August Events

I started the month with a visit to James Snodderly's farm. He was absolutely thrilled when I took him his prints. We had a great time, and made a new friend.

The following weekend we had the Sunday School picinic at Wayne and Ruby's house. They live at Douglas Lake so that included a boat ride close to sunset, but not quite. I really enjoyed that and took lots of photos. Used some for my first ever Skywatch Friday post on August 29.

The 3rd weekend of the month my Mother came for a visit (from Stone Mountain, Georgia). John and Lindsey brought Mason up for the weekend and it was the first time she saw Mason. Wendy and Lukas also came up on Sunday afternoon. A weekend with my grandson is always GOOD. But this one was especially good since everybody was here. And of course I made lots of photos that weekend too.

The last week I took off one day and went to Spring City to be with Jimmy. He is now back in Tennessee, but he is still 90 miles away, in Spring City. We looked around to see which area we want to move to, now that he is in his new permanent location with his company. We were suppose to list the house with our realtor yesterday. She had a family emergency and had to fly to Canada. Anybody want to move to beautiful East Tennessee?

Of course I go out daily to photograph whatever is in my yard. With Jimmy not here during the week I don't cook any. Spend my time with camera in hand or blogging....when not at my paying job, it being evening shift helps with the morning photos.

I did work on a new stain glass this month to replace one Jimmy does not want to leave behind when we sale the house. The photograph here is it after it was installed above the pantry door in my kitchen. Jimmy wanted to keep the daffodil stained glass that was there. My favorite that we are leaving are the 3 iris pieces that make up the transom between the dining room and the living room. Jimmy and I made it together, Jimmy does not work on stained glass anymore. He has decided he didn't enjoy it as much as woodworking. Unfortunately, we haven't quite figured out how to take that one out. And naturally the restoration is staying, it was installed before the house was bricked, and it would be MAJOR to take out. That one is not quite as sentimental as the others.

As for the birds, August was not as eventful as July with newbees, but I did have some new ones. The Black and White Warbler, Northern Cardinal, and the Chickadee were all new to my yard in August.

Purple Angel Trumpet Tree

This Angel Trumpet Tree is at John and Jeanette's house. This is the first year, and has tripled in size already. I have tried this plant 2 different times, and they did not come back the following year, in our area. I suggested they keep some of these seeds in a safe location. Also, if they are like the Datura-Angel Trumpet they are poisonous. Don't really know for sure, but there are a lot of house plants that are poisonous.

Mason in the clawfoot tub

Mason is now 7 months old. We decided we could safely bathe him in the clawfoot tub, and I had been wanting to try it out as a portrait location. He loved it. I captured a lot of great shots, as much as I like to show off the grandson I am limiting this post to four.

Sulphur on zinnia

Notice the skipper in flight. These Sulphur photos were taken mid July in my yard.

Goats on the back roads of Rhea County

This is also from Thursday morning, when I was traveling the back roads of Rhea County, Tennessee. I saw these goats, you know me, I had to stop. They were curious about me.

This one is talking to me.

Small pond in Rhea County

Thursday morning while I was traveling down a small country road in Rhea County, Tennessee I came across this pond. Thought the stone art was neat, and decided to stop. Notice the beginning of yellows in the relection.
Saw something barely moving under the surface of the water.

First thought turtle....

Then beaver...

Next this large mouth comes up and opens up.

Finally got a decent photo. This one is for 2 of my blogger friends that like to fish. They are The Fishing Guy and Troutbirder.

A Rose is a Rose

Douglas Lake SkyWatch Friday

I took these while taking a boat ride on Douglas Lake during our Sunday School picnic. Everybody was going on about the sky and telling me to take pictures, little did they know, I already had. This is my first attempt at linking to SkyWatch Friday, hope it works properly.

Random macro photography

Just some random macro photography.

Finch in the front yard

I think he might be a Purple Finch. If so, it is another first for me. We have always had House Finch, but have never seen a Purple Finch. This one does look more like a Purple. Any clarifications for me?

Quarry Falls in North Carolina

Quarry Falls is between Franklin and Highland, North Carolina. These photos were both taken on July 4th. The 2nd was taken late in the evening, after all the swimmers were gone. The book "North Carolina Waterfalls" does warn of the volumne of people swimming, but I would never had guessed, should have since it was July4th. They also jump off the side, into the pool of water at the base of the falls. As you can see in the top photo, there are some people who go straight down the falls. Notice the legs sticking up out of the falls. NOT ME!!!!

Wildflowers along the roadways

I took this photographs in early June along the side of the road. I think they are Bachelor's Button.

Birds at the feeder

Not that they are eating. The top photo is a finch sitting on top of 'finch food'. Bought it as a block that hangs by itself. First rain did away with that, it just loosened up and fell to the ground. I then put the block in this feeder, it is still in the feeder, no birds even want it. It has thistle in it. Hang the thistle sock up and they eat it all in about 3 days. Not sure what is wrong with this feed.

This is one of my numerous Eastern Bluebirds, she is just using the feeder as a perch. She is looking for insects in the grass.

Cullasaja Falls in North Carolina

Cullasaja Falls is located between Highland and Franklin, North Carolina. These photos were taken from the roadside. There is very little parking and you have to be very careful of the cars, and the pedestrians trying to get to the waterfalls by parking further up the road and trying to get back to the view of falls. The top photo was taken as I was walking back down to the main viewing point. These were taken July 4th, so the water level was low. Awesome falls when water is really flowing.