Misty sunrises, dramatic sunsets, clouds in September skies
Nesting for fall
Crafting
Exploring the yard – any beyond
Receiving gifts
Yard cleanup silly
Anticipating October Drama
Category Archives: Photo Journal
Summer songs
Background sounds change through the day. Cicadas of kinds must dwell in the woodlands around us. I understand that the night chorus belongs to the katydids and crickets. Creating a kind of white noise, they fill the hours with sound.
The other day, in the perpetual yard tidy, I glanced at the ground by a maple tree and bright green attracted my attention. Without thinking, I picked up this creature partly freed from its shell. When I felt the pulse of energy, I ran for the porch calling for my camera assistant.
He snapped away and I sat amazed, feeling the pulses of energy as it continued to push itself free.
It had a strange fishlike appearance and as the final pushes were coming, I placed it back at the base of a maple tree. Out, it began to crawl away from its former skin.
After our quick supper, we returned to find the beautiful wings had unfolded and the new cicada was making its way up the trunk. We were thrilled to have this amazing experience!
Summer visit to my secret garden
I had the opportunity to visit this garden again the other day. Frog and I had another quiet visit as he continued his work. 
The waters bubble and flow through a small waterfall to his pond. 
I love the serenity in this place, although perhaps it is not place exactly, but the intention to go and breathe deeply and just be present to the timeless wonder of plants and fish and sun in the summer breeze that brings tranquility. Do you see that bright green edge? Look deeply now… slide into the pool of green refreshment.
So easy on the eyes
Annabelle and the deer
Working at the dining room table, it was as if I could feel the stare; I looked up and through the window. That deer had been prowling the yard for days. I was a bit concerned for there had been rain those days but all seemed well. Until now. I grabbed the camera and walked to the kitchen door, opened it and stepped out. There she stood, bold and bad; posing behind the remains of an Annabelle hydrangea as if to say, “Spray, spray, but I will find a way to feast where I please, so there!” All those stalks had held bloom buds. <sigh>
Sparkling Days
Refreshing spring whites and all before Memorial Day! Nature wondrously does not conform to the dictates of the fashion idea of “only wear white between Memorial Day and Labor Day.”
Breakfast stalk – ing
He came back. I left breakfast cooking on the stove and ran out the living room door, camera in hand, to stalk the pheasant who was stalking about the back yard.
Fortunately hubby was attentive to the kitchen issues as I waited on the bird to walk behind a stump or tree so he could not see me moving closer and closer to him.
I’m sure he was watching me but he gave no indication of distress.
I actually wanted to see him take off but he would not gratify my desire but walked on and on. I went in to breakfast excited to check out the photos to share him again.
Pheasant through glass
As I was involved with food for the dinner table, there was a shout from hubby, “Pheasant!” Our food was forgotten as I found the camera, careful not to startle our feathered friends at their dinner.
The color and markings were extraordinary. Pheasant is a rare sighting here.
Taking photos through window glass certainly reduces clarity and focus is difficult. If you click on the first photo, you will be able to see the wonderful markings more clearly.
Information on the Ring-necked Pheasant can be found here.
And May Came!
April seemed determined to linger on and on. She seemed sullen this year. Finally, on a clear day, the cleanup from February’s gift of ice was done and the overwhelming piles of broken limbs and down trees were gone. In the last moments of that very long day we had to decide where to dispose of the last of the pine logs. The crazy result is our new rustic bench.
You can’t tell from the photo, but it has been carefully placed among viburnum and dogwood to the back and sides. Ferns grow near and groundcover will fill in. In time, it will just be part of the growing forest floor. For added charm, I found another chunk of pine log for a plant table. I will post another photo when the “room” is more decorated!
I was sad that the tree, which already had considerable size over 40 years ago, was so damaged in the storm. But as I have found through the years, once removed, it is hard to really remember a tree for so much new fills the eye. The young dogwoods are just coming into bloom now and will become that new and different focal point on the hillside.
April did bring fresh greens and early wonder-full bloom. Bluebells, Bleeding hearts, Violets, Trollius and Vincas followed Jonquils and Lenten Roses.
And then, an almost spiteful ending came with pounding, relentless rain drowning the grounds and roads. After days and nights of storm, it was such a relief to change the calendar page on a sunny day and enjoy the beauty of lingering raindrops on growing leaves
The afternoon was spent keeping appointments. Then clouds came again and rain poured through sunlight. We were driving home, rounded a corner, came out of the woods and were startled by the beauty so poorly captured by camera. 
Rainbows! In them I see all the promises of compassion – grace and mercy – for the storms of life. I love them! Have you seen a rainbow lately?
Spring searching in Virginia
I have a family member who hates to talk about the weather. Certainly it is a boring topic this year. Snow, wintry mix, ice, freezing rain, wind, rain… March continues roaring about but spring is beating in the heart of the earth. We were blessed to go to Williamsburg last week. One of our favorite small places there is the Botanical Gardens. We roamed and sat in warmth for hours, listening.
One day, we took the ferry from Jamestown to the lovely town of Smithfield. The other month Cathy at Morning Musings wrote about bronze sculptures. This is my sole attempt to follow her lead – hubby and George Washington.
In her post last Monday, she quoted Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, so this one is for Cathy. The sculptor, George Lundeen, portrays the author writing that very poem.
There are seven stops to view these marvelous works. All are historical figures except one.
This is “The Valentine Couple”. 
So sweet. You can click on the photos to enlarge them and see the amazing detail.
It is cold here at home and of course the forecast is for snow tomorrow. I’m listening, I know the earth is sheltering buds and blooms and green. For now, I’ll enjoy the memory of these Lenten Roses.