End of the Year Review, December 31, 2018

Favorite Bird Photos of 2018

Roufus-sided Towhee, January 20, 2018, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA

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Northern Cardinal, February 26, 2018, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA

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Osprey, March 2, 2018, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA

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Cedar Waxwing, April 5, 2018, Colbert County, Alabama, USA

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Red-headed Woodpecker, May 11, 2018, Lauderdale County, Alabama, USA

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American White Pelicans, June 30, 2018, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA

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Green Heron, July 21, 2018, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird (juvenile), August 7, 2018, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA

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Belted Kingfisher (female), September 30, 2018, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA

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Killdeer, October 22, 2018, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA

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Barred Owl, November 3, 2018, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA

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Red-bellied Woodpecker, December 18, 2018, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA

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Happy New Year!

Please visit Through My Lens and Our World Tuesday

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

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

The Barn Collective, December 30, 2018

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 26, 2018

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I zoomed in to get a closer look at the inside walls.
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Your bird for today is...

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 25, 2018

… a Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps

Have a Blessed Day!

and

Happy New Year!

For more barn photos, visit Tom for The Barn Collective: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 28, 2018

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday, Weekend Reflections, Floral Friday Fotos,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. A Beautiful Day (Sky Watch Friday)

somewhere in northern Alabama, USA, December 22, 2018

We had clear skies and mild temperatures for our trip to my niece's house for our family Christmas party last Saturday.

2. Great Blue Heron (Weekend Reflections)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 23, 2018

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3. Pansy, Viola (Floral Friday Fotos)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 26, 2018

Pansies and Violas are often used in the Winter landscape here in the southern United States. They can tolerate cold weather, but die in the Summer's heat. (The three metal poles are flag poles in front of a bank).

They are available in many colors, but it was these purple ones that really caught my eye!

4. Hawk (I'd Rather B Birdin' and Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2018

Hawks usually fly away as soon as I stop the car, but I got this one an instant before it was airborne!

5. Christmas!

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 25, 2018

The wooden frame is real; the Nativity scene is painted (or printed).

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For photos of reflections, visit Weekend Reflections: Click Here!

For photos of flowers, visit Floral Friday Fotos: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday please visit Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin'

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

Yellow-rumped Warbler, December 26, 2018

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Around The World
Y is for the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronate

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 22, 2018

Yellow-rumped Warblers, Setophaga coronata, are migratory birds that nest and raise their young in Canada before coming south to the United States and Mexico during the colder Winter months.

Yellow-rumped Warbler at my birdbath

They eat insects, seeds, and wild fruit and berries. You may attract them to your yard by offering sunflower seeds, raisins, and suet.

Have a wonderful day!

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

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Wednesday Around The World: Click Here!

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

Merry Christmas! December 24, 2018

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 24, 2018

My niece gave me this photo display stand for Christmas, and my brother (her dad) made the small 3-shelf bookshelf for me. After I take the Christmas cards down, I will put my niece's family photos there.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

And for you who do not celebrate Christmas, best wishes for long life, good health, and happiness!

Please visit Through My Lens and Our World Tuesday

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 21, 2018

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday, Floral Friday Fotos
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. Winter Sky (Sky Watch Friday)

Sunset, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 18, 2018

Night comes early at this time of the year, but now that we have reached the Winter Solstice (today December 21st), we will begin to gain a minute or two of daylight each day until we reach the Summer Solstice in June.

2. Working on the Railroad

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 12, 2018

Work crews are replacing old worn-out ties on the Kansas City Southern Railroad.

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3. Amaryllis (Floral Friday Fotos)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2018

My 'Red Lion' Amaryllis bulb put up two bloom stalks. The first blooms opened on December 4th (four flowers). Now the second stalk is blooming. These two blooms are lighter in color and more delicate looking than the first blooms, but beautiful nonetheless.

4. Thirty Seconds: Three Birds (Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin')

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 13, 2018

These three bird photos were made within a 30 second time frame at one of my feeders.

female Northern Cardinal

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Tufted Titmouse with a sunflower seed in its bill

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5. Good Food!

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 15, 2018

At a community Christmas party last Saturday I won a large bag of apples. You can be sure that apple pie will be on our Christmas menu!

Have a wonderful day!

and

Merry Christmas!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For more flower photos, visit Floral Friday Fotos: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
Please visit Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin'

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

Rejoice! December 20, 2018

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 20, 2018

I enjoy sending and receiving Christmas cards. If I knew your address I would send you one, so these cards are for you!

Have a wonderful day!

and

Merry Christmas!

Please visit Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

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

Red-bellied Woodpecker, December 19, 2018

Wild Bird Wednesday and Wednesday Around The World

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 18, 2018

Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Melanerpes carolinus, are found in the eastern half of the United States. You can attract them to your yard by offering suet and sunflower seeds.

Have a wonderful day!

and

Merry Christmas!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Wednesday Around The World: Click Here!

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

The Barn Collective, December 16, 2018

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 15, 2018

Recently the trees were cut and the underbrush cleared away to reveal the skeleton of an old barn. Though I drive along this road often, I never knew there was a barn hidden back there in the woods.
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Your bird for today is...

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 15, 2018

… a Hawk!

I really did not want to get out in the cold drizzling rain yesterday to return books to the library, but now I am glad that I did. I was able to get photos of the old barn and this Hawk, and I saw a flock of Wild Turkeys and a dozen or so Canada Geese. Pretty good for just a 15 minute drive to the library! (And I checked out more books, too).

Have a Blessed Day!

For more barn photos, visit Tom for The Barn Collective: Click Here!

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, December 2018

In the northeast corner of Mississippi, USA zone 7

freeze-damaged rose bud

I almost had a rose blooming in December, but then our nighttime temperatures dropped to 24F (-4C) earlier this week. The bud is still there, but I doubt that it will open.

Walking along my driveway to my mailbox Thursday afternoon, I found a Dandelion blooming. Unless Dandelions are completely taking over your lawn, remember they are not weeds, they are wildflowers!

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 4, 2018

You may remember from my November Bloom Day post that I bought a 'Red Lion' Amaryllis bulb. It put up two bloom stalks! The first bloom stalk opened four blooms on December 4th. The second bloom stalk is smaller with only two buds. It will be a few more days before they open.

Cardinal, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 12, 2018

Just a reminder to check your bird feeders and refill if needed.

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

and

Merry Christmas!

To see flowers from around the world, visit Carol for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 14, 2018

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. A New Tower Going Up (Sky Watch Friday)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 10, 2018

With temperatures just above freezing, I imagine it felt even colder at the top of the tower.

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2. Good Food!

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 9, 2018

At Outback Steakhouse: Grilled Salmon, Steamed Vegetables with Seasoned Butter, and Honey Wheat Bread. The piece of salmon may look small, but it was a thick-cut piece. Delicious!

3. Christmas Joy!

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 10, 2018

At our book club's December meeting we had a Christmas ornament exchange. I forgot to photograph the ornament I gave, but this is the one I received.

4. Horses ( Saturday's Critters)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 6, 2018

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5. Mockingbird (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, November 25, 2018

Mimus polyglottos is the only Mockingbird commonly found in North America.

Have a wonderful day!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
For more animal photos, visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

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

Thankful Thursday, December 13, 2018

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 11, 2018

Today I am thankful for the unexpected beauty of Tuesday morning!

(Click on the photos to see them at their best)

It looks like a heavy frost, but the weatherman called it a freezing fog.

a flock of Blackbirds

It was foggy and below freezing (26F at 9:00am), so I guess he is right - Freezing Fog!

Have a blessed day!

Let us know what you are thankful for, visit Thankful Thursday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Little Things Thursday: Click Here!

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