A rainy day does not stop us...........

As I began in my Bluebell Woods blog ......on Monday we took a trip that will probably be one of the last if last years winter is anything to go by. School begins here next week. That means Tristen will be going from 8am to 11am. It will be weekends mainly from now on. So this post will be mostly about the things we saw on our trip to the beach and Crystal River.
I had to look up to find out what the hawk was that we saw before I said anything. I believe it is a Coopers Hawk.

We saw him sitting by the side of the road and were a bit worried. He seemed OK and sat there so we got some good shots.

This was the 2nd one we saw that day. When we were in the river we saw another one. That one too sat still for us. What a privalege.

Some of the pretty things we saw today.


Along the road there was a cute little yellow finch


We saw several groups of Sandhill Cranes.


Lovely birds, so elegant.

On the river I was able to get a few shots of Damselfly



I find that when I take a picture, sometimes there is a surprise waiting within.

When I looked up close

After the rain we experienced on our outset everything was left very pretty and clean.



Notice the two bugs on the Sweet Peas. There are Bull Rushes by the River in Cedar and other water plants that are pretty




We found another heart tree..............I love it when that happens


I am sharing this with Brambleberry Cottage
Also sharing with From My from my front porch to yours

Bugs, love them or hate them.....

Bugs.........if they do no damage they are welcome to live in my garden. Having said that, we just had to kill off a nest of nasty wasps. We only took this action after they again attacked Tristen and got a couple of the poodles. Bella was sick she almost went into shock. So, we had to destroy them.
On a happier note I go among the bees and wasps daily to get pictures. They do no harm to me. That bunch got me several times but until they got Tristen and the dogs I was not prepared to destroy them. Bees do not attack people. Wasps sometimes do. Hornets sometimes do, but usually not unless provoked.
So we try to live in peace.

I had never seen a wasp like this one (above) it is so pretty don't you think? Around about the same place I saw that little guy I saw this little fly.

I love the luminous colour of both of them. I took several pictures of bees at work. I also saw this guy or is it a girl. A wasp of sorts. I don't really know a wasp from a hornet.

Well I do know these are bees


I love this picture. I was fortunate to catch the bee in flight. I have wanted to get a picture like that forever.

This is another of the same bees, there are many like that one. Some are a lot bigger so I am not sure if they are quite the same. I don't think they are the same as the bigger ones who have the dot on the back.

I will have to look that up. Why have I not done that yet. I do want to know. Anyway........this guy was also in my garden. Very posh in his bright colours


So those were a few of my visitors. Boring......I want bears and big things, or at least more bunnies. Even the birds are boring. Sigh!!! and they are molting too.
Ah well here are a few flowers to end with oh and this guy, he was sitting on the fence jumping for honeysuckle berries. He went down on the drive to eat them.


here's the flowers


Sharing with Create with Joy, Inspire me Monday
Linking with Adorned from Above Wednesday's linky party
Visiting with Creative Country Mum

A Day in the Woods........Old Mission.............

Today I took some pictures in the woods. I thought you might like to see some of them. I love the woods, I love the trees and look what we found.

I love to feel the bark on the rough trees, yes I am a tree hugger. Really, I am. I love to put my hands on and feel the life of them. Is that silly? Well today we have been teaching the kids about trees. Today was recognizing an Oak tree. Thats the one with acorns (fairy hats) so now they know Beech, Maple, Birch and Oak. Tomorrow we stick the leaves on a craft board.
The bark on trees make me think of Elephant legs.

I love to take pictures of the Lichen and things that grow on trees. I love that the tree is still useful even when dead. The woodpeckers must be abundant in those woods because there sure was a lot of trees with holes in them.
What do you see up that hole Tristen? spiders he says.

Do you see the tiny frog?

Its a wonder he was not trod on the way the kids were running back and forth. We did see several though, tiny little things.
These are fairy steps says Reina

Funny thing was we didn't see the wildlife that we usually see. No squirrels or chipmunks nothing but the tiny toads. Back to my garden tomorrow. Thought we deserved a break but I have some pictures of pretty little bees and bugs for another day.
Linking with Create with Joy, Inspire me Monday
Visiting with Creative Country Mum

Hello I am a baby Blue Jay......

This guy was quite amusing. He didn't know enough to be afraid. He was loving the wetness after the sprinkler had been on. Had to show the first picture just to show his fuzzy bum.

Then he came down onto the path and stared at me,

His feet look too big for him,

He just watched me unconcerned,

This may have been a parent, if so then he needed to get his kid in line it should have been scared of me.

So he took a sip from the path

In any case it was a sweet encounter, the bird was puzzled and I was thrilled for the privilege of watching him up so close. No zoom needed here.

For the Birds...............

The birds around here are looking pretty scraggly, this time I know that they are molting. When we were out walking the other day the kids were collecting feathers so they must drop them all over the place. Anyway, a few back yard visitors for you.

The Blue Jays have their babies with them all over the place


It has been a hot few days. The birds looked stressed.

He felt better after a soak. I put the sprinklers on for the birds as well as the flowers.

I have no idea what this guy is doing but he felt better too once I put the sprinkler on.


The little birds seem to handle it just fine.


They were chattering and nattering and flocking around back and forth all day. I put the sprinklers out front and they went around the front. They love to hang out in the wet trees and bushes.
The cardinals are around all the time

Nothing exotic here but I do love my birds.
I will show you some flowers from the last couple of days. I just love when I can get a shot like this one and then zoom in on it





You can see how that progresses. Well it was a good shot I thought so I did some close ups.

The daisies are still doing well.

While I was out the other day, we got some plants for the graves. I actually found some bright red Bee Balm. Remember I saw some up at the school. Well I found some, I had to buy it and I got it in the garden today. Pictures another day. So this is my garden for now...........rather boring really I will have to be a bit more adventurous with my garden posts. I don't have time to think lately.
I am sharing with Ivy and Elephants
Also with The Dedicated House Anything Blue Friday
love these parties, sharing with Lavender Garden cottage cottage style party
Also sharing with create with joy inspire me Monday