Winter Joys

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars-and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.

Rajneesh

A tree standing alone on the edge of a dormant field of tall grass

A red bellied woodpecker hanging on the feeder

Give food to the birds, you will then be surrounded by the wings of love, you will be encompassed by the joys of little silent hearts!

Mehmet Murat Ildan

a tufted titmouse holds a seed

Robins wintering in an old apple orchard

I caught a glimpse of happiness, and saw it was a bird on a branch, fixing to take wing.

Richard Peck

Crows chatting and cawing in the treetops

The perfection of an empty nest

I spent my last week in Michigan (for a few months) feeling sad that I had to leave. I had some major technical problems this week, but I still wanted to share some of the pictures I took at home and in my neighborhood before I left for Miami.

Hope you had a wonderful week. Thank you for being here.

Spring Promise

I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.

Anne Lamott

Texas Storksbill

Spring Arrival

Leaving behind a chilly wind,

And a little frost last night,

winter went away.

In the morning,

spring would arrive

with dewy promise.

I woke early-

going outside -

the roosters crowed,

and the sun rose

through cloudy skies.

I searched for signs:

Budding of trees,

Blooming of flowers,

Singing of birds,

Greening of grass,

And just like magic,

they were there,

and there I was

again to see it -

With wonder

And gratitude.

Prairie Verbena

Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Dandelion and Henbit Deadnettle

Bunch-flowered Daffodil and a camera-shy green insect

Bluebonnet

Salvia

Anemone and Prickly Pear

Golden Crownbeard and a contented bee

Grackles ignoring the signs…

All of these photos were taken in Texas - in case you are wondering about the change of scenery.

Thank you for being here once again. I wanted to remind you of my challenge a few weeks ago:

I have a challenge for you! I’ve been playing with perspective all month - on and off- sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t; but it always makes me see things differently; and it’s fun. So, my challenge is this: take a picture of something ordinary. Your toaster, your coffee maker, some tracks in the snow, a shadow that falls on your wall… anything; but take it in an unusual way. Then, if you like it - share it with me! I will post a gallery of the images in a future blog! Send them to rhodatude@gmail.com and make sure to include a little description of what it is and how you took the picture.

(click here to see the entire original post) - please submit photos by April 1, 2023 if you want your photos to be included in my April 5 blog post. I hope you are having a lovely spring so far. See you next week.