White-marked tussock moth caterpillar

IMG_9577

The White-marked tussock moth caterpillar is easily distinguished by its red head, black stripe down the center, four white tuffs near the front and two red dots toward the back.  Though its bright colors make it pretty to look at, it is best to avoid any contact, as its stinging hairs can cause an irritating rash.

“Our best decisions are often what we choose not to get involved in.”  ~Doug Cooper

Indigo bunting

An Indigo bunting spotted in a brushy area of the Black Bayou Refuge adjacent to Reelfoot Lake.
She had blue skin, And so did he.
He kept it hid And so did she.
They searched for blue Their whole life through,
Then passed right by – And never knew.
~Shel Silverstein

Rainbow

This past weekend we saw a beautiful rainbow where both ends extended down and “appeared” to touch the ground.  Unfortunately, no pots of gold.

“My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:  So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man … ”  ~William Wordsworth

Afternoon snack

Recently, we came upon this rabbit that was leisurely nibbling away on lush, green grass along the roadside.  He seemed to have a preference for the tenderest and tastiest blades, and was carefully using his nose to graze along the ground in search of a delectable afternoon snack.

“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer is to have kept your soul alive.”  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

This Ruby-throated hummingbird looked content sitting on his perch in one of the bushes in our backyard.  He would dart away to chase another hummingbird or get a drink from the feeder, but would soon return to his lookout on the same small branch.

“Living big and joyful and content is almost always the result of our finding satisfaction in life’s ordinary day-to-day pleasures …”  ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Blue-Eyed Grass

I saw this whimsical Blue-Eyed Grass growing along the banks of the Hatchie River.  Though it has grass-like foliage, it is actually a member of the Iris family.  When each flower finishes blooming, it leaves a small round seed pod which resembles a tear.

“The method of nature:  who could ever analyze it?”  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson