Insects

July 28, 2015 / Rebecca / Leave a comment

Music is in all growing things;
And underneath the silky wings
Of smallest insects there is stirred
A pulse of air that must be heard;
Earth’s silence lives, and throbs, and sings.
~George Parsons Lathrop

Summer sunset

July 27, 2015 / Rebecca / 4 Comments

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.” ~Elbert Hubbard

Spicebush Swallowtail

July 26, 2015July 28, 2015 / Rebecca / 4 Comments

One morning last week, a beautiful swallowtail was mud-puddling in our back yard. I couldn’t help but grab the camera and take a few shots. 🙂

“We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.” – William Hazlett

Tufted Titmouse

July 23, 2015 / Rebecca / 2 Comments

I enjoy the lively energy this small bird exudes as he flutters from feeder to bush to tree — his echoing voice clearly declaring his presence. To be so small, he certainly holds his own with the other birds.

“I’m not going to give up, shut up, or let up, until I’m taken up … as a matter of fact, I’m just getting warmed up!” ~Zig Ziglar

Down at the creek

July 21, 2015 / Rebecca / 1 Comment

“Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.”
~William Wordsworth

Crescent moon and venus

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 / Rebecca / 2 Comments

Two photos of the waxing crescent moon and venus taken on July 18. The first photo was taken shortly before sunset. The second photo was taken after sunset right before they dipped below the western horizon. The moon took on an orange glow.

Wildflowers

July 17, 2015 / Rebecca / 6 Comments

“Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Early morning intrusion

July 14, 2015July 15, 2015 / Rebecca / 4 Comments

Saturday morning, around 6:00 a.m., I was startled from a sound sleep by the insistent barking of our dogs. Knowing from past experience that this was the sound of their “something’s intruding into our territory” bark, I begrudgingly sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. An occasional snake or opossum are the normal culprits, but on this day when I arrived on the scene, I was surprised to find an armadillo digging a burrow under an insulated bag that had been left on the other side of our chain-link fence. Neither the presence of the dogs nor myself seemed to deter it in the least. It stubbornly dug away, occasionally popping its head up to confirm that we were still there.

Eventually, the dogs sullenly resigned themselves to its presence and stood silent watch.

After about an hour I took the dogs inside, and within a short time, the armadillo stopped digging and ambled away.

“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.” ~Epictetus

Sneaking up on a frog

July 10, 2015 / Rebecca / 2 Comments

Usually I hear a loud “yelp” and a “plop”, followed by the sight of water rings left by the blur of a leaping frog. I seldom actually get a good glimpse of the frog sitting along a ditch or have time to take photos before the inevitable aforesaid scene. But lately, it seems like my stealth-like powers may be improving. 🙂

“So the trick it seems, if you want to sneak up on frogs, is to walk softly and act as little like a giant as possible.” ~Tom Pelletier