White-breasted Nuthatch - Beneath the Beak

Laugh at yourself and at life.

Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity,

but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain,

cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective

that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments,

thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come.

Never take yourself too seriously.

- Og Mandino

A Unique Gift Idea

Several years ago I was searching for a unique Christmas gift for my brother and two sisters. Using Photoshop Elements (see link in my sidebar) I made a "sketch" from an image of my parents' hands using the Photocopy filter. I printed them on a heavy bond paper and put them in black frames.I am happy to say they were a HIT! Do you make gifts for your friends/family? Please share them with me.

Hummingbird Moth - A Winged Heart

BokehLicious

Stay the course, light a star,

Change the world where'er you are.

Richard Le Gallienne

For More info on Bokeh - Click HERE

Butterfly Curls and Kindness

It is not genius, nor glory, nor love that reflects the greatest of the human soul;

it is kindness.

-Henri-Dominiqe Lacordaire

Kindness is like a boomerang, it always returns.

~Author Unknown

About the images: Taken 06-25-11 at the Cecil B Day Butterfly Center in Georgia. This is some type of tropical butterfly but not sure of the ID.

For More Macro Monday images - Visit Lisa's Chaos - HERE

Viceroy Butterfly - Velvet Wings

The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colours and textures that come alive in others.

~ Albert Schweitzer

About the Image: Taken 06-04-11 - Gateway Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia

A Male Cardinal

A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.  

~ Winnie The Pooh

Dove In the Berries

For flowers that bloom about our feet;

For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;

For song of bird, and hum of bee;

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Eye To Eye With A Carolina Wren

For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.

~ Author Unknown

Along with my family and friends - I count the wonderful creatures on this Earth as true blessings. And I feel VERY blessed to be able to see them and "capture" a few with my camera.

White-throated Sparrow Surrounded By Berries

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

~Epictetus

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Play with life, laugh with life,

dance lightly with life, and

smile at the riddles of life,

knowing that life's only true lessons

are writ small in the margin.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

About the image: Taken on a foggy morning 09-25-11 - Gateway Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia

I believe this is a Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Not a bird a see very often so it was a thrill to see this one!

Shades of Green - Delicate Wings

Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and your frown lines aren't too bad.
~ Jennifer Garner

Dark-eyed Junco - Blowing in the Wind

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion.

~Author Unknown

About the image: I always seem to give "my" birds human characteristics. This one reminded me of the famous Marilyn Monroe image with the white dress blowing.

Taken 11-05-11 Izaak Walton Park, Christiansburg, Virginia.

About the quote: It doesn't really have anything to do with the image - but reminds me that each day we live on this wonderful planet is a blessing!

Mourning Dove Music

There's music in the sighing of a reed;
There's music in the gushing of a rill;
There's music in all things, if men had ears:
Their earth is but an echo of the spheres.
- Lord Byron

About the image: Taken on a very dark morning - 11-16-11 thru a window at ISO 3200. I'm using a Nikon D7000 (A 2010 Christmas Gift from Hubby) and I'm ALWAYS amazed at how well it does on a high ISO.

We have an abundance of doves here at my house - but I never tire of seeing their sweet little faces and listening to the lovely "coo" they make. Click HERE for A link to their sweet voice.

Droplet on a Leaf

Butterfly Ballerina

It takes so little to make people happy. Just a touch, If we know how to give it, just a word fitly spoken, a slight readjustment of some bolt or pin or bearing in the delicate machinery of a soul.

~ Frank Crane

About the image: Taken the morning of August 21, 2011. The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly reminded me of a ballerina. I used a Kim Klassen texture on this one.

About the quote: We can change someone's day and yes, I believe, their entire life, by speaking kind words. And when you speak kind words, it changes your life as well.

Cedar Waxwing - A Backyard Treasure

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

~ Thornton Wilder

Where the Tail Tips Meet

Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.

~ Lao Tzu

Falling Rain

For after all the best thing one can do when

it is raining, is to let it rain.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Grackle Giving Me The Eye

The man who has no imagination has no wings.

~Muhammad Ali

About the image: This Grackle looks like he is doing "toe-touches". I often think of my bird friends (actually all of my animals friends) with human characteristics. Like this Cedar Waxwing reminded me of Audrey Hepburn - HERE. And this Red-bellied Woodpecker looked like he was doing Chin-ups - HERE

I'm not sure if it comes with age - or if it is due to my passion for photography - but I find that my imagination has developed more later in life than when I was younger. Do you find that you have a vivid imagination?

The Embrace

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

~ Albert Einstein

About the image: Taken early morning on 07-17-11. I thought it looked like the

bee was being embraced by the wildflower.

Joy

I've pondered what this exactly means. To me it means trying to keep a positive attitude, seeing the positive in things rather than the negative and it just builds upon itself. The more positive/happy/joyful you are - the more positive/happy/joyful you become.

And it is contagious - so spread it around :)

Simple Surroundings

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

~Author Unknown

About the image: As you can tell - we have an abundance of cardinals in my area. They seems to appear on my blog regularly. I feel VERY blessed to have them.

Deserving of Gratitude

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

~Cynthia Ozick

As a Mother of a Son who is active duty in the US Military, these holidays hold a whole new meaning for me. I am so very proud of him and of all of our soldiers that are serving and those who have served including My Dad, My Hubby, My Father in law, and countless others. As civilians we will never know the sacrifices they have made and continue to make for us.

God Bless Them All and God Bless America.

Robin ~ Grabbing His Opportunity

If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.

~J.M. Power

Grab your opportunities ~ Follow your Dreams

Butterfly Wings - Spicebush Swallowtail

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.

~Joseph Chilton Pearce

About the image: "Shades of November" texture by Kim Klaussen added to this image. Kim offers many of her textures for free. A Link to her site is - HERE

Updated - Randy says this is a Spicebush Swallowtail and he is an expert on butterfly ID :)

Wishing you a Happy and Creative Day!

Blue Jay - Open Wide!

About the image: Taken 01-18-09

This blue jay was hanging out on the feeder wreath and had to open wide to get that peanut!

Mockingbird and Autumn Bokeh

May the sun shine all day long,

everything go right and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!

~ Irish Blessing

About the image: Mockingbird on the fence - Taken 11-03-11 along Deerfield Trail - one of my favorite walking trails. Shooting into the sunlight is not always a good thing - but I liked the bokeh that developed in this one. For more info on Bokeh - click HERE

Female Cardinal - Simple Joy

The essence of life is not in the great victories and grand failures, but in the simple joys.

~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Joy in Bloom

Joy is a flower that blooms when you do.

~Author Unknown

About the image: Taken 09-24-11. I do not know the name of this flower.

For More Macro Monday Shots - Visit Lisa's Chaos - HERE

Where is His Orange Beak?

It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen.

~Brigitte Bardot

About the image: Taken 11-01-11 on my deck - thru the sliding glass door. As I looked at this picture I knew something was "off" about it - and realized that he doesn't have his full orange beak yet. I am assuming this is a Juvenile since his beak is still black - although you can see some of the orange starting to come in.

Brown Creeper Excitement

It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.

~David Attenborough

About the Image: Taken 11-03-11 as I walked along Deerfield Trail - Blacksburg, VA. It was only my 4th ever sighting of a Brown Creeper - which made it a VERY exciting day for me. They blend in so well with the trees and normally stay on the shady side that I usually have to ID by silhouette. Such neat little birds!

Wide Open to the Sun

The windows of my soul I throw 

Wide open to the sun. 

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Enjoy The Flavor of Life

To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.

~Robert Heinlein

About the image: Taken August 27, 2010 - Not a sharp image so I "played" with it a bit. It's fun to see what can be created from a - not so great - shot.

Found in the KBK Nature Store - HERE

Cedar Waxwings

All that we behold is full of blessings.

~William Wordsworth

About the image: Taken 10-31-11 in my backyard. A grainy shot and cropped closely as I was far away. I am so blessed to have trees in my yard that entice many birds to visit, including the Cedar Waxwings.

Every Great Dream .....

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

~Harriet Tubman

The Note Card version of this is found - HERE

Female Cardinal - Inquisitive Pose

Same old eyes, same old world but the difference is how you look at what is in front of you, not what it is.

- Lister Sinclair

About the image: Taken 10/28/11 during the first sleet of the season. If you look closely you can see the sleet on her feathers.