Not enough time

 After being MIA for approximately three weeks, Sweet Pea came for a little visit today.

I honestly felt like she was as glad to see me as I was her.  She has lost some weight.  She did not seem to feel bad though.  I am hoping she starts the regular visiting again because she is a bright spot in our day.

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I think this will be my last post here for a while.  Hopefully, I will be able to return to it soon but right now it is just too much.

More from the swamp area

 Another close up...of some kind of sedge I believe. It has only been a couple of weeks and I am ready to go back and see what else is showing now.

Fleabane

 A bit of in and out of focus both...

Blooming now

The milkweeds were beginning to bloom at the swamp area last Saturday.

From a distance

 They were far enough away till I did not know they were turtles till I zoomed in.

Looking closely....

 It is worth taking a closer look at things...

Lost a feather

 I think this is a vulture's feather.

After the bloom

 Remember what I said about the wind in a previous post?  Every time I tried to photograph this, the wind would start.  I am luck to have got this at all.  

Thistle

 I love the flower, but look at all the prickly things on the stem.

A favorite subject

 Any time I get the chance, I photograph thistle.  As usual around here, it was hard to get a shot because of the wind.  And it is not something one can reach  out and hold steady.

First dragonfly session of the year

 Roger asked if I was wanting to go somewhere...I jumped at the chance to be out for a bit.  So headed to what I call the swamp area.  Even though I did not see a much wildlife, it was soothing to my soul.  There were lots of these dragonflies.  For the longest time, they were continually on the move.  As I stayed there, there were a few that started to cooperate.  

Painted Lady

 I am resorting to the archives part of the time...this one is from 2008.

From my yard

 I have been seeing a House Finch off and on.  I do not know if it is just one single one that comes, or if there are more.  But I only ever see one at a time

From my son-in-law

 Our son-in-law sent me these yesterday.  For all you birders, what kind of hawk is it.

It is banded but I cannot see all that it says.

It was on scaffolding where he works.

Out to pasture

 I bet cattle and animals in general are glad to see spring and summer come.

I miss the day....

 I so miss being able to go out to the strip mining area and see these Short-eared owls in the fall.  I think it has been 10 yrs. since I last saw one.

Lucky shot

 The lucky part of this shot is the background...almost as if a spotlight on the bird.

Mourning dove

 I took three or four photos of this dove and they all have this weird look...do you see what I mean?   They were taken in the middle of the day.

Another Dickcissel

 I cannot resist trying to photograph one when I am given the opportunity.  Before the land was being farmed at the strip mining area one was always in sight and within hearing of one.  Now they are not quite so numerous. 

Chicken

 Chickens are one of my favorite things to photograph...

I wish

I wish two things in regards to frogs:  I would love to be able to capture one sitting on a lily pad.  I am always too slow getting my camera up.  And second, I would love to capture one when it is croaking.  

I am hearing the tree frogs here at home, but have not spotted one yet.  
 

This year's first butterfly photo

 This is not the first butterfly I have seen, it s just the first photo I have taken.  And this is a cropped photo.

What remains

 An empty milkweed pod....

Tennessee country road

 Taken April 23, 2011

From the archives

 This is a small scrap quilt I made a few years ago.

Center shot

 

Looking down into an Asiatic lily bloom....

Robin

 

Every time I have a few to sit outside, I watch the robins...they are busy as can be right now.  

??????

 I spotted this insect on the top of the grill.  I looked trough my lense from about 4 ft away....then I got up and stood right on top of it almost.  I took this and was trying to get a better view of it but it flew!  I think it is wild loking.  Not sure what it is...but I really think it is a mosquito.

Edited :  Sandra and others  identified this as a type of fly. A  delphina picta fly.  Also called a picture wing fly.

What kind of sparrow?

 I thought when I first snapped the photo that I was getting a house sparrow....now I don't think so.  My next thought was Chipping Sparrow?  I just really am not sure.  

Singing, but not in the rain

 I thought I might as well post the last photo of this Dickcissel.  

Morning dew

 Morning dew on cucumber leaf.  I wish it were sharper.

Blooming

 I like the background almost as much as the flowers.  

In the pond

 I also saw this frog on Tuesday....

Sing to me....

 Though she looks like she is talking to me, she was just as happy as could be.  Singing at the top of her voice..

An actual new photo

 I decided to run through the strip pit area on Tuesday...just to see if I could see anything.  Saw this little cutie.  a female Dickcissel I am pretty sure.

Something different...

 I suggest clicking on this, preferable right click and click to view in a new tab,  I think it is so strange.  It is the side of my grill where you set your tongs, etc.  Where rain drops had beaded up.  I happened to notice it as we headed out one more last week.  

Meeting house

 This is the Meeting House at Spring Mill Pioneer Village in southern Indiana.

Peony

 My peony is full of blooms...this is from another year...it is full of blooms this year as the photo below sort of shows.  The colors make it look like two different peonies but it is the same one.  I have never had a camera that I felt captured its real color.

Wisteria

 

My wisteria is not like what my mom had, nor any other I have ever seen.  The blooms remain in a tight  group, even after they are all open.  I still like it, but not like I like the ones where the blooms are loose and hand down.

Gradually changing?

 Sometimes I am sure this one's color is getting lighter...other times I think it is just the way the light hits it that makes the color look different.  Whatever the facts of the matter, it sometimes looks almost black.

Frilly girl

 Unlike all my other irises, this one does not seem to multiply.  I planted 3 bulbs many years ago and I I still have just 3 of them.

 

Another iris

 They are all blooming now...so will be showing samples of some of them.  I photogaphed them with my phone just as it was beginning to sprinkle.

Inviting

 This well cared for home looks inviting.  Though I am not so sure it is a home...notice the the little sign beside the door?  I tried expanding the view but still could not read it.  Also,   Whatever it is used for, I like the red porch.

Christmas?

I don't know about you but I think Santa and Mrs. Claus might live here.  But then again, someone else might think it belongs to Hansel and Gretal.  
 

Still standing???

 This was taken in 2010,   So I have no idea if it is still standing.  I sort of know the area it is in but don't see getting back there any time soon.