You know the expression . . . As summer transitions into autumn, the bees are busy. This time of year, you’ll find them on the seedum.
The are harvesting those last loads nectar before the season ends.
No time to play. Must seize the day. Carpe diem.
Meanwhile, out at the barn. Another creature is looking for a different kind of meal.
This is the largest mantis that I have seen. I frequently find these on the seedum, but not this day.
I was glancing through my archive of unused photos when I found this sequence of images that I had capture over the course of a single day. It started in the morning. These grow near our back door, which is the main entrance to this house.
In the afternoon, I saw a spider securing its prey. It was a large spider, its body being as large as my thumbnail.
That evening, Sylvia went into the office to read emails and play a game or two. It is relaxing and the way she frequently unwinds after a busy day.
Another day came to a peaceful end.
As sunset approached, I looked out the dining room window and saw them grazing on the grass. With camera in hand, I captured an image.
Something over my way made the young one curious. He approached the house.
Hey! You at the window, is that a camera in your hand? I’m out of here!
It’s amazing to me how fast this guy can run. Mom has seen it before, and it’s no big deal to her.
She continued her grass-grazing activities while continuing to be alert to her surroundings.
On Monday, walking past the dining room windows, I saw what looked like something flapping in the breeze. It was in the neighbor’s soy-bean field. I picked up the binoculars (a few steps away) and saw a doe grazing on the bean leaves as she lay in there in the field (about 125 yards away).
A quick trip to the office and I returned camera in hand. Opened the window and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Retrieved the tripod, attached the camera and zeroed in on where I last saw the deer. No luck.
On to the next project. Sylvia and I lead a small group on Tuesday evenings. We both sat by the windows as we wrapped up our preparations. We were talking, comparing our ideas and setting up our lesson plan when a young phoebe landed on the deck railing just outside an open window.
We were amazed that this young flycatcher sat there with a fly in her bill while we talked to each other. As we watched, she crunched and then ate the fly before flying off to catch another.
We had wrapped up our lesson prep and plan and I started to put things away. Through the window, clearly visible was the doe once again chewing on bean leaves.
She chewed away in front of her and beside her.
Something caught her attention (our chatter?) and she froze in place, listening carefully.
Sylvia and I watched for a while and then went about our other activities. She continued her feast. What a beautiful day.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon.
I looked out one of the new windows in the dining area. There in the twilight were the doe and her twin fawns. The fawns have grown a lot in the last several months. I went to the office and returned with camera in hand. Mom and the fawns had separated enough that I couldn’t get all three in a single, useful image. You know who I chose.
I’ve zoomed in a lot. I’m hand holding the camera. It takes four or five images and combines them to make it seem like full daylight. (I did not manipulate these pix.) It’s the multiple images that’s creating the blur. I tried again.
Better results even though the subjects didn’t cooperate by standing still. 😀 These two have been so playful. It has been a lot of fun to watch them run and jump and enjoy our lawn.
I was mowing the lawn when I noticed several vultures circling over the neighbor’s field. It is not unusual to see a vulture or two–a pair nests in a hollow oak tree a short way from here. This time, I easily counted a dozen and more were on the ground. I parked the tractor and went into the office and opened a window. With camera in hand, I tried to capture the action. (Note to self: Next time try video. Stills don’t capture the dynamics of this action.)
The vultures were doing horizontal circles above the field. A couple of American kestrels would swoop down vertically and pull out of their dive just above the ground. It was great to see.
I did capture one usable image of turkey vultures on the ground.
I think the spread wings are to promote cooling. At one time, four of them were in this same pose.
Speculation leans toward an unsuccessful raider of the neighbor’s hen house. I’m sure he’d see that as a fitting end to the failed attempt.
Our friend, Sharkey, has once again posted some beautiful fall color pix. Click on her name to see what she has and what captured her attention.
The last time she posted colors, I followed with a pic from my front deck. This morning, I went out to update that image. Here is what I saw:
Our neighborhood is usually about a week behind in fall color when compared to Sharkey’s digs. This is what those colors were one week ago:
Interesting how 7 short days can make such a huge difference. The upper image was captured at mid morning and the lower after midday. The sky was much different, which adds to the contrast.
Tomorrow, I’ll share more pictures from this morning’s color tour.
I visited the podiatrist today. The X-rays show that my foot is healing nicely. I’m now cleared to wear regular shoes and to drive. Neither is yet comfortable, however.
We drove around the corner to have blood drawn for a PSA test. This prior to my visit next week with the urologist. It has been two years since my cancer surgery and I’m hoping to get another “all clear” message.
All these guys and gals stopped by to visit on the same morning.
I always experience joy when I see him
Maybe it’s in his name, American Gold [Finch]. Yah, that works for me.
A cheery cherry guy
I didn’t get a picture of the red-tailed hawk. That’s one that is not a poser.
Breakfast bugs are freshly dug
She takes care of a lot of bugs. She also digs up the lawn, but I don’t care. Just so she doesn’t try to nest under my garage again.
That’s the least amount of white I’ve seen on a skunk. Would she be welcome at your house?
This week started off well. Monday, Sylvia had the cast removed from her left arm. It was two months to the day since she broke her wrist. X-rays show that the fracture is healing. Thursday will be the first therapy session for her.
The last few days have been very busy days for us. There has been much to do. I’ve not had time to attend to this blog. Fortunately, I have put the camera to work and here are a couple of items from its memory card.
The grass is not only greener, it tastes better
I saw the doe cross the driveway and walked over to the neighbor’s fence. I raised the blinds and reached for the camera. The deer had crossed the fence. She ate some grass and then came back and disappeared into the willow brush and tall grass down by the road.
On Sunday afternoon, I saw an unusual sight. It was out on the lawn.
A duck surveys the possibilities
We’ve had a lot of rain lately, but a duck? They usually consider this “flyover” country. Maybe she was tired and that’s why she stayed for a while.
Enough is enough
As I watched her fly away, I thought of how Sylvia was going to feel when the cast came off. She is enjoying the freedom.
Spring Begins
Winter bows to spring,
Grass changes from brown to green
Soon the earth will warm.
Last evening looking out my office window
There is a fourth critter (rabbit) in the left foreground. It was dusk when I shot this and it was handheld, thus the less than sharp image.
Spring Develops
Slowly days lengthen,
Warm gentle rain falls down,
Earth awakes to life.