Monthly Archives: February 2012

Contemplative Caterpillar

Bridger was excited to spot this very large caterpillar one morning in September of 2010. He thought I might like to make its portrait. He was right!

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A Caterpillar Contemplates... ? - September 2010

I don’t know what caterpillars contemplate in general, but this one was trying to start to spin its cocoon. Talk about an opportunity for deep contemplation, the time spent metamorphosing, wrapped in a cocoon, might just be time for deep coming-of-age thoughts!

Should we take a cue from the moth and butterfly world, and tightly wrap our teenagers in swaddling clothes to contemplate their coming of age years?

Grass & Wee Bug

Zooming in on the gold, sunset-lit filaments of this grass seed head, I saw an anomaly.

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Wee, Small Fellow Hiding in the Seeds - Summer 2011

A fat filament? No, it moved. Although it was well camouflaged, it definitely had legs and eyes. I don’t know what it is, but several of the same variety of grass sported similar denizens. Do you know what it is?

If I Don’t Move, You Can’t See Me…

Wishful thinking? Can a grasshopper have wishes? I know a grasshopper can be very aware of me, the photographer!

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Frozen in Time - Grasshopper - 2010

When I moved to one side to get a better view of him, he would  edge around the twig to the other side where I could not see him as well. I finally had to use one hand to kind of wave at him so that he would edge away from my hand into the view of my camera. I caught him, though!

Standing Alone

In early February our pasture is a wasteland. The drought, severe heat, and hungry horses reduced a formerly lush, green meadow to dry dirt. There is hope, however. A lone survivor stands amidst the brown dust.

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Survivor Photographed February 2012

It may be short – stunted even – but it has produced seeds!  May it reproduce wildly all over the pasture!

Meanwhile, I admire the sunlight glinting off its seed fluffs.

Just a Fuzzy Muzzle!

Still bedewed with water droplets from his frigid early morning drink, Blaze’s fuzzy little muzzle is silhouetted against the sunrise.

Refreshing! - Winter 2011


This adorable post: http://h2obyjoanna.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/41365-snowy-nose-of-a-shetlander/ – from h2o by Joanna, a fellow photography blogger, is what reminded me of my shot of Blaze.

Icy Daggers

Well, miniature daggers – pointy, sharp, and gleaming.

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It is so amazing that these crystalline structures form overnight! They transform the world; as the sun rises it strikes sparks from each individual crystal so that the entire outdoors glitters and glows, magically transformed. Then that very sunlight that sparks the transformation melts it all back to common, everyday water.

Sequined World

Glittery, shiny, glinting. Rhinestones and sequins? No, the world is gleaming with millions of frosty crystals!

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Only the early riser enjoys this glowing treasure, as the warmth of the sun’s rays almost instantly converts all those crystals to shimmering water droplets, then evaporates them.
Do today’s fashion designers realize how closely they follow the fashions of nature?

Beaded Grass

Fashion and nature: beaded and fringed dress, spiraling around the body.
It was actually this morning, when attempting to photograph frost crystals, that I started to think about nature and fashion. I will post one of this morning’s photos later, I hope, after my battery has recharged (and my camera’s battery, lol) and I have examined the photos.

Still, turn this upside down and I can imagine a flapper’s dress, can’t you?

Blue and Green Summer Afternoon

Today is bright and sunny, triggering today’s afternoon flashback. It is quite a cheerful looking day. But step outside and your mood may change; it is brisk, to put a nice spin on it. Cold, frigid compared to recent days in the 60s.

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Does this summer sight help you smell and hear echoes of summer? 2011

Looking out the window, feeling the heat through the windows, called to mind this summer afternoon in Harlan, Iowa, 2011. Warm in the sun, slightly less warm in the shade. Humming insects, gentle lapping of waves, soft susurating breeze…