If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time,
not tomorrow or next year…
Today should always be our most wonderful day.
– Thomas Dreier
Sunrise - December 31, 2020
7:23 AM
Thursday
Sunday
Winter Art - Tufted Titmouse in the Snow
“Spread love everywhere you go."
– Mother Teresa
Print Available - HERE
Carolina Wren Belts Out a Tune
“He who sings scares away his woes.”
― Cervantes
Carolina Wren sings his song.
I captured this image
during a Mid-December visit to Claytor Lake State Park.
We purchased a 1 year pass to Claytor Lake back in September and have visited many
times since then. Lots of outdoor space!
Jim has taken up bike riding, so he rides his bike
while I take pictures. It's a Win Win Situation!
Friday
Saturday
Sunrise and Freezing Fog
“O, Sunlight!
The most precious gold to be found on Earth.”
— Roman Payne
Sunrise 12-19-2020
7:19 am
Thursday
Female Cardinal with Ice on Her Feathers
“Write it on your heart that every day
is the best day of the year.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our weather event here in Blacksburg, VA yesterday was
an ice event, not a snow event (although it did start snowing a bit last night).
I chose this image to show you the
ice accumulating on the Female Cardinal's feathers.
The birds didn't seem to be bothered by it and eventually shook it off.
Male Cardinal Poses for His Portrait
“You can always give something,
even if it is just kindness.”
– Anne Frank
Wednesday
Female House Finch In The Snow
“See the light in others,
and treat them as if that is all you see.”
– Dr. Wayne Dyer
Tuesday
Sunday
Saturday
An Amazing Sunrise
"The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise."
Lamentations 3:22-23 (GNT)
An Amazing Sunrise seen just off of my back deck
12-12-2020 - Blacksburg, Virginia
Friday
White-breasted Nuthatch
“We can’t heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love,
an act of kindness.”
– Mary Davis
More Nuthatches - HERE
Thursday
Carolina Wren in the Snow
“You can never know the ripple effect you create with one tiny gesture of kindness.”
– Elle Sommer
Print Available - HERE
Monday
Thursday
The Hopeful Cardinal
"Love awoke one winter's night
And wander'd through the snowbound land,
And calling to beasts and birds
Bid them his message understand.
And from the forest all wild things
That crept or flew obeyed love's call,
And learned from him the golden words
Of brotherhood for one and all."
- Author Unknown
Print Available - HERE
Wednesday
Brown Creeper - Creeping Up the Tree
The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs.
~ Wally Lamb
Print Available - HERE
Saturday
Frost on the Flower
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
~ Stanley Horowitz
Print Available - HERE
Along Dora Trail - Pulaski Virginia
"Each moment of the year has its own beauty...
a picture which was never before
and shall never be seen again."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Print Available - HERE
Sunday
Birds of Autumn - White-throated Sparrow
"He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart."
~ J.A. Shedd
Print Available - HERE
Saturday
The Blues of Autumn - Eastern Bluebird
"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!"
~ Amanda Bradley
Print Available - HERE
Thursday
Cedar Waxwing in Autumn
“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”
- Germany Kent
More of my Cedar Waxwings - HERE
Monday
Tufted Titmouse Forages in Autumn Leaves
"Live your life as a curious student and you will discover how fascinating it is."
― Elena Ornig
Print Available - HERE
Tuesday
Autumn Light
"Love is but a song to sing
Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Some may come and some may go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
I said, come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Right now
Right now"
Songwriters: Chester Powers / Chester William Jr. Powers
Saturday
Blue Jay Flyaway
"A miracle is often the willingness to see the common
in an uncommon way. "
~ Noah Benshea
Print Available - HERE
Bird World Beauty - Female Cardinal
Make the most of yourself,
for that is all there is of you.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Female Cardinal seen during a visit to
Bisset Park, Radford, Virginia
July 2020.
Thursday
Red-bellied Woodpecker in Autumn
"And the sun took a step back,
the leaves lulled themselves to sleep,
and autumn was awakened."
- Raquel Franco
Print Available - HERE
Monday
Sunday
New River Trail State Park - Pulaski Virginia
“The world is yours to explore.”
Anonymous
Print Available - HERE
Well, if I can't explore the world, at least I can explore my little part of Virginia.
Jim and I visited a new (to us) portion of
The New River Trail State Park. The beginning of the trail is
in Pulaski, Virginia. As you walk about a 1/2 mile or so, you come upon this view - another converted train trestle.
I was much less scared to cross this one. It was about 60 ft high over Peak Creek, which was running swiftly after the rain we've had. The neat thing about this trestle is that it is curved. You cannot see around the curve of the trestle all of the way to the other end. It was another great day of exploring local sights.
Squirrels Just Wanna Have Fun
“Today was good. Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one.”
– Dr. Seuss
Print Available - HERE
Friday
Blue Jay in my Backyard
"When you are reluctant to change,
think of the beauty of Autumn."
~ V.B. Brown
More of my Blue Jays - HERE
Thursday
Fungi in the Forest
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Print Available - HERE
Wednesday
Monday
Autumn Flight - Tufted Titmouse
"I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Print Available - HERE
Saturday
Colorful Autumn at Claytor Lake State Park
"And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves..."
~ Virginia Woolf
Print Available - HERE
Monday
Red-bellied Woodpecker in Flight
"Wouldn't it be an exhilarating tonic for the soul to take a moment to appreciate the simple, good things in life which are so bountiful...?"
~ Author unknown
Print Available - HERE
Sunday
Red-Bellied Woodpecker in the Autumn Forest
“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how quickly they transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.”
—Wes Angelozzi
Print Available - HERE
Mockingbird in Autumn
"Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life."
~ Rumi
Print Available - HERE
Eastern Bluebird in the Shade of Autumn
When happiness settles upon you... sit very quiet and remember the colors.
― Diane Lee Wilson
Print Available - HERE
Sassafras Leaves in Autumn
...I see
the turning of a leaf
dancing in an autumn sun,
and brilliant shades of crimson
glowing when a day is done...
~ Hazelmarie "Mattie" Elliott
Print Available - HERE
Monday
Pileated Woodpecker in the Rain
"Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life."
- John Updike
Print Available - HERE
After several days of beautiful weather, the rain came.
I was fortunate to hear the call of a Pileated Woodpecker,
ran to the window, and captured this (through the window)
Sunday
The Burning Bush
“Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them—
The summer flowers depart—
Sit still— as all transform’d to stone,
Except your musing heart.”
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Saturday
Forest in Autumn at Claytor Lake State Park
"Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love—that makes life and nature harmonize."
- George Eliot
aka - Mary Ann Evans
Print Available - HERE
Image captured during my walk at
Claytor Lake State Park - 10-09-2020
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