Saturday, May 17, 2014

A beautiful morning

It’s early Saturday as I write this and I’ve just spent some time outside enjoying my coffee on this stellar morning. It rained all day yesterday and at times, it was a total downpour but by late afternoon, it had all abated and the clouds began clearing.

May is always particularly busy at school with the winding down of the year while having admissions for the following year in full swing. This week was super busy with all the final preparations for our school’s 125th anniversary celebration on the campus today. We have entertainment in the outdoor amphitheater, a small museum set up in our beautiful lobby, an alumni baseball game, a 5K run this morning, and a carnival-type atmosphere outside with tents, food, and drink. Plus we’re having fireworks at dark! Each of the faculty members has a 2-hour time slot to work and I chose to be the docent at the museum in the lobby from 6-8 tonight. It should be fun and I’m really looking forward to it.

 

DSC_8574 copy 2

I took some images yesterday evening after the rain stopped and then played with them in Photoshop last night. This is a spent dandelion that I applied a texture to and a little saying that I like.

 

DSC_8557 copy 2

Another spent dandelion. Today the air smells sweet, the sun is shining, and the weekend looks to be a promising one. I have chores to begin soon so I’ll sign off now.

 

DSC_8467 copy 2

But before I go, I’ll share one last photo of a cedar waxwing that visited the property last weekend. I have never seen these birds here before, and am glad I ran inside to get the camera. This isn’t the best photo, I know. But I was excited to have one visit, although I wondered why he was alone because they usually travel in flocks. Sure enough, when he flew away, several more that were hidden in the tree went along with him.

A treat to find in your binocular viewfield, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. In fall these birds gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with their high, thin, whistles. In summer you’re as likely to find them flitting about over rivers in pursuit of flying insects, where they show off dazzling aeronautics for a forest bird. ~Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

And now to start my chores.

Hope your weekend is off to a great start. Thanks for stopping by today ~

123 Signature[5]

23 comments:

Willow said...

Simply amazing photos ~ I am mesmerized .
Isn't it also great to be able to enjoy your coffee outside in nature now !

Kerri Farley said...

I remember when I saw my first cedar waxwing..... it was an amazing day!
LOVE your images Kate - as always! Hope you have a FABULOUS time at your school celebration :)

jinxxxygirl said...

So good to see your post this morning over coffee. I think i have seen a cedar waxwing before when i was a child.... its been years thanks for sharing yours. :) There are several blue birds out here in CA i have yet to take the time to try to identify. I've not been lucky enough to get a pic of them. The only blue bird i saw in TX was the occassional blue jay. This weekend will be full of preparations for hubby to go out of town for a week....A week! Thats a first for us.... Hope you have fun at your school celebration! Hugs!deb

Mersad said...

Have fun in the museum, and I love your shots you shared in this post. The first with the texture has some nice depth to it, and the last one gorgeous light!

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Cloudia said...

So glad your day is wreathed in beauty!



Aloha

HWIT BLOGG said...

Simply stunning photo´s...
I really like your blog and I will be back!
Best wishes for a lovely weekend!
Love Titti

Anonymous said...

I mistook a brown thrasher for a female cardinal yesterday. I hadn't seen thrashers on our property before, and it's always exciting to see a new bird. Your cedar waxwing photo is just beautiful!

JaneK said...

Beautiful post of a beautiful morning!
Those 1st two shots are mesmerizing.

beth said...

you know those cedar waxwings are my all-time favorite bird, right :)

Hedy King said...

Lovely photos, Kate. I'm in OZ visiting our daughter and have taken many photos of the landscapes and animals. Not so good as you though. Tried to capture some shots of lorikeets in the trees outside today, no luck. They are so shy and quick!

mrs mediocrity said...

Gorgeous photos... I just love cedar waxwings... I planted several different berry varieties over the years to entice them, and for the past few years they have shown up pretty consistently. So now that you have seen one, you'll will likely see them again.

Hope you have a sunny, relaxing Sunday.

Candace said...

Beautiful, as always. I always get so excited when I see a new-to-me bird and doubly excited if I'm able to capture it with my camera. I wish I had gotten into bird watching and shooting earlier in my life.

Daryl said...

never had the privilege to see let alone photograph one of those lovely birds … hope the docent'ing was fun, i am sure it was xo

The JR said...

All of them are beautiful photos. If you lived closer, I would have you take some of Jolie my show mare.

Low Tide High Style said...

The anniversary event at your school sounds like lots of fun, I hope it all went well!

I LOVE that second image...gorgeous!!! And how fun to see a Waxwing, I don't think I've ever seen one.

xo Kat

sharon said...

Send some rain our way...we desperately need it. I love the bird, you always have such interesting birds come visit you.

BB said...

I have been a slack visitor lately... barely time to blog, and I have missed your beautiful, beautiful images and thoughts. I want you to teach me how you get those results in editing (I realise the shots are already gorgeous!).
Much <3
BB

Carolynn Anctil said...

So pretty. I've come to love my dandelions in recent years.

ahomespunyear said...

The cedar waxwing is beautiful...quite different from any birds in our garden. Love your pictures after the rain. Mx

Annette Whipple said...

It was SO GOOD to see you, even just for a few minutes. Hugs!

Country Gal said...

Catching up here I have been out in my gardens planting flowers ! Lovely photos ! I like mornings like this to ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

GailO said...

A beautiful bird and a beautiful photo of him:) We used to get flocks of cedar waxwings visiting an old apple tree before it fell down....they never seem to come by here anymore:(

Jan's camera said...

Lovely bird. I think that photo is wonderful. Beautiful light. Thanks for sharing.