Something there is

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall

Excerpt from Robert Frost

All of your thoughts

All of the thoughts of a turtle are turtle
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photos of Birds and Animals in the wild

I have been fascinated for many years with those who do wildlife photography. I have never been able to imagine the patience it takes to take some of the photos we see. Unfortunately, these types of photos, featuring wild animals and birds, have become so common there is likely a perception that taking wildlife pictures is easily done. This is not the most beautiful picture in the world of a wild goose, but I believe you have to start somewhere. Don't expect anything from me from exotic locations.

Ducks Ditty

All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!

Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!

Slushy green undergrowth
Where the roach swim--
Here we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.

Everyone for what he likes!
WE like to be
Heads down, tails up,
Dabbling free!

High in the blue above
Swifts whirl and call--
WE are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!

Kenneth Grahame

Heliconius charitonius -- the zebra longwing

With a range in the southern U.S. and Central and South America, the zebra longwing is Florida's official state butterfly. The caterpillars feast on Passion vines, while the adults favor the nectar of lantana and shepherd's needle. See Butterflies and Moths of North America.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

Earth and Sky

Isaiah 45:8

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.

A bad place to lose a cow

That isn't exactly the quote but it is true none the less. Bryce is actually a very little place and it is definitely not a canyon. If it could be characterized as anything it is a series of small canyons along the edge of a narrow plateau. That would be like saying the Mona Lisa is a series of brush strokes.

The Permanence of Snow

Robert Frost said it best:

Some say the world will end in fire,
 Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
 But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
 To say that for destruction ice
Is also great,
 And would suffice.

Early Spring

The lakes of the Wasatch Mountains sometimes accumulate in former glacial cirques. The terminal moraine forms a natural dam, allowing the lake to fill from runoff in the Spring and Summer. Some of the higher lakes have no fish, the lake freezes solid down to the bottom every Winter. Aerial views of the lake district in Winter shows nothing but snow.

Silver vein

This rock is located in a known mining district. The rock was way too big to carry home so we had to be content with scraping a little of the silver off of the surface of the rock. Do I have a positive identification? No, but do you have any other ideas what mineral it might be, other than silver? It is amazing what you can find if you are always looking.