A Rural Thursday Blog Hop #12

Baby Love!!

I found a teeny, tiny squirrel in my yard.

and can I tell you, he is just about the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

Even if you don't love squirrels, you would love this little guy.

I had my 300mm lens on, I had to pull out a little to get these pictures.

I shared some peanuts with him...

and he was one happy camper!!

So this is what's happening in my neck of the woods.

I'm sharing today with

A Rural Thursday Blog Hop

Please visit Nancy at A Rural Journal

and Lisa at Two Bears Farm

Think about hoping in and hoping around!!

Lucy I'm Home...

Funny story...

The hubs was out and about today, doing errands without me!

This happens about once a month, otherwise, we are glued at the hip!

He said he was going to stop at Costco, our big box store,

to check their price on chlorine.

We have plenty of chlorine, this was just a stop, to check the price. 

When he arrived home he opened the door and called

"Lucy, I'm home"

I've heard this before and it always means trouble.

When I greeted him at the door, he handed me this.

Two huge sacks of candy kisses, I don't eat candy kisses,

Veggie Straws, no idea here, I can only assume there were free samples,

and a cake that would feed the neighborhood!

There's a reason why we run errands together.

Any money we would have saved on chlorine,

well...I think you get my drift!!

Busy as a Bee

Not me...this Bumble Bee!!

I spent about fifteen minutes photographing the little guy.

I will never admit to how many pictures I took.
It's not really necessary to say, most of them
received the quick honor of "delete"!!

Here he is busy as can be on a small pink flower on my
Gold Flame Spirea,

a low growing shrub that is native to Japan.

His pollen sacks are growing, quickly!!

I now have a better understanding of the term

"Busy as a Bee"

Chuck was cleaning the pool,

I feel tremendous guilt that I was not helping!!
He could care less!!

The Red-Bellied

If you don't feel like seeing a lot of pictures of the
Red Bellied Woodpecker,

this would be a good time to make your exit.

He was just so darn cute and so willing to pose for pictures,

it was impossible to pick just one or two to share with you bird lovers.

They do have a splash of red on their bellies.

Stage right...

Stage left...

Here he is waiting patiently for Mr. Squirrel to finish up.

He came all afternoon on May 24th and made his presence know.

I took so many pictures, that by days end,
I didn't even get up as he sat by the window.

Do they have tongues?? I think I see his tongue.

Sharing today with

World Bird Wednesday at The Pine River Review

Barn Charm #38

Wall Township, New Jersey

A red and white barn, with a beautiful blue sky for Memorial Day.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!

Sharing today with Tricia's Barn Charm

Please stop by Bluff Area Daily to see all the amazing,

charming barns from around the world.

Ashley's Scavenger Hunt #10

This week's prompts for Ashley's Scavenger Hunt photo challenge are,

Beneath Your Feet, Capturing Movement, Texture, 
Face Your Fears & Currently

Beneath Your Feet

(Fresh cut grass)

Capturing Movement

(On a hot summer day)

Texture

(Two beautiful clay rings Alisa made me for Mothers Day)

Face Your Fears

(Oh, and I did this!!)

Currently

(Blooming)

Sharing with Ashley Sisk' Scavenger Hunt Sunday
Thanks Ashley, I love being a part of this!

From Bud to Bloom, Your Sunday Best

The evolution of a Peony!!

These pictures were all taken on the same day,

of different buds and blooms on the same plant/bush.

This gives the illusion, that they were taken over several days,

as the bud went to bloom!!

Here she is, stretching for the sun.

The little bug in the upper right corner was a bonus surprise,

when I plugged the camera in!!

Sharing today with Nancy at A Rural Journal

Your Sunday Best

I also want to give props to Adrienne at My Memory Art,

she inspired this post.

She did a similar entry on rhododendrons that you can view here,

it was very special.

Adrienne is a beautiful, creative friend.

She shares gorgeous images and heartfelt stories.

Cape May...The Final Entry!!

These pictures are from our May 12th visit to Cape May.
Not to be confused with our May 19th trip to the Cape May
County Zoo, which I wrote about here and here. 

I have had so much to write about lately that I have
been overlooking this trip.

But it was a really fun day, so I want to share it with you.

We used our new collapsible/foldable tripod,
I will have to write about that in another entry.
It is fascinating!!

We walked along the beautiful beaches.

Chuck planted that piece of sea glass for me to find.
I am no longer surprised by his antics,
but I am truly amazed at what a kind, thoughtful soul he is.

After our bike ride and walk,
we sat and relaxed on the rockers at Congress Hall.

The evening ended with a beautiful horse and carriage ride.

I just have to tell you, I have the best husband in the whole, wide, world,
but this is the kinda crap he thinks is funny!!
I had no idea, till I viewed the pictures!!

A Rural Thursday Blog Hop #11

I don't live on a farm, I live on a beautiful winding river.

I dream about living on a farm, having a barn

and filling it with horses and alpaca's.

When I walk down to the water's edge,

this handsome mallard is not so happy to see me.
He resist's getting up for the longest time,
but when he's see's I am not backing off, he dives into the river.

He is sure to let me know he is not too happy with me
and he swims off.

The swans swim over to see if I have food,

I don't and they are not thrilled with me either.

There are three swans at the rivers edge, they are always there.

I was hoping to see the great blue heron
that was sitting on neighbor Helen's roof and then flew off.
No luck this time!!

So this is what's happening in my neck of the woods.

I'm sharing today with

A Rural Thursday Blog Hop

Please visit Nancy at A Rural Journal

and Lisa at Two Bears Farm

Think about hoping in and hoping around!!

The Cape May Zoo Part II

Just in case you missed part one of our day at the zoo,

you can see all the details here.

These pictures are from the same trip on the 19th of May.

De Brazza Monkeys

Giraffe

Zebra's

I am labeling these as if you wouldn't know!!

Ring Tealed Ducks

Roseate Spoonbill

So pretty and very friendly!!

This one loved all the attention!!

Immature Flamingo's

Now on to the best shots of the day...

He makes me do it!!

I was going to crop this, and take the kid out,
but I just couldn't...do you see the look on his face?!?!

We had a super fun day!!