Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 22:52

Hello, friends!

I'm a little late posting this week due to my #ReadUpstream post from yesterday. If you're interested in what I'm reading this month, click through and have a look.

There has been a lot of activity around the cottage this week! Our cottonwood tree is in bloom. Which explains my runny nose and the intoxicating smell in our front yard!

Queen Butterfly

The Mockingbirds have been around with their babies the last few days. It's amazing how quickly they grow! They look just like mommy and daddy except for their speckled chests.

Here they are learning how to navigate the suet by themselves.

There have been a lot of cardinals around, too, with their families. This is a young female.

Items of interest can always be found if you're looking for them.

At least that's what this Carolina Wren tells me as he searches through the flower box for bugs to feed his mate. She is still sitting on a clutch of eggs.

Carolina Wren as taken through my living room window

Summer is here! Whoot-woot!

I hope you're staying cool like this male house finch!

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled weekend, 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

Life's feeling a bit more out-of-control this week as we're realizing that {gulp} this Sunday is the date we've set for moving out of the cottage. The rain this past week, though much needed here in south Texas, set us back a bit.

However, it didn't seem to stop the locals any, as this week's images will attest.

Not sure of the id, maybe a Nicippe

Juvenile Scrub Jay

Raindrops on Roses

More raindrops on roses and a surprise

White-tailed doe and fawn

Eastern Phoebe shot through the crepe myrtle tree

Female Hummingbird - we've had both black-chinned and ruby-throats around so not sure which - they are nearly identical

A very wet Mockingbird

Queen Butterfly laying eggs

Taking the time to capture moments like these will be less likely in the days ahead. 
But I'll have my camera close at hand . . . just in case.

What are you seeing through 

your lens this week?

Blessings,

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 . . . encounter with a Queen

There is a set of stairs that leads up into the treetops. They lead to a dream that will never be . . . at least not at the top of these stairs.
But the stairs remain, even as the dream fades, and I like to climb them, up, up, up into the treetops and sit.

It’s a grand view, and makes you think romantic thoughts about living in trees and talking to birds and unconventional things like that.

The bad thing, of course, is that you eventually have to come down.

Sometimes you come down too fast and your head is still feeling all romantic and breezy and you forget that even when you’re on the ground it’s important to look down.

Because royalty doesn’t just live in trees.

 

Queen Butterfly Danaus gilippus

 

Sometimes, you find it clinging to a milkweed plant.

 

 

Thankfully, my now less breezy self remembered to check for fire ants before bowing {kneeling} down.

This Queen was up to something . . .

 

Have you guessed ?

 

She’s laying her eggs!

I decided to give her some privacy. I went back 20 minutes later, hoping to get egg pictures, but she was still there - - we had flooding rains the next day, so I don’t know if any the eggs survived.

It was getting late, but I kneeled down for one last shot . . .

 

 

She opened her wings wide, catching the light of the setting sun, and smiled at me.

 

"Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem." A.A. Milne

 

Shalom,

 

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