PAINTING BIRDHOUSES ~ GETTING READY FOR SPRING

PAINTING BIRDHOUSES ~ GETTING READY FOR SPRING

At this time of year the birds in our area are getting ready to nest.  I can hear the little wrens calling.  I love hearing them.  I love their little songs, but it also means that they are looking for a nesting place in my yard.  I have lots of birdhouses for them to choose from.

In December I try to clean out and paint last year's houses.  We've had so much rain this year.  The rain was wonderful, but really hard on the paint and structure of some of the birdhouses.

LOOK at this one!

Oh my goodness the rain really destroyed it.  To tell you the truth, I really, really, really love the way this one looks.  I do believe there is a space in there for a bird to build a nest.  I might wrap some string around it so it won't fall apart in case one decides to.

I'll let you know if I find a little nest.

For extra calcium put your eggshells out for the birds.

Here is a link to my blog post about

 COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS

OWL & FOX KIT

OWL & FOX KIT

FOUND ON PINTEREST

TINY LESSER GOLDFINCH LOVING HIS BATH ~ MY BACKYARD

TINY LESSER GOLDFINCH LOVING HIS BATH ~ MY BACKYARD

I'm going to figure out how to keep my camera steady :)
(for a larger view click on YouTube in the lower right corner)

MOTHER LOVE ~ LIONESS & HER CUBS

MOTHER LOVE ~ LIONESS & HER CUBS

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

Your trees are begging you not to throw their leaves away.

Their roots are deep and bring up the minerals and good things in the earth for nourishment.

Those minerals go straight to the leaves.  Then in the fall as they flutter to the ground, they are putting those minerals and good things back into the soil to nourish the roots.

Those leaves are organic matter and as they decay, all is returned to the soil.

Healthy soil is what makes a healthy garden.
(Be organic~no chemicals, please)

Most of the leaves in my yard are soft and will decay pretty quickly.  I don't mind the look of the fallen leaves.  If they bother you, you can mow over them to break them up.  Then you can rake over them and they will settle to the ground and be a good mulch, then compost for the grass and your landscape.

If you think you have too many leaves for your grass, rake them into the flower beds and extra piles around your trees.  Or, you can share them with your neighbors.

FALLING LEAVES IS HOW THE EARTH REPLENISHES ITSELF.

PLEASE DON'T THROW THE LEAVES AWAY.

GORILLA BABY

GORILLA BABY

MONARCH CATERPILLARS ~ FIRECRACKER PLANT ~ QUEEN BUTTERFLY IN MY GARDEN

MONARCH CATERPILLARS ~ FIRECRACKER PLANT ~ QUEEN BUTTERFLY IN MY GARDEN

Firecracker plant is one of my most favorite plants EVER!

It is so wispy, fern like and lacey.

It gets very large, but does not interfere with other plants. 

 I can still see all flowers and colors right through those lacey fronds.

Butterflies really love it, too.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw my first monarch in the garden.  A few more have visited, too.  

Some are larger and some are smaller. 

 They have been very busy laying eggs for the "fourth generation". 

 I think this fourth generation does not move on to Mexico.

 It stays here to lay eggs next spring.

This morning I counted 23 monarch caterpillars chewing on my large patch of butterfly weed.  Because it is a "host" plant for the monarch caterpillars, I take care of it and feed it all summer just for the monarchs that will be passing through on their way to Mexico for the winter. 

 By the size of the caterpillars, I can tell which eggs were laid first ~ second ~ .....

I was going to rearrange and make changes in my garden.  Because of these caterpillars, I will wait because their chrysalises will be attached to quite a few of the plants and flower pots.

There were 13 that were large like in the picture above. 

 Those are just about ready to crawl away and start that amazing transformation.

  I will be looking for that shiny gold band of the chrysalis.

I think this is a "queen butterfly".  It's easy to mistake them for a monarch butterfly.

Spring and fall just might be my very favorite times of the year.  

Hoping my nature friends are enjoying fall and the cooler weather, too.

"JUST CHILLIN" ON A LILY PAD IN MY FISH POND

"JUST CHILLIN" ON A LILY PAD IN MY FISH POND

NEW MOUNTAIN GORILLA TWINS ~ VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK

NEW MOUNTAIN GORILLA TWINS ~ VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK 

TWINS

 "Let's hope they will make it! One is male (right), the other female (left)."

Photographer Jacques Katutu

"MANDRILL SEEKING MOM" ~ JESSIE WILLIAMS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

"MANDRILL SEEKING MOM" ~ JESSIE WILLIAMS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

JESSIE WILLIAMS

RHINO SAVING BABY ZEBRA STUCK IN THE MUD ~ ANIMAL KINGDOM SHOWS US TRUE COMPASSION

RHINO SAVING BABY ZEBRA STUCK IN THE MUD ~ ANIMAL KINGDOM SHOWS US TRUE COMPASSION

"A rhino saving a baby zebra which was stuck in the mud.

ANIMAL KINGDOM SHOWS US TRUE COMPASSION"

WILLOW THE KOALA GETS PHOTOBOMBED BY A BUTTERFLY

WILLOW THE KOALA GETS PHOTOBOMBED BY A BUTTERFLY

(For a larger view, click on youtube.com in lower right corner.)

"BUTTERFLIES & CAIMAN" ~ COWAN ~ ROYAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

"BUTTERFLIES & CAIMAN" ~ COWAN~ ROYAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

"As Mark Cowan traveled down the Amazon, he captured a phenomenal photo of a lounging caiman with a crown of butterflies. The winged creatures need salt to survive, and the water that collects on the caiman's skin is a key provider. 

Cowan's "Butterflies and Caiman" received a 
Special Commendation of the
 2016 Royal Society Photography Competition."

"I MEANT TO DO MY WORK TODAY" ~ RICHARD LeGALLIENNE

   

BABY BONOBO CHIMPANZEE~ JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS

BABY BONOBO CHIMPANZEE ~ JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS

 

"Who's our favorite little mud muffin sitting in the stream?

 Lukuru, son of bonobo Jo-T, was born Oct. 1, 2014. Bonobo sons maintain a special relationship with their mothers, even after they become adults. In bonobo societies, females are dominant. So sons need the help of their mothers to fit in and be successful. Sons stay in their natal group their entire lives. Females migrate out and join other groups."

Jesse Williams with Jo Myers Thompson at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

NEW BABY BORNEAN ORANGUTAN ~ SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO

Batang gave birth to a male infant Bornean orangutan last night!

Both he and his mom appear to be doing well.

The Great Ape House is closed to give them time to bond.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME

GOD BLESS AMERICA,

Land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME

YELLOW MIGRATING BIRDS VISITING MY YARD ON THEIR WAY SOUTH

YELLOW MIGRATING BIRDS VISITING MY YARD ON THEIR WAY SOUTH

LOOKIE WHO'S HERE 

HEY THERE!

Beautiful little migrating birds.

This one might be a "yellow warbler".  Not sure.

Look at this little birdie ~ looking back at me.

It's a lot smaller than the one above.

It loves to bathe in the water that I (purposely) leave on the rocks.

That little bird's flock is here today.

He's loving bathing on the stones, too.
It's such a joy for me to see them happy in my yard, flitting back and forth.

Remember, it seems I always see new ones just in front of cold fronts.

I LOVE this time of year!!!

KRIBA ~ WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA CUDDLES HER BABY ~ TARONGA ZOO IN SYDNEY

KRIBA ~ WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA CUDDLES HER BABY ~ TARONGA ZOO IN SYDNEY

"MOTHER LOVE"

Kriba, a Western Lowland Gorilla cuddles her baby at Taronga Zoo in Sydney

SEEING MY FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE THIS YEAR

SEEING MY FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE THIS YEAR

I'm so excited!!!
This is the time of year the migrating birds start passing through on their way south.  I've been watching my bird bath for the first migrating BALTIMORE ORIOLE and here it is!
 It might be a juvenile male because of the color.  It's probably a "scout".
 In a couple of days I'm hoping to have lots more BALTIMORE ORIOLES at my bird bath.

Early yesterday morning, I saw some kind of THRUSH in the very back of my yard.
A little later, I saw two more.  For the last couple of weeks, I've heard new sounds in the trees.
I love this time of year.
After the middle of August, I'm always listening for new sounds and watching for unusual movements in the bushes and trees.  I'm so used to watching the birds all summer, I really can tell when things are different.  For the next several days, I'll be "glued" to my windows.
When I'm rushing to take pictures, some are better than others.  I have to be really fast because the birds don't usually hang around.  They keep moving back up to the trees.
Hope you are watching and enjoying your birds and nature, too.

KNOCK KNOCK ~ MR. CARDINAL CAME FOR DINNER

KNOCK KNOCK ~ MR. CARDINAL CAME FOR DINNER

As usual, Mr. Cardinal came flying over and I put sunflower seeds on the front porch.

His mate and two babies came over.  They were feeding each other.

SUMMER BLOGGING ~ I WILL BE BACK SOON

SUMMER BLOGGING ~ I WILL BE BACK SOON

 I really miss working on my blog and I will be back soon.

 It's been a very, very busy summer with my work and I've taken lots of pictures.

Almost three weeks ago a mommy raccoon and her three big babies kept hanging out in my yard.  Maybe the mom thought her babies would be safe here.  I  could tell they were playing in my yard at night.  Two nights in a row they knocked my birdbath off of the pedestal.  Knowing better, I lifted that heavy concrete birdbath and put it back on the pedestal.

 I pulled a muscle, twisted or did something to my back.

I've continued to work, but I'm uncomfortable sitting at my computer for very long.

Slowly, my back is feeling better.

I will be back soon and share lots of pictures with you.

RARE SIGHTING OF SAND CAT & LITTER OF kITTENS

RARE SIGHTING OF SAND CAT & LITTER OF KITTENS

"A rare sand cat recently emerged with a new litter of kittens at a center in Tel Aviv."

Photo by Gil Cohen-MagenHaaretz.  Zoological Center Tel Aviv.

SCRUMPTIOUS GREEN ALGAE

SCRUMPTIOUS GREEN ALGAE

Algae from the abundance of rain, growing on my crepe myrtle tree.

Scrumptious Green!

I love these shades of yellow green.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHER EARTH

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHER EARTH

"Happy Mother's Day.
 Let us not forget our "Mother Earth", who
 shows up everyday to greet us with open arms and a smile. 
Yes, sometimes, she can have a bitter temper, but mostly she is beautiful.
"Thank you"!❤️
(MAGNOLIA PEARL)

ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN "SHOW THEM RESPECT" (THE JUNGLE BOOK VIDEO)

ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN "SHOW THEM RESPECT" (THE JUNGLE BOOK VIDEO)

BOW TO THE PACHYDERMS

"BOW YOUR HEAD. SHOW THEM RESPECT"
~

"Fiction, of course, but still beautiful and appropriate on 

THE DAY NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA, BRAVELY BURNED 

$172 MILLION WORTH OF ILLICIT ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN.

I truly hope it makes a difference! :(

frown emoticon Lynda)

(For a larger view, click on Youtube in the lower right corner)

CUTE MONKEY FOUND A MIRROR

CUTE MONKEY FOUND A MIRROR

"His mother told him he was the cutest monkey in the zoo and he believed her until..."

For a larger view, click on "youtube" in the lower right corner.

TUTORIAL~HAND PAINTING MY DISHWASHER FRONT PANEL~CHICKEN NEST & EGGS ARTWORK

TUTORIAL ~ HAND PAINTING MY DISHWASHER FRONT PANEL ~ CHICKEN NEST & EGGS ARTWORK

I have a big white ceramic chicken in my kitchen.
So, I thought it would be cute to draw a nest and eggs on the front of my dishwasher.

I thought it looked ok, but it took away my "white" kitchen.

I LOVE a white kitchen, so I painted over it and my dishwasher front is white, again.

See, it looked ok.  Maybe too country for me.

Here's my big white chicken.
I had a chicken wire stencil and stenciled chicken wire and hand painted ivy on the side of my cabinet.  But, that bothered me, too.  I just wanted a "white" kitchen, again.
So, I painted over that.
(I have a newer tv, now :)

~

TUTORIAL

You can paint almost any surface if you use a "bonding" primer first.  I always use an oil based "bonding" primer.  I primed the front of my dishwasher and waited overnight for the primer to dry really well and "cure".  I painted several colors that might be colors of wood.  I used a rag and as I was painting I rubbed the paint vertically to simulate wood grain.  After I had all the wood colors the way I wanted them, I thinned down a dark brown (raw umber) color and drew the lines.  If you want knot holes, use a dark browny gray.  I swirled my brush to make different shapes.  If you look at your wood fence you'll see the different shapes of all the knot holes.  At the end, I sealed with a water based sealer that was a very low sheen. 

You don't have to paint a chicken nest.  You can paint any color you want.

Just use that "bonding" primer.

HAPPY & BLESSED EASTER

HAPPY & BLESSED EASTER

IS THIS A GOOD DAY OR IS THIS MY LAST DAY ON EARTH?

IS THIS A GOOD DAY OR IS THIS MY LAST DAY ON EARTH?

Friday morning the moon followed me all the way to work.

I pulled out of  my garage, looked up and a HUGE moon was in the western sky.  It was daylight and there was the gray and white moon still visible.  I  was going a westerly direction to work that morning and every turn I made the moon was in front of me 

or following me on the left.

Not far from my home is a country lane in the middle of the city and I take that road every chance I get.  It's so peaceful and country.  So, I turned onto Tupelo Lane and there was a beautiful deer grazing in the high grass.  She raised her head and looked back at me for the five or ten seconds it took to approach and pass her.  It was a beautiful scene.  I have always known there were deer in this area, but can't remember ever seeing one in many years.

The first ten  minutes of leaving my house were so nice, peaceful and unusual.
It occurred to me:

"Is this a good day or is this my last day on earth?"

For years I have paid attention to birthdays.  I usually ask people, "when is your birthday?".
I just want to know.
And, when someone famous dies I check Google to see when they were born.

Most of the time I notice a person dies within the quarter just before or just after their birth.

"For everything there is a season?"

If someone dies out of that quarter I notice it was murder, suicide or for older people,  maybe they didn't really know the exact time of their birth. Or, maybe there's a reason to hide the time of their actual birth.  Getting pregnant out of wedlock, etc.

So, Friday did turn out to be a very good day.

I feel blessed that I can see the beauty of nature in our world and our universe.

Artwork I painted inside Monica and Kade's master bath skylight.

FIRST MONARCH BUTTERFLY OF SPRING VISITING MY GARDEN

FIRST MONARCH BUTTERFLY OF SPRING VISITING MY GARDEN

That's why I grow butterfly weed...just for them.
The fairies are so happy to see their friend, again.
(For a larger view, click on "youtube" in the lower right corner.)

"I AM NOT THIS HAIR, I AM NOT THIS SKIN, I AM THE SOUL THAT LIVES WITHIN"~ RUMI

"I AM NOT THIS HAIR, I AM NOT THIS SKIN, I AM THE SOUL THAT LIVES WITHIN." ~ RUMI

"I AM NOT THIS HAIR,

I AM NOT THIS SKIN,

I AM THE SOUL THAT LIVES WITHIN."

RUMI
~

Young male lion that had climbed into a tree in Murchison Falls, Uganda to rest. He was exactly at my height as I stood out the top window of the car, and he gazed at me for a moment before he settlled in to sleep.

Prints are available at my web site: melissagroo.com
Melissa Groo/All Rights Reserved. Feel free to share. If you're interested in keeping up with my work, please "Follow" me.
MELISSA GROO ~ PHOTOGRAPHER

BEES ~ WHEN WE GO, WE'RE TAKING YOU ALL WITH US!

BEES ~ WHEN WE GO, WE'RE TAKING YOU ALL WITH US!

BE ORGANIC ~ USE ORGANIC PRODUCTS FOR THE SAKE OF LIFE

MY CONFEDERATE VIOLET ~ SWEET LITTLE FLOWERS GREETED ME

MY CONFEDERATE VIOLET ~ SWEET LITTLE FLOWERS GREETED ME

Yesterday it was so warm I thought I would uncover my Confederate Violet.  I wasn't sure it had survived the weather and the shade of the cloth.  

These sweet little flowers greeted me.

RARE FOOTAGE: STINGRAY BIRTH CAUGHT LIVE ON CAMERA

RARE FOOTAGE:  STINGRAY BIRTH CAUGHT LIVE ON CAMERA

MILLER WILSON CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE

For a larger view, click on "youtube" in the lower right corner.

PLANETS ALIGNED ~ I LOVE THE SKY!

PLANETS ALIGNED ~ I LOVE THE SKY!

Lots of times when I open my front door early morning the moon is right there in front of me, looking so beautiful in the sky.  This morning it was finally a clear sky and I could see the planets aligned.  It was a beautiful sight.
They're aligned southeast to southwest, 80 minutes before sunrise until February 20.

I love the sky!

earthsky.org/science

I LOVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & THEIR INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER

I LOVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & THEIR INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER

I love watching and am always fascinated by animal and bird behavior and their interaction with each other.  Through the years I've made notes of the most fascinating to me.  One of these days I will gather my notes and create a little eBook with my artwork.  

That's my plan!

Below is a quote from a biologist and author.  I agree with him.

~

"It's fair to say many animals have richer social lives and a richer palette of strategic abilities than we give them credit for.

  WE SHOULD GET BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH THE ANIMALS WE SHARE THE WORLD WITH.  IF ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO INTERESTING."

Carl Safina, a biologist and author of a book called 

Beyond Words:  What Animals Think and Feel

"TALKING BIRD" DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE COVER ~ KEVY BERGMAN

"TALKING BIRD" DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE COVER ~ KEVY BERGMAN

A couple of years ago, Kevy performed in a play at

The Flea Theater

New York, NY

THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING THEN I NOTICED WHO WAS WATCHING

   THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING THEN I NOTICED WHO WAS WATCHING

"COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH GOODNESS OF CHARACTER"

"COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH GOODNESS OF CHARACTER"

COLLIN BOGLE ~ NATURE ARTIST

IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUTH TEXAS DAY ~ THE LITTLE WRENS ARE CALLING

IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUTH TEXAS DAY ~ THE LITTLE WRENS ARE CALLING

Because of the rain, the ground is wet and the sun is shining, like a spring morning.  

The little wrens are calling.  In mid December, I always hear them start calling for their mates.  They'll be looking for a safe place to build their nest, sit on their eggs for a couple of weeks, babies will be in the nest for a couple of weeks,
then it will be spring and the babies will take flight.

Thank you for the birds and the beautiful day!