A Little Bit of Nature

Just a few pictures of things that caught my eye on Badlands Trail at Miami Whitewater Forest.

I really like this shot the more I look at it...I find it quite unique.

There is a bench about half way through the trail that I usually just pass by.  However, this happened to be a pretty hot day and I was loaded down with two water bottles and some extra stuff.  So, I decided to sit down and look up and around before I continued on the trail.  This was the view as I looked up.  Nice shade on a hot and humid day.

Little peeks of yellow.

Clusters at the base of a tree.

Little Treasures

Yet another white butterfly.

One of the many plump berries along the trail.

More white blooms.

Sparkly froth.

Paw paw?  You tell me...please.

Friends Along the Trail

Pretty little white butterfly.

Pretty little guy I caught napping.

His mate is snoozing too.

My camera woke him up...sorry little guy.  I imagine him giving me the Aflac duck voice, "What???!"

His colors are awfully pretty though.

This and That

My little duck friend...I almost missed him!  I missed a lot of pics that day...a quick little toad....a chipmunk....and a cardinal...I'm thankful for this little guy.

Can't quite tell what all these patterns are in the bottom of the creek..silt, sand?  Any way, I thought the designs were pretty.

Not sure what these little things are growing out of the log, but glad I took this picture...it was gone the next day.

A pretty little somethin' somethin' growing along the trail.

That blob of white at the bottom is a cute little butterfly.

All About Hershey & Leroy

A couple of weeks ago, one of my favorites from STAF passed away.  When I first volunteered at STAF, Hershey was living in one of the rooms I cleaned.  Soon they moved her to a different room where she lived with other cats who had some health issues.  I stopped in from time to time to visit with her.  Then she was eventually moved to the vet room because she had been losing weight and they wanted to keep a close eye on her.  She recently died from FIP.  I wish I had taken one last picture of her when she was in the vet room, but she was all curled up sleeping, so I didn't want to disturb her.  Here are two pictures of Hershey, she was a tiny little tortie and very sweet. 

One of other favorites is Leroy, he also lived in the one of the rooms that I clean.  He, too has been living in the vet room for at least several months. He was also losing weight and has liver disease.  Leroy is quite a character.  He is deaf and even though he "lives" in the vet room, he has the freedom to roam the halls.  He usually greets me and I'm sure others, seeking attention.  Here are some shots of Leroy before he moved to the vet room.

Now that Leroy roams the halls he has been known to sneak out any way he can to try and visit the dogs or hangout on the dock or wherever he can go.  Apparently, he likes to hop a ride on our supply carts as we push them through the hallways and onto the dock.  You will usually find Leroy waiting for the door to open between the cat halls and the outer rooms near the kitchen and dock.  Here are some shots of Leroy from May 25, 2012.

Here he is hanging by the door waiting for his chance to roam even farther...I like his reflection in the door.

Here he is sitting atop a cage in the hallway waiting for some of that extra special food AND attention he gets from all the passersby.  Love this little guy!

Feline Friday May 25, 2012

For the last several weeks I have been working in a third room at Save the Animals Foundation.  I usually clean rooms 6 & 8, but because we've been short handed, I've picked up room 7 too.  Room 7 is a small room where some very beautiful cats live.  They all seem to be very mellow, well-behaved, and best of all...fairly neat and clean!

Here are some of the residents of room 7 - unfortunately I don't recall their names - it's not that the cats are unforgettable, I just have a lousy memory.

More Backyard Critters

Female Cowbird

Male and Female Cowbird.  All birds don't have beautiful bright plumage, but those are the ones I like to study a bit closer.  They are all so different in various ways.  I like the bands of colors on the male cowbird.

Male Cardinal

Chickadee

Backyard Critters

Had to snap a picture of my sweet little Willow who we are still trying to get her Cushing's Disease under control.  The last couple of days she's been improving and her desire to stay out in the yard and hunt down squirrels and other critters has made us realize that she is definitely feeling better!  She no longer moans while she's sleeps...but she still snores, but that's OK!  ;-)

One day I was in a funk and didn't feel like hiking, so I pulled up a chair on the patio and took a few shots of the birds in our backyard who visit our feeders.  Mama Cardinal with a goodie in her beak.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught this little bird at the feeder.  He was in and out so quick I thought it was a Whitebreasted Nuthatch, but on second look it looks more like a Chickadee.  Too bad I didn't get it's head in the picture...oh well.

Interesting Sights

Found this little guy sitting on our back fence.  He let me get so close to him.  I think it's a young robin.  He's so cute!

Here he is again at a different angle.  Love his downy wisps on the top his head.

 

Thought these were quite different looking.

 Not sure what treasures these are growing up out of the ground, but very odd looking.

Don't know what these are either, but not something I've seen before.