Category: Just Photos

Our November is starting off with some beautiful fall weather. Warm, just a bit of a breeze. Breezier today than yesterday when these photos happened. Good weather for a quick hike in the woods at a local nature park.

I know a lot of you have jumped forward to planning Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, I like to take the first week of November and simply pause. Catch my breath before the “big” holidays get going in full swing.

Seems like the time between holidays gets squished closer and closer together each year. I’m certainly not one for denying someone their joy if they want to put their Christmas tree up today (or leave it up year-round) but that’s not me. I read where the holiday drinks at Starbucks come out tomorrow.

All this, Christmas time is starting as soon as Halloween ends but we’ll give Thanksgiving 2 days doesn’t make sense to me. Whatever happened to the waiting? Isn’t the waiting part of what makes things special? I know some special city holiday lighting things need to happen (I guess) before Thanksgiving to fit them in on our calendars but personally, I miss the excitement of the waiting.

Whatever happened to the anticipation? I don’t want a peppermint mocha on November 3rd, I want to look forward to enjoying one properly after Thanksgiving.

Maybe it’s our unseasonably warm weather or perhaps I’ve become a cranky old lady (possibly both) but it seems the specialness of it all fades when we rush it along.

I’m taking a moment to breathe between my holidays? Care to join me? And I promise I’ll look the other way if you happen to have a peppermint mocha in your coffee cup.

Fall Trip Photos

October 26, 2022

jehdld

Just Photos 4 Comments

Well, this is really going to be a mostly wordless Wednesday post. Like the little turtle pictured below, I moved a bit slowly this morning and now I’m running a bit behind on things.

I also saw bald eagles, a muskrat, fish, kingfishers, a majestic blue heron, deer, and turkey vultures. However, this turtle was the only creature happy to pose for a portrait.

Of course, I have more photos to share. And if I can figure it out, a couple of videos as well. Stay tuned. Happy Wednesday, friends!

Indoors and Outdoors

October 12, 2022

jehdld

Chitchat Just Photos 8 Comments

Just a not so wordless Wednesday post for the day. We’ve woke up to rain the past two mornings. So very nice. And then, sunny before noon hits. Here’s a glimpse of a few things from the past few days that are more interesting than the tv remote and laundry piles.

Indoors

Had cool weather for a second or two…

Baked banana bread

Started decorating for Halloween/Fall

One of my indoor plants back from its outdoor vacation…

Outdoors

Nice to have a break from watering the garden

Last of the cherry tomatoes, hoping they turn red soon.

Threw these pots to the side of the house in disgust a few weeks ago after some creature ate all my sunflower blooms off the stalks.

Wait. When did this happen?!

Random Photos: Mostly Wordless Wednesday

September 28, 2022

jehdld

Just Photos No Comments

This isn’t the post I planned today but I still wanted to share something in this space. Here are a few random photos before I head into work this afternoon.

Chilly morning, snuggled in for a nap

One Less Garden Chore: Hope Whatever Ate It Enjoyed The Meal

Hibiscus Still Blooming

Still Working on Purple Aster Pictures

It’s a beautiful 68 degree sunny fall day here. I’m off to work. Hope you are enjoying your Wednesday! (Also, thinking of those in the path of the hurricane. Please, stay safe.)

Summer Images From My Phone

August 10, 2022

jehdld

Chitchat Just Photos 2 Comments

I realized today that I’ve been dealing with a bit of Blogger’s block. The Happy Homemaker Monday posts are easy enough because the categories are there. However, I just can’t seem to get into a good flow with anything else. Hoping it might pick up again soon because I do miss writing about more than my weekly plans in this space.

Since today is “Wordless Wednesday” in a lot of the blogosphere (look at me with the big fancy words!), I thought I’d pop on here with something simple and hopefully, kind of fun. Summer is coming to a close, here that just means school starts next week (for preschool) and the week after that (for local public schools). Thought I’d just go through my phone and share a few random picks I’ve took with it during each of the summer months so far.

Nothing overly exciting and I may have shared some in the past, not sure at this point. I did try and pick things I’m fairly certain I didn’t previously share in this space. And phone pics so not the best quality.

MAY

Poison Ivy Flowers. Had no idea it made flowers, did you?

Birds from from outside the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (sent to me by J while he was on his Disney trip with the band). We’re still not sure what kind of birds.

And technically, that was a June 1 picture so….

JUNE

Speaking of being technical. I do this so many times it’s almost (it IS) embarrassing. Usually get them deleted but this was in the June photos…

Random screenshot anyone? How about a lovely butterfly on the lemon gem marigolds instead?

Oh how I wish they still looked that pretty. They do not. Dried out and barely clinging to life. I may pass on this variety next spring/summer.

JULY

We got on a bit of a Sonic drink kick especially the Sour Patch Kids Float. I got one just to try it. And then, I got another one. And now, I’m kind of craving it again. Smaller size. Size pictured was a bit much.

In St. Louis, we went to White Castle, a novelty that isn’t in these parts any more though it used to be here. I’m good for another few years though. This rabbit was hanging out in the parking lot.

Not much for this month yet…all food so far. Please, don’t judge.

AUGUST

Cucumber salad made with cucumbers from our very own garden! Then, we kept the “juice” and made a second batch with store cucumbers. I really had to dig for the recipe so will need to put it on here at some point (it is over on So Not Organized with no photos).

Last photo of my post was one I took just for laughs. J loves Cinnamon Toast Cereal but we both agreed this sounded disgusting. You can take the goodness of a flavor/brand a bit too far, I think.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the random sampling of my phone pictures from this summer. Anyone want to go to Sonic with me for a Sour Patch Kids Float?

Hawk in Flight

February 12, 2022

jehdld

Birdwatching Just Photos 2 Comments

It’s been a pretty lazy Saturday over here. And in continuing with that theme, I’m not going to share too much narrative (have to share a little bit) and just add a few bird-watching photos tonight.

Hawk in Flight

It seems a couple of crows might be looking into real estate near our backyard. Not sure they’ve decided though. I took these photos after watching a crow attempt to chase this hawk from our backyard area. The crow seemed mildly successful. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any photos of the crow chasing the hawk or even the crow.

Too Many Starlings!

A large group of European starlings passed through (hoping they’ve moved on to somewhere else) the front and backyards during the course of the week. The tree in the front yard was full of them. They are both loud and messy (my son’s car is now in desperate need of a wash) birds. Here’s a glimpse of just 3 of them in a tree.

Robin!

And to end with something a little happier, here’s a view of one of many robins that have also decided our area is primo real estate. I don’t mind the robins as much.

What birds have you seen this week?

Park Sightings

August 4, 2021

jehdld

Just Photos No Comments

Went for a walk with my camera at one of my favorite parks on Tuesday morning. Founding it very soothing. Here are some of the images that caught my eye. It’s late (oh dear, when did 9:30 pm become late?) so I’m only sharing photos with an occasional caption. Enjoy!

park sightings

park sightings

Until next time!

Hawk in the Backyard!

July 11, 2021

jehdld

Birdwatching Just Photos 2 Comments

Keeping this short. However, I did want to make sure and share a few photos I took of the Cooper’s Hawk hanging out in the backyard on Thursday afternoon.

A robin was shrieking a warning for all the local song birds to be alert!

A cardinal was wary but not too worried. I thought that a bit odd. It kept it’s distance but didn’t stay out of sight. Maybe it was just staying out of range?

The hawk eyed me suspiciously and with not a little annoyance. I think I was making the hunting a bit more hindered tromping about with my camera.

Flowers and Front Porch

May 12, 2021

jehdld

garden areas Just Photos No Comments

I had a whole post written and then *poof* it disappeared. I don’t have time to re-write it but I still want to share my work on the front porch and flowers with you.

Front porch is still a mess but I’m making progress. (We need to power wash, husband cleaned the gutters, but it’s supposed to storm all weekend)

Before:

After:

My *new* hanging basket of blue lobelia. I took out the violas and gave them a new home so I could make myself a blue lobelia basket. Can’t find them in hanging baskets.

New home for the violas.

Did you know they’re perennials?

Still waiting on a few blooms from growing flowers.

However, I did get impatient and add a few snap dragons to the side of the porch flower garden. (I ended up putting the white lobelia in a pot)

I played outside in the dirt all day except when I took a break to work on the disappearing post. Now, it’s time to go cook dinner. Have you played in the dirt this week?

Cold Moon

December 31, 2020

jehdld

Just Photos No Comments

No lie about that moon. I was cold while standing outside snapping these photos. Photos are a mix of captures from my bridge camera and the newer one. The bridge camera takes better close up photos of the moon while the 3500 captures the clouds around it better. Asking too much to get both in one shot. Well, at least asking too much of this amateur. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Just a few from the Nikon D3500: