another tree...SNAP

we had a lot of rain this past week...

and as sometimes happens, the trees get waterlogged...top-heavy...

and they SNAP, or just keel over...roots lifting out of the ground.

this time, it snapped.

the whole top half of the tree...on the ground...

making for some good hunting grounds for anything that has a taste for bugs.

Gray Catbird

nearby, waiting his turn...

Cardinal

nearby...also waiting his turn to enter the tangle of branches, leaves & vines...

male Anole on a Bromeliad

a dragonfly also in on the action...

otis...a blur of motion on the branches...

off to my left...looking as though he just went for a swim in our 'swampy-ish pond' out back...

Pileated Woodpecker

same bird...scratching his face against the tree!!

caught him with his eyes closed!!  really weird looking!

if i turned that picture sideways...i think he'd look dead.

yep.

so while the critters are feasting...

sam's starting to cut some of it back. 

no rush. 

OK. one last picture. THIS is my lucky shot of the week...month? year?

it's that Red-bellied Woodpecker that made a nesting hole in this tree you see him on.

i didn't realize until i got the pic on the comp, that there's a dragonfly in the pic too!!

cool!

have a good week coming up.

be safe.

aaah. cuddle weather!

looking back over my shoulder...

i'm waving goodbye to christmas

and looking forward to the new year.

2013 is going to be a very good year!

SIX, being my lucky number.

2+0+1+3= 6

(Venus is the ruler of #6. 

harmony. balance.solutions. enlightenment. compassion. forgiveness.)

AND it's the year of the snake!

i was born in the year of the snake,  

1953.  

(oops. did i really say that? are you doing the math? i'll save u the trouble. 59.)

anyway.  it's been good cuddle weather...

dipping down to freezing temps at night...

AND in the morning.

ICE on the A/C unit outside

one of the nice things about having #2 son under our roof,

is that he can help sam with the wood splitting.

the wood...keeping us nice and toasty at night.

speaking of travis (#2 son),

when we wandered the woods out back...

he spotted a Southern Ringneck snake,

which he picked up for closer examination before releasing.

the Southern Ringneck snake

look at the bright orange under belly!

a CUTE little snake, fully grown at 10-15 inches long.

i saw a BIG dragonfly which i actually thought was dead because it let me get real close.

but i think it was just cold. it flew away after i snapped this picture.

THEN i spotted the (daytime) moon...peeking from between a tree's skeletal branches. 

22 december 2012

there aren't too many critters out and about...but on warmer days, 

when the sun is bright...a few can be spotted braving the cold in order to soak up some warmth.

Fence lizard

Zebra Longwing

Anole...in the brown phase against the house

Anole...in the green phase, blending in with some of the still green plants

a big old grasshopper

and lastly...a few birds in the yard, that don't seem to mind the cold too much!!!!

a female Cardinal

a male Cardinal keeping an eye on the female

a Pileated Woodpecker

tough to get a picture of this guy as he just wouldn't stop hammering away!!

thanks to the digital camera...take 20 pic's, get 2 decent ones!! ha.

same Pileated Woodpecker

i'm putting a hold on my Friday Fringes for now.

between running travis back & forth to work, my own work, home stuff & chores...

the weekdays are a blur!  i barely have time for ME.

i need longer...or slower...weekends!  (don't we all!)

ok, off to an appointment...

take care.

be safe.

laura

25 december 2012

spring.

the

spring

equinox.

(blue-eyed grass)

(camelia)

new beginnings.

(baby birds...uh...wrens maybe)

(hibiscus bud)

(cocoon on oak tree out front)

life & love.

(red bud tree)

(red bud...close up...w/ bee)

(wild blackberry flower)

(female cardinal)

(rain lilies)

(rain lily up close)

hopes & dreams.

(spiderwort)

(tussock moth caterpillar)

(mock orange flower)

[Spring is] when life's alive in everything. 

~Christina Rossetti

be safe.  be cool.

laura

(the march equinox brings spring to those of us in the northern hemisphere.)

welcome spring.

but i'll sure miss winter. 

candles for a friend. berries. critters & misspelled sign.

as you know...
life has been just a little hectic lately...
my lip saga...
my friend in hospice...
my client base declining...

well...

these candles are for George.

my friend. 

his body had taken him as far as it could...in THIS journey.

yesterday...as i sat beside him...with one hand on his, and my other on his chest...

he left for another journey.

he went from the hospital to hospice...about a month ago.

i was there with him as much as i could possibly be.

at times...yes...i wondered if i could be doing TOO much.

but can a person do too much at a time like this?

he had no one else. no 'family' came to be with him.

in his final five minutes...in his worn and broken body...he looked so peaceful. 

his face...his breathing...his entire body...seemed to finally relax.

(in the center of the hibiscus)

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, 

but rather openings where our loved ones shine down 

to let us know they are happy." 

~ Eskimo Legend

oOo

this morning when i woke up...i felt as though i had a full body headache.

i had planned on getting up early...before dawn...my favorite time of day

to read blogs and work on my own.

BUT...i over slept.

(little green tree frog on wooden post in yard)

yesterday, after i got home from hospice...

and after i lit a candle for George...

sam and i went for a (4-wheeler) drive across the street...into the field.

THAT's always relaxing to me...riding along...feeling the wind in my face.

turning up the dirt and sand road that takes us into the field...
we noticed all the tracks...

(turkey. armadillo. 'possum.)

the wild blackberries are ready for picking now and the field is filled with them!

so after (carefully) picking a few handfuls...

and pulling the thorns out of our hands and jeans...

we took them home, washed 'em...munched on some...

and saved the rest for DRINKS later!

(our fav at home 'mixed' drink: sailor jerry rum & raspberry ice tea

with a squirt of pina colada mix)

NOW we can add a few fresh squished blackberries 

along with a few whole ones to soak up the drink...

for a treat when you get to  the bottom of the glass!

cheers!

today, sam and i are going for a drive.

i think i might stick my head out the window and let my ears flap in the breeze!

aaaaaaaaah.  that sounds so...cleansing...so dog-like.

now...i'll start working on getting things back to...

normal?    hmmmm...what's 'normal' for me. 

oOo

so...i leave you with a few pictures i've taken lately...
and hope you're having a good day!

(little wren making a nest in 'bird house' on front porch)

a very cool looking Anole...with his new 'air brushed' look...

sitting on the screen of our small outdoor 'screen room'.

 this is a newly emerged Cicada.

the nymph sheds it's skin...or molts...

and emerges as an adult Cicada.

found blue jay feathers in the yard.

obviously SOMETHING caught this bird. feathers were everywhere.

it's the way of nature...

(milo....how do you plead????)

this female cardinal in the front yard...looks...surprised!

(gulf fritillary on a yellow lantana)

oOo

 and so...here we are...what you've been waiting for...
ANOTHER  MISSPELLED sign...
E-MAILED TO ME FROM SUSAN at THIS 'n THAT .


please visit her blog for her adventurous day to day goings on,
in and around Victoria, Australia.

she snapped this picture while trying to find a place to park
in the small town of Nimmitabel, which is in New South Wales.

amazing!

and this is a sign obviously printed by the CITY!

from the person who did the type for this...

to the printer...

to the person who screwed it to the pole...

doesn't anyone know how to spell

PARALLEL!!??

YES, i admit it...it's one of those words that you might have to look up...

does it have 2 'R's'  or 2 'L's'???  

well...proofread...especially before it's gone to print!

Thanks Susan!!  this will be added to the 

'misspelled sign' page above.

oOo

'til next time...

"After you have exhausted what there is 

in business, politics, conviviality, and so on- 

have found that none of these finally satisfy or permanently wear-

what remains?   Nature remains."

~Walt Whitman

have a safe journey & enjoy the ride.
:] laura