Along The Fence

Flowers along the fence  

Deerfield Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia

 A fence in front and behind

Fence posts with a Bluebird box 

and a Bonus Bluebird youngster

The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be. 

 — Robert Fulghum

Grasshopper Sparrow Sings

Never be so focused on what you're looking for that you overlook the thing you actually find.

 — Ann Patchett

Available - HERE 

4 Wonderfully Wet Webs

 Together we notice not only each mountain shadow and each stone on the beach but we notice each other's beautiful faces and complex natures so that Creation need not play to an empty house. 
- Annie Dillard

 As I make my slow pilgrimage through the world, a certain sense of beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow. 

- Arthur Christopher Benson

 Remain in wonder if you want the mysteries to open up for you. 

- Osho

It is in awareness that we bring everything to life that lives within us. There is no time like the present to give birth to creativity. Listen and you will hear. 

- Kathleen Arnason

3 Butterfly Macros

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly 

Cabbage White Butterfly 

Updated:  This may be a Pearl Crescent :)
Thanks for the ID help!! 

The things that make me different are the things that make me ME. 

 — A.A. Milne

Sharing with I Heart Macro 

Miscellaneous

Male Cardinal - Blowing in the Wind :)

Water Lily and Reflection

Caterpillar (but I don't know what kind)

American Goldfinch - Female

miscellaneous

mis·cel·la·neous 

adjective  

including many things of different kinds

Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations. 

~ Faith Baldwin

Hope you have a Great Day!

Decorate Your Soul

So plant your own garden and 
decorate your own soul, 
instead of waiting for someone 
to bring you flowers. 

- Author unknown

Available - HERE 

Now That Was Close!

If I can stop one Heart from breaking 

I shall not live in vain 

If I can ease one life the Aching

 Or cool one Pain

 Or help one fainting Robin 

Unto his Nest again 

I shall not live in Vain

- Emily Dickinson

He allowed me to get quite the "close-up" - 

landing right where I was standing :)  

On The Hunt

(Brown Thrasher looking for bugs) 

"Nature” is what we see— 

 The Hill—the Afternoon— 

 Squirrel—Eclipse—the Bumble bee— 

 Nay—Nature is Heaven—

 Nature is what we hear—

 The Bobolink—the Sea— 

 Thunder—the Cricket— 

 Nay—Nature is Harmony— 

 Nature is what we know— 

 Yet have no art to say— 

 So impotent Our Wisdom is 
 To her Simplicity.

-  Emily Dickinson

No Expiration Date

The greatest thing about dreams is they don’t expire. They can lay dormant for years and when you pull them out and dust them off, they shine like new.

 ― Casi McLean

Keep Calm And ....

Keep Calm 

and

Share Some Love

Mourning Doves preening - 

they are such affectionate birds :) 

Artsy Version - HERE 

Should I stay or should I go?

As I was going through some pics from a June outing, I saw this one of the Cedar Waxwings and the first thing that came to my mind was: "Should I stay or should I go?" by the Clash.

That was one of my favorite songs back in the late 80s. I thought it was fitting that I used a texture that had musical notes on it (right hand side) 

Anyone else remember that song?  It sure brought back some fun memories for me :)

Make The Right Choice

Every day brings a choice: 

to practice stress or to practice peace.

~ Joan Borysenko

Caught Peeking!

This new day is too dear, 

with its hopes and invitations, 

to waste a moment on the yesterdays. 

 ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tree Swallow peeks out of his nest box. 

More of my Bird Images - HERE 

Wise Words From Rumi

Sit, be still, 

and listen...

~ Rumi 

Print Available - HERE 

Thought for the Day

Do not let what you cannot do

interfere with what you can do.
- John Wooden 

Available - HERE 

American Goldfinch - Thistle Lover

He often in the trees did sing, 

With lively notes light as wings, 

And to all the other birds he brings 

Happiness and delight.

- Telemachus

The rest of the poem is found - HERE 

Artsy Egret

Inspiration comes from nature itself. I am enamored of nature, and that admiration has only increased as I age. 

- Benjamin Eisenstat

Print Available - HERE 

Handsome House Finch

You're never fully dressed without a smile. 

 ~ Martin Charnin

I hope you are smiling today!

Sometimes.....

Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

The Fray - All At Once

Lyrics by Joseph King, Isaac Slade

Great Egret Sky Ballet

Wonder takes our breath away, and makes room for new breath. 

That’s why they call it breathtaking. 

 ― Anne Lamott

Available - HERE 

Hope for the Future

Hope is not a prediction of the future; it's a declaration of what's possible. 

- Yogi Bhajan

A Monarch Caterpillar munches on the milkweed.  HOPEFULLY he will grow up to become a beautiful Monarch Butterfly!  

 

White Ibis Wing Display

Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others. 

- Thich Nhat Hanh

American White Ibis - Indian Beach, NC

More info on this lovely bird - HERE 

Keep Calm And....

Our weather has been awesome ......but I hear there may be a tropical storm on the way .....

but I'm keeping calm....and I have my flip flops on :)

Update:  Cat 2 Hurricane Arthur arrived last night July 3, - and the eye went directly over us.  That was quite an awesome experience in nature - the wind howling for hours and then all at once it was calm.....and after a short while it started up again in the opposite direction.  We are fine and it is a beautiful day today!