Tag: nature

Spring Is In the Air

It is finally warm outside here, in The Middle. Buds are on the trees and some have blossoms. Birds are singing and nesting and flying north once again.

I have longed for this. Winter lasted a long time this year and kept coming back every now and then. I do believe it is finally gone.

I sat outside for a couple of hours this morning just soaking up the sun and vitamin D. I love it. The breeze and the bright blue sky brings hope on its’ wings.

Here are some photos I grabbed….. go ahead and click on each one…….

“You talkin’ to me?”
I see you
elusive cardinal
neighbors
snow geese – way up high
buds
again – elusive cardinal

Enjoy!

Cate B

Finally – A New Camera!

I just love to take pictures. My Fuji from 2004 bit the dust completely last year sometime. I was so sad, but it was outdated. It was time.

I continued to take photos with my iPhone6! LOL. It was alright but I missed having a real camera in my hands.

Just so you know, I am by no means what I consider a photographer to be. I am clueless as to what aperture means and all the other terms involved. All I know is point and shoot and hope for the best – the beauty of digital!

Well, I finally decided on a camera. It actually came recommended to me by a photography blog I follow. I just loved Cindy’s photos of the colorful birds in her area. Absolutely beautiful!

So here goes. This camera, a Sony – DSC-H400, is simple to use and the best thing is it zooms to 63X. Say what?

That zoom got me excited. But it takes practice for a simple lady like myself. But look at the moon:

And I know I can do better with practice! It’s all I can do not to spend all of my free time outside looking for things to shoot.

Here’s a few more…..

Enjoy!

Cate B

Teddy Roosevelt
George Bailey

SaveSave

Mid-West Skies

Since we moved to the mid-west I never get tired of looking at the vastness of the sky.  I know the sky can be seen almost anywhere but when you spend years of marveling at the ocean, as I did, and you move to where there is no ocean, the sky becomes your ocean.  It is amazing.

Today I was struck with the clear quality and the deep blue…….

“Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.”  Psalm 36:5

IMG_2538 IMG_2542

Enjoy!  And USA (states that do this) don’t forget to fall back one hour when you go to bed tonight! 😀

cate b

Around the Burg…….

We had a great time with Friends this weekend.  We drove about an hour to a town that has a population of 159!  Say what?   Yes, 159.  That’s one hundred fifty-nine people.

They have a restaurant that is famous for it’s pie.  The lunch was also good. But best of all getting together with Friends is the whole pie!  We went with a couple from The Burg and met up with a couple from Springfield, MO.  Now the Friends have more Friends.  I love to connect people.

After we left the booming town of Collins, with a population of 159, we took the old highway and enjoyed nature!  The wildflowers were in full bloom and I was so caught up in the enjoyment of The Creator that I did not take so many pictures.  Not to mention the two turtle crossing the road were left behind (much to their delight I’m sure).

Next stop, Osceola Cheese store! Samples galore of all kinds of cheeses.  A must stop if you find yourself in western Missouri.

Without further ado, here are some photos.

Enjoy!

cate b

yes we are…..
sorry, Native Americans…….
Clinton, MO – a quaint town with MORE than 159 people
truly a treasure in Clinton

A Peaceful Place

It is just about three months since we moved to The Burg.  Our house feels like home for us and the dogs and the grand girls who come Monday through Friday.

So, now what? Because of the schedule with the girls I don’t get out and about too much during the week.  So now that we are “settled”, well, what do we do now?  I is so easy to get too settled in the routine of life.  We need different stimuli.  We have met and friended a couple of people and it is always good when we get together and just visit.

Today we got out into the fresh autumn air at The Springs, one of my favorite places here.  The view is slowly changing through fall and soon winter.  This place exudes peace.   When I need to clear my head and heart and ponder……….a peaceful place is for me.  And this is it.

Please enjoy my photos – I know you’ve seen them before in summer view – I walked down along the lake and enjoyed the changing scenery.

Survivors
my front yard – from inside out
Tommy Turtle catching all the warmth he can
My front yard – turning nicely

 

Enjoy!

cate b

Autumn Continues to Arrive in The Burg

Here we are at mid-October in The Burg.  Leaves are still slowly turning and some falling fast.  Temperatures are pleasant and cool and the air is fresh.

Here are a few images taken with my iPhone while I wait for our maple tree to bloom into bright colour.

Enjoy!

cate b

Hanging On

The Sound of Silence

I decided to post ten sounds that I absolutely love.

Here goes……

*  the sound of ocean waves crashing

*  the sound of an owl in the middle of a quiet night – hoot

*  the giggles of grandchildren

*  the sound of rain on the awnings outside my window

*  the sound of food simmering on the stove

*  the sound of music (not the movie – just music)

*  the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze

*  the sound of horse hooves on the pavement

*  the sound of fog ( to me there is a sound accompanying the fog )

*  and my favorite of all time – The Sound of Silence – to me the sound of silence is when a lovely snow is falling and you step        outside and just stand there and listen – it’s a “kind of hush” – a sound of silence.

What are some of your favorite sounds?

Enjoy!

cate b

DSCF7265

Winter Hopes

As our incredibly cold winter moves along and we get ever closer to spring, there is hope.  I  think I need hope the most in winter.  Not just in the cold, stark, bare beauty outside but inside of me also.  As I look out into nature it is easy to look inward into my heart and see the areas that are stark and cold and bare.  It is a reflective time for me.  A time I can improve the flaws and increase the beauty.  I do love winter.  As I do the task of reflective pruning I love to get cozy in a knitted throw and revel in the indoor heat.  It is a good time.  It is a hopeful time.

hopeful sunlight
hopeful sunlight
hope inside and out
hope inside and out
every girl is a dancer and a princess
every girl is a dancer and a princess

Find your Hope.

Enjoy!

cate b

 

 

 

What’s Your Passion?

A dear friend asked me today what makes me come alive.  What things do I do that excites a passion in me.  It didn’t take long to answer her.  I love to bake, and I love the great outdoors.  I smile when I make pie!  And I get absolutely giddy when I walk in the woods or along a beach and discover every bit of creation I possibly can!  And on top of that, I LOVE to make others aware of these discoveries.  I’ve actually had to restrain myself from grabbing someone by the shoulders, shake them, slap their head and say, “Wake up!  Can’t you see or smell all this delicious nature all around you?!?!?! Or smell and taste this wonderful pie – and savor every bite?!?!?!?!”

Whew!  That just got me going all over again!  What is your passion?  What makes YOU come alive?  Why not take the time, right now, to stop what you are doing and THINK – what is it that makes me come alive?  And then go another step – do it.  Take that first step to do what you have a passion for (if you’re not already doing it).  It may be small at first but no matter, just begin.  I do believe your life will become so much brighter because THAT passion is what God put in you to begin with and HE gets happy when we do what He made us to do.

cb

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