I've always loved nature, and for as long as I can remember have been fascinated by the world of wildlife occupying my urban backyard. My father is a "yard guy", and

being a Daddy's girl from the beginning, I grew up hanging out with him outside, hunting up creepy-crawlies while he cut the grass or tended his vegetable garden. I took frequent breaks to run in to the kitchen to show my mom my current handful of snake/toad/skink/earthworm/fuzzy caterpillar/etc. Now that I'm all grown-up (excuse me a moment while I snicker at that idea), I do my own yard work, but still stay on the lookout for the fascinating 2-legged, 4-legged, 6-legged, and 8-legged beings that are ever scurrying about, under our very noses.

I first signed up for Flickr awhile back, uploaded a few photos, then forgot about it. In June of 2008 I rediscovered Flickr (and my neglected account), began to add more photos, joined a few groups, and began to make contacts. I was amazed to discover a wealth of beautiful photos, and a plethora of talented folks who are interested in the same things that I am (more or less). I've already been overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of many of you, so may I say, to my contacts: I am in awe of your stunning/interesting/quirky photos, endlessly amused by your humor, and daily encouraged by your warm comments. I look forward to seeing your new photos everyday, and you inspire me to keep my eyes open (and my camera handy) for photo opportunities in the world around me.

I kinda wish the paid Flickr subscription wasn't called "pro", because I'm certainly not claiming to be a pro; I'm just a girl with a camera and an affinity for little critters. (Alright, I like plants, too -- quite a bit -- but I think critters are often more challenging, and thereby rewarding, to photograph.)

Sharing photos has been an interesting experience for me. I've several times posted a shot that I loved, and gotten little to no response to it (hey, to each his own! =) That's ok... I'll still enjoy my own little favorites! ) On the other hand, there are other shots that I've almost left "on the cutting room floor", as it were, but uploaded on a whim, and been surprised at the number of people who find them and favorite them. It's so interesting to me how we each see and appreciate different things!

If you're not a contact yet, then thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment or fave to let me know you've been here, and I'll make every effort to visit your photostream, as well. (But don't give up on me if it takes a couple days... between the full-time job, the never-ending grad school work, plus life in general, I can't always make as much time for Flickr as I'd like to!) Have a lovely day!

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive.

Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

"Lo! Blessed are our ears for they have heard,

Yea, blessed are our eyes for they have seen.

Let thunder break on man and beast and bird

And the lightning. It is something to have been."

-- G.K. Chesterton

"Most children have a bug period, and I never grew out of mine."

-- E.O. Wilson

"If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos."

-- E.O. Wilson

"When you have seen one ant, one bird, one tree, you have not seen them all."

-- E.O.Wilson