Help...

5 Random Squirrel thoughts...

1)  This isn't the time for flipping photos B*%$&!

2)  If you let me out I won't raid the bird feeder ever again.  Hee, hee.  Evil Snicker.  (Humans are so stupid)

3) I'd rather be inside a pumpkin.  At least I could eat my way out. 

4) There isn't even any bird seed in here.  Tight wads.

5)  Are you look'in at me?

P.S.  This is a real photo and isn't photoshopped.  The squirrel was able to lift the lid and climb inside.  But the reverse was not so easy!

A Rural Journal

Hummer

Let's face it.  It is hard to get hummingbird shots that do not involve red syrup and plastic flower pods.  So the feederless ones that have a tropical background are cherished by me.  This one is taken near a feeder at a Butterfly sanctuary in Belize.  In Central America Hummingbird feeders are like rush hour in America.  The birds zoom and whirl around your head like little helicopters.  It really is an amazing experience.  But even with all those birds it is still hard to snap one on a branch.  They go a mile a minute.  I wish I knew what kind this red beaked one is.  If anyone can enlighten me please do. 

And for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday  

Kenny Revisited

First Bloom

I'm afraid that this might be a boring continuation of last Monday's post.  But here are more Kenny 365 photos.  It is not always easy to come up with a new photo 365 days a year.  Luckily I only have to capture Fridays. The top photo is the first bloom on one of my orchid plants.  I have two and now I have 30 blooms and counting.  Orchids are so amazing.

Here are more photos in no particular order.  

Frost Patterns

Mint

A buffet of bird feeders

A Christmas collage

A sad day in America

Better Than Flamingos

Reindeer Gear

Turkey Table

Shadow Detail

Winter Wonderland

Who gets the Oscar?

Oscar the cat

5 random true or false statements about good old Oscar from the beautiful Hicatee Cottages in Belize (the answers are at the end)

1) Oscar got his name from his golden color.  Kind of like the naked statues at the big Hollywood hoopla awards.

2) Oscar once came home wearing a tarantula on his back.  

3) Oscar dictates where breakfast will be served to tourists.  Depending on where he takes his cat naps.

4) Oscar loves to sneak into guest rooms and hide underneath your covers.  Surprise!

5) Oscar almost got killed by a Boa Constrictor.  He used up another life on that one!

1) False  2) True  Just another day in the jungle!  3) True  4) False  5) True   The Boa had him constricted around the gut and was trying to eat him by a back foot. His owners heard the commotion and luckily fended off the Boa with a broom. (I think) By this time Oscar had passed out.  But afterwards Oscar suddenly drew a breath, looked around and got up.  He was pretty sore for awhile though! 

Random 5 Friday

A crane by another name...

I just can't believe this photo.  And no, I didn't photoshop the neck!  It's all egret.  Fish have a long slide down that gullet.  I have a lot of elegant egret photos. I snapped this at Lover's Key State Park in Florida.  But this one has the honor of being the funniest.

Visit more feathered friends at Paying Ready Attention

I'm keeping Up with Kenny...

leaf art

By now most of you probably already know about the community photo project I'm involved in. I had a little fun in the backyard with the top photo. The scoop is I take a photo each week somewhere in the Kenny neighborhood where I live. A photo is posted on our website 365 days a year.  That is a lot of photos.  Here are a few more of mine...

The only gator you'll find in our neck of the woods.

How long has this dude been sitting here????

Ground Cherry

Hana

Lunch

A new Moon.

A new dried Fall bouquet.

 A public hanging.  There goes the neighborhood.

Do you see the skyscraper weed?

Someone has been chewing this pumpkin.  Hmmm.  Who would do a thing like that?

A wooden star.

My crafty purse sewing project.

My first book made the cut!

My inlaws Jim and Patt!

P.S.  I just passed 50,000 blog visits.  Hooray!

Undies

5 random reasons this dog might have undies in his mouth.

1) He just finished playing strip poker.  He lost.

2) His owner ran out of sticks and newspaper. And was multi-tasking on laundry day.

3)  He is going to cross a stream and doesn't want to get them wet.  (This seems smart)

4)  He confused bacon strips with begg'in strips.

5)  The dog needs to buy more under wear.  And since he is unable to write down or remember his size he is taking them to the store for good measure.  

Random 5 Friday

A blushing Ibis

click to enlarge

I've been having so much fun linking up to Paying Ready Attention.  And I've been learning a lot too.  Now I know that this White Ibis is displaying breeding colors with the red face and legs.  Or at least I think so.  What I know for sure is that I love this photo mostly because of the background.  And where it was taken.  At Lover's Key State Park.  My favorite Florida Beach.  There is nothing I like better than snapping photos with my swimsuit on and my feet in the sand.  And this Ibis posed so nicely for me.

For a little laugh check out last Friday's  If I had bird feet... post. What would you do if you had bird feet?

The lake is out!

click to enlarge

Every Minnesotan knows what it means when you say the lake is out. It means the ice has melted. Ding, Dong the winter is dead! And that happened this weekend at Lake Harriet where I live. Finally.  We even had our first picnic.  So I decided to post what is probably the most beautiful lake I've ever seen.  In honor of the big ice out.  This lake never freezes.  But it's beauty is frozen in time.  It sits in the scenic Orosi Valley of Costa Rica. 

click to enlarge

These floating pads lent a magical quality.

click to enlarge

Another breathtaking perspective. Lakes are so much better melted. 

If I had bird feet...

White egret feet

5 things I'd do if I had bird feet...

1) I would fly up to a random red winged black bird and claw it in the head.  Sorry.  A red wing did that to me once.

2) I would swoop down and pick up a fish.  But I wouldn't eat it.  I would fly over someone I dislike and drop it on them.  Hopefully it would go down their shirt.  Then I'd laugh.  Unless all I could do was chirp and ca caw.

3) I would paint my claws rainbow colors.  No reason. 

4)  I would place my bird feet in different colors of paint and then walk back and forth over a canvas. I bet I would finally become rich selling my art.  

5) I would swoop down and pick up one of my cats.  It would scare the whiskers off them!  

Random 5 Friday

Brown Jay

I love this photo because the Jay blends completely with the dry brown leaves.  It is a perfect match.  Unless you don't like matchy, matchy. 

I photographed Mr. Brown in Belize this winter.  For more bird watching visit Paying Ready Attention 

And have you checked out my latest post? Where is your favorite place on earth? Leave a comment and tell me where yours is.  Just curious...

Where is your favorite place on earth?

We have been suffering through a never ending season of Winter here in Minnesota.  And last night I was feeling nostalgic for the beaches of Dominical, Costa Rica. I thought about how there is no place I would rather get out of bed today than Dominical. I would wake up to the loud and exotic sound of Howler Monkeys. Then head down to the beach for a heavenly walk. Afterwards, I'd have breakfast at Tortilla Flats. Yum. Then relax.  For awhile.  And after lunch maybe do some boogie boarding.  So in honor of Earth Day I'm sharing my favorite spot on earth.  Sigh.

I think these photos really portray the joy I feel in being there.  The frolicking dogs are so happy to be alive.  I felt like I was at one with them when I snapped these photos.  I felt the same joy in my heart.

The morning Sun slowly warmed the earth and cast beautiful shadows.

Just another day in paradise. Happy Earth Day!  Here are some things to consider today...

(at participating locations)

1)  Caribou Coffee is offering free coffee when you bring in your own mug. Plus, when you "like" Caribou on facebook they will plant a tree in Central America.  I might have to break my facebook fast for this one.  

2) Free totes with eco goodies and coupons at Target.

3) Free seeds at Pottery Barn Kids.

4)  Free entrances to our National Parks today!

5) Text "RELEAF" to 273283 and Michaels craft stores will make a donation to plant a tree on your behalf.