I am THANKFUL for... (Continued from Nov. 20)

BABY EASTERN BLUEBIRDS  (begging for food)

On Wednesday (Nov. 20),  I listed many of the things I am thankful for --during this year of 2013 SO FAR....  If you missed that post,  be sure and check it out.  Just click HERE.

BUT--as I mentioned on Wednesday,  I left out one very important category,  my FAVORITE BIRDS...  Thanks to friend, Cheryl, for guessing what the theme of this blog post would be.  She knows me TOO well... ha ha ... Check out Cheryl's blog by clicking HERE.   I couldn't just choose one photo to feature on Wednesday---so I decided to feature my favorite 2013 Bird Photos in their own blog post.  I got to see some new birds in 2013---which always make me very very happy and THANKFUL!

Hope you enjoy seeing photos of my favorite 2013 BIRDS.   Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

DADDY EASTERN BLUEBIRD feeding one of the babies

BABY NORTHERN CARDINAL (Isn't he adorable?)

BEAUTIFUL DADDY NORTHERN CARDINAL

BROWN THRASHER

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK  (migrates through here Spring and Fall)

AMERICAN ROBIN  (only comes to the feeders  during a snowy winter day)

DARK-EYED JUNCO  (only comes to the feeders when it snows)

PURPLE FINCH

I was excited to see these birds at the feeders.  We have had House Finches (which are similar) --but this is the first time I have seen Purple Finches here.  (I had seen them in Arkansas --but not here.)

INDIGO BUNTINGS

I was excited to see these beautiful birds in the yard --but I only saw them once,  and they never came to the feeders... However,  this was a 'life' bird for me --first time to see them and get photos!!!!

ROADRUNNER  (at Mt. Nebo, Arkansas)

This was another 'life' bird for me --but it wasn't found in my backyard.  We saw this beauty when we visited Mt. Nebo, Arkansas in February.   I was SO excited to see this gorgeous bird...

CROSSBILL

Here's another 'life' bird for me this year.  This beauty visited our feeders.  The Crossbill gets his name because his upper and lower bills 'cross' over each other.... Neat, huh?

PILEATED WOODPECKER

I feature this woodpecker alot during the year.  They are so much fun to watch --as they try to find various ways to get to the suet!!!!!!  Amazing Birds!!!

BLUE JAY  (they LOVE peanuts)

JUVENILE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER

Many of our birds have nests in the area during Spring/Summer.  One of the prettiest 'baby' birds is the Juvie Red-Headed Woodpecker.... He looks very different from his Daddy (listed below),  doesn't he??????

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER  (an all-time favorite bird of mine)

Finally,  this may be my favorite Bird Photo from 2013.  I love Red-Headed Woodpeckers and this photo (with a peanut in  his mouth)  has been a favorite this year.

WELL---that's my favorite BIRD PHOTOS for 2013... Hope you enjoyed seeing the photos.  I love my Backyard Birds --and am so THANKFUL for all of these little cuties!!!

I am taking   TWO WEEKS off to enjoy Thanksgiving with family.   I have several other projects I need to work on also..... I hope that each of you will have a wonderful THANKSGIVING and upcoming two weeks.  I will see you again on Dec. 9.

Hugs,

Emoticons

I am THANKFUL for...

MY RELATIONSHIP with GOD

I had so much fun going through all of my 2013 blog posts this week.  Since it is the month of Thanksgiving,  I decided to pick out some of the things which happened during 2013 so far for which I am thankful ....  Of course,  there were WAY too many to put in one post --so I just picked out some to share with you today.

Hope you enjoy my post. The list is not in any specific order.   Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.  AND--I encourage you,  as you read this post,  to think of all of the ways you are thankful. 

GEORGE  (Taken on his birthday at DeSoto Falls State Park, Alabama)

My SONS and Families (Flowers were a gift from son, Mark, on my birthday)

SNOW  (Hope we get more this winter than we did last winter!!!!)

GOOD HEALTH  (So glad I can still hike and enjoy nature;  This was at Tallulah Gorge, GA)

FRIENDSHIP  (With two of our good friends,  Neal and Patti Treadway);  I am truly thankful for all of YOU --and the friendships we have together through blogging.  Thanks!

OUR HOME and FLOWERS 

There is so much to be thankful for in this photo.   Our home got new paint in 2012 and a new roof in 2013.  We have flowers blooming in most all seasons (Crocus, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Phlox, CandyTuft,  Tulips, Lilies, Daylilies, ROSES, Irises, Pansies,  etc. etc. etc.)...  Can't choose a favorite --except for the ROSES,  which are AMAZING.

WATERFALLS   (Crabtree Falls,  North Carolina--during heavy rain)

OCEAN ISLE BEACH,  North Carolina

We get to the beach a couple of times a year --and love it there.  Besides just enjoying the beach,  we LOVE the SEAFOOD in that area!  For this,  we are truly thankful!!!!

SUNRISES and SUNSETS  (This sunset was taken at Mt. Nebo, Arkansas)

BILTMORE  (So thankful that we have season's passes.  We love their sunflowers --and all of their flowers!!)

MOONBOW (at Cumberland Falls State Park, KY)

Seeing the MOONBOW (a rainbow at night) was an absolute highlight of the year for me.   We had never seen the moonbow before ---so this was a wonderful experience for us on our Anniversary this year.  It was pitch-black DARK outside when George took this 2-minute exposure.  Amazing,  isn't it?

the SCHOONER ALLIANCE  (Yorktown,  VA)

Besides seeing the Moonbow in June,  another very special highlight of 2013 was taking a Sunset Cruise on the Schooner Alliance,  when we were on our September Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland trip.  Cruising on the Alliance will definitely be a 2013 highlight for me for which I am extremely thankful.

MOUNTAINS  (along Blue Ridge Parkway)

We are definitely blessed to live in such a beautiful area of our country.  We enjoy the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains off and on during the entire year.

SEASONS of the YEAR  (Fall on the Cumberland Plateau)

I love all SEASONS --especially Spring and Fall.  MANY of my blog posts throughout the year are showing the season changes in our area... SO SPECIAL!!!!!  I am SO thankful for our four seasons.

US  (taken at our little cabin at Mt. Nebo, Arkansas)

This is listed last,  but to me --other than God in our lives,  George, and our lives together are what I am MOST thankful for.  We have had another amazing year together.

Well---that's our year (SO FAR) in a nutshell ---and we truly do have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  I have left out one category (can you guess what it is?????) ---and will feature it on Friday.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing my special Thanksgivings.   Now---jump over to my Photo Blog for one more gorgeous photo from Biltmore in 2013.  Click  HERE.

Hugs,

Emoticons