series of Bearded Robber Flies, which happen to eat Honey Bees, as you can see in some of the images, and I have also tucked in a couple of juvie

Ruby-throated Hummingbird images, just because it was so darn cute!

For those in the USA...Happy Labor Day.

For all... Happy Monday, Happy week, may it be a blessing for all~

I am linking up with Mary for:
"Mosaic Monday"
at:http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/