You Capture - Black and White

Beth's You Capture challenge this week is Black and White which I soon realized wasn't as easy as it sounded.  It seemed like just a matter of converting my favorite color shots to black and white but I soon found out that not all beautiful color shots convert beautifully to black and white.

Here are the ones that I thought did the best starting with backyard wildlife.

And of course the birds - sometimes dramatic.
 

 Sometimes small and busy.

 And sometimes just neighborly.


On Saturday we went to Redamaks, a favorite local restaurant in a nearby resort town, and while we waited for a table, I snapped a few pictures.  Eli was a favorite subject.

And Eli talking it over with his grandpa was an even better one.

 And I am ........
 


For more Black and White photography, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

     

Bluebird House Hunters

HGTV's House Hunters has nothing on these discriminating bluebirds.  The pictures I'm going to show are of very poor quality but the story they tell is so interesting that I'm going to go ahead and share them anyway.

A few years ago, my brother built this bluebird house for us.  We put it up in the middle of the yard in 2009 but it remained empty until 2010 when we moved it back near the fence.  That Spring a young bluebird couple moved in and started their family.

The following year they were back and raised another brood of offspring.  But early this Spring we were disappointed when the house remained empty.  I bought another house with a different design in the hope that we'd attract more than one nesting pair and although that one was immediately occupied, the original house remained empty.

I had cleaned it out last Fall just as the bluebird sites recommended so I thought to open it up and see if there had been any sign of activity inside.  And there was....a wasp nest.  Mystery solved.  Now all I had to do was get rid of the wasps.  I knocked out the nest but the wasps continued to hang around.  Then I washed out the box with buckets of water but the wasps were undeterred.  Finally, I reluctantly sprayed the box with an insecticide but that didn't do the trick either.  A few days later they had started a new nest inside.  Finally, with a new hose and a power jet nozzle, I sprayed the box thoroughly.  And voila, the wasps were gone.

But still no bluebirds.  The other nest box was busy and active and we're on the second hatch in there already but the old box remained empty.  And then on Monday I saw some activity.  A pair of bluebirds were checking out the old digs.

Here you can see the female sitting on top of the box while her hubby checks out the inside.

Then she moves to the top of the fence to look over the neighborhood.  And if you look carefully, you can see the Mr. also looking around at the surroundings.

These pictures will seem redundant but I want to show how they seemed to be looking in every direction.

Finally the Mrs. flies down for a closer look.

And checks out the view from the rooftop.

Now the Mr. flies up to the fence to look over the neighborhood.

While she checks out the interior of the nest box.

After a quick look around, she looks up at him.

And flies off.

A few seconds later he was gone too.  And they haven't been back.

I'm mystified as to why they didn't choose this weatherproof, solid, tried and true house.  At first glance one might think it was the weathered appearance but that would have been obvious to them right away and they wouldn't have proceeded with their careful inspection.  I suppose it's possible that there's some residual smell from the insecticide I used but it has been thoroughly washed since then.  Certainly my human nose can detect no trace of the scent and bluebirds have a poor sense of smell.  I did cut back the tree and shrub that might have been bothering them and I hope that makes a difference.

But what is so interesting to me is the communication between the two birds.  It's like he said, "Honey, come on. I want to show you something."  Then they shared their opinions and decided against it.

I do love watching the bluebirds.  And I can state unequivocally, that if a new bluebird couple moves in, I'll be posting it and their activities in a way that would put the most dedicated paparazzi to shame.

You Capture - Summer

Beth's You Capture subject this week is Summer and it's one I've been excited about since she announced it last week.  Everybody knows I enjoy photographing our backyard birds and I determined that I would re-double my efforts to catch some good shots.

But first I had to think about the koi pond.  It used to be my all-time favorite hobby before the birds took over.  I still enjoy these guys but I spend a lot less time watching and photographing them than I used to.  They are, however, definitely a summertime source of pleasure.

And here's an overview of their summer time home.  Of course it's also their winter home but it doesn't look anything like this in the winter.  


Next I turned to the birds.  Like almost everywhere else in the country, we've just gone through an incredibly hot spell.  One day I carelessly allowed the bird bath to go completely dry.  I hate to say such a terrible thing, but it was almost worth it to watch the parade of birds that visited as soon as I filled it with fresh cool water.

The first one was this rather prissy little bluebird.  She landed on the edge and looked it over carefully.

Before she stepped in to begin her toilette.

But once she was in, she bathed with relish.  And I'd like to say she emerged looking refreshed and beautiful, BUT

Not so much.  Poor girl.  I wonder if she knows what she looks like after her bath.

I think she might because as soon as she saw me taking her picture, she flew off.

Then I watched this interesting fellow.  I'm not sure of his breed so if anyone knows, I'd be grateful if they shared.  Anyway, he landed at the bath with his lunch in his mouth but first he apparently had to wash it.  I could post a dozen or more pictures of the steps he took to either wash it or beat it up, but I'll settle with two just so you get the idea.

This little goldfinch was a colorful visitor.

Also a colorful addition but not a very pleasant or desirable bird to have around was the blue jay.
 
And sometimes things even got a little crowded.  Here two fledgling bluebirds tried to get their baths in but were intruded on by this female cowbird.  (A cowbird is also a most undesirable feathered visitor.  Would you believe they don't even build nests or take care of their babies?  They lay their eggs in somebody else's nest after removing some of their eggs and allow an unsuspecting bird to not only hatch the eggs but raise the young.)

And speaking of undesirable, these blackbirds are not only unpleasant but I don't even think they're pretty with their beady yellow eyes and cantankerous ways.

So just to get back on an even and pleasant keel, we'll finish the birds segment of our post with this most desirable, delightful, and beautiful little bluebird singing in the sunshine.

 And finally, nothing says summer like fireworks.

 

For more 'Summer' shots, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Amy Lynn - Through The Years

On this date in 1971 at Holloman AFB near Alamogordo, New Mexico, we were blessed with our second baby, a girl.  My dreams of having two little girls close together had just come true and I was over the moon with happiness.

For Amy's birthday today, I'm posting pictures taken every few years throughout her life.

Here she is being greeted by her sister and new best friend forever, Lori.  It's a friendship that's endured for over 40 years now.

 She was an adorable toddler and if I could find the picture of her at this age sneaking a taste of her birthday cake when she thought no one was looking, I'd post it here.  I thought two things at that time - she was too cute to get mad at and she was definitely a child of my heart.

As an infant, Amy smiled early and often and as these pictures will show, she's been smiling every since.

Here she is with her grandparents when she was 8 years old.

And with her cousins and her closest sister when she was eleven.

In junior high and high school she was a cheerleader and a great one at that.

And here she is a few years later when she was in the wedding of a good friend.

Not too long after that she danced at the brother's wedding.

And one of my favorite pictures of her when she was about 27 was with the first, most important love of her life, her daughter Amber.

And periodically after that.

But there are so many more important things about Amy that don't come out in periodic pictures and they are about Amy and her loves.

She loves her first daughter who has turned out to be a loving and true friend.

 She loves her family because she is first and foremost a family girl.

She loves all three of her grandbabies and she loves that she's such a young grandma!

 Jack

 Dane

 Aubrey

She loves her sisters.


And, in fact, all her siblings.


She adores her nieces and nephews and you can count on her to be the first one to interact with them.  It's truly amazing how they all respond.


And she loves camping, fishing, and all other outdoor activities.
 

 All in all, Amy's a wonderful person.

You can always count on her to help and she's one of the hardest workers you could ever hope to have at your side.

She's loyal and sweet and would rather run from an argument than win one.

We're so blessed to have her in our family and I miss having her nearby every single day.

So Happy Birthday, Amy.  Here's hoping it's the best one ever but only half as good as the many, many more to come!