Living on the Edge

Welcome to the month of June!

 The weather here has been absolutely beautiful for the most part.

Usually by this time of year in NC, even before summer officially arrives,

it is really hot and humid and pretty much stays that way until fall.

~

This week, my Friday morning excursion took me to a park I had never visited before.

Great Bend Park is located on the Haw River,

which extends 110 miles from the piedmont to the coastline of NC.

I arrived right around 8:00 AM and there wasn't another soul in sight.

I thought for just a fleeting moment about me being there all alone...
and then I forgot all about it.

Risky? Maybe.

A gentle breeze whispering through the trees accompanied by the songs of the birds

 were the only sounds to be I heard as I walked along the trail.

Follow along with me, won't you?

I will tell you though, that I was just ever-so-slightly distracted from my gorgeous surroundings.

I kept glancing down at the ground...and not just because of the bumpy trail.

 I had read a review of the park and this one comment in particular went something like this...

"Beautiful place to hike but watch out for snakes."

😲

Thank the good Lord, I saw not a one.

Risky? Possibly.

Not really very smart? Some might think so.

 I wasn't on the trail very long until I began to hear the river up ahead.

This might be where the park get it's name...Great Bend...just guessing.

Up a bit further, I came to the dam where I stepped up onto a stone retaining wall to see the falls.
Oh...no worries...there was a ledge to keep me from falling over the edge,
although I could have jumped if I'd have wanted.
I may have an adventuresome spirit, but not that adventuresome.

And then I saw something(s) moving on the very edge,
w-a-a-a-y over on the far side of the falls.



My trusty zoom brought them closer and closer.



I was shocked that they were standing so close to the edge!



I stood there and watched them for what seemed like forever until they finally took flight.
Of course I had put my camera down by then and missed that shot.



So whatever you may think about my somewhat risky hike,
all alone.........except for the unseen snakes...



...this is really what I consider living on the edge.

It was a lovely hike and no doubt I will be returning.

Next time I just may take Jim with me...

 ...but I'm not making any promises. 😉

I'm sharing with Maggie at...
Mosaic Monday

  

Don't Count Your Bluebirds Before They Hatch

Do you ever get so excited about something and then it doesn't happen?
I did...remember this post?

So...I waited a few days...and then a few weeks.
It didn't look very promising so I started this post a few weeks ago...

 Well, it seems I have jumped the gun.

Yes, the wind has been taken out of my sails...

...my bubble has been burst by my own premature predictions, it seems.
 

 

The house is empty.

 Not a bluebird in sight for several days.

 

After noticing that there hadn't been even a speck of blue on it or around it,

we realized that something must have driven them away.

I have been doing a little googling about bluebird nesting habits

and how to monitor the nesting boxes once a bluebird chooses it.

So it seemed a little chickadee was the culprit.
My dear hubby happened to notice one building a nest right there in the bluebird box...
...the nerve of that little guy...or girl!
Well let me tell you I marched right out there and nipped it in the bud!

So I'm still waiting...and waiting...to see blue.

So that was then and this is now...

I had pretty much given up on the bluebirds to return,
especially after strong winds ripped the bluebird box right off the tree, leaving it broken :(

But guess what...they're baaaaack!



We first saw the male off and on and then one day I blinked and there she was!
 

 

Evidently, the smell of Gorilla Glue doesn't bother them :)

...if it has an odor (can birdies even smell??)

So, although I will try not to get too excited,
it looks like there still might be a chance of us having a bluebird family...

 

...maybe. 

 

Until I know for sure, I'll try to contain my excitement...

and I will only count the bluebird eggs WHEN and IF they hatch.

You know I'll keep you posted :)

 



Glorious Critters and Such

Happy Monday, my friends!

I hope you all had a great and relaxing weekend.

~

You know, the world is just filled with fascinating and beautiful critters.

Does it ever just blow your mind how God came up with all of them?

Since I started my blog a couple of years ago, 

I have to admit that the things that I used to take for granted,

almost seem like new discoveries for me.

~

I believe this lovely dragonfly is a twelve-spotted skimmer...

...according to the description on Google.

If they stay still long enough to get a good photo you can certainly appreciate their beauty.

I found this one swarming around in a grown up area in front of our local Walmart.

Queen Anne's Lace was also growing there and on that particular morning

 the sun illuminated the outline of it, creating the most glorious effect.

 

And then there's that sensation you get when you reach down to pick a tomato...

...and what you feel isn't a tomato at all...

...but one of these "lovelies".

My first response was... EEEW!!

But you know, after I cut the part of the vine off where it had been eating the tomatoes,
(the worm was still on the vine because if you think I was actually going to touch it, you would be WRONG)
I stood there studying the intricacy of his design and I was actually in awe this tobacco hornworm...
...not to be confused with the tomato hornworm.
Imagine that...a tobacco worm was eating my tomatoes!



Who else but the God of the universe could (or would) create something like this?
I was making a joke about it having eyes all the way down it's body...they do look like eyes, huh?
They aren't eyes, but they actually breathe from them!
~
So I was getting ready to go shopping on Friday and this guy just would not get off my car.
I didn't take the time to google this one...



...but my, what BIG eyes you have!
~
But I have to say, my favorite encounter with critters this week was of these baby hummers.
At first I thought it was just one baby but after reviewing my photos,
 I noticed the different color variations in their feathers,
this one having red on top of it's head.



They were just learning to fly...and drink from the feeder.

You could almost see the uncertainty on their little faces,

this one looking quite puzzled as Mama was hovering near.

How adorable!



The drama came when this one landed on top of the feeder and didn't quite know what to do.
Once, he fell to the ground and just laid there for a moment.
I quickly ran out to try to rescue him and then he just as quickly flew away!

It wasn't five minute later, he was back again on top of the feeder...
...and after hanging on for dear life, let go and plunked into the window sill!

I was able to get really up close and personal with him...

...and then off he flew again.

What amazing little creatures they are...glorious, indeed!

The earth is most definitely filled with HIS glory!

Have a blessed week :)

After getting ready to link to Judith's Mosaic Monday,

I realized her title this week is "The Little Things"...

...how appropriate!

Also sharing at:

Amaze Me Monday

Sharing His Beauty

Roses of Inspiration