ABC Wednesday - O is for Ocean

O is for Ocean............







My most absolute favorite place to be - the Ocean.

We only get there a couple times each year now, but having grown up beside the sea, it gets in your blood.

The smell, the feel, the sound - a joy for all the senses.

No matter the season, the pull is always there.

It always feel like home no matter how long we have been away.




This is the sixth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Fiddleheads Emerging - My World

Fiddleheads Emerging - My World






We went to check on the ferns the middle of last week, and they were not quite ready for picking.

Just beginning to emerge from last years growth, these ferns need the warmth of the sun to encourage their growth.

There are only three showing in this image, but packed down in that dried out patch are another six to seven ferns just waiting to feel that sun too.

When they are about five to six inches tall, they are ready to pick.

But you have to catch them before they begin to unfurl and become leafy.

We'll take another trip up this week to check on them - there should be some just right for picking.

Yum!

Dandelions Galore

Dandelions Galore







They have begun to arrive - the invasion of the dandelions.

We don't have anywhere near this many around our yard, but this state park has enough for everyone.

They must love the salt air of the ocean as they are really flourishing in this area.

They make for quite a colorful addition to the whole scene, so I couldn't stop myself from photographing them.

I can remember dandelion bouquets clutched in little hands and offered with much love from my little ones years ago.

I can just imagine what the bouquet size would have been if they had run across these guys - the dixie cup would not have sufficed as the vase!

ABC Wednesday - N is for Nests - with Birds!

N is for Nests............







If you have been following my last few posts, then you know I have been watching some nests that are perched high in the bare treetops of a swamp.

And I am so excited to make this post!

I spotted those nests right off on our late winter hike, and was surprised they were still in the trees as we had a horrendous wind storm just a couple weeks before.

The birds must make them pretty tough to withstand that.

On our hike last weekend, I had my 80-300mm lens on my camera so I could zoom in on them on the other side of the swamp.

I could see the outline of one of the birds standing in a nest, and at the time I took the photos, I thought there was only one nest occupied.

When I got home, and zoomed in on the photo on the computer, I was quite surprised to see all the nests had birds.

The birds are Blue Herons - the ones we usually see standing along the shore with their long legs in the water and their long necks stretched high.

Hard to believe they these long-legged birds make their nests so high in the treetops.

If you click on the image, it will take you my website where you can view a larger photo.

Two birds were standing, all the rest were sitting - and they are all facing the same way.

Must be something to that - I will have to check that too next time we are there.




This is the sixth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Abstract Branches - My World

Abstract Branches - My World






The light was hitting these fine branches just right that afternoon.

This image was taken on our last visit to our new hiking spot.

This young tree had fallen into the water and just the top part of it was left above the waterline.

And I am so glad it was - it seemed to be glowing in the afternoon sun.

The polarizer filter helped to turn the water a deep blue - which was reflecting the beautiful clear sky that day.

I love the contrast of this abstract - Mother Nature sure knows how to make beautiful things!

What Caught My Eye

What Caught My Eye







Can you see what caught my eye the first time we discovered this swamp further down our road?

I have been posting about this spot for the last week, and this image shows what makes me want to keep returning to check on how they are doing.

I didn't have my long lens on at this time, but you can spot them with out it.

This image was taken in the late winter, and spring has certainly made a difference to this scene.

I have more photos from last week, and I can't wait to get back down there again to see how things have progressed with the occupants.

ABC Wednesday - M is for Majestic

M is for Majestic............







These two trees were standing solitary against the late winter blue sky.

Both are pines - one planted solidly on dry land, and one standing in the water along the edge of a swamp.

It was quite a contrast - one thriving and the other at the end of it's life.

Both majestic with a story to tell.

This was another scene from that beautiful spot we discovered a few weeks back.

More posts to come from this beautiful spot!




This is the sixth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Swamp In Winter - My World

Swamp in Winter - My World






This was taken about six weeks ago on a walk that we took up a logging trail.

I described this beautiful spot in my last post when we walked it again this past weekend.

It looks nothing like this now.

The late winter light was beautiful that day, and the camera just doesn't capture it as it looked.

The trees in the distance had a golden hue to them from the afternoon sun and against the white snow, it was spectacular.

But that wasn't all that caught my attention that day.

Over the next few posts, I will be featuring this spot, then and now.

Can't wait to show you what really caught my interest that day.

Shredded Trees

Shredded Trees







We made a new discovery this past weekend, and it was right on our own road.

We live on a dirt road that is about four miles long.

Last autumn there was some logging going on about halfway down the road, but we never gave it much thought.

We decided to take a walk up the logging road towards the end of winter and after what we saw, we couldn't wait for spring to arrive to hike it again.

Yesterday was the day, and I never knew that this beautiful spot existed so close to home.

Usually logging roads show much devastation, and this was no different in that regard, but there was something different about this one compared to others we have been on.

It was almost like it was tastefully logged.

The open spaces, hills, and natural beauty of the land was not disturbed and the logging seemed to enhance it.

They must have some pretty powerful machines because there were shredded trees like the one above, and wood chips lined the paths.

The smell of cedar was everywhere as the spring sun warmed the chips.

There were a few "mud traps", so we were glad to have on the waterproof hiking boots.

I had brought my camera of course, but because we were going back for something specific that we saw in the winter, I put on my big lens.

Stupidly I didn't take any other ones or any other equipment.

That won't happen again - no wide angle to capture the beauty of the whole place, just the 80-300mm that captured far away things.

No macros of the beautiful pink rocks - too much distance and not enough light for the big lens to do them any justice.

Over all, it was quite a hike, and we ended up at the highest point on our road.

I am anxious to go again and bring all my stuff plus lunch - but I know it will be some time before we can go back up.

Hopefully within the next few weeks - I must keep my eyes on what we originally went in to see.

I'll be sharing more in the coming posts of this beautiful spot, so stay tuned!

ABC Wednesday - L is for Lessons

L is for Lessons............







Can you tell what kind of lessons are taught here?

This is part of a training area that is set up at our local recycling center.

Right next to these structures, there are several targets and a small building set up for more training.

The police officers use the targets for training themselves, and the above jumps are used for training the police dogs.

We have never been able to actually watch them - it just isn't allowed.

I would love to capture them with my camera as they train and respond to orders.

Too many distractions though would interfere with their lessons and proper training.

I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for that!




This is the sixth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Budding Maple Leaves - My World

Budding Maple Leaves - My World






It really is too early for these guys, but they don't pay any mind to the calendar.

When Mother Nature says it's spring, and she delivers an extra warm one, then the trees respond.

With many buds and little leaves all sprouting and reaching towards the sun.

The daffodils that I posted about on Sunday are all blooming now - I can't remember them ever coming so early.

And with all the rain we have been getting the grass has gone from brown to almost needing to be mowed.

But I don't even want to think about that right now.

A Blessed Easter

A Blessed Easter







A photo from a past spring - even with the early warmth, Easter is too early this year to have the daffodils blooming.

It won't be long though as the flower pods have begun to emerge alongside the leaves.

Every so many years, my daughter's birthday falls on Easter, and this year she turns 21.

A special day for my girl, and a most blessed one for me when I laid eyes on my first born those many years ago.

Hope your day is special for you too!