Photography

Finally Caught a Butterfly

/ Jodi / 6 Comments

butterfly 2

Patience is a virtue I don’t have much of, and photographing nature – especially the living, MOVING stuff (like birds and butterflies and animals) – takes it.

butterfly

So I was super excited when I had the chance to quietly sneak up on this beauty that practically matches these posies on our deck it was enjoying this weekend.

(Sneaking up reminds me of one of Pap’s classic jokes – totally off the subject – but because I can hardly ever remember jokes, and I don’t know why I remember this silly one – unless maybe because he told it approximately 4,823 times that I can recall – here goes)

Q:  How do you catch a unique rabbit?

A:  You neak up on it.

Q:  How do you catch a tame one?

A:  Tame way

LOL!  HaHa! HeeHee!  Snicker Snicker!  🙂

butterfly 3

So YAY!  And Check!  Get to cross this one off my list.  (the photo opp – not the joke! 🙂 )

Still working on the stinkin’ hummingbird.  Those dang things move really fast!   Caught a few shots yesterday, but not good enough to share…. yet.

Happy Monday!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

POST NOTE:  Showed my “butterfly” pictures to Marty…   and he thinks it is a moth……..  😦

Anybody know?  What do you think?

Did some research here at the The Library of Congress Reference Services … and I’m thinking because of the antennae and the way it held it’s wings – it’s a butterfly…

Anxious to hear expert opinions!

Oh well – I still think it is beautiful – eh?

Birds in our Backyard – Better than Bravo TV

/ Jodi / 3 Comments

wetbird2
Birds have to eat – even when it is pouring down rain.

But really, Buddy – couldn’t you have waited a little bit longer for this torrential stuff to stop – eh?!

Look how SOAKED this poor little guy is?
———-

I’m thinking it is a true sign of – ahem – middle age – err – approaching senior when you start loving to watch birds….  Please prove me wrong friends, and say it isn’t so!

When Marty first started putting up birdfeeders and watching birds and getting bird books and binoculars and telescopes and citing them by name (we think this is a rose-breasted grosbeak, but correct me if I’m wrong), I laughed.

(Just like when he started listening to country music years ago, and I poo pooed it, until one day I realized I was singing along too!) OY VEY!

But Dangit – I gotta say – I’m into this bird watching stuff now too!

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Our back deck looks out into the woods, and it is practically a bird sanctuary.

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To just listen to them singing all day is quite amazing, but to see them flying around, feeding, sometimes fighting over the feeders, bringing their families in – wow – it’s quite mesmerizing. (Sure beats the multitude of episodes of Housewives and Kardashians, which I have finally and completely tired of!)

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Look at this cute little one waiting it’s turn.

IMG_9233Yep – I’ve become a bird watcher…

I’ve yet to capture my favorite pair of yellow finches.  I think I get so fascinated watching them, I forget to grab my camera.

I also want to capture some of the other woodpeckers (several varieties hanging out here) and the beautiful orange bellied orioles and vibrant red cardinals, but have not been successful yet.

MIkey deck

Even Mikey likes to watch them…

And they tolerate him 🙂

Yep – bird watching in our backyard is better than Bravo – any day – rain or shine….

at Life In Between.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Sunday at the (Pittsburgh) ZOO!

/ Jodi / 4 Comments

monkey

I’ve been hinting… maybe begging… alright – PLEADING with Marty for months now to go to the Zoo.

leopardIt’s been FOREVER since we’ve gone.  Probably 15 years or so since going on field trips to the zoo when the boys were young.

tiger 2So you can only imagine my surprise and excitement

tiger yawnwhen Marty woke up Sunday morning, and I asked him what he was thinking about for the day…

tigerand he said, “Well – You’ve been wanting to go to the zoo….”

monkey 2

Ya – ahem – I’ve mentioned it maybe a few… (hundred) times….

elephantSo guess where we went?!

gorilla

You got it!  Woohoo!  The ZOO!!

red pandaIt was cool to see the new Red Panda (which looks more like a raccoon) – eh?

galapagos turtleand the giant Galapagos tortoises (that moved way faster than I would have expected!)

komodo dragonThere are even DRAGONS at the Zoo!  Komodo that is.

sharkThe sharks were EERY!

marty sharks

And Marty was enthralled.

But the very BEST of all was the Polar Bear!

polar bearThis 1,700 pound ball of fluffy white fur was worth the price of admission.  He danced for us (I’m hoping that’s what it was – either that or he was completed disturbed!)

polar bear 4and – oh – to walk under the tunnel and watch him swim……

polar bear 2and play – was absolutely magical!

flamingosNot sure what these Pink Flamingos were up to, but they got awful rowdy!

penguinsThe penguins were so comical.  I think they thought it was “5 O’clock Somewhere” the way they teetered around on those rocks near the water’s edge.

ostrichWhat a great day!

Though it did make me realize I desperately need a telephoto zoom lens for my camera (and a class or some lessons to boot!).

Sounds like an excuse to go back to the zoo – sometime in the next 15 years or so.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

There’s a Peony Thief on the Other Side of Our House!

/ Jodi / 10 Comments

peony after rain

Oh how I waited
and Waited
and WAITED
for my peony bush to bloom.

Remember this post from last Saturday when this gorgeous miracle of nature was just a bud?

My peony bush had only two blooms on it this year.  (Anyone know why?  What causes more or less flowers on a peony bush?)

And…  I used to have TWO (2) – not just ONE peony bush,

but one has disappeared – completely – gone – just dirt there!

Do any kind of animals eat peony bushes???

So anyway – I’ve been waiting E V E R Y SINGLE day for those two little buds to bloom already.  Going out each morning camera in hand.

And finally this morning, after a torrential downpour and thunderstorm last night, they decided to make their appearance (or did I forget to look yesterday??)

Maybe I didn’t check EVERY single day……

….because my poor peonies were BEAT UP!

They were downright DROOOOOPY – and looking very sad.

But no worries – I cut them off and brought their beauty and amazing fragrance to the porch where I often sit, and I know I will enjoy them even more than where they really live – on the “other” side of the house.

peonies on the porch

Do you have one of those “other” sides on your house? – the side you rarely go around?

SHEESH!  I better go round that way more often or that rotten no-good scoundrel peony thief might get this one too!

PEONY THEFT (get it? get the play on words?!)  Or am I getting confused? Penny Theft or Petty Theft?  Or are there both?

No matter – around these parts – it’s PEONY theft!

Happy Saturday!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

 

 

The Summer Wind…. Came Blowin’ In…. and brought me some amazing friends

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Lago

I am extremely fortunate to have so many amazing women in my life.

This Saturday, after our rousing Friday evening of THE BEST BOOK CLUB EVER, I got to spend the day with three of those women.

These women, who are just a few months ahead of me on this journey we call life, sure know how to LIVE.

I am completely smitten with,

inspired by,

and madly in love with these “girls.”

 

After a little porch sittin’ and coffee sippin’….

porch sittin

… greenhouse gazin’…

greenhouse gazing

…lake lollygaggin’…

lake lullygagging

…and fig tree inspectin’…        Ohhh Rob – we are so proud of you! 🙂

fig tree inspectin

We headed out for a teensy bit of antiquing,

amassed a few treasures,

and finally ended up at Lago Inn and Winery

lago chardonnay

where we sipped chilled Chardonnay while the “summer wind… came blowin’ in…. from across the (lake)”

The beauty of the day couldn’t hold a candle to the beauty of these three ladies – – – their wisdom – – – their love for me – – – their encouragement and confidence in me – – – and the way they can take this somewhat broken, oft doubting and confused soul and make me feel like a princess, a prized possession, a worthy wanderer through life, a forever friend, and inspire me to be me.

What a truly treasured gift….

at life in between.

With love to Joyce, Kathleen, Laurie, and so many other amazing women in my life.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Raindrops on Roses (err) Peonies

/ Jodi / 3 Comments

Raindrops on … Peony buds…

Raindrops on Peony bud

… and whiskers on…. Mikey….

Mikey whiskers( okay – – – so they’re not roses and kittens….)

But…

These are a few of MY FAV – O – RITE Things!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

 

Do trees get warts?

/ Jodi / 1 Comment

IMG_8159This tree is in our backyard woods.  Not sure what type it is.  Anyone know?  And are these “warts” normal?

IMG_8155Just a little pondering – walking down the backwoods path –

IMG_8172and taking photographs –

IMG_8171of random things – at Life in Between.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Porch Sittin’ @ the McKinney B&B

/ Jodi / 3 Comments

porch rulesOh Sweet Summertime! What I love BEST about my home in the summertime is how it practically doubles in size because it expands onto the porches and into sweet outdoor living space. I love lazy weekends when the biggest decision is whether to sit on the back deck in the sun or the side porch on the comfy cushioned rattan furniture or swing on the front porch – especially with lots of friends and family over drinking coffee and Marty’s specialty breakfasts in the morning or bottles of wine or icy G&T’s in the evening. Ahhhhhh Sweet Summatime!

Here’s a little McKinney B&B Porch Tour:

The front porch is filled with antique furniture.  On one end hangs a comfy swing that Marty’s dad got from an old friend’s family homestead that has got to be over 100 years old.  Marty made it extra comfy by hanging it with springs, so you can “bounce” when you swing.

front porch

On old barrel serves as a table with an old wooden chair from Grandma’s house next to it and a big fern in some old “Pop” Crates (Vernor’s Ginger Ale!) the kids got me for Mother’s Day.  Then on the other side of the door is a 12 foot long antique church pew we got from Jill’s in-laws (thank you so much George and Alice – it finally found a wonderful spot in our home!).

front door fernsAround back was a space made for entertaining.  Several tables, an outdoor fireplace, chaise lounges are all scattered for family and friends to gather round on breezy, warm evenings.

back deck 1

Or I often enjoy my morning coffee and start my work-from-home days on a chaise lounge with the warm morning sunny southern exposure before it gets too hot (and too bright to see my computer screen!)

back deck 2

The sounds of the porch are like visiting a bird sanctuary.  Marty has several feeders and loves watching the red-headed woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, yellow finches, and all the other beautiful creatures that share our outdoor home.

geraniums

On the side is our newest addition of Aunt Francie’s 30-year old rattan furniture that was in great shape less the dry-rot, out-of-date patterned material.  My dear friend Janet’s sister, Sue (seamstress extraordinaire) worked her magic and turned this:

photo

Into this:

side porch

side porch 3I’m actually sitting here now writing this post – see my laptop and coffee mug :).

IMG_8132And guess who is hanging out with me?

MIkey deckIs he the handsomest Mikey you’ve ever seen?!

Hope you enjoy some porch sittin’ like we are…

side porch eveningat Life In Between.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Bleeding Heart

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bleeding heart 2

So much beauty in nature!  One of my favorite flowers – Bleeding Heart – maybe because my Grandma gave me this heirloom plant which I have brought to two different homes.

Take time to notice the small details today – at life in between.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

 

Hosta La Vista, Baby!

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Hosta la vista baby

The Hostas leading up to our front porch are getting  G I N O R M O U S !!

I think I can even see them growing!

Hosta la vista baby focal zoom

Happy Weekend!  Hope yours is sunny and green!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi