movingforwardslowly

I used to see mourning doves frequently many years ago, and then for many years I did not see them.
I think these were the years when my husband fed the feral cats.
This would have been dangerous for the doves. They are a rather slow bird.
Fortunately for the birds, the feral cats are all gone now.
For the past couple of weeks I have been seeing a mourning dove couple periodically in our garden.
They were playing by my kitchen window very recently.
Today I spotted a lone mourning dove in one of my school's courtyards. I had to stop and stare at it for a minute.
I don't think I have ever seen a mourning dove at my school. I thought this bird was oddly out of place.

The picture above is an old picture from long ago. This mother dove nested in the alcove of a tall juniper stump covered with ivy. I have never had the heart to cut the stump completely down for this reason. Eventually it grew downward and a side branch came out of the ground and grew upward. It is now very tall. Long ago I bound the stump together with the branch to give the young offshoot support. It stands in a spot which gets a fair amount of wind in the winter.
The ivy covers it over now. Stripping the ivy is a long overdue project which hopefully can be done in the early spring.
I will keep it there for the winter to help with wind protection.

Update-- I found this picture and decided I should show the couple before the nest was needed.

You are beautiful, bright, and loved.

Say it to yourself a few times.

It is as true as you make it.

You are the judge.

People will see your confidence and smile.

Your attitude will determine your beauty.

Forget about those who want to tear you down.

They are the ugly ones. They have been fooled.

Give out compliments generously to those that need them.

The universe knows where true beauty exists.

Autumn twists, turkey tails, and silver stars caught my attention this week.
The twist is a re-blooming azalea, the turkey tail is a fungus that has medicinal value, and the silver star is a re-blooming clematis. 
The silver star is joined by a light phlox I planted this summer. It is still blooming, and their colors match. 
The turkey tail fungus is bringing interest to the old wood pile that lies along a back fence.

The bird feeders were empty, so I refilled them all.
The bird vine started to buzz, and soon the flock returned.
Can it last throughout the weekend?

The cool nip in the air this morning put a bounce in my stride.

Early last evening a huge hawk was in the crepe myrtle tree closest to our patio.
My husband saw it first and called me over to see it.
I saw it swallow the last bite of a meal. I could not tell what it was.
I thought I saw a grey tail, perhaps a mouse or a small snake.
I don't think it was a smaller bird.

At such close range its size was impressive and its feather patterns were magnificent.
No camera was nearby, so a picture opportunity was missed.

This morning when I was out filling the feeders, I was pleased to spot a beautiful Honorine Jobert anemone.
It was planted long ago in a now neglected section of our garden. 
On that same side the pretty white morning glories were blooming. They are a nuisance.

The colorful Coleus on my deck have been show stoppers all summer.
They are still going strong.

I am hoping my calendar will allow some late fall and early spring restoration.

Update-- I found a better picture of turkey tail fungi from my Virginia garden. Can you see how it got its name?

Herons hunting at the falls. Looking for food and perhaps courting.
The time of year was mid-summer.
Down river from the larger rocks provides a calmer settings
In the picture above you can see small ducks in the water.
This gives some perspective as to how big the herons are.

Here is a couple of cormorants. The double-crested cormorant has an orange throat and green eyes.
I do have a picture or two that show the green eye at closer range. Perhaps I will post it later.
One couple down river and one couple up river.

Geese all in a row.

Here is a picture of three cormorants. I can see the green eyes in all three.
You might only be able to see one. Look to the far left.

Lift the veil and speak your mind.
Truth and honesty need to be employed.
Hidden meanings and innuendo is drama for the stage.
Between you and me speak clearly, no double entendre.
Simple words with simple meanings are best for clear communication.
Little room is left for wild imaginings.
There is nothing wrong or insulting with being elementary.
This opens the door wide for a larger audience, and
hopefully more accurate interpretations.
Be careful with your angry, hurtful words.
They will not be forgotten.
You can make your point without them, and this
will leave the door open and the bridge intact.
No insults should be allowed. You can honestly tell
how you feel without going on the offensive.
Communication is an exchange.
There is always two or more sides to every story.
Actions might speak louder than words. 
However, when motivations are left unspoken, 
no clear understanding is communicated, and when
reasons are not explained, mistakes will be repeated.
No resolution has been made possible.

Cooler weather, bird migrations, and changing colors are welcomed by me.
Thoughts of baking fills my head as sweater weather arrives.
The cold mornings make staying in bed more acceptable.
Warm slippers become necessary when getting up to make coffee.
Work must continue as dark mornings descend upon our routines.
Thoughts of bedtime come earlier as the days grow shorter.
Hibernation is not an option for most people.

Religious observances and celebrations of the harvest begin to arrive.
Hopefully joy begins to fill your heart this time of year!




 

The red wolf you see pictured above was at the Salisbury Zoo in Maryland many years ago.
There were several barriers between me and the wolf which made it hard to capture a clear image.
The time of year was fall. We were on a Thanksgiving trip. The zoo was a pleasant side trip.

Since this time I have read a little about the Red Wolf which is native to the U.S.
They are listed as critically endangered and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a recovery program.
They were monitored at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina.
Lately I have been reading reports in both AP(Associated Press) news and ABC news about the success of restoring 
the red wolf population.This is encouraging news.

Since I recently mentioned peacocks in my previous thoughts about butterfly eye spots,
I decided to show a peacock (or peafowl) from the same zoo (Salisbury, Maryland). The picture is from the same trip.
I was disappointed it would not open its feathers for me. 

A skull with a fracture between the eyes
indicates a fatal injury.
The sharp & brittle shell with an accordion 
design lends support.
All life has been bleached out of both.
The freshly cut greenery from the garden
brings color & contrast to the scene.
It also brings time forward.