July 4, 2014 -- Fireworks, of course!

This volunteer sunflower was magnificent in the setting sun, so I made it my early fireworks splash for the 4th. The winter birds planted my flower garden for me!

June 23, 2014 -- Go, Cardinals!

Yesterday, about the same location as the day before, this sunset presented itself.
I call it "Go, Cardinals!" (No sunset today. It's raining again.)

21 June, 2014 -- Longest day of the year

June 21, 2014... Summer solstice, first day of summer. Things haven't changed, though, from Spring. Dawn's clear, then it clouds up, then it thunders and rains, then it sprinkles again, then it clears, and on and on.

June 18, 2014 -- Now it's hot and ...

Now it's hot and humid, but I still don't wish for snow again. Remember? We were complaining about the cold, and wet, and fog... now it's hot and wet and fog. Well, not today, just cloudy and sunny. But it's coming back... rain again next few days.

Don't you DARE post my babies' faces on Facebook.

Useless. It's hot and humid, and they are totally useless.

June 12, 2014 -- Almost, almost

Almost Friday the 13th, and almost full moon. Is it a bad omen, full moon on Friday the 13th?
I don't think so...

Just after sunset, still daylight.

June 6, 2014 -- June Moon

Rains all day, fogs up at night. There were foggy stringy low clouds blowing around tonight, but the moon and a couple of planets were still out, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. Fonda shot the moon through her new telescope with the i-phone (reverse image). In Iowa. Nice!

Grant shot the full lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, using his smartphone through the eyepiece of his telescope. Jefferson City, MO.

With the camera adapter and a REAL camera, in Mtn. Grove, Missouri.

12 May, 2014 -- Night view

Started putting out buds about two weeks ago. Can't put it outside until nights reach 50 degrees.

3 days ago, after responding to fertilizer.

Just after dark, it's larger than my fist, starting to uncurl.

Come on, Juanita, you've gotta see this! It's moving! It will be drooping by morning.

Fully open, and sending off such sweet scents. Can't imagine what a whole tropical forest must be like.

Pollen everywhere, and in the jungle, there would be bugs swarming. Amazing, I'm not allergic to this one.
Local spring growth keeps me sneezing, so maybe I should be swinging from a tree somewhere in the jungle?

May 12, 2014

Don't give up on me. I'm still taking pictures, just needed a kick.
Just got it; thanks, Barb B.

Cinco de Mayo

2014 March 4 -- Bright shiny day!

After the storm, it always looks better. Warmed up, so I played outside like a kid.
There's that cat Buddy, who follows me everywhere.

 I ate part of the nose, and that young northern mockingbird went in for the leftovers.

New kid on the block.
AgPickup delivered last week from South Carolina, on a nice day before this all blew in.

2014 March 2 -- Groundhog day plus 28

So, here we are a month later (http://335asthecrowflies.blogspot.com/2014/02/feb-2-2014-groundhog-day.html)
 It takes forever to get through winter in the Ozarks, especially after groundhog day.

Ice and snow and wind, just enough to make it miserable outside.

Red-winged blackbirds are here now. Glad the migrating geese don't land on the feeders.