Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween to those who observe the day ...
For everyone else ... enjoy the creepy crawlies that will be popping up everywhere today -
They can be interesting and beautiful!

Early Morning Raindrop on Lichen

On an overcast gloomy day ...
Last night's sprinkles hanging from Autumn branches ...
Where can the beauty be in a such a day?
OH.

To see reflections from around the world, join us over at James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Watching Me Watching Them ...

As I was going for my walk, I felt something watching me ...
Was it this beautiful little bird that kept flitting around in the trees off to my right?

Or maybe it was this squirrel, intent on my progress?

Oh! Maybe it was this deer, hiding at the top of the little hill?

Or ...

Maybe one of her friends (if you enlarge this photo you will see there are SEVEN deer in this shot!).

I guess they were watching me find this cute little heart!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Sun Breaks Silver on Willamette River

I walked for a moment along the bank of the Willamette River near Newberg (Oregon) yesterday ...

It was cloudy and chilly when I got there, but suddenly the sun broke through the rain clouds, lighting a silver path across the river ...

Just a much needed moment of peace ...
In a life of unrest ...

And I felt renewed.

Tina's PicStory's challenge this week is "gold or silver" - show us the gold and silver of YOUR world!

Fuzzy Pink Flower

I was walking over at the abandoned church when I found these Tiny pink flowers on a tall stalk - surrounded by fuzz.
*I'm not sure what kind of plant it is ...
*Update - of course Mom knew this is a Lamb's Ear, Stachys byzantina!
It used to be part of the beautiful landscaping of the once-popular mega-church ... now being reclaimed by nature.

But I couldn't think of a better PINK flower for Tina's PicStory's "Weekend Flowers"!

Winter Apples

My uncle's winter apple tree is loaded this year with beautiful red lusciousness!

As I looked more closely at one of the apples ... the one with the green still on the bottom ... I couldn't help but wonder ...
Isn't that a heart???

To see hearts from around the world, visit Random Hearts - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday!"

"Tina's PicStory" challenge this week is "food" - Apples are food, right? :=}

Autumn Walk in Canyon Part 2

This late season bumblebee was searching for what little bit of nourishment he could find in this fall crocus flower ...

While this whitish spider stood out sharply against a tiny pink flower ...

A praying mantis was doing what he does best ...
I almost didn't see him as he blended in with the dried grasses around him ...
(click this photo to enlarge and see him close up!)

While this pair of mushrooms took advantage of our autumn rains to flourish.

Autumn Walk in Canyon

I got to play hide-n-seek with a cute little bird.
The bird won.

I admired the autumn colors of the leaves ...

The mushrooms showed me their own unique beauty.

But it was this little ladybug who stole the show.
She landed on my arm ... AND BIT ME.
I've never been bit by a ladybug before!
I flicked her off, then took her portrait.

It was a beautiful day for a walk in the canyon ...
but I hear tomorrow will be even better!!!

Autumn Chickory Flower

Chickory, Cichorium intybus

I was overjoyed to find this beautiful chickory plant still in full bloom, even though most of the flowers around here are long gone.

To see gorgeous flowers from around the world, visit Tina's Picstory's meme "Weekend Flowers" - and prepare to be amazed!

Limb Scrape Heart

A dead limb, pruned from the tree it grew on ...
Left on the ground to nourish the soil it came from ...
Sharing it's heart.

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Pink Rose Heart

A few roses are still blooming in our garden ...
Confused, as we all are, as to season ...

Or maybe just a gift from summer ...
To give us the HEART to face autumn?

To see some of the best flower photography ever - join us over at Tina's "Weekend Flowers" - you'll be glad you did!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!!!

Visit From a Dragonfly

He perched on a leaf, resting a while ...

Enjoying the brief bit of autumn sunshine ...
Wings reminiscent of stained glass beauty ...

Too tired to even hold on ...

A face only a mother could love???

But there is magic in his wings ...

Glad To Be Back!

After I was released from the hospital last Monday, I went for a short walk.
The first walk I've been on for a very long time - one without pain!
Even though I couldn't go far, I found so much had changed since I was last able to be out and about ... summer has morphed into autumn ...

The spiders are growing large, the seed pods are ready to set forth life for next spring ...

The flowers that are hanging on are few and far between ...
Yet beautiful still.

I saw a slight movement in the woods ... I was being watched by this young deer - seemingly unafraid of my slow trek up the road ...

It feels so good to be back!!!

And happy to be joining Tina's "Weekend Flowers" once again!!!