This afternoon has me wistfully looking back on our European trip, yet again. For this post in particular, I’m reminiscing about Paris and our visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral.
As enthralling as it was to take a tour inside this extraordinary example of French Gothic architecture, I was equally enamored with the feathery congregation outside!
In April of 2019, a massive fire tore through the roof of the Notre Dame, but a restoration by artisans is in the works. I have a feeling these birds have missed the tourists and will be happy when this historic cathedral reopens in 2024.
By the way, did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month in the U.S.?
“Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom. We feed them and tame them and think we know them. And yet they inhabit a world which is really rather mysterious.” ~ David Attenborough
Even though it’s November, we are still seeing shorebirds around Perry’s Point. Sandpipers, plovers, whatever the species, I like them all.
And I love that they make their home here in late spring, summer and fall. With the cold temperatures increasing, I predict our feathered friends will be winging their way south very soon. Here are three of my favourite shots of them from my files.
This one seems to have something to say!
So imagine my delight when I scored these lovelies at HomeSense recently:
Now I can enjoy beach birds all year round. 🙂
Bloggers and e-friends: My apologies for not visiting your blogs as much this month, due to my participation in NaNoWriMo. By the time I finish writing each day, I need to take a break from constant screens. But I shall return!
Now that summer has officially arrived–at least according to the calendar–I’m sharing an evergreen summer post from July 2015. Happy Sunday, everyone, and have a wonderful week!
Cindy Knokeis a popular blogger, photographer and world traveller with a loyal following on WordPress. When you check out her collection of breathtaking photo captures, many of them from nature, you will see why. She even has her own National Geographic page!
From her About page, I Blog, Therefore I Am:
“I retired early after 27 years as a psychotherapist/mental health director and moved to the outer limits of no-wheres-ville to a home I call “The Holler. …This is our little bit of heavenly Appalachia right here in rural California. I like to write and if something strikes my fancy, usually something odd or unusual, you will learn about it here. And thankfully, at The Holler, almost everyday is odd and unusual. So “Holler Happenings” including photos of flowers, birds, and wild animal interactions, are included too. I travel three-four months a year so you will find my photos and honest reviews of locales, attractions and accommodations from all over the world. The good, bad and the ugly. So put your feet up and let’s devote our attention to the best things in life, our leisurely pursuits!”
Check out Cindy’s latest post, where she shares gorgeous images of “the remarkable and endangered” Saker Falcon.
There is already a meme going around similar to this next one, but when I saw crows on Perry’s Point the other day, I couldn’t resist making my own.
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In other news:
Add yourself to my email list for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. A winner will be randomly drawn on December 23rd. Click on the card to sign up.
Thanks for entering, and good luck! 🙂
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In the continuing saga of Vivian K. Perry:
You will be pretty again, Viv ❤
Tomorrow will be our fourth trip to the vet to get more meds for Vivian’s allergic dermatitis. The side of her face has still not healed, so they are prescribing a higher dose of this second prescribed medication. At least she doesn’t have to go along this time, and we are super thankful for that.
Speaking of being thankful,
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American followers and blogger friends!
What comes to your mind when you hear the word connected? For some, the word may conjure a mental image of all the gadgets we have, like our smart phones, computers, etc. that allow us to stay accessible and up-to-date in the digital world. Or it may make you think of being well-connected, in that you have successfully networked with the right people who can further your career or your mission in life.
The most meaningful connections for me, as they are for most, are the ones I make with people in person, especially one-on-one. These attachments are unique and irreplaceable. You know who you are<3. But as much as I treasure the relationships in my personal life, there is a lot to be said for the virtual connections I have made with other bloggers over the past three to four years.
Living in a remote or rural area can make it difficult to find like-minded souls, especially in the writing arena. The blogosphere has been instrumental in solving that dilemma for me. The advice and the inspiration I have received from other bloggers has been nothing short of extraordinary since I started Jennifer’s Journal. A huge thanks to every one of you that I follow. Whether your blog shares writing, art, or photography, I am grateful to have met you through the internet.
Kath Unsworth of Minuscule Moments of Inspirationis one such blogger. Not only does Kath pursue the craft of writing, she is also a gifted artist. Her creativity and dedication to her artistic endeavors have influenced my own aspirations much more than she probably realizes. And because of the internet, it is no matter that she lives on a farm in Australia. Well, actually it does matter; her location adds even more intrigue for me. 🙂
I was lucky enough to win a contest Kath held last year, where my name was drawn to receive a free pet portrait. Here is the result:
Vivian by Kath Unsworth
This summer, I was moved to acquire one of Kath’s original, highly affordable works of art from her newly opened Etsy shop, ScratchyBirdDesigns. Her love of birds speaks to me, so much so I had to have one of them adorning my wall. (Vivian is in my living-room, Willy Wagtail is in my kitchen-dining room.) Isn’t he beautiful?
Willy Wagtail
x 2
I also purchased her delightful fridge magnet (its slogan fits me to a tee):
Like me, Kath understands the value of virtual connection. You can read about it in her blog post here:
Once again, iceberg season has arrived in Newfoundland.
Icebergs are beautiful to photograph and are a huge Force of Nature ( we only have to think of the Titanic disaster ) but the pack ice that often accompanies them can wreak their own special havoc. In our part of the world, these masses of moving ice interfere with fishing and sometimes even trap whales and dolphins.
In the area of Bonavista Bay North where I live, the water is too shallow to allow the big icebergs to get very close, but we do see plenty of pack ice and bergy bits.
Enter the seagulls. These hardy scavenger birds are so well-adapted to this rugged environment, I am in awe. Their ability to not only survive, but to thrive here, may well be called another force of nature.
Like all of our feathered friends in the northern hemisphere, seagulls mate in spring. This is the time of year in Newfoundland we see them answer to their instinct and pair off to procreate. They are monogamous, usually with one mate for life.
On the evening I took these photos, the setting sun cast interesting shadows and hues upon the ice and the water.
Of course, speaking of a force of nature, our Vivian needed to be a part of it all.
What Forces of Nature do you have in your backyard?
When I took part in last month’s Daily Post Photo Challenge: Reward,I discovered blogger Karen Anderson, a photographer from Surrey, England.
Expressing My Vision – a Journey into Creativity and Beyond is the name of Karen’s blog. In her own words from her About page:
I am an amateur photography enthusiast who enjoys experimenting with different genres in my quest to find my style. I will turn my hand to anything. I do have a few images under licence with Getty Images, I also do photoshoots and wedding photography for family and friends, as well as any other photographs I am asked for. BUT I am not trying to make a living out of photography…I am in it for the love of the art and part of the fun for me is in sharing and learning more.”
Check out the link below to see Karen’s Reward post that caught my eye. In it, she shares photographs of a chance visit by two adorable robins, as well as a fitting poem by Thomas Hardy: The Robin– perfect for our neck of the woods, as we saw our first robin hopping around in the garden just yesterday.
As the last tranquil days of summer disappear, I am drawn to the warmth of the sandy beaches that encircle Perry’s Point.
For a few moments, I can almost forget colder days are approaching…
This stretch of sand is begging for bare feet.
“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.”
~ William Blake
It’s good to see that the beach birds are still around.
The sandpipers and plovers seem to be in no hurry to wing their way south for the winter.
Among the strands and clumps of kelp, there must be lots of yummy tidbits for them to eat.
Notice how some like to stand on one leg.
The different species get along fairly well, sharing nature’s bounty.
Flight!
Due to global warming, many species of birds in North America are dwindling in numbers, and the numbers on protected and endangered lists are increasing.
I hope you never face extinction, my precious feathered friends.
This one appears to have something to say about it all.
I love their plump little bodies…
…and their long beaks!
Vivian doesn’t go down to the beach unless she has company…
…Good thing for the beach birds!
“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” ~ Charles Darwin
Thank you for stopping by to enjoy the beach with me, and Summer’s last hurrah. 🙂
Jennifer's Journal 