I had to get some photos in.

Because the sun came out for the first time in about a week, I had to go sit on the back porch.

And because I was sitting on the back porch, I had to get my binoculars out and look at birds.

And because I was looking at birds, I had to get my camera out.

And because I got my camera out, I had to get some photos in.

This first one is the mum plant that is blooming ahead of all the others.

Looks like we'll have these orange-yellow ones, plus some dark maroon ones that are just now becoming little buttons of flowers.

I ended up sitting outside for a few minutes taking pictures until I got too tired. I haven't eaten anything besides a waffle, a bowl of vegetable soup, and a piece of toast (no butter) for the last three days. I guess I may have overdone it trying to get some photos, because I'm really exhausted now. So I'll give you these last photos with a minimum of comment:

My little sister Mary and I used to call these floating seeds "weasels" and we always liked it when they had heads (seeds). This one's for you, Hairy Mary:


Our little chrysalis, Day 15:

striving to become something even more beautiful than itself

I also got a little tufted titmouse eating from the suet feeder on the tamarack tree:



These are not digiscoped; he let me get about ten feet away, then I zoomed.