Almost a Perfect Heart – I do love going for rides into the country. I enjoy looking at livestock in the pastures. We pulled up to a stop sign at this corner here, I got the camera out because I saw the calf is close enough for a photo.
Then I noticed the heart shaped marking on its for head. How cute is that. 🙂
Abe’s Grill, when we are out traveling, one of the things we like to do is find original places to dine at. Small mom and pop shops where the food is authentic and usually pretty good.
We found this small little hidden jem of a restaurant in Corinth Ms. On this day, Abe, the owner and founder was in the building. He loves to talk and tell the story of how it all came to be.
The man cooking in the this photo is Abe’s son. As you can see, Abe has collected many things in his travels with his wife.
He told us he built this place 52 years ago. He built the place himself with his wife. Back then he made .18 cents an hour. $9.00 a week.
The man in the black shirt is Abe, he actually still works the walk up window and takes the orders from folks there. He hands the order to his wife, who gives it to their son to make. The restaurant is a very narrow place, you can’t help but to talk to folks in that tight of quarters.
We enjoyed our visit with him. Have a great weekend. 🙂
This Old Barn, nothing is prettier than old barns. we came across this one in Indiana. The sign on it says Livery Barn.
A livery barn (or livery stable) was a place, especially in the 1800s and early 1900s, where people could:
Rent horses or horse-drawn vehicles (like buggies or wagons)
Board their own horses temporarily (like a parking garage for horses)
Sometimes get basic blacksmithing or tack repair services
They were usually located in towns near hotels, train stations, or general stores — sort of like today’s rental car lot meets animal boarding facility.
So if you see a sign or reference to a “livery barn,” it’s often connected to a historic setting or an old-fashioned service for travelers.
Northern Flicker, I was sitting on the porch watching this beautiful bird as it is looking for food. I have a pair of these that nest near the cabin every summer.
They love going in the soft dirt of the garden as they hunt for food. I don’t seem to have that many birds this year. But I can always count on seeing a couple of these.
There are treasures in the forest that many never see—not because they aren’t there, but because life moves too fast for most to notice. But when I step into the stillness of the woods, I find a different kind of richness.
Moss growing quietly on stone, like a miniature world of its own. Trees bent and twisted by time and weather, yet still reaching upward in quiet perseverance.
Wildflowers blooming in places no one planted, a gentle reminder that beauty doesn’t need an audience to exist.
Out there, away from the hum of the world, I find a place where I can listen—not with my ears, but with my heart. In the silence, I hear the unspoken words of life.
Of resilience, wonder, and the quiet artistry of our Creator, who placed these treasures not to be rushed past, but to be discovered.
There’s something sacred about the moment a bird soars overhead—whether it’s the commanding wingspan of an eagle, the graceful glide of a pelican, or the mysterious sweep of a raven.
Each flight reminds me that life is vast, full of movement, and always reaching forward. Like wings catching the wind, our dreams and opportunities lift us—sometimes unexpectedly, sometimes after long waiting—but always with purpose.
As I look up and capture these moments, I’m reminded that creation is alive with wonder. From the skies above to the stirrings of our hearts, we were made to rise, to explore, and to be continually amazed by the artistry of the One who gave both wings and dreams.
Video below of Eagle Perched High above me or click HERE, Eagle
As we step into the weekend, I’m reminded how life itself is a canvas—brushed with moments of joy, wonder, and the quiet companionship of our beloved pets.
Whether it’s the soft strokes of fur in a hand-painted portrait or the breathtaking artistry of a sunset sky, we are constantly surrounded by beauty—crafted by my hands, and far more masterfully, by the hand of our Creator.
May this gallery of pet portraits serve as a reminder that art is everywhere, waiting to be seen, felt, and celebrated. Here’s to a weekend filled with inspiration, gratitude, and the simple joy of noticing the beauty that surrounds us.
Is a technique that manipulates how we perceive size and distance in a photo, creating illusions where objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they actually are.
This is achieved by strategically positioning the camera and subjects to play with the viewer’s depth perception.
New Art Form – it is hot across the country this past weekend. So, I go outside for a bit and than back inside.
Being inside, I always have computer work to do of some sort. This past weekend I saw a form of art that I found appealing. I begin researching how I could make a similar version to what I saw. It looked like stencil art to me. It took me most of the weekend, but I figured out how to do a version of it that I like on my computer.
I find it to be a unique art form to add to my collection of animal portraits.
I am still perfecting the tones and textures. Always thinking outside of the box. 🙂
This morning, I watched a raven—a mighty bird in size and strength—being chased off by a much smaller blackbird. The raven didn’t fight back. It simply flew away, retreating from the smaller bird’s fierce determination to protect its territory. I captured the moment with my lens, but it lingered far longer in my heart.
It’s a scene I’ve watched many times in nature, but this time it stirred something deeper. I couldn’t help but think about what’s happening in the world—the constant unrest, the senseless killing in countries across the globe, the headlines filled with pain and violence. It’s relentless. And it’s easy to feel helpless, or worse, numb.
That raven reminded me of how even the strong must sometimes retreat. That courage isn’t always about fighting back—it’s about knowing when to move, when to rise above, and when to find refuge.
In the chaos, I find myself returning to one safe place: my faith in our Creator. The world may roar around us, but there is peace in His presence. There is order, purpose, and rest. It’s not always found in the news or the noise, but in the quiet of morning light, in the beating wings of birds, and in the whisper that reminds me I am held.
Maybe today, instead of trying to make sense of the madness, we simply lift our eyes. We look for beauty. We choose compassion. We stand firm in truth, but we also know when to fly—not in fear, but in wisdom. Just like that raven.
Summer Colors, some wildflowers in Yellow, they are growing in the driveway. My basket of flowers are doing really well so far.
But I have to say, my vegetable garden is not doing well at all. It has been a cold spring. With it being the middle of June, I don’t think I will see much produce before we leave.
Living next to a national forest, I’m always aware that wildlife—especially black bears—can show up anytime, especially in the spring when they’re hungry and looking for food.
At our place, bears usually come out of the woods from the same spot on the east side of our yard. They tend to follow the same paths year after year, especially if they’ve found food there before.
One morning around 6 a.m., I walked out to check on my garden, about 30 feet from our cabin. Like always, I glanced toward the woods as I wandered around. Our Jeep was parked between me and the forest that day, so I didn’t see anything at first. But once I walked past the Jeep and looked up—there she was. A mama bear. Standing just 50 feet away.
I froze and thought, “Oh crap.” I had no phone, no bear spray—nothing.
She started walking slowly, so I did too—heading calmly back toward the cabin. Every time she stopped and looked at me, I stopped. When she looked away and moved, I’d take a few more steps. We did this little dance three times.
Finally, I got within a few feet of the cabin. She looked right at me again, and I quickly slipped around the corner, onto the porch, and into the cabin. I grabbed my small .22 pistol—not to harm her, just to make some noise.
By the time I got back out, she was already running back into the woods. I fired a shot into the air, just to reinforce the message: this isn’t a good place to hang out.
I’d never want to hurt her or her cub, but we do share this land, and it’s important to set boundaries—for safety on both sides. I haven’t seen her since, and I’ve decided not to put out any bird food for the rest of the summer.
Video below of baby bear getting up on the table or click this link HERE, Baby Bear
Part 2 Mama Bear – the other day a bear came out of the woods. Just the one, looking around. Then to my surprise her cub comes wandering out of the woods as well.
Needless to say, I have put my one bird feeder away. Normally it takes a few days of the bears coming back to look for food. But once the source is gone. They go on their way looking else where for food.
I don’t want them hanging around, so the birds will have to move onto someone else feeders as well. But it is always nice to see them about once a year.
Southern Porches – I love porches on houses and down south they have some beautiful ones with giant pillars and inviting rocking chairs.
I saw this one as we were out driving around and took the photo through the window of the jeep.
I had to edit it just a bit to add some soft glowing porch lights in the lanterns and brighten the flowers and leaves. Sometimes our cameras don’t always pick up exactly what I see.
June is Here and some storm clouds rolling by. Interesting cloud shapes above, I was standing next to our Jeep looking at the clouds when I noticed the reflection in the hood of the jeep. Makes for an interesting shot. 🙂
Singing a Song as they are walking along. These Sandhill cranes were very vocal this morning. A short video below showing them strolling through the meadow singing.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Short video of these Sandhill Cranes calling back and forth. Or click this link here; Sandhill Crane Call Songs
Wildlife in my Backyard – the sandhill cranes are back. I would love to get a photo of them flying.
They have a pretty impressive wingspan like the blue herons do.
The white tailed deer still look pretty scruffy. Losing the winter coats. Walking amongst the dandelions. They could eat some of those dandelions, I sure would not mind.
The Collie is a graceful, intelligent, and loyal dog breed. It is known for its elegant appearance. It has a thick double coat and a distinctive long, narrow nose. There are two main varieties of Collies. The Rough Collie has long, flowing fur, like Lassie. The Smooth Collie has a shorter, dense coat.
Why the Collie Has a Long Nose:
The Collie’s long nose, or dolichocephalic head shape, enhances its function as a herding dog. This elongated snout improves airflow during sustained physical activity. It may also enhance vision, especially peripheral vision. This helps them keep an eye on livestock over wide fields. Additionally, the streamlined head contributes to the breed’s refined and alert expression, one of its most iconic features.
This dog is my nieces dog. A very smart dog as well. They are beautiful dogs for sure. Have a great weekend. 🙂
