Some more hummingbird delight

Okay ...  I just need to come right out and confess.  I am so smitten with my hummingbirds.  I just can't get enough of them and don't even ask me how many photos I have.

It would be embarrassing.

They distract me.

They delight me.

They thrill me.

Chasing each other.  Up, down and around.  And then, sometimes stopping long enough for me to snap a photo through my window.

There used to be only one or two coming to my feeders.  But lately there are 5 or 6.  I'm thinking the young ones have fledged and that's the reason for the numbers now.

Like this little one today.   I'm thinking he might be a male.  See that little bit of red under his neck!  I think he is a young Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.  I'm hoping some of you bird experts can verify this.  Since this is my very first season to bird watch, I have a lot to learn!

He was quite busy this morning.  Chasing everyone away from the feeders and then coming back to the butterfly bush under my window.

And waited.

He kept an eye out and as soon as he spotted a competitor, he zipped after them and gave chase.

It was a lot of hard work.

You can never tell which direction they may come from.

And then, sometimes you just need to take a rest.  

And hope no one catches you sitting down on the job.

~ ~ sharing with ~ ~

World Bird Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

Summertime ... and the livin' is easy

oh sweet summer

filled with

barefoot freedom

and joy

just to be

alive 

~ ~ ~ ~

It seems we have reached the middle of summer and yet I feel it has only begun.  Today, the heat has left the Northeast and we have been given a glorious summer day.  

It makes me want to kick off my shoes and play!

And drink Margaritas!

Stay safe, my friends!

~sharing with~

Weekend Reflections
Your Sunday Best 

Mellow Yellow Trespasser

I spent some time this weekend taking macro shots.  I have so many critter shots, time to change things up.  I thought the above photo came out pretty good without any editing.  Not great but something about it makes me feel good.  Maybe it's the color yellow.  Such a happy color!

Mellows me out

and

makes me smile.

~sharing with~

SOOC Sunday

Creative Exchange
Barn Charm 

I also trespassed this weekend.
Down a back road where I walk
an old barn sits.
Abandoned.  Alone.
Signs posted 'KEEP OUT'.
But how could I.
An old dairy barn.
A place that still holds beauty.
Remnants of a life past.

Hope the weekend was good to you!  

Okay, maybe one critter shot.

~smile~

Sunday napping

me

a few years ago

Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas

napping

in the warmth

of the salt air

collecting

more freckles

than anyone

should 

have

Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.

~Buddha~

mmmmm..... I'm thinking I need to return to that hammock!

Hope you are having a napping good time Sunday!

~sharing with~

Sunday Snapshot

The Simple Things

Longing for ...

this boardwalk

this view

this solitude

In case you were wondering, all these photos were taken in Anna Maria, Florida, 

a favorite destination of The Professor and myself.  

Ssshhhhh!

Don't tell too many folks about the island.

We want it to keep its 

old Florida charm!

Have a wonderful weekend Holiday, my friends,

and celebrate with care!

Summer

My irises have pretty much faded away.  June has arrived and with it ... summer.

I love summer.

As a kid, I would spend my days wandering the woods that surrounded our farm.  Sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot.  Sometimes a cowgirl, sometimes a hunter.  But most times, just a curly headed little girl making up daily adventures.

By the way, have I mentioned that I was a bit chunky as a kid.  My parents used to call me "solid".

She's solid.  Such a solid kid.

Now what in the hell was that all about!  I was so proud of the fact that I was solid!

S.O.L.I.D.

Harrumph!

But I guess they were right.  Look at me!!!

Look at my waist!  And why oh why is my shirt tucked in!  What a chunk of love I was.  No wonder they called me solid!

That's my brother, Marty.  He so annoyed me growing up.  I remember when he would want to tag along with me in the woods, I would always make him walk ahead of me.  I figured if there were any snakes or such, they'd get him first!  What a loving big sister, I was .... not.

Oh, well, he's pretty much forgiven me.

Speaking of forgiving.  Have you been following the Casey Anthony trial.  What is wrong with that girl.  I have no forgiveness for the likes of her.  Just lock her up and throw away the key!

Well ... this "solid" woman better get on with her day and do her daily walk!

I'm linking up today with Texture Thursday at the

The Daily Wyatt

Later, my friends ....

I still count

Do you ever feel invisible?

 At times it happens to all of us.

We just want to shout out

HELLO!

I'm still here!

So I wrote this little verse below.

I feel better now!

 

 i still count

sometimes it's necessary to stand out
to be different
to shout

damn it!
i count!

i’m here
do you
see

what i’m
truly meant to
be

i may be old
i may be gray
but baby oh baby
i’m here to stay

one more day
one more year
one more ride

and only one
gear

that keeps me movin’
and rockin’ and
grovin’

I may be shakey
I may be breaky

but baby oh baby
there’s no maybe

i’m still here
rockin’ and
a grovin

so give a cheer out
when you see
me about

i may be old
but I still
count

: : :

linking with Lisa at The Creative Exchange

Connectivity

Salema, Portugal - Loved this little town

Every year, The Professor has some meeting in Europe.  Some professorial research conference thingy.

And I get to go along!

While he attends meetings, I sleep late.  Find little coffee shops to catch up on email. 

Wander around taking photos.

This year, his conference is again in Portugal.  We were there several years ago. 

It was beautiful.

Obidos, Portugal

The countryside was speckled with little cobblestone villages and white-washed buildings. 

I loved how the windows were filled with geraniums.

Obidos, Portugal

Being not one for crowds though, I always seek the coastline out wherever and whenever we travel.  

I can never get enough of the sea .. its power and beauty.

Sagres, Portugal

So next week at this time, I will be in Porto ... looking for a little coffee shop with internet so I can keep up with all of you!

Now isn't that a hoot?  I love technology!

How about you?

Now, I need to go Amazon shopping ...  I need a new pair of sandals for the trip!

Until tomorrow ....

: : :

Memorial Day

today is about honoring men and women

who have died

who have fought

and

who continue to fight every day

for our freedom

 

for our safety

for us

thank you

: : :

Pertinacity undone

Mama, don't bother me this morning. 

There's something out there .... I think it's one of those fluttery things.

It is!  It is!  That fluttery thing is out there ... if you could just raise that blind ... just a little .... just a little so I can see it ......

....  it could be something I could play with!  Maybe catch!  I'll wait.  How long do you say?  I can wait.  I can wait all day ....

Well ... maybe not all day.  It's hard work, mama, keeping track of all those fluttery things out there.

So many ... so many ... come in my dreams......

I'm just too bone tired to wait any longer ...

: : :

P.S.  No birds were harmed in this production.

Quiescent

~Photo was taken at one of my most favorite places~

Booth Bay Harbor in Maine

Joining the 

Creative Exchange

with Lisa Gordon.

Come and check it out!

 

: : :

 

 

Unraptured weekend

So here we are ... we all made it!  No Rapture this past weekend.

The Professor thought on Rapture Day it would be cool to hang out downtown Philly at the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival.  He figured (not me), what better way to go than partying down with a few zillion billion people. 

So not my kind of party.  But I was a good sport, even though I hinted that it may be very crowded. 

 I don't like crowds.  I mean, I really don't like crowds.  My two biggest dislikes in life are crowds and waiting in line.  I would have much preferred hanging out inside the Apple store ... see it, right across the street from me.  So close and yet .... I said nothing.

I didn't complain as The Professor weaved me through the crowds so he could get some food like this.

Actually, this crab cake was quite good.  As good as his Aunt Treva's.

Afterwards, though, we needed something to wash it down.  After pushing our way through more crowds, we came to this wine booth.  Now, that had my attention.

But The Professor was told that they were not selling wine by the glass, but wine tasting.  Okay.  Okay.  I could handle that.  Just head around the corner and buy a ticket.  Which we did but quickly changed our minds.  The line was about 100 people long.

I wasn't that thirsty.

We wandered around a bit more and The Professor took pity on me and suggested I wait in the park while he found us some drinks.  He's sweet that way.

So I waited and took lots of pictures.

 

This young boy's face pretty much summarized my feelings about crowds and lines.

After The Professor got back with our overpriced drinks, he decided he had enough and we headed home.

Sunday came with no Rapture, so The Professor and my daughter stuck with their plans to run in a local 5k.

More crowds.  But I went with no complaining.  Cause I'm nice that way.  Well ... sometimes.  Anyway, it was my daughter's first 5k.  Her mama had to be there to cheer her on!

At least this time when I got thirsty waiting around, there were no lines for drinks since most of the folks were running.  That made me smile!

After the race, everyone had beer and sandwiches.  Not a bad crowd at all.  Of course, beer can make many things tolerable.

I heard the radio evangelist was "flabbegasted" that the Rapture did not not arrive as predicted and that "it had been a really tough weekend."

Really?

No ...  the world did not come to an end but for some folks in Joplin, Missouri, I'm sure it feels like it did.  Thinking of you Joplin and sending good thoughts and hopes your way.

I'm glad I didn't complain to The Professor over the weekend's events.  Life can turn on a dime.

: : :