FROM THE ARCHIVES - THE CHURCH WHERE WE WERE MARRIED

I was thinking of waiting to reshare these photos next December on our anniversary but decided not to wait. The church is in the village where I lived before I met Gregg. Our son was Christened here a few years later. I took these photos in 2015 on vacation.  

It was wonderful visiting again. Built in circa 1400 (west tower), remainder built in circa 1450, chapel circa 1520, and the Chancel was restored in 1874.

The Oxeye Daisies were growing everywhere…

and I loved taking photos of them. These are a few as I was a snap-happy-camper that day.

This is the lane leading up to the church.

In folklore and mythology, Oxeye daisies have been associated with purity, innocence and new beginnings.  

Thanks for visiting and indulging me while I reshare another post.  

I hope your day is a great one!

THE CONTEMPLATIVE SQUIRREL

 

Just to let you know I am not the only one who likes to take photos of squirrels.  As he went outside to turn on the sprinklers, Gregg saw this fellow on our wall.

BIRD CAM VIDEOS FROM 12-7-21 TO

A few bird cam photos for you!  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

 

HARRY THE HAWK STOPPED BY....

I call him Harry.  He stopped by several times, and I started feeling like he was part of the family so here's Harry, the relative that is a bit naughty but you love him to bits anyway (of course, he might be she, so its Harry or Harriet).  For all intent and purpose we will call him Harry.

Gregg was the one who spotted him this time, same way as I did, walking by the patio door.  Well done Gregg!  He was even closer this time. Just off the deck in amongst all the tangle of branches.

His face was obscured so I ever so quietly, and every so slowly, stepped outside for a better view.

This is actually his back view but his head turned to get a good look at his observer.

He didn't take his eyes off me once.

He finally had enough and flapped his wings, gone in a blur.

Bye Harry, and please leave my birdies alone, and the squirrels, and if you see a chipmunk, please leave that little guy alone too.  Would you like some cheese toast?  Guess not!  Don't worry out there, I wouldn't really feed him any cheese toast.

THE NOT SO TOTALLY UNEXPECTED VISITOR - A HAWK

No, not totally unexpected I suppose, hoped for perhaps if I was honest.  The last couple of weeks I have seen flashes of a 'different' kind of a bird and I had thought it was a hawk. Ever hopeful I kept a watch every day but no more sightings, and then....

as I was walking by the patio door I saw a large bird in a tree, with a neighbor's chimney as a backdrop.  It was too far for me to properly see it with my own eyes.  At first I thought it might have been a crow, so thinking I was going to take a picture of said crow, I pointed my camera in its direction and looked through the viewfinder as I focused. 

For the last week the birds have been scarcer than usual, and I was surprised by my Cardinal from yesterday, and then he left in a hurry.  The squirrels have also been hiding but later on I saw one lying flat out hidden under the bottom rail of the deck.  Squirrel was intently looking up at the sky. I said to Gregg that I bet it was hiding from a hawk.  I have seen woodpeckers adopting similar postures in the past.

Why thank you, I will do that!  Ah yes, that must be your good side.

He was certainly looking all around for his next meal, which made me grateful that I hadn't been filling up the bird feeders.  Betwixt and between I felt guilty I was depriving it of its next meal, they have to survive after all, but please don't on my watch.  I expect he will be making his way out of the area before too long, and I will be able to start filling up the bird feeders again.

I went to get my cup of tea in the kitchen.  I was gone for a minute or two, and when I returned it was gone.  The birds and squirrels can breath easy.  I think our hawk has moved on as I haven't seen it since.

What do you think?  A Cooper's Hawk?  Red-shouldered Hawk?  I don't know my Hawks too well. I read that it is a sign of a good ecosystem to have them around, that they keep the rodent population in check, also snakes and other unwanted pests.

It was in the shade of the tree so the colors were considerably muted.

There is a web page here that might help, also here.

Thanks for looking at my hawk post.  I hope you have a visitor that brings you a smile today. Now on your bike my dear hawk and leave my little darlings alone.

THE CARDINAL HIGH ON A BRANCH IN ONE OF OUR TREES

I have been visited by a Red Cardinal every evening for about a week.  It surprised me as I haven't been feeding the birds since hearing of the bear sighting several weeks ago, though I still make sure there is a dish of water out there.  Maybe he comes for that.  

When I thought it was time to fill the feeders again, I spotted a hawk making its temporary home in the trees out back.  I would often see him on the hunt.  I may be waiting a few more days.

No photos of the hawk but the Cardinal posed nicely in a tree out back, even though it was a dull, dreary day.

I hadn't seen a female Cardinal for a couple of months and then one landed on a branch last evening.

She didn't stay long enough for me to get a photo.

The male finally landed on the top of the hanger where I normally keep my sunflower feeder full of birdseed.  I was able to get better photos

 You can read more about him here.  

I'm glad this one decided to visit. 

 Don't you just love that up-do?

A WEEK OF QUOTES - PART 3 - SOMETIMES........

"Being alone doesn't necessarily mean loneliness.  People are great but being alone is wonderful!  I prefer the silence of alone, and the sounds of nature.

~Jayson Zabate~

I love nothing better than to get up early and hear the first bird song, you could say being one with nature.  It is one of the most relaxing experiences, that and being out in the woods walking along one of the trails.  However...

there has been a bear sighting in our area, and the local nature people have asked us not to feed our birds right now.  I had actually stopped as I noticed a very large hawk flying through the trees recently, as if he had spotted something and was on the hunt.  Yes, he has to live too but oh my goodness, I don't think I want him to catch his meal right under my nose.  So, no filling up the bird feeder for a while.  The deck has been a very quiet place and I do miss seeing them.

After the sighting of the bear they conclude that it is a young one who has recently been sent on its way by its mother.  They also said it is probably trying to find its own territory.  I do hope it is well away from people for everyone's sake, including our bear.  

Every now and again when we have planned on going into bear territory, we have read about what you should do if you encounter a bear, and I'm sure this changes depending on which species you meet.  Half of all bear attacks on people involve a dog.  Dogs will go after a bear and it will attack the dog and consequently the dog's humans.  With our local bears it was advised to talk firmly to the bear ???? and walk away slowly, never run because then you become the prey.  I hope I never have to put these tips to the test.

Fortunately any experiences we have had with this amazing animal have been at a safe distance, with guides in attendance, to make sure no one does anything silly.   If you haven't read the poem I shared from the Shenandoah National Park Service, you can read it in my post here, which I put together not so long ago.

Gregg came across something recently, a photo by Canadian photographer Jim Lawrence, who shared a most amazing bear photo.  You can see it if you click on this link.   I won't tell you what it is about, that would spoil the surprise.  Let's just say I laughed with delight when I saw it.  There is a website address imprinted on the photo also, which will take you to Mr. Lawrence's home page.  His photos are stunning and you can see those here.

I might be a bit scarce returning visits this week, but thank you for stopping by.  I will be catching up in a day or so.

SPANISH LAVENDER

I have been wanting lavender in our garden for a long time.  When I saw pots of Spanish Lavender outside our grocery store, one was in the basket and on our way home.  It will be planted in the next day or so, and at the same time I will do a whole lot of weeding.  We have had a deluge of rain and those weeds love it don't they?  

Wanting to find out more about the correct way to plant, I found a YouTube video here.

Lately I have enjoyed both family and friends.  Get-togethers for some are all too infrequent and so when we do get together it is extra special.

Our son lives only a short distance away, and we enjoyed his company again.  The last time we got together was last week, and we also enjoyed seeing our daughter-in-law the time before that.  We all went out for dinner at what has become our favorite hang-out place.  More of that sometime down the road.

My laptop is still acting strange and I am backing up everything!   It will go well for a while and then I get that shaking screen.  When I shut everything off and go back to it later it seems okay, but then comes back again.  We were told of an expert who specializes in my make of laptop, so it will be dropped off to see if they can find out what the problem is and fix it.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.

We went for another walk around Huntley Meadows, and I will be sharing photos in an upcoming post.  We saw a lot of birds and other wildlife.  I am busy in the middle of putting a post together.

Now to get to get back to this pretty Spanish Lavender.  I found information on Wikipedia, link at the end of my post.

"Its scientific name is Lavandula stoechas, a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae.  You will see it growing naturally in several Mediterranean countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece."  

"It is used commercially in air fresheners and insecticides.  Flower spikes have been used internally for headaches, irritability, feverish colds and nausea, and externally for wounds, rheumatic pain and as an insect repellent.  The lavender also produces essential oils, which are not used economically.  The infusion of its dry inflorescences are febrifuge and fight the affections of the chest and bronchi.  It is used as antiseptic, digestive, antispasmodic, healing and antibacterial.  The flowers are used in aromatherapy, to prepare infusions and essential oils that contain ketones (d-camphor and d-fenchone and alcohols (borneol and terpineol)."

Thank you Wikipedia for the interesting information.  You can learn more at this link.

CAROLINA WREN

The Carolina Wren came back.  The dear little thing had disappeared for a while so its visit was very welcome.

 Carolina Wren

On top of the fence

A crisp and dewy morning

Smaller than her sound

~Willow Lawrence~

The Carolina Wren is about the size of a teacup, just about.

I hope the month of May is a peaceful and happy one for you.  Thanks so much for stopping by.