Bluebird at Bisset Park

As long as there are bluebirds, there will be miracles and a way to find happiness.

- Shirl Brunnel

About the image: Taken 01-28-12 at Bisset Park - Radford, Virginia

Backlit Butterfly

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

~Henry David Thoreau

About the Image: Taken on the morning of 06-05-11 - Gateway Trail - Blacksburg Virginia

I don't know the ID on this little guy - possible a Summer Azure/Spring Azure 

Free February 2012 Calendar Download

The Purpose: To show my appreciation for all of the kind words and visits from my Dear Friends! I hope to be able to post a New Monthly calendar at the end of/beginning of each month. Here is the one for February. I chose the male cardinal - which I have fondly named Mr. Red. You should be able to click on the pic and download it (I've uploaded a Hi Res version about 8 x 10 size) If for some reason it doesn't work - email me and I will send you the Hi Res Version. I hope you ENJOY!

Atlas Moth - Wings of Wonder

Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.

~ Jimmy Carter

About the image: Taken June 2011 - Butterfly Conservatory - Georgia

Camera Critters is hosted by Misty - HERE

Moon Set on the Trees

Only from the heart can you touch the sky.

~Rumi

 

Spread Your Wings

About the image: Taken 01/21/12 - Hethwood Pond - Blacksburg, VA

Question Mark Butterfly

About the image: Taken 05/21/11 - Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA

I believe this is a Question Mark Butterfly - ID help is always appreciated!

Mockingbird - Grabbing a Bite

Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.

~Rumi

Damselfly Close-up

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

~Vincent Van Gogh

About the image: Taken 08-13-11- Gateway Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia with a Nikon D7000 - Nikkor 105mm lens, Aperture Priority, F7.1 - 800 ISO

Hummingbird Moth - Marvelous Nature

One of my favorite quotes to go with one of my favorite creatures. 

Keep Climbing

When you reach the top, keep climbing.

Proverb

Camera Critters is hosted by Misty - HERE

A Morning Star

The sun is but a morning star.

~Henry David Thoreau

Winter Wildflower

About the image: Taken with my iPhone and Olloclip lens on the same day I captured the snowflake.

Great Blue Heron Strikes a Pose

Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.

Wayne Dyer

I count these little glimpses into nature as daily miracles. There was a time when I would not stand still and look but hurry past. Thankfully not any more.

Have a Miraculous Day!

White-breasted Nuthatch - Treat in His Beak

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending.

~Unknown

Snowflake Macro with the Olloclip

No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.

~Zen

My very first snowflake macro - captured with the Olloclip lens for my iPhone.

The more I use it - the more I LOVE it!

Lisa hosts MACRO MONDAY -HERE

Female Cardinal Showing Her Crest

She's got quite the Mohawk!

For more Cool Critters visit Camera Critters HERE

Morning Moon Over the Trees

The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand.

~Frederick L. Knowles

About the Image: Captured the morning of 01-10-12. The bird was a huge bonus!

Muscovy Duck - A Unique Beauty

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

~Confucius

Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic.

~Rosalind Russell

About the images: Taken 12-25-11 - Virginia Tech Duck Pond - Blacksburg, Virginia

White-breasted Nuthatch and His Song

And the song, from beginning to end, I found in the heart of a friend.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Link to the White-breasted Nuthatch Songs and Calls can be found

HERE

About the image: Taken 12-30-11 at Bisset Park

Chickadee on Frosty Thorns

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

--Unknown

About the Image: Taken early in the morning on 01-08-12. With temps at 27 degrees things were quite frosty. It was one of those amazing mornings that even though it's cold on the outside - you are warm on the inside. The pounding in my chest was not from the exercise, but from this consuming emotion that seemed to take over my body ..... Thankfulness.

Linking up with the Creative Exchange - HERE

Dandelion Droplets With an Olloclip

Above straight out of the camera (iPhone) - no editing

Straight Out of the Camera but cropped closer.

During the first week of January 2012 -  I stumbled across some amazing MACRO shots on Instagram.  I was AMAZED at how fabulous they looked. I soon found out that most were using a lens designed specifically for the iPhone called the Olloclip. They are sold at Best Buy and even on the Apple website but were back ordered. That told me that this was something to check out! I went direct to the Olloclip webiste. Ordered it on January 3, it shipped January 4, and I had it on January 6. Pretty quick service! The above shots were taken with my iPhone with the Olloclip. If you love taking pics with your iPhone and love Macro, I encourage you to check out their website HERE. The lens is actually a wide angle, fisheye, and macro all in one!

Olloclip did NOT ask me to write this review - I just wanted to let you know what a great product it is!

PS - not sure what the little creature is in the pics - maybe an aphid? It was TINY - I couldn't even see it when I was taking the shots.

Sun Rising

The morning light, which rains its quivering beams

Wide o'er the plains, the summits, and the streams,

In one broad blaze expands its golden glow

On all that answers to its glance below.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

About the Image: Taken 01-07-12

Inspired by Leia Cator to see the sunrise each morning.

Visit her HERE and see how she starts her day.

Great Blue Heron - One Step At A Time

A close up of the Great Blue Heron walking up the tree branch

A view with the GBH and the tree.

There is no one giant step that does it. It’s a lot of little steps.

~ Peter A. Cohen

About the Image: Taken 12-26-11 Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA

Misty Dawn Hosts Camera Critters - HERE

In the Morning, Everything is New

In the morning, everything is new.

The day's blank slate lies before me,

ready for my writing.

May it be words of beauty I write.

May it be deeds of grace I do.

May it be thoughts of joy I think.

~ Ceisiwr Serith

About the Image: Taken 01-01-12 with my iPhone

Go For It!

Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.

~Wayne Dyer

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Eyeing Me

There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. 
Pursue those.

~Unknown.

About the Image: Captured 12-30-11 - Bisset Park - Radford, Virginia.

Summer Softness

Life is soft and smooth when lived gently.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

About the image: Taken 09-24-11 - Gateway Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia

Cardinal Connections

When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.

― Rachel Naomi Remen

I definitely feel a connection with the birds and the beasts of this world - and a VERY SPECIAL connection with the cardinals in my backyard.

About the Image: Taken 10-28-11 - thru the window - very dark day - ISO at 1600

Equipment: Nikon D7000 - Nikkor 70-300mm Lens with VR - at 300mm

The Glory of the Journey

The Overlook at Pipestem State Park 
Pipestem, West Virginia

The Road Ahead

About the Images: Photographing "every day" life - with the Instagram App for the iPhone. (these are both iPhone pics.) Some come out pretty cool.   "The Road Ahead" was taken thru a dirty windshield at about 55mph - but I still like it :)

We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.

~John Franklin

Free January 2012 Calendar Download

Dear Friends - You GIVE SO much to me - with your kind visits and sweet comments. I want to make 2012 a year of Giving Back! I am a bit late in getting this up - but I wanted to give you this January 2012 Calendar. You should be able to click on the pic and download it. (Please let me know if this doesn't work for you and I would be HAPPY to email the file to you.) It should be a Hi Res shot - so if you print it out it should look OK. I hope to be able to do this on the first of every month.

You All Mean So Much To Me!!

The Image Was Taken January 1, 2012

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

~Albert Schweitzer

Let Your Spirit Start to Soar

Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be…Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you’ll live as you’ve never lived before.

~ Erich Fromm

Sunrise and Another New Beginning

Another Sunrise, Another New Beginning

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

About the image: Chasing the sunrise on New Year's Day 01-01-12. 
Taken with my iPhone.