on the way, neither denying nor accepting

post #507
          I am so thrown by our nation's turmoil. I recently had a very cordial catching-up conversation with a neighbor who, when I asked, calmly stated that she wasn't so sure the coronavirus was any different than the flu. She was willing to wear her masks at work, but she didn't think they made any real difference.  Yet the family that lives almost at the end of my road has several members in quarantine because some are sick. And who knows how many Americans will defy the science and not be careful this Labor Day weekend.  They won't all get sick, but some will and some of those will die or they might pass the virus on. It's happening all over the world, it's confusing, it's hard on our kids, and it definitely collides with what some would call the American myth that our right to do anything we want is more important than looking out for each other.  
          I'm not complaining so much as disbelieving, but it means I am compelled to bring it up, because anything about anything else doesn't work without bringing up these concerns. It's just hard to accept that we aren't all --- every one of us --- speaking to the current fragile balancing of the personal and the political that faces us as citizens of our shared world.  (And, no surprise, I am sick that our president is going out of his way -- purely for his own selfish purposes -- to undermine the voting procedures the constitution guarantees and requires for the health of our democracy.) 

          OK, enough words. I'm glad Blogger, for this week again, at least, has returned to a saner blog posting operation. Since I'm not sure it will last, however, I remain basic in how I try to present a few photos. 

stopping on Sideway Road to take 2 photos..

My mini-bumper stickers, which -- LUCKILY -- mainly serve to stand out in the Kroger parking lot so that I can find my car after grocery shopping! Well, it is true that several times I have seen people taking photos like this one I made. There don't seem to be a lot of other stickers this year. These are at least non-partisan sentiments.

A BRIEF BRAGG: I have never been the one to be the fixer of anything, but this time, after early consults with J., I managed to get this bottom freezer to stop acting like a toddler.  So far, no more leaks!.

It's meadow time around here, soon to be mowed, so goodbye iron weed...

   The following photo is by my daughter, Rebecca, this weekend.  I think it's a really good photo, but it also shows the location for where the downy woodpecker family feeding photos happened -- in front of the upper window on the left.  I have added one of those earlier photos as a point of photography interest. I was inside that window, looking out, and the light was OK for being able to make it work. Nothing was planned. Thank you, Curiosity. That discovery moment went on for at least a half dozen feeding sessions.

Downy Dad dinner prep, while I'm looking out the window to the limb that's part of a trellis (see previous photo)

           Did I mention to please be kind, please be safe, please envision why and how we could -- with bravery -- restore democracy, and please VOTE? 

the promised (last week) feeding frenzy session

post #480 -- sunny ALL day!
            Well, birds it still is -- the ones that just happen to stop by when the light is OK for shooting through a window. Again, I am NOT a professional bird photographer, someone who has super fast lenses and who would never deign to shoot through a glass window. But how can I not at least try to do it if it's the only way possible  --  right outside the bathroom window on the second floor of our house.  A very young grandchild was staying with us at the time, so she got to see the whole show while it was happening -- for over 20 minutes. (That includes waiting for the parent to come up with several refills.) I am not posting all the photos, but enough for you to get the idea and to share the wonder of it if you are so inclined.  My thanks to this hard working downy woodpecker family!!

Surely I am not forgotten??

work, work, work

Golly, this food prep wait goes on forever!

I know that you know my turn is next!

 

If it's not one, it's the other!!

 

I felt like I had my very own fledgling teaching me patience.  F, thanks for borrowing my camera!

What are you complaining about??

Am going to miss my mates and my mom and my dad.....

           
          Kids - appreciate those prepared meals before all the work is left up to you....

mothers day, a prom and graduations

post #431
       Sunday evening has come and is going. It has been a full day -- phone calls from my two kids, my sister, and from a friend in Lexington, two friends from nearby coming by to help me and visit, since I am still healing from the broken foot. (It has now been 3 weeks since I have been upstairs in my own house. It's getting harder to remember to keep weight off the foot since it is less swollen now and there's no on-going pain. But it will be awhile before it heals enough to allow me a more regular life.)  
        Even without Mothers Day, I have felt I wanted to share some family photos, mostly of kids. Having a close call of any kind, including falling down some stairs, can make one appreciate some of the daily things we might be unintentionally taking for granted. So I rummaged around in my photos to find a few images that spoke to my current pensive condition. 

 

feeding young'uns

feeding young'uns

a photo from a few years ago -- and this weekend his college graduation!! 

I meant to add this photo to the Notre-Dame post of a few weeks ago.

          I know I won't be able to resist adding a few photos during the week to come. Advice of the day: be careful walking down the stairs.....

voting for more humor and "unexpecteds"

post #403
     These are serious times, with serious repercussions from there being too many closed minds, and therefore a serious reminder to remember the artists in the mix! These folks are likely to be used to seeing the unexpected, the unusual, and even the far-fetched. They are either compelled to or can't help from sharing their perspectives, literally and figuratively. I'd wager we all have some artist within, though we may require some encouragement to acknowledge that and treasure it.

     The response to my first humor-focused post a few weeks ago was nice. Thanks for comments via the blog or in person. I do have a few more such photos to share -- though today's truly fall day (finally) also captures me. I'll save that for next week, to extend the season....

     First, a seasonal greeting from some treasured offsprings! Officially they are not in costume, nor wearing masks!! In any case, this photo makes me laugh.

OK, now for some stories:
       First, the day the pileated woodpecker stopped by -- and wouldn't leave. I was on one side of the living room window and he on the other, foraging in a very old apple tree. When the light is right, the window doesn't seem to detract too much from photos. It was just a lucky thing that I noticed his arrival -- I don't usually hang out in the living room. I took one quick photo, thinking he would leave right away, which he didn't do.  I believe my camera happened to be fairly nearby.  It was his only such visit in over 30 years!

        

rat-a-tat-tat

I heard a rustling sound on the ground, and all those little feathers stuck up, briefly! I barely got a shot.

      Another year, it was a downy woodpecker family outside the upstairs bathroom window!  My granddaughter, age 3, and I watched the feeding going on for at least 20 minutes. Again, that happened only once. You had to be there. No way to set up an appointment....

     One last one-time-only bird visit, this time two Northern Flickers, both males, both doing the territorial thing. It was like a ballet. At first I had no idea about what was going on. This all took place on the single old black walnut tree outside the kitchen/dining room -- and again a total surprise, requiring dropping every other thing I might have thought I needed to be doing during that time. I don't have any particular bird watching equipment, so I don't go out looking for birds. However, I'm so grateful they have sometimes come to me.

     I have had a last minute change of plans for tomorrow, so there's not time now to share more "unexpecteds". But I do have two current photos from the weekend, one from here in Kentucky and the other at Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station..... ending as I began today with grandchildren adventures, not necessarily because of them but because whatever they're into can be pretty interesting! (I didn't take either photo....)

Birds who have visited me, part 3: downy woodpecker family

post # 279
     Today is all about May 29, 2012, looking out the upstairs bathroom window and discovering downy woodpecker fledglings feasting and the parent working his tail feathers off!  My granddaughter was visiting from Colorado, so she and I were able to watch this event for half an hour, starting at 5:15 p.m; she was then 3 1/2 years old. The last four shots were made the following morning, around 8 a.m.  I have never been witness to such an extended feeding ritual before or since. Again, I don't have special "bird lenses", so I just used my trusty 70 - 300 lens on a Canon Rebel T3i. This series provides a story, and that's what I am so happy to be able to share here.

food prep

practicing patient waiting

wow, do I really have to learn how to do all this stuff by myself?

finally!!

What fun for me to be sharing this happening with my own personal fledgling!

 

still feeding the next morning, around 8 a.m.

Gosh, this food stuff is SO EXCITING!

breakfast bar

thanks, and please come back soon