an end of May gathering of places from here and there

post #492
       I seem recently to have been gifted with several fine photos from friends, and I thought sharing them in this post would be fun -- especially during such a rough period for our wounded world. I also have a few of ones I thought I had already shared but now I see I haven't -- until now. and a few of the daisy ones I have been unable to resist trying.

      Without further ado:

Melva's PUSH PLOW, seeding the garden in her back yard. I'm so glad she made this photo! She can grow anything, actually. I had never seen this plow in use, however. The one we used to have wasn't as picturesque as this one. Melva's a poet as well, and I think this photo is a proper metaphor for the hard work she does as well with paper and pen....

Here in another back yard photo, this time in Denver, are two Safe at Home kids running into each other over and over and over again, using up endless energy.  I would post the video this came from, but am not skillful with such tasks. Thank you, E, for providing this single image. I sure miss visits with  my family there.

A German friend has this spectacular garden behind their house near Dusseldorf. He says this is the view that he looks at from the backyard deck while using his laptop. Thank you, Juergen, for this loveliness from across "the pond."

Some flower shots, this one is "Down with a Dandelion."

big year for daisies!!

Is this Mrs. Red--Winged Blackbird??? 

birds, bushes, and being real

post #491
           The "being real" in today's post's title is just me stating again that this virus event is really happening.  It's really not going away until, at the least, there's a reliable vaccine. Life goes on, but it sounds like there are way too many people across the globe who don't want the sickness and deaths to be true so they are acting like it's not true.They put themselves in danger, and they risk the lives of others. We are not going to sign a peace treaty for this war. We just need to outsmart it and to believe it is something we have never before experienced.
         Why would anyone make up this unexpected horror show! We human beings of all kinds need to LEARN what we can from this cruel chapter in our lives. We must be able to be clever enough to start now to be ready for the next time and the time after that. This week I had a number of viewers in Romania, and in other countries, and I write this for you as well. Welcome!
         I'm going to continue sharing recent photos from this amazing spring -- a sort of a reminder of the need to understand where we are right now so we can head to saner solutions that so far have eluded us. It will help when we can all pull in the same direction.  Let's not fear the truth so much that we don't make it work for us.

  
          pond report:

cattail

blackberry winter, on the pond

the greens are gaining

two more birds through the window --- I try to quit but sometimes I can't help myself:

I finally got the red-winged blackbird being still for a moment!!

red-bellied woodpecker -- with the belly in view!

love those weeds in the rain

road rain

These feed stations are no longer in service, and I think I should call it quits for tonight myself. I do enjoy putting this post together every week.  Stay safe, and may we all be generous enough to wear a mask in crowded places for the sake of whomever is nearby. Thanks.

Still spring in mid May!

post #490
           So many of us are appreciating this year's extra long Appalachian spring.
          
           I've felt compelled to document even more of this season than I usually do because there's no way in today's world to guarantee the vitality we are currently squandering. I want the beauty I perceive to be something we all share, preserve and enhance.    

           I realize that so much of the essential work on behalf of Mother Earth is not taking place as much as it needs to happen.  It's hidden behind the chaos of the global coronavirus tragedies.  Yet the longer the science of the atmosphere is denied, the greater the cost of digging us out of the resulting damage to our air, water, food sources, and nature's needs. What if we insist on education classes for all ages devoted to envisioning possibilities for the earth and figuring out how to achieve them? Vision 101, for everyone.

chives in J and R's garden

creative retreat in the yard, with some shade and access to the wifi from the house (for calling a friend) during time spent being #healthyathome for T, who's now nine.

I'm always crazy about the greens as the leaves go through their "adolescence.

H A R D

and     E V E N  H A R D E R

R
A
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N
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last moments before the rains beat down these flowers

two views from a single vantage point

one single purple iris

surrounded by many white ones, along side of my shed, totally neglected by me.

        
          This potted plant was left on my porch a year ago, after I had broken my foot. I still don't know who "done the deed"! Nonetheless, I have managed to keep it alive! And yesterday, still in the house due to late frosts, it produced this blossom!  So, my beauty, welcome to this world filled with the unexpected.  
          Be safe, everyone, be kind, for the sake of others, especially those keeping us alive at great cost to themselves. So please do the social distancing, to help other humans, and, as always, love a tree.

outside my window while I sit in my chair

post #489
         I finally gave up my reluctance to bear witness to all the birds drawn to my feeder this year -- so many more than earlier years.  As I've said before, I'm not set up to be a bird photographer, but the purpose here is simply to record what I could of the ones stopping by. They do tell a story even if I don't have time to do all it takes for excellence. I'm happy I can share some of my visitors with readers who can't come here to see them with me.

Cardinal

Chickadee

red breasted woodpecker

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are so showy!

goldfinch in summer glory

I am guessing this is a FLEDGLING Cardinal?  I only managed to catch this one photo of him.

not sure, because of the center stripe on the head

 

female Rose-breasted Grosbeak?

working on his abs?

This male red-winged blackbird does NOT stay still.  There are more of them this year than usual.

If no one can tell me what this one is, I will take the time to try to figure it out by next week!

         I have to confess that I also use that chair for Zoom sessions, and I was led to combine my Zooming and the bird zoomings. This was possible and necessary because the bird doesn't come when you want it to. It's a case of now or never.  The light has to be right as well, of course.  Rain helps with that when the camera isn't directly in the rain.
          I should add that I am thankful for both the birds and the sessions I have had via Zoom, including the virtual memorial service in New Hampshire for my dear cousin Steve. His was not a virus death, but because of all the virus deaths, we had to gather remotely.  We are all surely aware of all the deaths people face every day.  Again I say how much it helps that our Kentucky governor is determined to limit as many deaths as possible. Please stay safe and wear a mask where there are people nearby, and use common sense.  It's real.