Sneaky!

This little brown snake (yes, that's its name - brown snake a.k.a. Storeria dekayi) was slithering along the ground in the forest. It's about the thickness of a pencil and not very shy, so I was able to get close enough to get a couple decent pictures of it.

Just for a sense of scale, the reddish brown round things toward the upper left-ish section of the picture above are broken acorns.  The grass is pretty normal field grass, too, so it gives a good idea of size as well. 

At the risk of scaring it away, I took a chance at getting even closer so that I could get a little bit of detail on the markings. It's really well camouflaged, dressed all in grays and browns. I know that some folks aren't fond of snakes, but I've always sort of liked them (but then, I was the kid that turned over rocks and logs looking for salamanders, so I guess that's no real surprise...).

The Bee's Knees

I noticed some new, pastel boxes perched around the far side of an orchard that's visible from one of the walking trails that Baloo and I frequent in the afternoons. They hadn't been there on our previous visit, so I zoomed in with my trusty little camera to take a closer look. 

What reminded me a bit of the rows of houses I had seen along the shores of  Welsh seaside villages (they're all painted in different colors, too) turned out to be hives of bees brought in to pollinate the fruit trees that were coming into bloom.

I tried to get an even closer peek with the zoom lens and saw that they were all set up on blocks in a very neat line all along the orchard edge looking quite picturesque.  

Let's hope that the late freeze didn't damage the cherry blossoms and spoil all the hard work the bees were doing to bring us fruit!

New Neighbors Moving In

Returning from a morning walk with Baloo, I noticed some new neighbors moving into a birdhouse next door.  

Madame Sparrow was furnishing the interior with many busy comings and goings.

While she came with nesting materials and went to search for more, Monsieur Sparrow proudly surveyed their new domain.

I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of excitement in the nursery before too long. 

Don't they just look like proud new homeowners and happy expectant parents?  

So, Happy Mothers Day to all the great moms out there!

Some Bunny Actually Missed Me!

Would you believe that I heard from somebody who said she missed my pictures and ramblings?  Thank you for that - it's hard to know if anybody looks at this little self-indulgent undertaking, so I occasionally lapse in posting efforts, if life gets a little hectic.  

Speaking (as in the title) of bunnies, Baloo and I saw this charmer browsing on fresh green things and basking in a cheerful ray of sunshine. 

This single sunbeam filtered through a dense wall of arbor vitae to warm our furry friend who stayed right in the light to take full advantage of the radiant warmth.

Naturally, Baloo wanted to become much more closely acquainted with the bunny, but he did a really good job of sitting and watching while I took pictures. Admirable restraint!

Eventually, our star attraction hopped out of the spotlight and on its merry way - and while some bunny missed us and our picture taking ways, I don't think this critter will.  Even as well as Baloo behaved, having him watch so avidly must have made for nervous nibbling.  

Happy Day of the Dead/All Saint's Day

There's a bed and breakfast in the little town of Old Mission that decks out its lawn every year starting at the beginning of October. 

There are skeletons in covered wagons.

There are ghosts dancing in circles and skeletons taking naps in hammocks.

Ghostly drivers and skeleton riders in carraiges. 

It seemed a fitting Dia de lost Muertos / Feast of All Saints celebration. 

"...and I want to be one, too!"  So, will that song be haunting you all day now? If so, my work here is done. :)

Dedicated Dad

This summer seemed like a particularly good one for the cardinal couple that frequented my back yard. 

This youngster is from their third brood. You can tell it's still a baby because it still has a brown bill, even though it's as big as the adults.

Dad looks a bit worse for wear, missing a few feathers around his head.  I don't know - do cardinals tear their feathers out with frustration with their young?

They can be pretty demanding, after all!

But, he seems to be up for the challenge - especially with a little help from the sunflower feeder! 

The cardinals do a great job of working together and I enjoy watching their cooperative parenting.

Going a Little Buggy!

Sometimes, it's the little things that capture my attention. A flash of movement or an unusual shape will catch my eye and I try for a closer look.

This American Pelecinid Wasp appears fierce, but that nasty looking stinger is used primarily to insert eggs into unsuspecting grubs, thereby helping to control beetle populations. 

This Bronze Copper butterfly is pretty unassuming and well camouflagd. 

Well, at least it is until it opens its wings and displays its brilliant colors.

It's pretty hard to miss at that point, even though it's small. 

I feel fortunate to be able to explore the world with Baloo every day!