Ventures In Photos: 06/01/2016

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Caught in the Act - 30 June 2016

Lucy and I went for a short ride thru the countryside last evening. We came upon this pretty white tail deer on moose road (a story for another time).

Stop, Look and Listen

Soy, a healthy alternative from corn?

Moving right along.

Finding joy in simple pleasures.

It's the Neighborly Thing to Do - 30 June 2016

While checking on the neighbor's place,

I snapped a picture of their fence and flowers.

Joining Good Fences w/Theresa

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

🎶 Summertime and the Livin' . . .

is easy 🎶

Joining Black and White Wednesday w/Adrienne
and
Foto Tunes w/Tom

Crooning - 29 June 2016

'Sinatra' ?

Joining Wordless Wednesday w/Sue

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Cliff Dwellers of Pennsylvania - 29 June 2016

In the past, for me, all these swallows did (which I assumed were barn swallows) was make a bunch of ruckus. Until last week, when I decided to 'pay ready attention' to what they were up to. As often happens it turned out to be quite interesting.

At some point they chose this bridge.

Which just happened to include a spot primed to become muddy.

Here is one of the crew checking out the natural resources.

And the work began.

As they came swooping down and collecting mud

for the structure and upkeep of their 'Cliff Dwellings'.

"Will you ever call me a Barn Swallow again?"

Not now that I have been educated and I know that they are Cliff Swallows.

Cliff Swallow

The Cliff Swallow is somewhat similar in appearance to the Barn Swallow. The back, wings, and crown of the adult is a deep blue like the Barn Swallow, but the Cliff Swallow has a light belly, chestnut-colored face, dark throat, and pale gray nape. Three field marks especially useful in distinguishing the Cliff Swallow from the Barn Swallow are the white forehead, buff rump, and short, squared-off tail. The Cliff Swallow also has two white streaks down its back. Juveniles are brown above, buff below, and have varying numbers of small white spots on their foreheads and throats.

Cliff Swallows have tidy, well-constructed nests, formed from balls of mud that they collect in their beaks. Many have adapted to nesting on man-made structures, especially under bridges and freeways.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Last One In's a Rotten Egg - 29 June 2016

Children often say this to get their friends to join in something, especially to jump into a swimming pool (pond, lake, ocean, etc.) When one says it, all of the others run as quickly as possible to get into the swimming pool and not be the last one in.

Joining Water World Wednesday w/Kim

(last one in's a rotten egg)

Monday, June 27, 2016

Treasured Memories of One Room Schools - 28 June 2016

On a Sunday drive through the countryside where my ancestors lived, we passed this former one room schoolhouse.
A member of our family research FB group told me it was the Thompson School and probably closed after the 1962-63 school year.

I'm curious about the second foundation. The stonework matches that of the school.

Since I too attended a one room school (not this one), my memories of treasured days come flooding back. Am I showing my age or what?

Joining Tuesday Treasures w/Tom

Lakeside Meadow Rose Bush - 27 June 2016

I think it's a Meadow Rose Bush. Unless it's a Rose Carolina bush or a Rose Virginiana bush. The good news is it is not an invasive rose. We have plenty of that with the Multiflora Rose.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a frequently referenced part of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo is from her rival's house of Montague, that is, that he is named "Montague."

This particular beauty is on the lake shore at the state park.

Joining Trees and Bushes

Sunday, June 26, 2016

A Touch of Red 26 June 2016

A touch of summer red here and there atMuldoon.

This Cardinal was singing his heart out when I spied him atop the weather vane. And the Ruby Throat-ed Hummingbird has been stopping by every evening of late.