Happy Friday! This week I was blessed to witness some interesting private moments in nature; some scenes that we rarely are privileged to see...
While looking toward Still Waters Pond I noticed something fluttering on the side of this pine tree.
From a distance I couldn't tell what it was, but I knew it was something unusual. So I got my camera and zoomed in and this is what I saw:
I believe we are witnessing a mating ritual between two dragonflies!
Either that, or they are practicing an amazing trapeze act in the air, way above the ground and barely hanging on to anything on the tree...
It was beautiful to see, but after watching for several minutes I decided to give them some privacy.
Wasn't this amazing?
Moving along to our daily walk...I noticed this very interesting caterpillar inching his way upon the stem of this fragile wildflower.
The caterpillars are munching away on their host foods, preparing for the next stage of their development, which I assume will be the pupa or chrysalis stage
I noticed there were many of these all around on the bushes along the road.
I believe this is the caterpillar for the Buckeye Butterfly. This picture below was taken earlier this year in the same area where there were many of these caterpillars this week. So I expect we will see a lot of Buckeye Butterflies sometime in the near future.
I decided to take a little side road today to see if I could see something different than the usual things we see each day. I noticed some movement going up the side of this tree, and at first I thought it was probably a squirrel. But upon closer inspection, I noticed the ringed tail of a raccoon...so then I got really excited.
Can you see who's looking at you?
There wasn't just one, but two very young raccoons. If you look closely toward the bottom of this raccoon, you can see the outline of the ears of the other one just coming up the tree beneath him.
The other one is looking up toward the top raccoon in this picture...look closely. Aren't they sweet?
Obviously these are very young raccoons, and I was keeping a close watch around for a mother to come charging after me.
But thankfully no angry mother showed up. I hope these babies haven't been left on their own already. They seem pretty young.
What an exciting morning! Of course, my camera was again having battery issues, and I finally had to shut it down so this was the end of this group of pictures...but Oh!! What a delightful time!
Seeing these wonders in God's beautiful creation made me stop and give praise to the Lord, the Creator of all. "Praise the Lord!"
"All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing!
Alleluia, Alleluia!...
O Praise Him, O Praise Him
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Psalm 148:7-10,13
7. "Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
8. Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9. Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10. Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl...
13. Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven."
Hope you have a wonderful weekend...and be sure to keep your eyes open to the beauties and wonders of all that God has placed around you, wherever you are. You may be surprised what you will discover!
