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Monday, June 28, 2010

More U.P. This and That

I have so many pictures yet to share with you that I have taken over the last month or so.

So, today, we will start with a collection
without a theme.

What the heck...
we don't always need a theme, do we??


Our apple blossoms
were lovely this year.

I wait every spring for them to blossom.
And to hear the buzzing of the bees in them,
pollenating away:


Someone once left a comment
that they had
never seen a
beaver hut.

So, here you are:
We had spied that huge one on a pond in the woods.





I think this is a female redwinged blackbird...but I am not sure. Does anyone know?:




When we were walking in the woods, trying to find Trilliums, we saw a tree that had "hung on" to its red leaves since last autumn! It was so pretty...just like it did last fall!:




Lovely, dreamy white Trilliums:





One trillium in the dappled sun on the forest floor:



We went to visit my brother
and saw this swan beside a mallard
at the head of the bay
on Lake Superior!:




She was so pretty.
But she was pretty far off shore for me to get clear closeups.
But I love swans so much...I was just happy to see her!:


I hope you enjoyed my "no theme" collection
of photos today!
***************************************************

Today is the 28th of June, folks!!!
ONLY TWO MORE DAYS
to
enter your
FLOWER photo
for
my June 2010 FREE PHOTO CONTEST following the rules!!

Just don't sit there....get busy!!

29 comments:

DJan said...

That single trillium picture is stunning! I absolutely love your this and that stuff, too. The bee in the picture is also amazing.

Brian Miller said...

see somedays it is fun to be random...nice capture of the bee in flight...and the textures on that black bird are great!

The Retired One said...

DJan: thanks so much...that is the beauty of a digital camera...click on fast mode and you get a bee in flight! ha

Brian: I am random most days now in my retired life. ha I go where life's whims take me...and I am loving it. Thanks for all your nice motivation for me to keep clicking away, Brian..it means a lot!

rainfield61 said...

The bee in the first photograph is going to knock against the wall soon.

Tell him to be careful.

Unknown said...

I love these photos! The bumble bee and the female red-winged black bird are amazing in their detail! Great shots!

Maria said...

I love all your pictures. Everyone of them had me thinking wow about something. The bee so busy and so clear, the birds (love them), don't know what that black one is called but it is a beauty. It is so unique to find red leaves like that right now and of course...swans..I've done several entries with swans...I love them all..the black ones have colorful red beaks...from Australia. Thanks for stopping by my photo blog and hope my email gets to you ok. :) Maria

Bossy Betty said...

I love where you take me with your pictures!

J.J. in L.A. said...

Gorgeous pics, as usual! That bee close-up is a little too close for comfort. ; )

P.S. You have an award at my place.

Ginnymo said...

Love that close up of the bee!! The beaver's hut is neat!! Have never seen one before. And great pics of the mallard duck and geese.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I always love your posts, with or without theme, Joan... Your pictures are incredible... I love Trillium. It grows in the Smokies too.

Can't believe that tree has held onto its red leaves since last Fall. Is that rare????

Don't know about your bird--but it is very pretty... I think you are right when saying a female Red-winged Blackbird.

The bees love the Apple Blossoms, don't they?

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Your bee shot is excellent but for some reason the other photos wouldn't load for me. I'll try again later.

Mike said...

That bee photo was one of the most interesting pictures that I have seen. You must have a heck of a camera!

Rick (Ratty) said...

I love that picture with the bee in flight. I'm not sure that's a female red-winged blackbird in the third picture. It looks a little darker than they would be. They usually look a lot like a big sparrow.

The Retired One said...

Maria: As of tonight, I still haven't gotten your email with your entry. Are you sure you are spelling it right? It is jhaara@sbcglobal.net
If you dont' hear back from me that I got your entry, then I didn't get it yet...keep trying?!!

Bossy: Thanks so much!

JJ: Awww, thanks so much...that was very, very nice!

Ginnymo: I was surprised how many people have never seen a beaver hut before..glad I posted it.

Betsy: Yes, I think it is rather rare that the leaves didn't drop off that little tree. I rarely see that here.

Cathy: Let me know if you have trouble later okay? I had had to use a URL because Google won't let me load any more photos without PAYING for more storage space, which I did once already!

Ratty: I was pretty sure it was but if not, I am not sure what kind of bird it was. ha

Otin: Aw, thanks, Otin! I have two cameras, so I am not sure which one I took this with...I have a great Panasonic Lumix point and shoot that has amazed me ever since I got it..and I just recently got a DSLR (a Canon 50d) which I have been playing with too.

Ann said...

I can't believe you got that bee in mid flight!!! So neat

faye said...

Great shots.. you don't need a
theme. Random Monday will do.

Careful around the bees..

And that is a female red-winged
blackbird... great capture.

SquirrelQueen said...

I love the bee and apple blossoms, gorgeous shot Joan.

Your mystery birdie has almost identical markings to a female Red-winged blackbird except for the darker head.
My guess would be that it is a juvenile. The females and juveniles are very similar and it is the right time of the year for the little ones to be around. Plus that little head looks a bit fuzzy.
I have some photos of a female at http://squirrelqueen2.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-was-that.html

Bernie said...

Always enjoy your pictures my friend, I love the "bee" and white flower especially but as usual they are all beautiful...Hugs

Linda Reeder said...

Great photos, especially the bee! I do love trilliums, and I love their old fashioned name, Wake Robins.

Emma Springfield said...

As so many others. I love the bee buzzing around the apple blossoms. Excellent picture. Don't you think the colors of the tree leaves would make a fantastic silk blouse? Your blog has been chosen as Nature Site of the Week by Nature Center Magazine.

Alan Burnett said...

With pictures the quality of these - no theme is necessary at all. Or rather, the theme is great photography.

Sharon Wagner said...

Your photo's are definitately the Bee's knees!

Aria said...

Gorgeousness Joan! Theme, no theme... as long as they aren't medical pictures, I'll be here. ;-)

Carole Barkett said...

Amazing blog so glad I found it.

Diane AZ said...

I like how soft and velvety the bee looks. The Trilliums are gorgeous, I see why you were hunting for them.

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

Oh! WOW!! You are using your retirement to the best; the photos are stunning, especially the first one with a bee.

I probably know which bird that it; maybe a bulbul.

Wednesday Wallpapers

 

A New England Life said...

You don't need a theme. All the photos are wonderful Joan! Love the bee and orange leaves the best ; )

The Retired One said...

Ann: I just set the shutter speed higher and got lucky. ha

Faye: I thought it was, but some birds are hard to tell, aren't they?

SquirrelQueen: I bet you are right...I told my hubby it might have been a baby female...

Bernie: thanks..I know you understand how I cherish spring after our long winters! :0}

Linda: I never knew they were called Wake Robins! I wonder why they had that name? Do you know?

Emma: How Cool! Thanks so much!!!!! You made my day!

Alan: You always know exactly the right thing to make me happy. ha

Sharon: How cute!! Thanks!

Aria: Now THERE'S an idea for an original blogpost!! How about anatomy? haaaa

Country Mouse: So glad you found it too!!! Thanks for stopping by!

Diane: Thanks!

Bhavesh: You are new to my blog! Welcome and thanks so much for your nice comments! I will stop by your blog too.

New England: Were'nt those leaves something? I have never seen that before (that they stayed on until Spring!)

ruma said...

His back figure is really elegant.

Thank you.
ruma

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I retired in June 2008 and started my blog in November 2008. I worked at several jobs as a Registered Nurse prior to retirement. I LOVE being retired! Blogging has offered me a whole new venue to start writing again and to share new hobbies such as gardening, birdwatching and sharing my nature photography. If you like my blog, PLEASE click on "follow this blog". Having a lot of followers reading my blog gives me incentive to continue to do photography and to continue to write. I also LOVE comments, so I encourage you to leave me a comment after you read my posts. Thanks everyone, for taking the time to read me!!

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