Category: Jim’s Daily
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May 30, 2015 — Funny, I see things in nature that others and often the camera does not see. I challenge each of you to go out and about today, tomorrow, and the next day to find and study things that are not really what others see or at least not what they consider beautiful.
Take for example – the lowly Gull – does not get a lot of respect – It was not selected as our National Bird – But I see it as beautiful. Ben Franklin saw the Turkey a the perfect National bird – see he too saw things different then others – as far as I know he was the only one unique enough to stand out in the thunder storm AND FLY A KITE! Wonder if he thought about the Gull as a lofty National Bird. Gulls seem to like thunder storms? My camera saw this! And my camera saw this beautiful fallen limb! But say i, why waste energy seeing two beautiful items of nature as most folks do – So, I saw this! Now, this morning – through a dirty screen door looking out on the woods by my bedroom I studied the running dog – remember the wind was blowing a gale off the bay! Maybe I should help you isolate the running dog. Maybe if I zoom in a little “other folks” can see my running dog – If I had a video of the wind blowing the trees you would get a better feel for what I see. Now go back and look at the original – maybe would will see as I do! I see 5 mice running off with my bread – If that is what you see, you may be as nuts as me after all . -
May 29, 2015 — Been almost 2 weeks on the road – Family get togethers and parties, walks in natural (Even in the city I find nature), watching dogs, etc – so I have tons of pictures (I will try to post a few each day!) Hope you enjoy!
The spring in nature is what I call an abundant life. 
The first step in training a dog is to get it’s attention!!! 
The first step in a party is to smile for the camera!!!! 
Then you do not need to train a dog to swim – It is nature – but, here I did record the first swim. 
There is something about the beauty of a naturally broken tree limb – I have more of these kind of photos to show you later. 
Now, I can train you – I think a cute puppy, really though, trains me! -
March 26, 2015 Spring is here – but my friend, Allen, on Drummond says the temp is going to 0 degrees tonight and, I think he’s said, ice on our Bay is still 30 inches thick. Now to me that is something! Here in central Florida we will hardly reach 70 degrees and we think it is freezing. The winter scenes I took from a Marquette, Mich web site. I did not get up there this winter – but, expect ice on the Bay when I arrive in April.
Summer street in Marquette, Michigan on Lake Superior – no, not now, last summer! at an art show – Well, God is the artist here. 
Now for the same street, in winter – Marquette. 
Summer art work by God in Michigan. 
God is a pretty good artist in a Michigan summer. 
He continues his art work into the fall ,in Michigan. 
Gods night time art work in Michigan. 
I like the solitude of a winter scene in Michigan 
Not natural – but the the media used for this art work was provided in a Michigan winter by God. 
A rose by God, from the Michigan summer of 2014, in my garden on Whitney Bay – Lake Heron. This photo is now hanging in the Foyer of the Community Manor House in Titusville, Florida and will remain there until it is replaced by a fall color image in November! 
Not Easter yet but it is coming soon. Consider life without flowers and living plants – ….. I will say no more! -
March 22, 2015 – Spring is every where – in our Florida home I mean – Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ Robin Williams – And I say I love it – Now on my bike rides I see parties going on everywhere in the animal kingdom.
Birds in flight – heading to the party 
Birds – Sort of looks like the morning after. 
Flowers in the field. 
Flowers ’round my patio. 
Spring snakes everywhere – must see 3-4 every day 
Tortoise seem to be everywhere – Is the plural for tortoise – torti ? – Nope – I looked it up – The answer is tortoises! Anyway they love spring grass. 
Go on – swallow it!!! 
As I bike, I see each pond seems to have baby gators, or mid sized, and some monsters! That is my story for today – spring is for puppy love you know! -
March 19, 2015 – It is spring here – I think Drummond is still confused – maybe a little winter yet -? But in New Jersey the dogs are really confused – Where do I poop? Think our humans better import a truck load of ice cubes!
If you were house trained in the winter – and you are a dog – what do you think the lesson was – only poop on the snow – and behind the garage because my humands do not want to see me poop – if I start to poop in the house where they can see me they scream – this is really tough – the snow is melting – “What will we ever do?” If I go to poop (in the house) they scream – guess that means they do not want to see me poop. I go out – only snow to poop on -I go behind the garage on the snow where they can not see me – my humans are happy – but now it is melting – “WHAT DO THEY WANT ME TO DO?” -
March 15, 2015 The Great Outdoors – That is the name of the development we live in Florida – I’ll show you a few outdoor photos I have taken with in the last 10 days. How ’bout you all getting out doors and taking a few photos to send to me so I can put them in this blog!
Nine days ago I walked down this sidewalk in New Jersey – See the sun does shine in New Jersey. 
The only folks that were out and about before I went our were dog walkers – Do you know how I know that? ![Oh, you wonder where the owl came from - a wildlife re-hab person brought it to a pot luck supper for the friends of the TGO Nature Center - No the owl did not bring any food - no dead mouse or any thing - so we had to let him share in the food we brought - only kidding -- SOME FACTS: Screech owls are primarily solitary. During the late-winter breeding season, however, males make nests in cavities, sometimes reusing abandoned nests of other animals, to try to attract females. The females select their mate based on the quality of the cavity and the food located inside. During the incubation period, the male feeds the female. These birds are monogamous, with biparental care. The young of most screech owls are altricial to semialtricial. Altricial, meaning "requiring nourishment", refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or being born. The word is derived from the Latin root alere meaning "to nurse, to rear, or to nourish" and refers to the need for young to be fed and taken care of for a long duration.[1] Species whose young are immediately or quickly mobile are known as precocial.](https://jimsdaily.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dog-screechimg_4692.jpg)
Oh, you wonder where the owl came from – a wildlife re-hab person brought it to a pot luck supper for the friends of the TGO Nature Center – No the owl did not bring any food – no dead mouse or any thing – so we had to let him share in the food we brought – only kidding — SOME FACTS: Screech owls are primarily solitary. During the late-winter breeding season, however, males make nests in cavities, sometimes reusing abandoned nests of other animals, to try to attract females. The females select their mate based on the quality of the cavity and the food located inside. During the incubation period, the male feeds the female. These birds are monogamous, with biparental care. The young of most screech owls are altricial to semialtricial.
Altricial, meaning “requiring nourishment”, refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or being born. The word is derived from the Latin root alere meaning “to nurse, to rear, or to nourish” and refers to the need for young to be fed and taken care of for a long duration.[1] Species whose young are immediately or quickly mobile are known as precocial.
I hopped on my Motorcycle yesterday after spending a full day in my office catching up on work I left undone while on my New Jersey visit! Went to the national sea shore – I love to watch the shore birds – I do not know one from the other – that does not matter – ’cause they a re all fun to watch. 
And watch you must, i have been told – I think this the Portuguese man o’ war, also known as the Portuguese man-of-war, man-of-war, or bluebottle is a marine cnidarian of the family Physaliidae. Its venomous tentacles can deliver a painful sting. 
The while taking the garbage out after we had dinner I found this guy on the road. I think he is a pygmy rattler. This is what I found on the web I been told they are very dangerous ????? These snakes only attain a length of 2½ feet, but average around a foot in length. Their small size & moderately mild venom keeps them from being a serious threat to human life, but the bite is still extremely painful. One man I know was bitten severely enough by a large pygmy that he was hospitalized, and very nearly died. Despite their diminutive size, I have yet to meet one that didn’t act like it was 12 feet long and ready to take on anything. If you give the snake half of an opportunity to bite you, it will happen. Don’t count on hearing the rattle, as it is very slender and does not produce much noise. 
Finally, a wildlife shot sent to me for the blog – just a 9 week old baby – maybe 50#
Leonberger! What fun we had together – just a week ago- in the snow!
Spring is here – the cows are in the pasture – looking across the fence for greener pastures – Next month I get to see the horses – can not wait! So get outside and send me some photos of your experience! -
March 12, 2015 – Boy , am I tired, I was shopping – My Grandson has bright orange shoes – I know why and now I want a pair – With your camera in hand, come walk with me through the woods, across the golf course, through life. — If we are observant we see things to ponder and look long at, and wonder why – just plain enjoy. — and the camera makes us observant — or Are those flying “ducks” pileated woodpeckers, or mallards. Woody Woodpecker was named or drawn from the pileated,(not the Mallard), red top notch. But why red or bright orange feet on the Mallard? It’s all about attracting the ladies. Chicks dig orange. According to DUCKS UNLIMITED — Have you ever heard that you can tell where a mallard is from by the color of its feet? As the story goes, the legs and feet of northern mallards are redder than their southern cohorts because low temperatures in higher latitudes cause more blood to flow to the birds’ extremities. These mallards are also thought to be larger and hardier than mallards raised in southern parts of the species’ range. Old-timers called these big, late-migrating mallards “redlegs.”
While golfing – alone late evening I shot this – Grandma said what is it – Say I “Beautiful!, Yes, you and the seed pod.” 
Near the golf course late evening – A family relaxing after their meal – brought in by Mom! 
I am not a very good photographer. It is hard to tell what bird it is – but on top the first photo 3/8/15 at 5:08:21 of birds flying right to left – the second shot on the bottom (notice trees aligned) 3/8/15 at 5:08:22
With careful study, enlargement, and computer sharpening, I think I see a Mallard – But the experience sure motivated me to try to take better photographs.
Do not worry about the quality of your photo – just enjoy the walk with me – remember my poor quality photo gave me lots of computer fun researching and writing while trying to explain my “hard to see” photo of the flying DUCKS!! -
March 8, 2015 – Come take a walk with me in the woods – on a New Jersey Nature Trail. (Also a view of a Florida Nature trail from Gloria too – See a little difference from New Jersey). The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. Robert Frost
Two generations of Daughters – The teen taller then Mom 
How do you know a dog owner lives at this home? 
What do you do when the dog goes around the tree – Throw the leash handle to the right of the tree and call the dog to you with a dog cookie – of course! 
The sign says quality deer management area – but I see an ant eater – do you? 
I looked and saw a bird? in the wires – Do you – It is fun to look for funny things as you walk – Try it! 
Now we left the road – onto the trail! 
I saw a flock of blue birds. by the stream. 
I saw a Heron sleeping by the stream. 
I saw 3 Mallard Ducks flying thru the woods, heading for the stream. 
Then i saw them floating on the stream. 
Then I saw tracks – looks like a horse drawn sleigh – – one horse “In a one horse open sleigh” What do you think? 
I c a horse – and of course had a conversation with it – where is the sleigh? I ask. 
Hiding under the tarp the horse told me – “I found it!” 
This is Tom strutting his body for the young ladies. In Florida of course 
Say I, find, watch, and enjoy the animals of the woods! I did pass folks on the trail who never saw the animals I photographed – I think they missed a nice part of life! -
March 2, 2015 – We had a funny light in our sky – No I am not talking about the launch last nite – They happen so often most folk around here do not even take notice – I still do – Ran outside around 11:00 pm to see it go thru the haze. Beautiful and I enjoy the rumble as it leaves the pad. The other bright light is the sun – seems like weeks since we have seen it. Anyway continue on!
Told you I would keep you posted on my learning about digital painting – This smiling face may be my next project! 
For my first project I started with this not too handsome photograph. 
And I created this mystic horse painting or digital photo/painting! 
That is my progress so far 
Off to NY – well, NJ on Wed – Just a day and 11/2 to practice my sledding! -
Feb 27, 2015 – (OAL) Old Age Learning – I got half of it right– “Old Age” – I am working on the “Learning” part – Purchased an artist tablet for my computer – a pressure sensitive mouse – Seeing that my wife is an artist – figured I better “LEARN” to participate at least a little in her area of skill – but did not want to mess with all the “Stuff” she uses to create – So I plan to start with a photograph and paint it digitally – digits are not much “Stuff”. and since it is art – I do not have to remain true to the photograph – Brian, you should have created art! I will keep you posted!
Maybe I will paint pet portraits. 
O maybe a bad photograph of a pet could be the foundation for a great piece of art. 
Maybe I will create a comic strip character. 
Or only do portraits of laughing faces! 
Anyway, Pres. George W Bush has inspired me