The Last Sunrise of 2020

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

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!

A White Christmas

 Christmas Day 2020 

We were blessed with a White Christmas 

Sunrise and Freezing Fog

“O, Sunlight! 

The most precious gold to be found on Earth.” 

— Roman Payne

Sunrise 12-19-2020

7:19 am

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

Female House Finch In The Snow

“See the light in others,

and treat them as if that is all you see.”

– Dr. Wayne Dyer

Winter Lady

“Kindness is free. Sprinkle it everywhere.”

– Unknown

Print Available - HERE

Bare Branches and Blue Sky

 “Trees are poems that the earth 

writes upon the sky.” 

- Khalil Gibran

Print Available - HERE 

More Tree Hugs

“Hugs are the universal medicine.”

- Unknown

Print Available - HERE

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 

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 

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 

Blue Jay with Cold Feet

“How beautiful a day can be

when kindness touches it.”

― George Elliston

Print Available - HERE

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

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 

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 

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

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

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 

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

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

You will remember is as a song sung by

The Youngbloods from the 60's

Autumn Print Available - HERE

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.

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

Bluebird Beauty

"The bluebird carries the sky on his back."

- Henry David Thoreau

More of my Bluebirds - HERE

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 

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

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 

Looking Up To The Tree Tops

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky."

~ Rumi

Print Available - HERE

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

More Autumn Views at Claytor Lake State Park

"Wherever life takes us, 

there are always moments of wonder."

~ Jimmy Carter

Print Available - HERE 

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 

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

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 

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)

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

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