Nature Visions

Where did January go?

2012-01-31T12:34:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's the end of the month already! I've been remiss here once again, so wanted to get something up before the month was gone. Been busy moving things off of one selling venue onto another, among other things, and somehow time got away from me. However, I've snapped a few shots this month, and going to share some random sightings. Hope you enjoy them:-)

Visited Zion National Park for the first time earlier this year for our birthdays. It was far more spectacular than my photo shows. "Wow!", was the word of the day.

We occasionally get Lesser Goldfinches coming through, and this pair visited recently. Male top, female bottom.

It's been a really dry winter here, but last week we finally had some snow. The day after, fog blew over the cliffs all day. So beautiful! Way prettier than where we were last year at this time:-)

A subject I'm determined to get some good photos of - Gambel's Quail. They're here all the time, but scurry away quickly. They're so cute and fun to watch, though. We're hoping to see chicks in Spring.

This one is definitely not a good photo, but I don't have enough lens to capture him or her. This is a Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk. S/he actually flew through where we live late one afternoon, but this seems to be the regular hang out - high up on a power pole. It's a great spot for a white raptor, as s/he blends right in. Stunning bird!

And here's one of the Gray Foxes we see pass through here occasionally. Like the photo on this post, it was taken through the window, down through deck slats, late in the afternoon - the heater had clicked on this time, and s/he looked right up:-) Every time we see these beauties, we are filled with awe!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Everyone!

2011-12-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a holiday season that's bright and beautiful, and full of joy!

Wednesday Wings

2011-12-21T16:17:00.000-08:00

Time to share some recent winged wonders! Hummingbirds are gone for now, and I miss them. I still have photos of them to process, so you may see some photos soon. We have so many other birds to watch here, and it's been wonderful. Lots of photographic challenges, too:-)

A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) who was actually out in the middle of the road eating roadkill rabbit. There were a pair, and I think they were taking turns flying in and eating. I think they were eating it there because they didn't kill it, so perhaps didn't know how to carry it off the road (just a guess). Made for a cool sighting, though. Can't believe the way s/he was able to perch here!

This is a little Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus). We've put up thistle feeders for the first time ever, and have attracted lots of these little cuties. They're just about as fierce as the hummingbirds, though, always squabbling and fast movers. However, they really don't like leaving the thistle, so I can get pretty close with my camera.

A female White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) atop sagebrush.

From this summer, a Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum).

Not a great shot, but this was taken through a window on a dark, rainy/snowy day. Believe s/he is a Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) who landed in the tree for a breather.

Finally, this is the last butterfly that I photographed this year, a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella). I was so surprised to spot her, because I hadn't known these beauties were in Utah, too. Maybe she followed us from Cali;-)

Saturday Sharing - Art - Nancy's Sculptures

2011-11-05T14:21:00.002-07:00

I don't do this nearly often enough, however, part of this blog is supposed to be about art so here we go:-) Today, I wanted to share some of my mom's (Nancy's) recent sculptures because, well, they're just so darn amazing to me! Yeah, I'm her daughter and biggest fan, but just ask her, and she'll tell you I'm her worst critic. I'm a bit... ummm... shall we say anal? ;-) Oh well - I do it with my own art, too. I know there's no such thing as perfect, but doesn't stop me from trying.

The first sculpture I'm sharing is a custom dog that she just finished. She did this for Wendy and Charley, the owners of Critter Corner. They recently made space for some of Nancy's pieces in their shop. So, as a thank you, she did this sculpture of their 14-year-old Border Collie, Katy. We delivered it yesterday, and they seemed thrilled with it and the likeness. Even Katy gave a sniff of approval:-) I'm including a couple of the photos it was based from.

This next piece is the first regular horse my mom has done. It's a Gypsy Vanner foal. She's done carousel horses before, but this little one is more 3-D and realistic.

Oh, and this cutie is the first little girl that she's done:

The last two are boxes that she's done recently - these are wonderful for storing lightweight keepsakes! I know, because I have my own:-)

I'm always in awe that these pieces started out as a lump of clay! That, and it would seem no subject is off limits for my mom. If you happen to be interested in a custom sculpture of your own, give us a holler:-) You can also find out more about the non-custom pieces above by clicking on the photos. Hope you enjoyed this art stroll, and stay tuned for more art and photos to come!

Southwest Splendor - Fall Foliage

2011-10-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

When you think of autumn colors, you probably don't think of the high desert Southwest. However, we get some gorgeous fall foliage here! I love photographing the leaves as the sun shines through them. I also love that it gives me a chance to do more abstract photography, which is a definite change for me. Most of all, I just love fall, and the changing of the seasons:-) Hope you enjoy this little leaf journey.

P.S. The last photo is a visitor that we've had around the property recently - a truly awe-inspiring sight! The photo was taken through a window angled down through slats into the shade, but I think you'll get an idea of the beauty...

Taken at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was our first time visiting, absolutely gorgeous and amazing even though it wasn't the best photo time.

The Best Apple Pie Ever!

2011-10-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Way past time to update my blog, so thought I'd share a favorite recipe. This is the best apple pie! It's not a claim I make lightly, and it's not my recipe, so I can't take credit. I found this recipe years ago in Country magazine (looked it up to see, and it's from 1994). It is sooooooo delicious! Very bad, but yummy:-) I'm no Martha Stewart, as you can see from my crust, and it's not necessarily the prettiest pie, but looks are deceiving. The heavy whipping cream takes this apple pie to the next level. If you're not a sugar junkie, you could reduce some of the sugar in the filling; as you can see it's a lot. Otherwise, follow the recipe, and you're in for a treat!

German Apple Pie

Crust:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

Filling:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

6 cups sliced peeled tart apples

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Whipped cream, optional

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in the shortening until crumbly. Add vanilla. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Roll out pastry to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond edge of pie plate; flute edges.

For filling, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon; sprinkle 3 tablespoons into crust. Layer with half of the apples; sprinkle with half of the remaining sugar mixture. Repeat layers. Pour cream over all.

Bake at 450° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° bake for 55-60 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Yield: 8 servings.

A Little Happiness

2011-09-05T14:42:00.001-07:00

How To Be Happy
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.

You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.

Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.

Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.

Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.

Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy, enmity, grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.

Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.

Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.

Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time to be unhappy.

************************

Saw this on a forum today, and liked it so much, I thought I’d post it here with a photo of this morning’s sunrise:-)

Wednesday Wings - Finally!

2011-08-31T19:05:00.001-07:00

"Uplift!" - Rufous Hummingbird

Time flies;-) I will be a better blogger, I will be a better blogger... I do have some new photos to share of an old subject for me - hummingbirds! We finally have enough hummingbirds coming to our feeders here that I've been able to start photographing them again. Good thing, because I am seriously out of practice. We have Black-chinneds and Rufous here. The Rufous have just started coming through (and upsetting everyone because they really are the feistiest), while the Black-chinneds were the first to arrive after our feeders went up. Maybe it's the out of practice thing, but to me, they both seem to be faster than the Anna's. We had some Black-chinneds and a few Rufous in Cali, but I rarely caught them with my camera. So, I'm determined to get them now. I really want the Bc's full throat flash - that purple is my favorite color! In the meantime, here are some shots from the past week, and I hope you enjoy them:-) I'm so happy to have my favorite subject back!

"Tough Guy"

"Ready to Rumble!" - Rufous vs. Black-chinned (they never quit fighting!)

"Incoming!" - male Black-chinned, see that purple?!

"Hover" - female Black-chinned

"Attack Mode!" - one very feisty Rufous!

Wednesday Wings

2011-08-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

I have several recent sightings from different locales to share. I swear, I spent more time trying to id everyone than I did editing the photos, lol! I am still not positive on every identification, so if anyone has corrections, please leave a comment. My eyes are going buggy... ;-)

"Hang Tight" - Hunt's Bumble Bee (Bombus huntii), spotted in the Johnson Canyon area of southern Utah.

"Spotted" - I think this is a Checkered White Butterfly (Pontia protodice), the markings seemed closer than the Western White. Also spotted in Johnson Canyon, and I think s/he was a bit weary.

"Like a Rock" - My guess is Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula) on this little cutie. Spotted in northern Arizona near Jacob Lake, so about 8,000' elevation.

"Woodland Nymph" - Small Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus), also seen near Jacob Lake. There were lots of these little ones flitting around, almost impossible to catch, but one finally landed and stayed for a minute - yay!

"Bitty Blues" - Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon) is my closest guess for this pair. I'm not certain, but I'm basing it on the wing marks. Spotted up in Cedar Breaks National Park, elevation 10,350'!

"Look Out Bee-low!" - I believe this is a Nevada Bumble Bee (Bombus nevadensis), also spotted at Cedar Breaks. Still have to id the flower, which I think is a type of penstemon. However, I'm saving the flowers for another day, so keep an eye out:-)

Sunday Snake

2011-08-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

I tell you, there's nothing like an unexpected sighting, especially when it happens right outside your door! I had mentioned to my mom that she should toss the fresh corn husks from our dinner out for the critters here. She went out the back door, tossed one over the railing, and the wind took it down. She happened to look where it landed, and realized she'd hit this snake with it, lol! He froze, she called me, and we stood on the deck trying to determine what sort of snake it was, since half of him was under sagebrush. After some minutes, he finally moved, and we could see he was safe (well, except to all the little critters who are coming to get the seed). I believe he's a Great Basin Gopher Snake. He slithered off, I went inside, but then thought I'd check one more time, and was lucky enough to catch him again. Had one chance at a sunlight shot, which is the last one here.

It may sound strange, but it was an honor to watch him in his stillness. I've written about snakes here before, Snake Medicine, and was quite happy to have one show up in my life again:-) And while the idea of him hunting the little creatures who come here for seed isn't as appealing, I feel it's all part of the circle of life, and he needs to eat, too.

Wednesday Wings and Others

2011-07-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Sharing some photos taken today in our "backyard" today. The internet went down for a while, so I escaped outside:-) We have a lot of birds and little critters coming through, but some of them are so fast, they've been a real challenge to photograph. I thought hummingbirds were hard! The birds hadn't been coming to our newly placed feeder, so we started putting some seed on the ground. As you can imagine, everyone has been enjoying it, and we're enjoying watching the activity!

A very handsome male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) who even sang for a bit.

Mrs. House Finch, who didn't mind my presence that much - the finches were the calmest visitors.

A Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus griseus) before s/he flew down to the seed. These little birds are so cute, make such an assortment of noises, and move so darn fast! By the time my camera focuses, they're usually somewhere else.

This is the same Juniper Titmouse - can't believe I actually caught him/her so close!

Now it's a good thing these next two little critters are so darn cute. They've been eating my newly planted container plants, and once they've discovered they like something, nothing seems to deter them. I only use organic methods, and right now my garden smells like an Italian restaurant with all the powdered garlic and other spices. Whether or not I get any tomatoes will remain to be seen - I'll have to try to find some netting or something. Like I said, it's a good thing these guys are adorable and so entertaining to watch:-)

Uinta Chipmunk? (Neotamias umbrinus)

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)

Still have some more subjects I'm trying to get good photos of, so stay tuned!

Evolution of a Sunset

2011-07-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

No Wednesday Wings this week, but I wanted to share a recent sunset with you. I'm so happy to see the gorgeous sunsets and cloud formations here in southern Utah again! I can't tell you how much I appreciate them. Not only that, but I also have an addiction to photographing the skies here. I haven't done much landscape photography, but something about the clouds and cliffs here compels me to keep trying to capture them through my lens. This sunset was last Sunday. I was outside a little early for it, but was fascinated by the clouds. I had a feeling there might be a good sunset, and didn't want to miss it. So, this is the evolution of that sunset. From start to finish, it was only 26 minutes - some of the most dramatic color changes were only three minutes apart. Mother Nature paints really fast:-) Hope you enjoy!

More Wednesday Wings

2011-07-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Is it really Wednesday again? ;-) Here are a few of the winged creatures I've met in Utah so far. If any of the id's are incorrect, please let me know.

"Petal Wings", Variegated Fritillary (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

"Suspended", Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum), a familiar sight in Cali, too:-)

"Tip Top", Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum) on Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

Wednesday Wings

2011-07-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

Juvenile Black-throated Sparrow? Spotted today, I think s/he thought they were hidden (my camera thought so, too, lol!).

Western Meadowlark with goodness knows how many bugs in his mouth! Yet, he was still singing:-)

Fireworks!

2011-07-05T16:51:00.001-07:00

On the 4th of July, there's always a nice fireworks' show here. We used to live almost across the street from it, so didn't really have the urge to battle traffic for a closer view this year. I had my hopes set that I'd be able to see them from our new place, and I was right, yay! They truly are magical to watch:-)

It had been about four years since I've photographed fireworks, so I scanned the web to refresh myself. I used a tripod and wireless remote, and I went with Bulb, ISO 100, f16. The settings were good, though I've brightened the photos some. However, my hand/eye coordination, not so much, lol! I missed a lot of shots by either being too soon or too late. There's always next year, though... Hope you enjoy the photos here, some of the best of the bunch, and I also hope you enjoyed a great 4th if you're in the U.S.!

Happy Fourth and an Update

2011-07-03T17:10:00.001-07:00

Scarlet Gilia or Skyrocket, Ipomopsis aggregata, happened to see the light through these beauties against the dark background - so striking!

Happy 4th of July!!! It's been ages since I've posted, I know. However, the past couple of months were filled with some major changes. Almost four weeks ago, we moved back to southern Utah:-) It was something we'd been thinking about on and off for a while, and things just suddenly came together and made it possible for us to do it. If you've been following my blog, you know that it was a very unhealthy area where we were in central California. We'd moved there to reconnect and help my grandparents, who'd passed in '08 and '09, respectively. We'd been a bit stuck on how to to move forward after they passed. We had a home, but not one where we wanted to live, so it was definitely a mixed blessing. We kept thinking about different areas, trying to decide what would be best. As much as we love the Pacific Northwest, the idea of moving somewhere again that we didn't really know anyone held little appeal. Plus, we weren't sure if we could do the long, dark, wet winters anymore. At the same time, this area, where we used to live, kept sticking in our minds. We know people here, and it's peaceful and beautiful. Having lived here for four years, we know the pluses and minuses. It's a weird little town in some ways, but we're not exactly the most normal people;-) Most importantly, it felt right. So, when an opportunity presented itself, we finally decided to go for it!

We're still settling in, but I have been taking some photos (like the wildflowers here). I still have lots of photos to process from our Cali foothill drives, too, so plan on sharing lots of different things. I'm looking forward to getting my blog going again, and hope you all will come along for the journey!

"Carefree", Flatbud Prickly Poppy, Argemone munita. Caught a flash of bright white as we were driving, and had to back up and see what it was - looks like the original tissue paper flower:-)

"Beauty in Blue", I believe this is Low Larkspur, Delphinium nuttallianum (nelsoni). This particular stalk was bent over, and I loved the way the flowers were looking up - also love, love, love this blue!

Wednesday Wings with Words

2011-04-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, I missed last Wednesday, but here's something different this time:-) This the first video clip I've put together with music - nothing fancy, but it was fun figuring it out. It was taken yesterday. Right now, bees are swarming over the orange blossoms all around us (also the only time the air smells good here). There are so many bees, the air is filled with their buzzing. They spill over onto the plants here, and are just frenzied in their quest for pollen! This one rose blossom ('Comtesse Vandal') was a pollen battleground. They were pretty aggressive with each other in their desperation. Four or five bees on one blossom was a bit much! Anyway, check out the video below to see them in action, as well as a couple of still shots - hope you enjoy:-)

P.S. Video taken on a little Sony DSC-W330 14.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Zoom with Digital Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 inch LCD (Blue) that I got from Sony through playing their daily Jeopardy and WOF games. Pretty nice prize!

Wordless Wednesday Wings

2011-04-13T15:59:00.001-07:00

Wednesday Wings The Beautiful but Elusive Hooded Oriole

2011-04-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is the third Spring that we've had a Hooded Oriole pair return to our hummingbird feeders. They arrive with a bang - you can't miss their raucous call! Yet, despite the fact that they always announce their presence, they're very shy, and leave at the slightest disturbance. I can't blame them, but it's made getting good photos of them a definite challenge. I've only been able to try from inside through a window. So far, these two shots are about the best I've taken. Not the greatest, but they show how gorgeous these birds are:-)

Mrs. Hooded Oriole

We take the guards off a couple of the feeder slots to give them easier access. I think that's part of what's kept them coming back. We're so happy to have them! They're a definite bright spot around here. They'll be here for a little while, nesting and such, then move on again. In the meantime, I'll keep practicing sneaking up on these wonderfully vibrant visitors, and getting some outside shots (fingers crossing!).

Mr. Hooded Oriole

If you're interested in more info about Hooded Orioles, check out All About Birds, a wonderful bird id site! You can even listen to their song. It's a lot prettier than the noise they make when they land at our feeders, but I love that sound, too - it always makes me smile:-)

Blue and Gold Wildflowers!

2011-03-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with my flower addiction, here are some of my recent wildflower photos. We've had an amazing amount of rain this winter/spring, and I'm already seeing more of some species than in past years. I still have a gazillion photos to go through, but if you're a flower addict, too, I hope you enjoy these blue and gold beauties:-)

"Face the Sun", these sunflowers bloom year-round here. They get a bit raggedy looking in winter, but they keep going. They're always a joyful bright spot in the landscape:-)

"Blue Beauties", Baby Blue Eyes, Nemophilia menziesii, a native California wildflower. I love these little beauties, and have spotted more patches of them this year than in the past - yay!

"Poppy Perfect", poppies are the best flowers to catch the light going through them! They glow from within, and are so gorgeous:-)

"Sun Seeker", Common Fiddlenecks, Amsinckia menziesii (another Cali native), are just about the 1st wildflowers to start blooming here, and light up the hillsides.

"Simply Blue", another Baby Blue Eyes flower - such a soft, delicate beauty:-)

"Light Dancers", and more poppies in the light:-)

Blossoms!

2011-03-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

If pink and white flower blossoms are your favorite, then this is the post for you! It doesn't seem to matter how many photos I take of these beauties, I can't get enough:-) This first photo was actually taken by my mom, Nancy, and edited by me. She realized she could see a different perspective from where she was sitting in the car, said how good her view was, and so I handed her the camera. She was right - look at this gorgeous view, and what a great photo!

"Pink Path"

"Lean on Me", this is the photo I chose especially to donate the proceeds to relief efforts in Japan. You can find out more by either clicking on the photo or here.

"Pink Think"

"Pretty Pink Petals"

"Light Up"

"Soft and Bright"

"Delicate"

"Reach Out"

"Bright Beauty"

"Clouds of Pink"

"White Light"

Bees!

2011-03-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have lots of new photos to share, have been taking way more than I can keep up with, lol! Starting with just a few bees, though, because I love them so much. Plus, while they might make some people nervous, when I'm in an orchard or around flowers with the sound of bees buzzing in the air, it just feels like I'm surrounded by the most wonderful energy:-) As you probably know, honey bees are in crisis right now, so plant lots of flowers and garden organically to attract them to your garden - bee prepared to bee mesmerized;-)

"Embrace"

"Bee-lieve!"

"Don't Let Go!"

"Eye Spy"

"Bee Ballet"

I don't think I've ever shared any bee wisdom or medicine on my blog. I've researched them on several sites - here are just a few of the traits they represent:

*Accomplishing the impossible - looking at the bees above, hanging on determined to get their pollen; they prove you can reach your goals:-) Also, the way bees are built, they shouldn't be able to fly, but they do.

*Be productive without overdoing it, remember to "savor the honey of life". Also, are you actually working and being productive, or just being busy?

*Bees show the value of working as a community.

*Enjoy the sweetness of life.

And, two of several traits from my favorite quick reference site Animal Spirits:

*Prosperity
*Understanding female warrior energy

These photos are of honey bees and Anthophora urbana (I believe, but if not, please let me know). All are available in our shops (which the photos link to), because I bee-lieve I'm not alone in my love of bees:-)

"I Wanna be a Cowboy"

2011-02-17T14:35:00.000-08:00

Well, okay, not really;-) Last Saturday, though, we took a drive, and stumbled upon a big round-up/branding gathering on our favorite road. We stopped, I asked if I could take photos, and was told yes. So, parked, hopped out, and got to see our first-ever real-life round-up. It was so cool! The action took place in a fairly small pen with a tall fence around it, not the greatest for photos, but at least we got to see it and I got some fun shots.

Yes, it can be a bit harsh (which is why no branding photos here), but to me, it was so great to see this lifestyle still in existence - especially here in California. Plus, though they may eventually head to market, the calves up in the foothills still have much happier lives than the ones down here in the factory dairy farms (veal crates, anyone?). The foothill calves get to stay with their mothers until weaning age, and enjoy freedom and green grass for a while. They get to be cows.

It was really awesome to see all of the cowboys at work! I've seen reining and roping in the show ring, and have to say that the real thing makes you appreciate just how hard it is to rope and wrangle a calf. It was a great trip back into the past, and I hope you enjoy this short photo journey into being a cowboy for a day:-)

Goodbye, January

2011-01-31T17:29:00.001-08:00

Dear January,

I know I've missed the whole month with you on my blog. However, January, you've been so dull and grey, I just wanted you to be done. So long, farewell to the foggiest, dreariest, wettest January since we've lived here.

Here's to sunnier times ahead, and prettier days!

A cheerful farewell,
Erica

P.S. Despite the dreary weather, there actually were some bright spots in January which I will share soon:-) And, yes, that's a rare sighting of the sun in my photo.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T09:49:00.001-08:00

I hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday season!!! No "white Christmas" here, but the hills are coming alive with green:-) This photo was taken yesterday, and this first deer we've seen in the entire time we've been taking drives on our foothill road - perfect timing!

Hummingbirds!

2010-12-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

Well, once again, it's been too long! So, I decided to remedy that by doing a post of some of my hummingbird pictures taken over the past few months. Despite one really cold snap, it seems like we still have more hanging around than normal for this time of year. Yesterday, I counted ten around the feeders - not nearly as many as a couple months ago, but they're still emptying the small feeder once a day. So glad to have them, and I love being able to share my photo addiction with you:-) All are Anna's Hummingbirds, the one species that we do have year-round here. Hope you enjoy!

"Attention!" Sometimes, the males' heads are almost magenta like this, other times they have a deeper maroon with gold highlights like the next pic depending on the light when they flash. It's always gorgeous to see:-)

"Shine!"

"Ta da!" Female Anna's - I always seem to share photos of the males, but the females are lovely, too, don't you think?

"Ascension"

"Hello Down There!"

"Bat Bird" - I've done this before, shouldn't work, but it does in a weird way. On camera flash at dusk, so ISO 400, and shutter speed was just 200. This is one of the few times flash eye isn't bad, lol!

"Proud!"

"Up Close and Personal" - bad background, but he's so close and detailed:-)

"On Target!" - My favorite hummingbird photo this year, just because it's a shot I've never gotten before. It usually winds up as a blur. This photo even made it to the front page of Etsy in a Treasury a while back - clicking on the photo will take you to our Etsy shop:-)

"Bottoms Up!" - Bye for now!

A Creepy, Crawly Halloween!

2010-10-31T16:40:00.001-07:00

"Just Hangin'!"

I saved these photos especially for Halloween - I thought they were appropriately ghoulish;-) Let me just say I'm a big baby when it comes to spiders, and have been known not to enter a room when a spider is present. However, I recognize that they are usually beneficial visitors to gardens. So, when I saw this spider setting up residence in our plants, I let her be. At first, the Skippers kept getting caught. I didn't like seeing them being devoured, but there were so many, and I figured that Miss Spider needed to eat, too. I also figured, incorrectly, that Skippers would be as big as she could catch and eat... Then she caught a Common Buckeye. I left her alone, though, because Common Buckeyes didn't visit that often, so I hoped it would be the exception, not the rule. The very next day, this insatiable spider caught an Anise Swallowtail!!! I couldn't believe my eyes:-( At that point, I decided Miss Spider was uninvited, and needed to find a new home. I caught her and her prey on the bottom of the broom, and gave her a gentle ride over the wall. Sorry, but I wanted the butterflies to be safe while visiting my flowers. I had really hoped the grasshoppers would get caught, but I guess they're too wily, and are still out there munching my roses. P.S. These photos were taken over the course of four days in August. I never knew spiders were so voracious! There was initially a second spider, but it disappeared... or did it get eaten??? HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

"The Mummy"

"Monster Mash"

"Gory!"

"Spider Bat" or "Bat Spider";-)

"Gift Wrapped"

"The Last Supper"

"Creepy Crawly!"

Hey! How did he get in here? Sighted last weekend on a drive:-)

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, SKYE!!!

2010-10-31T12:22:00.001-07:00

Yup, Skye's a cat, and he was born on Halloween, 2000. He came into our lives in May, 2001. He's a purebred Persian, and the sweetest cat you'll ever meet:-) We've had other Persians, who have since passed, and they've all been lovebugs. While they are high-maintenance cats, they're also very laid-back and don't get into much cat trouble (no counter surfing unless there's a way for them to step up to it, no curtain swinging, etc.;-).

Skye spends most of his day in true cat fashion, asleep. Because of his flat face, he snores, lol! When he is awake, he just wants to be petted and loved. He'll meow (loud and raspy!) and make a pest of himself until you do:-) He's also got the fine art of plopping down the spot where you're most likely to trip over him - or getting up when you do, and running right in front of your legs.

He's not big on being held, but he loves to be petted - he'll make biscuits the whole time, and purrs as loud as a freight train. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body... Well, except for when it comes to getting a bath. Persians tend to get oily/dandruffy and their hair starts to mat if they don't get bathed. Our others didn't mind that much, but Skye hollers and screams so loud the whole time that the neighbors probably think we're killing him! He doesn't get too many baths nowadays, to keep his stress level down - it wears him out too much. He doesn't mind being shaved (the full body pic shows a little of this year's haircut), which keeps him cleaner longer. We've had to shave him since moving here because summers are so hot. He loves being groomed, and will follow you around when he sees the brushes come out:-)

Skye is strictly indoors, and always has been. We believe all cats should be indoors for a variety of reasons (however, we know how hard it can be to turn an outdoor cat into an indoor one). Persians are foo-foo cats, though, and aren't meant to survive outdoors. They were created at the whim of humans, and are dependent on us to take care of all that hair and to clean that smooshy-face.

Anyways, Happy Birthday to the sweetest cat in the world! Skye, it's been an honor to have you in our lives, and we hope there are many more years still to come. You are so very special, and I wish everyone could know the joy of such a wonderful cat:-)

Cowabunga, dudes! Oh, those silly cows...

2010-10-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

That's right, it's an ode to the cow - the silly cow, that is;-) When we take our drives up into the foothills, if we don't see anything else, we know we'll see some cows. Unlike the ones on the valley floor in factory dairy farms, these actually are happy California cows. They have lots and lots of land to roam, grass to eat, and mighty oak trees to lie under. Yes, some will wind up as hamburger, but at least they're able to enjoy life before they do, and just be cows.

Being cows, they're a pretty mellow bunch, though wary of strange humans wearing weird things around their necks;-) They actually have a really good energy. Standing near them, I can feel their calm, and it's very soothing. I looked up their "wisdom" on Animal Spirits, and it's no surprise that two of the things they represent are love and contentment:-)

That said, they should also represent silliness! It seems every time I take cow photos, I wind up with something funny. So, I finally put some of these silly shots together, gave them goofy captions, and am presenting them here for your viewing pleasure:

Aka "Stank Eye" ;-)

This young bull had escaped from his pasture, wandered down the road (leaving lots of ploppies), and wound up here. Looking for love in all the wrong places, I guess;-)

Rain!!!

2010-10-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

This October has seen some weather extremes - lots of rain, then up into the 90's again, back to more rain (unusual here). Yesterday, it was a little cloudy, but we decided to take a drive just to get out. It started raining right after we got into the hills. We almost turned around, then thought what the heck;-) The air smelled so good, and it was so awesome and refreshing to be out in the rain. The thunder and lightning came a little close, but just spiced things up a little - actually, the animals didn't seem to phased by it, which was surprising. Unfortunately, the conditions weren't great for photos, and they were all a little dark. After some editing, these are the best of the bunch, and I thought I'd share:-)

Just to prove there were actual raindrops... Woo hoo!

This cutie is a bit u-necked (looked young, so maybe just needs some muscles), but was a total sweetie. She and her pal, below, came over for pets and scratches:-)

"Black Eye" - Couldn't resist the opportunity to add to my horse eye photo collection! He was a very mellow fellow.

Buckeyes bring a little light to a dark spot.

"What's One More?" Guess nothing's going to stop a woodpecker from pecking;-)

In the same vein, apparently it wasn't raining hard enough for this Lark Sparrow. There was a little group of them in the middle of the road bathing. They weren't close enough to get a real good shot from inside the car, but still funny. Like little kids playing in puddles!

On the other hand, this little sparrow is taking a break and trying to dry off.

"Might as well Jump!" - If only there had been more light and time, this would have been the shot of the day! My mom spotted this guy as we rounded a corner, but there was a truck coming from the other side. I only had a second before he left with the rest of his group. This was so dark, that I really had to edit it to get it to this point. There were lots of quail out and about, but they always scurry into the brush so quickly - not that I blame them, but they're so handsome, I always try to catch them:-)

And this is a teaser shot for my next post. This handsome little guy was photographed yesterday, too, but you have to stay tuned to see some very humorous cows coming to my blog this week...

Dragons and Damsels

2010-10-07T15:41:00.001-07:00

Flies, of course! ;-) Yes, I know it's been a long time again. Getting back into the swing of things, though. I've been working on setting up our Pro Studio again at ArtFire, Nature Visions. I love the tools they offer and the support of the community that you find there! We had a Pro account before, but let it go, so were very excited when they recently offered a great deal to upgrade again. Anyways, lots to do, including getting my blog back up to speed! So, here are some recent dragonfly and damselfly photos. I've always thought they were the coolest insects, but it wasn't till I started photographing them that I learned just how fascinating they really are! So many parts, so much intricacy in something so small - I could watch them all day:-)

"A Little Blue", male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

"Smile!", female Variegated Meadowhawk, (Sympetrum corruptum)

"Freeze!", male Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva)

"Dragonfly Diner", female Variegated Meadowhawk chowing down

"Gripping", female(?) Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis)

"Steady", Variegated Meadowhawk

"Ready for Liftoff!", male Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

"The Aviator", female Variegated Meadowhawk

"A Little Privacy, Please", pair of Common Blues last May - this was taken while leaning over a barbed wire fence, and I actually didn't see Mrs. Blue until I processed the photos. I couldn't figure out what Mr. Blue was doing "standing up", lol!

"Copper Colllision", the same Meadowhawk as "Steady". This beauty stayed long enough to get different angles and backgrounds:-)

Hope you've enjoyed this little montage! If I've identified any of these incorrectly, please leave a comment and let me know. I've tried to match them up to what I've found online, but dragonfly id is all new to me. Several of these are in our shops, so I've included links in the photos when you click them. I find them irresistible, and figure others might, too:-)

P.S. A little Dragonfly/Damselfly medicine - They represent transformation. They help us break down illusions and find truth, and provide help with learning what we need to change/breaking bad habits. They represent much more, but these are the things that stand out to me the most.

The Monarchy is in Control!

2010-08-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

"The Monarchy"

Okay, this might be the last all-butterfly post for a while, as I don’t want to bore you. However, the Monarchs made me do it;-) Actually, what happened was that last Sunday, it was a tiny bit cooler than it had been, so we took a drive. We had no expectations, we just wanted to get out. We figured we'd see lots of dry grass, and not much else. However, we happened upon a couple of small spots that weren’t dried out yet. We also saw lots of calves (for another time). As we came upon the second little green spot, we suddenly realized there were several Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) flying about. We pulled over, and lo and behold, there were small patches of milkweed on each side. There were about a half-dozen Monarchs flying around, along with other creatures. These are some of their photos, which I hope you enjoy:-)

"Upside Down"

"Connoisseur"

"Magical Monarch"

"Copper Glow"

"Spots!"

I will be adding some of these to our shop. I’d love to know which is your favorite!

Swallowing my Embarrassment

2010-08-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

"Tippy Toeing!"

It’s been so long since I’ve done a blog post, that I’ve actually become embarrassed to post again – which has made it become even longer:-\ So, I’m swallowing my embarrassment, and sharing some recent photos. I thought it was only appropriate that my subject be Swallowtail Butterflies:-) I believe these are all Anise Swallowtails, but if not, please let me know – are the females much larger than the males? Anyways, I hope you enjoy these photos, and that you’ll stay tuned for more posts... I promise it won't be so long in between!

"Portrait of a Butterfly"

"Butterfly Light"

"Butterfly Beauty"

"Get a Grip!"

"Glider"

"Gold Fever!"

Several of these photos are available in our shop here: Butterfly photos. All of these photos were taken with my Canon Digital Rebel XT and 55-250mm f4/5.6 lens. I’ve decided that Shutter Priority works best for butterflies, because they’re so fast and erratic, darting in and out of shadows. My main speed is 1250 with ISO 400 – I haven’t played with ISO 800 yet, but I might see how it does noise-wise to see if I can go with a faster shutter speed. I thought hummingbirds were hard to capture, but butterflies have been even more challenging! Love them, though, and these are just a fraction of the photos that I now have.

Butterflies to Flutter by

2010-07-12T14:34:00.001-07:00

Okay, I am waaaaaaaaaayyyy overdue for a new post! I've found a new addiction in photographing the butterflies that have been coming around here. It's been too hot to take our drives, so I look for things around home to photograph (so I don't have withdrawals;-). I still have plenty of photos from past drives to share, but this time, it's all about the butterflies! These are photos from both where we live, and some taken at Sequoia National Park in the past (ones that I haven't shared anywhere before).

"Mosey Along Now" - One of my all-time favorite sightings was this Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) at Sequoia National Park. This was the first and only Monarch sighting since returning to California. This beauty flew back and forth multiple times, allowing me to take a lot of photos. I have a couple here in our shop, but hadn't edited this one before now.

"Tiny But Tough" - This little cutie is the one that the Monarch is trying to get to move. Not happening! S/he might be small, but was determined to stay. I believe this is an Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly (Everes comyntas). If it's not, please let me know:-)

"Somber" - This is another Sequoia shot. I believe this a a Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), but I'm not positive. I looked at a lot of different photos trying to be sure. The markings seem a little different on the top wings, but overall it appears to be a match...

"Inside and Out" - A California Sister Butterfly (Adelpha californica), taken at Sequoia. This butterfly's wings are equally beautiful inside and out:-)

"A Bright Spot" - The butterflies at Sequoia love the granite and the little pools of water that form in this one area. I believe this is a Large White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum). Almost looks like s/he's part of the rocks!

"Hidden Gold" - A lucky sighting! I was tracking this little beauty when s/he landed on the blade of grass. It may have been meant for camouflage, but wound up being the perfect backdrop:-) I think this is a Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides), taken at Sequoia.

"Hold Tight" - A Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia) with a very tight grip on some yellow lantana. We've been having a few of these show up - they seem to like yellow flowers best. I want to get a shot of the wings open, because they're so beautiful. In the meantime, I was happy to discover a new visitor to our plants:-)

"Sunny Delight" - Of course, I couldn't resist adding another photo of a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella). This is one taken here at home on the Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple' that so kindly jumped out of its pot into the ground and spread like crazy:-) Butterflies love it!

"How's the World Look Upside Down?" - The very common but still pretty Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) taking in a different view;-) This photo was taken at Lowes. Going to their garden center is a great way to get a flower fix - this center always has a great selection of plants to photograph. I'm sure people think it's a bit odd to be going there around with a camera, but it's so enjoyable that I just lose myself in the flowers:-)

"Pretty as a Picture" - Last, but not least, is another Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon). These have been coming by here every day, and I've been taking tons of photos. This photo is also available in our shop here in various sizes. It was an instant fave for me:-)

I hope you've enjoyed this butterfly journey. To me, butterflies are one of the most challenging photographic subjects, which is why I've become addicted to shooting them - practice makes perfect, right? I delete far more photos than I keep, and get so excited when I get a good one:-) If any of the id's are incorrect, please let me know. I'd also love to know which photo here is your favorite, and what butterflies grace your part of the world. It's so exciting to learn and see new species!

These hummingbirds wish to remain...

2010-06-24T20:28:00.001-07:00

Anonymous;-) I wind up with a lot of shots like these when I take hummingbird pictures. Even though the faces are obstructed (or not visible at all), I still think they're kind of cool, so decided to share. Hope you enjoy this little series, too (a bit prettier than my last post!).

Danger...

2010-06-17T14:06:00.001-07:00

I took this photo from my bedroom window today, because I wanted to see what the sign said (and now I know the chemical this time: Lorsban, will be reading about it). The lens I use is 55-250mm, and this was taken at 240mm. I'm not so great at math, but maybe someone else will be able to tell how many feet away this is. Not very many, I know that. Close enough that we most definitely get spray drift here. There are times when we get physically sick when they're spraying, because the fumes are so strong coming into our home.

So, here you have this sign telling people not to enter the orchard for 7 days because of the pesticide they used. Below are two photos taken earlier this year, that show what it looks like when they're spraying. I've kept our awning support in for perspective - these photos were taken at 179mm and 96mm.

There are other orange groves and orchards (and a whole host of vegetables and grapevines) that are even closer to homes. They all get sprayed regularly by the same sort of equipment with the same chemicals.

This isn't the first time I've written about the problems here. This is the first time I've seen the "Danger" sign where I can read it, though, and I just wanted to post it, because I really don't understand how this can be happening. The crops here are far more important than the people. In fact, our neighbor told us, the sprayers used to spray right over them while they were working. They have a myriad of health problems now...

You can say that people shouldn't be living here. While I might agree because this is really the desert and wasn't meant to sustain this agriculture in the first place, I will say that where we live here was established long before these orange groves. However, apparently the oranges are worth more than the people, the animals (the hummingbirds who live in the orchards), and the environment.

I still don't know what to do in the face of a billion dollar business that controls a whole area. Doesn't anybody care about the future? About what else they're poisoning besides the "pests"? Danger, indeed...

Willpower

2010-06-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

"Keep on Keepin' on!"
I took these photos last week, while watering our plants. This beautiful Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) came over, and actually stayed for a bit. You can see from the first photo just how gorgeous s/he was - looks perfect, right? Well, this beautiful butterfly had a secret that wasn't obvious at first glance, with the rapid movement of the wings. I kept thinking something didn't look right, and finally realized that a good portion of the wings on the other side were torn off - as you can see in the bottom photo. I have no idea of the thought processes of a butterfly, all I know is that it has to be extremely difficult to fly with so much of your wings missing. Yet, this butterfly was bound and determined, and was flying all over. S/he didn't know to give up - a powerful message, no matter who or what delivers it:-)

There is probably no better deliverer of that message than Nick Vujicic in the video below. I'd seen him online before, but it had been a while. This video was at the bottom of a recent Cheryl Richardson newsletter, and I'm so glad I clicked to see what it was!

The words in this video really resonate with me - heck, it brings me to tears each time I watch it. It's all in how we see things, isn't? Determination and appreciation are beautiful things.

"Willpower"

Back to the Birds!

2010-06-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been bad about blogging again, even though I have tons of photos to share. No excuses, just going to get back to it:-) So, here's a little bird journey to get things started again...

"Peek A Boo!" First is an Acorn Woodpecker peeking out of the nest hole. I could hear the babies inside:-) This parent kept a wary eye on me, though I couldn't get too close, because the tree was off the road and down a little incline. It's amazing that they can fit through such a small hole!

Next, "Snacktime" is a Lark Sparrow who landed as we were coming up the road - lucky catch for him and for me!

"Mrs. Bluebird", a female Western Bluebird we chanced upon. They're such beautiful birds, aren't they?

"Sun on My Back" is a Western Meadowlark. We think s/he is pretty young, judging by the feathers (which also look wet), and the fact that s/he stayed for so long with a car right alongside. This was actually on the opposite side of the road from me, so I was doing a contortion act to try and get some photos:-)

"Open Communication" - Believe it or not, as common as Scrub Jays are around here, this is the first decent shot I've gotten. They usually fly off at the least disturbance - funny, since they're such precocious birds!

"Tough!" - Last, but most certainly not least, is this Turkey Vulture. While Turkey Vultures are also common, they don't usually sit on the fence posts as we're driving past, lol! This one allowed us to get quite close. We think there was something they were dining on out in the field on the other side of the fence, so s/he didn't want to leave. Unfortunately, this was the wrong side of the light, but I couldn't exactly get out and change things;-) Still can't believe how this big bird is balanced on that post. Even more amazing, s/he was first balanced around a t-post on the wire - ouch!

Hope you've enjoyed this journey - stay tuned, more to come, I promise:-)

One Butterfly...

2010-05-24T15:10:00.001-07:00

And about 200 photos! I got caught up in the moment when I spotted this West Coast Lady butterfly (Vanessa arabella) visiting recently. It was just so awesome that she (or he) stayed around - she would fly off, then come back over because she really liked that Homestead Verbena. I kept following her and clicking away:-) I had to move very slowly, because the slighest movement sent her flying. Anyways, following are just of few of my favorite shots - which one do you like best? I've put the 1st in our shop, and I'm not sure if I'll add another. I love butterflies - here's hoping for more photo opps soon!

"Pretty Lady"

"Curious"

"Strike a Pose!"

"Digging in!"

"Sideways Swirl"

A little inspiration...

2010-05-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Photo is "Hold on to Your Dreams", and prints are available here.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T16:24:00.001-07:00

Today, and every day, really, I give thanks for having such a wonderful mom! Not only has she always been a great mom, but she's also a truly good person whom I'm fortunate to have as my best friend. I wish for every person to have one good parent, biological or otherwise. As corny as it might sound, I believe that love and that foundation are truly what make the world go around:-)

Snake Medicine

2010-05-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

While I know snakes aren't to everyone's liking, I've always found them fascinating. Spiders, on the other hand, not so much;-) Recently, we had two unique snake experiences on one of our drives. These experiences made me look up "Snake Medicine" when we returned home. If you aren't familiar with animal shamanism or medicine, I urge you to do some research. You may be surprised by what you learn! This website has a wonderful, extensive list of animals, and is always the first one I go to: Animal Spirits. I also have some books - this one was given to me, and is really interesting (the cards make it even more so!): Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals I'm not heavily into it, but it intrigues me enough to keep coming back to it when I have unusual animal encounters.

So, the snake experiences definitely qualified as unusual. The first happened when I caught something in a tree out the corner of my eye. My initial thought was snake, and then I thought it couldn't be. We pulled over, and I walked back to the spot thinking it had to be a rope or something. Nope, it was most definitely a snake, and a dead one to boot! I don't think this photo is too graphic to post. I believe it's a California Kingsnake. What's unclear is how it got into the tree. Did someone run over it and then sling it on the tree for something to find? Or, did a bird of prey get it, and have its meal interrupted? It looks like there are a couple of flat places, so I'm not sure which scenario fits.

I figured a dead snake would be like drawing the card in the contrary position; it "indicates an imbalance in the medicine of that card". I read that part in the book above, and it definitely spoke to my mom and I - here's some of it:

"....you may have chosen to mask your ability to change. Look at the idea that you may fear changing your present state of affairs because this may entail a short passage into discomfort... Is the old pattern safe, reliable, and a rut?"

Yup! Exactly what's happening in our lives right now - we've become stuck in this place since my grandparents passed. We're caught between wanting to move on, and not knowing how. Fear definitely plays a part. It's past time to shed this skin, and that snake was a powerful symbol.

If we had just seen the dead snake, we may not have paid attention or looked it up. However, when we met this Pacific Gopher Snake, we had our "Aha!" moment. We'd come around a curve, and then saw him in the opposite lane. Again, we were able to pull over and get out. I kept getting closer and closer with my camera - it was awesome! We knew we had to get him out of the road, though. So, my mom grabbed a stick and nudged him off the road (okay, so neither of us was quite into the idea of picking him up, harmless as he was;-). He disappeared into the grasses, and we got back into the car. Right after, two cars came up the hill in that lane - if we hadn't seen and moved him, he, too, would have been dead. Hence, the name of the photo: "Lucky" - it was for us and for him (and I thought this shot was cool enough to put in our shop:-).

From what I've read, Snake medicine is very powerful. With the shedding of the skin, it's no wonder snakes represent transmutation. That's the main quality that stood out the most in my research for my own life. It's what's needed now, and is definitely what both my mom and I are working on. I thank Snake for appearing when I most needed him/her - I truly appreciate the magic of nature! I hope you've enjoyed this little journey, and that it will make you look more closely at special animal encounters in your life. If you already do this, I'd love to know of your own experiences:-)

Raindrops on Roses

2010-04-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

This past week, we received a lot of rain in the central valley - yay! I happened to notice my roses opening, despite the temperature drop. I grabbed my camera, and here you go:-)

"Raindrops on a Rose", this is the English or David Austin rose 'Ambridge Rose'. I love English roses - here's an older post telling a little of my rose journey: "Scent of a Rose". All of my roses are in pots, and the green here is Stipa tenuissima or 'Mexican Feather Grass'. It started out in a pot, too, but has found it's way into the ground and is taking over. Good thing it's a beautiful grass:-)

"Red Rose Raindrops", this is one of my Moore miniature roses, and I can't recall the name at the moment. Looks like this little blossom's about to start swimming;-)

"Dancing Drops", Okay, so this isn't a rose, but it's still so pretty, isn't it? It's Alyogyne huegelii, aka blue hibiscus. It was blowing all over, but I managed to catch this side view.

Bright enough? This is a grocery store mini. While I'm more of a pastel rose person, sometimes those bright colors just call out and jump into your cart;-)

Hope you've enjoyed "Raindrops on Roses", I can't promise "Whiskers on Kittens", but stay tuned for more photos soon!

Flora

2010-04-21T12:32:00.001-07:00

Time for a new post! We weren't able take a drive for a couple of weeks, and I was going through withdrawals. So, I hope there aren't too many photos here, but I have a flower addiction and it must be satisfied, lol! I hope you enjoy, and if you have a favorite, please let me know:-)

"No Matter How Hard, Keep Reaching for the Light", these beauties are a bit tattered and torn, but they've still got their faces pointed to the sun. It's a message I value. These are Common Madia (Madia elegans).

"Sticky Chinese Houses" (Collinsia heterophylla), not a title, but the actual name of the flower. I think this has to be one of the best flower names! It's a California native, and is also known as "tincture plant" or "Purple Chinese Houses".

"Foothill Shooting Star" (Dodecatheon hendersonii), actually taken on our trip to Sequoia. Came across one little patch of these delicate beauties, and was thrilled! This is one wildflower I'd really been wanting to see and photograph:-)

"Lovely Little Vetch", this one's for Nature ID. She has an awesome blog that chronicles the flora and fauna of California's central coast area (and beyond). She had a vetch she was trying to id, too. I think mine's "Hairy Vetch", but am not sure.

"Pretty Face", again the common name for the flower, but works as a title. I love these elegant little wildflowers. They're a member of the lily family.

"Tomcat Clover" (Trifolium tridentatum), cool name and cool-looking!

"Long-beaked filaree" (Erodium botrys), geranium family. A non-native invasive, but still pretty:-)

"Thistle Honey", last but not least, a honey bee doing good things with milk thistle:-) Such a beautiful flower, but it's a wicked plant (those thorns are strong!). Hope you've enjoyed this little stroll - fauna coming soon:-)

Recent "Backyard" Bird Photos

2010-04-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

These are some recent bird sightings around our home. They're not really backyard shots, because we don't have much of a backyard, lol! I'll explain each photo in the caption below it. I'd love to hear what birds are visiting your area now - spring is such an awesome birding time!

"Just Look Over Your Shoulder, Baby!" ;-) American Goldfinch on the old TV aerial. I was actually up on a ladder taking photos of items for our store (good way to get full overview). I spotted this beauty through the crack between our carport and shed. I angled myself very quietly and carefully, as the ladder is a bit rickety. I was surprised to get this!

"A Little Shower", I spotted this little White-Crowned Sparrow on the other side of the wall on a dark, rainy afternoon. It was a little too late in the day, and too dark, but I took it anyways, and just adjusted it:-)

"Receptive", I believe this is a House Finch (male with diluted color?), up on the top part of the antenna. The foreground blur is from weeds in the rain gutters, lol! Time to clean them.

"Look Out Below!" Not sure if this is a Cooper's Hawk. I do know that I shouldn't take my eyes off the prize. I'd gone outside because I'd seen him flying, but he wasn't coming close enough, and I got distracted by the honey bees in the fiddlenecks below after the hawk had disappeared at the end of the field. Next thing I knew, he came back, and I barely had time to get my camera up and adjusted - duh! ;-)

"Mr. House Finch", original title, I know. This was actually taken through my bedroom window, and brightened in Photoshop Elements.

"Ack!", Mrs. House Finch, who was visiting with her hubby above:-)

Just some photos...

2010-03-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

From a recent trip to Sequoia National Park and one of our drives, more to come! Hope you enjoy these:-)

"Hi, Phoebe!" Continuing my ongoing saga with the Black Phoebe, we spotted this singing cutie at Sequoia - way up high, of course!

I now believe this is "Elegant Rock Cress", or Arabella sparsiflora var. arcuata.

"Bokeh Fun" Ever see something that looks cool, but you're not sure how a photo will come out? Well, this is one of those shots for me, and I think it worked:-) **Any guesses on what the background is here?**

"Grass Nut" or "Ithuriel's Spear" is just starting to bloom in the foothills.

Sun shining through a "Fiesta Flower" (Pholistoma auritum) with a visitor.

"A Little View" Fiesta Flowers are all over right now - such delicate beauties!

And, yay, the Western Kingbirds are back in the foothills! I say "yay", because they've been some of the best ones for landing and staying as we drive by:-)

The Road Not Taken

2010-03-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Another horse eye photo, though with a little twist - I caught the reflection of the road where we take our drives in his eye:-) "The Road Not Taken" is one of my most favorite poems. It not only paints a beautiful, vivid picture, but it also resonates within me. My mom and I usually take the road "less traveled by", and it's definitely been an interesting journey!

P.S. If you click on this photo, you'll see I've already added it to our shop - it was an instant fave for me! I hope you enjoy it, too:-)

Back on Track!

2010-03-15T21:38:00.001-07:00

I needed a mini-break from my blog, hence my absence these past few days. Even though I have lots of ideas, I was having brain-freeze when it actually came time to post something (must be all those Icees I drink;-). Anyways, I'm back on track, and sharing several recent photos. I hope you enjoy them, and if you know what the weird creature is on the last photo, please share - sometimes it's hard to know where to start searching for insect id's.

"Hide-n-seek" We startled a covey of quail as we were driving, and they went up into the trees. Very hard to see, but I was able to capture this gentleman:-)

"Emerging", beautiful wildflower, terrible name: Blue-dick.

"Blending In", this ground squirrel thought if he stayed real still, he was invisible;-)

"Sun Dance", California Poppies can have the best shadows!

"Alien", there were several of these along with other weird flying insects on this Mountain Whitethorn (Ceanothus cordulatus). What are they?

Abraham-Hicks for Today

2010-03-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

I've been stuck on what to post tonight. I finally went to YouTube to choose a song video. However, I found myself thinking about Abraham-Hicks. I deliberated over several videos of theirs, then finally had my "Aha!" moment... I chose the one that they just sent out yesterday. It's the simplest explanation of the Law of Attraction, and it also makes me laugh - it doesn't get much better than that! I know I needed a good reminder based on some things that have been happening lately. If you're not familiar with Abraham-Hicks, I urge you to check out their site. I hope you'll take a moment to watch, and let me know what you think about the Law of Attraction and this video. I hope it makes you feel as good as it does me:-)

Survey Says! Flowers:-)

2010-03-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

I finally decided to put together my first survey (I think you can tell it's my first, lol!). I'm asking you to select your favorite photo below. I will be looking at the top choices to put in our store ("Dear Life" is already in, but I would still like to see how it does here). Thanks for your help!

1) "Wild Beauty"

2) "Focus"

3) "For You"

4) "Bee Good"

5) "Confection"

6) "Pretty in Pink"

7) "Dear Life"

8) "One"

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Lookin' Out For Spring!

2010-03-09T22:41:00.001-08:00

Taken this past Sunday - these slabs are a little ways out on the other side of a fence inside what looks like a quarry. The ground squirrels and rabbits love all the hidey-holes! Do you notice anything in particular about this little one? Spring isn't too far away at all:-)

Poppies, Poppies, Poppies!

2010-03-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Yup, three recent photos of California Poppies:-)

"Sunny Side Up!" Love the sheen on poppies when the sun hits.

"It Takes Two..." These were growing out of a steep hill hence side view.

"Sunny Side Up!" Even on a cloudy day, California Poppies are neon-bright!

Bad Horn Day

2010-03-07T22:33:00.001-08:00

Some days, it's like that.

Horsey

2010-03-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

This is the horse that's featured in my goofy post. We've seen him often, but not as close to the fence. He's a gorgeous chocolate color, but has obviously had a good roll before these photos. He has the most unique marking on his face. Normally, that much white over the eye would mean a glass (or blue) eye. He was super sweet, and I'm not sure if he or I enjoyed his face rub more:-)

He was so cooperative, keeping his ears up without spooking:-)

I have a fascination with horse eyes! This side was in the light (cloudy), with good reflection.

And this eye was on the dark side - I think it almost doesn't look like a horse eye with those markings! I kept playing with the crop, because it looked odd to me. Very cool, though, and I'm thinking there's some Paint in his breeding.

No Excuses

2010-03-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, I finally missed a day. No excuses! So, here I am hoping to make it up with a small collection of pink blossom photos. These were taken this year and last. I have a lot from last year that I haven't published - not because they weren't worthy, but because I have that addiction problem where I just keep taking more and more photos before I finish with the last batch:-) I hope you enjoy these, too, and if you have a favorite, I really hope you'll leave a comment. I also need to figure out those survey things, but for now...

"Dear Life" (Hanging on for)

"Pretty in Pink!"

"Softly Seeking the Light"

"Confection"

"Bee Good!"

A Pretty Stroll

2010-03-03T22:54:00.000-08:00

More blossom photos taken recently. Hoping the rain clears so we can get out again tomorrow. I'd like some sunny photos (but really am loving the rain!). Hope you enjoy this selection - who else has fruit trees blooming now? Are you taking photos? Please share how spring is looking to you:-) P.S. Which of these photos is your favorite?

"Slow Dance"

"Pink", ya think? ;-)

"For You!" A little bouquet.

"Focus"

"Wild Beauty", because it was - a little tree on the roadside in the foothills.

Time for Another Song

2010-03-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking I need to do my posts just a wee bit earlier in the day, lol! Anyways, for today, I'm just going to share a song that always resonates with me. I heard it yesterday for the first time in a while, and went to check out the video, which I'd never seen (I know, probably everyone else has, but it's worth seeing again:-). I actually don't know much about Tracy Chapman, but I know she has a beautiful, haunting voice and I enjoy her music. I hope you enjoy this, too.

Choosing a View

2010-03-01T22:20:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, when I go to add my daily entry here, I think about all of the things I don’t write about or show. Other than one post about this area (well, two if you count the stray animal post), I work very hard at concentrating on the positive. I look for the beauty in an area where it can be difficult to find. I would only have to turn my camera away from the foothills to portray a town that most would believe was in a different country. Sometimes, I want to do just that because I can’t believe it is the way it is, and I can’t believe we’re living here.

However, I haven’t done it, and don’t know that I will (other than just to have a record, I guess). By sharing the images that I do, I believe I am creating the world I want to live in versus the one that surrounds me on a daily basis. I want to share the good energy that fills me when I’m out taking photos of flora and fauna:-) I want to keep a hold on that energy, because my heart really needs it.

I imagine that I’m not the only who creates a different world on their blog from the one that they live in. We all have a story, and we all have our own ways of telling it. It’s what gets us through and helps us on to the next chapter, right?

Quick Post Today

2010-02-28T22:19:00.001-08:00

Just a light-hearted photo taken this afternoon:-)

Banish Stereotypes, Not Breeds

2010-02-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

Theresa, who adores both people and her ball:-)

My new favorite show on Animal Planet, The Pit Boss, wrapped up its first season tonight. Thank goodness they said they were going to start the second season this summer! Both my mom and I really enjoyed this show – very engaging and inspirational. Much better than the other Pit Bull show they had recently, whose name I can't remember – although it was a rescue show, it seemed to be reinforcing a lot of the negative stereotypes that come with the breed. While Shorty, the lead in The Pit Boss, is an ex-con, he’s turned his life around; he doesn’t whine or dwell upon the negative. He’s a character, and sometimes he’s a bit much, but he has a good soul and it comes through. Everyone on The Pit Boss is so likeable, and they’re really dedicated to helping Pit Bulls. If you get a chance, tune in – I’ll bet it’s like nothing you’ve ever watched before:-)

Joey, a sweet, older Pittie

In honor of the show, I’m going to share a poem that I wrote when I worked for Best Friends Animal Society (I wrote it for me, not for work). The photos are all of dogs that were there when I was there. If all you know about Pit Bulls are the negative stereotypes, then I hope someday you will have reason to change your beliefs. I have so many memories of the Pitties at Best Friends wanting just to love on people. They were some of the hardest dogs to photograph because I couldn’t get far enough away - they were so eager to meet me:-) They want to attach themselves to you and just give kisses. More than any other breed, Pit Bulls want to please humans. They are full of joy and energy, and their sole purpose is to make us happy. It’s only when we take that loyalty and exploit that we have problems. Yes, a Pit Bull would die for you, but why should s/he have to? Why not make a friend for life?

M&M, who was a very active Pittie pup when I met her - look at those intelligent eyes!

American Pit Bull Terrier
Full of muscle and power.
So awesomely strong,
Yet some force you to cower.

We put you in rings,
And say you must fight.
We exploit your magnificence,
What gives us the right?

If we looked instead
At your wonderful grin,
We’d see your true heart,
And we both would win.

If we worked with you,
And our purpose was pure,
We’d have a dog
That we’d never fear.

It’s the American way
To give all a chance.
Let’s remove our prejudices,
And take a positive Pit Bull stance!

©Erica Lea

The very cool Spuds! And, yes, his head really was that big:-)

Just More Photos

2010-02-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

Watched the saddest movie tonight, Everybody's Fine. It was good, but a little too sad for me (maybe it just hit some sore spots), and definitely on the slow side. My mom and I joked that maybe it should have just been a Hallmark movie. I love Robert DeNiro, though, and thought he did a great job, as always.

Anyways, just going to add some photos from today. It was still overcast, as a big storm was incoming (and is now here). We've seen so many orchards that have been destroyed this year. I don't know if it's because of the drought, or because the older trees don't produce as much, but it's a sad sight to see full grown orchards bulldozed over. One of my favorite orchards from last year has been left to die out, which isn't much better than the bulldozing. However, another favorite is just getting started, so I hope these photos will brighten my so far rather depressing post!

Yay! Quick Fix Today:-)

2010-02-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

We needed to get some groceries today, and went to a store that's a little farther away, so I brought my camera. I wasn't sure if I'd get anything, because this morning was super foggy, and even by the time we went, it was still dreary. However, I know overcast conditions can also provide some of the best lighting, and it really does make for beautiful flower photos. Tonight, I'm just sharing a few. I'll probably make you sick of fruit tree blossoms by the time I'm done, lol!

The robin was a wonderful surprise! I know they're a fairly common sight, but they're so handsome and this is actually my first photo of one:-)

Waiting...

2010-02-24T19:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm restless and blog-uninspired tonight. It's been really rainy the past couple of days, so no new photos. I truly appreciate the rain, but start getting cranky when I know there are so many things out there just waiting to be photographed, lol! So, I'll post a photo from last year of what I'm waiting for:-)

Meet Tippy the Beagle and More

2010-02-23T18:39:00.000-08:00

It’s about time I started posting some art again! This is my mom’s (Nancy’s) latest sculpture to be added to our Nature Visions' shop, a Beagle named Tippy (named after a Beagle her grandparents had when she was a kid:-) I wanted to share him, because he’s so life-like – I can’t believe the things my mom does with polymer clay! She started sculpting back when we were still in Oregon, so it really hasn’t been that long. When we were in southern Utah, she started sculpting more, and it’s now a full-fledged passion.

She’s self-taught, and each sculpture is one-of-a-kind – there are no molds. She decides on a subject, researches positions and such, makes her armature then sculpts some amazing animals! After they’re baked, she paints them with acrylic paints, and gives a polycrylic coating for sheen and protection. Her two favorite clays are Fimo Puppen and Super Sculpey. Someday, I’ll do a work-in-progress post.

There was a bit of worry last summer when our oven died (after the a/c had already had to be repaired twice - a necessity here). Forget about cooking! How would Nancy bake sculptures? Well, we were very fortunate to be able to sell a scooter my late grandfather had, and used part of it to purchase a Deni 10400 Quick-n-Easy 10-4-Quart Convection Oven. She’d learned about this oven during her research, and it’s been a wonderful investment. We both still miss the real oven, but it’s amazing how you can adapt (I’ve found some yummy microwave dessert recipes I’ll have to share at some point).

In closing, I want to share a photo of one of my other new favorites, this carousel horse. This is the first horse of any kind that Nancy has sculpted, and I think it’s so beautiful:-) There are many more pieces in our shop, and I hope you’ll take a little visit.

Bull and Wildflowers

2010-02-22T21:57:00.000-08:00

Well, not together, but I promised to share a regular photo of the bull we met recently. I thought I'd throw in a few flower photos, and make it today's post:-) The bull needs a good grooming/cleaning, but I can't imagine who would get that task, lol! He sure was handsome - this photo shows his color a little better than the others.

Fiddlenecks totally cover the foothills this time of year. I think they're beautiful, but imagine the ranchers don't like them since they're almost too profuse. Better than star thistle, though!

One of the seasons first lupine - I love these flowers! They're hard to get photos of sometimes, though, because they can get so tall it's hard to get the whole flower. There will be white ones and more purply ones soon:-)

And this little white beauty is the Popcorn Flower... honest! It has a much longer Latin name that I'm too lazy to type. Plus, "Popcorn Flower" sounds like more fun, doesn't it?

Hope you've enjoyed this little bull and wildflower journey. I remembered while typing this that I actually do think I have a photo of bull in wildflowers. We'll save that for another day...

A Few More Birds

2010-02-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd add a few more recent bird sightings. We've been seeing more birds on each drive. Haven't seen the precocious Western Kingbirds yet, but I'm sure they'll be fence-hopping again soon, too:-)

First up is this beautiful little bird, a Lark Sparrow. This was a first for us. It looks like they live in some parts of Cali year-round, and migrate through others - couldn't quite tell where the map cut-off was with our area. Also, it's not only taken from inside the car, but he was on the other side of the road; I was stretched across trying to focus and hoping he wouldn't fly off, lol!

The next is this little Western Bluebird. He was still a ways down the road when we spotted him, but this is as close as we could get. I think bluebirds are so gorgeous, I had to share him, anyways:-)

And last, but not least, for tonight - I forgot that I'd taken this Western Meadowlark photo on the drive before the photo taken in last night's post. He was up on a little hill, and I just happened to spot him as we were going past, so my mom did a quick stop and reverse. He knew something was up, but he didn't leave right away - yay! They always seem so much larger than I expect - very interesting birds. Well, face it, I find almost all birds fascinating:-)

It's pouring down rain right now, and supposed to continue for a bit. I looked at my photos from last year, though, and see that I started taking fruit tree blossom photos around the 25th. Crossing my fingers that I'll be able to start soon! If you knew how many blossom photos I already had, you might wonder why I'd want more. It's an addiction, okay? I confess, and I don't want to be cured, lol!

Short and Sweet

2010-02-20T21:06:00.001-08:00

I'm going to draw tonight, so I'm just posting one of my new favorite flower photos:-) In fact, I've already added it to our shop, I like it that much! I love the translucent quality of the California Poppy, and that vibrant, cheerful orange.

The Three Kings

2010-02-19T22:31:00.000-08:00

As we were coming down from the foothills yesterday, we came around the bend and happened to see this Western Meadowlark on the rocks above. These rocks were out in a fenced pasture, with visibility all around, so no way to sneak up on him. I did get out of the car, though, and aimed up at him for fun:-) May I just say that the Meadowlark really does have one of the most beautiful, glorious birdsongs?! Listening to him sing was magical!

As I turned away from him, I saw the California Quail on the rocks to the right. He was even farther out, but I thought it was cool that he was there, too.

And if these two mighty males weren't enough, I realized that there was a third bird on the rocks behind the Meadowlark. I believe this is a Mockingbird, though it's kind of hard to tell, I know, lol!

Each of these birds was King of their spot on the rocks, and rightfully so... Well, until the next came along, right? It was certainly an unusual sight, but a joyful one, for sure!

Sweet Sighting!

2010-02-18T22:30:00.000-08:00

When taking our drives, we always hope that the birds will land on the fence, stay for a moment, and be on the right side of the light. Got lucky with the first two for these American Goldfinches:-) I took these from inside the car, and only had a couple of seconds before they disappeared. First I saw Mr. Goldfinch, then Mrs. Goldfinch landed (at least I think they're male and female...). According to the All About Birds website, American Goldfinches are only here in winter/the non-breeding season. You can see they're still in winter plumage here. I suppose they'll be gone soon, but it's sure a treat to see them! And, hey, I got a little closer than my last photo Goldfinch in fall. They're such beautiful little birds, aren't they?

Unique Photo of the Day!

2010-02-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

This morning I heard a bird outside, realized it was close, so grabbed my camera as I got up to look. It was a Flicker. It was out where the hawk was the other day, but flew away as I was focusing through the window. As I started to put the camera down, I saw this little hummingbird approaching the feeder. I was trying to adjust my settings, because this spot was much brighter than where the Flicker had been, but just went ahead and took the photo for fun.

I thought the results were kind of cool! I believe this little guy is going for the drops on the underside that you can see. Last year, we had a pair of Hooded Orioles show up at our feeders, so I started leaving 2 holes open on this feeder. It drips some from those holes. The reasons that they're still uncovered are not only because we're hoping the Orioles return, but also because we've discovered that the hummingbirds with the deformed beaks can drink more easily from them. Sadly, we do still see a lot of sick hummingbirds, and it's a topic I need to delve into more. I've never seen this anywhere else, and it's heartbreaking. I was going to link the photos that are elsewhere on this blog, but don't want to make this a sad post.

For now, we'll celebrate the healthy hummingbirds - I believe that more are starting to come around again, yay!

Just a Cute Cow for Today

2010-02-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

Maybe not the most exciting photo, but I just love these cows that we see on our drives. I think they're the prettiest cows around:-) They sure have it a lot better up in the foothills than the poor dairy cows down here. This young gal was too cute! She was very unsure, but didn't really want to leave her little spot. She looks like she's related to this Cool Cow photo that's in our shop. I don't know if there's a market for cow photos, but what the heck! I like them, and I know I'll keep taking them whenever we see these beauties - they mooooove me;-)

More Black Phoebe :-)

2010-02-15T22:00:00.001-08:00

I was taking some product photos for our stores late this afternoon, when I realized the Phoebe was up on the old antenna again. So, in my continuing quest for the perfect Black Phoebe photo, I changed my camera settings before I moved, went over to the step, and aimed up. I caught a couple of cute shots I thought I'd share for tonight's post. I love how I caught him staring at me, beak open, lol! Such a funny little bird - sing, sing, sing, swoop:-)

Happy Valentine's Day ♥

2010-02-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

If you're celebrating, I hope it's been a wonderfully romantic day! As for me, George Clooney still hasn't shown up on my doorstep... ;-)

This was taken on Friday, from inside the car, so the little mischief-makers were a little ways away. They were scampering all about:-) I made this for a forum I participate on, and then thought it would be the perfect post for here today!

The Little Bird that Stole Me Away from the Bull

2010-02-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, in yesterday's silly bull post, I mentioned a bird that took my attention away from Mr. Bull. This little Savannah Sparrow was the culprit:-) S/he flew up out of the grass, and landed on this post. I was standing out in the open, but decided to see how close I could get. Considering that there was a lot of dry brush crackling under my feet, I did better than I thought. In fact, the sparrow was happily preening and cleaning itself until I got too close. So, was this worth turning away from the indignant bull? I think so;-)

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On...

2010-02-12T22:26:00.000-08:00

Taken today, I had a little fun and put two shots together. Not sure if this bull was upset at me, or if he liked me - the red hair;-) I'd been taking his photo, when I noticed a bird fly up near me and land on a fence post. So, I was busily taking the bird's photo when the bull started mooing LOUDLY! He got my attention for sure, lol! I was kind of wondering if the barbed wire fence was enough to stop him if he decided he didn't like me there. He was a hunk, though, so I took my chances. I'll post a normal portrait of him soon, but just wanted to share this for tonight. Enjoy:-)

Valentine’s Treasury ♥♥♥

2010-02-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

If you’re a member of Etsy, you already know all about Treasuries:-) If you aren’t, Treasuries are a way to honor the other sellers on Etsy. There are so many beautiful items for sale on Etsy, from handmade to vintage to supplies to make your own creations. Creating a Treasury allows a way to share your favorites with others. Once you have your Treasury up, it’s a bit of a popularity contest, too, as the clicks and comments move it up on the "Hot" scale. The ultimate prize is making Etsy’s Front Page. The only time I’ve had that happen was way back when we first started, and there was a group effort to make Front Page Treasuries for Christmas. At that time, I barely knew what a Treasury was, but it was exciting, and I did it. I soon became hooked, and have made many Treasuries in the past two years – it’s fun! This latest Treasury is to celebrate all of the teams we’re involved with: CCCOE Team, Whoa Team, Etsy for Animals, and our newest team, Will Craft for Food. Each team features a great group of members (some I need to get to know better!) – they’re a talented bunch, and it was easy to create this fun Valentine’s Treasury. My only problem was that I ran out of spaces too soon!

I hope you enjoy my Treasury, please click on the photo and take a moment to visit the wonderful shops featured! You’ll find plenty more terrific items beyond the Valentine ones featured here:-)

Sighting of the Day - Hawk

2010-02-10T22:02:00.000-08:00

So, I was walking past a window, and as I looked out, saw a bird flying past. I waited to see if I could tell what it was, and when it landed, realized it was a hawk. I ran back to my room, grabbed my camera, and aimed through my window (I knew he wouldn't stay if I tried to go outside, and he did fly off when he saw the motion of my curtains). This photo is as good as it gets, lol! Between the window and the distance, I’m surprised I got anything. We don’t often see hawks perch down here, so it was a great sighting!

I believe this is a Cooper’s Hawk. However, if it’s a Sharp-shinned, please let me know:-) We’ve been hearing him a lot, and seeing him fly around. Way across the field behind us, there’s a house where we’ve been hearing guinea fowl, and this is where he seems to be the most. The oranges are on the other side here. The white on the oranges and leaves is from the spraying. As I’ve mentioned before, oranges get sprayed a lot! Anyways, I hope he sticks around a while, although the people with the guinea might feel differently… Last year, we had a kestrel hang around for a bit – would love to see him again, too!

Always Look on the Bright Side!

2010-02-09T22:10:00.001-08:00

Since I'm feeling a little off-color today, and uninspired, I'm posting my favorite off-color video;-) It's sure to offend somebody, but oh well... I absolutely love this movie and its irreverence! I actually met Eric Idle when I worked at Best Friends Animal Society. I had no idea he was visiting, but the day after we'd watched "Life of Brian" for our second time, I learned he was at the sanctuary (believe it or not!). I saw him at "the Village" during lunch, and happened to see him again outside as I was returning to work. I mustered the courage to go up to him and tell him he sang one of my most favorite songs ever, lol! He probably thought I was nuts, but that's okay - he was very nice. He couldn't escape because he had a broken leg at the time, poor guy. The experience sure made my day, though:-)

Seasonal Visitor

2010-02-08T21:44:00.001-08:00

In autumn of 2008, we noticed a cute, noisy, and very active little bird flitting around our home. We researched, and quickly learned that our visitor was a Black Phoebe. They’re a type of flycatcher, and according to All About Birds, they’re most common in the southwest. I’m including the link to All About Birds, because it’s an awesome site! Anyways, the Black Phoebe stayed for several months. We learned that s/he (males and females seem to be marked the same) was only after the insects, and had no interest in the feeders or suet we had up at the time. I also learned that Black Phoebes are very fast little flitterers:-)

S/he returned this autumn, and I have yet to get that one really “Wow!” photo. This little bird is constantly on the go, even if it’s just singing all along the wall surrounding us. S/he is always chirping away – it’s a loud and cheerful call. When not singing, the Phoebe is on the hunt, flying from the wall to the field out back over and over again.

If the Phoebe isn’t on the go from hunting, s/he is quick to fly off if I try to go outside and get photos. So, I’ve taken them through the windows, which at least provides a record of our visitor. The one shot on the weed is all the way out on my 55-250mm lens, and was taken outside. The antenna photo was also taken outside as I stood on the steps we have next to the wall, and angled my body and camera around our shed to see up there. As you may have noticed, there’s an interesting cross on the Phoebe’s chest. This is from the actual old antenna, which is just above the Phoebe here.

These photos are the best I’ve taken so far of our fun little seasonal visitor. However, I haven’t given up on getting something better (to my eyes, at least:-). I love the challenge, and I also love the joy that having this unique seasonal bird brings to us!

What seasonal birds do you have? We have different hummingbird species that pass through later on, though some Anna’s stay all year. I’m also crossing my fingers that our Hooded Orioles come back this spring, and I get better photos of them, too. I love birds, and these special visitors liven up a location that really needs all the beauty it can get!

A Song

2010-02-07T22:47:00.000-08:00

It's late, and we just spent 2 1/2 hours watching an Oscar-winning foreign film that we kept hoping we'd find as wonderful as the rating and Oscar suggested it should be. I'll share the movie another time, but for now, I'm putting up a link to one of my most favorite music videos. I'm not a big country fan, and I'm not particularly religious, but both the images and the song really struck a chord within me the first time I saw it. It's not very happy, but it just gets me everytime I watch - the words, the music, the images... What can I say? Johnny Cash knows how to make music and magic:-)

2010-02-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

Emancipation
Proclamation
Freedom
But is it real?

Separation
Within a nation
Fighting
How do we heal?

Generation
After generation
Inherits
The way they feel.

Discrimination
No toleration
Hatred
Starts to steal.

Renovation
Without cessation
Needed
To break the seal.

Animation
With determination
Layers
Begin to peel.

Elevation
Cooperation
Exposes
What some want to conceal.

Information
Open communication
Humanity
Can start to reveal.

Education
Edification
Knowledge
Power to appeal.

Imploration
A new gestation
Hope
Fills us with zeal.

Appreciation
Of our creation
Equality
Is the only deal.

Emancipation
Proclamation
Freedom
Only we can make it real!

©Erica Lea
Originally written January 17, 2002, and this is its first web appearance. I wrote it in part because of the way the world had become after 09/11, and it still seems pertinent to today's world.

Erica's Scones

2010-02-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

Since I decided to make my scones tonight, I thought I'd share my recipe, too. I originally got the foundation for this recipe from a TV show many years ago, and then adapted it to be my own. I’ve shared them with others, and they are one of my mom’s favorites:-) They’re very easy, tasty, and go wonderfully with a hot cup of tea! If you decide to make them, I’d love to hear what you think.

"Erica’s Scones"

3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 ½ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
2 sticks of butter (softened slightly)
1 cup of buttermilk*
½ cup + of dried apricots, or other dried fruit (cranberries, cherries…)
Extra sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients, then crumble in butter until blended into coarse, small crumbs. Stir in buttermilk until dough sticks together – fruit can be added while stirring. Then knead gently and place on floured board (kneading should also distribute fruit better). Pat out to about ½-inch thickness, and use either a round cookie cutter or the top of a glass to cut out individual scones. Place about 1 inch apart in greased or non-stick cookie sheet, and sprinkle tops with sugar. Bake at 425 for 10 - 12 minutes, until tops are light golden/bottoms darker. Best served warm!

Makes approx. 15 scones, and they can also be frozen.

*You can also use a buttermilk substitute; pour 1 tablespoon of either vinegar or lemon juice into a measuring cup, then fill up to the 1 cup mark with milk, and let sit at least 5 minutes.*

Please note that in my haste to eat these this evening, I didn’t take the fanciest photo. And, no, I didn’t eat all three on the plate;-)

Lazy tonight!

2010-02-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

So, I'm just going to post one of my favorite videos:-) Yes, I'm old and I still love the Muppets, so there, lol! I also love Queen - what could be better than a combo of the two?

My Prize from Jenjie’s Stuff:-)

2010-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was scrolling through my Facebook stream when I spotted my name and the mention of a prize. I hastily went back to the entry, and sure enough I’d won! What I’d won, I had no idea, since I hadn’t entered anything. Turns out Jennifer, of Jenjie’s Stuff, was celebrating the fact that they’d reached over 200 fans on their Facebook Fan Page. They’d held a random drawing, and my name was selected – yay!

I was allowed my choice of anything in their store, $25 or less. I fell in love with their “Dream Pillow”! Not only was it really cute, but the concept just hit a chord within me. It was actually meant for a younger audience, but as I told Jennifer when I wrote to her that I really loved the idea of the pocket to store your dream list:-) I said that we adults needed to hold on to our dreams, too, and the pocket was a great idea! I also thought these pillows would be awesome with other inspirational words, which Jennifer was kind enough to say she might use.

I love my little pillow, and also think it would be a wonderful gift idea, so decided to feature it on my blog. Jennifer doesn’t know yet that I’m doing this. I promised her photos, but thought a much bigger thank you was in order! It’s not every day you win something, and not only that, get to pick the something you want:-) Winning my Dream Pillow from Jenjie’s Stuff was a definite day brightener, and a terrific prize! If you’re interested in a pillow of your own, please don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer – I know she’d be happy to make you one:-)

2010-02-02T21:47:00.002-08:00

Nothing much to say tonight,
So I guess I’ll write a poem.
The words are staying out of sight –
This will be no lengthy tome.

What to say, what to say?
My mind has drawn a blank.
I have nothing to convey,
Yet don’t want my blog to tank!

So forgive me for now,
And please come again.
I promise to add some “wow”
On this blog I must maintain!

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”

2010-02-01T18:21:00.001-08:00

Just finished watching what I will say was probably the most unique animated film I’ve ever seen! My review gets to be tonight's blog post. If you haven't seen it, check out the trailer to get a taste...:)

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” finally arrived from Netflix the other day, and we wound up watching it tonight. I love these types of films – there’s usually enough adult humor to keep me entertained, and “Cloudy…” was no exception. It was far from the best animated film I’ve seen, but definitely good enough to recommend. The concept is so strange; I mean raining food? A little nutty! Ha, ha. When the food first started falling, it was actually making me hungry – it was a virtual smorgasbord. However, as it went on, the food became a bit less than appetizing, to say the least. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a quirky movie with a few laughs, a few bad jokes, and enough entertainment value for kids and adults (yeah, yeah, I know, I’m easily entertained;-). If you’ve seen it already, or have read the book, I’d love to hear your opinion! I didn’t actually know there was a book till now, so I’m curious as to know if the movie remained true.

P.S. The publish time on this actually before I watched the movie, because I found the trailer and saved it here first. Blogger seems to count the time you start your draft rather than the time it's published.

Cuteness!

2010-01-31T21:11:00.000-08:00

Today's post is just to share these adorable little mini horses we see on the one road we take for our foothill drives. Usually, they're too far away, but once in a while they're close enough for photos through the fence (there's also a watchdog we don't want to set off). The little chocolate guy with the flaxen mane is just a doll! He comes right over to the fence to see you:) The mares are shyer. The ultra-cute mini burro couldn't be bothered to look at me, with all that greenery. The photos of the little buckskin were taken last year. Haven't seen the foal or another one they had for a while, so thinking they might have been sold. Even though I'm 5' 10 1/2", I've always loved minis! My mom, about 5' 4 1/2", has always loved draft horses - go figure;-) Anyways, I hope you enjoy these little cuties, too!

Anniversary Tribute

2010-01-30T16:16:00.000-08:00

Earlene Vogel (January 10, 1920 - January 30, 2009)

Today marks the one year anniversary of my grandmother’s passing. If you would like to read more about her, and our journey, I have it on this (long) post: Finally, the rest of the story.

For today, though, I just want to share some photos of her – these are some of her favorites, and some of ours. Her favorite colors were pink and brown (especially pink!:-). She used to sew all of her clothes, including the square dance outfits seen here. She was a beautiful lady and a good person, and she is missed.

Charles and Earlene, we love you and miss you both!

2010-01-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

Depression

Why do I allow myself
To enter the black hole
Why do I let my mind wander
Where it need not go?
Answers to such questions
I do not know.

I worry and I ponder,
I agonize and I fret,
I sit myself down
And put my soul in debt
For things I haven’t done,
And problems I haven’t met.

I don’t really like
These feelings of pain
My useless worry causes me
Again and again.
I must learn to conquer,
To end this vicious reign.

To look in the mirror,
To see myself true,
This is what is needed
What I must do –
Look at myself and say,
“I love you”.

To believe I am good
Inside and out,
To believe I am worthy
Without a doubt.
To know I have a purpose
Is what it’s about.

It’s a rough road,
But I believe I can make it.
Life’s meant to be happy,
It’s just how I take it.
Whatever I do,
I cannot forsake it!

I recently came across some poetry that I had stashed away, yet carried with me all these years. Now that I have a blog, I actually have a place to share it:-) The moon photo above was taken tonight. It's the first full moon of the year, aka the "Wolf Moon".

"Michael Jackson’s This Is It" - A Review and My Own Little Tribute

2010-01-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

I debated about writing this post, but in the end, decided to go with what I felt. If you are not a Michael Jackson fan, and have ambivalent feelings about him, you can just pass this one by. If you are a fan, I hope you’ll read on:-)

When I was in high school, I hated Michael Jackson! I actually hated him, Madonna, and Prince. Funny how things change… I really like some Madonna music now, and Prince has actually become my favorite music artist. With Michael Jackson, I’ve gone from hate, to love, to disbelief, and back to love and appreciation.

I hated all three artists mostly because they were popular, and I was just being a contrary teenager. Well, I still hate “Like a Virgin”, lol! The first time I heard Michael Jackson on the radio, I thought it was a woman singing – my mom actually had to convince me it was a man. Fast forward into the early 90’s, and we came across MJ on TV. It was a performance of “Will You Be There”, and both my mom and I were spellbound. After that, my opinion of MJ changed completely, and I became a bit obsessed.

The obsession lasted quite a while, though I’m not really the “crazy fan” type. I just really loved his music, his dance, and how he seemed to really be doing good things with his fame.

The letdown came with the first lawsuit. I’m not going to go there, though. I will say that in my heart, I never could believe that he had done the things he was accused of, but my support still wavered.

Over all these years, I’ve still admired his music/talent. I didn’t really follow him anymore, but, as with so much of the world, was completely shocked and saddened when he died. Funny thing is that I never could envision him as an old man. So, in a way I’m not surprised, but at the same time, I still can’t believe he’s gone.

Both my mom and I watched the memorial, and yes, we cried. When I learned about the “This Is It” movie, I knew I wanted to see it. I had to wait for it to come out on DVD, and it was at the top of our Netflix list for this week. It arrived on Tuesday, and we broke it up into two nights of viewing.

It is awesome!!! It brought back all of the old Michael Jackson magic:-) It gives the opportunity to see how driven, talented, and kind (yes, kind!) MJ was. It’s also amazing to see all of the work that was going into the tour – it would have been an incredible show! We couldn’t believe the drive and dedication that went into each song performance. We also couldn’t believe that MJ was dancing as well as men half his age.

MJ seemed energetic, in sync, and joyful. When I say he was kind, I mean that even though others in the film treated him like a superstar, he didn’t act like one. He gave just as much as he asked from all of the performers (who are amazing in their own right!). He was nice. I’m sure that the film is edited to show the best of all of it, but the kindness and positive energy really just seem to flow out of MJ. It didn’t seem artificial – we felt it.

If you haven’t already seen “Michael Jackson’s This Is It”, I highly recommend it. Even though it was almost two hours, it wasn’t long enough. There are some performances I wish had been included, like “Will You Be There”. What is included, though, is often jaw-dropping in its magnitude. It would have been the show to beat all shows, I think.

As for Michael himself, I was left with these thoughts – I wished that when MJ looked at the man in the mirror, that he had liked and accepted what he saw. I wish he hadn’t felt the need to constantly mess with how he looked, but instead, recognized the beautiful person within and honored him. We all saw it, but I think our adulation was too much for any one person to handle. In the end, I’m glad he gave us the gifts that he did, but wish, for him, that his life had been more normal. Maybe next time…

No Time Like the Present!

2010-01-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, it’s a little late for New Year’s Resolutions, so I’m calling this a personal goal! I need something to motivate me to write on my blog, and the only thing that I can think will do it is a bit of a challenge. My goal will be to post something every day.

In order to accomplish this, I plan to have a variety of posts. It may be simply a photo, it may be one of my ultra-long posts, it may be poetry (my own), or it may even be a video I’ve found that I think is worth sharing. It may or may not be meaningful;-) I just want to get my blog going, and hope others will enjoy the ride, too!

So, here we go – today’s photo was taken just last week in between storms. It was actually a double rainbow. It was a challenge, because my 18-55mm made it a little too far off, but the 55mm-250mm made it a little too close to get the whole rainbow. I’m not complaining, though – just to see it was a joy! I’d been running in and out all that day, because I thought we might finally see one. I guess the oranges are the gold this time, lol!

Until tomorrow…