Category: Daily Adventures

Blogs of everyday activates and adventures.

Nature Speaks to Us

Nature Speaks to Us

Nature Speaks to Us, I spend a lot of time outdoors, sometimes just listening to the sounds of creation around me. Now I have a lot of ringing in my ears, sometimes it is really bad, but it is always there. It never really goes away. When I am outside, I get distracted very easy. I begin to notice everything from the leaves rustling in the trees, the butterflies going from flower to flower.

monarch butterfly

The sights and sounds of nature, begins to replace the ringing in my ears. For a few moments in time I can tune out the constant noise in my ears and I can feel the calmness that nature provides. I can see and hear a beautiful symphony of soft spoken words, from the sounds of birds singing and seeing the beautiful colors of the butterflies as they go by.

When I focus on all of these things, it pushes the noise away.

Nature Speaks to Us

It reminds me of this song;

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Nature Speaks to Us
Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Nature Speaks to Us

by Sandra J

Lightning in the Night

Lightning in the Night

Lightning in the Night, my first photos of lightning. A fast moving storm rolled in with only heat lightning at first and then I saw a few lightning bolts in the night sky. It was about 11:30 pm and I decided to go out onto the porch and see if I could get a few shots of the night lights covering the sky.

Lightning in the Night

I wasn’t sure if the camera was picking it up at first. All of these photos were taken with a Go Pro camera, I did not get any on my regular camera. There is another storm rolling in today, so I will be trying it again though.

Lightning in the Night
Lightning in the Night
Lightning in the Night

by Sandra J

Ka-ty-did Ka-ty-did Ka-ty-did

Ka-ty-did Ka-ty-did Ka-ty-did

Ka-ty-did, this is the sound the Katydids make. Katydids are related to crickets and grasshoppers, with large back legs for jumping.

Unlike grasshoppers, Katydids have extremely long, thin antennae. Unlike crickets, their bodies are more rhomboidal, like a kite with four equal lengths. They have wings and will fly away from danger. Most sightings occur when they land on an object and linger. Some have even gone on car rides, clinging to the hood of the vehicle.

Ka-ty-did

I have never see this particular critter before. They blend in so well with leaves. It flew onto the porch, stuck on the wall for a little bit and then was gone. Amazing critters.

Ka-ty-did

Ka-ty-did

by Sandra J

Varietay Friday II

Varietay Friday II

Varietay Friday II – includes taking a photo from the back of a Queen Anne’s Lace Flower. I love looking at the back of flowers. This particular flower closes up at night, these green shoots fold up around the flower as like protection over night. Along with a tiny red bug in the left corner of the flower.

Varietay Friday

I do not know what this is, but it had not opened up yet early this morning and you could really see the details of the fine hair that protects the stem of this flower.

Varietay Friday

42 degrees F. this morning, finally cooling off a bit and water droplets resting in the base of these leaves in the morning light.

Varietay Friday

Along with, some art work I made on the computer today. Art comes in many different forms, computer generated and outdoor objects, both of which are applied on this photo.

Have a great weekend.

by Sandra J

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink, not the movie, just the flowers blooming in my garden today. Even though I saw that movie many years ago. I love these little flowers called Cosmos that always seem to bloom in July. Such a soft hue of pink.

My husband and I were talking about the state of the world today. Which is a huge subject to say the least. For me, I do not follow the left or the right, I listen to what they say and the language is very confusing, it is as if none of them can understand each other as well. There are so many different sounds coming from all directions.

Pretty in Pink

I can only speak of what I know and bear witness to what I see. For me, what I know is, there is a straight path to the One who makes perfect sense, which in turn opens my eyes to where I am at today. It is a journey, to get to this place that I see.

Little Wonders of the World – The Flowers and the Trees, Places Where I Find Peace and Tranquility

Pretty in Pink

Time Keeps Moving Along, Changing of the Way, Places of Reflection of Where I am Today

At the Ladders Top, The Older Generation, At the Golden Age, A Humbling Realization

I see where I’m going, and Past That’s Behind Me, I Have Reached the Light, When Younger Couldn’t See

Pretty in Pink

Which Gives Me Peace of Mind, Of Searching to Engage, That Wisdom Only Comes, Attainable by Age

Pretty in Pink

Wisdom is only attainable by age, there are no shortcuts, Inheriting the wealth of Knowledge, from the quality of Experience becomes Wisdom. Owning nothing but yet owning everything.

Pretty in Pink

by Sandra J

Amazing Are The Wings

Amazing Are The Wings

Amazing Are The Wings that Fly – Sometimes to really see nature, one has to become one with nature. I have never seen a dragonfly’s wings quite like these. I was watching this one particular dragon fly land on this same rock over and over. Finally realizing it was sunning itself on this rock and as I would step closer to it for a photo it would fly away.

So I figured I need to lay down in the grass with my camera and just sit still. This dragonfly was between me and the sun and what a surprise it was to see the sun reflecting in its wings when I looked at the photos later. I did not see this as I was laying there watching it. What a view from their level. You can see my video; A Walk With Nature in My Back Yard Here.

Amazing Are The Wings

I remember the days as a child, when laying in the grass was so much fun. I never worried about all the bugs and critters back then. I usually avoid doing that now because the thought of wood ticks and spiders. But I thought, just do it. I surprised myself on the results with this beautiful creature.

Amazing Are The Wings
Amazing Are The Wings

Amazing Are The Wings

by Sandra J

Rock Camouflage

Rock Camouflage

Rock Camouflage, In nature, some animals are built with the perfect camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. Which helps to avoid becoming something else’s snack. This particular dragon fly is one of those animals. Those transparent wings really throws me off, you can see the rocks right through them.

Rock Camouflage
Rock Camouflage

by Sandra J

North East vs North West

North East vs North West

North East vs North West, I drove to the lake to catch the sunset for a change of pace. I was hoping there would be a few clouds, nothing but blue skies even as the sun dipped below the horizon. Clouds sometimes make for a better sunset photo so the sun isn’t so bright glaring into the cameras. So after the sun drops below the horizon we go back to blue hour.

This first photo is facing North East, leaving a cool view of blue and just a touch of pink in the corner.

North East vs North West  Blue sunset

Looking back to the North West, the sun is still leaving just a trace of color on the horizon as it leaves us for another day.

North East vs North West  golden sunset

by Sandra J

The Northern Green Frog

The Northern Green Frog

The Northern Green Frog, well the frog season is about over. The tadpoles have grown up and are marching across the ground as I write this. They are everywhere, this first picture was taken after the thousands of eggs hatched. Each green frog lays about 3000 to 5000 eggs each. It looks like a black cloud swimming in the pond every spring. You can see my video I made here; Amphibians at My Pond

The Northern Green Frog

The first frogs that come up out of hibernation are the Spring Peepers, which I do not have a photo of yet, and now all I see are these green frogs, that circle behind the eye is technically their ears. They feel vibrations, these frogs are the ones that sound like one string on a banjo playing.

The Northern Green Frog

This is mom or dad, who appears to be watching over all the kids in the pool. Believe me when the tadpoles are this small, the frogs seem to be staring at me when I get to close.

The Northern Green Frog

The Northern Green Frog

by Sandra J

What Are Your Words

What Are Your Words

What Are Your Words when you look at this photo. It is hard not to say Awwww 😉

They finally came out of the woods with Mom, I was hoping I would see them while they still had their spots. That is my lilac bush they are both having a look at. Or my Lilac stick, it has not grown much this year.

What Are Your Words

What Are Your Words

by Sandra J

Digital Oil Paintings

Digital Oil Paintings

Digital Oil Paintings – Consider the Lily How they Grow. This first photo is a digital oil painting of the Orange Lily. I like the look that I can create with oil painting my photos. It only works with certain images. It is done with photoshop, under Filters, Stylize and Oil paint. Amazing what technology can do with a little help from me.

Digital Oil Paintings
Digital Oil Paintings

Digital Oil Paintings

by Sandra J

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue My Favorite Color or was it green, I guess I don’t have a favorite. I love them all. Here are a few shades of blue.

Blue Wild Flower

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue Reflections

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue Jay

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue Sky

Blue My Favorite Color

Blue Bird

Blue My Favorite Color

by Sandra J

Varietay Friday

Varietay Friday

Varietay Friday Just a little variety today to finish off the week. This beautiful Sand Hill crane was out in this field as I drove by, so I stopped and took a photo. I have not seen to many of them this year.

Varietay Friday

Don’t fence me in. 🙂

Varietay Friday

Green and Blue work so well together.

Fog and Sunsets – A mystical look from the porch. Have a great weekend.

Varietay Friday

by Sandra J

New Flower to The Garden

New Flower to The Garden

New Flower to The Garden, my neighbor gave me some lily plants from her garden this spring. I put them over by the woods. Well, the deer ate them a couple times as they were starting to grow and they we had a week of late frost when they were just starting to pop up again. So they have not looked very good the last two months. But today I looked out that way and I could see one orange flower as bright as could be.

Amazing how nature finds a way to survive all on its own.

New Flower to The Garden

New Flower to The Garden

by Sandra J

Pink and Green this Wednesday

Pink and Green this Wednesday

Pink and Green this Wednesday, I planted a couple of wild flower seed packets this year and a couple of the flowers are just starting to bloom. I wasn’t sure they were going to make it. I am having unusual luck with my garden this year. Things are growing much better than expected. I have been able to pick produce out of it every day. Such a wonderful feeling to be able to do that.

Pink and Green this Wednesday
pink flower bud
Pink and Green this Wednesday

Pink and Green this Wednesday

by Sandra J

Natures Roving Reporter

Natures Roving Reporter

Natures Roving Reporter, the young red squirrels are out and about. It is hard to tell the difference right now between the young ones and the adults, they are all so small. I have not seen the bears in a few days and I don’t mind that at all, here in the yard.

So I set up a camera on the ground the other day because the squirrels were so active. This one kept sitting right in front of the camera. It probably liked the blinking lights, and then it turned to face the camera and the next photograph appeared.

Natures Roving Reporter

Aka; Little Red – to the locals, she just looked like she was giving an exclusive report as she looked right at the camera. Story has it there is a food shortage going on because of some bears visiting there territory. She interviewed one of the locals first.

Natures Roving Reporter

“The trays are empty”, he yelled at the reporter ” Those darn bears, human won’t put out any food now because of those two.”

Natures Roving Reporter

“I found one little shell left and not a seed in it”, she said quietly.

New Batch of Red Squirrels

So then, Little Red decided she must risk her life and went right to the source of the food shortage. She asked, ” Mr. Tuck, what have you to say about the uproar you are causing to all the critters who want some food?.”

“Hmmm”, he groaned,” I have just one thing to say about that”‘

That answers that question.

yearling black bear cub

It is hot here so my imagination went over board today 🙂 Never stop having fun, Imagination is a terrible thing to waste.

Natures Roving Reporter

by Sandra J

The Colors of Summer

The Colors of Summer

The Colors of Summer, yellow and orange are the colors for today. The little Skipper butterfly’s are starting to disappear and larger more colorful butterfly’s are taking there place. Nature is such a colorful place.

The Colors of Summer
The Colors of Summer
The Color of Summer

The Colors of Summer

by Sandra J

The Yearling Black Bear

The Yearling Black Bear

The Yearling Black Bear, yes even the young bears stick their tongues out at me. Remember when the deer were doing it also last winter in a couple of photos I posted. Well, they are just cleaning up the area, licking all the bugs off of everything and chewing on grass. I just happen to catch them chewing with their mouths open, like we haven’t all had that happen now and then. Happy Friday 💕

yearling black bear
female deer
The Yearling Black Bear
The Yearling Black Bear
The Yearling Black Bear

Have a Wonderful 4th of July as Well

The Yearling Black Bear

by Sandra J

How Fast Time Flies

How Fast Time Flies

How Fast Time Flies, Is it Autumn already? No, just kidding, this is the actual color of the leaves in the center of this particular plant all year long. This plant is called a Ash Leaf Spirea. I am trying to add a little color to the yard.

How Fast Time Flies
How Fast Time Flies
How Fast Time Flies

How Fast Time Flies

by Sandra J

Full Moon and Black Bears

Full Moon and Black Bears

Full Moon and Black Bears, what excitement I had last week starting on Tuesday. This is my first encounter of being this close to Black Bears and they payed me a visit in our yard 3 nights in a row. At first I only saw the young bear when I looked out my cabin window. I thought how cool, it looks like a nice little black bear. But than all of a sudden, Mama bear came out of the woods and I believe my heart skipped a beat, she is just beautiful. The hair rises on my arm just writing about it. (video below)

When we were kids, my siblings and I, our grandfather would ask, ” Who wants to go to the dump?”, one of my most favorite childhood memories. Why you might ask?, we went there to watch the bears come out in the evenings. We did not have movie theaters back then. That was our weekend entertainment and that is where I begin my journey of the love for wild life, from my Grandfather.

Full Moon and Black Bears

I have only seen a couple bears over the last few years. I was beginning to lose hope that I may never see another one. From loss of habitat and food for the animals. So you can guess my delight when I was sitting at the table by the window and saw these two beautiful creatures walk out of the woods.

Full Moon and Black Bears

They were checking out my bird feeders which were pretty much empty, but it kept them entertained for a short while. I slipped out the side door of my cabin to take some photos that would be a little clearer than through the window and then I just stood there and watched them until they wandered back into the woods.

Full Moon and Black Bears

I set up my trail camera for the next night and they came back, actually they visited for 3 nights. I have made a two part video that I will be putting on my You Tube Channel as well.

Some of this video was taken with a trail camera. You can see the full screen version on my You Tube channel by clicking here; The American Black Bear by Sandra J

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Full Moon and Black Bears

by Sandra J

After the Sun Comes Up

After the Sun Comes Up

After the Sun Comes Up , Oh how the garden sparkled this morning. There was a heavy fog early this morning and as the sun was rising and the fog started to disappear, I went out to look at my garden. The water droplets left behind were shimmering and sparkling to my eyes delight. How I love sparkles, the light of the world shinning for our eyes to see, creating a sea of dancing lights that is sure to lighten ones heart first thing in the morning. At least for me.

After the Sun Comes Up

The sunlight is casting shadows behind the droplets of water, these almost look like tiny little light bulbs lit up in green.

After the Sun Comes Up

These are water droplets on my cabbage plant leaves.

After the Sun Comes Up

After the Sun Comes Up

by Sandra J

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters, does anyone else have these little butterflies. There are hundreds and hundreds of them here. I have found out they are called Skipper Butterfly’s. A body of a moth and wings of a butterfly. My cat enjoys trying to catch them though.

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

I finally got a photo of this dragon fly here, he has a blueish tint to him. Now, I could not find the exact name for this one, considering there are over 5000 different species of dragon flies. I will just call him the blue one.

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

Dragonflies get categorized as beneficial insects because they eat so many harmful insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, ants termites, along with other insects and arachnids.

Sight is the dragonfly’s most important sense. Each eye can contain up to 30,000 tiny lenses. That I find to be extremely unique.

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

The wings of dragonflies are mainly composed of veins and membranes, a typical nanocomposite material. The veins and membranes have a complex design within the wing that makes them able to fly like helicopters. In any direction they want to go. Amazing and unique are the little critters of the world.

Have a Great Weekend

Unique Yet Beautiful Little Critters

Selective Color with Daisies

Selective Color with Daisies

Selective Color with Daisies, The yellow centers stand out on their own with daisies in regular photos. But I thought I would try selective color as well. Thinking outside of the box.

Selective Color with Daisies

Daisy’s symbolize innocence and purity. They make up almost 10% of all flowering plants on the planet. Soft white petals are the most iconic daisy look, but they come in lots of other colors. As tough as they are beautiful, daisies are in bloom most of the year and can adapt to almost any environment – they can even live high in the mountains.

Selective Color with Daisies
Selective Color with Daisies

Selective Color with Daisies

by Sandra J

Not Your Every Day Beach

Not Your Every Day Beach

Not Your Every Day Beach, now this beach has some pretty rocks to look at. So different from the white sand beaches off the Gulf of Mexico, this beach is Agate Beach on Lake Superior. I love visiting here and look for agates as I walk along the shore line. I am not sure if I have ever found one, because I don’t know for sure what an agate rock looks like. Even though I have looked at samples on the internet to help me find one.

Not Your Every Day Beach

Hidden under all these pretty rocks are smaller rocks that look like diamonds and other gem stones to me. Because of all the colors, amazing how the water polishes these stones so they just glisten in the sunshine.

rocks at the beach
Not Your Every Day Beach
Not Your Every Day Beach

Not Your Every Day Beach

by Sandra J

The Rain Has Arrived

The Rain Has Arrived

The Rain Has Arrived, we finally got some rain to give all the trees and flowers a bit of a drink of water that was very much needed. I love photographing clouds, everyday is different, everyday I find it relaxing to just sit on the porch and watch the clouds roll on by, changing with the wind. If we could ride on a cloud, it would be like a dream, how far could we go. How much could we see.

The Rain Has Arrived

Watching the clouds reminds me of the song by Cat Stevens, Father and Son,

Take your time, think a lot, think of everything you’ve got. For you will still be here tomorrow but your dreams may not.

The Rain Has Arrived
The Rain Has Arrived
Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

The Rain Has Arrived

by Sandra J

First to Arrive First to Leave

First to Arrive First to Leave

First to Arrive First to Leave, the silky fluff of the dandelion seed. They take over the lawns in the spring and I do enjoy photographing them up close. But they are long gone now until next spring and new flowers have taken their place.

First to Arrive First to Leave
First to Arrive First to Leave
dandelions

What was once dandelions has now turned into Daisy’s and Butterflies – Summer time colors all around.

First to Arrive First to Leave

by Sandra J

The Sun and Moon Eclipse

The Sun and Moon Eclipse

The Sun and Moon Eclipse, this is the clearest photo I could get of the moon passing by the sun. I did not have the correct filter for my camera lens, so I held up a smaller filter that I did have, in front of the lens which caused a little motion blur. But it was still fun to try and capture this photo despite the mosquitos trying to bite us. I created a video as well, with a birds eye view of the sunrise via my husbands drone. You can click the link here; Sunrise and the Eclipse, to see the video.

The Sun and Moon Eclipse
The Sun and Moon Eclipse
The Sun and Moon Eclipse

The Sun and Moon Eclipse

by Sandra J

Sunrise at the Lake

Sunrise at the Lake

Sunrise at the Lake, we went out early on the morning there was the moon/sun eclipse and this is what we saw. I tried to get a photo of the moon passing in front of the sun. But the mosquitos were really bad here by the water. I did have a mosquito netting on, but I did not have the correct filter for the camera lens so they came out pretty blurry. Maybe next time, but it was still a beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise at the Lake
Sunrise at the Lake

Sunrise at the Lake

by Sandra J