Delayed Account of My Week

I've been going just a little crazy the past few days because my camera stopped working. I am lost without a camera. Good thing it has been raining so steadily, so I really haven't had too much to take pictures of. But still, I see some of my crocuses are blooming - well, would be blooming if the sun ever came out. They are up. Purple and white. All those I planted last fall are still just sprouting along with the daffodils and tulips.

But there are a few things I would like to photograph in the house. My darling grandson sent me a hug. He lay down and his mom drew an outline around him on paper. Then they cut it out and colored it. His arms are reaching out to hug me. I tacked it to the wall in the hallway, and I would like to take a picture to show him where I put it.
...................................

I started this post last week. But now - the sunshine has returned, I bought a new camera, still to be delivered, and things are looking up. Of course the first thing I will photograph will be the hug that Isaac sent me for my birthday.

The sun shone again for my birthday too. Can't get better than that! Both of my out-of-state daughters called me, and the other two kids came bearing birthday cake . Lisa, my "other daughter" came too. Here are miniature roses that she brought me. So of course it was a great day for me. The crocuses opened wide in the garden as well. And the hawk laid her second egg on my birthday. - But I only see one egg left in the hummer's nest. - There was a real close up picture of the eagles, and as the parents changed places, the three chicks were easily seen. The biggest was craning its neck over the side. So cute!
............................

I bought another point and shoot - but its a Nikon with a stronger zoom and more megapixels. Always wanted a Nikon. Of course, I envisioned something more fancy, but this will do just fine. I'm past the point where I can go on real photo safaris. I don't have it yet. Staples let me down and didn't send it out when promised. But I'll have it next week. Meantime, I took pictures of my crocuses because Lisa was kind enough to let me use one of her cameras. Figured they wouldn't last forever. But, I should have another crop of them by the time mine arrives anyway.

I'm so grateful for these past few days of glorious weather. They say it will be chilly again next week.
.................................

Today we had another birthday celebration. My son turned fifty! Rita and I enjoyed a visit there, along with their daughter, SOL, and the two babies. Jimmy is a pretty precocious two year old, and Joey is an adorable five and a half months. And of course, their dog, Eli. Here he is with Rita.

Thanks for the loan of the camera, Lisa!
....................................



By the way. I removed the hummingbird nest video from the sidebar for now. After a couple of encounters with a lizard, first one egg then the other disappeared and I believe Phoebe abandoned the nest. Hopefully she will move to a new one.

Think Green Thursday #3

The Pagan Sphinx, otherwise known as my friend, Gina, started Think Green Thursday, and I'm happy to say, it seems to be catching on. Thinking green has gone from "a nice thing to do" right up to being just about a matter of life and death for our planet.

My friend, Lisa, whom I will probably mention frequently because she is full of very good ideas, suggested to me that I sh0uld mention hanging bird feeders and houses in our yards. This should greatly reduce the need for the use of chemical insecticides. The birds are fun to watch, and they eat all sorts of insects in the area they inhabit.


My own thought for the day is that we should be using more environmentally friendly cleaners for household chores and yard work. Not a whole lot of our local super markets carry any or many of them yet. (They will eventually, if we start demanding them.) But some health food stores carry them, and we can easily find them on line. Many may cost more than we are used to paying. (Costs will come down - again - if use increases.) It's worth it. They can be found by Googling - or my choice would be Scroogling. Go to www.scroogle.org to avoid some of the pitfalls of Google.


I am NOT giving my recommendation to any of these products. Most of them I have not tried myself, so I can't do that. But to show you just a small sample of what is available, you will find: Absolute Air Cleaners, Blue Wonder, Citrus Magic, Clean Environment Company, Eco-Me, go-green.biz (They donate 3% to charity), Green Nest, Lily's Garden Herbals, Naturally Good.Net, Simplygoodstuff.com, and there are many, many others.


Some of these products are for infants. Using more natural products for your little ones would certainly be kinder to the babies as well as to the environment.


Why not investigate a few of them? They could help you a great deal, and you will be doing your part to help our planet survive.



The last two photos were from internet ads.



Above are ways to make our world cleaner. How about making our world safer and happier? Please consider joining the Blogblast for Peace this fall.

Sky Watch #40

Another Sky Watch all around the world. The team of Sandy, Klaus, Louise, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guy host Sky Watch for us every week.

My theme for today is Spring Is Wonderful. No more doom and gloom. Spring!!

Sky Watch Friday #35

Hi there. For today's Sky Watch, hosted by Sandy, Wren, Louise, Fishing Guy, Klaus and Ivar, I have three photos that just make me happy to look at, because they are the nearest thing we have had in a long time to bright, sunny skies.

Camera Critters #32

It's time for Camera Critters again. Misty Dawn hosts this meme for us every week. Thank you very much, Misty. We all enjoy it very much.


Last week I had just posted my Camera Critters, and was wondering what I might do this week. As I was leaving the parking lot of my bank, I heard quite a racket going on. I looked up, and found the trees along the road were suddenly filled with birds. I guess we've all seen - and heard - this phenomenon at this time of year, but I always find it fascinating. So, here are my critters for this week.





There have been flocks of birds around my home as well. Here are photos I took of a house on the other side of the street from my house.

Camera Critters #23

First, let me say thank you to all of you who identified the white plume moth for me last week. I appreciate your help.


Hi. My choice of critters this week is birds. I am not a birder in any sense except that I like to walk through woods and field and listen to their song and take pictures whenever I can. Don't know a lot about them except that I like them.

I took this picture when I was visiting my daughter in California. This is the natural bridge at Santa Cruz.


While I was there I also snapped a picture of a western bluebird, near their vegetable patch. At least I think that is what it's called.












Closer to home, I got a picture of a young eastern bluebird. It let me walk up close to it and take a picture.




















Even abroad, bird pictures appeal to me. These were taken in Budapest, Hungary. Don't know what they are. As I said, I just love birds, and the settings in which we find them.









































I just realized - I have another picture that I took the other day. I'm going to add it now, a bit late. Both ridges of the roof are lined with birds.


What made me remember it was seeing another participant with a picture of birds on a roof. Thank you for that, Pea in a Pod!















Check out Camera Critters at Misty Dawn's site to visit other critters or to participate yourself.

SKY WATCH

A favorite spot for me to visit is the Wetlands Institute. There is lots to see inside, but I have often spent my time out of doors. The gardens are really wonderful, and often full of butterflies - my favorites. Behind the building, a long trail runs through the wetlands to the water.
















A year or two ago I found a whole tree full of swallows along the trail.














The next picture was not taken at the Wetlands Institute,
but I think it may be appropriate to include it, since it is
so like the tree full of swallows.











This one is a tree full of turkey vultures, not at the Wetlands, but was taken on a country road not too far from the scene.






Our friend, Tom, is kind enough to host Sky Watch every week. The project has grown to 225 participants from all over the world.

The list of links to all the posts can be found at his blog, Wigger's World.