Cat Thursday

 

http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/2012/12/cat-thursday-christmasand-more.html#comment-form

 



Wordless Wednesday

Play Nice Boys ...

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday 24 - Christmas Birds

 

 

Wishing you some warm family fun on this Christmas day ...

Thoughts on Christmas Day ...

 

Color Me Red and Green ...

 

Christmas Colors summon up the spectrum of emotions that each of us feels on Christmas day ... excitement, calm, sadness, each drawing on our life's experience to paint the picture of Christmas in our hearts.

 

Presents, presents everywhere ... the twinkling of lights, the ringing of bells.  Yet in the background the calm ... is it peace?  Is it sadness?   What does it say to each of us?

 

Our realities are still there, but somehow on this day they are painted over with joy.  Or is this a sad time for you?  Many carry sad memories on this day and perhaps haven't been able to find the peace that Christ offered in his teachings.

My heart goes out to you ...

 

Some of our loved ones fly with angels on this day, but they live on in our hearts ...

 

Then there are those that just don't get it ... Bah Humbug, they say ...  My heart goes out to you as well because, whether you are a believer in Christ on not, this is a holiday that celebrates the human spirit.  All that is love ... all that you can give to life and receive in return.  Christmas is a moment of celebration.

 

Have a Blessed Christmas



Christmas Pictures ...

Just a couple of pictures to keep in touch and to share some of my fun Christmas stuff ...

One of Izzi's Christmas presents was a Doggie Message.  Look at her face ... do you think she was lovin' it? 

I retired this year from Home Health Nursing.  I miss it, but one of the nice things about it is that now I can relate to my patients as friends, which we have been anyway, even though it was not allowed.  I infused this patient for 13 years and had a wonderful relationship with his family.  We do miss each other and yesterday I received these beautiful flowers from them (another thing that wasn't allowed while I was his nurse).  So take a look ... aren't they lovely?

I hope all of you are experiencing Christmas Holiday Highlights ... Feliz Navidad!

Wild Bird Wednesday

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/2012/12/wild-bird-wednesday-23-dusky-moorhen.html

 

Since this is a busy time of year I am going to repeat some of my posts that most of you probably didn't see since they were posted before I joined the Wild Bird Wednesday meme. This is from February of 2012 and it is still one of my favorite posts ... enjoy :)
***

I am stepping back in time today. My skies have been full of raptors, Red Tail Hawks, Cooper's Hawks and even a group of first year eagles. It makes me yearn for the time I spent in the Raptor Rehab program. Our goal was not only to help the injured raptors (most of their injuries were from encounters with man or things man made that didn't fit in their natural environment), but to educate the public on the role of the raptor in nature. They are predators, killers of prey which makes them villains to many. But their roll is to cull the weak and sick from their prey species so that the species can endure. Nature is brutal, but it is brutality that makes sense. In man's world there is brutality without reason ... One reason I turn to nature to sooth my soul. This series is a young male Great Horned Owl who was trained to the lure. He was used in flight programs so people could see the magnificence of their natural behavior ... and they are indeed magnificent. I am always open to questions or comments.



In flight toward lure (prey) ...

Make the "kill" ...

checking his surroundings ...



for other threats before addressing his prey ...

tearing at meat attached to lure ...



Once again checking his surroundings ...





On the ground they face their greatest vulnerability. The disturbance and
scent of the prey can attract other predators.

On that note I will wish you all a wonderful, family filled, laughter filled, food filled, whatever you wish for filled, peaceful Holiday.  Until next year ... (unless, of course, I spot a Snowy Owl or something :)

Cat Thrusday

Diva (the Devil Child) thinks Christmas is all abour her ...

"Sees mai Christmas tree, meow, meow ..."

"Ai likes hidenz in it ..."

 

"Butz, ai is betters at climinz it ..."

 

"Ands eatinz the ornementz"

 

"Then Ai goes down unda beforz I getz in troublez.  Nobodeez can seez me herez"

Wordless Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday 22
http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/2012/12/wild-bird-wednesday-22-rose-ringed.html
 

I love my little flock of crows ... they have been here since we moved here eleven years ago.  They patrol our neighborhood and keep our feeders from being ravaged by the hawks.  The hawks do get their fair share, but they have to work for it, which is as it should be. 

 

Hear ye, Hear ye ... Dinner is served

I said, Hear ye, Hear ye ... Dinner is server

Really Guys?

 Last Chance ...

You're kidding, right?

Okay, we're eating without you ...

 American Crows are very social,  forming large flocks(our flock is around 10 to 12 crows). Inquisitive and sometimes mischievous, crows are good learners and problem-solvers, often raiding garbage cans, picking over discarded food containers or carrion on the streets.  I put out suet nuggets for them every day and they love them.  I really enjoy watching their antics ...

Mandarin Orange Monday

 

These are both using the mask/brush technique.  I really love this technique and the results I get. That said, I am hoping next year, when the holiday madness settles, I will be able to learn some new techniques.  Meanwhile ... enjoy :)

Sunday Selections

Sunday Selections # 98 

 

This Sunday I am claiming "Grandma Bragging Rights!" 

 

Woo Hoo ...

Cat Thursday

My SIL has an IPad and she has all kinds of little tricks she can play with her camera.  She took pictures of my cats and we roared with laughter ... But, I can't figure out how to get them into my files.  So, undaunted, I decided to experiment with some of my filters and this is one of the results.  I should have saved it for Easter, but couldn't wait :) Poor Chachi ...

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

"This way to Sanity ... Oh wait, it's Christmas.  Forget Sanity"  :)

Mandarin Orange Monday

 

These are pictures I took while at the Whooping Crane Festival in Wisconsin.  They didn't really need any touch up except a little hue/saturation tweak.  Enjoy ...

Don't you just love this country :)

Please note that I haven't become too lazy to produce artwork, I am very busy trying to get ready for Christmas ... a late start and panic is setting in.  I will continue to do what I can with all of the meme's  I follow, but  please be patient with me ... hopefully I will be back in form my next year :)