Beauty All Around

Today's post features beauty in a variety of forms.

I trust you will enjoy these scenes as much as I did when I captured them.

Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I love visiting the A Rocha site nestled at the edge of the Pembina Valley. On a recent Saturday I had the pleasure of going there again. This time I was accompanied by my granddaughter Kai and her Mom Anita.

We spent a few delightful hours on site,enjoying the beauty of creation.

Getting a picture of Kai is not easy.She may have been in front of her Daddy's camera once too often. I did manage this quick shot while she was busy checking out the outdoor pizza oven.

I have been told that pizza out of this oven is perfect in every way. I hope they prove that to me some day. LOL

Kai was thrilled to see a batch of baby kittens.She couldn't wait for me to see them and insisted that I take a picture of them,so here they are.They were only a few days old.

 

 This Grandma was more interested in seeing all the beautiful flowers.Don't get me wrong,I love animals and baby kitties are very cute.

These yellow flowers brighten up the gardens at A Rocha.

Here is a sight that brought a smile to my face. The combination of colours is pleasing and I like that one lone pink Poppy standing tall among the other flowers.

I had to get a picture of just the Poppy. Isn't it a pretty little flower.

Delicate yet bright. Those papery petals are charming and for me,a lover of pink,so is the colour.

Purple Bee Balm and the ever present yellow flowers,for which I don't have a name.

I guess I just don't worry about the correct name,but rather enjoy the beauty I see.

I wish I could take all of you with me to A Rocha. Perhaps we could have a pizza party there.

Until that happens,I can at least share my pictures with you.

Thought for today:

Direct my footsteps according to Your Word.

Psalm 119:133

Flowers

Time seems to pass by so quickly and I fail to get regular posts up and running.

Here are a few pictures from recent excursions.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did when I captured them.

Driving along one evening,I spotted the thistles and stopped to get a picture or two.

What I had not noticed were these small white flowers which were growing right alongside of the thistles.The low light of the almost setting sun gave a pleasing warmth to the scene.

Seeing these bright flowers against the green of the surrounding trees and foliage caught my eye.This was taken at one of my favourite places,A Rocha,in the Pembina Valley.

At this same place they pointed out to me this Monarch chrysalis which was close to opening.

I wish I could have been there the next day,as I am sure the butterfly emerged at that time.

A simple flower and a small butterfly or most likely a Skipper,gave me reason enough to raise the camera to my eye and capture the moment.

I loved this bright red flower growing through the ribbon grass.The contrast was striking and in my mind worthy of a picture.

Thought for today:

You areYOU.

There is only one YOU.

And YOU are important.

BY:Charles Swindoll

Flowers and More

With all the hot weather we are having,my cameras have not been as busy as I would like.I do however have a few pictures I want to share with you.

I see very few flowers that are a true blue. Well this one in my eyes is as blue as can be.I think this is a Larkspur,but I do know that I love that intense blue colour.No,I have not enhanced in during editing.

Purple Coneflowers are a flower I can always count on. It doesn't seem to matter if it is hot and dry or cool and wet,they will bloom.This one is taken in my garden.

I spent an evening with friends recently and since we all enjoy taking pictures,after supper we headed out into the pasture.Thistles were just beginning to open,so I chose to capture the back side of this blossom.

Back on their yard I spied this little gem.It looked so cheerful with that bright yellow centre. This is a fairly small flower tucked away in the back of the garden. To me this proves that I don't have to have centre stage to shine for God.

A week or two ago,I was out with a couple of ladies.We had been searching for photo opportunities and now the sun was setting fast.

As I drove into the Pembina Valley,I saw this.I quickly pulled over and got out of the car.The deer is much too far away and the light was very low,the image is not sharp,but I like it anyway.

Thought for today:

Each time you pick a daffodil

Or gather violet on some hill

Or touch a leaf or see a tree,

It's all God whispering,

"This is Me".

For You My Friend

I am aware that some of my blogging friends are going through a difficult time and so with that in mind I am dedicating this post to those of you who are in any kind of trying circumstances.

You may be finding yourself struggling with health issues or the failing health of a loved one or even weather related problems,I trust that this picture will bring you a sense of peace.

A scene overlooking the beautiful Pembina Valley.

To me this picture speaks peace. When I am standing at this spot and I see this,I feel a deep sense of inner peace and contentment.

I hope it does the same for you.

 God's love does not keep us from trials;it helps us through them.

Wildflowers bloom in profusion,spreading their cheer all around.

These may be simple flowers but they are so brightly coloured that they are like yellow lights among the grass.

Purple Delphiniums wind their stems around a rustic bird house.

The little bird who makes his home here will have flowers gracing the front door.

A single stem of purple Delphiniums stands tall in another part of the garden.

I trust that as you look at these pretty flowers they will bring a smile to your heart and help to lift a heavy load you may be bearing.

As the sun sets it spreads a warm glow through a stand of trees.

As in life we may have trying days,but always God's love shines it warm light through the darkness.

Thought for today:

I was thinking of YOU today and just wanted you to know how important you are to me.

Pictures That Make Me Smile

Spending time at a local marsh has proved to be successful. I have taken many pictures which make me smile.

Here are a few of them.

Along a country road I found a patch of thistles and so had the butterflies.

There were numerous butterflies fluttering from flower to flower.

This Fritillary stopped long enough for me to get some good shots.

Here is just one of the many I captured that day.

This is not a butterfly,but some sort of moth. 

I am fascinated by it's colourful body and those antennae which look like little feathers.

You cannot see the body here,but it has bright blue on it as well.

At the marsh I usually see a Great Blue Heron,unfortunately he sees me as well and soon leaves.I liked how this picture turned out. It looks like the Mallard is chasing him,when in fact it was also trying to get away from the photographer.

 You knew that there would be more American Avocet pictures,right?

I cannot help myself so I just keep on shooting whenever I am in their presence.

I really like the reflections in this picture.In the background you can see the heavy algae bloom on the water.

And finally,this is my very favourite picture.

This is as it came out of the camera,no cropping or any adjustments.

I love it when a picture turns out like this one.

I still smile when I look at it,hope you will as well.

Thought for today:

No act of kindness,no matter how small,is ever wasted.

American Avocet and More

AS many of you know by now,I love birds and so with my new camera in hand,I headed off to a marsh near my home.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of American Avocets here.

I had never photographed these before and had not seen them since 1992 or so.

Of course there is always beauty in the surrounding countryside.

A distant field of Canola adds a bright splash of colour here.

Not to be outdone in the colour department is the Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Here was the primary focus of this visit to the marsh.A Pair of American Avocets.

These birds are graceful both in the water and in the air.

I have many pictures of these birds and more will surface on this blog in the days and weeks ahead.I could hardly stop taking pictures.

The water is covered in algae,but that green slime kind of adds interest to these pictures.

Even an Avocet gets an itch once in a while.

Thought for today:

TGIF

This usually stands for:

Thank goodness it's Friday.

Here is another version:

Thank God I'm forgiven!

How about you?