Straight on

 I know this is a bit of a mess, but for some reason I really like it.

Take-off? Landing?

 This is not the same swan as in the previous post.  And I really don't recall if it was taking off or landing or just  exercising a bit.

A bit of action...

 It did not take off, so guess it was only testing its wings.  

Vacancy or No Vacancy

 When I see this number of gourdhouses for birds, I always wonder if they are all filled.

A beauty

 I love the hinges...aren't they wonderful?  I don't recall where this was at, but from other photos taken on the same day, it is north of here.  I am not sure if it is in Illinois or Indiana.

Lucky capture

 If you cannot tell, this was a lucky capture...caught on Monday afternoon as I passed through that area on my way to Walmart. 

I am including the video I put over on my other blog.  It is not great, but will give you an idea of the numbers.  What I failed to state above is there were more there Monday than was there the last time, and even more as I came home from Walmart.  

Summer capture

 I think this is a female Widow Skimmer....correct me if I am wrong.  I am almost embarrassed to admit this, but until I started blogging, I never knew so many types of dragonflies existed.

Singing for joy

 I used to see Dickcissels all summer long at the strip mining area.  Now I seldom see them there.  Nor really even hear them.  They are such a joyous little bird.  They make me smile just to hear them.

Big, beautiful barn

 This is one from the archives...that is about all I post lately.

From warmer times...

 Taken in late evening light....

Handsome little guy....

 In case you have not guessed, he is on a big round bale of hay.  This is out at the strip pit area.  You would never guess there were any out there...I never hear them call.  But I do see some on rare occasions. 

A favorite subject

 I don't care how often I see these blooms, I am going to take photographs if possible.

Headed somewhere in flight...

 i I passed through the strip pit/strip mining area again today.  There were still a lot of snow geese, but no good photos came from them.  I attempted a few of swans and this was the best of my efforts.  

Big boy

 This one was really causing a disturbance among the snow geese the other day.

Guess what......another barn

 This one I know is from Illinois...not too far from me.  I have wondered about the upstairs windows.  I actually wonder if it has an upstairs or are they just for light.

Around the bend

 I think this one is in Illinois, but I cannot quite remember where.  Even if I could, I wonder if it would still be there.

Weathered barn

We used to pass this little barn fairly often, on our way to the kids' house before they moved.  This is a drive-by from several years ago. I always wanted a good pic but a drive-by was the only option.  It was beside a two lane road with no room pull off the road.
 

Can you count them all?

 Here you go!

I will give you three photos....

do you even want to venture a guess

as to how many Snow Geese are in any single picture?

??

I could not think of a title for this.  I cannot remember where we came across this building.  I wonder what stories it holds.
 

Where to next, I wonder

 

Wouldn't you love to be able to see the views they see?  I cannot help but wonder just where they are headed.  Farther north, I am sure...but just where is the question.

Oooh, that water is cold!

 I have looked at this shot who knows how many times, and not thought it was a great shot...but this time I noticed both were holding up their right leg and it struck me so funny.  It is almost as if one is saying to the other 'and who had this great idea?'

From warmer days

 It will be a while before we see them again...

Window

I would love to see this when it is lit from within and dark outside.  It is lovely in the light of day...imagine it at night.

Handsome fellow

I seldom see any of these Ring-necked Pheasants.   Another bit of wildlife that I miss.
 

Red barn bathed in evening glow

 This is a drive-by shot...from the days Roger could still drive.  It is not near this red...that is just the light from the evening sun.

Midwest scene

 This is just a drive-by farm scene over in Illinois.  It is zoomed in and also cropped a little bit.

Headed somewhere in flight...

 This is an old shot of a Sandhill Crane taken at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife area north of us.  It is probably 2 - 3 hours from us.  I converted it to B&W....

Squirrel

 

She has been gone for at least 8 years...I cannot remember just what year she quit coming nor when I saw her last set of babies.  But I still miss her...and I always wonder about the squirrels around and if they are related to her.  

The road that drives away....

 This is the road that I drove to work for almost 20 years....it is the road that drives away and follows me back home...in case you don't recognize the line it comes from Times Like These by the Foo Fighters.

From the past

 After almost 12 years, I still wonder about all the feathers in this window.  

From Attica, Indiana

 Another from the archives.  As you can see, the window in yesterday's post is from this.  At the time we were there, we did not think it was being used as a church any more.  But we were never sure.  I was checking Google Maps to make sure it was in Attica.  It is now The Sanctuary Bed & Breakfast.  Wouldn't you love to see inside in real life.  If you follow the link, it has photos but that is just not the same as seeing it in person.