Little Ones

I love little ones.  I miss them crawling, toddling, even drooling.  I'm a little nostalgic tonight, so I'll just post a few of my favorite little ones.  Enjoy!

Boughton Pond

On May 19, Danny and I biked to the west end of Boughton Road, maybe four miles from home.  I know they say to bike with traffic and walk against, but I would have almost preferred seeing those cars speeding at me than hearing the engine as they swerve around me from behind.  Whew.  Sidewalks would be good at that point.

Red-wing blackbirds were hard to capture that day.

We first walked down into a ditch and up the other side, but faced the possibility of shooting into the sun.  A boy tromped by doing who knows what, and the egrets migrated to the wend end of the "wetlands."  So we hiked back through the prickle plants and made our way toward a clearing on the south side.  Better, but I felt the lack of a good 400mm telephoto.  :)

About 20 feet or so from our targeted vantage point, we almost stepped on a turtle!  We think it was nesting.

Okay, to the best spot we could find, given the circumstances.  There were actually five egrets in the pond this afternoon!  We're pretty sure we captured a male and female in the shots below.  We observed them diving and almost fighting, chasing each other off.  It was a pretty good first attempt, and hopefully soon we'll figure out how to get closer, which is cheaper than buying that 400mm telephoto.  :)

This is my favorite shot.  My shooting ability does not do justice to God's creation!

Then God said, "...and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

Genesis 1:20 (partial)

NASB

Grounds of Naper Settlement

I've attended church on these grounds for the past five years, but never really noticed our surroundings.  Well, until now, when we've reached the probability that we will be moving to a larger location--a government school building.  The building really doesn't matter.  But, it made me realize how blessed I've been to be surrounded by beauty each Sunday morning.

Bleeding heart

Pink rose

Buttercup (just guessing)

What is this one?  :)

Bug on rose

Side view of leaf

Surely God's beauty surrounds me each week, if I just stop and look.  What an amazing Creator I serve!