Watery Wednesday

On a recent trip to Ashtabula, Ohio we visited the coal processing facility where all the coal trains used to be. The last time there were barely any trains a sure sign of the faltering economy.
Along the Ashtabula River is a lovely walkway with beautiful hanging flower baskets.
Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for this meme, and click on her site http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com to see more water shots.

Ruby Tuesday

On this Ruby Tuesday a juvenile male Hairy woodpecker stopped by my feeders for some shelled Sunflower seed. He has just a bit of red on the back of his head. Not nearly as much as he will have as an adult.
Stop by Mary/the teach's site http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com to see more RED shots.

Macro Monday

On our trails are many of these tree/shrubs with blue berries. I love the color of them and I have no idea what they are. The birds don't seem to eat them, and they are white to begin with, and about the size of a pea. Hopefully somebody will help me ID them.
happy Macro Monday, and click on http://lisaschaos.com/ to see lots more closeups.

Deer Park Part #1

When you first enter Deer Park you come upon a large enclosure of Fallow deer. This is a beautiful doe. We all went there on Thursday and had a wonderful day with our "kids" and granddaughters. One of the many buck rests, apparently with a full tummy because there were so many people feeding all of them.

This is a Bar-Headed goose.

This is a Zedonk. Half Zebra, and half Donkey.

From high up on a wooden bridge we look down on Mouflon sheep from Iran and Iraq.

There are always cute baby ducklings.

Along with some Guinea keets. They are just so cute and mama keeps a close eye on them.

We were having a picnic lunch just outside the park and spotted these Amish eating lunch too. Look closely and you can spot their buggy, BUT no horse in sight. Hummm? ?

More pictures to come from Deer Park.

Another busy day on the home front. Wood to stack, and tomatoes to can. I apologize for not getting around to your blogs as often as I like, but with Fall closing in on us, there is so much to do around here.

Weekend Reflections

On our visit Thursday to Deer Park in Jamestown, Penna our 2 granddaughters, our son Steve and hubby Gary all got in the act for my Weekend Reflection picture. Actually behind that window was a small pool with 2 or 3 baby Alligators.

Thanks to James for this cool meme. Click on his site http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com to see lots more great reflections.

I'll post more pictures from our trip on Sunday.

Skywatch Friday

On my early morning walks lately I have encountered plenty of heavy fog. Sometimes it follows the creek, and sometimes it just covers the entire valley. This barn belongs to a neighbor up the road about 1/8 of a mile, and seems to make for cool photos.
Happy Skywatch Friday, and thanks to all responsible for this meme. Click on over to http://skyley.blogspot.com/ to see more great sky shots.

Busy, Busy Day

Oh, what a busy day it was. Our daughter-in-law came over and together we ( with the help of course of the granddaughters and their friend) shucked, blanched, cut off the cob, and bagged 25 quart bags of corn.
Tomorrow our son is taking the day off and we'll all go to Deer Park, and wildlife park about 50 miles from here. We'll take a picnic, and hopefully keep the rain away.
I didn't get much time for pictures today, so these are from earlier in the week.
We stopped on Chautauqua Lake for lunch and I just had to take images of these cute ducks.
Here is the view across the lake of the homes on the opposite side. At first they were resting on the grass. Actually there were lots more, but someone was feeding them.

All of a sudden a few wandered over to our van. A sign says"Please do NOT Feed the Ducks"

, but these ducks can't read LOL. They are such beggers you know. A young one tastes some weeds.

Then another joins the first one.

A stretch.

I just never get enough of this color on the Thistles.

Later a Red Tailed Hawk took off from a telegraph pole as soon as I stopped the van.

That's all folks. The baseball game is on, and I hope I can stay awake till it's over. Yawn--zzzzzzzz.

Watery Wednesday

On my afternoon walk on the creek trail, I saw this small flock of juvenile Common Mergansers. They were playing in the water, and didn't even see me. What a rare sight.
Happy Watery Wednesday. If you click on http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com you can see more watery photos, and thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for this meme.

Ruby Tuesday

This is our youngest granddaughter Jalyn . She is playing T-ball, and it is her turn to bat. I think she was waiting for someone to put the ball on the "T". First time, she hit the ball, made it to 2nd base, and now is pondering whether she should go to 3rd. Actually I think she did, and then the next batter got a hit and Jalyn made it to home. This was the last game for this year, and all the kids were treated to ice cream after the game.

Happy Ruby Tuesday to everyone. If you click on Mary/the teach's site http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ you'll see a great meme with lots more RED.

Macro Monday

We are deep into splitting wood, and during some loading of wood that was split 2 days ago we encountered many, many Toads under the logs scampering everywhere. It was so funny. I did some research and I think they are American Toads, but if somebody knows different please let me know. Big ones little ones, light and dark ones. We caught them all and sent them to safety among the high grass.
Happy Macro Monday and if you click on http://lisaschaos.com/ you'll see lots more close-ups.

Looking back

I found the cutest teeny little fungus on the creek trail. Along side a penny my sister gave me you can tell the size.
We had taken an afternoon walk looking for wildlife, but didn't see any.

Earlier in the day we went to the beach looking for beach glass. It was a perfect day. Sort of warm, but no visible sun.

Several little Semipalmated Sandpipers flitted here and there, always busy searching for a meal.

I can never let an opportunity go by to photograph Canada geese.

High up in the trees a Turkey Vulture waits for us to leave so he can continue his lunch of dead fish

This one is out of order, but is another of the same Sandpiper.

A few days ago on the creek trail, I spotted a flock of Ceder Waxwings. They were flying back and forth across the creek catching some insects.

This one is a juvenile. I've never seen a young one before, and I wasn't sure what it was at first.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week-end. We are being blessed with some much needed rain.

Weekend Reflections

On the creek behind our home these two Wood ducks spend another warm afternoon just hanging out on this fallen tree limb.
Happy Week-end reflections to everyone, and stop on over to http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com which is James' site and see lots more super reflections.

Skywatch Friday

For some reason I have decided I need to practice taking moon images with my new camera. It's a beautiful clear night, and perfect for trying different settings.
Happy Skywatch Friday everyone, and click on over to the folks at http://skyley.blogspot.com and you will see some fantastic sky shots.

Another sign of Fall the Canada geese are doing their flight training. Around 100 or more fly over the house morning and in the evening too, and it does get rather noisy. Sweet peas along side the road. Speaking of along side of the road. The road where Tauqua and I walk each morning and evening HAD the most beautiful rainbow of wild flowers. Queen Anne's Lace, Chicory, Joe Pye Weed, Milk Weed, Thistles, wild Asters, Sumac, and lots of Goldenrod. Last Saturday the county sent over a big tractor and mowing machine, and now they are all gone! All gone, all that gorgeous color.

A juvenile Robin was taking a bath, but stopped and posed for a picture .

A few Toadstools are appearing too.

On the creek I saw a small flock of Wood ducks swiming around a fallen tree limb.

That's all Folks! Frosty is spending the night away, guess where. She'll come home tomorrow a "new woman". Tauqua is already missing her...

Such a Busy day

Yes, what a busy day. Early this morning we gathered up all our plastic and took off for the recycling center. When we got back home I went over to the "kids" house and picked all the ripe tomatoes. Some of ours aren't ready yet, and I think we'll have enough that we won't have to buy any. Here is the first batch, and I got 8 quarts. I was mowing on the creek trail this afternoon, and spotted a first year Green Heron. Of course he flew away, but when I finished with the grass, I grabbed my camera and went back down. There he was fishing and I was lucky to get a few pictures before he flew off again.

Visiting a friend this afternoon and what a gorgeous garden she has. This is a beautiful bunch of Phlox.

I have a flock of juvenile Bluejays, and this guy looks like he's been playing in a mud puddle. LOL

Also in my friend's garden is this Black Swallowtail Butterfly. His wings were really tattered, and the poor thing was really flapping to keep going.

On her Butterfly bush was this Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly.

Another busy day tomorrow too. Bill paying, grocery day, picking up critter food, and more stacking of the wood.

Hope you all have a great one.