October Humming Birds

The trees are turning and the temperatures are falling. We have even had a couple of nights with light frost.

But the humming birds are still around. 

I thought that after we began to have night time temperatures in the mid 30s that the little hummers would start their trek southward.

My neighbor tells me that I should take the feeder down so that they will move on. Normally I don't remove it until I no longer see the birds at the feeder.
So I did a Google search, visited a couple of the sites and learned that the little birds are cued to migrate by the sun. As the days become shorter they begin their move south.





I have tried all summer long to capture the little birds up close, but haven't had much success. Until a few days ago.
As I was filling my other feeders with fresh seed two hummers kept flying around and lighting in the trees.






So I went inside and grabbed my camera. They would sit on the tree branch and allow me to walk up close to them as long as I moved slowly.
I loved how I was able to capture the shadow of its beak on the bird itself.








As the cameras shutter snapped the bird would turn as if it was trying to find the sound. 









I was surprised at how long the little bird stayed in the tree. 

Finally as I stepped a little closer it flew off. I was thrilled with the shots I was able to capture. I am not sure how much longer the Humming Birds will stay around, but I will enjoy them as long as they are here and will keep the feeder up as well.

Linked with:

The Bird D'Pot

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

Seeing Signs of Fall

It has been a short work week, but still we have been busy. We took off Monday for the Labor Day holiday, and the State had its second furlough day on Tuesday, which makes for a quiet day downtown with less traffic and few offices open. But, the rest of the week was business as usual. 

I, however have been dragging and ended up at the Dr's office on Thursday. My Dr. gave me two prescriptions, (Celebrex for the muscle aches and stiffness and Adivert for the dizziness), a steroid shot and of course an antibiotic. This makes round three of antibiotics. Add the new drugs to the two I already take daily (hormones and blood pressure) and that is enough to make your head spin. I feel like my Grandmother, when I am trying to remember which pill I am supposed to take at what time. They do seem to be helping and then today I had a massage. So as for now I am relaxed and able to function. 



After last night's rain the temperatures have dropped and it has been about 76 degrees for the day's high. It is so pleasant outside. I love it. I even got out side to snap a few photos of the rain drops on some of the shrubs and plants.








Soon these little berries will be a bright red and the leaves will turn a reddish brown.











The petals of the remaining flowers will fall and will cast their shadow on the wall no more.









My kitchen window will not be lined with fresh garden tomatoes. 
As you can see, their size is beginning to lessen as the vines are drying up from the heat of summer. 

Even the birds are beginning to change. I have noticed a few of the Yellow Finches are starting to loose the brightness of their feathers.

Mr. Cardinal is showing signs of molting in preparation for colder weather.

And I know my little Humming Bird friends will soon be flying south.










I will miss them, as I so enjoy watching them visit the feeders and chase one another around.
But, seasons change. And, I for one am ready for Fall, and I do so hope that it decides to linger awhile so that we may enjoy many cool pleasant days.

Linked to:

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

The Bird D' Pot

Backyard Birds and Flowers

Summer is winding down, but I still have a few flowers in my back yard for the birds and I to enjoy.

Most of them are near the trees where my feeders are hanging, 

so they are in the shade most of the day and have done much better than anything else in the yard. 

The Yellow Finch and the Cardinal are some of my favorite visitors to my feeders. They are so brightly colored and easy to spot from my kitchen window.

The Humming Birds are so fun to watch. I had never seen them actually perch on the tree limbs before. I had always had the stand alone feeders for them and the birds would feed and then fly away. But, with their feeder hanging in the tree they often perch on a limb. They also don't mind my being out in the yard or near the feeders, they still visit as long as I don't move too suddenly.

I try to capture them with my camera, but they are pretty fast and my camera often wants to focus on the leaves instead of the birds. I love it when I am actually able to get decent pictures of them.

I wish the other birds would allow me to get this close to them.

Sometimes when I am filling the feeders, they will hover right in front of me. 

When I grab the camera they move near the feeder,

 it's like they know and don't want their photo taken.

Linked with:

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

The Bird D' Pot

Epcot Shadows

I haven't had a chance to take any shadowy photos lately, 

so I thought I would share a few from our Disney World trip

back in June. 

Spaceship Earth 

Spaceship Earth at night. I love the way the palm trees appear to be blue!

           

                       Reflections in the lagoon.

Anyone ready for a Gondola ride along  Venice's Grand Canal. It's a pity the  boats are just for show.

Linked to:

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

Downtown Shadows

A few weeks ago, while stopping by the office to drop off supplies, I decided to walk around a bit. It was such a nice sunny day. Just across the street is the Old Courthouse, it is a very pretty area. On one side is a long courtyard with a gazebo which is often used for photos after weddings held in the Courthouse as well as a memorial area. (I took photos here too and will post them on a later date). The other side of the Courthouse has a small park and here is where I discovered several wonderful shadows. It was a Saturday and few people were out and about in the Courthouse area. I was able to walk around and take photographs without any interruptions and without people getting in my shots.

 This is a view of the side of the old Courthouse. The fire escape was casting its shadow on the side of the building.








I was able to get a close up shot of the shadow.

At the end of the shadow was a doorway. I first noticed the rounded archway over the door, then I saw the iron decorative section above the door inside the arch. It too was casting shadows. 

 Near the back of the Courthouse is another building that houses the Drug Task Force and the Emergency Management Offices. This is the handicap ramp leading into that building. It too was creating shadows.

Here is a street view of the Task Force Building and the Courthouse courtyard. We often hear children playing in this area. A daycare is just around the corner and they often bring the children to the courtyard to play. It is a totally fenced in area with trees, flowers and a couple of benches and concrete tables.

This was written on the sidewalk between the courtyard and the neighboring Church.
I could tell that other things had been written/drawn there also, but they had been partially washed away.

The gate leading into the area had small shadows as well and the stepping stone path to the benches under the trees was a very peaceful and serene area.








I rather enjoyed being able to walk around in this area by myself. This is usually a very occupied area, with people going back and forth between the buildings, not to mention the children playing here.  


Linked to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and Straight Out of The Camera. Be sure to stop by these two wonderful Blogs!!

Second Saturday Street Fair

On the second Saturday of each month, from April to October, our downtown area has a Street Fair.

Vendors from surrounding counties set up booths and display their wares in Fountain Square Park.  

I loved the name on the tie-dyed items tent!

The Amish baskets are fine works of art.

.
This tiger was quite popular, for $2 you could stand beside it and have your picture made. The blow ups are always popular with the kids too.

I thought some of the stained glass items were very pretty. The lady with the balloons on her head was promoting her husband's balloon business.  




Some kids used the sidewalk for a game of marbles.

There was several tents with jewelry for sale. This particular vendor also had shopping baskets for sale.













At this table you could paint plaster animals. The little girl was sure enjoying her painting, she was talking a mile a minute as she painted. 









At one end of the park there is a tent set up for the entertainers. This is on the bands playing today. They were playing old rock and folk songs.

If you needed yard furniture, it was there too. Across the street from the park is a apartment building for the elderly. A few of them love to bake and on warm days they set up their table and sale their baked goods. Several time I have bought their goodies. They take turns manning the table. When I arrived there was a woman selling the items, but as I was leaving she had been replaced by this gentleman.

As I was going to my car, I saw the rod iron fence was leaving its
shadow on the sidewalk. Being a shadow seeker, I had to walk over and take a picture. 
It was a wonderful day for the Street Fair, not too hot, not too cold. It was a bit windy, but still a very nice day. 
Linked with Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and Straight Out of The Camera. Be sure to follow the links for wonderful photos from around the world.