"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement."
— Helen Keller
Thursday
Adventures Along The New River Trail
“Adventure should be part of everyone’s life.
It is the whole difference between being fully alive and just existing.”
– Holly Morris
This was our view when we stopped for a rest on our bike ride (10/30/24).
The Hiwassee Bridge over the New River along the New River Trail.
It was a beautiful fall day!
Wednesday
Downy Woodpecker in Autumn
Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.
~ Natalie Goldberg
Zabulon Skipper Butterfly
“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.”
― B.B. King
I've been going back through some old images trying to identify the insects and flowers. I believe this to be a Zabulon Skipper Butterfly on a Prunella Vulgaris.
Always Wonderful - Male Cardinal
"Even in the familiar
there can be surprise and wonder."
~ Tierney Gearon
Tuesday
Watching the Leaves
"Even if something is left undone,
everyone must take time to sit still
and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence
From our visit to Claytor Lake State Park
10/26/24
A Different Perspective - Bluebird Feathers
“With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy,
we see into the life of things.”
― William Wordsworth
Monday
Red-bellied Woodpecker - An Autumn Profile
"Delicious autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly
about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~ George Eliot
Yellow-rumped Warbler Takes Flight
"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness."
- James Thurber
You can see how the yellow-rumped warbler got its name.
Sunday
Tufted Titmouse Treat
“Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways
to kneel and kiss the ground.”
― Rumi
Friday
Autumn Bike Ride
"There are two times of the year:
autumn and waiting for autumn."
– Unknown
I had never heard this quote before so I thought I would use it today.
I actually like all of the seasons, but winter has to be my least favorite.
I think that might change now that I am retired and don't have to get out in it
if I don't want to.
I took this picture along the New River Trail when we were riding our bikes
earlier this week.
Thursday
Autumn Tapestry on the Forest Floor
“Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.”
― William Allingham
Bee in the Bee Balm
"Nature will bear the closest inspection.
She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf,
and take an insect view of its plain."
~ Henry David Thoreau
Wednesday
Red-headed Woodpecker
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself.
Go forward and make your dreams come true.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Red-headed Woodpecker seen on our visit to
Claytor Lake State Park 10-11-24
Tuesday
Let Your Light Shine Today
“Let your light shine today, and let your personality blossom, too. You don’t have to be a people-pleaser, just a people-lover.”
– Beth Moore
Walking The Soul Back Home
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
— Mary Davis
From our walk along Deerfield Trail - 10/20/24
Monday
Harlequin Glorybower
“Plants give us oxygen
for the lungs and for the soul.”
– Linda Solegato
The Harlequin Glorybower is a "new to me" plant found during our walk at
Claytor Lake State Park - 10-19-24.
Between The Pines
"Between every two pines
is a doorway to a new world."
― John Muir
Looking up during our walk through
Claytor Lake State Park
on 10/19/24.
Sunday
Autumn Cardinal
"Autumn mornings: sunshine and crisp air, birds and calmness, year's end and day's beginnings."
- Terri Guillemets
Saturday
Autumn - When Every Leaf is a Flower
"Autumn is a second spring
when every leaf is a flower."
~ Albert Camus
Captured during our walk along the Plantation Road
side of the Huckleberry Trail - 10-18-24
Flight of the Long-tailed Skipper
“In this world in which we live
simplicity and kindness
are the only magic wands that work wonders”
― L. Frank Baum
The long-tailed skipper in flight - Summer of 2024
Artsy Version - HERE
Friday
Pink Petals
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,
our whole life would change."
~ Buddha
Thursday
Butterfly Friends
"A friend accepts us as we are
yet helps us to be what we should."
~ Unknown
Painted Lady Butterfly and Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Wash Your Spirit Clean
"Keep close to Nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."
~ John Muir
Wednesday
Tuesday
Miracles of Life and Growth
“I feel a great regard for trees;
they represent age and beauty
and the miracles of life and growth.”
― Louise Dickinson Rich
Print Available - HERE
Monday
Looking In A Different Way
"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way."
- Edward de Bono
Prints and More available - HERE
Live in Each Season As It Passes
"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth."
― Thoreau
White-throated Sparrow
Print Available - HERE
Sunday
Magnolia Warbler
"To pay attention,
this is our endless and proper work."
~ Mary Oliver
Prints and More Available - HERE
Saturday
Rise Up Joyful
“When I rise up
let me rise up joyful
like a bird.
When I fall
let me fall without regret
like a leaf.”
― Wendell Berry
Another shot of the Pileated Woodpecker in flight with a bit more
of his wings showing. From our visit to Claytor Lake State Park
on 10/11/24.
Autumn Was Awakened
"And the sun took a step back,the leaves lulled themselves to sleep,and autumn was awakened."
- Raquel Franco
From our visit to Claytor Lake State Park
10-11-24
Autumn Colors on the Wings
"It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart."
~ Unknown
Common Buckeye Butterfly
Pileated Woodpecker in Flight
"If you listen quietly enough life will whisper its secrets to you."
― Rasheed Ogunlaru
Pileated Woodpecker in flight from our visit to
Claytor Lake State Park on Friday, October 11, 2024
Friday
Spiny Spiderflower
“Flowers are like friends;
They bring color to your world.”
– Unknown
I believe this is Cleome Spinosa - Spiny Spiderflower
We found this on a walk while visiting the Warm Hearth neighborhood - 10/10/24.
Wonderful Stream of Life
“We all exist as part of a wonderful stream of life.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
Print Available - HERE
Thursday
A Complete Rest
"Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest."
~Ashleigh Brilliant
On a rather cool morning at the Hahn Garden (10/07/24)
a bee rests on the tip of a wildflower.
View from McKeever Lodge - Pipestem State Park
“Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are."
― Gretel Ehrlich
Our view from McKeever Lodge at Pipestem State Park during our
visit last weekend (October 4-6, 2024).
Pipestem is one of our favorite places to visit.
Print Available - HERE
Wednesday
Enjoy Every Minute
"I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Cabbage White Butterfly in flight over the asters seen on
my walk through the Hahn Horticulture Garden on
October 7, 2024.
Print Available - HERE
Blue My Mind
"Where flowers bloom so does hope."
~ Lady Bird Johnson
I found this lovely flower and insect (a hover fly I think) on my
walk around the Hahn Horticulture Garden on Monday, October 7, 2024
I believe this flower is called a shaggy dwarf morning-glory and is named
"Blue My Mind" - hence the title of my post.
Print Available - HERE
Tuesday
Sunday
Autumn Colors - Pipestem State Park - West Virginia
"Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons"
– Jim Bishop
Autumn is beginning to show its colors at
Pipestem State Park in Pipestem, West Virginia.
10-05-24
Friday
Thursday
Autumn Leaf from our Walk - October 3, 2024
"Leaves drift softly earthward toward the grass
Spring and summer blend from green to gold ...
Corby Magnuson, The Measure of Leaves
From our walk at Hethwood Pond on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The leaves here are turning more brown this year than the orange and reds we
usually get.
Carolina Wren
"Build a House for men and birds. Sit with them and play music. For a day, for just one day, talk about that which disturbs no one and bring some peace, my friend,
into your beautiful eyes."
~ Hafiz
Wednesday
Tuesday
Shine Your Light
"Shine your light and make a positive impact on the world; there is nothing so honorable as helping improve the lives of others."
— Roy T. Bennett