Bug - Doing the Hokey Pokey

Looking at this bug I am reminded of an old elementary school song - The Hokey Pokey

What a fun song that was to sing! Even as adults we sing that song here in Blacksburg during Virginia Tech Football games.  

Here is the same shot of the bug - just not cropped as closely. 
 He has Queen Anne's Lace as his "umbrella".  

Laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it principally in one place. 
~ Josh Billings

Squirrel - Face to Face Fun

Laughter is the shortest distance 
between two people.

- Victor Borge

I LOVE to Laugh! I was texting one day on my iPhone with autocorrect on - and I wanted to type "Yipppeeee" and the phone "corrected" it to show "Tupperware" I sent the text before I caught the error and had the Biggest Laugh in a long time. I'm still laughing.

Fill your Life with Lots of Laughter :)


Print Available - HERE 

Baby Bluebird - Not Quite Ready to Leave

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. 
Dr. Joyce Brothers

 The baby bluebird is looking at me with quite an expression - 
and I'm sure I've seen this look on my children in the past.

The Treasure of a Normal Day

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. 
~ Mary Jean Irion

 Print Available - HERE  

Red-winged Blackbird - On His Way

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination. 
~ Don Williams, Jr.

Lizard Looking at Me

There are more experiences in life than you’d think for which there are no words.

~Anita Shreve

~ Eastern Fence Lizard ~

Jewelry of Nature

Innumerable as the stars of night,

Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the sun

Impearls on every leaf and every flower.

~ John Milton

Summer Dragon

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.

~Aaron Siskind

Print Available - HERE 

Tree Swallows - "Feed Me!"

The living moment is everything. 
~ D.H. Lawrence

The Unknown

All nature is but art unknown to thee. 
~ Alexander Pope

 I love those hairy legs!!

Update:  I think this is called a Feather-legged Fly 

Textured Wings

There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.

Han Suyin

peeling paint art for sale

Hummingbird Bokeh

Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.

~Ashleigh Brilliant

Layers of Lace

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. 
 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Artsy versions of this image - 

HERE and HERE 

Ladybug - Leaf Traveler

Print Available - HERE 


One Step at a Time

by Joseph Morris

In the morning with the journey 
all before us on the road,

It takes courage to begin, that is sure;

For the first step is the hardest, 
and we always think the load

May be greater than we've power to endure.

When the first mile lies behind us we can say, 
"Now that is done,

And the second and the third will soon be past."

So we trudge on through the noontime, and the setting of the sun

Finds us coming to our stopping-place at last.

When a man would climb a mountain he's appalled to see the length

Of the slope that reaches up into the sky;

But he starts, and with the climbing he will find he's gained the strength

To attain the very top, however high.

For the climbing of a mountain takes but one step at a time--

Who has courage to do that will reach the goal;

He will stand upon Life's summit and will know that joy sublime

Which is his alone who dares to prove his soul.

Goldfinch Flyaway

The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer. 
 ~ Unknown

This little flyaway goldfinch was seen on the same day as the one I posted before. Some have asked how often I see these little ones .... I see them quite often. Sweet little yellows hanging out in the fields and chowing down on the seeds. Click HERE to hear the variety of songs they sing. (I had to click it twice so you may need to do that.)

Goldfinch in the Field

Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone,

Kindness in another's trouble,

Courage in your own.

~Adam Lindsay Gordon

White Wings

Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it.

~ Soren Kierkegaard

Loaded with Pollen

Amazement awaits us at every corner.

~James Broughton

Little Things

Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.
- Og Mandino

Wildflower Dreams

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

~ John Burroughs

One of my favorite quotes that I've used often on this blog. It is quite thrilling to me to hear the birds sing, to see flowers in a field or a butterfly in flight. What wonderful entertainment and beauty there is in just going for a walk. This was taken on one of my many summertime walks.  The white flower is Queen Anne's Lace and the blue in the background is Chicory

From My Early Morning Walk

I used to love night best but the older I get the more treasures and hope and joy I find in mornings.  
~ Terri Guillemets

Mockingbird Tightrope Walker

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. 
~ William Arthur Ward

Education of the Senses

We cannot create observers by saying "observe," but by giving them the power and the means for this observation and these means are procured through education of the senses. 
~ Maria Montessori

Milkweed Beetle - Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA

Butterfly Patterns

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. 
~Edward de Bono

This butterfly was seen at the Butterfly Conservatory I visited in Georgia at the end of June. A tropical butterfly of some sort. I didn't have much time so I wasn't able to ID all of the ones I shot.

And on another note -

I am not a very fashion conscious person - my favorite outfit is a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and some tennis shoes - however - I definitely think the pattern and colors on this butterfly's wings would make a GREAT fabric for a dress. In fact - I bet my sister would look wonderful in it.

Cattail In the Breeze

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Friendship, Flag and Freedom

Friends that drove a LONG way to be with our son at his graduation. It's always nice to have family at a special event like this - but I think it's even more special to have your friends.

Three quotes for today - One on Friendship, One on our Flag, and One on our Freedom.

Happy 4th of July!

Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

~George M. Cohan

And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

~Lee Greenwood

Summer Scenery

 Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. 
 ~ Henry James

 A typical summer scene in our little country town.

Katydid Close-up

The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs. 
 ― Wally Lamb

 She was hanging out in the pine trees in my backyard.  
Those are the pine needles sticking out around her. 
Doesn't she blend in well?
I used the 105mm Macro lens on this one.

Brown Thrasher with Breakfast - Friday Feathers

Worms - for a Brown Thrasher I guess they are the Breakfast of Champions.

Hope you all have a Wonderful Day!