Canadian Geese with babies

These Canadian Geese photos were taken some where in southwest Virginia, June 2008.

I know it was not at Hungry Mother Campground, but it was somewhere close to Marian, Virginia. In the area of the Laurel Valley Church I posted last summer. Probably could never find this little spot again. I was just roaming the roads while Jimmy was at work. I only went with him to Marian one time in the 7 months he was there. Got lots of photos in those 2 days.

American Goldfinch feeding

The American Goldfinch do seem to like this feeding location. I place the water there when the birdbath freezes.

Well, they have a visitor. Trusty ole House Finch has come to visit.

Look how much larger the House Finch is than the Goldfinch.

Bald Eagle

These photographs of a Bald Eagle were taken at the Florida Birding FotoFestival, April 2008.

Yes, this Eagle is in captivity, due to an injury. It was one of 3 birds they had on display. They also had a Hawk and Owl.

But while at the festival I did see 7 different Eagles. Five adults and 2 immature.

Naturally none were this close. It was wonderful seeing him as he screaming. There was no doubt where the name Screaming Eagle comes from.

This past July while enjoying some leasure time on the back deck I saw an Eagle fly straight over head. Naturally I did not have my camera in hand. Jimmy and I discussed this Eagle looked like he was on a mission. He was moving on, fast. I was checking out the information about Dolly Parton's eagle program the other day and found out they released several Eagles this past summer, from Douglas Lake. I live between Douglas and Cherokee lakes. Ginther has been seen as far away as Indiana, and Betsy Ross has been spotted in Canada, both in September.

Deer in the snow at Cades Cove

These deer photographs were taken March 8, 2008 at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For the last 2 years we have not had as much rain as we needed. We are trying to make up for it in 2 days. Not good! The rivers are cresting this morning. Centers are opening up for the people that have to leave their homes. Snow days I have heard of, but rain days? The schools are closed all over East Tennessee this morning.

Fall in the Smoky Mountains

Fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is always beautiful no matter what part you are visiting.

The top 2 photographs were taken from Newfound Gap close to sunrise.

Notice those 'Blue Ridges' in the 2nd photo.

The last photo is along one of the many roads in the park.

A reminder of nicer weather than we are experiencing right now.

Chickadee came to visit

The Chickadees don't come to the feeders close to the house.

They only visit the tree line close to the road. I do also have a feeder there.

Guess there is not enough protection around my house for them.

This was my first attempt at using the blind and I placed the blind too far from the food.

After I took these photos I moved to the deck and placed the blind in the middle of my deck and saw how VERY close I could place it. I posted the first photos of the Goldfinch from the blind.

Early Stage of Waterlily Buds

Various waterlily buds we saw while visiting Perry's Water Garden in North Carolina.

Not sure about this one, would have loved to seen one of these open. May not even be a water lily, but obviously it is a water plant.

There were lots of dragonflies around that day, but they were very active.
So they were very hard for me to capture with my camera.

Sandwich Tern in flight at St Pete Beach

This Sandwich Tern photo was taken at St Pete Beach, October 2008.

Rockwood outbuilding

This 'paper' nest is inside one of the out buildings at the house in Rockwood. Jimmy says it is a wasp nest, but it does not look like one to me. Each of the tubes is so long, looks like something else to me.

I showed some of this building in the original post about the house in Rockwood. This building is behind the house, has 3 bays for cars. The appearance of the whole building is not that great, because it has the newer metal doors and I think it takes away from the appearance of the old look.

This light fixture is a great example of what I don't like. Oh, and the house had a tarp on the roof when we bought the house. That tarp is garbage now (we have a roof!), and but now there is a tarp on this old building. Probably won't get a new roof on it until Spring, but Jimmy will do that work himself.

Last week Jimmy and his brother stepped through the garage opening below this loft and a yellow tabby tom cat leaped out of this opening and went for the woods. Guess we also got ourselves a barn cat.

Possibly a better photograph of the nest. You can click to enlarge.

Sunrise Watts Bar Lake - Sky Watch - January 1

Watching the sunrise over Watts Bar Lake from Spring City, Tennessee.

Please visit Sky Watch for sky photographs from all over the world.

Wintertime American Goldfinch

These photographs of the American Goldfinch were taken from my new 'blind' I got for Christmas. The blind I received is actually a hunter's blind, but my hubby could not find a photographer's blind.

These photographs have not been cropped at all.

I love the blind, I sure am glad I got it for Christmas. I just set it up on my deck and crawled in. The Goldfinch first had to check it out, and at one point I was afraid he was going to join me on the inside, but then he flew on over to enjoy his meal.

Happy New Year's everybody!!!!