Meet Riley

 This is my friend Lori's cat, Riley.  I was at Lori's one day, taking photos of her two dogs, River and Lucy and  Riley followed us out to the pond.  I hadn't expected to photograph Riley that day but as I was taking photos of the two dogs I noticed Riley hiding in the understory.  I turned, had the chance for a quick shot, and this photo became one of my favorite photos of the day.  In a later post I'll introduce you to Lucy and River.

Sandhills

According to my brother Keith, once the sandhill cranes arrive back in Michigan we have one more snowstorm.  I certainly hope they arrive soon as I'm ready for spring!!

Think Spring!!

In every walk with nature

one receives more than he seeks.

John Muir

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams, 

For if dreams die, 

Life is a broken-winged bird, 

That cannot fly. 

Langston Huges

American Flag

How Bright Our Flag

James Kuehn, Rocky Point NY

How Bright Our Flag

Against The Sky

Atop Its Flagpole

Straight and High!

How Bright The Red,

The White The Blue,

With What They Stand For Shining Through

More Meaningful

As Years Go By

How Bright, How Bright

The Flag We Fly.

Fox Squirrel

Fox Squirrel eating winter berries.

I have a beautiful Oak tree in my back yard and every fall the squirrels harvest the acorns. This year I had a bumper crop and they were especially busy burying them in the ground. Sometime, watch a squirrel bury a nut, and then try to find it afterwards! You’ll see that after picking the spot, a hole is quickly dug with the front paws and the nut is poked into it. Then, with a motion that would remind you of someone working the shell game at a carnival, it will deftly cover up its prize. Later, when they are hungry, they will return and dig them up for a meal locating the nuts with their sense of smell. Often times the nuts are not found and this is a very significant source of new trees.  Thus the saying, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes."

They are called FOX Squirrels because of the rufous-colored fur on their belly.

Window with lace curtains

                          Now Close the Windows by Robert Frost

Now close the windows and hush all the fields:

If the trees must, let them silently toss;

No bird is singing now, and if there is,

Be it my loss.

It will be long ere the marshes resume,

I will be long ere the earliest bird:

So close the windows and not hear the wind,

But see all wind-stirred.