Birds and Bees and Turtles, December 30-31, 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday, ABC Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Wild Turkeys, December 25, 2014, Prentiss county, Mississippi

We often see wild turkeys in the fields after the crops are harvested.  Turkey hunting is popular with bow and arrow enthusiasts during the 6 week Spring hunting season and a 4 week season in the Autumn.  The Mississippi Department of Wildlife estimates our state's wild turkey population to be 250,000 birds.


ABC Wednesday
Y is for Yellow Jacket

Yellow Jacket on the side of my car, November 28, 2014

We think of Yellow Jackets as bees, but actually they are wasps.  I was very surprised to see this one so late in the year, as they are a lot more common during the warm weather months. Their sting is painful, but not dangerous except to people who are allergic. 


Outdoor Wednesday

Pond at Old Town Overlook, Natchez Trace Parkway near Tupelo, MS, USA

The weather on Christmas Day was so nice that turtles came out to sun themselves, giving me a great opportunity to use my new camera: a Canon PowerShot SX520 HS.

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

For more bird photos, visit Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday:  Click Here!

 

For more photos featuring Y, visit ABC Wednesday:  Click Here!

 

For more outdoor photos, visit Outdoor Wednesday:  Click Here!

 

 





Carolina Jessamine, December 28-29, 2014

Carolina Jessamine Vine, December 2014

We've had enough rainy days to keep the Jessamine well-watered, and enough sunny days to bring out the blooms.

A bit of yellow is especially cheering in the Winter.

Have a wonderful day!

For more macro photos, visit Macro Monday 2:  Click Here!

For more photos featuring the color yellow, visit Monday Mellow Yellows:  Click Here!

Walking Trail, December 26, 2014

My red blood counts are still too low, so that I have very little energy, but I try to exercise as much as I am able.  Last Saturday was such a pretty day, my husband and I decided to try the walking trail at the Natchez Trace Freedom Hills Overlook in Northwest Alabama.

The trail is not very long but it is steep.  When you think you are near the top, the trail turns a little curve and goes on up again!  I did not walk very fast, and I had to stop and rest a couple of minutes.

One good thing about walking slowly is that you notice small things like this crack in the paved walkway.

Amazing what you will see if you look closely.  I have a fondness for moss.

The view from the top was not spectacular, but for me it was the journey that was important.  I felt rather proud of myself.  And I made it safely back down, though there were a couple of really steep places I was concerned that I might lose my balance.

A few days later our weather reverted back to the cold, cloudy days we've had most of this month, and we are again walking around and around in the shopping mall.

Have a wonderful week-end!

To see skies from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

And on Saturday, please visit Scenic Weekends:  Click Here!

Christmas Greetings! December 23, 2014

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

If you can find time in this busy season,
please visit

Our World Tuesday:  Click Here!

and

Ruby Tuesday Too:  Click Here!

Squirrel, December 20, 2014

A raccoon tore the top off the bird feeder, making it easy for the squirrels to reach right in
and help themselves!

Have a wonderful week-end!

For more animal photos, visit Camera Critters:  Click Here!

And join Eileen for Saturday's Critters:  Click Here!

Cloudy, December 18-19, 2014

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Itawamba county, MS, USA, near Walker's Bridge

We've had a week of cloudy skies. A light drizzling rain began on Thursday.

To check out the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

Goose on the Lake, December 17, 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, and ABC Wednesday
W is for Waterfowl

Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis, at Ballard Park, Tupelo, MS, USA

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

I'm joining three memes today:

Wild Bird Wednesday:  Click Here!

Water World Wednesday:  Click Here!

ABC Wednesday:  Click Here!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day December 2014

Northeast Mississippi, US, zone 7

I really cannot believe that my December Bloom Day post is about a weed - a WEED!
But you have to go with what you have, don't you?

Actually Goldenrod is an important native wildflower much loved by bees and other insects.
I apologize for calling it a weed.

I don't think I've ever seen Goldenrod bloom this late in the year.  We've had temperatures well below freezing at night, but it has survived in a sunny spot on the south side of the house protected from the cold north wind. All the other Goldenrods I have are just brown stems with dry fuzzy seedheads.

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

To see what is blooming around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens:  Click Here!

Sky Watch Friday Mushroom, December 12, 2014

If small woodland creatures lived under mushrooms, this would be their view of the sky.

We've had cool temperatures and partly cloudy skies this week.

Happy Sky Watch Friday!

Hope you have a wonderful week-end!

To see skies from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

ABC Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday, December 10, 2014

ABC Wednesday
V is for our Veterans

Pontotoc, MS, USA, September 2014

Veterans Park, Tupelo, MS, USA, December 2014

Happy Wednesday!

For more 'V' photos, visit ABC Wednesday:  Click Here!

For more outdoor photos, visit A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday:  Click Here!

Shooting into the Sun, December 5, 2014

Lake at Ballard Park, Tupelo, MS, USA, November 30, 2014

For many photos it is best to have the sun at your back. However, you should face the sun to best catch the light glistening off the water.  But you already knew that, didn't you?  Before I retired I worked at a college, so sometimes I fall back into tutoring mode. (This is straight out of the camera - Canon PowerShot G9).

Happy Sky Watch Friday!

And have a wonderful week-end!

To see skies from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

And on Saturday, visit Scenic Week-ends: Click Here!

ABC Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday, December 3, 2014

ABC Wednesday
U is for Unusual


Spirea, November 28, 2014
 

Spirea usually blooms in the spring, but this year there are a few Autumn blooms -
very Unusual!

Outdoor Wednesday

November 30, 2014

This small lake is at Ballard Park in Tupelo, MS, USA. Attached to the far side of the footbridge is "Happy Holidays" to be viewed from across the lake.  It is just one of many Christmas decorations throughout the park that are lit up at night.  This year November saved its best day until last.  The 30th was a mild, sunny day - temps reached 75F (about 24C)!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

For more on the letter U, visit ABC Wednesday:  Click Here!

For more outdoor photos, visit A Southern Daydreamer:  Click Here!

Spirea's Autumn Color, December 1, 2014

Spirea, November 28, 2014

When most of the trees have lost their colorful leaves and have gone to sleep for the Winter, the Spirea is just coming into its Autumn glory.

I was surprised to see that it is already forming its buds for Spring.

Have a beautiful week!

For more photos featuring the color Yellow, visit Monday Mellow Yellows: Click Here!

For more macro photos, visit Macro Monday 2: Click Here!