fluttered by

Meet Ruddy Daggerwing, she is a butterfly and she lives at Loxahatchie in the cypress woods. I think she might be getting old, looks a bit tired out don't you think? She gathered together with like butterflies on this Virginia willow. She might be another Yesterday.

And he may be another Tomorrow.

It's important to keep looking for them...

in the pink

A simple celebration of color.

river of grass

The Everglades is a place very close to my heart. I don't really know why that part of me is so attached to this river of grass. Just a feeling I have when I'm there, it's spiritual. It is not an easy place for the creatures who live there. You can't count on anything staying the same, especially the water levels.

Loblolly dog show

 Look who is our best in show today, the budding ball master herself, our one and only Maggie Duke!

The proud papa with Tucker awaits the heroes return.

There will be no living with her now.

Our newest Loblolly puppy Fanny Frank was also best in show (we had a few of them)

and Lucy Simpkins, another winner!

 While the fans watched with adoration!

having fun

I would like to introduce to you Cow who's sur name is 102. She lives in Florida with the other cows. She's pretty dumb, yes, but really it's all about appearances and she is quite lovely. I mean check out the swirling fur do on her head, or is that hair? I'm not up on my cow anatomy. Just trust me when I say it's sometimes really good to be dumb....

On closer inspection I believe this one's lunch has exited through her right eyebrow. Am I right?

taking a break

I need a break from the kind of nature where animals are involved. It exhausts my heart. I would like to have a back up heart that I can call on when my original heart is too full. So until that can happen I'm taking a break inside these petals where it is bright and warm and I can hide within the folds....

an evening sky

Dad was seen flying across the pond early yesterday morning.

I'm still waiting for Tomorrow.

black vulture

I am NOT looking for Tomorrow, I'm too busy eating dead stuff.

bugless

I haven't seen Tomorrow either, I'm too busy pruning my own feathers.

Are you looking at me?

I haven't seen Tomorrow, really I haven't....

peek a boo

Tomorrow has started his new life. I found him on this palm tree swaying in the breeze. See how his ear tufts have developed? Yesterday was sitting on the same palm tree just below him. The crows were annoying mom. Little Tomorrow flew off and mom went chasing after him.... At least they are together.

Letting go

I knew this was going to get hard. Tomorrow has left his home, the place where he established his owlness. Where he grew his feathers and began his two tufts on the top of his head. Where he was beak fed and mother pruned. Where he learned to look to the sky and turn his head almost all the way around. Where he learned to levitate and then to fly. Where he learned to love.

This is my last photo taken of Yesterday and Tomorrow together at home, where it all began. 

This is the beginning of his independence. He will be watched over by his parents for about another 3 months. He will need their extra feeding support and protection from the crows. He has much to learn. I hope to be able to continue witnessing some of his adventures....

underfoot

I've been looking up so much I almost forgot to look down. No worries our owls are doing fine.

hint

Now do you see her?

hidden

Can you find Yesterday?

flight pattern

 The sun was rising over the pond and my anxiety was rising as well. No Tomorrow. He was not in the tree where he has been for the last 4 days. I looked everywhere, even scoured under the bushes with dread. 

I'm over here!

Were you looking for me?

moonshine

Last night it poured, It came down hard and fast. I believe the full moon kept Tomorrow comforted and the middle of the tree kept her dry. That is where I found him this early morning. His feathers all a wry.

woops

Tomorrow has flown three trees over, where dad hangs out. His journey was not far but it was huge. Watching him yesterday made me laugh and weep all at the same time. He did not stop hopping/flying from limb to limb. He would look up and then fly up, then look over and then fly over, then look down and well you get the picture. This went on for almost an hour. Everytime I saw him look up I would try to get there with my lens before he did. It was wonderful, I had so much fun. Every so often he would almost lose his balance and fall. But not to worry, he can right himself! The above image shows Yesterday watching her budding owlet.

Tomorrow takes off!

The joy of life is in the simplest of things.

close encounter

 Wild turkey sunning himself outside the side door of my studio.

Tully sunning herself outside the front door of my studio

Apparently neither one knew about the other.

Wild turkeys make a quick exit when they see me running after them with my 400 lens.

You have to love this place.....

Not easy in the breeze

 Yesterday mom presented Tomorrow with a lovely dead bunny. 

Today, Tomorrow is alone once again to learn about the winds and how not to fall out of the tree. He has backed himself into a crook to wait it out. Feathers are fluffed and flowing...

No words

I have no words to express the tenderness between these two great horned owls. Yesterday and Tomorrow, they give us hope....

feathers

Feather! My feathers are beautiful, I'm going to attract a mate, I'm sure of it. I may have to change positions to make sure I'm seen. 

Yes, this should do it..

Tomorrow would like his feathers to join forces with his wings and fly him out of this tree. This image was taken Thursday evening, this morning he sat with his mom. The rest of us are remaining patient and hopeful for his next flight in life.