Cardinal with Cold Toes

So when you're cold

From the inside out

And don't know what to do,

Remember love and friendship,

And warmth will come to you.

― Stephen Cosgrove

One of my favorite images from our winter storm - taken 02-20-12

Sharing with Your Sunday Best that Nancy hosts - HERE

Cardinal Connections

When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.

― Rachel Naomi Remen

I definitely feel a connection with the birds and the beasts of this world - and a VERY SPECIAL connection with the cardinals in my backyard.

About the Image: Taken 10-28-11 - thru the window - very dark day - ISO at 1600

Equipment: Nikon D7000 - Nikkor 70-300mm Lens with VR - at 300mm

A Male Cardinal

A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.

Winnie The Pooh

Simple Surroundings

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

~Author Unknown

About the image: As you can tell - we have an abundance of cardinals in my area. They seems to appear on my blog regularly. I feel VERY blessed to have them.

Female Cardinal - Simple Joy

The essence of life is not in the great victories and grand failures, but in the simple joys.

~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Birds and Beaks

It seems that I am always focused on trying to capture birds with something either in their beak or on their beak. I captured the above cardinal with the sun shining ON his beak and a seed IN his beak (a twofer) Looking back - I see that it has been quite a subject on this blog -

for example:

A Blue Jay Feeling quite Nutty - HERE (a little piggy with all those nuts)

A Downy Woodpcker that's quite a Messy Eater - HERE (no table ...er feeder manners)

A Female Cardinal just hanging out in the pines - HERE (pass her a napkin)

A White-throated sparrow with a buried beak - HERE (NOT looking forward to days like this)

A good time to laugh is any time you can. ~Linda Ellerbee

I hope you've had a laugh!!

Cardinal In the Pines

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.

~Author Unknown

About the image: Shot from my back deck. This is a favorite hiding place for the cardinals. This image is also one of my best sellers in my Kreations by Kerri Nature Store at Cafe Press.

Female Cardinal - Peeking from the Pines

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

~ John Lubbock

Cardinal - Profile in Red

Focus on your potential instead of your limitations.

~Alan Loy McGinnis

Cardinal Close-Up

Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow. ~Douglas Pagels

Wishing you a wonderful day!

A Joyful Existence

A Cardinal caught in MID-Jump!

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are. ~Osho

We Only Have This Moment

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late.
Marie Beyon Ray

A Smiling Face

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.

~Author Unknown

He just looks like he's smiling, doesn't he?

Mr. Red Striking a Pose

Doesn't he look like he's giving me that "over the shoulder" look?

And my quote for today has absolutely nothing to do with the image but I thought it was quite powerful:
We all have ability. The difference is how we use it. ~ Stevie Wonder

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you Peace and Joy and Love and Kindness ~ today ~ and all of the days to come.

Merry Christmas!

Simple Pleasures

One of my favorite things to do is to watch the birdies feast at the feeders on my deck.

The last few days I have spent "downsizing" with still LOTS more to do. I have made a consicous decision to let go of "things" ~ they clutter my house and clutter my mind. This will be a continuing process but already my mind feels lighter.

Life is one long struggle to disinter oneself, to keep one's head above the accumulations, the ever deepening layers of objects ... which attempt to cover one over, steadily, almost irresistibly, like falling snow.
- Rose Macaulay