Sunday Promises

Holding on to the promises - not just today, but every day.

Linking to Scripture and a Snapshot.

Reflecting the Light

My quest for a sunrise resulted in some gorgeous reflections on a quiet, still morning at the river.

That light in the distance helped me focus in the pre-dawn hour.

Just another glorious day...

Linking to James' Weekend Reflections.

A Fence for Friday

There is something about this gate that just begs you to wander the road beyond...

 And then there was the companion gate at the next trail...complete with wagon wheels!

I guess they didn't want you driving down the road...there wasn't any fence attached.  I was on a vineyard quest, so I didn't take time to explore any further...besides, the signs didn't exactly make me feel welcome - particularly the one that said the property was "protected by closed circuit TV".  I am not sure what would come after one was spotted on the TV...didn't want to hang around and find out!

Linking to Friday's Fences.

Down in the Boondocks

"Down in the boondocks
Down in the boondocks

People put me down 'cause
That's the side of town I was born in

I love her she loves me but I don't fit in her society

Lord have mercy on the boy from down in the boondocks


Ev'ry night I watch the lights from the house up on the hill

I love a little girl who lives up there and I guess I always will
But I don't dare knock on her door
'Cause her daddy is my boss man
So I have to try to be content
Just to see her when ever I can

One fine day I'll find the way to move from this old shack

I'll hold my head up like a king and I never never will look back

Until that morning I'll work and slave
And I'll save ev'ry dime

But tonight she'll have to steal away
To see me one more time."

Listen to Billy Joe Royal singing Down in the Boondocks here.

Thanks to Anni for the inspiration for this week...linking to her Thursday Theme Song.

Fishing in the River

I went down to the river...to photograph the sunrise.  I startled a Great Blue Heron that was on the shore.  Of course, again, because I was only expecting the sunrise, I did not have my 500mm lens.  Drat!  Anyway, at some point, Dan quietly told me that the GBH was fishing not far offshore.  I know the Piankatank River in Gloucester, VA is pretty shallow at low tide, but this was ridiculous!

It wasn't until I downloaded the photos that we realized where he was standing!  See the fence in the water?

I watched him catch and eat 2 fish that morning...all the while wishing for the bigger lens!

Linking to the Bird D'pot and Wild Bird Wednesday.

Drive-By Barns

A study in contrasts...

From neglect...

to respect...

 That first barn is the type that always makes me sad.  Obviously a big operation in its day - now allowed to decay and deteriorate.  I always wonder what happened to the people.

Linking to BARN CHARM.

Monday's Mural

This Lake Placid mural shows what old rural Florida looked like.  There is a huge live oak with moss, and the old, falling down fence in the back, with cattle grazing in open pasture land.  I know these details are hard to see from a photograph.

The mural is 42' wide by7'8" high, and was painted by Thomas Brooks in 1996.  Brooks won the turkey stamp competition for Florida two years in a row.  There are plenty of turkeys in the area with the Osceola species native to Florida. They have keen eyesight and acute hearing and are easily spooked.  Hunters get up before dawn, put on their camouflage clothing and conceal themselves in their hideaways.  If you look closely, you may find the sleeping hunter...we know he is sleeping, or the turkeys would be long gone!

Linking to Monday's Mural.

For The Beauty of The Earth

"For the beauty of the earth,

  For the beauty of the skies;

 For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies;

Christ our God, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy church that evermore, Lifteth holy hands above;

Off'ring up on ev'ry shore, Its pure sacrifice of love;

Christ our God, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise."

"The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb"; painting hanging at Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

Praying that you will revel in the beauty of the earth provided by our gracious and loving God!

Linking to Spiritual Sundays

Weekend Reflections

The still water at the Botanical Gardens last week provided no end to the opportunities for reflection shots.

I "chased" this Great Blue with my camera back and forth across the lake...he just wouldn't let me get very close, and I didn't have my 500mm lens with me!  That will teach me to leave it behind!

Linking to Camera Critters and Weekend Reflections.

A Fence of a Different Color

We were headed out for a photo op with our camera club on Saturday - I was driving for a change - but when I spotted this fence, I just had to circle back and pull over to get a better shot.  It certainly is an eye-catcher!

Even the sidewalks are color-coordinated!

And then, there's the gazebo!

Yes, that is a car lot!  I would have loved to pull in that lot and really look at this colorful place, but I was afraid they would think I wanted to buy a car...

Linking to Friday's Fences.

Blowin' in the Wind

How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

 Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove gull sail before she sleeps in the sand?

And how many times must the cannon balls fly before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind.

Watch and listen to this wonderful oldie, Blowin' in the Wind, written by Bob Dylan, and performed by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. (Don't you just love YouTube?)

Linking to Anni's Thursday Theme Song.

Hummers!

After trying, in vain, to attract hummingbirds to our feeders this year, I figured I wouldn't get to see any except in other people's posts.  However, when I went to visit the Butterfly Garden the other day, I was delighted to see a few flitting around along with the butterflies.  The best part was getting to see them still in the tree!

 I am not sure, but I think this may be a female Ruby-Throat.  According to my "Birds of North America", that is the only one we have here on the east coast.

Linking to The Bird D-Pot and Wild Bird Wednesday.

Red Barns

There is just something about a red barn...

 doesn't really matter which view...

 or which barn!

Linking to Barn Charm