Photo-a-Day Week 37

Welcome back to another weekly roundup of photos. Some garnered more attention on Facebook than others.

Day  251- 

While playing with the dogs in the front yard, I looked to the back and saw an odd shape in the tree. Usually it is a bird, Mourning Dove or Red-bellied Woodpecker or Brown Thrasher. Turned out it was a squirrel! They don't normally sit up that high. 

Squirrel in Silhouette 

Also observed that morning was a pair of Bald Eagles soaring high in the sky. I only had my cellphone with me, so the photo isn't great. My choice for the photo of the day was the squirrel, while it also wasn't a great photo, it was a nice silhouette. 

Day 252-

Since we have had Millie, our kitty, we have made sure to keep the door to the room to the toilet closed. As a small kitten she would love to play with the roll of toilet paper, unrolling it all the way to the cardboard tube. So, as a rule, we keep the door closed. I guess one of us left it open. Millie unrolled a nearly full roll of toilet paper. When she does that we say that she is having a party.  This was a photo that got a lot of laughs. 

When the Door is Left Open

Day 253-

While getting ready to water the containers with the hose, I re-encountered the Carolina Praying Mantis. The long, tall shadow made on the wall was impressive. Thought that it would make a good photo choice. Hope you agree.

I'm Still Here

Day 254-

It is Ironweed season. The variety I have growing in my yard is quite tall, perhaps Vernonia noveboracensis. This one grows 6-8 feet tall. I have found there is a nice, more garden-friendly-sized variety called Iron Butterfly. I may try to move these tall giants to a better space. It is a gorgeous shade of purple, and pollinators love it. 

Ironweed

Day 255-

When we first moved here, I planted a variety of Panicum virgatum, a native grass. There are several varieties of Panicum virgatum. I have/had three different ones- Shenandoah, Heavy Metal, and Dallas Blues. This one pictured is either Heavy Metal or Dallas Blues. I can't remember which of these two I planted in which location. Shenandoah is smaller and has green blades that turn red in the fall. The two I can't remember specifics of location, are taller, and have bluer foliage. I will have to try and determine if this one is Dallas Blues or Heavy Metal. The morning light illuminated the seedheads so nicely.

Panicum

The rejected photo was the original photo, in color. I thought the black and white image showed the brightness of the seedheads better. Which do you like better?

Day 256-

This day's image is of something that sits on my dresser. It is the telegram that my dad sent to my mom's parents, my grandparents, telling of my birth! My dad was in the Army, and he and my mom were stationed overseas, telephone calls were unheard of at that time. A telegram was sent to announce my birth. It is faded and tough to read, but I love having it.

Telegram!

Day 257-

This beauty is a native plant growing in my side yard. I have others in various spots in the yard, this one is the largest. Deer love it, so many remain small. Its botanical name is Euonymus americanus, with many common names. Our favorite is Hearts A' Bustin' because of a song by Billie Joe Shaver. Another name is Strawberry Bush. You can see why it has these names. These drupes really pop against the green foliage. 

Hearts A' Bustin'

This brings us to the end of another week. Thanks for stopping by. 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

Photo-a-Day Week 35

We are already at the end of another week. Many of this week's photos are outdoor-oriented.  As the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds migrate south, we have more visitors at the feeders and more territorial guarding happening. We have had much cooler temperatures, and it is lovely to be outside, enjoying the weather. So, on with the discussion of each photo. 

Day 237-

Love how the sunlight hit this tiny bird's chest. She is guarding a feeder to the left of where this metal hummingbird ornament sits. Fiona is always on guard at the sliding glass door, barking at these little jewels.

Hummingbird on hummingbird

 I was on the fence about which of the two photos to use. I used the one I did because the sunlight was brighter on it. Here's the 'reject', also a good photo. 

Day 238- 

We usually have the green Praying Mantis and its egg sacks around. Seeing a native one is a treat. The native mantis is brown, not green. This one was on our sliding glass door. As I was in and out, refilling the hummingbird feeders, I was worried I would disturb it before I got a photo. This was taken outside, with the trees and sky reflected on the glass.

Carolina Mantis

I did try a shot from inside the house. Not very good.

Day 239-

Driving back from the doctor, we drove past this old Wilson factory. I liked making it black and white. But wait, there's another photoshopped element. Check out the photo below the one used.

Closed Factory

Not only had I changed from black and white, but I was able to remove the truck from the front of the building.

Day 240- 

On my way inside I walked past the rose bushes and saw the Katydid on the rose bush. Quick snap of the shutter captured it!

Katydid

Day 241-

One might think my garden is filled with insects, and perhaps you may be correct! I like getting photos of these beauties. It almost looks like this is another black and white photo, but it is as it appeared. 

Dragonfly

Day 242-

Yes, another black and white offering. The sunlight sparkled on the spider web, and I had hoped that using a black and white filter would help accentuate the sparkle.

Sunlight on Spider Web

The original one for your viewing. Also tried to crop it to show the web closer. I decided that having the fern and downspout in the photo framed it better. 

Day 243-

I like this tight little rose bud. The varied colors made me take notice today. It seems the colors red and white were what I was drawn to today as the discarded photo was also a red and white bloom.

Oso Easy Rose

 

Here is the discarded red and white bloom, a Salvia. Do you see the tiny ant on the left bloom? 

This ends another week of the photo a day challenge. Stay tuned, there's more next week. 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

Quick- If You See A Flock of Turkeys Crossing the Road, Where Are You?

For me, the answer would be Lake Greenwood, South Carolina.


We took a quick trip down to see the house progress. It was funny, we didn't see any turkeys until we were on our way out the back gate. We did see a black snake going across the road, a deer nestled in the grass and lots of birds, large and small. I like seeing the birds.

Additionally we met some neighbors. They are in the house closest to us at this point. It was very nice getting to know them, very nice folks.

For those of you who didn't know, next July we are moving to Lake Greenwood, SC for our retirement home. The changes we saw this time were quite remarkable. Once I go through all the photos and sort which ones I want to post you will see what I am talking about.

We almost took a passenger with us on the way out of the hotel. He was not ready to get off the car, had to be brushed off into some shrubs.

MEmeMEmeMEme--more of ME!

Kylee over at Our Little Acre tagged me for another Meme. I thought I could figure out the quiz thing that she did....guess I am not focused to figure it out today. So, since I did this not too long ago I will keep it short and sweet.

1. I get super excited when I see a Bald Eagle. Like the photo at the top? It is from my daughter's dock in North Carolina where she shares a house with three other kids.

2. Bugs fascinate me, well, some bugs.

3. I got a degree in Elementary Education in Pennsylvania and taught for a few years. Here is my book learnin' photo...


4. These Memes are supposed to be a window to 'my world' --here is my world.

5. I love using ornamental grasses in the landscape, they are almost carefree. This one reseeds, so its life in my garden may be short-lived.


5. Fragrance is a key element in my choice of plants.

6. Hot pink blooms are some of my favorite! And purple(!).


7. We built our family room on the back of our house in 1999 to take advantage of the wonderful views of the creek and the wildlife that lives in, around, and above it.



I know I am supposed to tag others to share about themselves. Since I just did one of these I will let it be up to you if you would like to share seven things about yourself. If you choose to do a Meme, link it back here so I can read about you!

I Have A Little Friend

Sitting at my computer on Saturday morning I noticed something on the underside of the Epiphyllum oxypetalum right outside the door. A praying mantis!! Hurray! I like these insects, they are fun to watch, they eat other insects, and they look like tiny prehistoric creatures! Usually I have lots in the garden but haven't seen any this summer until now. Their egg sacks are most unusual-- they look like a small piece of dirty Styrofoam.