Beautiful Parchment

The sky is that beautiful old parchment in which the sun and the moon keep their diary. 
 ~Alfred Kreymborg

 Sunset view from my front porch.

Poems Written Upon the Sky

Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky. 

~ Kahlil Gibran 

 Floyd County, Virginia - Blue Ridge Parkway 

Sit Down and Relax

Yes, I do have a love of Benches!

There are so many benches at Bissett Park... 

Maybe they are inviting you to ....

"Sit down and relax...... enjoy the view "

Patterns in the Bark

What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized. What we call random is just patterns we can't decipher.

Chuck Palahniuk

Leaning Trees Along The Path

A pathway at Bissett Park - Radford, Virginia

Looking down

the path

This is looking up the path....the trees are leaning away from the New River.

I assume they grew this way because the wind blows "off" the water

(not sure about that...just assuming)

I think they look neat the way they are leaning.

As you can see, most of the leaves have fallen.

Country Life

A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.

 - Leo Tolstoy

ROCKS

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. 
- Confucius

 Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

 I am in awe of the lines....of the color...of the shapes.

A Canvas of Glory

In the sky 

an infinitude of hope, 

a canvas of glory 

all possibilities mine. 

~Terri Guillemets

The sky reflected in a pond at the Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, Virginia

Happy Thanksgiving!

Leaf from a tree in the backyard...still a few left on it

Leaf from a tree in the front yard....this is the only leaf left on that one

Today in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving!
I wasn't sure what kind of post to do today - such pressure :)
So I thought I would share something from childhood.

When I was growing up, it was traditional for us to
sit around the table and tell what we were thankful for
Here's my list.

I am thankful for:
A wonderful job that I love
A new found appreciation for nature
Kind and generous parents who didn't give up on
the black sheep of the family
Fantastic siblings who are always supportive
Two great kids who are quickly becoming wonderful young adults
A terrific husband - truly a gift from God
To God for sending the greatest Gift of all

I hope that I can make every day a Thankful day!

Random Shots

Shot at Bissett Park....bricks donated in memory of loved ones

A pathway at Bissett Park in Radford, Virginia 

BIRDS

Ok - so this isn't a picture of a bird....but I liked the shot.

This was taken Sunday at the Izaak Walton Park

A Mockingbird.

This was taken in my front yard

As was this.... I guess there are advantages to the leaves falling....

This was taken through the glass of the door
that leads to the deck - so it is a bit distorted

This is the same shot as above.
She was actually posed this way I just rotated the shot above so you could get
a better look. This is a Red Bellied Woodpecker - female. The Red goes
all the way to the top of the head on the males.
We call the female "Wilma" and the male "Woody".

Fog on the New River

In nature, everything has a job. The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties! 

― Mehmet Murat ildan

Encourage Them To Try Again

Goldrenrod turns white as it comes to its end.
When I saw this two specific things came to my mind.....
#1 - It looks like Snow

#2 - It looks like a Gnome hat (do you see it?)

Leaves

I can never get enough leaves

Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year.

― Chad Sugg

Out in the Country

If country life be healthful to the body, it is no less so to the mind.  

~ Giovanni Ruffini

Barn in Autumn

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. 

~ Edwin Way Teale

Tree Series

Tree #1 - Lone Tree on Riner Farm in Color

#2 - Lone Tree on Riner Farm - less color

#3. Lone Tree on Riner Farm - Almost no color

#4. Lone Tree on Riner Farm - B&W

Which one do you like best?

A Tale of Two Geese - By Charles Duckins :)

"I don't want to go that way....... I'm going this way"

"We really need to discuss this.... I think this is the direction to go"

"OK, you win.... I'll follow you"
The END!

BALTIMORE DUCK

Before attending church on Sunday, my sister and I got out early for a nice walk.

This duck was still sleeping... or maybe he was just trying to take a nap.....

I took several shots.... this was my perspective when I took this shot.... I was above him.

I think it looks better rotated like this.
He has his beak buried in his feathers, and up on one leg,
but he was looking at me the entire time.
Of all the photographs I took in Baltimore, I love this one best!

(click on the pics to enlarge...it makes a difference)

Added : For a look at another duck... check out Abe's site: http://mybirdsblog.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday - Flight Progression

Another Bench

I am really fascinated with benches.....and I have no idea why.

I took this shot while visiting Fort McHenry.

Fort McHenry - National Monument

The Baltimore weekend was an educational weekend also.

I visited Fort McHenry for the first time. A Very Neat Place!

Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry to learn more.

The guy in green is a park ranger.... the others are in period dress... the ranger was giving a lecture on how the fort was used over the years... The War of 1812, Civil War, WWI etc.

This flag was HUGE! My picture does not do it justice.
Fort McHenry is the "birthplace" of the our

National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner

Out of My Comfort Zone

This is one of the tall buildings in downtown Baltimore.

This shot is more my style..... I love to take shots of church steeples/spires.

This is one of my all time favorites of the weekend. There is nothing really special about this bench...... i just love benches!

Tall Ship - Baltimore Inner Harbor

 I can't begin to tell you how beautiful this ship was. The crew had the wood polished and shining. It was pretty amazing!