Sunday, May 24, 2009

Have a Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend





Unlearned Lesson

Memorial Day
Of every year
The little valiant
Flags appear
On every fallen
Soldier's grave--
Symbol of what
Each died to save.
And we who see
And still have breath--
Are we no wiser
For their death?

Dorothy Brown Thompson

Monday, May 18, 2009

That's My World-Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area

When I got Miz Winnie(photo in sidebar) from Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland in November last year she did not like to get in the car. She was okay once she was in the car, but getting her in was problematic. Since I don't abide dogs that don't like to go in the car, I immediately set out to change that. There is a McDonald's about a half mile from the house, so every morning I went through drive through for my breakfast. It was a quick in and out of the car and it soon accomplished it's purpose. She now thinks she has the dog given right to go with me every time I go.

This morning I went for breakfast and when we got home she didn't want to get out of the car, so I left the car door open and came in the house and she soon joined me. When I went back out to close the car door, she was back in the car. So I decided that her idea on how to spend the day was better than mine (vacuuming, etc.), so off we went. Decided to go to Twin Lakes.

I saw a fair number of birds including this first of year Grasshopper sparrow. (Photo cropped)



There were a fair number of butterflies around some flowering bushes. Saw my first of year Monarchs, Silver-spotted Skippers and much to my delight I saw a White-Lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. They are difficult to photograph because their wings go at about the same speed as a hummingbird. This one stayed well out of range of my macro lens, but I snapped a couple anyway and one turned out fairly well(photo cropped)



Another photo (this one was taken at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area in August last year)


larger image


All in all, it's obvious that Miz Winnie had the best idea for how to spend the day, however, I suspect that I'm going to need to do some reverse training regarding "going for a ride in the car"!

Take a tour around the world via your computer by visiting That's My World!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Today's Flowers

I was headed to Maxwell Arboretum hoping to find some Columbine blooming. As I passed the Nebraska Game and Parks Building I saw a lovely garden of blooming Columbine.







See other flowers from around the world

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Today's Flowers

The lilacs are blooming


So are the crabapples


And so is the geranium tuberosum


All photos taken at Maxwell Arboretum

See other flowers from around the world

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Camera Critters-Northern Bobwhite

Out at Branched Oak Lake this week I saw this pretty lady. Her gentleman friend was with her when I came upon them, but I had the lens cover on the lens and by the time I rectified that little problem he was gone. I don't believe I had ever noticed how stubby the tail of a bobwhite was before.





Head on over to Camera Critters to see more critters (by clicking on the icon)


Camera Critters