wandering tales

Macro Monday-- Chicks Man!

2010-06-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

Macro Monday-Spider

2010-06-07T20:35:00.002-04:00

Lunch anyone?

Macro Monday-- Snake

2010-05-24T13:25:00.001-04:00

She may have been small, but she had attitude!

Macro Monday

2010-05-10T19:14:00.003-04:00

Found this bug on a fence post out in the woods.

It's called a Wheel bug, this one is in the nymph stage.

They are predatory insects, eating "pest" bugs, like aphids.

Apparently, they are not aggressive, however if bothered they will stab you with their long hypodermic-like beak. The "bite" is known to pack quite a punch.

Since they are related to stink bugs, they too can be odorous.

Dogs on Thursday

2010-05-06T20:19:00.005-04:00

It took Willow a moment to decide if she wanted the treat her Aunt Ionna got her.

Eventually, she ate the goodie up.

Macro Monday

2010-05-03T10:26:00.002-04:00

Love is in the air.

Spring makes me want to dance too.

Dogs on Thursday

2010-04-22T10:52:00.004-04:00

We celebrated Ludo's 3rd birthday with yummy treats from their Aunt Ionna.

Cookie? Mine? Now?

Willow enjoying her share of the bounty.

Wait. Wait. Wait. He was so patient. The perfect birthday boy.

Macro Monday

2010-04-12T09:16:00.002-04:00

This little green anole greeted me at my front gate yesterday afternoon. Then he posed for me too! I was really happy to see this native Floridian in my yard. We don't see the greens as often as we use to down here. Unfortunately, the larger, more aggressive brown and invasive anole is taking over.

My new friend. A brown water snake.

2010-04-10T22:51:00.000-04:00

Today's attitude.

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-04:00

Winter is killing me.

2010-03-15T14:10:00.003-04:00

With winter being especially frigid this year, I had to resort to finding my buggy friends in the Butterfly Rainforest at the Natural History Museum. My patience is running very thin. Cabin fever starts to do crazy things to a bug freak's mind. Florida loses all charm for me when the insects go dormant.

Keep on truckin'

2009-11-06T01:44:00.002-05:00

This little 'pillar had places to go and bugs to see...

Dogs on Thursday

2009-11-05T12:23:00.002-05:00

Ludo was not impressed with my hubby's new motorcycle. He was jumping around like a clown and the bike wasn't even on!

The return...to blogging

2009-11-04T19:39:00.002-05:00

One of two new members of the family. Her name is Monkey. She's a dumbo rat. I named her "Monkey," because within moments of being introduced to her new home, she had climbed to the top of the four story condo. Penny is her sister, however she is very good at running from the camera. Hopefully, I will get her photo soon.

It feels nice to be back on the blog. Check back, I promise to post more very soon!

Dogs on Thursday

2009-09-03T01:35:00.002-04:00

Meet Mrs. Beasley. A very talented friend and fellow blogger (http:www.sleeplessingainesville.blogspot.com ) had the pleasure of taking Mrs. Beasley's photos on a morning trip to La Chua. Although, dogs aren't normally allowed on this trail, the 5 month old pup's pop apparently was not aware of such a rule. My friend said this little girl was a sweetie and very friendly. I begged to borrow her great photos for my DOT post. I wish I could have met her too.

My favorite La Chua tree

2009-09-02T02:19:00.000-04:00

La Chua bird

2009-09-01T00:26:00.000-04:00

Macro Monday

2009-08-31T13:25:00.003-04:00

I know more bugs. I can't help myself.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-08-27T00:12:00.002-04:00

I kept seeing this lovely girl being driven around by her human at Ginnie Springs when I was there the other week. I marveled at how calm and nonchalant she was about the screaming kids and loud teenagers running around everywhere. I could tell it was all old news to her. What a life.

Macro Monday

2009-08-24T11:20:00.002-04:00

I love grasshoppers.

Last day of vacation...

2009-08-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

It's almost time to get back to real life...

Wild Adventures

2009-08-21T15:00:00.002-04:00

Wild Adventures is a theme park/water park in Valdosta, GA. The hubby and I took the hour and a half journey north to visit the park. I was fun. It was nice to go to a park that 1 was not in a city I had been to before and 2 didn't have Disney characters everywhere. It has more of a carnival feel to it, which I liked. Apparently, its the beginning of the "off season" so it was next to dead in there. No lines, no crowds, great.

On the way out of Ginnie Springs

2009-08-20T20:00:00.001-04:00

Dogs on Thursday

2009-08-19T21:21:00.004-04:00

Some might remember a DOT when I introduced the world to Ginger, a spunky beagle puppy. Her mommy brought her over this past weekend for a play date with my kids. Surprisingly, Willow took to her right away. I guess it's a hound thing. Usually Willow is a bit hard on other dogs, especially puppies (just ask Ludo). I think Ginger was intimidated by Ludo's size at first, but by the end of the date I think it was love.

Ginnie Springs

2009-08-19T14:58:00.004-04:00

Ginnie Springs, located in High Springs, is actually a series of springs. I had never been and found it to be very pretty. We went tubing (too clumsy to chance taking the camera). The water is 72 degrees year round.

Coming soon...

2009-08-18T21:25:00.002-04:00

Being on vacation, I just realized it is Tuesday night and I missed Macro Monday. I guess I am a natural at laziness. New photos coming soon promise.

More of Boulware Springs

2009-08-11T00:45:00.000-04:00

Macro Monday

2009-08-10T02:15:00.000-04:00

Dogs on Thursday

2009-08-06T00:46:00.003-04:00

The idea was so full of promise and magic. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon. I proclaimed, "let's take Ludo for a walk down the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail!" I had images of the hubby running Ludo down the trail as if to take flight. I, of course, was going to capture these priceless moments in perfect photographic precision. Like I said, full of promise and magic. You can see the excitement on Ludo's tongue, I mean face.

If only I had thought to check the weather....
Being full of optimism (and the nearly 30 years of experience with Florida weather) I figured lets get out and go anyway. It will pass in moments.

An hour later, we finally make it back to the car through the downpour, thunder, lightning, and all around misery. Needless to say these are my only captured moments of my great idea. Ludo was a great sport. He slept the whole way home.

Boulware Springs Waterworks

2009-08-05T00:50:00.004-04:00

Apparently Boulware Springs is the reason why the University of Florida is in Gainesville. I have read that the city promised the university free water from said spring. I came across the spring on my way home from La Chua the other day. The spring is a 4th magnitude spring and the plant has been turned into a small museum. The water was all jewel tones and stillness. So inviting on such a hot, muggy day. There was even a turtle there serving as sentry.

Macro Monday

2009-08-02T22:52:00.004-04:00

Flowers and rain. Match made in heaven.

Kindred spirit

2009-07-28T11:24:00.002-04:00

The box turtle. If I were to ever be turned into the animal that best represents me, there is a good chance it would be a box turtle. It's so easy to retreat into the safety of the known. I spent some time with this particular box turtle. Shy at first, but then resumed the most important of daily chores, eating.

Macro Monday

2009-07-26T22:59:00.002-04:00

I always end up with too many macro shots to chose from come each Monday. It seems a lot of things I find beautiful are tiny. Its all in the details for me.

Newman's Lake

2009-07-26T16:06:00.002-04:00

I had never been to Newman's Lake. It's just a quick drive for me. Lots of people fishing around it. I could hear lots of birds, but alas they were out of sight. It's a nice place. Loved the benches in the water.

Interpretative art.

2009-07-24T13:20:00.002-04:00

This is how I feel today.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-07-23T00:28:00.004-04:00

(Note the leash on Willow that is lacking on the very young Ludo. Even then he listened better than his sister. Hounds... such wanderers.)

I was browsing through some old photos and came across Ludo's first time at the beach. He must have been around 12wks old in these pics. Once Dad got him in the water he realized it was all fun and games, but it took some coaching. The last photo is him chewing on the outer shell of a horseshoe crab. It was a good day. I know he is a big boy (133lbs) now, but I guess I will always think of him like this, just a pup.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-22T00:42:00.000-04:00

Baby gator

2009-07-21T00:21:00.002-04:00

Sweet lil' fella. I'm sure mama was around somewhere. Mama gators are actually very good parents. Not only do they hang around the nest site and protect the small babies, they will even come when the little ones yell for help. Furthermore, mamas will gently carry their hatchlings in their mouths down to the water. And we dare call them "cold-hearted."

Macro Monday

2009-07-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

Tiger Lily

2009-07-17T13:00:00.000-04:00

Dogs on Thursday

2009-07-16T12:49:00.002-04:00

Just like his Daddy, Ludo is a serious sleeper. Ludo wouldn't let us take down his "puppy" crate, so now I get to have this monstrous thing in my dinning room forever. Oh well.

My friend

2009-07-15T16:42:00.001-04:00

This little moth was really attracted to my foot for some reason. I didn't mind, it kind of tickled.

Warning... snake ahead!

2009-07-14T00:43:00.003-04:00

Little corn snake. He was fierce. I was almost thinking about being scared.

Macro Monday

2009-07-13T11:47:00.001-04:00

Peek-a-boo, I see you.

I thought I would sneak another macro shot in this week.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-07-09T01:07:00.004-04:00

Playing with the water hose is the "fun time" before the "bath time." Ludo loves playing in the water. Some may ask, "where's Willow?" She's hiding on the porch, hoping we forgot about her. Trust me she got her bath and she was only mad at me for about an hour or so. Fair trade off.

Bugs

2009-07-08T01:24:00.002-04:00

I make it no secret that I adore the creepy crawlers of the world. The weirder the better. They seem like perfect little creatures to me. So intricately fitted into their niches. We should pay more attention to them, we could learn volumes.

Macro Monday

2009-07-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

More of Ravine State Park

2009-07-05T15:09:00.001-04:00

Monument at the entrance of the park

Covered walkway

One of many sets of stairs within the park

Ravine State Park

2009-07-05T14:55:00.001-04:00

Suspension bridge

Small bridge over pond

View of another suspension bridge

Dogs on Thursday

2009-07-02T00:04:00.004-04:00

Only one of these cuties belongs to me. My husband is cuddling Allora. She is a dear friend's little diva. I love going over to her house to play with her little "monkeys", because it's such a change from my babies. I think Allora could fit inside Ludo's mouth. One of these days I will have a lap dog that actually fits in my lap.

Lending a helping hand

2009-06-30T00:33:00.002-04:00

Sometimes the Florida pine forests need a little help with "spring cleaning." The photo above is of a controlled burn at Payne's Prairie. In no time the forest will be a vivid green with new life.

Macro Monday

2009-06-29T12:07:00.001-04:00

Friends I met along the way

2009-06-28T14:45:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of stumbling across a variety of wildlife at Paynes Prairie. I saw the young buck on my way out and was able to get a couple of shots through the window of my car. He couldn't have cared less that I was interrupting his lunch. The raccoon on the other hand took one look at me and did not like what he saw. I got another blurry shot of his rear end as he scurried away. The cardinal was as curious about me as I was about him. All in all it was a pleasant day "alone" in the woods.

A Florida Native

2009-06-27T21:22:00.005-04:00

The green anole is the only anole native to the US. The brown ones more commonly seen are illegal aliens. I was tickled to see two greens today. The second was obviously a male showing off. I hope the other one was a female and she liked what she saw.

Because I value my life... I dedicate this to Belly.

2009-06-26T00:40:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post something of Belly. Since I joined Dogs on Thursday, the canine members of the family have gotten quite a bit of attention. I've learned the hard way Belly doesn't like to be slighted. It's not that he needs constant attention and adoration, but he does like having it there to ignore if he so chooses. So this post is for Belly and for my general safety. I mean he knows where I sleep.

Meet Ginger

2009-06-25T11:58:00.004-04:00

She's an adorable 8wks old beagle puppy. Not my adorable 8wks old beagle puppy (my husband would have a stroke if I brought home a puppy). She's my friend's new baby. Her first baby in fact. I think it's a match made in heaven though. They have a lot in common. They both have lovely brown eyes, they both enjoy sleeping, and they both love shoes!

A tangled web we weave...

2009-06-23T16:51:00.001-04:00

The meticulous beauty of a spiderweb in the morning.

Macro Monday

2009-06-22T13:45:00.000-04:00

Birds on the La Chua

2009-06-20T16:21:00.001-04:00

Red wing blackbird.

Red billed ibis.

Heron.

Wild (female?) turkey.

Synopsis of La Chua

2009-06-20T15:55:00.002-04:00

The beginning of the boardwalk portion of the trail.

This is actually the view on the way back towards the boardwalk.

Baby gator. We looked for mom first, promise.

View of the marsh from an observation deck.

An ant's view.

2009-06-19T12:30:00.002-04:00

I am quite jealous of the view the fire ants I "shared" the hill with get to enjoy every day.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-06-18T00:23:00.002-04:00

Willow took off without warning.

She kept going.

Then she stopped to do the "bassett hound" sniff.

I guess she found what she was looking for... Ludo's rope.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T12:21:00.000-04:00

Do you see what I see?

2009-06-17T00:16:00.003-04:00

I walked pass this "leaf" once without a second glance. It was chance that I noticed the "leaf" move in a very unleaf like way. How awesome is nature? It amazes me every day. We are so lucky to be a piece of this intricate puzzle.

Macro Monday

2009-06-15T20:58:00.002-04:00

I spent a hot, humid day walking through a wonderful exhibit at the Natural History Museum, the Butterfly Rainforest. I swear the air was dancing with butterflies and finches. I may have been melting in my flip-flops, but the heat seemed to invigorate the inhabitants. Good for them. The sweat and dehydration was well worth it though.

Monochrome Monday

2009-06-15T00:12:00.000-04:00

"Here's looking at you, kid."

2009-06-13T18:35:00.002-04:00

Hello.

2009-06-12T11:22:00.000-04:00

Cute little fella I met along the way.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-06-11T00:46:00.002-04:00

Found one......

buried it.

Found another. Begin again.

Creatures from the Black Lagoon...

2009-06-10T00:19:00.002-04:00

Well, maybe not "creatures from the Black Lagoon." Just a yellow belly slider and a soft shell turtle spending the day at Lake Alice. Turtles are great. They're always smilin'.

monochrome Monday

2009-06-08T13:31:00.000-04:00

Lunchtime

2009-06-07T21:37:00.004-04:00

The hunter became the hunted today. Yet, the bird was godlike in its audacity regarding my persistent presence. I felt humbled by it.

Red-headed woodpecker

2009-06-05T12:36:00.002-04:00

While hiking I heard the familiar "thump

thump" of a woodpecker nearby. It took

me awhile to find him in the woods.

Venturing off the trail just a bit (don't tell

the hubby) I finally saw him on a dead

tree. He started to call to a friend.

More dogs on Thursday

2009-06-04T11:44:00.002-04:00

After the chase comes the spoils... a rest together in the unmowed grass.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-06-04T11:37:00.003-04:00

Let's be honest, Willow is more of a sprinter than a marathon runner. However, she does her very best to keep up with her bigger little brother, Ludo.

To all the botantists out there...

2009-06-03T11:59:00.002-04:00

What is this beautiful flower? I saw it at Kanapaha Botantical Gardens.

Friends I met along the way.

2009-06-02T12:48:00.001-04:00

monochrome Monday

2009-06-01T21:07:00.001-04:00

He was a very friendly cow. He loved his head scratched.

My neighbor

2009-05-30T20:26:00.004-04:00

   His name is Oliver...
   .... a sweet, friendly kitty...........
   .... that I met along the way.

The first day of the rest of my life....with my new camera!

2009-05-30T20:23:00.002-04:00

This is the first photo I took with my new Canon EOS Xsi. It was love at first sight.

Endless sky

2009-05-29T13:07:00.000-04:00

An offer I couldn't refuse.

2009-05-28T12:14:00.001-04:00

Play? Now?

...of course.

old Florida history

2009-05-27T00:20:00.002-04:00

It took 10 years of absence for me to realize the beauty in the thick history of the fort.

On the prowl

2009-05-26T12:25:00.002-04:00

People aren't the only ones enjoying the sun in rainy Florida.

Monochrome Monday

2009-05-25T11:18:00.000-04:00

A day at the prairie.

2009-05-24T17:46:00.004-04:00

The sun fought through long enough to warm the ground. It seems like everything was hungry for a moment in the sun, I was lucky enough to be in a lovely place when everything got to shine.
Nature's interpretation of fireworks. These bursts of pink were everywhere on the prairie.

These two have found some summer love.

Look to the sky...

2009-05-22T00:39:00.001-04:00

Dogs on Thursday

2009-05-21T12:41:00.003-04:00

I told him once he wasn't allowed to lay on the couch. I really should have been more specific.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-20T13:07:00.000-04:00

Dedicated to Cindi

2009-05-18T15:44:00.000-04:00

I am in love with this camera.

Monochrome Monday

2009-05-17T18:57:00.000-04:00

Self portrait.

Dedicated to my girl, Faye!

2009-05-16T19:48:00.000-04:00

Make a Wish

2009-05-15T00:45:00.000-04:00

I believe in wishing. My wish came true on this weekend. It was the best birthday I had ever had.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-13T12:54:00.001-04:00

Backyard Treasures

2009-05-12T12:39:00.000-04:00

I found all sorts of jewels in my yard this weekend. I hadn't realized the extent of my riches.

The Unstoppable Force

2009-05-11T12:30:00.000-04:00

Given enough time mother nature will reclaim what is hers.

A Moonlit Walk

2009-05-10T14:42:00.000-04:00

We started with the sun low in the sky. We ended with the path illuminated by candlelight and fireflies.

The Road Not Taken

2009-05-09T11:42:00.000-04:00

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. --Robert Frost

happy place

2009-05-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

symbiosis

2009-05-05T00:48:00.001-04:00

watching disengaged

no longer a part of the whole

as life is shared through

evolution of biology into spirit