“Do not let fear confine your life inside a shell of doubt; A turtle never moves until his head is sticking out.” ~ Charles Ghigna
Reelfoot Lake State Park
Regal
Driving along the road, we spotted this elegant-looking eagle sitting serenely at the top of a cypress tree.
“There’s a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be?” ~Michael Morpurgo
Frozen Methane Bubbles
Bacteria feeding on decaying vegetation at the bottom of the lake release methane bubbles. The bubbles rise to the surface and become trapped, one over the other, in the newly frozen ice.
“In the stillness of a frozen moment, we can find the magic that life has to offer.” – Unknown
Autumn Meets Winter
Some of the remnants of autumn staunchly stood their ground, while others lay intertwined just below the surface of the winter ice.
“Winter, come rest your soul on autumn’s weary head. Twirl, shimmer, soften before tucking fall to bed.” ~Angie Weiland-Crosby
Icy Feet and Frosty Knees
The trees and animals weren’t the only ones with icy feet, but we still enjoyed walking around and seeing the frozen lake and cypress trees during the latest arctic blast.
“January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.” ~Sara Coleridge
A Tiny Kingdom
One of the types of spiders commonly seen around the lake are the funnel weavers. Their webs remind me of tiny kingdoms spread out among the vegetation. The spiders use silk to construct sheet-like webs in which to capture insects. The webs have a narrow funnel-shaped “retreat” where the spider hides out, sometimes camouflaged by leaves and other natural debris. They then rush out when an insect lands on the web, and use their venom to subdue the insect before dragging it back to their retreat.
Here are a few photos of funnel weavers and their webs.
Recently I spotted a funnel weaver, perhaps a male, climbing down a web. Male funnel weavers will cautiously approach a female so as not to become her next meal. A female, which had been sitting in the retreat, came out to check out the situation.
“A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.” ~Louisa May Alcott
Watching the White Pelicans
I spotted a group of white pelicans swimming not far from the shore, and found a flat rock near the water’s edge to sit and watch the graceful swimmers. They seemed to glide effortlessly in the water.
I was impressed by one expert fisher as it shimmied along the surface of the lake, using its beak and the gular pouch attached to its jaw to catch and scoop up food like a net. Then it tilted its head down to drain the water from the pouch, and back to swallow the catch.
Another pelican, abruptly disturbed from its afternoon nap where it huddled on a crowded log, let out a lazy yawn.
I enjoyed watching the pelicans play a game of “tag” as one circled around a log lined with other pelicans. The pelican that was tagged was obliged to find a new spot to sit, and didn’t appear too happy about it. Instead of making noise, the pelicans communicated through wing flapping and bill snapping.
Watching these lovely birds was relaxing, fascinating, and entertaining, all at the same time.
“There is a way that nature speaks … Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.” ~Linda Hogan
Dragonflies
Some of the beautiful dragonflies hanging around the lake.
Below are dragonfly nymphs on the underside of leaves near the water.
Curious dragonfly with
Wings of stained glass,
Oh, ancient bearer
Of secret dreams,
Your delicate beauty
Keeps wonder in my heart.
~Grace Edwards
Monarch Butterfly and a Potter Wasp
This Monarch butterfly seemed content sharing the same flower clusters on this climbing vine with a Potter Wasp.
“It’s up to us to choose contentment and thankfulness now—and to stop imagining that we have to have everything perfect before we’ll be happy.” ~Joanna Gaines
White Pelicans
A few shots of the White Pelicans that have migrated to Reelfoot Lake.
“A lot of guys like to go to the beach and bring a crowd, but not me. I like to be alone and out there with a couple of pelicans.” ~Robert Englund
walking on a country road 