Change Is Hard

August 2, 2026
by dawnkinster 4 Comments

In between the raindrops

It started raining last night. By this morning it was a full on downpour.

I didn’t mind, today was a rest day after the long day yesterday waiting in lines, waiting at gates, waiting on the plane and then driving from the airport. A little rain was actually nice. Napping was easy.

But by late afternoon the sun had come out. I felt like I should do something.

So I dragged the kayak out of storage and managed to get myself into it without capsizing. I headed out, staying near shore because, as on any weekend in mid-summer, the lake was busy with jet skies and boats and people paddling on boards.

As I left our little protected cove the wind picked up and I didn’t go much further. Too busy, too windy, too many waves for me.

So I turned around and let the wind push me back. I floated down to the end of our slough, where the cypress trees grow.

The sun was getting lower and the light was pretty.

I sat down there, gently turning and looking at all the trees for a good long time.

And then I slowly paddled home.

By the way, there’s a house down there for sale if you’re interested. Only $1.9M. Not a typical home on our street, it’s never been owner occupied, it’s being rented as an AB&B. The neighbors, who now have a monster house almost lot line to lot line, must hope for an owner to move in. It’s got to be quieter than the parties happening there now.

I doubt the boat is included in the price.

Life on the lake is changing. Sometimes change is hard.

July 31, 2026
by dawnkinster 24 Comments

Funny

Funny how I used to get a happy little skip in my heart when I cleared the last set of hills while driving down to Alabama to visit my parents. And funny how today, as I cleared that last set of hills I felt a melancholy skip instead.

*I arrived just before dark. Tomorrow, with sunshine, the space will feel happier.*

I guess that’s normal.

It’s hard now, to come visit with the house empty but waiting patiently. It’s equally hard to leave after being here a few days. The memories smooth out and it just feels good to be here.

*The crepe myrtle is in bloom. Made me smile.*

But that first walk into the empty house….well…that’s hard. Every time.

July 28, 2026
by dawnkinster 30 Comments

Happening on my deck this week

This juvenile male oriole learned all about bathing this week. When I first noticed him he was standing on the edge while a little brown bird splashed around. He stared at the brown bird. I went to get my camera. By the time I got back he was in the bath too.

He seemed a bit unsure, but it didn’t take long until he was fully immersed in the experience. Literally.

*Look! I can draw a heart with my tail!*

*Oh what a wonderful feeling, oh what a wonderful day!*

*A little more tail action. I wonder if any girls are around.*

July 24, 2026
by dawnkinster 31 Comments

It’s all fun and games

This morning I was headed out the back door when I saw, directly in front of me, a deer staring back. We both had that kind of ‘deer in headlights’ look. I quickly sidestepped out of sight and walked quietly over to the living room to get my camera. And then it hit me. It was a fawn I saw. By the time I slowly and quietly slid back to the door the fawn had moved.

*Nom, nom, nom. This hydrangea is very tasty!*

I felt disappointed that I had missed the beautiful, full faced, shot. But I was also very happy.

Very happy because in early summer we had seen only one mama deer with one baby. And a few days after seeing mama with her newborn, I came across a fawn stretched out in the road as if asleep, but clearly not. I have only seen mama once since, with no baby in tow. I silently told her how sorry I was.

All summer I haven’t seen the mama deer. I assumed she had left the area to grieve alone. But this morning, here was a large fawn, so maybe our little one hadn’t been killed? And where was mama during this visit?

Oh, yes, there she is. Watchful as always.

And then the baby took off across the yard so fast I couldn’t see where he or she went. I switched windows to watch the yard. And then this happened.

*I can’t stop my happy feet from running!*

*I’ll kick up my heels and release the joy!*

*I’m just a kid, mom, don’t you remember how fun it was to be young?*

*It’s my favorite time of the year. OK, it’s my only time of the year so far in my young life…*

Such joyful running, in big loops around the backyard. Racing from behind shrubs, circling the white pine, at full speed. Over and over and over this little one danced with glee through the yard.

I shot 300+ pictures. Some of them almost in focus.

He or she kept on running. I kept on taking pictures. Until finally he (I’ve decided it’s a he) stopped behind a blue spruce and snuck a peek over near where mama stood. I think he was tuckered out. He went over to mom who had come out from behind the bush to reign in her kid.

*I hope you got THAT out of your system!*

But what is this?

A 2nd mama? Is my little guy being mothered by two moms? Or is this daddy and mama and baby?

But wait….what’s this?

*You, little one, are a bad influence on my kid!*

Another baby! Two mamas and two babies!

The little group hung around in the shadows for a bit of time before moving off.

*It’s all fun and games until somebody breaks a leg. Let me check to make sure you’re alright.*

But not without one last look at the house.

By mama and baby. Just so I knew they knew they were being watched.

*I’m watching you too, lady. (Hope you liked the show!)*

Glad to have you in the neighborhood, family. You made me smile.

Wordless Wednesday

July 22, 2026 by dawnkinster 10 Comments

July 19, 2026
by dawnkinster 34 Comments

Success….well…some anyway

Hey everybody, it’s Penny here! I’m interrupting mom’s travel and photography posts to tell you about me! Cause I know you’ve been missing me. Speaking of missing, mom was missing for almost an entire week! No one got my permission for her to go gallivanting but I guess my vote doesn’t count. Anyway, she was gone from last Saturday to this past Friday afternoon.

And on Saturday and Sunday morning she had registered me for an obedience trial! So when she got home Friday mom and I got right into the ‘working’ mode. I know what the word work means. It means treats! Special, extra good treats! So we went to the trial Saturday morning. Mom said she had zero expectations, given we had N-Q’d last time and she had been gone the week before this trial.

But guess what? I did great! I did all 5 exercises pretty perfectly. I sat when I was supposed to sit, I paid attention to mom and I stayed when I was supposed to stay. I ended up with 198 points out of 200, and first place! I guess, though, I have to admit that I was the only one in my class, so as long as I finished everything I was destined to get first place! Mom said she was very proud of me.

*I got first place AND best sheltie (It was a sheltie hosted trial).*

Then on Sunday we went back to the trial to do it again. Mom was a little worried because I generally don’t like to do stuff more than once, but she thought maybe given it was a day apart it would be ok. And again, I was doing great. Sitting when I was supposed to sit. Paying attention to my mom and heeling like a good girl. I let the guy judge pat me on the head during the sit for exam without protest.

*Me and my mom after my first day at the trial.*

Then came the stay where I’m supposed to sit in the middle and watch mom walk around the perimeter of the ring and then back to me. And guess what? I got bored so I laid down. Mom almost made it around the room before I gave up, but I think she needs to learn to walk faster.

Oops. That disqualified us right there. We still finished everything, and my recall was beautiful. The judge and mom were very sad. I, however, just wanted to get out of the ring so I could get my jackpot. I know what my priorities are!

*I promise not to give up next time, OK mom?*

Anyway. I’m now 1 for 3 in my Beginner Novice Obedience trials. Mom says we’ll keep trying. I only need two more legs to get my title! LOL No rush mom, I’ll get there! On my schedule, not yours.

Talk later, your Beginner Novice Wantabe, Penny.

July 18, 2026
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

Star power

I’ve been out of town for most of the last week. I, of course, took lots of images. But the main reason for the trip was to experience dark skies in South Dakota.

I’m lucky enough to have a friend from high school who lives on a farm away from city lights. For years we’ve talked about me going out there to see the stars.

*My sister contemplating life on the prairie.*

So last week it finally came together and my sister and I drove out there. We were so lucky that the skies were clear for all three nights that we were there. We spent a few hours each of two nights staring up at the sky with warm breezes keeping the bugs at bay.

I have 3 sets of night images to process, the barn, a tractor and the gate. But I need to learn how to stitch skies and foregrounds together in Photoshop. The learning of that will likely take me awhile.

For now I’ll share these single take images of my sister and me. When I learn how to process the rest of them I’ll share those as well.

We had a great time and want to thank our hosts so much for sharing their lives and their skies with us!

(PS: WordPress makes everything darker. I’ve used the lighter of my images but if it’s still dark, try looking at these in a darkened room on a bigger than your phone screen.)

July 9, 2026
by dawnkinster 23 Comments

Got a little damp

I wasn’t going to post today. I’ve got lots of stuff I need to do and posting wasn’t high on my to-do list. But moving the images from my camera to storage was. And I promised myself I wasn’t going to look at them. Because I don’t have time, you know.

But I did. It was raining one morning this week and I was shooting birds (not literally) through the window. This one made me laugh out loud. You never know what you’ve got until you look at them on a bigger screen.