~ ♥ Simply Me .... Kimberly Marie ♥ ~: nature

Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Tip-Toeing Into Spring ~ April 29, 2017

Up and down, around and around, through a variety of weather patterns, we are slowly getting there!

The sun is finally waking early, the days continue to grow longer, and countless birds fill the air with their songs of cheer.

The Goldfinches are once again golden, the Cardinals are scarlet, and the Grosbeaks have returned. It won't be long before I see my first Oriole. I hung out a dish of grape jam to lure them in sooner! :) Then shortly, it'll be time for the Hummingbirds to arrive. I look forward to their return all winter long!

The bushes and trees are pushing out buds and blooms, Hyacinths sweetly scent the air, the daffodils and tulips bob their heads in the breeze. Lilac blossoms are gently and cautiously taking a curious peek at the world.

Yes, Spring is surely unfolding each and every day. Little by little, my yard and flowerbeds are getting back into shape. I mowed for the first time a couple of days ago. The smell of the freshly cut grass is just as I've always remembered it. Funny how some things never change.....

This evening several deer were roaming through our back yard, as have foxes, ducks and this year, surprisingly, rabbits. You'd think with all the opportunities for foraging in and around our yard, rabbits would be in abundance. But until just last week days we've never seen even one!

As night falls and I settle in for a rest from my endeavors, I feel a happy contentment to be back outdoors, experiencing all the lovely things that nature has to offer. Me, myself and I - and my trusty camera in tow!

~ ♥ ~

Handsome Buck ~ March 17, 2017

Every so often we're fortunate enough to get a glimpse of something beautiful in our back yard, like this magnificent buck!

February 2017

While taking a gander out the back windows, Dean spotted this fellow grazing as he was wandering through our territory.

My husband was quite surprised as this is the biggest rack we've seen on any buck in our yard! He really didn't stay overly long, as the bucks tend to stay in the background, but I'm so glad he stayed long enough to pose for such a lovely picture of himself!

~ ♥ ~

Summer Means Beauty ~ July 29, 2016

Summer has been sultry, beautiful and amazing! How have YOU been, my friends?

You know I never tire of taking photographs of all that goes on around me in my day to day life.

And you know that nature is especially my favorite subject.

But every once in a while, my family gets tossed in there, too!

Here's just a glimpse of my world over the last month or so.....

Checkers taking an afternoon nap

Lots of different butterflies visit my butterfly bush

Simple beauty in my favorite glass "vase"

Our dilapidated shed is still beautiful to me

One of our lovely chestnut trees

This female and her mate frequented my feeders every evening

My front porch in June

Sweet Joanna

So glad I've had this chance to catch up with you!

~ ♥ ~

Days Fly By ~ February 4, 2016

Life is moving at a fast pace these days. It seems mornings have turned into night in the blink of an eye.

And when night comes, the sky has been filled with dark, clearly defined clouds. Other times the sky is clear for miles, and I can see what I'm sure are thousands of stars!

I move through my days, always taking moments to peruse the outdoors through my windows.

Sometimes, after I take the dogs for their walks, I come inside the house to grab my camera then head back out into the yard. I never tire of taking pictures of all that I see around me.

Photography has turned into an extension of the peace I find when I am in or viewing nature.

Just look at these darling twins grazing in our backyard with their mother. Soon they'll be yearlings. Can that possibly be? I remember when they were spotted fawns what seems like just a month or two ago.

This pair of female Cardinals were some of the many I've had waiting for a turn at the feeders below.

I got such a delight out of this brave Chipping Sparrow who didn't mind a bit my being inches away as I was taking its picture!

One day I was lucky enough to spot this buck, who has already lost one of his antlers. He was curious about the lady with her camera. *grin*

Yesterday I spied the neighbor's cat out "mousing". Before I took this picture, he was perched ready to pounce, with his tail swishing at the very end.

By the end of the day, a lone Bluebird sat on the wire, watching the sun as it was setting, painting the sky and clouds with beautiful colors.

I looked on with it, until I realized that the hour was getting late, and I really must think about getting dinner started!

And so goes my day. One day, after another, after another!

~ ♥ ~

Lessons Learned From A Hummingbird

Tinkerbell is an Allen's Hummingbird, featured on the cam at World of Hummingbirds (Emma's Nest).

Oh, my gosh! It's a hummingbird, Mom

Tinkerbell has not only provided me (and precious kitty, Ziva) with hours of enjoyable entertainment as I've watched her on her nest that has gently cradled 2 tiny, jellybean sized eggs,

but she's told a beautiful story.

You see, Tinkerbell is only around 3 1/2" long, and weighs about as much as a penny in the palm of your hand.

Yet, in spite of her delicate frailty, she has shown me what endurance, commitment and perseverance really is, and how to go about it with such beauty and grace ~ naturally.

From the moment her babies hatched from their eggs, her tireless efforts have been to care for them day and night, and keep them fed whether it be rainy, sunny, gusty winds or calm. It has been an impressive sight to watch. And she does this single-handedly, for the male does nothing to help in raising their young!

The babies waiting patiently for mom to return with food.


They hear mom on a nearby branch and are prepared to eat!

Tinkerbell feeding her babies.

I'm in awe of her determination and strength. Yes, strength.....for surely it takes that to go back and forth, back and forth, from flower to flower to flower over 1,000 times a day!!

Her amazing qualities are not only admirable, but something worth learning a valuable lesson from. When I become discouraged, when I feel like life has thrown me a curve ball, when I feel as though maybe I cannot keep moving forward, I'll remember tiny Tinkerbell ~ determined, strong, committed, persevering Tinkerbell ~ and know in my heart that if she can do it, then so can I.

Somehow, someway, within me Jesus has provided all that I need, to do what has to be done.... beautifully and gracefully.... Yes, I can do it!

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
~ Romans 15:13

"HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW"

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for heaven and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled,"

His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth,

But one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him,

From care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

~ Civilla Martin - 1905

Pictures Of This n' That

I enjoy taking pictures of all different sorts of subjects whether it be my family, my animal children, family life and events, food, flowers, birds, or nature. Photography is just a hobby I really like! So, on that note, here's a few pictures for a view into my world.....

My hydrangeas were beautiful this year. I planted this bush a couple of years ago, but it's only begun to look really good this blooming season.

Becca, my daughter, seems to be obsessed with fish! This Betta is her newest addition. He's a dark blue, and is very pretty when his fins flow as he swims.

Um, Checkers, animal child...how can Mommy I help you?

Ziva, you precious little scaredy cat! She is a perfect example of how that saying came into being!

One of the many splendid clouds in the sky on a day not too long ago.

These flowers were given to me by a friend who told me to let them dry, remove the leaves, then use the flowers in arrangements around the house.

As much as she is a scaredy cat, Ziva's also a very curious cat! She always knows when something new is in the house.

My morning glories growing up the front porch post. I just LOVE to see them bloom and fill in so beautifully as they are now!

How beautiful is that?! This color is both mine and Becca's favorite. I started planting morning glories when my father told me the story of how popular they were when he was a boy.