Thankful

My aunt's surgery was a resounding success! The only pain she has is from the incision site which is temporary. We are so thankful to God for answering our prayers, and for the dedicated family and friends who offered prayers on her behalf. Thank you, my dear blogging friends, for your kind words and prayers. Now if we could just get my dad's wife out of the hospital! Oy vey. Always something going on. I am so thankful to be back home to take care of my family when they need me. Please be patient as I try to hobble along and visit your blogs.

Needless to say I have not had time to get out with my camera, so I went back to earlier in the year and found images that I hadn't yet edited or posted. Without further delay, here they are.

American Goldfinch, Jan 2014

White-throated Sparrow, March 2014

Red-bellied Woodpecker, April 2014

Indigo Bunting, April 2014

Blue Grosbeak, April 2014

Leucy the Leucistic Cardinal, April 2014

Sharing with Anni at

And also Stewart at

(Link)

Please visit the links to view other birds around the world!

Here's lookin' at you, kid

Sometimes the animals have no idea I'm shooting them, but every now and then I get a stare-down. Some of these are repeats and I apologize for that. I desperately need to get out with my camera, but the weather is being really bratty.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters. Thanks, Eileen!

Golden

These are images of the American goldfinch seen on Jan, 9 at Bluebonnet Swamp. They were wearing their drab winter colors, but now are starting to show more color. By the time they are decked out, they will be leaving us to go farther north to breed. Hope to get some photos with the brighter yellow feathers soon.

I certainly enjoyed working from home the prior two weeks and catching up with some of my favorite customers, but I'm really glad to have my days to myself again. If the weather would only cooperate so I can get out with my camera.

Happy Friday!!

Sitting Pretty

I wanted some nice portraits of my favorite feathered friends and these beauties were gracious enough to indulge me.

My bed is a magical place where I suddenly remember everything I am supposed to do. 
(Pinterest)

Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'
Thank you, Anni!

More Randomosity

Another Delete Party where I rediscover shots I had forgotten about. My life is just so exciting right now!! Woot! Warning: this post has pantyhose in it and I also profess to want a pair. And I hate—nay—DETEST, pantyhose. One of my more eclectic posts, to say the least.

Mockingbird with bug, 3/31/13

A snake wrapped around a tree at Bluebonnet Swamp, 4/7/13

This mama bird attempted to feed the baby bird several times; each time she took her beak out with the seed still there.

Finally, the baby had enough and flew off. He was all, "Oh, forGET you!"
The mom was like, "What'd I do?? Come back here Junior!"
April, 2013

A box turtle, perhaps?
Bluebonnet Swamp, April 2

Huey P. Long monument facing the Capitol, April
Huey P. Long (former Governor and U.S. Senator) is buried underneath.

Relief on west side - Long meeting with architects, laborers and craftsmen constructing
the Louisiana State Capitol.

Indigo bunting at Bluebonnet Swamp in April

Fleur de lis stockings in a store window in the French Quarter.  I want a pair! Wait, what?!

This looks like some type of ornamental ginger or lily. Anyone?

Ridgefield

The second day in Oregon my daughter planned an early morning bird watching tour in Ridgefield, WA. The group ended up with too many people and was going too slow for our liking, so we bailed and decided to explore on our own. Not long after sneaking off like thieves in the night, we stumbled onto a couple of photographers with gargantuan lenses pointed toward a tree. To our sheer and utter amazement it was a pair of great-horned owls; a momma and her baby. Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy so my pics didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. We were so glad we ditched the group because we circled the park twice and never saw the owls again. If we hadn't gone when we did we never would have had the opportunity to observe these beautiful birds.

All in all we saw 28 different bird species! How I wish I could have photographed them all and done them justice. Just gives me incentive to return again soon. So while these are not my best shots, many of these are lifers, and for that, I am beyond delighted.

Marshy area of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Marsh wren with a grub worm

Pair of great egrets

Great-horned owl and owlet

Tree swallow

Pied-billed grebe

Cinnamon teal, female and male

Possibly a savannah sparrow

American goldfinch
I thought about cropping this down, but I liked the way he was leaning horizontally

Savannah sparrow

Song sparrow

Cedar waxwing

Black-headed grosbeak