Little Bird - Big Leaves

Above - So small against the big leaves

Below - a closer look

I believe this to be a yellow-rumped warbler.

Frosty Leaf

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

~Stanley Horowitz

BokehLicious

Stay the course, light a star,

Change the world where'er you are.

Richard Le Gallienne

For More info on Bokeh - Click HERE

Mourning Dove Music

There's music in the sighing of a reed;
There's music in the gushing of a rill;
There's music in all things, if men had ears:
Their earth is but an echo of the spheres.
- Lord Byron

About the image: Taken on a very dark morning - 11-16-11 thru a window at ISO 3200. I'm using a Nikon D7000 (A 2010 Christmas Gift from Hubby) and I'm ALWAYS amazed at how well it does on a high ISO.

We have an abundance of doves here at my house - but I never tire of seeing their sweet little faces and listening to the lovely "coo" they make. Click HERE for A link to their sweet voice.

Falling Rain

For after all the best thing one can do when

it is raining, is to let it rain.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Mockingbird and Autumn Bokeh

May the sun shine all day long,

everything go right and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!

~ Irish Blessing

About the image: Mockingbird on the fence - Taken 11-03-11 along Deerfield Trail - one of my favorite walking trails. Shooting into the sunlight is not always a good thing - but I liked the bokeh that developed in this one. For more info on Bokeh - click HERE

Cedar Waxwings

All that we behold is full of blessings.

~William Wordsworth

About the image: Taken 10-31-11 in my backyard. A grainy shot and cropped closely as I was far away. I am so blessed to have trees in my yard that entice many birds to visit, including the Cedar Waxwings.

Cedar Waxwing - Focused on the Berry

Do whatever you do intensely.

~Robert Henri

Female Cardinal Blending In

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.

~Karen Ravn

About the image: Taken on a gray day - 10-19-11 - again thru the window in my living room.

About the quote: Profound words that have me contemplating several aspects of my life.

Carolina Chickadee and How to Change The World

Carolina Chickadee - Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA - 10-22-11

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

~Jack Layton

cloche encounters

Kate Spade

thelisbontailor.blogspot.com

hatsca.com

by yellowfield7 on etsy.com

Dorian Leigh wearing a pale pink cloche by Madame Reine and a plunge-necked rayon crepe dress from B.H.Wragge, ca. 1946 via flickr

 

by katarinacouture on etsy.com

by yellowfield7 on etsy.com

Urban Outfitters

oranges-and-apples.com

anthropologie

Since I'm on a fall fashion kick, I feel the need to wax poetic on the beauty of the 1920s-inspired cloche hat. This bell-shaped beauty, which we are seeing more of this season, from the likes of Kate Spade and anthropolgie, has always been a favorite of mine. 

I'm so glad I bought a deep purple wool cloche from Target last year. It is nice and warm, covering my ears just so. Not to mention adorable. Good thing I left it here, so I can wear it this season. But I do plan to send it out to Oz, to have when the weather turns chilly there. A girl needs to be prepared for all weather, and do so stylishly. Don't you agree?

Robin with Wet Berries

For after all the best thing one can do when

it is raining, is to let it rain.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

About this Image: Though not as sharp as I would have liked, it's still one of my faves. Berries after the rain and a Robin ready to feast ..... it just says "Autumn" to me :)

Female Cardinal and Her Berry Beak

Autumn is the eternal corrective.

It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity;
but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance.

What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon
- Hal Borland

About this image: I just couldn't pass up a bird with a berry in her beak. This was a dark picture - I was VERY far away - and it wasn't sharp. I did a bit of editing in Lightroom 3 and this is what I got. Still not very sharp and has a "painterly" look to it. I am pleased with the way the autumn colors in the background show through and I love that you can see her skinny legs :) The branches came together nicely to give her a "framed" look.

scarf weather

"Ms. Scarfweather will see you now."

(That is just nonsense, not a real movie line or anything. Just popped in my head.)

It is the perfect time of year for donning your favorite scarves, at least here in Ohio. Autumn's cool crisp days and chilly nights make me want to wear a nice warm scarf. And doing so stylishly is always the goal. 

Of course, I would probably be wearing scarves if I was still in Australia, as it is spring there now. It is rather warm there, already, so maybe the scarf look would only be for evening. Whether here or there, I'm a scarf-loving gal. That's for sure.

(images sourced from pinterest and google image searches for scarves)

I Saved A Squirrel

Well, I didn't actually SAVE him - but I saved the picture of him. As you can tell from the shot below, it was Way Too Dark. But I still thought it was a cute shot. (I am amazed at how they can balance on their toes like that!) I used Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 (see sidebar link) to make it a more "viewable" image. I still have a LOT to learn - about photography, about editing, about everything, but I thought I'd share this with you in case you have some dark shots that you want to "Save" :)

Mr. Squirrel - prior to the "Save"

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.

~Henry L. Doherty

Tree Lined Path in Autumn

Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege.

Use it. Dwell in possibility.

~Oprah Winfrey

Carolina Wren - Singing His Song

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden,

but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.

- Minnie Aumonier

For those who have not heard what beautiful music this little guys makes - click HERE for a link.

I have found that a walk with Nature is one of the greatest stress relievers and mood enhancers. Feeling down? Go for a walk in the forest or in your local park and listen to the sounds around you. You WILL feel better!

Autumn in the Forest

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.

~ John Muir

Tree Branches - Bending and Reflecting

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

~ John Muir

feeling it

 Even though we are having a spell of Indian Summer right now, in Ohio, and the temps are pretty warm, I'm definitely getting in the mood for fall fashion. Bring on the scarves, hats, boots, and sweaters! I am ready to layer and love it.