Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 26:52

Summer has wrapped me in her warm embrace and I'm hugging back.

We topped 100 degrees on the solstice, a nod to my previous home state of Arizona. But Texas is never harsh for long and the heat was quickly followed by glorious days where the temps hovered in the 80's and there is enough sky candy to convince you to lay on your back and risk being stung alive.

Today is one of those days. But I'm content to watch the clouds meander by from the safety of my front porch.

I was surprised to see that I've taken over 300 photos this month. I'd have to post a daily blog to be able to share them all!

These first images are from the beautiful River Road Park in Boerne, Texas. I've been trying to get there during the golden hour for months!

These Egyptian Geese are beautiful but not native to Texas (or even North America). They are actually not a goose at all but a Shelduck, which is a cross between a goose and a duck. 

It was challenging to get a clear shot of this Muscovy mama and her four ducklings. They were so fast!

The turtles are pretty fast too, but I managed to catch one or two. I think they look so old and wise, don't you?

I would like some confirmation on this ID, but I believe this is a juvenile yellow-crowned night-heron. The adults look completely different!

Back at home, I had a rare visitor. The Ladder-backed Woodpecker.  I really didn't get a good picture of him, they are small and fast!

He has a bright red cap which you can't see very well in these pictures.

My friends (not) the deer are still coming by to enjoy the bounty of my flower beds. I find their behavior to be downright impertinent.

A funny thing occurred to me as I was looking through these next images; some people turn on their sprinklers for their kids to play in during the summer.  We turn them on for the birds :)

How are you staying cool this summer?

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled week, friends!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 23:52

I do love these early days of summer. 

The air still holds a hint of fragrance. The birds are still nesting and raising their young. The heat has not yet zapped us and made us lazy!

It's the beginning of a new season! The sun shimmers and we look forward with anticipation to all we have planned.  The weddings and parties and backyard BBQ's! Days at the lake or the shore. Early mornings and late evenings on the porch. Trips to places known and unknown. Memories to be made!

Summer usually means more butterflies. Sadly, I haven't seen as many around this year. Which made it all the more exciting to find a pipevine swallowtail sampling the blooms this week. These beauties are difficult to capture because they rarely stop! I think this is the first time I've ever captured their dorsal side!

It was late afternoon so the flower beds were in the shade. Otherwise, you would have seen the iridescence in their wings. My friend, Kim, raises butterflies and you can see her beautiful images here. 

One of the reasons I'm seeing fewer butterflies may be because the deer have been eating my lantana blossoms this year. The little buggers. I will be happy when we get our fence up! In the meantime, I've started using the deer repellent spray again. It's a good thing, too, because there are plenty of babies around this year. I found another one "hidden" in the grass just the other day.

It's always fun to watch the babies. Here is a shot of the Mockingbird twins I introduced you to last week. They are learning to navigate the suet feeder.

The Woodhouse's Scrub Jay twins are learning, too! They haven't adapted to the swinging basket quite as well as the mockingbirds!

The pretty house finches don't mind the swinging basket and they're happy to share!

Such a pretty bird!

I've been going through so much suet that I buy it in bulk on Amazon! I can't blame the baby birds. The gold-fronted woodpeckers get more than their share.

And I'm currently fighting with four of these rascals!

Don't let that sweet face fool you! These guys can eat a hole in my sock feeder faster than I can get out the door to chase them away! 

We've had a lot of rain but no one seems to mind. The black-chinned hummingbirds continue to feed through all but the fiercest of storms. Small and mighty wins the day!

What are you seeing through

your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled week, friends!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 34:52

Looking back I was surprised to see that it’s been nearly a month since I’ve shared on any nature/bird memes.  August has been a busy month for us. We took a short trip to cooler climes and, as sometimes happens with time away, the before and after was a bit hectic.

I’m looking forward to sharing some of our mini-adventure with you, but for now, here is what’s been happening around the cottage.

I’m not at all happy with the abundance of Bambis this year due to the havoc they are wreaking on my flower beds. They have a particular appetite for blossoms and tend to pull things up roots and all. . . but still, it is hard not to find them endearing.

 

 

 

I shared previously how much fun I’ve been having watching the juveniles at the bird feeders. Here is an immature male cardinal in the beautiful bird feeder our daughter gave us for Christmas last year.

 

 

I don’t see the {Western} scrub jays around often. But when they are in the yard, you definitely know about it! These two made such a commotion, I had to grab my camera and see what the fuss was about. Nothing out of the ordinary, but they look like juveniles to me, so I suppose they were just finding their voice.

 

 

 

It’s been a banner year for butterflies. I planted butterfly weed in my flower beds this year and it is growing like crazy! I’m planning to plant even more milkweed next year. The Pipevine Swallowtails seem to be partial to the red butterfly weed.

 

 

I’m not often up for the sunrise {in the summer months} but we put in some long days getting ready for our trip and I happened to catch this jewel in the morning light.

 

 

The twins paid us a visit this afternoon. They look so skinny, I can almost forgive them for eating all the blooms off my flowers.

Almost.

 

 

And, if you’re still with me, I finally got some decent shots of the elusive Carolina Chickadee. They are the energizer bunnies of the bird world! Constantly moving!

 

 

The lighting wasn’t the best, no sun today for a change, so the greens are a bit dull. But I’m pleased enough to share them with you.

 

 

I saw this quote by Charles Lingbergh recently and wondered what the context might have been. Quite a fascinating conversation, I would think!

 

I realized that if I had to choose,

I would rather have birds than airplanes. ~Charles Lindbergh

  ***

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

 

Have a wonder-filled day!

 

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Inspired by . . . ridin’ the rails {of life}

The sweetest man in the world and I recently took a ride on the Austin Steam Train.

 

 

Reflecting back on our little adventure, it occurred to me that ridin’ the rails is a lot like journeying through life.

 

 

We’re all assigned a seat {place}. We can choose to ignore those who have been placed in the same car {neighborhood/world} with us, or we can engage and inspire them.

 

     

 

Most of the time we can’t see where we are going, or what’s up ahead. Things past are quickly forgotten as we delight in what’s happening outside our window at that moment.

Those riding backwards, always looking to the past, have a different perspective of the journey. They seem to lack the anticipation and delight of those looking forward. They express regret over things missed, or sit quietly in contemplation.

 

 

Those not seated by windows, focus inward, chatting quietly amongst themselves, missing the wonders of the outside world altogether.

Except for times when there is a severe bend in the track, we can’t see the engine that pulls us along, determining our course.

 

 

Leaving our seat {place} often results in a wobbly experience. At worst, we crash into walls {or people!}. At best, we jerk along, unsure of each new step.

Life is a big, complicated machine. We rely on the engineer to keep the train on the tracks and maintain our course, the conductor to keep the train functioning properly, and the volunteers in the cars to instruct us about life on the rails and trains in general.

 

 

Of course, mine is not a perfect analogy, but it was a fun way to share our adventure with you. Hopefully, it has inspired you to ponder every day moments and look for ways God may be revealing Himself and His perfect plan for your life!

 

 

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, Php 1:3-7

 

Blessings,

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