Photography Club

[MrMoonlight]

This struck me while watching the birds. Got a nice block of sky to complement the lizard. Love all the tree shadows on the wall.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

Took a walk to some of my favorite spots this evening after mom's memorial service and such. I decided to put some rocks into a heart shaped smiley face to honor her:

Was visited by over two dozen robins prior to heading out for my walk. Only a few remained once I grabbed the camera....this one was the closest:

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

Took the camera and my flute for a walk down to my favorite root seat next to the mountain stream...after today's monsoon rains, it'll have risen a bit for my next visit...

The heart shaped smiley face is constructed right there, to the right in the above photo - where you can see a couple of the rocks - and I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a kodak moment with the flute...grateful to still be so easily entertained, as it's quite the lifesaver...

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

A cloud pic I took earlier tonight that, to me, looks like a bird with uneven wings and a heart-shaped tail....the moon lit it up for me...which is a damn good thing since I still don't know how to use most of the settings on the camera, especially for night time shots...

 

[bellbird]

Every year, as the late summer heat begins to fade, and the brilliant green foliage of our surroundings takes on its new colourings of oranges and reds, my dad rescues all the monarch chrysalises that have just formed from wandering caterpillars and wouldn't make it through the cold autumn nights outside.

The leaves from which they hang are taped to the inside of one of our kitchen windows that is bathed in warm light every morning with the rising sun.

Slowly, the pale green chrysalises turn a darker green, and then reveal the orange and black of the monarch wings that are wrapped up inside.

Then, one by one, they hatch.
This afternoon we welcomed this beautiful male into the world.
The slight bulge in the black vein, that is third to the left in this photo, indicates that he is a male.
His wings, no longer wrinkled, have been pumped full of blood to reach their full size.
He'll sit there happily for another couple of hours, at which point I'll be on hand to facilitate his journey to freedom through our wide open patio doors.

You picked a glorious day to enter the world, little guy.
Go well.

 

[bellbird]

He'll sit there happily for another couple of hours, at which point I'll be on hand to facilitate his journey to freedom through our wide open patio doors.

You picked a glorious day to enter the world, little guy.
Go well.

Quick update: Freddie has made it out to freedom, and is currently enjoying the warmth of the sun, atop our sun umbrella :)

 

[Changing4Best]

Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing that. Thanks for helping Freddie. @bellbird

 

[Changing4Best]

Buds are blooming!

 

[Teasel]

Spotted in and abandoned shop window

 

[bellbird]

We had another male monarch hatch this morning, just after breakfast. Shown in the photo below.

George. :)

Once you can see their wing pattern through the thin wall of the chrysalis, it only takes a little bit of warmth in the air and they soon emerge.

As I watched the newly-hatched George drying his wings this morning, I found myself in complete awe of nature; this strikingly beautiful creature that seemed so far removed from the podgy, and very hungry, little caterpillar that he once was.

It made me reflect on my own transformation of sorts: exactly one month ago, I was packing my bags for my surgery. Today, I stood out in the open air, with George resting on my hand, opening and closing his wings as he felt the warmth of the direct sunlight against them for the first time. My spine, thanks to my surgery, now tall and straight. Seeming so far removed from the curvy spine I had one month ago. Like I'd grown my own wings, of a different kind.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

That's such a beautiful story, reflection, and pictures of the flutterbys, @bellbird . Thank you so much for sharing. Give your dad an extra hug and/or high five for me, please.

After dealing with lawyers, errands, and more automated phone calls, I rushed out to soak up some nature time, too. It soothes and heals my inner beasts like no other.

I parked on my favorite root seat, leaned back and remained in awe of the growth that I was surrounded by. So many years of being rooted and standing tall...each season and each day bringing a different everything....never being sure if something or someone might take it down....seeing life fly in and out of it, make a home in it, watch it sustain and nurture life all around it while never moving from that spot....helping me recognize and feel a variety of heals from something I can see, smell, and reach out and feel is real....like I'm allowed and invited to leave my shitty energy there to make room for better feeling vibes....they're great listeners....and huggers....:)

Then I sat back up and focused on the water....watching how it rushes along, picking up speed as it flows downhill, especially as the water rises, sometimes crashing hard and overflowing, sometimes just flowing slowly along, effortlessly heading over obstacles, leaving ripples with each drop that falls...the spots where it stands still reflects everything that surrounds it perfectly. I wish I could be more like that kind of water than the kind I feel that only gets repeatedly flushed....lol...ya' know? This pic was a close-up of a small piece of a little waterfall that had me mesmerized. I love the multiple reflections of the sun....and the smooth into rough almost ice-like appearance....

 

[bellbird]

That's such a beautiful story, reflection, and pictures of the flutterbys, @bellbird . Thank you so much for sharing. Give your dad an extra hug and/or high five for me, please.

I shall, gladly :)
Thank you very much.

Likewise to your to your story of your outdoor adventure to soothe those inner beasties -- simply beautiful.
I think it tamed a few of mine just by reading along.
:hug: