Happy Halloween, October 31, 2015

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 18, 2015

American Coot, Fulica americana

Saturday Silhouettes

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, October 30, 2015

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Happy Halloween!

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA, October 7, 2015

Have a Wonderful Day!

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Sky Watch Friday, October 30, 2015

Colbert County, Alabama, USA, October 29, 2015

After three days of a constant, drizzly, soaking-in kind of rain, we have sunny skies!

Colbert County, Alabama, USA, October 29, 2015

How fast time is flying by! Tomorrow is Halloween!

Have a wonderful week-end!

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

For photos featuring the color Orange, visit Orange You Glad It's Friday: Click Here!


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Puns and Pigeons, October 28, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, and Wildflower Wednesday

ABC Wednesday
P is for a Pun - a form of wordplay that suggests two or more meanings by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words (definition by Wikipedia).

Arab, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

The Arab, Alabama, sports team, The Arabian Knights, is a pun on the collection of ancient stories known as "The Arabian Nights."

All languages have puns, but they usually do not translate well from one language to another.

Wild Bird Wednesday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 17, 2015

We call these birds Pigeons, but according to my bird book, they are Rock Doves, Columba livia. They are an introduced species, not native, and have established themselves in most of the United States and in southern Canada.

There are many color variations from white to very dark. When available they build their nests on cliffs, but a city window ledge or a bridge suits them just fine.

Wednesday Waters

October 11, 2015

Autumn Leaf floating downstream.

Wildflower Wednesday

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, September 13, 2015

Bull Thistle (aka Spear Thistle), Cirsium vulgare, with its prickly stems and invasive habits is classified as a noxious weed in some places, but isn't its bloom pretty!   It is pollinated by bees, butterflies, and Hummingbirds. Small birds (such as finches) eat the seeds.

Happy Wednesday!

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

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Night Blooming Cactus, October 26, 2015

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 24, 2015

One of my Night-Blooming Cacti opened up three flowers Saturday night.

The large blooms stay open for only one night, closing at dawn the next morning.

Their strong scent attracts night-flying moths and other insects for pollination, but I've never had one to make seed.  I'll soon be moving them inside to protect them from the winter weather.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

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

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House Sparrow, October 24, 2015

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 18, 2015

I think this is a female House Sparrow, Passer domesticus. The male House Sparrow has darker, more distinct markings. There was a small flock flitting about, but this is the only one that sat still long enough to be photographed.  They eat seeds and insects.

Natives of Europe, Asia and Africa, they were introduced into North America in the mid 1800s. They multiplied quickly, competing with native birds for food and nesting sites. In some areas they are considered to be a problem species as flocks of House Sparrows can damage grain and other crops.

Have a great week-end!

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Sky Watch Friday, October 23, 2015

Autumn leaves against a clear blue sky are very pretty, but we need rain.

Hope you have a wonderful week-end!

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

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Crockett State Park, October 22, 2015

Good Fences and Signs, Signs

October 7, 2015, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA   (Davy Crockett 1786-1836)

Earlier this month we visited David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg.

The drive through the park was lovely with interesting stone and wood fences.

We enjoyed the Autumn decorations and the food at the Restaurant.

A short walking trail brought us to beautiful Shoal Creek. The water was so clear we could see small fish swimming around.

The water wheel at the museum was stopped and the water diverted on the day we were there, but it was still interesting to see.

A fence kept people from getting too close, and warning signs were posted in several places.

I hope your weather is great
and you are able to get out and enjoy it!

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Outcrops and Ospreys, October 21, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

ABC Wednesday
O is for an Outcrop - a visible exposure of bedrock on the surface of the earth

Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

Quarrying or surface mining may result in man-made outcrops, but most are made by forces of nature such as erosion or earthquakes. This outcrop is relatively small.

Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

Other outcrops are huge! Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi has an interesting Outcroppings Hiking Trail. It starts at Bear Creek and goes up, up, and up before it levels off and then comes down to follow the creek back to the starting point.

Wild Bird Wednesday

Osprey, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

In North America, Ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, can be found on major rivers and lakes and along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They build bulky nests in trees or on the ground.

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

Fish are their primary food. They fly over the water, staring intently at the surface. When their prey is sighted, they dive into the water with their claws outstretched to grab the fish.

Wednesday Waters

Shoal Creek, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA, October 7, 2015

When we were at Shoal Creek in David Crockett State Park two weeks ago, the weather was very pleasant. Families were eating picnic lunches, and children were playing in the creek.

October 7, 2015 (Unidentified child)

Our weather is much cooler now - too cold to be wading in the creek.

Hope You Are Having A Beautiful Day!

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

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NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Goldenrod, October 19, 2015

Bees on Goldenrod, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 14, 2015

Bees are getting the last of the nectar and pollen before colder weather arrives.  We have our first frost this morning.

Hope you have a beautiful week!

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Old Barn, October 18, 2015

Savannah, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015, SOOC

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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Green Anole, October 17, 2015

Camera Critters, Saturday's Critters, I'd Rather B Birdin', and Saturday Silhouettes

Camera Critters and Saturday's Critters

Anole, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 8, 2015

I was checking the progress of the buds on my Night Blooming Cactus when I discovered this little green lizard (properly known as an Anole). There are many species of Anoles worldwide. They are generally considered beneficial to the garden as they eat insects. I'm hoping he doesn't try to hitchhike his way into the house when I move the plants indoors.

I'd Rather B Birdin'

Red-Tailed Hawk, Lee County, Mississippi, USA

We saw this hawk perched in a dead tree beside the highway. We pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and my husband made this photo through the sun roof of our car.

Saturday Silhouettes

Sunset, Lee County, Mississippi, USA, October 12, 2015

Water storage tank for the Northeast Mississippi Regional Water Supply District

Have a great week-end!

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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day October 2015

Northeast Mississippi, USA, zone 7

Chrysanthemums are just coming into their glory!

Encore Azaleas bloom in the Spring and then give an 'encore performance' in the Autumn.

Turk's Cap has been a steady bloomer all Summer.

The Carolina Jessamine vine is just beginning to bloom. It will continue to bloom for several months unless we have a colder than normal Winter.

And there are still buds on the Cosmos.

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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

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N is for New Albany, October 14, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, ABC Wednesday, Signs, and Wednesday Waters

Wild Bird Wednesday

Blue Jay, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

Blue Jays, Cyanocitta cristata, can be found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Blue Jays in the northernmost part of their range migrate farther south for the Winter. They bury acorns in the ground to retrieve for winter food. If they don't eat them before Spring, new oak trees grow!

ABC Wednesday and Signs, Signs
N is for New Albany, Mississippi, USA - birthplace of writer William Faulkner.

New Albany, Mississippi, USA,

New Albany is a town in northeastern Mississippi. The Union County Master Gardener Association helps decorate the town with seasonal displays.

The Tanglefoot Trail begins in New Albany. It was built on the roadbed of an old railroad track. Despite the sign's graphics, you can't really walk/bike all the way to the Gulf Coast. Perhaps someday all the different trails will be connected.

New Albany's Biscuits and Jam Farmer's Market is open June through September.

At the Tallahatchie Riverfest, New Albany, Mississippi, USA, September 26, 2015

For fun, food, music, arts and crafts, and lots of children's activities, the Tallahatchie Riverfest is the place to be. This little engine made delicious ice cream for the festival.

Wednesday Waters

Tennessee River, October 11, 2015

Tugboat with barges on the Tennessee River near the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge in northwest Alabama.

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Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

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Autumn Leaf, October 12-13, 2015

Through My Lens, Ruby Tuesday Too, and Sweet Shot Tuesday

October 7, 2015, Lauderdale County, Alabama, USA

Leaf floating on the Tennessee River

Canon PowerShot SX520HS, f 6.0, 1/160 sec, (zoom lens) SOOC

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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Question Mark Butterfly, October 10, 2015

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, I'd Rather B Birdin', and Scenic Week-Ends

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

Waterloo, Alabama, USA, September 27, 2015

I think this is a Question Mark Butterfly. It is easier to tell the Question Mark Butterfly from the Comma Butterfly by the pattern on the undersides of their wings, but this one photo is all I have.

I'd Rather B Birdin'

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015

Ducks on Pickwick Lake

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015

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Scenic Week-Ends

Tishomingo County, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

A view of Bear Creek from a hiking trail in Tishomingo State Park.

Have a Wonderful Week-End!

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