Visual Escapes and Daily Inspirations: Share Yours

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Mar 16, 2020

Let's create a space to offer a daily reprieve.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty and fear into our lives. Some of that fear and uncertainty can be caused by over thinking what is going on or unnecessarily worrying. So, I'm making sure I wash my hands frequently, not touching my face, staying away from social gatherings and all of the recommended guidelines to help avoid getting or spreading COVID-19 but it can be a little boring. I try to not watch news all day long while I'm in this self imposed captivity. I like to take pictures of birds and other creatures from my window as a welcome break.

I invite you to join me in sharing pictures, favorite poems, sayings, mottos, funny moments. Let's take a daily break together.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

@woogie

We had baby sparrows outside our kitchen window. I saw a blue jay trying to get in their house. I opened the curtain and frightened him away. I looked it up on the computer and saw a video of blue jays stealing and eating the baby birds. Oh, it makes me sick even though I know God planned it this way. I always loved them. Our neighbor's beautiful black and white cat was in our yard checking out our birds: he was ready to pounce on one until I opened the window. We have a wooden fence around our yard but animals can get in if they try. We have two shih-tzus--that's the reason for our fence.

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@gingerw Nature !

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Happy Friday everyone! Thought I would share a collage of 4 new photos and one of my older favorite robin photos

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@johnbishop

@sueinmn I knew there were a few varieties but didn't know the difference. I did find a sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) that I am considering buying some seeds on Prairie Moon Nursery website (https://www.prairiemoon.com/helianthus-grosseserratus-saw-tooth-sunflower-prairie-moon-nursery.html). The flowers are small and it's more like a tall grass plant which may be nice as a border along the edge of my wooded area. I do like the large sunflowers though and am planning on getting some of those. I wasn't sure if they would reseed themselves.

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@johnbishop Sawtooth sunflower needs full 8 hrs + sun or the stems may lean... I have not seen whether the plants can support birds feeding on them. Here is the cup plant link at the same nursery https://www.prairiemoon.com/silphium-perfoliatum-cup-plant-prairie-moon-nursery.html I love the leaves, and the birds love to feast on the seeds. The left over canes after the plants dry are sturdy enough to use as kindling.
Both of these will plants spread as far as you let them - not for small, neatly manicured garden spaces, but wonderful on a fenceline or edge of wild space. My friend just mows her cup plants if they spring up outside the allotted bed. I aggressively lop off the extras at the ground. And as natives, once established they don't need much minding, extra water, fertilized, seem pest free...
Getting off my garden soapbox now and going out to lounge by the pond...
Sue

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@sueinmn

@johnbishop Sawtooth sunflower needs full 8 hrs + sun or the stems may lean... I have not seen whether the plants can support birds feeding on them. Here is the cup plant link at the same nursery https://www.prairiemoon.com/silphium-perfoliatum-cup-plant-prairie-moon-nursery.html I love the leaves, and the birds love to feast on the seeds. The left over canes after the plants dry are sturdy enough to use as kindling.
Both of these will plants spread as far as you let them - not for small, neatly manicured garden spaces, but wonderful on a fenceline or edge of wild space. My friend just mows her cup plants if they spring up outside the allotted bed. I aggressively lop off the extras at the ground. And as natives, once established they don't need much minding, extra water, fertilized, seem pest free...
Getting off my garden soapbox now and going out to lounge by the pond...
Sue

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Thanks Sue @sueinmn! The cup plant is a much better choice because I will be mowing the edges of the area so that would be a great fit for my lot.

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@johnbishop

Happy Friday everyone! Thought I would share a collage of 4 new photos and one of my older favorite robin photos

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I saw several turkey buzzards during morning walk. Would not make a pretty photo!

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@rosemarya

I saw several turkey buzzards during morning walk. Would not make a pretty photo!

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@rosemarya, Thank you for the laugh! While many photos shared here are of nature not found in my area, TX is well populated with buzzards...turkey, political nincompoops, red necks....In west TX a nearby community sponsors an annual rattlesnake roundup and then holds a public bar-b-que. I've never attended it but wonder if some of us might start a buzzard roundup and.....????

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Except for the border around it, my "Seger pile" is finished. Named after the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock", and the first few lines. ["Stood there boldly, Sweatin' in the sun, Felt like a million"] 9' diameter circle, about 64 sq feet, all rocks hauled by hand from the corners of our property by yours truly. Smallest rock, a couple of ounces; largest rock, about 50 pounds. Last three cartloads of rocks laid out this morning at 6:30am before the heat hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ng2bLqtgSk
Ginger

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@gingerw

Except for the border around it, my "Seger pile" is finished. Named after the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock", and the first few lines. ["Stood there boldly, Sweatin' in the sun, Felt like a million"] 9' diameter circle, about 64 sq feet, all rocks hauled by hand from the corners of our property by yours truly. Smallest rock, a couple of ounces; largest rock, about 50 pounds. Last three cartloads of rocks laid out this morning at 6:30am before the heat hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ng2bLqtgSk
Ginger

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@gingerw I love it. I am on the hunt for some new rocks, need to take someone along to haul them for me.
Sue

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@sueinmn

@gingerw I love it. I am on the hunt for some new rocks, need to take someone along to haul them for me.
Sue

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@sueinmn I have enjoyed this project. I love rocks. These are a mix of volcanic, granite, and shale-type. The browns, grays, and soft greens play well with each other. Now my husband has suggested we rock between the front chain link fence and sidewalk, putting in two plant areas; the water meter is out there, too. He even hinted at going rock hunting for that. He sure knows my weakness!
Ginger

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@gingerw

Except for the border around it, my "Seger pile" is finished. Named after the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock", and the first few lines. ["Stood there boldly, Sweatin' in the sun, Felt like a million"] 9' diameter circle, about 64 sq feet, all rocks hauled by hand from the corners of our property by yours truly. Smallest rock, a couple of ounces; largest rock, about 50 pounds. Last three cartloads of rocks laid out this morning at 6:30am before the heat hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ng2bLqtgSk
Ginger

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This sounds silly but your rocks are pretty interesting. I like the colors. I grew up with a large rock garden my parents made when I was a child. Then we would collect rocks on vacation out west. Quartz, fools gold, petrified wood etc. Those were incorporated into the rock garden that held all kinds of flowers. Nice memories.

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