Throwback Thursday – Tahquamenon Falls
Prayer of the Woods
I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on. I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat. I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin. I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty. Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: harm me not.
Author Unknown – Tahquamenon Falls State Park
A New Year’s Resolution Finally Achieved
One of my goals this year was to finally use a tripod and after my first day of shooting with one, I’m now wondering what took me so long. I decided to set the tripod on the deck and was hoping to capture a few birds on a woodpile where I had placed some peanuts.
The lighting was poor and the backyard birds appeared to not approve of the new setting, but I loved the ease of photographing the birds as they made their lunch location preferences known. The chickadees preferred their peanuts in the feeder.
The red-bellied woodpecker preferred the suet cakes.
The downy woodpecker was fascinated with this tree.
A young cardinal was busy trying to keep other birds away from the bird feeder.
After a battle for position with this chickadee,
the cardinal finally conceded space at the bird feeder.
Another cardinal wanted no part of the circus going on below at the bird feeder.
Finally, there was activity at the woodpile and it was no surprise that it was the squirrels who ended up with all the peanuts.
A Few Photos And Thoughts About Summer Days
The summer days are flying by.
Some days have been a blur.
Other days have been batshit crazy.
Barely a day goes by without expressing a strong dislike for deer flies.
Many a day I have wondered about the fine line between bird watching and bird stalking.
The great blue heron kindly reminds me quite often that I have definitely crossed the line!!
In The Grass
Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.
Regina Brett
