DUCKLINGS!

This picture is for my friend, M.S., who does NOT believe me when I tell her about the ducklings at the pond! No, not my best shot ever, nor with my best camera. But it does capture the moment. And this way M.S. can finally see the ducklings I keep talking about.

These ducks live in Dunedin, Florida, though I doubt they realize that. Perhaps they do. Perhaps they even know they were born on the banks of Lake Paloma. I don't know for sure, they wouldn't tell me.

This is a sign some nice folks put up across the street from the lake, which is surrounded by streets on all sides. I hope it helps!

Storm Crows Sunset Flight

I was clicking away, discovering the powers of my Nikon D80, and catching some really strange weather as I looked East. Behind me, the sun was setting over Clearwater Beach (not the same sunset as in the photo below). Then I heard these birds calling, and I could see a flock of crows heading my way. As I looked I realized there were hundreds, if not thousands! Seemingly fleeing the mainland for some rookery or such on the spoil islands in the bay around me.

I cannot be sure why they were all heading my way, perhaps the weather had them 'running for higher ground'. But it was indeed impressive, and way EERIE to experience it. It was like something out of a scene in the Lord Of The Rings movie, when the crows came after the good guys.

So, in order to make it so you could get the full effect, I am posting a pretty big version of the file, although not the original. So please be patient if it takes just a little longer to bring it up. And forgive me... but I really want you to be able to see this! By the way, this picture was taken from the top of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge.

Thanks for checking it out!

Clearwater Beach Sunset Meltdown

Here is a photo I promised to post a little while ago. Oops! So here we go. Taking one of many highly pleasurable sunset walks on Clearwater Beach. It is a beautiful thing, I tell you. I have a series of these, as it went down. Perhaps when I get my act together, they will appear together on this site.

Speaking of Fall(s)

You're just riding along in the car. You see a gravel pullout, so you pull over to see what the view is all about. Of course, in the Smoky Mountains, where we were, you are almost always high enough to look out over some beautiful valley. Well, we walk over to the guard rail, look around, and then look down... WOW!

A narrow, slippery path leads down to a small platform, overlooking these wonderful falls. But believe me, it was just the platform that was small. The falls must have been 50 or 60 feet from top to bottom.

Next time you are on vacation, think about heading up to the mountains of NC or TN. You won't be disappointed. Myself, I'll be back.

Fallen Leaves

I just wanted to sit down there and stay for a long, long time. You don't see this in Florida much. And I have missed it ever since I left Washington two years ago.

This shot was taken in the Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee, with my Nikon D80. I love the camera, and I love that it lets me take home stuff like this. Memory candy that I will savor for years to come.

Thanks for enjoying it with me!

Fall Color!

Or, How I Spent My Vacation...
Fantastic fall color in the Smoky Mountains. Just south of Gatlinburg, TN. Or just north of Cherokee, NC, if you prefer. We ended up hitting it just right, it seems like. There was color everywhere I pointed my camera... just about. What a blast!

So, I heartily recommend... GET OUT TO THE MOUNTAINS!! Or... head for the hills, if you prefer!

Time Traveling

As I enjoy my daily walking break, around the pond across the street from my office, I often contemplate this hunk of wood embedded in the road. It has been there for many years, and sometimes it takes me back in time. I can almost imagine the men working on the road, many years ago, in a very different time in Dunedin, FL.

And if I ponder longer, and deeper, I start to drift back further in time to when the piece of wood was still part of a tree. Perhaps a tree somewhere in Florida. What kind of tree? And when was it 'harvested'? And how long ago was it just a seed? It goes on and on... and suddenly so many things are so very closely connected.

The Will To Live

Isn't it wonderful that we are born, and fight for our first several breaths, on pure instinct? I mean, if we had to make a deliberate decision, and then will ourselves to this level of action and determination, would be make it? This little mushroom worked hard to get its head above ground, and then through all the debris, in order to have a life. Bravo, little mushroom, bravo!

Mayhaps, I shall take some inspiration from the little mushroom. Surely, if the little mushroom can make it, I can overcome the obstacles in my path, yes? YES!

Stalking On The Rail

I can never get enough of these beautiful birds. This is the Great Egret, in non-breeding plumage. Not to be confused with the Great White Heron, which is larger and has greenish-yellow legs.

This shot was taken with my Nikon D80, in John Chesnut Sr. Park, in Clearwater, FL. It involved several more shots being taken, as I stalked the poor bird down the railing. But in the end I was able to get the shot and move away without scaring him into flight. And that makes me feel all the better for having gotten the shot without unduly alarming this wonderful creature.

Ants At Work

How cool are ants, anyway? Are they just about the smallest living thing that we, as humans, are afraid of? I can't get over it. If we could work together as well as they do, we would have this planet of ours ship-shape in NO TIME FLAT! Oh well.

We just don't work that well together, and that's too bad. And don't get me wrong, I am just as lousy as anyone else when it comes to trying to get along with the rest of the people on this Earth of ours. Now excuse me while I go yell at my neighbor for parking on my grass, and then throw my grass clippings over the fence into his pool. >:-( YES, just KIDDING!