Summer does some drying

One of my very favorite spots around here is the Mill pond and this blog this year has shown it. I love how pretty it is once the snow has started flying or the geese and ducks are calling it home for a few months but this time of year it is almost empty and not so beautiful. I never realized how very little I have been posting pictures from it this summer. Just isn't that pretty of a place right now.

Today however I will post it just to show you what I mean.
Don't take me wrong I still think it is BEAUTIFUL up here and I am happy to call it home.
I would just prefer it to look the way it does in the fall,winter and spring compared to summer.

 

Caught "Buick" in this one! Funny how he seems to always be where my camera is pointing! LOL!!!

 

  

Again he finds his way into my camera lens

 

Walking through the meadow on the way home!

Smoke filled skies on a summer day

Taking Buick and Nala for a walk, Buick had no problem jumping into this less than desirable Mill pond at this time of year. Drying all up due to lack of snow melt, it is pretty nasty. BUT what am I to do when I have a 'hot dog" wanting to get cooled down!
Note; See how smokey our skies still are from a fire clear up in Shasta county. YUCK!!!

 

Is that fire smoke sad or what?

 

Barely able to see Nala in the overgrowth of the area!

Overgrowth

Awalk towards the Mill pond shows some very pretty wildflowers and a whole bunch of overgrowth! Ya know, honestly it was difficult to walk through all this. Sure was pretty tho'!

 

 

Wildflowers

Wildflowers are always so abundant in Pinetown and Westwood this time of year and I never tire of seeing them and their beauty. These are located by the Mill pond!

 

  

A sun ray adds "pretty" to this picture I believe

 

And as usual, my favorite of the day is last.

Note; Happy Birthday big brother!!!!

A bird in a tree

July 5th ended up being a beautiful day. I did my usual walk with the dogs to the Mill pond and again it's beauty did not let me down!

 

  

  

Ducks on the pond

and 

 

A bird in a tree, can make even me smile today!

Heron(e) minute gone the next

An unexpected heron at the Mill pond.
I am sorry because I zoomed in too close before he flew off after the 2 pictures I did take.
He has been around here since I have been back from southern, Ca. so I am going to try to be prepared next time I walk out that way. I do not think he is the one I have taken pics of in the winter. This guy seems to be a lot bigger!

 

  

P.S. I just would like to wish my friend Charlie a very Happy Birthday. It was him and his wife Cindy whom took us into their home earlier this month while we went down to so. Ca. for my Dad's funeral. 

That was sooo very nice of them to do that for us ya know? especially since they were not (are not) part of the family. But these guys were right there for us in our greatest time of need. I can not thank them enough. There really is nothing better in this life than true good friends!

Happy Birthday Charlie.

PEACE!!!

A heron on a gloomy day

Forcing myself to go out in this crappy weather, I was quite surprised when I walked up onto the Mill pond and saw my heron sitting on a stump. I only seem to see this guy in the winter, in rain and /or snow, so it was a pleasant surprise.

 

  

  

It is hard to believe but the next 2 pictures were taken just seconds after I took these of the heron

 

  

Just typical mountain living I guess, and it's screwy weather

ASwallow on the wire. Here in Pinetown they are all over the place, and most people dont care for them. They build their nests under the eaves of the houses which can at times be quite messy. But I love them. I think they are quite pretty. I thnk we get more of them here than in Westwood (or so it seems) because of the mill pond here.

Pine Neeedles and Watery Wednesday

Pine needles caught my eye today at the mill pond. As I was walking towards it, the needles looked like strands of gold floating on the top of the darkest blue water I have ever seen here. The wind was ferocious and the whole pond had a different feel, look and attitude. It was really very pretty.

 

  

  

  

  

 By the looks of this I guess I know now why my town is "Pinetown" LOL!!!

I did the best I could with these pictures, yet I just did not quite capture the golden pine needles the way I wished I would have.

For many many more Watery Wednesdays please check them out by clicking below!

 

http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Have a great WW and a wonderful week!
PEACE!!!
Allison A.K.A. Moon-Writer

Yellow winged blackbird

Yellow winged blackbird hanging out at the Mill pond. I have never heard of this bird before and actually was going to delete these pictures when my husband walked by and said "Oh a yellow winged blackbird" and then he pointed out the shoulder and its coloring there.

 

Can you see the coloring on the wing?

 

My husband said that's what they are called around here and admits he is not sure if that is the "real name"

 

I do think the water is beautiful today!

 

On the bottom of this picture you can barely see another bird. I did not know it was even in this picture till just now. LOL!!!

Watery Wednesday and a mud hen

Watery Wednesday and my picture(s) of the day happened to come together this week. I never go to the Mill pond at this time of day (noon time) and thought I would go over and take a gander and I found a goose. LOL!!! Okay so it wasn't that funny!
A person's got to keep theirselves entertained where I live!!!
So I have for you a mud hen also known as a Coot and this one here just did not mind me being there. Of course I have "my geese."
I was impressed by the water in these pictures, and that is why I decided to put them in Watery Wednesday.

 

I just loved the way the water looked in these 2 pictures. Like you could just jump in it!

 

There's just something about the ripples. It is very windy today and a cold wind to boot!

 

I know this is on land and no water but these  guys went in when they saw me.

 

I liked the reflection of the first goose.

For more Watery Wednesday fun just click the link below!

Watery Wednesday

Dandelions

Idon't know what it is about these two dandelions, but they just look virginal if that is even a word. Like they just sprouted. So clean and fresh looking. So very pretty I thought. And in general I don't think people really think of dandelions as even being pretty. I don't know I just like this!

 

  

  

This is where I found them. On the pathway behind my house.

Wow today was/is a beautiful. Actually sat out in the sun, and not to get warm but to actually get some color on my face and arms. For me in my little world, is about as close to heaven as it comes.
Walking around the pond I found "my" geese hiding place. I was rather impressed. I never could get to that part of the pond until today, and although I still was wearing my "mountain boots" and got them a little wet I could not care any less!

 

  

  

 And something else happened today.I think I saw (and took this picture of) a hummingbirds nest. I have always searched for one, only knowing they are quite small, I was shocked to see this right above my head when I was taking the pictures of "my geese"

So I sure would love it if a reader who may pass by here could tell me whether or not that is what kind of nest this is. I sure would appreciate it!

Thanks!!!

 

My neck of the woods

Bitter, blustery, windy cold weather was almost enough to keep me from even venturing outside, but never crossed the minds of my dogs "Buick" and "Nala" from jumping in for a quick dip!

I also spotted the bird house that I have always known was here, just could not get close enough to take a picture of!

With all the activity I have been hearing in "my neck of the woods" lately, the little birds that are calling this home are doing the smart thing!

They are staying in on this very cold windy day. 

 

I took these pictures at 2:00 P.M. and my computer said (as did my outside thermometer) that it was a mere 38 degrees! Sun and all,

it was/is cold!

  

Colour my world

Colour my world! Besides being a song on an album by Chicago I used to have, I can say that today as I went to the mill pond AGAIN to visit "my two geese" I noticed that someone had indeed coloured my world today. It sure was pretty to see.