evening Spotlights

Just before sunset, the swallows are still flying in with dinner for the little guys, and for some reason best known to himself, a blue jay is pretending he is a red-tailed hawk in the pine out front.  This is the leading edge of a promised cold front, temps have dropped by 20* in the past hour...thank you, Ma Nature for the break from the 100s you have been sending.

flight school Candidates

My little violet-green swallows are just about ready to try their wings. They are actively shoving each other around like kids on a family vacation, each wanting a window seat in the car. It won't be long.

the Bookends

Sunday morning laziness

cool Water

With folks (including us) all over the country seeing hot, dusty and dry days, having your toes in cool, clear water seems like the perfect idea. The plant has the right idea.

waiting for the Olympics

Can those springy young gymnastics stars do this??

I admit freely to being an Olympics junkie. Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, doesn't matter which, I will watch nearly anything they want to broadcast. I will stay up late, I will get up early, I will root for the USA, I will root for the underdog, the pride of one small nation, the kid, the "old" guy. Love it all, admire the perseverance, the sacrifice, the indomitable spirit of the human race. Opening ceremony in 2 weeks!

family Portrait

Ma Wood Duck and family just loafing in the morning sun. Pa was behind them on the shore. He was hardly noticeable in the lakeside plants, except for his bright red eyes. Drakes are molting out of breeding plumage and the males in particular are rather drab and tatty looking. Gone for the moment are the brilliant colors, being replaced by feathers that resemble their more conservative ladies. They will be in this eclipse plumage for several weeks and molt again into their characteristic flashy colors again in the fall.

once upon a Time,

On a July day, when the lilies were blooming and the bees were busy, about 4 in the afternoon, a little girl made her debut on the Planet. She had been known for months as Sarah Surprise, because she was just that, the Surprise of the Century. Today, she turns 20. The years have flown by and she has become a terrific young woman with a mind of her own and her eyes on the future. We are proud of who she is becoming and can't wait to see where she goes from here.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie

bottoms Up!

Breakfasting geese

drum roll, Please

Had you told me when I started this blog (upon a challenge from my kids) that post #1000 would ever appear, I would have never believed it. This is post #1000. I am still getting a kick out of doing the photography, trying to find interesting or unusual things to comment on, and particularly reading the efforts of the other bloggers I have "met" out there. Cool people are everywhere and they can and do brighten my day, lift my spirits and make me laugh right out loud  :o)

fast Food

It is high noon in the front yard and time for LUNCH, Mom!

4th of July

Happy Birthday, America

crummy photo, play with Photoshop

also known As

Ratibida columnifera

Native prairie wildflower aka Mexican hat, long-headed coneflower, or Thimbleflower.

Traditional Sombrero or Mexican hat (from Internet)

making Connections

Coreopsis "Jethro Tull"

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

coming and Going

Papa Violet-green swallow arrives with lunch, delivers the goods and heads out for another round of chow for the kids.

forest fire Sunset

What the Pentax saw        

We are fortunate that the forest fire about 10 miles from us now has a containment line around it. Thank you, to our local Firefighters, for your tireless efforts, and to those battling the Colorado wildfires south of us. The one silver lining, if there is one, is the sky as the sun sets on another day.

6/28/12   44N 103W

a drop to Drink

The Horse Fountain   7th and Main   Rapid City, SD

1911 Lion's Head horse fountain placed by the National Humane Alliance of New York. It was restored in 2004, and placed in its original setting on 7th and Main Streets. The upper basin was for watering horses and there are 2 small basins that are at nose level for cats and dogs that visited as well. It has a lovely cool sound on a day when the mercury reaches in the 90s. If you search the web, many cities had similar fountains for their equine citizens during the pre-automobile days.

lemons into Lemonade

Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City, SD

When your huge old Grandfather Cottonwood dies, find an amazing chainsaw artist and let him create!

a brand new Pair...

...of Terrible Twins to eat my flowers.

thistle Thought

Does this prairie thistle have its own Fairy?

Thistle Fairy, Cecily Mary Baker  1928