COLD AND WINDY TODAY

So, I'm staying home and re-appreciating my Bend, Oregon photos.  I probably will post more but for now this one speaks to me really loud - like saying LOOK at me again.... because my granddaughter Mackenzie is in it when she was about 6 years old.  I love this area along the DeSchutes river as it flows through the town of Bend.  This particular area is called Mirror Pond and at certain times of the day the reflections in the water are like a mirror. 

This was obviously taken in the fall - and the year was 2012.  They had only been living in this area for about four months, moving from where we all lived in Southern California.  This was my first trip to Oregon and I have to say I was immensely impressed!  I wouldn't mind a move there some day in my future. 

I must pull out some more soon and share again.  I put some of these photos six years ago on one of my blogs and it could be one that was deleted or taken off line years ago. 

How's your Sunday - busy or relaxing.  Mine is definitely not busy. 

BRINGING THE PRAYING MANTIS BACK OUT INTO THE LIGHT AGAIN

Once in awhile something happens and the perfect pose presents itself and you don't realize it until after you see the photo.  I took this photo years ago at a park where we had taken our grandsons to play.  Hunter called me over and said Gramma look what landed on my hand.  i quickly took a photo and then said for him to stand up so I could get a better view.  I actually didn't realize it at the time that the mantis looked like she was posing for us.

I posted this years ago but came across it again.  Haiku's interest me and I never seem to be able to write one.  Possibly one of the visitors to this page (Magyar or Sandy) could come up with one.  If so, thanks!!

When I find my other mantis photos I'll post those also - I've taken a few of them in my yard - up close and personal.

I saw this online and liked the description.

Overwhelmingly in most cultures the mantis is a symbol of stillness. As such, she is an ambassador from the animal kingdom giving testimony to the benefits of meditation, and calming our minds. An appearance from the mantis is a message to be still, go within, meditate, get quite and reach a place of calm.

First came Jan's

fairy lore magick
purple shadow silhouette
opaque mystery~JFM/Jan

I always think of them as fairies so here is my Haiku for your photo

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then came Sandy's from Maine

the graceful alien
paused on his journey
strange creatures!

Great photos, Sandy. I once had a mantis reach up for my camera while I was photographing it. Now, I don't get so close.

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Then came Magyar's

Nifty Sandy, thanks and nice work... too, to Jan and Maine Sandy!
__ As nature designs; the Mantis, disguised, is one of nature's hidden watchers. 

quiet pose
I am this greening branch
the hunter

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A BIG THANK YOU!!

I SAW THIS BEAUTIFUL BIRD ON THE BIRD BATH

I sent this bird a text message  - "I love you" you're so beautiful. 

And she tweeted back...

PUTTING UP THE PUFFINS

Putting this up for future reference.  I saw some screen captures I want to grab later and sketch.  Cute video.

THIS CAME IN AN EMAIL TODAY - WHICH IS FASCINATING TO READ

I've had wolves on my mind since about March 7. (when something reoccurs in my awareness many times in a short time frame I perk up and take notice of why or what the message could be)..

   Many times the name wolf would come to me and it was just the other day when asking my "wiser" self what does it mean I was told to write it down and look at the word.  I wrote it down and the first thing I saw was Flow - wolf backwards.  Then I remembered I had seen a video awhile back of how the wolves helped change the flow of a river in Yellow Stone  and how the reappearance of wolves brought the whole area back to health.  This video I saw was definitely an example of the "flow" of nature the wolf brought back to Yellowstone.

It was so nice to see this in my email today about this "flow" of order going on in a wolf pack.

 Cesare Brai's photo.

 "A wolf pack on the move :

The first 3 are the old or sick, they give the direction and pace to the entire pack.  If it was the other way round, they  would be left behind, losing contact with the pack. In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed; then come 5 strong ones, the front line; 

          In the center are the rest of the pack members; 

        then the 5 strongest following.     Last is alone, the Alpha.

He controls everything from the rear. In that position he can see everything, decide the direction. He sees all of the pack. 

The pack moves according to the elders' pace and help each other, watch each other.

Again I am left speechless by nature ... I knew that wolves are different, but didn't realize how much we could learn from them...

I didn't know wolves put the elders of the pack FIRST ... a lot of people on this planet should take note... they are to be seen up front, setting the pace and direction while enjoying the protection of the rest... and not invisible at the back of the line. "

GREAT TEXTURES IN THESE PLANTS AND AN AMAZON PARROT

We probably will get 1" of snow tonight - ...lol - I don't think we will get snowed in but higher altitudes could get quite a bit.  I like it when it happens this way - We can get out and drive easily and enjoy taking a ride to see all the snow.  I don't think I ever want to live much above 5000 feet.  We have had a lot of welcome rain which will make the forest healthier.

I came across photos I took of this green parrot and this beautiful plant.    It's a grey day so I wanted to see some green.

HANG IN THERE - WON'T BE LONG

Spring will be here and the cold and the snow and the ice and sleet will just be a distant memory.  Hoping the snow we get at the end of the week will be light.  Weather person up here in the mountains said higher elevations can get up to a foot.  We will probably get no more than 3". 

Photo taken at Riverside Botanical Gardens in So Cal.  It's a beautiful place to hang out for a  few hours.  This tree was already blooming in February.

A WEEK AGO - TWO SNOW EVENTS AGO

We went over to Lake Arrowhead and I got photos around the lake.  This is one of many of the "gulls" flying around - it was invigorating and cold and just felt so good to be there enjoying it all.

And because I was recently spending time in one of my Spring Folders  this is a view of Brian Wilson's (Beach Boys) house that he owned along the shore of Lake Arrowhead.  He has since sold it and it was recently up for sale again, I believe.