Oak Canyon

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles ... to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.  

Henry David Thoreau

Shady path at Oak Canyon

I have to admit I have a thing for trees!

I'm drawn to them and feel serene among them. I enjoy looking at the shape of the branches and notice the color of the bark and how the leaves move in the wind. Follow along with me and I'll show you what I saw there in the canyon~

Trees are your best antiques.  

Alexander Smith

bridge leading to the stream and walking paths 

There is always music amongst the trees in the Garden, 
but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.

Minnie Aumonier

Gold mining display for elementary school children learning California history

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, 
finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. 

William Shakespeare

My Girl Scout Troop had their 

Brownie bridging here. See the ducks in the water? I'd love to have a picnic tea near this stream so we could hear the water gurgle and laugh.

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. 
Robert Louis Stevenson

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

 A cache of acorns

Happy summertime! 


“I couldn't live where there were no trees--something 

vital in me would starve.” 

L.M. Montgomery

Anne's House Of Dreams

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Mosaic Monday

Clever Chicks

Magic In The Air

Here in California we enjoy seeing hummingbirds all year long. They are not shy like so many other birds. As a matter of fact, we have one of our hummingbird feeders hanging next to our kitchen table window. We watch them feeding every time we sit down to eat!

 

Recipe for Hummingbird food:

• 4 cups of filtered water

• 1 cup of granulated sugar

Bring clean water to a boil, stir in sugar to dissolve. Let cool, then fill bird feeders. 

Keep remaining nectar refrigerated.

 This is an easy recipe that you can make quickly at home. 

  Never add food coloring- if it's not good for you, it's not good for the Hummingbirds!

Check the feeder each week for mold. Feeders can get dirty, especially in the summer heat. Wash with a drop or two of bleach and warm water, rinse well.

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Mosaic Monday 
The Chicken Chick 
You're Going To Love It 
Photog Show and Tell 

Exploring Our Backyard~

It is fun to 'meet' other bloggers and see what they have to share! I was recently inspired by Mary's blog Red Shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove.  She takes beautiful photos of nature in all its splendor - in the last few visits to her blog I've enjoyed seeing frogs, owls and insects. Taking a page from her book, I went outside  today and sat quietly with my camera. College Girl had joined me on the patio to get a bit of sun on her legs when she suddenly said, "Look over your shoulder...on the fence!" There perched a little yellow bird watching us with curiosity.  

Once she decided we were trustworthy, she lifted her wings...

...then alighted on the edge of the birdbath nearest us. We also have a footed birdbath and small fountain elsewhere in the yard that the birds enjoy. Sometimes all three baths will be occupied with splashing birds at the same time!

This was the first time that I used my zoom lens. I took the photos quickly, lest Yellow Bird proved shy. 

 
It wasn't until I was editing the photos that I realized Yellow Bird had a perfect reflection in the water~

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is? We have a hunch that it may be a Lesser Goldfinch.

Once the bird was gone I looked around the yard and saw a Skipper~

Next, I noticed two different spiderwebs in our Cherry tree. One was a regular spiderweb and the other I call a 'hammock' spiderweb, as it is spun horizontally to the ground like a cradle or hammock.

 You can see the 'hammock' web behind the big circular web in the upper left and lower right pictures above and in the photo below.

As you can see, leaves had fallen into the 'hammock'.


I also took some photos of hummingbirds which I will share later. Thanks, Mary, for giving me a push to take photos in my backyard!




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Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Anything Goes