Town Jays and Country Jays

A quartet of junior blue jays showed up at the feeder on Sunday morning. Already present were the quartet of junior scrub jays whom we know so well, and there was some fractiousness, with the scrub jays dominating the feeder and the little town jays sitting around looking hungry and making unfruitful forays to the feeders. It didn't take long for them to sort it out and all to eat together in harmony.




Junior blue jay on the left; junior scrub jay on the right

The Barbecue Place

Mighty fine, mighty tasty, and so close to home

The Dying Insect That Fell On Me On Its Way To The Ground

As we ate barbecue outside on Sunday, this little insect fell out of the tree above me, briefly hitting me before continuing to the ground, where it thrashed for a while and then became still. Why? What happened? Was it just its time to go?

Dog in the Pedernales at Reimers Ranch on Saturday

Is this you and your dog? Let me know and I'll send you the photo.

Downtown Austin, Friday Evening

Woman on the bus, West 6th Street


City of Austin Power Plant, from Lamar Boulevard, headed south

Buzzard, Friday Evening

Cardinal Mother

The mother cardinal from the recent cardinal posting. Her head is so pretty!

Junior Scrub Jay

When he is older, his little gray head will be blue on top.

Junior Black-Crested Titmouse

When he's older, his little gray crest will darken to black.

Junior Cardinal Scout

I am simply unable to edit myself or show any restraint with certain subjects!

The Scorpions are Back: #2 of 2009

I'm just happy they are not brown recluses, frankly. This one was in the bathroom right beside my head the other night; Hugh kindly came running with the SCARP container as soon as I yelled. He mentioned that he'd come across one recently, too, making this one #2 of 2009.

Where Am I??

Melting in the effing heat, that is where I am. Spending lots of time indoors and also spending lots of time making jewelry for my new Etsy shop (and setting up the darn thing). I hope my energy will rally soon and that many more bug/bird/cat photos will be taken and posted.

Till then, here are some cicada wings I found in my mother's garden this evening. One was in a spiderweb out front; the other in the birdbath out back. I'm setting them aside with the dehydrated scorpions to make something pretty out of them!

Windowscreen Sex: Katydids (or What Have You)

Having a good long go at it, these two were, on our kitchen windowscreen tonight. Are they katydids, or some other variety? I haven't bothered to plumb the depths of identification; maybe one day. But it doesn't matter to them.

Beautiful Dove

What I Found in the Globe of the Closet Light When I Changed the Bulb Today

The upper picture is more accurate in light and color, but the lower image is more dramatic, don't you think?


They were utterly desiccated and I am considering using them in some jewelry-making; we'll see.

Scrub Teens

The photo's not so great but the scrub teens will not oblige, so this is what we get. I'll keep trying...their scrawny little gray heads are quite endearing.

The Little Finches

I am constantly charmed by the finches; they eat so delicately and sing so beautifully.

Hamilton in the Tub

I Never Weary of Stalking the Elusive Bobwhite

Today he was in the oak tree that is a few yards from the front patio. A few days ago, the couple was spotted in the birdfeeder area at the side of the house; I've never seen the two at once before.

Firecracker Red

Junior cardinal, new on the scene! Their little heads always have that dreadful charred look, poor things.