land of wonder ~ cranes

While running errands in the big-little city, a family of Sandhill Crane walked right towards me like they owned the place. Check out the little Colt on the left LOL! There is always one in the crowd.

Did you know crane babies were called colts? Me either. Google says "They get this name because they are able to walk and even run within a day of hatching, similar to a young horse (colt), and also due to their long legs." 

Um, they were getting kinda close. I was a couple parking stalls away from Mr. (?) Crane when I decided to get out of the determined families way, and go inside to buy my seed. 

Apparently this Crane family are regular visitors to the bird store's little outdoor feeder area. It is surrounded by a very very busy parking lot. Surprising it would be their choice. There is nothing but businesses & busy streets in the area. There must be a nearby retention pond somewhere. How these slow moving birds survive city living/cars is a mystery to me.

Back to our land, where it is much quieter. Well, not the Crane. They are still LOUD! We have 2-4 Cranes who chose to hang out on our land. They think they own the place and surrounding fields. We see them everywhere. On the daily. Brad even had to “herd” Crane while cutting hay yesterday. If you've ever shared space with them, you know they take their sweet time getting out of the way. 

Nemo is not sharing his pasture

(pair of crane above left of decorative whirly gig)

I knew cranes mated for life, but learned they can live up to 20 years. A couple days ago, I decided to haul my big camera and mid lens on my daily dog walk. I was so glad I did! We rounded a corner and yikes!! Four Crane squawked, flew up out of nowhere and startled the dogs and I.

I try to preset camera settings that I think will work for potential conditions. I rarely use rapid fire anymore. Predict then click, is how I like to shoot action. More challenging and less photos to sort.

up, up and away

Things got exciting when the crane circled back overhead!! I may or may not have yelled "YESSS!" They continued to be loud. Warning? Scolding? Or both. Not sure.

these three took off together

Crane four trying to catch up

all lined up, including Crane four

I almost forgot how fun shooting birds is! The rest of my camera pics from this walk to come, with a different focus.

land of wonder ~ wings

Early Summer a large winged wonder caught Brad's keen eye. 

Polyphemus Moth
6.16.25

Yes, it looks dead. At least we thought it was dead. After humming-n-hawing, Brad gently flipped it over so we could see what the other side looked like. Suddenly, it flapped it's huge wings and flew off with vigor. Gasp!

We were SO surprised!! It had pretty wings, with a large colorful dot on each. It flew up and over the top of our barn. We had never seen anything like this winged wonder before. Whatever it was sure found a funny way & place to rest. Of course I looked it up. 

Nature is a.m.a.z.i.n.g and offering endless learning opportunities. 

I walked out of our garage and found one of my favorite flutterby's basking on the sunny concrete. 

Red-Spotted Purple
6.17.25

I find it so interesting the underside wings have orange/red spots, and the top side wings are a gorgeous metallic blue. 

perhaps gathering trace minerals, similar to puddling
(16 seconds)

Why are things in nature that are clearly blue named purple, and some flowers vis-versa?

I spotted a new (to me) winged wonder while walking our wooded hollow. Google came up with yet another name that made me go, huh?

False Crocus Geometer Moth
6.19.25

I find natures marking patterns fascinating!!! There is an obvious difference in butterflies this season. Numbers are drastically down, at least on our land. I finally spotted a small Monarch that wasn't floating up and away. Of course the dogs scared it away before I could get a better shot. Sigh.

7.9.25

I was so bummed when the dogs scared yet another Monarch. It would have been prettier taken from the other side of my Hydrangea blooms. The blooms are just starting to change over to semi-pink! 

7.25.25

No doubt you are asking yourself, why doesn't she leave the dogs inside while in search of butterflies, and 'ahem use her big girl camera. I do. Once in a while. So far this year I have only found common wings. You know how that goes, when you are not looking the unusual appears.

Silver Spotted Skipper (?) on Hoary Vervain

Pink-Edged Sulpher on Zinnia

Thank goodness I started a few Zinnia plants inside!!

7.29.25

land of wonder ~ clouds

Our turbulent Summer weather has been producing some pretty amazing clouds. They absolutely fascinate me!! I will take partly cloudy over boring full sun any day of the week.

Spending time on this blessed land has opened my eyes even wider to the ever morphing shapes in the sky. Clouds on the north side of the river are closer to those of us on the ground. Really, they are!! I've been told "it is the river effect". 

6.26.25

during light rain
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wider view of above

sunset creates intense colored clouds
7.11.25

close up of above
(no additional enhancement)

Some days I can't see much further than our windows, but views are still entertaining.

hummer window feeder taken through glass

Wide open views draw me outside, even when I cannot see clouds or the sky.

south west

north west

clouds that make you go hmm?
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The depth and light on clouds stop me in my tracks. Why are they so low? or are they??

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Clouds make a beautiful sunset jaw dropping.

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layered veil clouds (close-up of above)

better look quick, before the clouds swim away



yesterday evening I was floating and pondering clouds
7.26.25

one twirl around my tiny cowgirl pool and the entertainment changed

 this mornings view of Nemo & Cierra quickly gave way to boring full sun
7.27.25

give it a few minutes


~~~

It is SO dang gum hot outside, I might just keep my head in the cool clouds.

land of wonders ~ july version 1/2

The consistent rain continues this Summer and so do the fun(gi) finds. Some growths pop up willy nilly and disappear just as randomly. Others hang around and offer daily observation. Until they eventually give back to Mother Earth.

Photos have to be taken quickly while swatting mosquitos, even with my iphone.

The Woodland Fairies built a tiny canoe shaped cover to deal with the rain.
Complete with parasols, of course :)
7.1.25

hidden cactus started blooming mid-June and continue into July
7.3.25

wild milkweed getting ready to bloom

we only have a few monarchs fluttering about this year

so many dewy webs

orange coral continues morphing
(first spotted june 20th)


someone left lights on inside the tree


Two Lips are back. Not normally white.

I have seen a lot of white mushrooms this season.
One can only assume due to our excess rain.


The Blob mushrooms

Dainty horse nettle blooms.

dipped in white chocolate

Google ID says parasitic "bolete mould"

freshly "salted" golden mushrooms

I've been told they are as delicious as Morels.

Two days later they looked like this:

 I have always thought of these as wild Morning Glories,
but Google says they are Hedge Bindweed.

a larger parasol

I find the details interesting.

various Red mushrooms started appearing


No, I do not touch anything fungi/moldy with or without gloves.

Hoary Vervain, a wild type of Verbena

I leave the wild things grow where they please, but also grow these in my Butterfly Garden :)

Daily Surprises are here today, gone tomorrow

Two Lips, not fully formed. 

Yes, these are my given names.

yucky sponge

Google says it is an older version of the white chocolate mushroom above.
Perhaps.



Large Velvety and Yellow (commonly seen at bottom of trees)



fairy spa

this fuzzy wuzzy was not a bear



white phalic looking mushroom popped up and lasted for days
(ha! edit comment)

a couple days of finding fuzz

tan coral finally appeared & is very common in our woods



Cinnamon colored tops started popping up

same Orange Coral has lasted over 3 weeks
7.13.25

Tank says "every day in the woods is an adventure!!"
7.15.25