Arctic Blast and Same old Same old....

We had an Arctic blast come in last night, the temps dropped to 36 degrees F., Brrrr....

I've also been throwing feed out for the deer. With this drought there is just nothing for them to eat and they keep coming up here to the house looking...I can't refuse those big brown eyes.

There is a herd of about 20 deer hanging around, here are a few brave ones who love to eat!

Turkey Vulture checking things out...

The deer would take off when someone went outside (no names mentioned...but it wasn't Me, Michael or Jake!) and then circle back around through the brush to come back and eat...They make me laugh as they think I can't see them when they are standing in the brush, duh!

Waiting for that certain someone to go back in the house so they could come back to feed...

The chipping sparrows were enjoying the birdseed. I also had a female cardinal and some type of woodpecker come in while I was out there but those photos didn't make the cut...

I seem to have come down with a virus and have felt terrible but thought maybe some photo therapy would take my mind else where...did it work? Maybe for a bit...

Blue-headed Vireo

On the way home from picking Michael up at school this afternoon I saw this bird in the road. I actually drove over him with the truck but thank goodness he didn't move and I didn't run over him with the tires...I immediately stopped and jumped out and checked him out. It was very very windy today and I think he might have just had a run in with the wind. There were also two little dogs coming down the road barking...I picked him up with a towel, wrapped him up and brought him home...We put him in a cage with a towel and covered the cage so he could catch his breath and have a rest...

In the mean time I got my bird books out to identify him...From what I could tell he is a

Blue-headed Vireo...

After awhile he seemed a bit better and more alert...I checked his wings and they seemed okay...he was favoring one but it didn't seem broken...I took him out to the pasture to a tree and he jumped out of my hand on to one of the branches and just sat there...He was alert, a bit puffed up (but that could have been from shock). I took a few photos of him and then left him to let nature take its course...he's wild and belongs in the wild...at least I know the dogs didn't get him!

He sure gave me some great photo ops and I hope the little guy made it...

Erica's Babyshower

This weekend we had a babyshower for my step-daughter Erica. Yep, that's right here in a couple of weeks (her due date is Feb. 16th) I'll be a Grandma! And we'll have a wee little one to spoil rotten and then send him home, lol...

Diana and I hosted the shower and even though Erica was a bit late (over an hour) we still had a lot of laughs....

And here is Criste (mom-in-law) soon to be a Great-Grandma again....

My Mother took most of the Photos, Thank you Mom!

Thanksgiving 2007 ~ Digital Layout

Playing around the other day and finished this layout with a photo from Thanksgiving 2007!

Bovine and Birds

I was outside today when I noticed a Meadowlark in one of the trees. I went back in changed the lens on my camera and went back outside...The Meadowlark was gone but I spotted one of the cows coming up the driveway...

I thought it was a pretty picture, snap!

Then a chickadee came over to check out the bird feeders...snap!

I took the camera with me on my way to pick up Michael from School, as I knew there were some Sandhill cranes hanging out in a plowed field near us...snap, snap!!

This guy had a piece of grass caught in his mouth and was comical to watch. He was dancing all over the place, he ended up falling on the ground trying to get it out...I got a photo but it wasn't the greatest...and yes he got the grass out of his mouth, Finally!!

That was my photo take of the day!! It was beautiful out today just a bit brown and dingy. We could really use some rain so things would start greening up!

Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens

We had an appt. in Corpus Christi Monday and I decided to make a short side trip to the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens. A friend had gone there and taken photos and I decided it was time to check it out. I was stunned by all the beauty there...The botanical gardens are being added to and worked on constantly so lots of construction but still it was very nice. The orchid house was so much fun. I decided on the Macro lens and glad I did...

Monarch Butterfly on Lantana, my favorite photo from the day!

(Butterflies were all over the Lantana and Michael and I had fun spotting them and taking photos before they fluttered away.)

Orchids from the Orchid house...I just loved the colors!

(If you would like a closer look you can click on the photos.)

We then had a few minutes to walk the grounds...

Michael posing at one of the several fountains at the gardens. He pretty much ran through the whole place and getting him to stop for a few seconds wasn't easy...lol...BOYS!!

White Rose & Bottle Bush

Cabana out on the trail, viewed from the observation deck.

Pink rose & Bird of Paradise

We didn't have much time but I liked what I saw and will definitely be going back. They are in the process of building a butterfly house and I can't wait to see it when it is finished!! You can bet I'll be putting my Macro to good use too!! It was awful windy too so I was a bit surprised when the rose photos turned out as they were moving quiet a bit.

January at the Creek

Today I went down to the creek by myself and spent 3 hours taking photos and basically just chilling and enjoying nature...it was a gorgeous day!

The creek splits before it gets to our property and then it comes back together a little ways past our property...I've never walked down to where it comes back together and today I decided to check it out...The above photo is where Coleto Creek comes together and goes on towards the East and the Coast...

On my walk I ran into a flock of Ground Doves...with the telephoto I managed this photo and all the color distortion that goes with it, lol....

Then I saw this beautiful grass...

I was laughing as I took this and thinking "Where's Waldo?"...I had a lot of problems focusing on the little guy...He had been walking down along the creek and I wanted to identify him...Still not sure what he is...I was thinking possibly a pipit? If anyone can help identify him, let me know!

This I am pretty sure is a "Yellow Rumped Warbler"...Not a great photo but just wanted to share what I saw today (bird wise)...

Damselfly (one of my favorites from the day)...

It waited for me to get the Macro out and try some photos before flying off....


Most of you should be able to figure this one out...I still had the Macro lens on the camera! This is something you definitely don't want to sit on!! (Prickly Pear Cactus)