Photo Listicles

Summer vacay is still underway. I've got some home improvement projects to begin this week. But first---

It's time for the wonderfully entertaining Monday Listicles! 

This week, we're listing The 10 Top Photos I've Taken. Next week it will be Ten Things Summer. 

All you have to do to join in with this week's list is click on the button! 


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There was an undeveloped subdivision next to ours for about 8 years or so. I used to love to go over there to walk Tucker and take pictures of the wildlife--especially the birds.It's no longer undeveloped and the contractors/builders/home owners have succeeded in destroying animal habitats and killing off as much nature as they could. There are two ponds in the middle of the subdivision that are still there. But the birds that frequent them have dwindled. Significantly.

How glorious would it have been had the powers that be chosen to keep that area as a park or a nature reserve or something of the sort (it's not like we NEED another subdivision around here). But, sadly AND as usual, their greed for money won out over the flora and fauna. So typical around here. So very typical.

And all for what? For homes that START at $480,000 and take about a month or less to throw up. While there are structures sitting empty all over our town. Their love of money sure does rule over their lives.

10 Photos of the Wildlife That was Run Off by Nature Killers (if this was posted on fb, I would follow it with: #pultehomes; #constructionofhomesnotneeded)

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Anyone destroying nature in your neck of the woods?

The Squirrels Are Screwed

So I thought...

When Birdie came home from Texas, she brought her dog, Strider. Tucker is delighted to have someone around to help with those pesky squirrels.

The squirrels come into the yard to rob the birds of their food. Tucker does not like this so he tries to protect the bird seed.

Tucker works hard at this job so it's nice to have a little bit of help from Strider.

Strider thinks that maybe he should check the birdbath...just to be sure...

"NO! They're over here in the tree!" shouts Tucker.
"Where?! Are you sure?"

 

"Yes! OVER HERE!"

 

"Ok, cause I was thinking...lalalalalalala."

" Ohhhhh lalalalalalalala..."

"Wait, what was I doing? Oh, right! There they are!"

Poor Tucky. His job is not getting any easier after all.

And I'm pretty sure the squirrels don't have any extra worries in our backyard.

Word Bird Wednesday

This is my first time joining Word Bird Wednesday and, to be honest, I was a bit intimidated what with being on the very beginning rung of the beginning photographer ladder.  But then a friend told me that the only way to improve is to get out there, keep trying and have some fun!  This, coupled with the fact that I do love birds and love to photograph them, I decided to go for it!


It's very easy to link up.  Just click on the WBW button, post your pictures and visit the other blogs.  That's all there is to it!

We live 5 minutes from the beach so we have tons of coastal birds around here.  I quickly became fascinated with them.  These are some of the first photos I began taking of coastal birds---only 6-8 months ago.  These are Green Herons.

All on a Sunday

I'm one of those people who believes that every day is a blessing- even when it doesn't really seem like it is.  Or, maybe ESPECIALLY when it doesn't seem that way because it's on those days that I look harder for the blessing.  Today was one of those days that contained blessings so obvious, they would have convinced the Grinch AND Scrooge!


It all began during the morning walk with Tucker:

The ducks were out, preening.

And showing off!

I hadn't seen this Ibis before today.

This lovely Egret is out there almost every day.

And so is this Little Blue Heron.

Table for 3 for breakfast please!

Beautiful landing!

Two buddies, just hangin'.

Time to go.

Me too!

 And then, in the afternoon, DoodleBug's (DD4) Wind Ensemble performed at a church near the college.  DoodleBug was a percussionist in the high school band all four years--and, I might add, the first 4 years of the band's consecutive years of taking FRIST PLACE AT STATE!  This year marked their 6th consecutive year (Yes, I'm still proud even though we no longer have a high school student.  Once a band parent, always a band parent!).

I've included some pictures of the interior of the church.  Charleston is full of historic churches some from as far back as the 1700s.  The performance was held at Trinity Methodist Church. 

The percussionists-that's DoodleBug on the left.  The cute one with the glasses.

This time she's the 4th from the left (counting only those standing up)

Oh, there were others playing as well! 

My DoodleBug again!

And one last time!

Here is the pulpit area of the church were they played.  The wall color is a very light blue (Carolina Blue)

A wider view from the back of the church.  Look at the ceiling!

Here's a better shot of the ceiling.

And here.

This is a view of the balcony from the pulpit area.

Hope your Sunday was filled with blessings as well!

Oh, and if you haven't already entered my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY, you can do it here!

The Squirrels Are Winning...Or Are They?

When we constructed and planted the raised bed garden in the spring, I decided that, if I was nice to the birds and gave them food, they wouldn't need to hang out amongst the veggies.  This has worked out quite nicely.  Concerning the birds.  There's just one thing I failed to factor into my protect-the-garden-from-the-birds equation--SQUIRRELS.   So, while the birdseed did render the birds content, it also attracted squirrels.  Those darn things can get to that birdseed NO MATTER WHAT I DO WITH IT!  They don't bother the garden, really, but they DO bother Tucker.

The first few months were spent with me letting Tucker in and out of the house, no exaggeration, 20+ times every day.  I finally got a little smarter and put a table up at the windows in one of the back bedrooms just so Tucker could 'keep watch' over the backyard.  Then, getting a bit smarter still, I began leaving the back door slightly ajar so that, when the squirrels  invaded the yard, Tucker could charge right out there without having to practically turn flips (seriously, he would spin around in circles from excitement) waiting on me to open the door for him.  As soon as Tucker hits the door he shoots across the deck, clears the three steps and hits the ground at full speed ahead, bounding (NOT kidding, we should have named him Prancer because he looks like one of Santa's reindeer) across the yard.  The squirrels immediately take off speedy quick and head either up a tree or shimmy through the chain link fence into the neighbor's yard where their dogs take over and chase the confused, fleeing rodents up a tree.  It is Squirrel Mania here 24/7.

I'm not sure what Tucky will do should he EVER catch one of the squirrels.  He has gotten very close on several chases.  I do know this, however:  he WILL NOT be bringing one of them into my house.  At least I HOPE he won't.  Meanwhile, the chase has provided ample photo fun!     

Tucker spots a squirrel in the tree

Squirrel spots Tucker on the ground

Tucker politely requests that the squirrel come down out of the tree

Squirrel slowly attempts the descent into the yard

Tucker chases squirrel back up the tree

Squirrel looks at me saying, "You've GOT to be kidding me."

 

Tucker looks up at Squirrel--No, it's not a joke.

Wait, where did he go???

He'll never find me here on the deck!

THERE HE IS!  UP ON THE DECK!

CRAP!!!