2011

Good bye 2011, it was a great year...and here's to another great year in 2012.

"Bird Watching"

Look closely at this photo.  This gal on my Galapagos Island trip is carrying a spotting scope so she can see those birds up close. Now who is watching whom? This is the true meaning of "bird watching".

It's Monday Morning.

This is a sea lion I photographed this year in the Galapagos Islands.

Tawas Point Lighthouse

Took a drive yesterday to Tawas and while there took this photo of the lighthouse.

Galapagos Mockingbird

The Galapagos Mockingbirds are very common and easily approached.  They also love to get into any of your gear and take what they want so we had to be careful to zip all compartments.  They could become quite the pest but oh it was so nice to have wildlife that was that easy to approach.

Galapagos Island

This young gal was writing something in the sand (I'll show you that photo later).  I asked if I could photograph her and she nodded yes and had such a warm smile on her face that this became one of my favorite photos of my last trip.

Post Office Bay Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands

At Post Office Bay, since the 18th century whalers kept a wooden barrel that served as post office so that mail could be picked up and delivered to their destination, mainly Europe and the United States by ships on their way home. Cards and letters are still placed in the barrel without any postage. Visitors sift through the letters and cards in order to deliver them by hand.

Galapagos Island

This sea anemone was on the beach along with several others.  We had to be careful to not step on them as they sting.

Galapagos Islands Flamingo

The color of flamingo feathers is determined by their diet. Their food (specially the crustaceans) is full of substances called carotenoid pigments that cause flamingos' feathers to become pink.

Galapagos Islands Sea Urchins

Our guide, Roberto, is showing us some items that have been taken from the ocean such as sea urchins.

Sally Lightfoot Crab Galapagos Islands

SInce it's been so gloomy here in Michigan I thought I'd brighten your day by posting some of my Galapagos Islands photos.
The common name (Sally Lightfoot) is thought to have originated from a Caribbean dancer and refers to their inherent agility – jumping from rock to rock and climbing up vertical terrain.

Guarding the gear

If you look closely you can see we have one of the "locals" on the islands guarding our gear as we went in to do some snorkeling.

Galapagos Islands

These are a couple of photos from the air as I was approaching Baltra and beginning my adventure on the Galapagos Islands this past July.

Equator monument in Ecuador

In 1736 a French geodesic mission came to Ecuador to work out the position of the Equator here. Geodesics Avenue near the entrance to the Equator complex, has 13 stone busts representing the mission members.

The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (city of the Middle of the World) is a cultural and commercial centre which takes in the Equator monument itself which was built in 1979, and is a copy of the original one which was here for 43 yrs. It is 30m high with a metallic sphere at the top representing Earth. A gold line represents the Equator, and this line is also marks the ground so that you can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the south. The location of the monument is a pre-Incan site of sun worship.


It was a cold and nasty day when we stopped and we only had a few minutes to take a picture and get back on the bus as it was getting late in the day.  

Winter Wonderland

I woke up this morning to 6" of beautiful, wet and heavy snow.  The first thing I heard were the chickadees letting me know I needed to fill the bird feeder.  It is now full and they are SO HAPPY!

Hummingbird

This statue of a hummingbird was located in a park near the hummingbird reserve in Ecuador.  The hummingbirds were just zipping here and there.  So wonderful to just sit and watch them.

Ecuador Boy

This little guy was playing by climbing the trees in a local park.  He was NOT camera shy and was enjoying having the tourist take his picture.

Butterfly Garden in Ecuador

This is a butterfly garden I visited this year in Ecuador.  The little boy was so cute I just couldn't resist photographing him. He was twirling so there is a  bit of movement but the more I looked at the photo the more I liked it.  Not everything has to be in focus.  The caterpillar and the large butterfly is an owl butterfly.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Ecuador - El Pahuma Orchid Preserve

This is a beautiful rain forest area in Ecuador that I visited this July.  On this cold morning please enjoy these photos and I hope it warms you. 

Eastern King Bird

Sorry, but the past two days have been VERY busy and I haven't had time to post any photos.  I'm going back to a summer photo with this one.  This is an Eastern King Bird.  Hope to get back to current photos in the next couple of days.  Enjoy.

Ecuadorian Local

On my last trip to Ecuador I went to a volcanic caldera.  Some of the locals were selling their wares nearby and I purchased a beautiful alpaca sweater from this wonderful lady.  Neither of us spoke the others language but we managed to communicate.

Galapagos Islands

View of Galapagos Islands from my 2011 trip.  To get this view I had to climb 375 steps.  It was a LONG way up and I felt each and every one of those steps but the view was fantastic.

Good-Bye Fall

Almost all of the leaves have fallen, winter is just around the corner, but for just a moment go back in time and enjoy one last photo of fall beauty.

Barred Owl

This photo was taken this summer.  It is a Barred Owl that flew into my oak tree in the back yard.

Sheep

I was driving down River Road in Saginaw County when I saw these sheep.  They brought to mind my Uncle Gus who used to shear sheep.

Northern Hawk Owl

This beauty was photographed in Alaska but during the winter months (first snow today!!), these will migrate to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  They are a gorgeous bird of prey.

Kicking Leaves

The past few days, before the rain moved in, I had been able to get out to a lot of local parks and take walks.  I don't care how old you are, there is nothing more enjoyable than kicking leaves in the fall.  I just love the sound of leaves crunching under your feet and Kicking Leaves!!  

Mickie & Lady

It's a rainy day here today so I thought I'd use a picture I took this summer.  My sister and I "trade" doggie sitting duties for each other's dog.  My Mickie, and my sister's Lady, normally ignore each other and usually stay as far apart from each other as possible.  On one occasion they were both on the back of the couch, which is their favorite spot.  This picture perfectly captures Mickie's  (the apricot cockapoo) attitude toward his "cousin" Lady.  They say "a picture is worth a thousand words", and this photo certainly says it all.

SMILE

Saw this "family" of rocks near Hemlock, MI.  Have a great day.  It's going to be the last nice day for a few so get out there and enjoy it.

Wrinkles

That explains all the wrinkles on my face. 

Buck and Doe

These two were photographed in my back yard.  The doe was photographed just a couple of days ago but the buck was photographed a few years ago when I first moved here.  I never get tired of seeing these beautiful creatures.  I am so blessed to live where I do and be able to witness nature every day.