Heads or Tails has its very own home now! If you click on the graphic above, it will take you to the awesome new HoT blog where you can sign up and start participating in this fun and popular meme!
As most of you know, I was raised by my paternal grandparents. They are the two greatest influences in my life. Although they are physically gone now, I still feel them with me every day.
My grandmother was my 'mother' in every sense of the word. Some of the moments when I very strongly feel my grandmother with me is when I am out taking photos of birds. She loved birds, and some of my favorite memories involve watching the birds with her. We even had a male Cardinal who would come to the windowsill at the same time every day to peck on the window. He would visit during my snack time. I'd be dipping my chocolate chip cookies in my tea cup filled with milk, and we would hear "peck" "peck" "peck. Grandma would say, "Our visitor has come for his daily visit." We then would go into the kitchen and say our hellos to the Cardinal. If we did not go into the kitchen to acknowledge him, he would continue to peck at the window until we came into the room.
Grandma also collected bird figurines and knick knacks. The kitchen windowsill was lined with those bird figurines that play that bird's song when you touch them. I loved being a rotten little girl and setting them all off at the same time. ;-)
So, when I am here in the new state going on my photo walks, and I get photos of birds that we didn't have in the old state, I find myself wishing that my grandmother were there to see this beautiful critter. Then, I am overcome with the sense that she is there seeing it with me. Or, possibly, she is the one who brings those birds to me to photograph.
Yesterday, she was definitely with me, and she was definitely smiling as I took these photographs and thought of her...
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
A Brown Thrasher
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
A Cat Bird. The Cat Bird was my grandfather's favorite bird.
They really do 'mew' like a cat. So, of course, Misty was standing in the woods meowing to this bird. I sure hope no one was around with a video camera.
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
I wish the photos were bigger, because you really need to see them full size to truly appreciate them.
*Special thanks for my buddy Bear for always taking the time to ID and teach me the real names of the critters I get photos of*
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Heads or Tails Tuesday *Mother*
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/05/heads-or-tails-tuesday-mother.html
(c) Misty DawnS
I realize this Sky Watch photo is different than what you are used to from me. Yes, I did get some beautiful and amazing sunset shots this week, but I feel like being different (hehe that's not very difficult for me). Evening before last, I walked out of my door to head on my evening sunset walk like I do each evening. Also, like always, I admired my beautiful barn as I walked down the porch steps. That's when I noticed that it looked like this lightning rod was pointing at the moon, as if to say "It's right here. Let me show you the moon." I thought it was neat, so I took a picture :-) (I know, you're probably wondering why I didn't post one of the pretty sunsets rather than this.)
I'm off to work for half a day. I'll visit everything this afternoon and evening.
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Sky Watch Friday
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/sky-watch-friday_21.html
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Sky Watch Friday
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/sky-watch-friday.html
WOW - I've got so much to catch you up on! Seriously - there are so many things I want to talk about and tell you about.
I really want to tell you about the benefit auction we went to Saturday night. It was for a friend of ours who has cancer of the spine. He is a 39 year old chiropractor (that's not a 'rich doctor' business out here in farming country - trust me) with a wife and three children. It is unexpected (I guess it's never 'expected', is it???) and absolutely heartbreaking. He basically had a choice from the doctors... we try to remove all of the cancer, and you will be a paraplegic. Or, we'll take out as much as we can, and you'll be able to walk, but we can't guarantee it won't spread and you won't die from it. How do you make a decision like that? Seriously? I'm crying for him and his family right now just thinking about it. I just can't imagine. I wish I could take it away and make it better, but all I could do was donate a few photos for the auction, donate what money we could spare, and pray, and pray, and pray. He chose option two. He couldn't bear the burden he would have on his family if he spent his remaining time as a paraplegic. He came to the benefit. When he walked in the door, everyone cheered, everyone clapped, everyone rejoiced, and many of us, including me, cried. Even more, I want to talk about the people of this community that I am now a part of - the way they join together for a fellow person, the way they show their love, the way they will go completely out of their way just to see if they can help you - It's priceless - It's inspiring - It's a true gift for which I am grateful to be able to experience and be a part of.
I want to tell you about something really exciting that happened today... along with another 'Misty stupid moment'.
I want to tell you about my husband possibly going out to help my in-laws drive back from Arizona. This would make me feel really good, because I worry about them making the trip by themselves, especially with my father-in-law's Parkinson's Disease, and it would also give Hubs a chance to see where his parents stay all Winter, because once we have cattle, Hubs probably will not be able to go anywhere in the Winter. Then again, if my in-laws truck doesn't get repaired, including the bed liner and the hitch and light hook-ups for the camper, they may just be staying in Arizona. When I tease my father-in-law about this, he says "Oh no, it gets too hot here!" I then promptly tell him to be quiet and quit talking to me about being hot.
I want to tell you about a weekly meme I've been thinking about starting and ask if you would participate. (It's a weekly animal-photo meme)
I want to update you and tell you about many things. However, I have been extremely tired and unusually busy lately. So, I haven't been visiting my friends' blogs like I usually do. Therefore, everything I want to update you on will have to wait... I'm headed off to your blogs so I can catch up on YOUR lives!
I love ya, I miss ya, and I'll talk to ya soon!
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So Much to Say - Too Little Time
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/so-much-to-say-too-little-time.html
(c) Misty DawnS
I'm assuming we are a 'hang-out' stop along a migration path for Snow Geese. If that isn't what is going on, then I think I better pack up my stuff and run, because these birds mean business! Honestly, this was one of the most amazing spectacles in nature I have ever seen. I was speechless and in absolute awe. I am so grateful that I was given an opportunity to witness this. That same day/night, was the most amazing sunset. I just can't resist replaying this day and night over and over again in my head! Therefore, I can't resist posting (yet, another) photo of the sunset.
(c) Misty DawnS
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Sky Watch Friday #12
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/sky-watch-friday-12.html
(c) Misty DawnS
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Wordless Wednesday
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/wordless-wednesday.html
Again, I can't help myself (Tammy & Barb, did you just say 'there's no help for her'?). I can't possibly be expected to wait until Friday to post these photos I captured last night.
I strongly encourage you to click on these photos to view them larger. The sky was absolutely breathtaking last night. I found myself standing in the middle of the road, staring at the sky, with my jaw hanging open and my eyes wide. I was afraid to blink, because I didn't want to miss one split second of this spectacle. The beauty and the awe that overcame me is completely indescribable. God certainly gave me a glimpse of Heaven last night.
And then...
The birds... I told you - they're out to get me - it's a conspiracy!!!
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SUNday
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/03/sunday.html
I have something in the works right now that I've only told two bloggers about. It's not that I don't want the rest of you to know... it's one of those 'don't get your hopes up' situations. I don't want to look like a fool on my own blog again ;-) So, if something good happens, then I'll be sure to post. Otherwise, only two of my dearest friends will know that it just didn't work - and, I'm sure they'll still be proud of me for trying (and they'll be trying to give me the 'maybe next time' talk to try to make me stop beating up on myself). Anyway, this photo is involved... I'll let you know more in approximately a week or so.
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Sky Watch Friday #11
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/02/sky-watch-friday-11.html
I truly love participating in Sky Watch Friday every week. I look forward to it, and I love seeing everyone's sky photos! You can click on the Sky Watch image at the top of this post to learn more about it and join in on the fun!
I seem to be a creature of habit. I have my routine and particular way of doing things. I guess this is true with my photography too, because I have numerous photos with this tree as the subject in front of the sky. I also have many photos of the bird feeders (in my Sky Watch on the other blog) silhouetted against the sunset.
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Sky Watch Friday #8
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/02/sky-watch-friday-8.html
(c) Misty DawnS
I find myself really looking forward to Fridays now, because I have come to absolutely love Sky Watch Friday. The photographers who participate in Sky Watch Friday are absolutely awesome and have amazing talent. Each photo is unique; each photo is gorgeous. My Fridays are now filled with "ooooh"s and "ahhhhh"s and "Wow"s. Yep, I'm loving Fridays, because of Sky Watch Friday! It just dawned on me that I haven't been posting a link with my Sky Watch posts! I don't know what the heck is wrong with me! If you would like to join Sky Watch Friday (trust me - you really do want to),
click right here and join in on the beauty!
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Sky Watch Friday #6
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/sky-watch-friday-6.html
We have a wind chill advisory in our area for tonight and tomorrow.
AccuWeather.com keeps telling me -
"THE COMBINATION OF NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND
10 MPH AND SINGLE DIGIT TO SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN
BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS FROM 15 TO 20 BELOW ZERO THROUGH MID
MORNING SATURDAY."
All I can say is brrrrr. I've already told you that I can't stand to be cold. It gets in my muscles and I start shaking and can't stop and that leads to soreness or sometimes even a flare. No flares allowed in this house!!! So, if you need me - I'll be under that pile of blankets... really, you may not see me, but I'm under there ;-) Don't worry, I can blog from there too. Sounds like a great Saturday to me - snuggled cozy under the blankies while talking to my blogging buddies.
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Brrrr
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/brrrr.html
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Sky Watch Friday #4
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/sky-watch-friday-4.html
(c) Misty DawnS
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Wordless Wednesday
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/wordless-wednesday_08.html
One of my favorite bloggers, Skittles has started a Tuesday meme. It is LOTS of fun-so you'll wanna join us right away! If you click on the Heads or Tails logo - it will take you to the post to tell you more about the meme.
This week's topic is Heads - Old *or* Tails - New.
My brain is not very creative today (I don't know what its problem is). So, I'm going to show you some of my new photos from yesterday's walks.
I was disappointed with this shot (and the others of this series), because the sun was shining through the clouds, and you could see the sun's rays shining down on the cattle. However, either I did something wrong, or my camera just didn't pick up the sun's rays like I was hoping. 
My new bird feeder (I got it for my birthday). I took this shot right after my first walk.
Heading to a
new and warmer home in the south???
My
new bird feeder after the second walk
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Heads or Tails *Old* or *New*
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/heads-or-tails-old-or-new.html
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Sky Watch Friday #3
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2008/01/sky-watch-friday-3.html
One of my favorite bloggers, Skittles has started a Tuesday meme. It is LOTS of fun-so you'll wanna join us right away! If you click on the Heads or Tails logo - it will take you to the post to tell you more about the meme.
This week's topic is Heads - anything in the Sky or Space. Or, there is also a Tails topic - anything in or under the water.
Well, I'm going to combine the two a little bit and quite quickly tell you why my Heads or Tails is not going to be very fabulous this week.
Last night, throughout the night, we had freezing rain come from the sky and cover our trees and ground. So, technically, the tree branches are under a sheet of frozen water... along with the roads, vehicles, etc.
The freezing rain is expected to continue coming from the sky, and we are also supposed to have Thunderstorms in the sky, which will cause more rapid ice accumulation and pretty much ensure that everything else is under about an inch of frozen water a.k.a. ice.
My aunt-in-law just called a little while ago to tell us that she has no electric. Shortly after that conversation, our electric started going on and off. Therefore, chances are very strong that I will not get to visit all of the Heads or Tails participants today, like I usually do. If I don't, I will catch up with all of you tomorrow.
I am going to post more photos on Misty's Words for my Heads or Tails post on that blog. As you can see from this photo - we have been lucky so far, because we still have electric and no big limbs down yet. Since the storm is supposed to continue until midnight, I'm hoping that we continue to be lucky.
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Heads Or Tails *In the Sky or In the Water*
http://www.mistysmusings.com/2007/12/heads-or-tails-in-sky-or-in-water.html
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
