Northern Mockingbird

"You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance."  ~Khalil Gibran

This is a small Oak tree that appeared to be dead.  However in the past couple or so weeks it has developed buds which you can see in the photo.  The Mockingbird seems to enjoy its perch here because I've seen it sitting in this tree before and often.

This post would have been up sooner but I heard a terrible noise around 10am and realized it was my Dad.  He had fallen in his bedroom.  My sister and I tried to get him up but we weren't able to.  No neighbors around to help so I called 911.  The EMT's came, picked him up and checked him out.  He's okay!  

Until next time happy blogging.

~Cindy

Merry Christmas!!!

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."  ~Norman Vincent Peale

The photos have nothing to do with Christmas other than being taken during the season.  The quote is one I found and I liked.  Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!

Approaching Storm

It seems that these days I'm sorely lacking in any really good photos to post.  I've resorted to posting some that I'm sure I posted on another no longer existing blog but since some of you have never seen these I thought why not.  All of the photos were taken in Wimauma, Florida.  A place I dearly love.  It didn't start out that way, mind you.  I was excited about moving there but I was terribly home sick and it took almost six months for me to adjust.  Once I did I loved it there.  We no longer live there but I have a small collection of nice photos to remember it by.  Or at least I think they're nice.

If I remember correctly the first two photos were taken on the same day.  The above photo of the storm as it rolled in - I love storms.  I know that may sound ridiculous but I do.  They are so moody and I love  how everything turns a unique shade of yellowy green and the leaves and grass stand out like a beautiful sore thumb against the dark clouds.

This photo is after the rain fell and the storm had passed.  The land behind the fence is a Muck Pond.  It's protected wet lands (maybe I should say "area").  Anyway, it's not allowed to be mowed or cut in anyway.  Wild birds such as Herons, Egrets, Storks, Flamingos, ducks... visit and when they do it's so exciting.  I would always run out camera in hand and try to get as close as I could to get some shots before they noticed me and took off.  I would not make a great spy.  They'd hear and see me coming a mile away.  Unfortunately there are no birds in this photo.  There is however, a white egret/heron in the photo above off to your left.

This is the first photo I took of rain drops dripping off of pine tree needles.  I was so excited that this photo came out and I think the bokeh is awesome.  I love this photo.  Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle,...sparkle.

And the last is a shot of a Mockingbird sitting in a tall tree in the back of our property.   The day was gorgeous as you can tell.  Not a cloud in the sky.

Well, that's all for now.  Wishing all of you a wonderful rest of the weekend.

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby".  ~Langston Hughes

In the thicket of it

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy.  They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.  That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."  ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I thought I'd post this even though it's not the best photo.  It's a little blurry around the head but I still like it. 

Cobblestone Bird II

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~E.E. Cummings


I went out exploring in the backyard today. This mockingbird flew into an Oak tree and I circled the tree numerous times trying to get a good shot. I was finally obliged.  Texture courstey of Shadowhouse Creations.  I also added a cobblestone texture as in the previous bird photo.

Cobblestone Bird

Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings. ~Victor Hugo

Texture courtesy of Shadowhouse Creations.  In addition to the SC texture I added a cobblestone texture to the photo.  Hence the title.