On Giving Thanks...

Fall foliage yesterday from my back patio.

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. - W.T. Purkiser

(Thanksgiving Day in the United States: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving)

Photo taken almost exactly ten years ago.

Children of Syria

Children posing for me near ancient fortress in Palmyra, Syria. Where are they now?

Day of the Hummingbirds

Silhouetted against a bright sky

I went out on the patio early this morning to see if September had brought us any cooler mornings. Unfortunately it was about 80 degrees and humid. Disappointed, I went back inside. Later I went out and discovered there was a lot of hummingbird activity for the first time this summer. I grabbed my camera and tried to get a few shots.

This one was far enough from the house that it was sun lit

Another one in the shade

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Fence sitter

Beak and feathers

Happy Fourth of July!

All  of these photos were taken from our back patio tonight.

Early Morning Lightning

Got up extra early this morning when I heard it storming. Sat on the back patio and watched many great bolts of lightning hit. Finally decided I needed to get the camera and see if I could get a good shot.

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Yellow Cactus Flower

Flower on cactus in a neighbors yard.

Blue Dragonfly

Purple Flower

I believe this is a Prairie Winecup or a Polly Mallow. There are a few of these in my yard every spring. I've always had a hard time getting a good photograph of them. However, after looking for photographs  of it online, I'm pretty happy with my photo.

Lightning

We had another great lightning storm last night. These photos were taken from our back patio looking to the south.

Ready for Takeoff

Cardinal

We have lots of cardinals in our back yard.

Bird

While sitting on the patio this morning, this bird just flew up long enough for me to get a shot of it. I'm still trying to identify what it is.

Flower in Yard

I know this is really a weed, and a nasty one at that, but I think the flower is beautiful. Looks like we will have a bumper crop of these this year.

(Early) Birthday Flowers

Someone's having a birthday in a couple of days and got these tulips early.

Morning Dew

I was admiring the dew drops on the grass while sitting on the back patio this morning and decided to try and photograph some.

(Near) Fatal Attraction

Saw this hummingbird in the garage this morning. It kept trying to get nectar from this fluorescent light, stopping only occasionally to rest.

Wildflowers

There are a few wildflowers starting to show up in the yard.

While I photographed flowers the dog played in the tall grass.

94th Birthday Flowers

Mom celebrated her 94th birthday today. Here are some photos of the flowers Carrie gave her.

Ice

Had ice in the bird bath this morning.

Eclipse of the Moon

Got up at 1:30am for a couple of hours to photograph the eclipse.

Sunset

Sunset

Yeah, another sunset from the back patio.

Spring Has Sprung

Trees in the front yard are budding out with new leaves.

Moon and Lightning (No Fooling)

We had a decent lightning show tonight. In the middle of photographing it, the moon came out. Here is a photo with both the moon and lightning in the same shot.