Photo-a-Day Challenge
Transitions
My Week In Photos
Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature’s delight. — Marcus Aurelius
This was a week of transitions. Some good, some sad.
First, I returned to Medium and the Photo-a-Day Challenge. It’s nice to be back, but life is still so hectic that finding time to create this post was difficult.
Also, Captain Argentina is improving a little more every week. And, that’s a wonderful change!
Last week, Hurricane Ian barreled through our state, leaving behind massive destruction. We escaped with little more than tree litter and a definite change in seasons.
Ian blew summer out to sea.
Our temperatures this week have averaged 10 to 15 degrees below normal. As a lover of heat and humidity, I typically dread the cooler fall weather, but after our sweltering summer, I enjoy being able to walk Syau without returning home bathed in sweat and requiring a shower and a change of clothes.
With the change in the weather came the arrival of Halloween. I’m not a big fan, but I was delighted with the decoration in my lead photo. The master gardener in our neighborhood put a screaming head on one of her plants. It seemed fitting for her yard, which is a landscape wonder.
The Halloween decoration above has always been my neighborhood favorite. It’s directly across the street from the elementary school. At night, he’s lit up, and his eyes are glowing orbs. Kind of scary in the dark but not so much during the day. Last year, the owner didn’t put it up. A couple of days before Halloween, Captain Argentina told him how much the neighborhood looks forward to his ghost. The ghost reappeared the next day. This year, the goblin made his debut on October 1st.
One of the changes this week concerned our neighbor and friend, Brenda. She closed on her unit Monday and moved north to be near her son and his wife. Although we’re friendly with our other neighbors in our townhome circle, Brenda was the only one we considered a friend. We already miss her so much.
Another good change is the return of the waders that were mostly absent during the summer.
I’ve always said that I believe the Black-Bellied Whistlers clone themselves. Not only do they look exactly alike — males and females — but I never see them with ducklings. That changed this week when I found the mother Whistler above with a brood of what I think is a dozen ducklings!
And, we had the early arrival of an adolescent Wood Stork, who strolled by the pond with the mother Whistler and her babes.
Speaking of Whistlers, the winter group has arrived. We always have dozens more during the fall/winter/spring than during the summer.
Usually, there aren’t many, if any, Whistlers on the pond across from us. A large group is there now — I believe because of the mother Whistler and her ducklings. They appear to be standing guard over them.
And the comical American Ibises are also back in large numbers.
On Wednesday, Ben had an appointment with one of his favorite doctors, who he’s been seeing for about 15 or 16 years. We were sad when the doctor said he’ll retire at the end of the year. Another good-bye.
I was walking Syau on Thursday when this Red-Shouldered Hawk flew silently above us. Close enough that I felt the draft of her wings. Then, she landed on this pole across the street.
Not only did Hurricane Ian blow away summer, but he sucked up all the moisture, too. Not a drop of rain since last Thursday. Lots of sunshine and blue skies.
Did you know that someone who walks on a tightrope is a funambulist? This squirrel is on a thick vine, rather than a tightrope, but I think the name still applies. The vine drapes around several trees, and I watched this little guy shimmy and dance along them, never missing a step.
Right now, the sun doesn’t rise until 7:26 am, which means Syau and I are walking much later than we did a couple of months ago.
The photo above is from May when I visited my friend Gina at her home on 40 acres northeast of us. It was also my introduction to Chunk, her Nigerian Dwarf Goat. He was so adorable. Sadly, Gina had to have him euthanized this week due to a urinary tract blockage that didn’t respond to treatment. Another goodbye, except I didn’t get to say goodbye.
This week we also lost one of the greatest country music singers, Loretta Lynn. Another goodbye.
A week of goodbyes and a few hellos, which reminds me of:
You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy.
— C. JoyBell
There is nothing permanent except change.
— Heraclitus
© Dennett 2022
In July 2020, I started the Photo-a-Day Challenge on Snapshots to help combat the virus blues. I take photos every day and choose one (maybe, two or three) to represent the day. Then add a one-or-two-word descriptor and some narrative. A simple way to observe and preserve.
However, the Snapshot Editors have decided to replace the Photo-a-Day Challenge with a monthly one, so Weeds & Wildflowers is now the official home of this challenge. If you want to participate and are not a writer for W&W, leave a response below, and I’ll add you.
Please note that Weeds & Wildflowers does not have the same word and photo limits as Snapshots.
Want to join the fun? It’s all about noticing and appreciating your environment and sharing it with us, as these photographers and story-tellers have:
Erika Burkhalter / Eileen Vorbach Collins / Anne Bonfert / Sasha Meyer / Tracy Aston/ Lisa Bolin / Juan O. Aguilera / David Wade Chambers / June Nguyen / Mia Verita / Susan Alison / LensAfield / Barbara Radisavljevic / Diana Lotti / Barbara Dalton / Kim Zuch / K. Barrett / Sandra Barrett / Shruthi Sundaram / Gustavo Mendez / Olive Wilson / Jane Frost (Jane Grows Garden Rooms) / Jillian Amatt / Scott Younkin / Penny Grubb / Shell Parsons /Ivy Shepherd / Lynne Nardizzi / Ken Martin
(If you participated in the Photo-A-Day Challenge and your name isn’t listed above, please let me know.)
Thanks!