Yard photos ~ October 12 - 15 2009

I hope you have a lot of time (grin) as this post is REALLY long....I've been busy with the camera this week. Every time I step outside I am just amazed at all the bugs and critters outside. It is truly amazing what a little water can do to change things...I couldn't decide on just a few photos so I decided this is my blog and if I want to I can post as many photos as I want and here they are...Enjoy!

Stink bug on fence.

Grasshopper blending in with leaf.

Queen Butterfly

Fly on Wild Mum.

Another species of Grasshopper.

Ahh well he's not a bug but he is a critter and he's outside! Hello Ralph!

Caterpillar that Michael and I spent several hours trying to identify today and could not find...

Thread-waisted wasp

And yet another species of Grasshopper!

Peacock Butterfly and one of my favorites!!

Okay another caterpillar and also one we couldn't identify!

Hmmm...two calves and a cow!! Again not critters or bugs but they were outside...I didn't get a photo but we saw another newborn calf today. There are now 3 calves in the pasture and they are so much fun to watch...

Itty bitty spider on a rose bloom.

Another Peacock butterfly on the side of the house. They are all over the place, it's sweet!

Blister bug on the side of the house...

Katydid on the side of the house...it's amazing what you can find hanging around on the bricks, lol. Yep I have a real interesting life, walking around and seeing what's attached to our house...(grin)

This guy (Pipevine Swallowtail) seems to have had a pretty rough life....But he hasn't given up!

Fritillary (? Variegated).

Queen.

Fritillary (? Variegated).

Unidentified Caterpillar.

Peacock.

Fritillary (? Variegated).

Ringlet.

Hairstreak.

Skipper.

The variety of butterflies is endless but I don't manage to get a photo of each and every one as they don't always cooperate...I still enjoy going out and seeing what I can capture with the lens...Stay tuned as I am sure I'll be back outside soon...I think the mosquito's miss me :o)

Last Saturday...(Oct. 10 2009)

We (Dawn, Dacey, Michael and I) had gone to Market Days in Goliad and then Fred called and wanted us to go to Mom and Dad's ranch. It seems they were having a Family-Friend get together and Peter was BBQing shrimp...I think Fred knew if I heard the word Shrimp and food I'd come and he was right, lol....

I filled my 4GB memory card up with photos and it's taken me a whole week to go through them...I ended up with 90 photos out of over 500+ but as I loaded them up to Flickr and here on the Blog I noticed I had missed some, Oops! Back to the drawing board, ugh!

We did have a nice surprise...Jeremy, Kathy and J.J. came over and then Trey, Cindy and Raquel came over too...So I got lots of photos of the Grandbabies. We missed Malachi though. I haven't seen him since June, sigh! Any how below are a few of my favorite photos from the day!

Grandma with J.J., he's such a sweetheart!

Grandma and Grandpa with J.J.

I love this photo of J.J.

J.J. had us all laughing with this face, too funny and too cute!

I'm really, honestly shocked that I actually got Frankie to smile for the camera!! No hands in the way, no flipping off the camera, but a beautiful smile!! Thanks Frankie!

A photo of Cristi and Fred with their children! I liked this photo because Cristi and Fred were looking at each other and it just warms my heart.

Lets see if I get this right...

Fred jr., Frankie, Peter, Fred Sr., Cristi, Teresa, & Diana.

Fidi was not there it seems he avoids family get togethers lately and its a shame.

Uncle Fred with his nephew Zekey, clowning around and posing for photos!

After I got done with the family photo shoot I told everyone "Anyone who wants their photo taken jump in"...and they did...Family and Friends! And a lovely post in the way too, grr!!

Zekey wanted his photo taken in the HUGE old Oak tree and I obliged him...(those are the photos I seem to be missing, oops)...Then when I got done taking Zekey's photo Michael wanted up there so we got him up there and Dawn snapped these photos as I was up in the tree, but hiding.

Then Dacey and Aeliaya wanted up there too....

Then we skip to Sweet little J.J.

I captured this photo of Raquel with Trey and zoomed in on her holding her Daddy's hand, ohh so sweet and precious!

Cindy and Trey with their precious little girl!

I'm having so much fun with Raquel's photos, loved the color accent on her pink hair band.

Trey is always willing to pose for me and he gave me this pose and I love it! Thanks Trey!

And Precious J.J. in dream land.

Dad!

And poor Cinderella Bernice stuck in the kitchen working....(snort*snort)

And the Man I love!

And Dawn my Friend :o) (Miss you :o)

Great Grandpa with J.J.

I wanted a 4 generation photo, after I took it Jeremy got Michael for a photo and J.J. was checking Michael out and we were all laughing...

Fred jr. (Son, Dad, Grandpa)-J.J. (Son, Grandson, GreatGrandson)-Jeremy (Grandson, Son, Dad)-Michael (Son, Grandson, Brother, Uncle) -Fred Sr. (Dad, Grandpa, GreatGrandpa)...Are you confused yet, LOL....

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We had fun and I am so glad for the memories and the photos!

The rest of the photos are on a set at my Flickr site.

Friends

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Dacey and Michael it always warms my heart to see you two together. You can be apart for months and when you get back together you two always act like you were never apart. May God bless you both with a long and happy friendship, a friendship that will last a life time.

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Credits:

FruitLoopSally "Lizzy" kit

ChrissyW heart overlay

ScrappingwithLiz Friend template

Ellie Lash some of the papers.

Morning Chuckle!

I had to share my morning chuckle with y'all....

Texas Zoo ~ Animals

Here are the animals we saw at the Texas Zoo in Victoria with a few odd-ball photos thrown in....

Gila Monster (I think?)

Porcelain Frog
The story behind this is Dawn and I read the sign looked at the frog and actually thought someone stuck a ceramic/glass frog in the pen, it didn't look real...We really studied it before we started laughing and realized it was a living breathing frog...sheesh! The name Porcelain frog truly fits it!

Coati...

I think they should name him clown...he was a clown and really showing off for the camera!

Grey Fox...a well fed Grey fox too!

Badger!

Hibiscus that Michael insisted I take a photo of...I told him the wind was blowing it too much so he reached up and grabbed it to hold it still, lol!

Tortoise!

Red Wolf.

Used to be a native of Texas and they are trying to bring it back.

This red-eared turtle was begging. He was in the duck pond and kept following us around the walk-way and begging...I honestly didn't know turtles could beg...

Ahhh a couple of Baboons checking out a few of their relatives (grin)!

And Dawn where does she fit into all of these photos...I'm not sure...Maybe the head keeper!!

Texas Zoo ~ Birds

Dawn and I took Dacey and Michael to the Texas Zoo in Victoria last week as a special treat. Below are a few of the bird photos I took.

Scarlet Ibis

White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Isn't his beak cool...They always amaze me!

D.D. the Black Bellied Whistling Duck. She is quiet the character and loves to attack!! It seems she has a boyfriend that flies in every morning and sits on the top of the Aviary and talks to her...Maybe that is why she has such a bad attitude she needs some love?

Wigeons (I think?)

Wood duck...beautiful birds! I can remember seeing these in the woods in Michigan when I use to ride the horses all the time. His eye is whacked out due to me using the flash, oops!

Guinea Fowl...Yes they are loud and obnoxious but I still think they are cool looking...

White-tailed Hawk. Isn't she gorgeous? She was in a pen but I managed a good head shot through the fencing.

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