2017 Year In Review

As I look back at 2017, I found a harsh political climate, not to mention a climate that left us with hurricanes in the South and wildfires in the West. We saw more terrorism in many states, even in my own. Demonstrations plagued our cities, big and small. We are a divided nation it seems. Then came a giant leap in the women's, and even human rights movement. With the unearthing of sexual harassment, this brought to bear one's credibility. With it came destroyed careers, shattered lives and broken families. And we are left in shock and disbelief in this the supposed greatest nation in the world.

In my world, however small, I awoke each day with new hope of capturing Mother Nature in all her splendor and beauty. As best my mind's eye could focus through the lens in my Nikon, I snapped image after image at every twist and turn on the road I traveled. I long for more, but this year ends on this day and I am left wanting.

The year 2018 will bring more opportunities and more images, with different settings and beautiful scenery. I hope to bring you, my friends and followers, who so graciously compliment me as I post, more of what is beautiful in this world. Thank you for all of your well wishes. I will cherish them always. I leave you with my very best images I brought up from the depths of my archives of this year 2017. 

I pray all that is wrong in this world will be overshadowed by all that is right in this New Year. Whatever climate we find ourselves in, be it political, weather or controversial, I hope you will look to Mother Nature for the beauty and splendor in our world. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Linking to Foodie Friday and Everything Else and Metamorphosis Monday

Best of Winter Birding

There are so many wonderful opportunities to snap bird photos during the Winter months. As I was cruising my archive, I noticed a trend. Many of my best bird images were taken during the Winter months. These images are from the states of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Most were taken in the past five years. Birding spots include Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and the Lexington Reservoir in Kentucky, to three popular lakes in Greater Nashville, Radnor Lake, Percy Priest Lake, and of course, Old Hickory Lake. There's even an image of a Sandhill Crane captured at Ewing Bottoms, in south central Indiana, on a sunny Winter's day. I'll be making my annual pilgrimage to Louisville soon and wanted to share another Winter post before I left. I hope you are having a Happy Holiday and you are getting ready for a very Merry Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I'll try to post once more before the big day. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Best of Birding 2017

It has been a slow year for me from a photography standpoint, but I have managed to get out and take some photographs especially of birds. Here are my top three picks for bird photography for 2017.

No. 1: In February, I captured this image of a Sandhill Crane migrating south for the Winter in Cecilia, Kentucky foraging for food next to a pond. The thing I like best about these birds are how large they are and, in spite of that, still seem so utterly delicate.

No. 2: This beauty was added to my Birding Life List. This Summer Tanager was up and down on the branches of the Crab Apple trees in Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee, grabbing seed after seed and swallowing each one whole. I managed to capture this image before this seed went down the hatch. The depths of red on this tiny little creative is just mesmerizing.

No. 3: I just added this image in the past two weeks as the American White Pelicans had made a stop over on their migration route south on Old Hickory Lake, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Virtually right out my front door. The Pelicans, to my delight, are still here on the lake. What I wouldn't give if they would stay and overwinter here allowing me photos ops aplenty.

I'll post my best landscape and flower image(s) in a few days. In the meantime, I hope you are getting your decorating on. My tree is up and lit and adorning my living room with wreaths and table decorations all around. I decorate in the classic red and green colors as it brings such a beautiful uplifting feeling in Winter, when there are numerous gloomy days. I hope you are having a fantastic week. We're heading into the weekend. ENJOY!

Sandhill Crane Migration

Slowly, the Sandhill Cranes are lifting off in pairs and the like to begin their long and arduous journey back to their nesting grounds in Canada, leaving Kentucky and Indiana behind.

Checking the birding websites as I do daily, I read the posts from individuals who leave comments regarding the daily sightings of the Cranes as they fly overhead toward points North.

Reportedly there are six to seven thousand Sandhill Cranes in and around Ewing Bottoms and Mustatatuck NWR. However, they are migrating north which leaves the farmers in South Central Indiana to begin preparation for planting their Spring crops. I am grateful for the farms fields which fed and watered the Cranes as they overwintered there. The Cranes will be gone until late November or December. I hope they will fair well on their migration north and return in good health and in abundance bringing young adult Cranes with them.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those families who lost family and/or friends on the Malyasian Airlines plane that perished in the South China Sea today. I truly hope terrorism was not a factor.

Have a wonderful Sunday evening. I'll be back soon. ENJOY!