Misty's Musings: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Bonding Over Thistle

Linking with Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday.

Umbrella of Petals

I posted a close-up of this critter for Camera-Critters.

However, I couldn't resist posting this photo also.

I think the Praying Mantis was using the rose as an umbrella,

as it had been raining earlier.

Linking with Today's Flowers

Friday, September 28, 2012

A Friend and a Flower

Yes, I could flip the image and make him upright, but

this is exactly how I found him,

after my assistant at work ordered me to go outside

and photograph him.

He was hanging out, upside down

underneath a pink rose.

Hmmmmmm, maybe it's a "she"...

OR, maybe he is offering ME a pink rose.

Yeah... I like that... I don't normally get flowers.

(c) Misty DawnS

Or, maybe it is offering a flower to all the Camera-Critters participants
for our 4 1/2 year anniversary!!!

To join in this fun meme,

which is all about critters,

click on the badge

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Let's Go Snipe Hunting

If I offer to take you Snipe hunting,

I'm note joking and going to play a trick on you.

I'll just take you to my pond.

For a bird that is involved in such a well-known practical joke,

it is one of the most beautiful, detailed, and interesting birds

I've ever seen!

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Monday, September 24, 2012

Dead Flowers and Spider Webs

What???

It's in the spirit of Halloween, ya know?

Participating in Sweet Shot Tuesday

Sunday, September 23, 2012

A Popular Flower

Apparently this was a very popular flower! I could come up with many comical captions for this one!

But, I've got to go help move cattle. So, if you've got a caption for this photo, share it with me in the comment section.

Two I came up with -

"Whatcha doin down there?"

"Let's all just try to get along... O.K. you two, not that much!"

Linking with Today's Flowers Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Can't Chuck Wood at a Pond

To join in this fun meme,

which is all about critters,

click on the badge

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Beauty of a Survivor

Some may see rugged, damaged wings.

I see the beauty of a survivor.

(and I think she's telling me to pick those tomatoes before they go bad)

Linking to Rural Thursday and NF Winged

Blue Buffalo Health Bar Treats ~ Reviewed & Approved

One day, I received a very sweet e-mail in my inbox telling me that I have great photography on my blog! It made my day, and I replied to the e-mail saying just that.

Later, that same person offered me the opportunity to review a product for the website with which she works. It didn't take me long to agree, as the website is... get this... dog.com. Uh yeah, could that be any more appropriate for my blog?!?!

So, I was provided with a list of things I could review. Molly, Maggie May, Tag and I discussed it, and we decided to review some Blue Buffalo treats. Molly was super excited, cuz she loves anything edible. Tag had his doubts, as "dog" treats are never as good as human stuff. Maggie May told Molly that she could have hers, cuz Maggie doesn't care for treats.

When the package arrived, I opened the box to discovered we had received a bag of Blue Buffalo Health Bar Treats baked with pumpkin and cinnamon. While they smelled like pumpkin pie (yummy) and even made me hungry, I seriously had my doubts about Tag and Maggie May.

Let me just say... I no longer have any doubts. I no longer have any treats left either! All three of my dogs are crazy about these treats. Maggie May even jumped on me with her front paws to get one, and she never is interested in dog treats and usually lets Molly have them. Well, Molly certainly wasn't getting these from Maggie!

"What about Tag?" you ask. Well Tag would walk into the kitchen, and sit under the area of the counter where the treats were sitting. When I'd ask what he wanted, he'd roll his eyes up to the bag sitting on the counter. Like, "Duh Mom!"

I am thrilled to find a treat that, not only do all three dogs love, but is healthful for them too! I hope to eventually try some of the other flavors to see if they are as big of a hit.

So, our conclusions, without a doubt...

Blue Buffalo Health Bar Treats (at least the pumpkin & cinnamon ones) get a unanimous

THREE paws & a human-thumb UP!

***The BC Review-Crew and I were provided one free bag of Blue Buffalo Health Bar Treats to review for dog.com. We reviewed and approved. All opinions in this post are mine or the opinion of three Border Collies who use me to express their opinions, since I get upset when I find them using my computer without permission.***

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Monday, September 17, 2012

Free Fluttering

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly,

"one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."

~ Hans Christian Anderson

This photo was inspired by my wonderfully talented friend, Kerri.

She creates beautiful nature images, and

she has some of the best butterfly-in-flight photos ever!

I'm always in awe at the in-flight photos she posts.

Trust me, it's not nearly as easy as you may think.

Participating in Sweet Shot Tuesday

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Thistles in the Wind

Participating in Mellow Yellow Monday.

It's Electric

Participating in Macro Monday.

Friends and Flowers

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience:

this is the ideal life

~ Mark Twain

Linking with Today's Flowers

Friday, September 14, 2012

Going Batty

To join in this fun meme,

which is all about critters,

click on the badge

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Dawn Lifts

Participating in Rural Thursday

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Not Forgotten

I remember the morning/day very well.

My husband and I were married on August 18. So, we were 'newlyweds'. He had been out milking (we were still a dairy farm at that time). He had come in for breakfast, and we were watching a morning TV show before I needed to get ready for work. They broke into the morning show to announce that a plane had flown into one of the towers. We watched as an 'expert' was being interviewed - he was being asked if he thought that this could possibly be a terror attack. In the midst of this 'expert' explaining that it was probably just an inexperienced pilot error and that people are too quick to jump to the conclusion of terrorism... the second plane flew into the other tower. I remember the feelings of disbelief, terror, and helplessness that overcame me. I remember looking at my husband and saying "Did that REALLY just happen?" As the announcers began to repeat over and over again "Another plane has now flown into the other tower!!" My husband and I just sat there - speechless. My husband even picked up the remote and flipped through other channels, because we couldn't believe what we were seeing - we thought it HAD to be some sort of trick photography to show what could have happened if it were, in fact, a terrorist attack.

I got ready for work. I drove to work listening to radio broadcasts of the attacks. I remember that I cried the whole way to work. I felt so helpless and defenseless. Just as I pulled into work, the local radio broadcast announced something about a plane over Cleveland (I lived in Ohio), and that the Cleveland-Hopkins Airport was being shutdown. I ran into work and turned on CNN. I later heard that all government buildings in Ohio were being closed. My boss was at the courthouse for a trial. He called me to check-in. As he talked, I realized that he had no idea what had happened. Then he realized that I was crying. He asked what was wrong. I remember asking "You didn't hear anything in Court about what has happened?" He had not heard, and I began to attempt to tell him - I still was in disbelief, and when I told him, he was too. He said something like "Are you sure about this?" When he came back to the office, the two of us sat together watching the TV, and we both cried. He sent me home early that day, and the subsequent days consisted of watching the TV and listening to the radio to hear the updates on rescues, searches, and eyewitness/survivor accounts.

I remember seeing the people on TV holding up signs with people's photos and names on them, because they were desperately trying to find out news of their loved ones - Every time, every photo, every name, would make me cry. I also remember my boss trying to calm me down when I would be in my office typing, while a news channel played on the TV in the background - I would hear some idiot, moron of a reporter ask a young child "And, how did it feel when you found out your daddy died in the tower?" I would be yelling and cursing at the reporter on the TV, as my boss would come out of his office to calm me down. Honestly, he didn't mind - he likes that I am so emotional and full of feeling for others. I would point at the TV and scream "That stupid idiot just asked how this child felt when he found out his daddy was dead!?!? I CAN'T believe that I used to dream about and want to be a journalist!" I know they were just doing their jobs, but... well, never mind - I'm rambling too much as it is. I'll leave you with this... Have I forgotten? NEVER