Wordless Reflections

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers,

the mountain and the sea, are excellent
schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than
we can ever learn in books.
Sir John Lubbock

Yellow Creek State Park, PA

Wildwood Sanctuary - Harrisburg, PA

Canoe Creek State Park, Frankstown Twp. PA

Canoe Creek State Park

Canoe Creek State Park-

Trough Creek State Park - PA

Duman Lake County Park - PA

Scotch Valley, Hollidaysburg - PA

The following 4 photos ... Shawnee State Park -PA

I asked God for all things, that I might enjoy life.
God gave life, that I might enjoy all things.
Author unknown

Squirrels With Attitude!

The Gray Squirrel is the cutest darn little guy! I know some people hate them because they can get into any feeder and yes! they can eat more bird seed than a flock of birds, and yes! they can be pests, But by Darn! They can be the cutest
entertaining little guys you ever did see!
Because I have 14 Black Walnut trees in my back yard, and I feed birds, I have a truckload of Gray Squirrels. So as I am taking bird pictures, for every 3 birds I get at least ONE of a squirrel.
The following is just a few of the funny antics, and loving features of my Gray Squirrels.

This is what the squirrel should be doing....sitting on a fence
post and eating nuts from a nearby tree!!
But Is he most of time??

NO! he is not.
He can get into any feeder and look quite comfortable as he
wipes it clean.

It can be a plate of fresh fruit, that doesn't matter to Mr. Gray.

You say Grapes!! Well heck yea, bring them on!!

Oh! They try to act cute to win your favor by sitting in your
flower pots with their little paws resting so sweetly on the side.

And hang on the side of the tree with those eyes just filled
with favor and the little ears perked right up...

But.... They will trudge through a blizzard of snow to get
to that feeder full of sunflower seeds....

And Happily sit there and munch down every last one!

They will hang precariously from a little flower pot
to get at the seeds left there for Mr. Titmouse.

And Holidays??? They will come for them all. At Halloween last
year the whole family showed up to gorge themselves
with a decorated pumpkin for the centerpiece.

And on Valentines Day he tried to act innocent and give me those
eyes, but I knew he was eating all the seeds. He held his paw out
as if to say, not me!! Nope I didn't do it.

Last year at Christmas, I put out the
gazebo feeder and the first one in
was none other than Mr. Gray.
Wiped it clean in one afternoon.

Two years ago the snowman feeder really drew him in! He liked
to pose beside it for his picture.

When they have eaten too much and it is a nice day they
just drape themselves over a stump and rest for awhile.

Sometimes they are so exhausted from stealing
the bird's breakfast, dinner and lunch, that they fall asleep
right on a limb above the porch.

And, the inspiration for this story was this little mama, I will
call her Mrs. Gray. She was munching away the other day and
I was watching her from the window when I noticed something
pink on her belly.

As she turned I could see even more closely.........So

I zoomed right in and low and behold....I believe we have even
MORE grays somewhere in a nest in a tree...just waiting for
their turn at the feeders... it takes a lot of seeds to
make milk for these little pink *puppies!!
(*American slang for boobs)

Oh No!!!! Don't do that!! Stop it right now.

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much larger and better in every way.
John Muir

It's a Spring Thing!

Spring hath put a spirit of youth in every thing.
William Shakespeare

My Lilacs are forming buds in preparation for the beautiful
fragrant blooms soon to open. I am worried about the frost
that is predicted tonight. I hope they survive it.

Forsythia is just beginning to open. I have seen some in the
neighborhood that have already burst into the color of bright sunshine.

Finally, the daffodils have opened their sunny faces to the sky.
Just a couple short weeks ago they were just green fronds with
the beginnings of yellow buds.

Mr. C was having a hard time staying on the feeder with
the wind blowing his pretty feathers.

My first Eastern Towhee in the yard. They hop around on the
ground and scratch for food.

With the continuance of Spring so will the bright yellow
feathers of Mr. Goldfinch continue to come in.

And! For the surprise of the day. I have been keeping an eye
on my Carolina Wrens! This is the first year that I have two.
Male and Female I am guessing. (hoping)

When I spotted this one with nesting material in it's beak
I carefully followed to see where it was going. It would
disappear close to the house and I would not be able to
see it's destination.

So! The next time it came by, I put up the window and leaned out
with the camera. In this picture it is looking back ...as if to say
'What are YOU looking at?"

Then it hopped down and disappeared into this slit!!

This round cylindrical tank houses my propane for cooking.
I immediately checked to see when they would be coming to fill and
was relieved that it won't be until July.

After the wren was gone I went out and snapped a picture of
the nest construction. I am excited that they are nesting
right next to the house. I should be able to follow the progress and
hopefully see the babies.

Stay tuned!