Flittin' Young'un

As Clytie and I walked along the river, we were followed by this young blue jay.  He seemed most interested in us--he sat watching us long enough, I was able to catch a quick picture of this bold fledgling.

I like the way his feathers are sort of ruffled--he seems like a teenager to me.  (grin)

Shadowy World Reflections

Sissy and I went for a walk through old town Independence--in a quaint shop window, I thought I saw a crystal ball.  So I took it's picture--and mine, too!  Turns out the globe was actually the world.

I'm combining two events in one today--I don't like to do it that way--but I've been so busy with this yard sale I haven't had much time to do much!

Check out Harriet's blog for more wonderful shadowy photography at Shadow Shot Sunday.

James' has a wonderful blog where people from all over the world submit their Weekend Reflections.

Driftwood Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

I found this lovely driftwood heart in a large twisty log.  The beach was sunny and warm--there was magic in the air.

For more marvelous Hearts  from around the world, check out Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday!

Foxgloves!

Mom tells a charming story from when she was a child.  She would put foxgoves upon each finger and pretend they were gloves.  She would stand at the edge of the canyon, as though it were a stage and curtsy to her unseen audience.

When Sissy and I were young, we, too wore foxgloves upon our hands.  I would imagine I wore polish upon my beauteous long fingernails and would flutter them with an elegant air.  We knew they were probably poison--so we didn't eat them.  A good thing, as these flowers are a potent source of digitalis!

We were in Washington State recently.  The front yard of the home where we stayed was filled with white and pink foxgloves.  I discovered something I never knew--deep inside the foxglove there is a bright red stamen.  I tried to take a picture of it, but wasn't able to catch it clearly enough.  Why I never noticed this as a child, is beyond me!  We were pretty observant of things such as that.

Gold of Shadow - Shadow Shot Sunday

This lovely flower is one of the many varieties of domesticated blooms which can be found growing wildly in the grounds of the abandoned mega church.  The gold of shadow, of fragrant flower quite caught my eye.

For more wonderful shadowy photos, please visit Shadow Shot Sunday!

Tree in Glass - Weekend Reflections

I always have such a wonderful time wandering through the abandoned Mega Church with my Sister Clytie.  This day was beautiful--sunny, just around 70 degrees--the perfect day for a walk.  I caught these trees winking up at me from the ground.

I waved back and took their picture.

For more fabulous reflections visit James Blog at Weekend Reflections.

Whirl Twirl

I was highly amused at this unexpectedly funny photo I clicked by accident last weekend!

This little goldfinch was moving her head so quickly, all I caught was this bit of a Whirl Twirl!  One would think a bird could get dizzy at that rate!!!

Abandoned

Some of you have asked to see some of the places where Sissy and I walk with our cameras.  This is the Abandoned mega church where vandals have bashed in nearly every window including skylights.  We find some truly interesting subjects to photograph in this amazing place.  There is a strange beauty about it, despite people's efforts to destroy it.

This is one of the back buildings where some immense equipment can still be found.

There is a sky bridge which leads from the biggest building to a smaller one.  It is amazing how Nature has already begun to overgrow the landscape and buildings.  As you can see, this is a wonderful mysterious place to explore.  And sometimes it even can be downright dangerous.

Finch Fiaco at the Feeder!

While in Washington State we stayed with friends who had a picture window with feeders just beyond. 

I was fascinated with the variety of birds we saw--Stellar Jays, Robins, a brown headed cowbird, sparrows and a flock of golden finches. 

The brightly colored male kept his distance most of the time--and then there were the ladies--as you can see there was quite a fiasco at the feeder!

Eye of Cat - Weekend Reflections

I'm discovering our new KittyBootz is quite photogenic.  Snapping her photo last night was a joy--she even seemed to want to pose for me.

This is my favorite of the lot.  I love the contrast of her soft fur and the shine of  old wood.  And those eyes!  Wow!  What a little beauty.  She is filling our lives with laughter at her funny antics.  I'm so glad she's come to live in our home.  We are blessed.  

For more unusual reflections visit James Blog at Weekend Reflections.

 

EEEEeeeeeeeeek! It's Yellow! It's Alive!

Yesterday, walking along the abandoned mega church roadway, I spotted a blossom on the Scotch Broom.  I've always loved them--I think they look like little yellow birds.  It was one of the last, so I snapped its picture.  I was intrigued--looking at the photo--to see a fringe of what looked like whiskers coming from beneath the flower petals.  I hadn't remembered this to be true of Scotch Broom flowers...

A closeup revealed something quite unexpected--a YELLOW spider!  EEEeeeeek!

 Scary, isn't it???  I think he was looking right into the camera!

Kitty Bootzin'

On a day like today, it is so precious to have this tiny bit of sunshine bouncing around the house.  I barely caught her sitting still--which is why she's a tad fuzzy.  We call our new friend Kitty Bootz, because she has four white boots!  Two short shoes in front, two long ones in back.

Green and Gold - shadow Shot Sunday

 

I went for a walk one sunny Autumn evening.  I chanced to look up into a sun dappled maple tree.  What I saw took my breath away and filled my eyes.  Tangy greens and shiny golds tangled in sun and shadow to make a feast for the eyes.

For more wonderful pictures featuring shadow and light, visit Shadow Shot Sunday!

The Mobster - Weekend Reflections

The look on this plucky fellow's face clearly says he's a troublemaker!  He could be an itty bitty birdie Mob boss!   He'd look wonderful with a little black top hat!  I love the humor I think see in this tough old fellow's face and the way the light reflects rainbow colors from his feathers is beautiful. 

For more wonderful reflections from around the world visit Weekend Reflections!

Fight Flight

We have bundles of hummingbirds buzzing through the air in our backyard.  They often tussle in mid-flight--here I caught one little lady as she flicked her tail and chittered over an interloper at the feeders.  It is a bit blurred, but something about this photo filled my eyes. 

Shadow on Filbert Leaves

I captured these wonderfully sun-drenched leaves on my last walk with my darling Sister Clytie. This is a wild filbert tree--I love the way the sun illuminates the leaves and that crisp shadow of leaf .

When I was young, my siblings and I loved playing in the thickets of filberts growing between the house and the old Oak tree.   We made rooms and corridors from one place to another by knotting and tying the nimble branches of the filbert trees together.  Wild blackberries and honeysuckle vines would twine up through those living walls to fill the air with fragrance and an occasional snack!

Years later I found thick knots where the limbs of the wild filberts had continued to grow after we'd tied them together.  Ah, childhood--sometimes I wish I could go back there.