Heart of Golden Rose -Guest Heart Thursday

You can see several lovely hearts in the middle of this beautiful golden-hearted rose.  I clicked this beauty on one of my morning walks last Spring.  The sunshine made it glow.
  
I have a chance to win a small original painting of my own dear Polydactyl Cat by one of my all-time favorite artists.  If you'd like to vote for Toez, visit Sandrine's Gallery.  Happy Guest Heart Thursday everyone!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.
 

Woody's Babies

Yesterday Sissie and I took a walk through The Abandoned.   Sissy was so excited about a woodpecker next she'd noticed.  She'd heard the babies calling and wanted to show it to me.  It looked like someone had drilled a perfectly round hole in the side of the aging tree trunk.

Out popped Ralphie the Redhead.  What a pretty little fellow.

Someone was listening!  It was Papa Woody Woodpecker bearing a beak full of food.

That's one big fat green worm.

Ralphie made short work of it.  Dad flew away...

Oop!  Here's Ralphie again!  He's calling for Mom...

 Good Food Mom!

And she's off!  A Mother's work is never done!

Beauty in a Drop - Weekend Reflections

My darling Sissy and I always find wonderful things in The Abandoned.  The last time we walked there with our cameras, was no exception.  The sun burst through the clouds to glorify raindrops shining everywhere around us....
 

Marching a scintillating trail down a thread of green grass...

Resting delicately on the fragrant petals of a rose....

Festooning the tips of swaying grass seed...

Reflecting the world from beneath the sharp tip of a blackberry thorn...

Shining on purple leaves...

The Abandoned will always be a mysterious place filled with magic and adventure.  I feel honored and blessed to walk there with my dear Sissy--who delights my heart no end.

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

Basket Weave Glass

Last week, Sissy and I went on a wonderfully long walk.  We wandered through The Abandoned, then traipsed into the surrounding woodlands.  Nearby there is an old dump from the now defunct Dammasch State Hospital.  The refuse was burned then discarded there.  One can find old spoons, tiny glass bottles, melted glass and a myriad of interesting treasures.  The picture above is a bit of old broken glass--glorified by a stray ray of sunshine.

Clytie and I both found the super Macro settings on our cameras that afternoon--it was as though we both were using brand new cameras!  which made it so hard to start walking back home

Owl Looking at Me - Guest Heart Thursday

Sissy and I were walking in The Abandoned when we were startled by the flight of a Great Horned Owl.  He perched upon a tree just within sight--He watched as I took this amazing photo.  You are probably wondering where the hearts are?  They are in the tangle of branches -- can you find them?

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

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.

She Sees Hearts

I was so excited yesterday--I had the fabulous privilege (and I mean that) of walking with Sissy through the ruins of the abandoned church, through the overgrown grounds surrounding, watching lichen and blossomings.  Stepping over ruin to find unexpected places of beauty.

What a surprise to have caught the silhouette of my precious Sissy--and it seems it is no astonishment there is a heart there on the left . . . because she sees hearts.