Monday, November 3, 2014

Itchy

Hello gang! I hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is here. After enduring the sweltering heat for four months, the cool, crisp mornings and evenings are a welcome change.

I spotted this Great Egret in a pond outside of Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. I sat on the pond's edge and watched for an hour, clicking intermittently. My mind would occasionally (and rudely) interrupt and say, "Don't you think it's time to move on?" Each time I would respond with, "Why?" Why indeed! I'm tired of my life being ruled by the clock. It shouldn't be so difficult to just sit and be. Who is this tormentor robbing me of inner peace? I shouldn't feel like I'm missing something just because I am sitting still and enjoying that moment. It's a constant battle to just relax. Another one of my little rants...just ignore me!







I am leaving tomorrow for Mississippi to go fishing with my dad. We are staying at a beautiful hunting lodge; a grand home that sits on thousands of acres. I'm very excited to fish in such luxurious surroundings. Photos to come! Maybe this trip will reignite my love of blogging. I think I'm having a bit of blogging fatigue.

Linking to

58 comments:

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

blogging fatigue?

No!

I want no interruptions.

Egret and heron feet are amazing, aren't they? ...Well, all birds, come to think of it. I sit at the dining table studying my finches' feet. Nature is amazing.

eileeninmd said...

Have a happy fishing trip with your Dad.. I love the egret shots. Especially the first photo with the turtles. I hope you are only taking a break! Have a great time!

DeniseinVA said...

How lovely, such an elegant bird and incredible photos Gail. Enjoy your time fishing with your Dad and please, please, please take some photos of the lodge, along with yourselves of course, goes without saying ;) I absolutely love hearing about these lodges, and time spent with your Dad is always precious.

DeniseinVA said...

p.s. relaxing is easier said than done but I can imagine that fishing is a very relaxing thing to do.

TexWisGirl said...

such awesome shots! love those feet! and love the log-sharing with the turtles. :)

have a great time with your dad!

Michelle said...

Your patience at the pond was rewarded. You always take the best shots. Everyone gets a bit of blogging fatigue every now and again. Take a brief break....but don't leave us for long!

Melissa said...

Sounds like you're enjoying the weather at least! A change of season always inspires me. A break is good too though... We're getting the rain here. Finally!

Brian King said...

Fantastic shots! I think in the second one he's saying, "Talk to the hand!" LOL! Have a great trip!

hootnonny said...

Just being as you watched the egret for an hour has prepared you for fishing. Enjoy!

Ruth Hiebert said...

These are gorgeous photos. Have a great time with Dad and make sure to relax and let the world go by.

Anonymous said...

The hour was well spent, getting these beautiful shots.

A Colorful World said...

Your photos are marvelous! Really great shots! I know what you mean about feeling like you have to "keep moving"...it's just so hard to relax. I bet you will get some real relaxing in on that fishing trip with your Dad. It sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see photos!

Shug said...

I see double Fun here. Spending time with your dad...and fishing, not to mention the upscale lodge. I hope you have a blast and make many special memories!! I'll be looking for all of your beautiful photos...be sure to include some of you and your dad...
hugs

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Beautiful shots of the egret. I love the one with the turtles.
Have fun fishing with your dad and come back with a renewed interest in blogging!

Jen said...

Research has proven that we MUST take these moments to relax for the sake of our emotional and physical health. You were being the opposite of unproductive.

If you need a blogging break, take it. I will look forward to your return.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Great shots. Good luck with the fish!
~

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

And I guess there'll be ample opportunity to sit - and click - leaving the clock behind. :)

You caught some beauties here Gail. I'm thinking most of us need to spend more time outdoors sitting and watching, listening and maybe clicking.

Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness - how beautiful! And you're quite right to just sit and enjoy.

Hope you get over your blogging fatigue after the trip.

Linda said...

Beautiful bird! Enjoy your trip!

diane b said...

You have got some great captures here. Excellent. i'm glad you did stay and not moved on. You should be able to relax while fishing.
We are travelling to that part of the world next week.We fly to LA and then to Nashville. after a road trip to Gatlinburg we then go to Memphis and board the American Queen for a cruise on the Mississippi.

you-wee because said...

Good morning Gail,
to have blogging fatigue is the most normal thing on this planet. To take and make a break every now and then is the best thing you can do. Don't feel pressurized by your blog friends - real friends can wait! ;-)
Enjoy the fishing tour with your Dad and try to blow the cobwebs away!

Joke (Joke's Camera) said...

Great series again, Gail. Wonderful shots. I know both feelings: blogging fatigue as well as the little voices in your mind that force you to hurry. At some point blogging felt for me like "work" while I also wanted and had to do other things. It helped me to quit a while and later on to slow down the frequency of blogging and reacting. I hope you have a great and relaxing time in Mississippi. Take good care of yourself. Greetings from the Netherlands, Joke

Irma said...

These are beautiful pictures, Gail.
Have a great time with dad and make sure to relax.
Sometimes blog can sometimes just be too much, I have that too.
I have also take a break soon.
Photo 2 and 7 are my favorite.
Best regards, Irma

The Cranky said...

Rant on! Too often we feel we're slacking because we aren't busy, busy, busy for a moment, but aren't the most fertile fields the ones which lay fallow on occasion? More is accomplished in a thoughtful pause than during the busiest of days.
Have a wonderful time with your Dad, and make the best use of your break. =)

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Awesome shots! I know this devil Mr Time that always wants to hurry us up. I think he also sucks the happy out of some of us in our hurry up world.

Hootin Anni said...

First off, I'm wishing you a great, happy, and fun fishing trip. Secondly, I know I'm in my Hootin' Anni admin for blogging, but I also wanted to make sure I send along my thanks to you, Gail, for sharing this link at I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Excellent, exceptional, and extraordinary images!! As always.

Unknown said...

I LOVE to blog. I just feel like I can't write very well. So Instagram was a perfect fit for me. But I do miss blogging as much as I used to and Feel guilty for neglecting my blog. But I really do enjoy IG.. Whats a gal to do..

Your photos are amazing. Enjoy your trip and its always good to take a break and recharge those batteries.

Hugs~

Bethany Carson said...

What a beautiful bird! Have an awesome time with your dad!

Stephanie said...

Howdy sweet friend! I'm loving the photos of this beautiful bird and the shot of its foot is fantastic :)

Have a blessed time with your dad, dear Gail. Love and hugs to you!

Debbie said...

awwww, your so hard on yourself. just breath and be....these are the moments you will end up treasuring for the rest of your days!!

beautiful images, beautiful light....he was just trying to make sure you got your shot...and you surely did!!!

Anita Johnson said...

A few years ago I mentioned to a friend that I had sat in my garden for an hour watching and trying to photograph a hummingbird drinking nectar from a Columbine. Her response was something like, "You have too much time on your hands". I thought about that for a long time and finally came to the conclusion that I could not have used that hour in any better way. Enjoying God's creation...enjoying the beauty around me. As for blogging, slumps are all part of it, I think!

Hilary said...

Blog weariness happens. Don't let it bother you one bit. If that voice in your head says "Shouldn't you have produced a blog post?" Answer it the same way you did in this post "Why?"

Enjoy your moments YOUR way. When the blogging muse strikes, you'll have plenty to share. The only one you need answer to is Gail.

Hugs to you.

Anonymous said...

Say No to blogging fatigue. Pause if you must, but return a bit later and please share your wonderful photos of birds. Have great fun in MS, a wonderful place to chase fish.

Inspired By June said...

I enjoyed pausing to spend my lunch with you today. I would go nuts with all those turtles around, lol! I, too, am enamored with avian feet :) They are surely descendants of the dinosaurs. What a grand adventure you and your dad will have in MS! Can't wait to see what you find! Blessings!

Unknown said...

Awesome shots! I love the close up of the feet. Happy fishing!

Christian Perrin said...

Lovely photos and awesome that the egret attempted so many poses for you! :)

I love what you wrote about fighting that inner restlessness. I have to do the same thing often - I call it a "false deadline" where I am always on the go and rushing to get things done that actually can wait if it means having these wonderful experiences instead.

Evelyn S. said...

Again....you capture your bird friends and acquaintances in amazing detail, Gail! What a beautiful bird...with fascinating feet.

Waldameise Andrea said...

Wow, so nah sah ich diesen wunderschönen Vogel noch nie. Danke für diese tollen Aufnahmen.

Liebe Grüße
Waldameise

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Sometimes, we all need to just say "no" to so many demands on our time and watch the world go by. So flad you did, Gail, and shared these wonderful egret captures. Blog fatigue happens and time can be so elusive and precious so enjoy the great times, especially the fishing trip with yiur dad.

nookworm said...

Your images of the egret are awesome, as usual. All good things take time, and if it feels good to relax and reflect - do it! I have a mantra that I say over and over, and it goes like this: O2BFre2BMe
Now go fishing with your dad and love life and nature's gifts together without a clock ruling the hours. Come back at your own pace.

EG CameraGirl said...

I'm very jealous of your fine weather. It's overcast here most days (November is famous here for that) and it feels very chilly! Have fun fishing.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Take some time off for sure,
all we bloggers need that sometimes. But take lots of pictures so when you feel like coming back .... (I really do want to see that lodge ;>) Most importantly though, have a great time with your dad and catch lots of fish!!

Today's pictures are just beautiful. Your patience really paid off. Have never seen an egret doing that 'scratching his head' thing -- so cool!!

Anonymous said...

I love your photos, but blog when you like and if you feel like it, not because you feel you have to! I find I need to get a post out there for therapeutic reasons but it's so inconsistent that I'm grateful and surprised if anyone reads it! I love that you're getting so much time to fish your dad. Have fun!

Willow said...

Gail I hope you have a wonderful time fishing with you Dad , I know how much you enjoy it !
I think we all go through blogger burn out from time to time or feel pressured by our inner clock ~ that's definately when it's time to relax and regroup then we come back in refreshed and missing our blog buddies !

Amy Burzese said...

Hope you had a great break and caught lots of fish, or not, and just had a great time with your dad. Love this guy's feet, btw.

Pantherka said...

Your images are fantastic.
Enjoy fishing with your dad.

orchid0324 said...

Wow; great shots of Great Egret, Gail♪
Sometimes I feel the same way but blogging sure broaden eyes to the world.
I DO hope you had a wonderful time with your father again.

I'm away from PC for more than a week, my friend.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Love that first shot, with the turtles. I'm bragging about you on my blog today ;-)

rainfield61 said...

Oh so tired.

I have to keep changing my legs.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Ranting is healthy!!! You deserve inner-peace. Lovely photos as always :)

Ida said...

Wow! So glad you didn't listen to the voice that said (move along) because these are just wonderful. It's nice to just take time out once in awhile and enjoy our surroundings.
Hope you have an amazing time fishing with your dad.

Helma said...

Very nice to see:-) A really nice series with emphasis on the big paws. The turtles are funny.

Donna said...

Great shots of this elegant bird itching....it is cold and wet here and we should get some ice and snow overnight.

Wally Jones said...

Take your time and enjoy the moment no matter where you are. It's YOUR time!

Superb photographs of the Great Egret! Even the turtles are taking time to enjoy his magnificence.

Remember, the point of fishing is not to catch fish - it's to RELAX. The fish just happens to be a nice side effect.

troutbirder said...

It takes a while for retirement to help that clock ruled thing but it happens. I usually am not sure what day it is now....
p.s. That Great Great was absolutely Great!

Indrani said...

Terrific captures. Those claws scared me a bit. :)

Kerry said...

Now I have an itch. On the top right side of my head. Seriously I do.

Suzan said...

Wonderful shots of the egret!!! Since I'm going backwards - know the exciting story ahead of you with your DAD!!! You're blessed to have him with you and to be able to spend such wonderful quality time with him!!