Nature Friday

Turkey Vultures are not beautiful birds, but this one surrounded himself with the beauty of nature.

Mr. Squirrel enjoys hanging out on this limb just out of reach of the dogs.

Happy Independence Day!

Linking to Nature Friday

Wordless Wednesday

 Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

Bluejay

Great-crested Flycatcher

Goldfinch

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Barn Day

I doubt I'm alone in my love of barns, especially the weathered, gambrel roofed kind like my brother and I spent a lot of time in when we were youngsters. Barns are more than agricultural buildings, they’re iconic symbols of rural life, history, and rustic beauty. They tell stories of times past. Their weathered wood, faded paint, and sturdy frames evoke images of hard working farmers. A photograph of an old red barn against a field or pasture can transport viewers to a simpler time, sparking curiosity about the lives lived around it. These are a few I've found on our backroad rambles.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

I discovered a new lifer yesterday. We took a drive down to the river access and found a flock of birds swarming a corn field with some perched on a wire. I couldn't tell what they were, but when I uploaded the pictures and checked my Merlin Bird App, I discovered a nice surprise.

 Linking to Saturday Critters

National Foodie Day

It's National Foodie Day. I had to look up the definition which is, according to the Oxford dictionary, a person with a particular interest in food, a gourmet.

It seems being a foodie is about more than eating … it’s a lifestyle. Foodies connect over shared passions, swapping stories about their favorite Italian restaurant or the perfect wine paring. Me? I’m more of a do you want lemonade with your hamburger type of gal.

I guess food blogs, social media, and Food Network cooking shows made the term popular. So, what is National Foodie Day? It is the perfect excuse to try a new restaurant or maybe grab your apron and whip up that new recipe you’ve been considering.

These are breakfast tacos from a visit to a new restaurant for brunch.

Beautiful Skies

Mostly cloudless

Pretty clouds

Linking to Skywatch

Nature

There’s something magical about wildflowers. Their vibrant colors and delicate petals seem to dance in the breeze, inviting all sorts of creatures to join the party. I call these beauties 'ditch flowers' because I take the pictures from the car along the back roads.

No identification for these beauties, but they sure added interest to the old fence.

I think this may be in the sulphur butterfly family, but can't find my butterfly book to make an identification. Butterflies are such graceful visitors, flitting from bloom to bloom like they're on a mission to taste every drop. This one paused just long enough to pose for this picture.

The star of the show is a thistle flower hosting two incredible visitors: a hummingbird moth and a bumblebee. Thistles get a bad rap for being prickly, but they’re a magnet for pollinators. The hummingbird moth, with its rapid wingbeats, looks like a tiny bird hovering over the bloom. Sharing the thistle is a bee, its legs dusted with pollen as it dives into the flower’s spiky blooms. This photo captures a moment of harmony—two very different creatures working side by side, each doing their part in nature’s cycle.

These photos aren’t just pretty, they’re a reminder of how vital wildflowers are. They provide food and shelter for pollinators. Plus, there’s something calming about taking time to watch these little creatures doing their job.

Phlox

Happy Monday

Linking to: Nature Notes

Critters

This little chipmunk lives under our utility shed, conveniently located near the bird feeders. He often comes out to enjoy a meal.

 Mr. Blue Jay

White wolf at Wildlife Prairie Park

Happy Saturday!

Linking to: Saturday Critters

Jaws

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, Steven Spielberg’s thriller that birthed the summer blockbuster and instilled a primal fear of the ocean. Released in 1975, the film’s story of a great white shark terrorizing the fictional Amity Island is remembered for its suspense, iconic score, and mechanical shark. Even half a century later, Jaws retains its ability to grip hearts with fear and spark imaginations.

I vividly recall the first time I saw Jaws. We lived in Sumpter County, Tennessee, in a 200-year-old home, once a girls’ dormitory, surrounded by fields and a long lane bordered by a rock wall. With no neighbors or streetlights, the nights were pitch-black. Family had come to visit from Illinois, and my sister-in-law and I decided to go to the movies. We didn’t want to bring the kids, so we told them we needed to visit the fabric store. Naturally, they refused to go, allowing us to sneak off without them. 

The music alone was terrifying, and knowing the shark would claim several lives before the film’s end only heightened the fear. Driving home under a moonless sky, the movie’s tension lingered. Gooseflesh prickled our arms as we fumbled through the darkness to the back door, racing through the creaky, sprawling house to the living room, where our husbands relaxed beside a crackling fire. The warmth and light offered safety, but the shark’s shadow loomed in our minds long after.

To this day, I refuse to swim in the ocean.