I loved the silky textures of the jay’s feather caught in the prickly branch of a bayberry bush.
This is such an interesting challenge – texture is one of the things most photographers notice, and there are so many options to showcase here.
Want to see more? Just go to the link above, or, if you’re time challenged, here are a few of my favorites. So far.
What to say, what to say. There’s nothing happening around here, yet I feel a need to share photos with you. Photos of regular life in summer here in Michigan.
Little League at Katie’s park under a summer sky.
The grass is growing, the birds are sucking down food from the feeders, trees are fully leafed out and the afternoon skies are often filled with clouds.
It’s been pretty amazing.
Though we’ve seen lots of storm clouds we’re really short on rain. The yard is already turning brown. Watering the gardens will soon be a daily if not twice a day ritual. We’re not even to July yet.
No rain in these clouds.
It’s finally warm enough at night to camp and Katie and I have been on one adventure, but plan on scheduling a few more before the leaves start to turn. It’s still an adventure if it’s scheduled – right?
Hey mama! No rainfly!
For now we’re enjoying the air conditioning and watching the oriole feeder right up next to the window. Lots of things besides orioles visit.
Got any more oranges lady?
They all apparently watch for me to fill the feeder and then rush in to get their share. Or more than their share, depending on their size and boldness.
There you go Mr. Woodpecker!
The flowers have been beautiful so far this season. But now we’re moving into the dry heat of summer so we’ll see. A lot will depend on our watering habits.
Lantana smiles every day.
Really, so little to say, so much to show you. Guess I need to take you on a more formal walk sometime. Lots of beautiful places to go; what would be your choice? A lake? A woodsy park? The back yard? A bike path?
Wonder where that path goes?
All good choices, but each will require me to leave my comfy chair. And I can’t do any of them until I get some weeding done.
Still weeding is better than working a job…so I can’t complain.
Katie can, and does, but it’s all in fun.
Hey mama!
What are you doing out there lady?
Tonight I took a chair out into the yard, trying to get a shot of the orioles glowing in the evening sun. Boy they are suspicious birds.
Do I have jelly on my beak?
Though I was sitting far away from the feeder, and using my long lens, they were still skittish. Especially when this face appeared in the window only inches away from their feeder.
Hey mama! What are you ….ooops…sorry mama!
Even with the distraction the male and female oriole each showed up for a few fleeting moments.
You can’t see me if I hide behind this pole. Can you?
The goldfinches, on the other hand, are much less finicky about paparazzo like me.
On the lookout. The food lady needs to fill the thistle feeder.
Earlier today we had a visitor who had a hankering for jelly. He’s been here before, and has, in fact, enthusiastically chewed the feeder trying to get the last drop.
Hey lady! It’s not my fault if you don’t have a squirrel baffle on this feeder pole!
And yesterday Mr. Grosbeak dropped by. He’s not shy at all, and told me right away that I had inadvertently allowed the safflower seed level to drop to an unacceptable level.
This is unacceptable lady! You are a slacker!
I fixed that immediately. Sorry sir.
So hard to keep peace among the youngsters.
Dad and young?
We have Great Blue Herons fly over the house regularly. One of my favorite birds.
Change Is Hard 