weekly photo challenge

Broken

/ Jodi / 13 Comments
911 Memorial Rose

911 Memorial, New York City, New York, USA

Broken Hearts…
Broken Dreams…
Broken Families…
Broken Bricks…
and Broken Mortar.

All of these things may have been broken
by those with hatred and evil in their hearts…
those who have no regard for the sanctity of life
those who despise our freedom…
our liberty…
our justice…

But they cannot break our spirit.
We will not be a Broken Nation.

On my visit to New York City last week, I had the honor and privilege of visiting the 911 Memorial site where our nation experienced such great tragedy that awful September 11th day. It is evident by the rebuilding, the memorializing, the reverence, and the beauty, that we will not… and cannot… be broken.

Happy Memorial Day.
Celebrate Peace and Love,
Jodi

These week’s WordPress Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Broken. This is my contribution.

Enveloped in the Beauty and the Gesture

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

purple patch of wildflowers

One of the many benefits
of living in the country

and such a
sweet surprise

is when
hubby mows the lawn

but drives around
a patch of wildflowers

leaving them intact
to add a patch of purple
amidst the green

to take my breath away –
enveloped
not only in the beauty…
but also in the gesture.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Houston – We have a Baby Cardinal!

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

Baby Cardinal Day 1

The wait is over!

Remember I shared with you that we had a Momma Cardinal building a nest and then laying eggs right outside of our bedroom window?

Well – right on time – on Mother’s Day afternoon – the first baby cardinal was born.

You can barely make the little bugger out above, and he/she isn’t quite what you might call “cute” yet, but oh what a thrill!

And I wasn’t home when it happened!

My Mother’s Day started out with a trip to the gym in the morning with my youngest son, Nick.  When we got back home, I was surprised to find my oldest son, Jake and his wife, Colleen in the kitchen with hubby, Marty preparing a beautiful surprise Mother’s Day brunch.  What a sweet way to start the day – eh?  It began with a Mother’s day toast of orange pineapple mimosas, homemade chocolate-covered strawberries, pastries, bacon-wrapped filet Mignon, cheesy potatoes and luscious miniature spinach and brie quiches.  And as if that wasn’t enough, there was fresh flowers, cards, and a bunch of fun watercolor art supplies.  Am I the luckiest or what?!?

After stuffing ourselves and relaxing and visiting a bit, the kids asked if I wanted to go play tennis (which I haven’t done for years!),  so off we went, leaving Marty and Mikey home to enjoy some much deserved and coveted quiet R&R time.  After about two hours of sunshine and tiring, sweaty, but oh so joyous running around the court and hitting the ball to racket a few times, I got a text from Marty with this photo:

baby cardinal just born

We had been watching diligently as this was Day 12 after Momma laid her eggs, so this little baby can’t be more than two hours old here, and likely less.

As the day grew dark, still only one baby and one egg remain, and Momma is keeping them both warm.

Is that the icing on the cake for my Mother’s Day or what?

Happy Monday friends.

Wishing you joy in cherished moments.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

PS – I thought this photo would be a perfect submission for this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge:  Forces of Nature.  What greater display of nature than this?!  A brand new birth – the most extraordinary force of nature.

Bleeding Heart

/ Jodi / 38 Comments

bleeding heart 2015

My favorite, dear Bleeding Heart,
are you happy or do you mourn?

Your bright color smiles,
but your tears look so forlorn.

You show us the beauty we oft overlook,
and elicit a pause when our own hearts are shook.

(My bleeding heart plant is my favorite of all in my yard.  It has moved with me a couple times as it was a plant given to me by my Grandma.  It is a symbol to me of her very special heart every year when it blooms.  It reminds me of the joy and the sorrow of love.  It demonstrates the intense and powerful artistry of Mother Nature.  I could never create or imagine anything more beautiful.)

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

PS:  I love the intricacy of this flower, and this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Intricate.

Just Breathe

/ Jodi / 15 Comments

downy woodpecker or hairy

While Mama Cardinal is patiently nesting on top of her eggs in the front of the house, the rest of the bird sanctuary is a flutter in the backyard.

I caught this cute little Downy Woodpecker hopping along the deck railing heading for the feeder while taking turns with the others late yesterday afternoon.

The “music” in my backyard is something I cannot even describe to you.

Nothing soothes my soul – especially after a hectic work day or times of stress – like the music of nature in my backyard.

So… While watching the motion and listening to the sounds…

Mikey and I close our eyes to the sun…

and just breathe.

(and he is so much better at it than me!) 🙂

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Spring Awakens Nature

/ Jodi / 27 Comments

magnolia tree 2

Winter’s barren branches begin blooming
in delicate shades of pink.

Spring awakens nature.

And my heart.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This photo is of a neighbor’s magnolia tree on an early morning walk last Saturday with my camera.

 

The New Neighbors Building a House Next Door

/ Jodi / 32 Comments
female cardinal nest

Please click to enlarge photo

Momma Cardinal has been working for days right outside of our bedroom window in the rhododendron bush building this beautiful new home.

It is sure to add value to the neighborhood!  Don’t you think?

I have never been more fascinated watching such diligence and perseverance as she flies in one tiny stick at a time, places it on the pile, then shakes her tail feathers to form the “cup” shape.

The new home has been under construction for about three days now.  I cannot believe our good fortune to have such a view of this little miracle of nature.  I can’t wait to see the eggs and then baby cardinals!  Can you imagine how awesome that will be to watch!?!

According to Wikipedia, cardinals mate for life and stay together year-round.  Isn’t that romantic?!  Mated pairs sometimes sing together before nesting. During courtship they may also participate in a bonding behavior where the male collects food and brings it to the female, feeding her beak-to-beak.  If the mating is successful, this mate-feeding may continue throughout the period of incubation.

The nest typically takes three to nine days to build, and cardinals do not usually use their nests more than once. The eggs are laid one to six days following the completion of the nest. Three or four eggs are laid in each clutch.  The female generally incubates the eggs, which takes 12 to 13 days.  And then, the young cardinals fledge 10 to 11 days after hatching.

Camera and tripod are set up, and I’ve taken about 50 kabillion photos already.

I love this one of her shakin’ her little tail feathers and looking at me while she prepares to nest.

Hope to share more soon.

Happy Friday Early Birds!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

The Tracks of My Tears

/ Jodi / 40 Comments
railroad tracks nick

Photo by Nick McKinney

In the car the other day, I asked my son, Nick, if we could stop for a few minutes along the railroad tracks and take a few photos.

I’m always thinking there is a good photo there and have tried a few times, but have never been completely happy with what I’ve taken.

When we stopped and got out of the car, Nick proposed a challenge:  We each take five photos, and then we’ll see who gets the best one.

After literally laying on the road and standing guard for each other to warn of approaching cars, Nick took the prize with this photo I am sharing today.

I love the different perspective he found…  I love that he turned the camera to portrait, which I rarely think to do…. I love the blur in the distance, but also the way the lines draw you to the “dreamy, mysterious” distance….  I love the blur of the smooth track and the detail in the rusty fasteners and am fascinated with how this simple hardware design creates the track that holds a train in line…

And I love that this photo and the memory created in those few short moments brings to mind an oldie but goodie song, The Tracks of My Tears … as I smile… and my eyes tear up with pride.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Beauty in the Blur

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

blur rose of sharon 2

As I walked around to the “other side of the house” this past weekend basking in the sunshine and warmth and hope of what’s to come, I noticed how the sun was hitting these dried up pods on the Rose of Sharon bush.

I focused in on the pods and “bokehed” out the background giving it a blur.

Soon these brown pods will turn green and then purple with a bounty of beautiful flowers.

Little bursts of Spring are surely beginning to pop up around here in Mars.

Open your “blurry” eyes this Monday and take it all in!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Blur:  Find beauty in the blur.

 

 

Is it You?

/ Jodi / 25 Comments

cardinal female

Is it you come to visit my sweet beloved Star?
Does your spirit fleetingly flutter from oh so afar?

Are you happy, and can you tell me if it is really true?
Is eternity the beautiful place they say we go to?

I miss your bright eyes, your warm heart, your infectious laughter.
I dream you’re with Grandpap dancing happily ever after.

Please guide me and show me the best way to be
your legacy, my hero, my matriarch, my cherished destiny.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Cardinals have long been believed to represent a loved one who has passed.  It is said that when you see one, it means your loved one is visiting you, and they usually show up when you most need them or miss them.  I have recently come to appreciate the delicate beauty of the female cardinal with her delicate coloring.  The bright red males get most of the attention, but I’m partial to these beauties.

This short poem is written in honor of my beloved Grandma Stella, my star; and this photo I took Saturday morning from our master bath window of Mrs.Cardinal briefly sitting in the dormant Rose of Sharon bush is being shared as part of the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge:  Ephemeral.