Sandhill Crane Colts

 

Found in Sarasota FL area...via FB.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

Recent and past thoughts and scenes

 

Freedom! by Zenos Frudakis, Philadelphia

And these microscopic little ones travel around on our skin all over the place. It makes me wash my face with soap, and hope some of them go down the drain!

Kruzenshtern — Built in 1926, this magnificent four-masted barque stands as one of the largest traditional sailing ships still in operation

Wildfire created by wind-blown electric wires coming down. North Carolina mountains are at risk this time of year when we haven't had much rain.

Sepia Saturday's suggestions.

----------------

Looking towards Black Mountain and Swannanoa from the Blue Ridge Parkway 3/29/26

----------------

Face of Peace by Picasso

Did I mention my decision to not post any more war related photos. In trying to have a more peaceful existence I'm avoiding news of wars as well...by muting or fast forwarding through recorded items. 

After all, we are what we eat. And that includes the videos and stories we see and hear. I am afraid I still like murder mysteries, because after all, they usually have a happy ending...except for the victim however. May need to go back to romantic novels and TV shows. Well, maybe at least medical soap operas.

How do you cope with all the negative, awful, stress inducing news that the world seems so full of?

Just an orchid

 

This little orchid has hung onto some of its blooms for months. The ones that fell off are sitting in the pot. But it is sending up a new bloom stem!

Taken March 23, 2026.

Here it was Jan 31 when there was a big snow storm.

December 27, 2025 it had some buds yet to open

Dec. 21, 2025

November 15, 2025 

November 1, 2025  

October 20, 2025 

October 1, 2025 

September 18, 2025 first blooms!

Did I fertilize this plant at all during this time? Nope. And she was last put in a larger pot maybe 2 years ago. 

I'm amazed to find so many photos throughout the 6 months that these flowers have existed, giving me such pleasure!

I am also happy to see the various seasons go by, with the streaming winter sun coming into these windows. Now  they are open for fresh air, though nights will be very cold for a while yet! 

---------------

View from Tanbark Ridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway March 29, 2026

Sharing with Thankful Thursday, and Floral Friday Fotos,

Happy April First, no Foolin'!

 

Wishes for a good month ahead!

Each morning, find a way to start your day right as it sets the tone for your day.

-----------------

This is as close to a joke as I feel like today.

War means children are dying. Even soldiers had mothers who weep.

Image courtesy of Agencia El Vigía

-----------------

Still Trillium flowers bloom

Photos by Jason Rinehart, Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

----------------------

Peace through the world

The Butterfly Effect, by Anastasiya Markovich, 2008, from Tom's blog

---------------------

My next door neighbor enjoying her app's panorama function on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

-----------------------

Had coffee with two friends the other afternoon. The little seats and tables are snug next to other people, and a man with his laptop sat pretty close next to us. It wasn't until I said I said I was thinking of donating to Cooper for Senator that he said nice and loud that he had already. We all laughed, especially as I'd been sharing lots of personal information with my friends, and now we knew he'd heard it all! He was diplomatic and said he'd not paid much attention till then.

In case you don't know, getting former NC Governor Roy Cooper elected to the Senate will hopefully help tilt Congress to the blue side. It's a pretty long shot in our red state...but these days we all are betting on lots of long shots.

Including the guy at the next table.

---------------

It has always seemed to me that the test of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised. -Chinua Achebe, writer and professor (1930-2013)

Treasures (and fears) for me

 

By Susan Seddon Boulet

The Mud buddies...maybe in 2012  - Betty, Barb,  Cathy, Marsha, Pat. The pottery here is Barb's, each of the other potters also had their works on 2 other tables.

If you don't know the story of Leonard Peltier, I encourage you to look it up. A Native American who was/is imprisoned after fighting the FBI about the second Wounded Knee, if I remember correctly.

Members of the Great Mother's March.

Going with the flow doesn’t mean we don’t know where we’re going; rather, we are open to other ways of getting there.

Sharing with Tom's Tuesday Treasures - and Don't Miss his post of Fiber Artist, Bisa Butler today!

--------------

Personal update on breathing from this 83 year old with COPD...I didn't use oxygen at all on Sat, Sun or Monday. Did a short walk several times, and was only a bit out of breath. It's there if I need it!

------------------

From the second Sunday's back yard at 3175 feet trip, I have an unidentified blooming plant. Anyone have any ideas? There weren't any tendrils like witch hazel has.

--------------

Also wish that several nearby wild-fires are soon put out. Our plan to drive to Little Switzerland in a week for a day trip means driving right through the current smoke of the Jumping Branch Fire in McDowell County, which of course we'll decide to just not go there that day if it hasn't been put out.

Monday it was posted on FB as 0% contained around noon. 20% by evening!

And tthere were photos. It closed Hwy 80 which goes up to the Blue Ridge parkway.

A chinook at the Asheville Airport. We saw a smaller helicopter with a soft bucket slung below it going across the ridge Sunday from our perch on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but didn't see any smoke. 

Highway 80 is a winding road that follows creeks up to Little Switzerland and the Blue Ridge Parkway on 3/30 about 185 acres 

Aero-Flite Tanker 260 Bombardier CL-415 (Super Scooper) aerial firefighting airplanes scooped up water from Lake James to help battle this wildfire northwest of Marion.

Flight paths on March 29, 2026

Unidentified remains from a wild-fire.