Super Moon

Super Moon View Through the Trees

Words of Wisdom

I came across these words by an unknown author ... wise words definitely worth pondering!

Follow your heart wherever it takes you and be happy.

LIFE is brief and very fragile
and is only loaned to us for a while.

Wake Up every morning
with the thought that something

Wonderful is about to happen.

 

 

 

More Flowers ... Inside & Out

 

This has been a banner year so far for the flowers.  We've had a cooler, wetter spring than most which has helped the outdoor garden flowers and wildflowers reach their peak in health and beauty.  We have a huge mullein plant that sprang up next to the cabin.  The first photograph above shows it's flower head at the top of its tall, sturdy stalk.  The second photo is one of our yucca plants in bloom.  The waxy, creamy white flower petals are not only pretty, they're also edible.  Inside, my African violets have been spectacular, too. Each year, they bloom in spring along with the outdoor flowers.

 

Happy Fathers Day

 

Wishing Fathers a Bright & Beautiful Day!

 

Never Underestimate the Value of a Hug :)

 

New Today

Today, I painted this little fawn portrait called "Into the Clearing."  It's posted on eBay along with a couple others I completed this week.  It's been a little while since I last did any painting, and it's felt good to get back to it again.  Creating miniature nature artworks is always fun and relaxing, too.  

 

Kevin and I are looking forward to seeing the new fawns we know must already be around here.  Their mothers keep really close tabs on them when they are really tiny.  We usually don't catch a glimpse of the fawns until they are already quite capable and able to keep up with the others. 

Seeing Red

Today's walk about outside our cabin led to some bright discoveries ~ literally bright!  First, I found that the nastursiums I planted earlier this spring had a first red flower, a real standout amongst its pale green and creamy white, orb shaped leaves.

Next, I couldn't help but see the reddish fluorescent orange snail egg clusters along the railroad tie retaining walls.  Globs of these brightly colored clusters dot the tops and sides of the dull colored walls.  Hundreds of tiny snails will soon emerge. Snails are a favorite food of chipmunks who dine on the adults regularly and leave their broken shells behind.

As I rounded the corner of the cabin, another bright object caught my eye.  It turned out to be a pair of wild strawberries, still fully intact and untouched.  Apparently, the birds and chipmunks, who love to eat this bright red fruit, had not yet discovered what I just had!

 

The last photograph I'll leave you with is one that you may wonder why I included, since it doesn't show any red ... not yet that is :)  These pretty yellow tomato flowers herald the coming of bright red, juicy tomatoes that will hopefully follow soon! 

 



 

 

A Visit to the National Aquarium

National Aquarium in Baltimore

 

Last week, Kevin and I paid a visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, a fabulous place to see aquatic life up close.  In addition to many large tanks of various fresh and salt water fish and aquatic creatures, the aquarium houses a rain forest exhibit in the upper glass triangular portion of the building. As we strolled through the galleries, we enjoyed all the wondrous sights and experiences the aquarium offers.  Below, is a sample of the many incredible sights we took in during our visit.

 

 

Tropical fish, anemones, and coral

 

Luminescent Jellyfish

 

The Dolphin Show

 

Poison Dart Frogs

 

Tree Snake

 

Aquarium at Night