Kingbird

As we were finishing our Brunch this morning, I heard the Kingbirds chattering in the backyard.

One of them offered me several different poses.

I get excited over any 'new' bird I see, and this one doesn't come around often.

One of the birds flew to the ground and picked up a leaf or something, perhaps for his nest.

After a second, he rejected it, and the other bird came down to check it out.

She picked up the leaf and I thought she was telling him it would look nice in their nest.

 

But I think she left without it while her mate chattered, "I told you it wouldn't work!"

Family, Food and Flowers

Annual First Cousin's Luncheon

About 12 years ago, someone had the bright idea for us to start having a luncheon each year for all the girl first cousins on my mother's side of the family.

There are eleven girl first cousins and today these seven were able to come together for this happy event.  That's me standing on the back left and my sister, Helen, by me.  My other sister, Allene, is seated on the far right.  The lady seated in the center is 93 years old!

This is the table just before we sat down to a lovely luncheon.

A tour of the yard revealed some pretty flowers, just begging to be photographed.

Lovely two-tone purple Iris.

This is a different one.  Love the purple veining in the outer petals.

I just love the color of this Iris.  It looks like Apricot Sherbet to me!

This is my plate of food just before I devoured it.

 

We finished our lunch with this delicious bread pudding.

This event is always such fun, and we leave looking forward to the cousin's luncheon next year!

Looking Up

I think this will be the last post from our recent trip to look for Eagles at Proffit's Porch.

Jeep's camera is aimed high at the Eagle's nest.  Those beautiful, fluffy white clouds floated in the sky all afternoon.

Here, I am looking almost straight up at the Eagle's nest in a tall pine tree.

This tall, twisted pine is near the nest.  I wonder what hardships it endured that made it twisted on its upward climb.

Someone aimed a little too high and lodged their fishing bob on this limb, which was hanging out over the water.

Several high-flying planes came over while we were patiently waiting for an Eagle.  (Jeep was patient, while I wandered around looking for treasures to photograph;-)

This one is from the nearby Air Force Base.

I was fascinated by these vines!

They almost looked like cables.  Look how smooth they are!

They end up high in this tall pine tree.  Did they attach to the tree while it was young, and then were pulled up as the tree grew?  It was a puzzle to me.

Jeep must have a lot of patience, because he sat and waited for a shot of the Eagle from right after lunch until 6:00 P.M.
 May I develop more patience, and may I always remember to look up!

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
   My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV

Ginger

Progression photos of the Ginger bloom, April 18 through April 27.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critters

While we were at Proffitt's Porch, waiting to see an Eagle come to the nest, I found some other 'critters' to photograph.  You will see that the woods are full of all kinds of  "Critters" if you take time to look for them!

Dragonfly

This huge beetle,  about the size of a humming bird, came buzzing along and lit on Jeep.  The bug checked him out with his big black eyes, and then he very loudly buzzed away.  I was glad he didn't land on me!

I see Skippers like this on the flowers at home.

Green Dragonfly with gossamer wings.

Near the bench was a stepping stone with ant hills all around the edges.  After we had been there a while, these ants, or maybe termites, all came out of the ground at the same time.  After a few more minutes, they all spread their wings and flew away.

A little frog, camouflaged in the leaves.

This Butterfly lit just long enough for me to get this shot.  Is it a Question Mark???

Here is a little lizard almost camouflaged on this stump.

Finally, here is the only (pitiful) shot I got of an Eagle:-(   I wish I could have gotten a better picture!
But wherever I am, Eagles or not, I try to find something to photograph!

Just one more picture....When I saw this, I thought it was a 'critter' of some kind in this hole in a dead tree.  Now, I'm not sure what it is.  I had left Jeep and wandered a good way from him, so I didn't dare poke this critter to see what it might be!  Any guesses?
We always enjoy going to Proffitt's Porch!