Would You Raise My Kids?

Now most of us don't care much for moochers and although I am somewhat partial to birds, I do find fault with a few species and the Brown Headed Cowbird is one such variety. I guess they are harmless and you may disagree but I find them to be greedy, bossy, nosey, intolerant of others, selfish, pushy, lazy and to top it all off come nesting time if they can't find a nest requiring little if any work, then they just lay their eggs in the nest of another specie. Then they let what ever unlucky couple it happens to be raise their young for them. Now who wouldn't like that kind of a deal, except for the poor birds having to raise the voracious eaters. Nature is an amazing thing! I have known a few of the attributes of the Cowbird to exist in some of our human friends, thus the following quote:

"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you."

      H. Jackson Brown, Jr. - American Writer

Persistance!

Well I dubbed this little puff ball "Carrot Top" but it is actually a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. It was hard to get a picture of this little jewel because he just wouldn't be still long enough for a shot. He was so persistantly going about his business of searching for food without giving me much notice. The persistance he displayed in turn gave me the persistance to keep watching him until I finally captured these couple of winners.

"Energy and persistance conquer all things."
      Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790): Scientist, Politician, Writer

Highlighted by the Sun

Fall colors highlighted with the soft light of an autumn afternoon.

Most of the time it doesn't work to take a picture into the sun light, but in this case the sun highlighted the colors of the trees and brought the ridges to life by giving them a gentle glow. 

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the Earth are never alone or weary of life."

        Rachael Carson (1907-1964): American Nature Writer, Marine Biologist

Which Wolf Do You Feed?

What an amazing carving of an Indian overlooking Spring Creek near downtown
Tuscumbia, AL. Someone took the time to carve an Indian out of a dead tree standing on the bank near Spring Creek. It is amazing the talent and abilities God has given each of us. Do you know and use your talent?

How often do we look at things or someone and only see the outer shell? As in the case of the ole dead, weathered gray body of a tree with no limbs and leaves in the picture above, how many of us would have seen the beauty within as did the person who sculpted out the Indian. Do you look at life and only see the outer shell or do you see  into the heart?

"A Native American Grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" ask the young boy. "Which ever one I feed," is the reply."
            Native American Proverb

A Smell of Fresh Air!

 

Nothing quite like the smell of cool, fresh air after a rain. A shot of two turkeys(lower right) in the field after a late summer rain in Cades Cove. Don't you just want to reach up and touch the clouds?

 "Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential and fight for your dreams."
      Ashley Smith (1978-    ): Author and speaker

Goose'n Around!

Some times words are better left unspoken!

"You don't drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there."
     Edwin Louis Cole (1922-2002): Founder of Christian Men's Network