Willy Nilly Friday, August 30, 2019

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

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

1. Blue Skies! (Sky Watch Friday)

Hematology and Oncology Center, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 29, 2019

We had beautiful blue skies for our trip to Tupelo for my doctor's appointment on Thursday. And I am thankful and very blessed to be able to say that my blood test results were good - no sign of the Leukemia!

2. What I am Reading

"Light a Penny Candle" by Maeve Binchy

Set in England and Ireland during and in the years after World War II, the story revolves around a young English girl that is sent to her mother's friend in Ireland to escape the bombing in England. Her mother's friend has a daughter the same age, and the girls become close friends during the five years of the war. The story continues after the war as they grow up in their different countries and face circumstances that strain their friendship.

I enjoyed this book very much, not only for the interaction between the characters, but also for the insight into the culture of the two countries at that time.

3. Buttonbush (Wildflower Wednesday)
The fourth Wednesday of each month is Wildflower Wednesday - here is my wildflower for August.

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, August 6, 2019

Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, is a wetland shrub that may, given the right conditions, grow as tall as a small tree. It is found throughout the eastern United States and as far west as Nebraska and Texas, and also in California and Arizona.

Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA

Look for Buttonbush growing along the edges of streams, ponds, and lakes.

And then count the number of Butterflies feasting on the nectar!

4. Skink (Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 25, 2019

This is a juvenile Five-lined Skink. The tail will gradually turn brownish black as it becomes an adult. They are considered to be beneficial critters because they eat insects and spiders.

5. Great Egret (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 22, 2019

Generally speaking, egrets are white herons. A distinguishing characteristic between the Great Egret, Ardea alba, and other egrets is its black feet and legs. Their cousins, Snowy Egrets, have bright yellow feet!

Have a wonderful day!

For more wildflower photos, visit Wildflower Wednesday: Click Here!

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, August 29, 2019

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 28, 2019

On Sunday, September 1, it will be 5 years since I had my last chemo treatment for Leukemia (AML), and I am very thankful! When people tell me that I am lucky, I tell them, "No, it's not luck. It is a blessing straight from the hands of God, and I thank Him for it every day!"

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.

Hummingbird, August 28, 2019

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and My corner of the World
H is for Hummingbirds - the smallest birds in the world!

juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 13, 2019

There are more than 325 Hummingbird species, all native to the Western Hemisphere. Most are tropical birds, living in Central and South America. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, is the one we see most often here in the eastern half of the United States. Only the males have red throats.

They are migratory birds, nesting and raising their young here in the Summer before returning to Mexico and the Central American countries for the Winter. For size comparison, in the background of this photo is the edge of my car's license plate.

Hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers and catch small insects. Many people attract them to their gardens by hanging Hummingbird feeders filled with sugar-water for them to drink.

Have a wonderful day!

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

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit My Corner of the World: Click Here!

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

The Barn Collective, August 25, 2019

The Barn Collective, I'd Rather B Birdin', and All Seasons

Tishomingo County, Mississippi, USA, July 27, 2019

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Your bird for today is...

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 22, 2019

… a Great Egret, Ardea alba

Have a blessed day!

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

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, August 23, 2019

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

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

1. Clouds (Sky Watch Friday)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, August 19, 2019

Monday's clouds just went sailing on across the sky without giving us any rain!

2. Good Food!

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 17, 2019

Buy Local Produce Mural at the Tupelo Farmers' Market

I bought Peaches, pickled Squash, and a 'stubby' variety of Okra, all grown here in northeast Mississippi.

3. Heron (Weekend Reflections)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 18, 2019

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias

4. Katydid (Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 18, 2019

Katydid on Geranium leaf on my front porch

5. House Sparrows (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Booneville, Mississippi, USA, August 14, 2019

a male House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

and a female House Sparrow

Have a wonderful day!

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

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Willy 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, August 22, 2019

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Sulphur Butterfly on Turk's Cap, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 11, 2019

I am thankful for flowers and butterflies!

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.

Crow, August 21, 2019

Wild Bird Wednesday and My Corner of the World

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 4, 2019

The American Crow, Corvus brachyrhychos, is a well-known bird across much of North America. They are intelligent birds that usually feed on the ground. Crows enjoy a varied diet of worms, insects, small animals, seeds, and fruit.

Have a wonderful day!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit My Corner of the World: Click Here!

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

Great Egret, August 20, 2019

Our World Tuesday and ABC Wednesday (G is for Great Egret)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 18, 2019

Great Egrets, Ardea alba, are migratory birds that are here for only a short time each year, so I get as many photos as I can in the time I have!

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 4, 2019

I made these photos at different places in Tupelo on different days, but they may be the same bird.

Have a wonderful day!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Our World Tuesday: Click Here!

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

The Barn Collective, August 18, 2019

The Barn Collective and All Seasons

Alcorn County, Mississippi, USA, July 27, 2019

I did not see any livestock here; perhaps, they are back in the trees where it is cooler.
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Your bird for today is...

Burnsville, Mississippi, USA, August 16, 2019

… an American Robin, Turdus migratorius.

Have a blessed Day!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, August 16, 2019

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

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

1. Hot and Dry (Sky Watch Friday)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, August 13, 2019

We have had very hot weather this week, 98F (nearly 37C) on Tuesday, but it is good weather for the farmers cutting, drying, and baling hay.

2. Food Fight! (Signs, Signs)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 13, 2019

Pizza vs. Tacos - sign seen at a restaurant that serves a wide variety of food!

3. An Accident With a Happy Ending
We have wide porches on both sides of the house so it is unusual for birds to fly into our windows, but...

Prentis County, Mississippi, USA, August 15, 2019

… when I heard a loud THUNK! yesterday, I hurried outside to find that a female Cardinal had hit the window and fell onto the dog's bed.

I thought maybe a drink of water would help it recover, and when I took a jar lid of water to it, it was sitting up looking much better. When I checked on it a few minutes later, it had flown away - Happy Ending!

4. Spider (Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 14, 2019

A Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia, has made its web near my carport. These large spiders are harmless to people, and beneficial to the garden, catching and eating insects.

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

juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 13, 2019

If you do not (or cannot) feed the Hummingbirds, you are missing one of the most amazing and rewarding birding experiences available to us here in the United States and in southern Canada!
(In the background is the edge of my car tag - gives you an idea of how small these birds are).

Have a wonderful day!

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

For more photos of signs, visit Signs Signs: 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.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, August 2019

ABC Wednesday and Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
F is for Flowers!

The northeastern corner of Mississippi, USA zone 7b

Butterfly Bush, Buddleia, attracts a swarm of butterflies, but only a few will stay still long enough for me to photograph them!

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Spiderwort, a native wildflower I rescued from the side of the road before the highway department came along with their mowing machines.

I have a small patch of Rudbeckia, Black-eyed Susans, that I spray with an insecticidal soap to keep insects from eating the buds before they open. Why they are particularly attracted to these flowers I do not know.

Althea, Rose of Sharon 'Red Heart'

Encore Azalea 'Autumn Royalty'

The Crape Myrtles are just beginning to bloom.

I have a lot of Phlox plants, and they have been blooming for several weeks.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 9, 2019

And my Night Blooming Cactus bloomed last week.

Almost six inches (15cm) across!

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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

To see what is blooming on the 15th of each month, visit May Dreams Gardens: Click Here!

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

Mockingbird, August 14, 2019

Wild Bird Wednesday and My Corner of the World

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, July 28, 2019

Northern Mockingbirds, Mimus polyglottos, like to sing from the highest point of an area. Look for them on fence posts, telephone poles, and in the topmost branches of trees and shrubs.

Have a wonderful day!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit My Corner of the World: Click Here!

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

The Barn Collective, August 11, 2019

The Barn Collective and All Seasons

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, July 31, 2019

If this barn is still in use, it is just for storage - no pasture fence, no livestock there.
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Your birds for today are...

Veterans Park, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 4, 2019

… ducks at the park. The dark duck is a Mallard hybrid.

Have a blessed day!

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

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, August, 9, 2019

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

1. Splash Pad (Sky Watch Friday)

Splash Pad at Veterans Park, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, August 4, 2019

We have had partly cloudy skies with scattered afternoon thunderstorms this week. Children enjoyed the last few days of care-free play before school started again on Wednesday.

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2. Garden Update

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 8, 2019

I have 10 'Burpless Beauty' Cucumber vines. This one will be cucumber number 50 when I pick it in a few days. I planted the cucumbers close to the tomatoes to let the vines run on the tomato cages. It worked well though I had to trim off the largest cucumber leaves to give the tomatoes more light. These tomatoes are 'Husky Cherry Red' - very good added to a lettuce-type salad. As you can see from this photo, I am having problems with stinkbugs. I killed that one, but there's always more each day.

3. Tennessee River

Hardin County, Tennessee, USA, August 8, 2019

We enjoy watching the traffic on the Tennessee River when we eat lunch at Hagy's Catfish Hotel Restaurant. The 'City of Pittsburgh' towboat was headed north on Thursday with empty barges.

4. Great Blue Heron (Saturday's Critters)

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, July 9, 2019

Great Blue Heron on a boat dock at Pickwick Lake

5. Northern Cardinal (I'd Rather B Birdin')

female Northern Cardinal, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 6, 2019

We did not see each other until I walked nearby. We were both startled at the close encounter, but I had my camera in hand and got a photo before she flew!

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, August 8, 2019

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, August 6, 2019

I am thankful for wildflowers and butterflies! This native wildflower, Buttonbush, grows along the shore of Pickwick Lake and attracts butterflies, large and small.

And I am thankful we got home safely after meeting friends for lunch at the Pickwick Inn Restaurant.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, August 6, 2019

We had a flat, and had to drive the 50 miles home on this skinny little tire.

And I am very thankful for the Tennessee State Park Ranger who brought a portable air compressor out to us to inflate the spare tire - it was about half-way flat. Lesson learned: periodically check the air pressure in the spare tire!

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.