If my frequent use of the word simple says something about me, perhaps all those references to the contrast between light and dark do too.
Personal preferences are part of our character. Many are a matter of familiarity, of what we experienced growing up. The rest, – who knows?
.
Filtered sunlight. A favourite.
You may have noticed I have quite a few.
.
Here’s another. Catching sight of sunlit spaces beyond heavy shade.
.
The perception of light just out of reach.
.
Lone trees.
.
Silhouettes. Especially of trees.
And odd shapes.
.
The way sunlight catches a particular surface like that yellow tree.
.
And picks out those few scarlet leaves.
Such images demand to be noticed.
.
Other sorts of things catch my attention too. It would have been hard to miss an avalanche of animal feed pouring off the truck in front of us. Why do they not secure their load?
.
Pictures of birds and animals fill many albums. I think of them all as friends.
Even though they mostly view me with suspicion. As they should.
.
This little groundhog is missing its tail and has developed bald patches on both shoulders. It doesn’t appear to be unwell and animals do shed, but we’ve never seen quite such an extreme case. I mused that perhaps I should knit it a bolero like the ones my mother made for me when I was very small.
If I knew how I would, though I doubt the groundhog would be receptive.
By mid-October the groundhogs will have retired for the year. Already their demand for carrots has slowed down.
.
Many of the migrating birds left very early, including the grackles though they left behind the one we call Gimpy because it had an atrophied foot. Recently we noticed the foot was gone, leaving a stump which seems more manageable. Gimpy is coping quite well as disabled animals and birds do.
Our last sighting of a hummingbird was on the 18th. For me this is especially poignant, like the last sighting of the Monarch butterflies. They are so tiny and so vulnerable and travel such vast distances facing great challenges.
.A little bit of my heart always goes with them.
.
A loveley selection today. Light and shade, lonely trees, and adorable animals. Thanks, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the beautiful thoughts and views of your world. I love dappled pathways, too. Your moving words of missing departing birds melted my heart…
Joanna
I am still thinking about the groundhog and grackle. Winter is especially hard on birds and animals who are ill or disabled, although there are quite a few stories about one legged birds living for yeas. You are right, they do their best with the life they are given. I think most people do the same.
I think we like a lot of the same kinds of images and image making. You have a great eye, and it is always fun to see what you have caught with your camera. That feed truck photo is a keeper for sure.
WE are finally enjoying a soaking rain! and are promised more tomorrow! There are rumours of a storm coming up the coast next week. I truly hope the rain is also getting to you.
Your “preferences” have dramatically enlarged my view of the world.
I do love those skunks, though I admit Eddy’s kisses are still a bit stinky more than three weeks after his “up close” encounter in a culvert. Having dogs is a great joy, but it does limit the sights we see around here. We rely on your blog to make up for what we miss! Thank you!
I really like your photos where the sun falls in a specific spot – like a tree – with the rest of the photo bathed in shadows. I think it takes quite a bit of expertise regarding photography. Beautiful photos in your post!
Lone trees are so majestic – like our own Sycamore Gap Tree cut down by mindless morons. The photographs of solitary grandeau remain, but you can’t help but wonder if the idiots aren’t winning…
I think I may have meant ‘grandeur’ š¤£ Where’s that pesky autocorrect when you need it?