Moon in the Afternoon

Swirly Weather

These are all from two days ago (July 27), taken near Lola's as some late afternoon storms moved through Topeka.

July Moon, 070609

Just a couple of views of the moon at Lake Shawnee last night. I don't have any good ones of moon + trees or moon + water. I was having some trouble with the focus on the camera.

My apologies...

I apologize for the lack of pictures here the past month. Between working, socializing, and fussing with a hurt knee, I just haven't been out doing pictures like I should have, at least not here in Topeka.

I do have some nice pictures of barn swallows but they are in Lawrence so they don't belong on this blog. If you'd like to see them anyway, they're on Flickr.

Perhaps I'll sneak out into this much cooler day and see what I can find.

Family Outing

"My" doves up on the neighbors' porch roof this evening. The neighbors arrived home in the middle of my photo shoot so I had to explain about the birds, lest they think the weird neighbor lady was up to no good somehow.

Last Look?

Two pictures of a still-young dove who returned to the redbud tree today. Perhaps just taking a last look at the home it grew up in?

New Kids On The Block

A youngster in the grass, trying to stay still and hide from the evil photographer lady.



A juvenile robin on the back fence, still hoping Mom or Dad will bring him some groceries.




The nest we've been watching has some new residents! The eggs hatched on an unknown date, and this is the first time I've seen a baby. He or she has quite a few feathers already, and as you can see, a parent is still lurking close by in the background.


A closer view. What a cutie! There may be another one right behind it, in front of the parent bird.


A couple of days later, looking more like a mourning dove all the time.


And just one day later, May 22, the nest looks empty. Everyone moved somewhere else.

More birds for my world, and that makes me very happy.

More Like It

May sky, no clouds, green life! About 68 F. Yeah, this is more like it.

The Next Generation

There's no doubt why my yard is full of dandelions, is there?

Hiding in Plain Sight

A pair of Mourning Doves decided to nest in our backyard redbud tree. I'm amazed that I was able to capture a couple of pictures of a bird on the nest. The top one was April 28, the bottom one today, May 3, just a little while ago.

I understand the male and female Mourning Doves take turns on the nest. I found it in the first place while they were changing shifts. I'm looking and listening for babies, and hoping they don't become snacks for the neighborhood roaming cats.

THE lovely color of Kansas in Spring...

Redbud in full bloom in our backyard...glad I took it yesterday, it may be buffeted to little purple shards by the storms today and those to come tonight...

More Spring Colors

Tulips in Ward Meade Park, 041909


More tulips in Gage Park, 041909

Spring Has Purple Beauty...

And many other colors, too. These are tulips from Gage Park today. There will be more pictures to come. Aren't these almost too gorgeous?

April '09 Full Moon at Lake Shawnee

Can you see the moon in this picture?



Now you can...



The moon escaping the trees...



And now, of course, there are two moons to adore.

Geese, Lake Shawnee

Joined by this fine pair of Canada geese at Lake Shawnee while out to take Moon pictures.

Taraxacum officinale

The real flower of Spring...tough as nails; neither ice nor sleet nor snow nor anything else the Kansas weather can throw at it will discourage it at all. Named for its leaves, from the French for "tooth of the lion," and able to set seed without pollination. A true survivor.

The Treachery of March

Springing Forth (Stereotypically)

Daffy...


Down...


Dilly!

Bark in the Park

Topeka has had a Bark Park for some time, on one of the old softball practice fields in Gage Park. It's now new and improved, sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition, whose corporate offices reside here.



It's a place where dogs and their people can run around and have fun with other dogs and people.



Some dogs really get into it.




My own dog, Mitzi, can't go to the Bark Park because she violates Rule #5 above: Aggressive dogs are not permitted. We tried, but she couldn't restrain herself. She's the poster child for "It's not the size of dog in the fight, it's the size of fight in the dog."

And then!

Spring Is Bustin' Out...maybe not all over, but in my backyard.

And...

February's last gasp.