Evening Clouds with Branches

“Most floods are caused by man, not weather; deforestation, levee construction, erosion, and overgrazing all result in the loss of ecosystem services.”
—Paul Hawken

Emergence at Dawn

 Once again, I find myself without new bird pictures for Wild Bird Wednesday. I don’t fill the bird feeders in the summer, especially since there’s a threat of bird flu. Also, I haven’t been on very many outings because I’m still healing from my fall, although I am definitely improving.

So today, I’m sharing a piece of art that I bid on and won in an auction. I wasn’t expecting to win and was rather surprised by how much it cost to have it shipped to me, but that’s okay because it’s beautiful.

The artist is Amelia Music, a biology major attending Valdosta State University in Georgia. She drew this great blue heron with oil pastels.

This is not the only picture I have of great blue herons. I also have a large painting of two herons ((below). It’s hanging in my living room and I put the new one in the guest room. I now have more pictures than I have space to hang them so I really need to stop buying them.

I’ve noticed before that I have a weakness for pictures with orange in them. 

Evening Primrose, Squash Blossoms

Yellow Blossoms in my Yard

Garden Affair / Mosaic / Wordless

Dreams of Luray

I noticed this pretty new mural in Luray and stopped to get a picture of it. It’s on E. Main St. and shows some of the nearby attractions, including Luray Caverns and the “Singing Tower.” This is signed by the artist G. M. Grant.

I believe this replaces a previous mural which was peeling and fading.

Sharing with Monday Murals.

Skyline Wedding

Yesterday in Shenandoah National Park

It’s not unusual for people to get married along Skyline Drive. After all, it’s a beautiful location. A permit is not required for a really small group with no equipment.

This was at Jewell Hollow Overlook, one of my favorite spots for views. I also stopped to take pictures at Thorofare Mountain Overlook because the daylilies caught my eye. 

Pinnacles Overlook is another “must see” along the middle section of the park. I got out of the car to get close to a tiger swallowtail butterfly. It’s the first one I’ve photographed this summer.

By the way, the park is no longer accepting cash at the entrance gates. If you do not want to pay by credit card, you can purchase a pass at certain visitor centers and stores outside the park.

Tired Dog Journal

Hi, it's Charlie the reporter beagle. i'm going to tell you a little about my week, but this will be short because I'm tired.

Mom told you yesterday about our visit to Seven Bends State Park. We saw these deer in the road.

It was hot and Mom wanted to sit in the shade after a short walk. I decided to hide behind a post.

LOL, that was funny! She must have wondered where I went.

Today we went for a long ride and Miss Deborah sat with me. She even took me for a walk at a boat ramp.

There was a dog in the river with his people, but I did not want to go in the water. 

Now Mom says her eyes are tired so we’re going to get ready for bed.

Seeing Things

This afternoon I dropped off two boxes of unwanted things at Goodwill and then took Charlie for a brief visit to the state park. Here are three pictures and I'll publish a couple more tomorrow.

“Beareidolia”

The tendency to see faces in inanimate objects is called pareidolia. It’s actually an ability to find patterns. Here I saw a bear’s face on a picnic bench. Do you?

The weather was quite hot so we did not stay long. I paused on the bridge to take a picture of reflections in the water.

I also stopped along a residential street to take a picture of a sign.

Condo Maintenance

Lynn has been helping me fix up the condo so I can try to sell it. She succeeded in putting up three sets of mini blinds, no easy task. The instructions were misleading.

She also replaced the screen on the screen door, replaced the closer on that door, tightened the screws on the ceiling fan, fixed a crooked cabinet door, replaced a door knob, plus a bunch of smaller tasks. I didn’t even know she could do all those things.

Here are a few pictures I took on the grounds, which are maintained by landscapers.

Charlie came along and tried to wait patiently.

Boardwalk at Indian Spring

Thunderstorms arrived this afternoon ahead of the predicted time. I had recycling to take to the containers near the landfill. Much of it was cardboard from large cartons, and it was getting in my way. I checked the forecast and loaded the recycling in the car. There was a time when the rain let up so I put Charlie in the car and we headed for the landfill.

It was barely sprinkling when we got there so I quickly did the recycling. Charlie, of course, was hoping for a walk in the park. I took him to Indian Springs Wetland for a short walk. The boardwalk leads out to a viewing area.

The little creek was full of water. I could hear birds singing, but they were hidden from view. I took pictures of the interpretive signs.

I would have liked to photograph a great blue heron such as the one on the sign, but I didn’t even see a duck. To make up for it, I'll show you a pretty painting of a heron that I saw recently. It is the work of Loudoun County artist, Anne Marshall Block. 

A Short Drive on Skyline

Yesterday, Shenandoah National Park

Sharing with: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday / Mosaics