“Blue thou art, intensely blue; From whence came thy dazzling hue?” ~James Montgomery
Blue cornflower
Black-necked Stilt
I spotted this lovely Black-necked Stilt strutting around on its long, slender pink legs in some wetland not far from the Mississippi River. It was quite focused on its task of foraging for food.
“I dressed and went for a walk – determined not to return until I took in what Nature had to offer.” ~Raymond Carver
Going on a safari
While our granddaughter was here visiting during Spring break, we decided to go on an adventure and explore the Tennessee Safari Park, located in Alamo, Tennessee. According to their website, Hillcrest is a farm that has been owned by the Conley Family since 1858. A number of crops are still grown there, but presently it is best known for the large collection of animals that they have assembled and are sheltering from around the world.
When you enter the park, you are given the option of purchasing tubs of feed that can be fed to the animals, some rare and endangered, while driving around 3.5 miles of winding farm roads. Just roll down your window and the animals, which roam freely around the farm, will come to you. Be ready for up close and personal interaction.
After the driving tour, we parked our car and strolled around the Walk Thru area of the farm.
Our granddaughter really enjoyed seeing and petting the animals, and it was a nice way to spend the day with family.
“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” ~Stephen Covey
Muskrat
This muskrat was intently feeding upon vegetation on the edge of a flooded farm field near the Mississippi River. His concentration was so focused upon his task that I was able to take several photos before he realized I was there. Finally he looked up, spotted me, dove underwater and quickly swam away.
“Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing it, and conquering it.” ~Jean Paul
Great Egret
A Great Egret standing lookout at Black Bayou Refuge, Lake County, Tennessee
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” ~E. B. White
Pearl Crescent
This Pearl crescent butterfly danced with the wind all around the backyard and eventually landed on a wooden board to soak up some afternoon sun.
“Flowers and butterflies drift in color, illuminating spring.” ~Unknown
Skeins of geese
Noisy strings of geese making their way across the farm fields of Northwest Tennessee.
“One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of March thaw is the spring.” ~Aldo Leopold
Purple sky
The vaulted void of purple sky
That everywhere extends,
That stretches from the dazzled eye,
In space that never ends;
A morning whose uprisen sun
No setting e’er shall see;
A day that comes without a noon
Such is eternity.
~John Clare
Listening in
One day, as I was sitting out in the backyard enjoying the solitude of nature, I became aware of a small group of grackles sitting up high in a pine tree bantering back and forth to one another. Though I wasn’t sure the gist of their conversation, the pleasant exchanges seemed to be in harmony with the peacefulness of the morning.
“The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression.” ~Samuel Johnson
Flowering trees
Many of the flowering trees are in bloom right now in West Tennessee, adding striking color to the landscape and heralding the coming of spring.
“Blossom by blossom the spring begins.” ~A. C. Swinburne
walking on a country road 