I seem to really want to get that perfect butterfly picture this summer. So I have been visiting butterfly houses and nature preserves and having a great time! So here are some pictures:
Butterfly Wings Monarch Spotted One Spotted Two Looking at you
and some other stuff along the way:
Caterpillar Elk Grove Village Elk (The nearby suburb keeps elk because it is named Elk Grove, IL) Elk Falcon Fuzz Oh, another butterfly natural caterpillar.

Thanks for looking.

I drive a  red Dodge   Ram.  Yesterday, I drove through a cemetery on the way to work.  (Only you guys understand  that.)

Found this.   The Man  
Saw this.        Monument  (What would make this shot better? I saw it in B&W but it doesn't look I thought it would.)

The drive also confirmed my need for a zoom lens of some kind.  Guess for now I'll go back with my Nikon film camera.  The 2 hawks looked fairly comfortable in the area.

AMH has been posting very neat pictures of his Death Valley trip. This made me want to go somewhere, anywhere...

But, alas... I am at home sick today. All I can do is remember some places I've been and enjoy the pictures.

Santa Fe Chruch
Arches
Same
Santa Fe Art
Just color
Mountain
Pikes Peak road & Wildfire
Pikes Peak Railway
From the TOP
Red Rocks
Red Rocks Drive
and closer to home:
Galena, IL still life

Hopefully there will be a trip in the works for me soon!

Thanks for looking.

My Dad and Mom used to dabble in a little woodworking; they never had the tools like you'd find in a work shop, but they had enough to do what they wanted to do.  They didn't make much stuff, just a few things.  I only have one of the things Dad made; it is a picture frame with my name on it.  It never had much of a back to it; it was just paper and that was torn off long ago.  I still hang on to this, though, and one day I guess my grandkids will have it.

This isn't quite that old, nor as sentimental, but my Mom gave me this about 9 or 10 years ago.  I don't know how old she is, for there's no date on her.  I just know it's been a while since I've seen a wind-up doll with the winder in the doll's bottom.  This, too will go to my grandkids (probably Kayla; don't think Cody will want it!)

This isn't anything to do with the theme, but I did capture  this today sitting along side the interstate.  I'm really surprised he didn't fly off when we pulled up, but he sat there for a few minutes before he'd had enough of getting his picture taken!

Hope y'all enjoy!

Beginning of the Fog

Valley filled up

Hawk through the railing

Not a great pic but here is our tree

.....and, mostly 'cause I'm just a kid inside.  I saw this today and felt like a kid with a new toy, just getting to snap pic after pic of it and it letting me!  Still not as good as the others, but, maybe I'm improving some.......
1 2 3

Hope y'all enjoy!

I Have Been Watching This Beautiful Sharp-Shinned Hawk Hunting Daily On My Property  The Hunter. The Hawk Has It's Lunch In It's Razor Sharp Talons  Mouse. Shots Captured Today At 11:15 am EST.
NATURE RULES!!