Pondering Goat

Billy Goat Gruff appeared to be deep in thought as he watched children playing on the kiddy tractors at the local apple orchard. I think he was waiting for someone to buy and feed him some kibble from the machine near his huge pen and play area.

Meandering

A common sight across the Iowa landscape is meandering

streams and dredge ditches.

I spotted this raccoon fishing for his dinner one sunny afternoon.

He seemed oblivious to my presence as I watched and photographed him.

Quiet Pines

Barn~Storm

A quiet country road but for the rolling thunder in the distance

Sky in the Pond

Beautiful sky, glasslike water, breathtaking reflections!

Karl L. King Bandshell

Located at Oleson Park, this beautiful bandshell recently underwent

major renovations. It was originally built as a project of the Works Progress Administration, one of the New Deal agencies created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ground was broken in 1936.

Vivid!

Peeking Bunny

This bunny has been visiting my yard all summer long

and gets bolder as the days pass, coming closer and closer to the house.

Dusk~Soft~Light

Storm Silhouette

Conefower Duet

Dewdrops on Hosta

Iowa's Loess Hills

Pronounced, 'luss', the beautiful, rolling Loess Hills

make up a large portion

of the western border of Iowa.

Bride Model

I made Maddi her very own bridal veil for her 'dress-up' chest.

She modeled it for me and with each click of the camera

she would change position and strike a new pose. :)

Hummingbird

This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visits my delphiniums

almost daily, but she's a bit camera shy. :)

Taz/aka Grumpy

Taz doesn't like to be bothered...............especially for photos!

Hollyhocks

Childhood memories wouldn't be complete without remembering

the hollyhocks that grew beside almost every garage in the

neighborhood. Pink, red, white; their towering stalks were

abundant with beautiful flowers. If you were lucky enough to

have a push-on clothespin handy, you could make a doll, with the skirt

being made from the huge hollyhock flower.

Dreaming Chairs

Chairs atop a hill overlooking a beautiful valley, perfect for pondering and dreaming

Weathered

Old barn tucked into a hillside in the Loess Hills of Iowa

Pining

Chicken begs at the door to be let out, but as her name suggests,

quickly wants back indoors where she feels safe.

De'light'ful!

Where's the jelly?

Shadows

Sand Dollar

I love the delicate intricacy of sand dollars.

Hungry Robin

This hungry robin has dirt on his beak from digging in the dirt searching for worms.

Wood Duck

Spring has arrived and this Wood Duck and his mate have built a nest nearby.

Ballet of the Trees

Ballet of the Trees
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Snow laden trees danced a ballet for passersby.

Posing

Posing
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir

Radiant!

Radiant!
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.
Ansel Adams

Love the Downy!

Love the Downy!
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Spotted this little guy clinging to one of the giant sunflowers I grow for winter bird feeding. The plants get so top heavy I must tie them to shepherds hooks or 7 foot steel rods I embed into the ground.