Another Wet One!

Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life. 

- John Updike 

 Not a wet bird this time - but a wet flower.  I think flowers are so lovely when they have raindrops on them.

  I was able to shoot this video (the the sliding glass door of course) of a Grackle at the feeder.  I think his iridescent feathers showed up pretty good.  What do you think?

Flowers That Smile

 

 The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. 

 ~ Author Unknown

AVAILABLE AT FINE ART AMERICA - HERE 

These flowers always look like they have a smile on! 

He Was All Wet!

 The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfillment of its own nature, which was to fall and fall. 

- Helen Garner

soothing sounds

the pitter-patter of tiny feet

my rooftop welcomes

the rain

In a Shady Spot

Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.

- Wayne Dyer 

A Question Mark Butterfly

They like the "shady spots" in the forest.  

White-breasted Nuthatch Collage

The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world…

~ John Burroughs 

Snow on a Robin

Snow was falling, 

so much like stars 

filling the dark trees 

that one could easily imagine 

its reason for being 

was nothing more than prettiness.

 ― Mary Oliver

snow art

New York Sights

Top Left:  Love Sculpture by Robert Indiana

Top Right:  The Globe at Columbus Circle

Bottom Left:  Flags Flying at Rockefeller Plaza

Bottom Right:  The Brooklyn Bridge 
- which we walked across!

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. 
– Jawaharial Nehru

AVAILABLE - HERE 

 

The Freedom Tower

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. 

 ― Edith Wharton

From a whirlwind trip to New York City.  

This is the Freedom Tower at One World Trade Center (1WTC)

We visited the 911 memorial and St. Paul's Chapel. 

Artsy Version - HERE 

Eastern Towhee - Looking Up

Give goodness to the day and before you know it, the day will be giving goodness to you. 

 ~ Terri Guillemets

The Colors of Purple

Iris at the Hahn Horticulture Garden - Virginia Tech

We live in one world together. It's more important than ever to be friend to all.

 ― Elizabeth Blake

More of My Iris Images - HERE 

Another Almost

A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm. 

 - Charles M. Schwab

Downy Woodpecker on a flight path to the suet feeder.  

Another one of my "almost" got a good shot of him in flight.

I'll keep trying! 

More of my Birds in Flight - HERE 

A Suggestion To The Poet

The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life ... The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds -- how many human aspirations are realized in their free, holiday-lives -- and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song! 

– John Burroughs

I do believe John Burroughs was very wise and truly gifted with words!  

I saw this verse and was moved by its truth.

Male Mallard Poses

There is no greater treasure in this world than somebody who loves you as you are. 

 ― Eric Micha'el Leventhal

Mr. Mallard often times does not get the appreciation he deserves.  They are abundant in my area and sometimes I feel we take them for granted (kind of like Robins) - but they really are lovely ducks!

Print Available - HERE 

Light Blue Iris At The Hahn Horticulture Garden

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. 

 ~ Gerard de Nerval

Eastern Towhee In A Thorny Mess

Well, it looks like a thorny mess to me!  It amazes me how birds can dig around and even perch on thorny vines and manage to do it without getting all scratched up.

All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.  

- Yann Martel

Moon in the Trees

See the moon between the branches?

My "zoomed in" shot - hand held - using the Canon SX50HS

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. 

 ~ Winston Churchill

Posing Like An Angry Bird

 It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.

Dale Carnegie

Always Think Happy Thoughts!

Artsy Version - HERE 

Eye to Eye with a Mockingbird

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. 

 ~ Albert Einstein

Reaching for the Sky

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. 

 — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Print Available - HERE 

Planting Friendship

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. 

– Marcel Proust

I have some old flowers pots that I use as bird feeders in the winter - the Mourning Doves were in this one together.

Print Available - HERE 

House Finch Couple

One's not half of two; two are halves of one. 

- e.e. cummings

Love The Moment

Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed. 

- Sister Mary Corita Kent

Carolina Chickadee

       Practice isn't the thing you do when you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good. 

― Malcolm Gladwell


See More Chickadees - HERE 

Because Everyone Needs a Little Laughter In Life

If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy. 

Proverb

I caught this cardinal hanging out in the backyard 

on a very windy day.  

His crest was blowing all about - the equivalent of a bad hair day!

And it made me smile :)

Hope it makes you smile too!

Male Bluebird Searches For A Home

If Light Is In Your Heart 

You Will Find Your Way Home.

 ― Rumi

Print Available - HERE 

 

American Robin - Worm Pulling

I am fascinated with watching the behavior of birds.  I confess to standing for hours trying to capture them doing what comes naturally.  Finally got a shot (not a great one) of this American Robin pulling the worms from the ground.  As I watched them it looked like they were cocking their head to  one side to "hear" the worms - when actually - they were scrutinizing the ground with one eye to SEE the worms.  

"They have what is called monocular vision, which means their eyes are on the sides of the head and each eye can be used independently" - 
I never knew that!!
More from this great article is found - HERE 

Taste The Beauty Of The Wild

Go out, go out I beg of you 

 And taste the beauty of the wild. 

 Behold the miracle of the earth 

 With all the wonder of a child.

-  Edna Jaques

Print Available - HERE 

Writing a Page

 Go home and write 

 a page tonight.  

And let that page 

come out of you - 

 Then, it will be true.

 ― Langston Hughes

The words                             

  to write

                            are hard  

                                        to find

                                                       for me.

I let                                

the images    

                 create

                                my

                                                  Poetry.

Print Available - HERE 

Singing for Spring!

The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind. 

- Carly Simon 

Mockingbird singing for Spring.

Free March 2014 Calendar Download

You should be able to go to HERE

and download the calendar directly to your computer.  

Let me know if any problems or issues - and if you do download it - I would appreciate your feedback on how it looks.

March is one of my FAVORITE months!!