This was such a friendly fearsome fellow with a great aptitude when hungry. I was having a coffee and a few biscuits at one of my local nature reserve when this chap landed on the table scoffing down any biscuit crumbs he could find to eat. One minute he was the table then the seat next to me, my shoulder, and to top it all he'd constantly kept landing on my woolly hat on my head being very vocal and flapping his wings until he got another crumb. Christmas came a bit early for me this year as Mr Robin left a few presents on my beloved favourite woolly green hat, he pooped all over it, lol. In the 1400's when the Robin was named the colour orange had not been classified and this is why we say that the Robin has a red breast and not orange. Its about time that the Robin became the national bird of the UK just like America that has an eagle as their national bird.

Cardamine Pratensis - a pink wild flower that was growing together with the Speedwell I posted yesterday.

It is also known as 'The Cuckoo Flower' in Britain and is so named as its appearance is said to coincide with the return of the cuckoo. Not sure where they return from - Cuckooville probs.

In folklore it was also said to belong to the fairy folk and was considered bad luck to bring it indoors

I spoke with a farmer about a week ago who said he had heard the cuckoo - so there you go, scoffers beware..... go on, go outside prop a ladder up, pick some Cardamine, walk under the ladder to get back in the house and then open an umbrella as you are arranging the flowers in a vase in the kitchen. I dare you oh doubting scoffer ......live on the edge.....

…scoffing all the mealworms

gobbling all the balls’

My garden was invaded by about 100 starlings during fledging season. The noise was phenomenal. Managed to get this wonderful capture of 1 adult trying to feed 9 hungry babies.

Early morning breakfast on the local park lake - mum does the fishing and 'junior' does all the scoffing! (Nottingham, UK) (2494)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvpJYJHdAKk

St. Patrick’s Day: With an Irish Shamrock

By Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna

From the region of zephyrs, the Emerald isle,

The land of thy birth, in my freshness I come,

To waken this long-cherished morn with a smile,

And breathe o’er thy spirit the whispers of home.

O welcome the stranger from Erin’s green sod;

I sprang where the bones of thy fathers repose,

I grew where thy free step in infancy trod,

Ere the world threw around thee its wiles and its woes.

But sprightlier themes

Enliven the dreams,

My dew-dropping leaflets unfold to impart:

To loftiest emotion

Of patriot devotion,

I wake the full chord of an Irishman’s heart.

The rose is expanding her petals of pride,

And points to the laurels o’erarching her tree;

And the hardy Bur-thistle stands rooted beside,

And sternly demands;—Who dare meddle wi’ me?

And bright are the garlands they jointly display,

In death-fields of victory gallantly got;

But let the fair sisters their trophies array,

And show us the wreath where the shamrock is not!

By sea and by land,

With bullet and brand,

My sons have directed the stormbolt of war;

The banners ye boast,

Ne’er waved o’er our host,

Unfanned by the accents of Erin-go-bragh!

Erin mavourneen! dark is thy night;

Deep thy forebodings and gloomy thy fears;

And O, there are bosoms with savage delight

Who laugh at thy plainings and scoff at thy tears!

But, Erin mavourneen, bright are the names

Who twine with the heart-vein thy fate in their breast;

And scorned be the lot of the dastard, who shames

To plant, as a trophy, this leaf on his crest!

Thrice trebled disgrace

His honours deface,

Who shrinks from proclaiming the isle of his birth!

Though lowly its stem,

This emerald gem

Mates with the proudest that shadow the earth!

American bullfrog, taken at Wildwood lake, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Thank you for your clicks and comments!

Asha's second account - Asha's first account

I got Ashala this Collagen stick this morning and she just loved it. She sat on the sofa scoffing away at it and I just thought I'd take a few candid pictures of her enjoying her first Collagen stick

And when you've scoffed them all at Christmas, you still have a marvelous container for storage!

Keep safe everyone and bring on the vaccine where ever you are.

You can almost see Lancashire 🌹

Barkisland is in West Yorkshire near Halifax & Huddersfield.

It’s pronounced Bark-is-land not Bark-island… the locals will scoff at you for calling it Bark-island.

The M62 motorway is behind me as I took this shot.

( 174 of 365 )

I am guessing that this is a juvenile starling and it has not taken it long to suss out the fat snax feeder here at Chez FatSnax . It has been a bit of a battleground here at the feeder with magpies , jays , starlings , sparrows , bluetits and even the robin all trying their hand at getting to the fatsnax ! The pigeons come in and land on the roof of the bird table and have serious trouble working out how to get at the bird table without sliding off of the roof on the table - the idea of working out how to land and scoff from the feeder is way above their paygrade Therefore , one has to ask why the pigeon have one of the biggest populations around our towns and gardens when their IQ level is so poor ?

But for the starlings like above they seem to have more about them even if they are a raucous lot and get called " The Squabble Squad " here .

I took this shot through the open patio door standing in the middle of the living room .

A few from the garden over the last couple of weeks. This little female has been a star!

She's been coming in at dusk every single day to scoff a load of food I leave out before the others get to it after dark, only to come back with the rest to continue eating! :)

Four moons of Jupiter in perfect conjunction. Venus above.

(Double click to max zoom) Apologies for slight blur, was handheld.

I think this is a case of the photography gods smiling on me. This evening my wife informed me there were 2 very bright stars quite close together, it was not quite dark. I scoffed and mumbled something about me having no chance and then wandered out aimlessly with my camera. Julie pointed exactly where they were (in the South West) , then after much clueless messing around and a number of photographs later, I had one that I thought might be in focus.......

Imagine my surprise when I zoomed in and found this - LOL!

Looking it up just now, it seems Jupiter and Venus passed very close together tonight, I don't know if that was before or after this. I didn't catch that, but then again, you don't see this every day either.....

A very good friend of mine enjoys sailing. I do too. But he loves sailing, and often scoffs at others who head for harbour when the weather turns foul. He can sometimes be heard saying, "that is the time when he likes to go out". He built his own 40' sailboat and constructed it to withstand the worst ocean going weather mother nature can deliver. My point is, the same way he enjoys sailing, I enjoy photography.

Often, creating images in rather inclement weather, can illicit a more attracting result. What is to be done when the colors of morning and evening are not present? What about a less violent atmosphere? Perhaps that is where the next challenge lies? There is enjoyment to be found creating when none of the typical elements are present. That might also be one area that draws us closer as a community to this endeavour.

www.photographycoach.ca/

Newstead & Annesley C/P, Nottinghamshire. Another visit, here owl has just scoffed a vole on the ground.

p r e s s . p l a y

As he sat there, the coldness of life steadily draining away as the emptying of a vessel, an addled expression marked his visage. The glinting of the beautifully crafted metal protruding his chest stained in crimson red, gave his reeling thoughts pause. All seemed surreal in the moment. Casting a look to his left hand, the smoking gun held therein felt too heavy to lift. An imperceptible scoff escaped his blood stained lips and within this solitude of silence, a presence was there. Her voice beautiful and calm. Seductive and reassuring.

"Believe in me and give in"

The man turned his head only slightly and responded, "I didn't expect you."

She uttered a soft laugh. It was the sweetest laugh one would ever hear. Then she replied, "No one ever does."

He heard her voice and the warmth of her breath upon the skin of his ear, and her soothing voice once more, "You are bleeding. You do not have to. I can help you, if you would only trust in me."

In disgust he spat, "You drove your blade through my chest. Caused me immeasurable pain, and you want me to trust you. Not a chance!"

She exhaled a soft sigh, "It is not my intention to cause pain. People have hunted me, fallen for me, died for me, lived for me, spoke ill of me, spoken good of me, not trusted me. And only a few took the opportunity to truly know me. Most of all, although you have never once took notice of me, I do know you, better than you know yourself, and have been with you all along."

The slumped man soaked in blood gasped for air, and looked into the intense beauty of her face. The most beautiful woman he had ever existed, or will ever exist.

A look of concern and care caressed her features and she whisper insistance, "You are expiring, you do not have long. Please, do not be cold. Do not be hard hearted. Let me help you."

With a look of disdain the gargled inquiry, "Who are you?"

"You already know who I am." She regarded him curiously, "I am Love."

His eyes glared in foul rage, and with all his force he seethed, "I will never believe in you. I will never trust you."

With a heavy heart she stood away from him, the tears began streaming her face, and with an almost inaudible whisper, "Then you are truly dead."

She has been travelling too long, her adventures in exotic foreign lands displayed in the tattoos that mark her body. Tonight she walks an uncertain path, in a land called Elvion. There is strong magic here, not at all welcoming to one of her demon race. "Are you sure this is the way, little one?" she growls to her fairy guide. "No trickery, you promised." "As if!" the small fairy scoffs as he floats in the air beside her. "My promise is my bond. I will keep you safe here." "Good, good," Bekka says, although, as the fairy notes, her sharp katana stays in her hand ...

Photo taken at Elvion. Visit this beautiful fantasy sim here:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lateralus/233/186/37

-Lao Tzu

I have been taking a lot of pictures with my phone lately. Why? Because for some reason every time I leave the house I see something beautiful. I made an oath to myself that, for now at least, I am going to try and stop each time to capture that beauty.

The shots will not always be pristine and with a decline in my views/faves I am sure some photographers with far nicer equipment and/or much better skill than I may scoff at these images, (as I have had some nasty comments of such saying I can do much better with what I have). But, that is okay. :) Because for me, the image is not about the technique anymore, (been there and done that, stressed to the max for that perfect angle and edit). It is now about the poetry of it and creating something that moves me internally.

100 x Scenery 71/100

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey, CA

At first I scoffed at the idea of going to another aquarium. "I've seen enough aquariums in my life already," I thought to myself. What made me change my mind was, first of all, I was doing a "Big Little Lies" day where I went and shot locations that had been seen in the TV show. and there were many scenes shot in the Aquarium. And then... well, it is a magnificent place!

Myth:

Arachne was the daughter of Idmon of Colophon, a dyer who dyed wool with Tyrian purple. She was famous in Hipepa (Lydia), where she had her workshop, for her extraordinary skill in weaving and embroidery.

The praises she received ended up going to the head of the young woman, who became so smug about her skill as a weaver that she began to claim that her skills were superior to those of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war as well as crafts. The goddess was angry, she gave the young Arachne a chance to redeem herself. Taking the form of an old woman, she warned Arachne not to offend the gods. The mortal scoffed and proposed a weaving contest in which she could prove her superiority. Athena took off her costume and the contest began.

Athena wove the scene of her victory over Poseidon, which inspired the citizens of Athens to name the city after her. According to Ovid's Latin account, Arachne's tapestry represented twenty-two episodes of infidelities of the gods disguised as animals: Zeus being unfaithful to Hera with Leda, with Europa, with Danae and with others.

Athena admitted that the young woman's craftsmanship was perfect, but was greatly annoyed by the disrespectful choice of motif.

Finally losing her temper, the goddess destroyed the tapestry and Arachne's loom by hitting them with her shuttle, and also struck at head to the young woman. Arachne, who saw her foolishness, was overwhelmed by shame, fled and ended up hanging herself.

In Ovid's account, Athena took pity on Arachne. She doused the rope with aconite juice, causing it to turn into a web and transforming Arachne herself into a spider.

History suggests that the art of weaving had its origin in the imitation of the work of spiders and that it had been developed in Asia Minor.

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Our Lily-of-the-Nile opens up with the sun --- and it doesn't hurt to have a bougainvillea bokeh background.

I have to apologize to my 12 year old neighbor who said she was allergic to this plant -- I scoffed at her as I've never had a problem BUT it's sap can indeed cause skin irritation and eating roots/buds can be toxic --- so sorry Nadia......

#3 of 10, Agapanthus series

All My Links

This was again from my garden after heavy snow in Berlin, when I quite deliberately over-saturated the colours along having taken the shot with the WB, if memory serves, set at Fluorescent, I was taken by the bokeh and thought about the theory that the Earth is in fact a giant simulation, the limits within the decoded "physical" world is apparently the ice and snow we call either the Arctic / Antarctic, (which under treaty we are banned from exploring (I wonder why?)) many people scoff at the idea of a flat Earth or a simulator, or both, but, an open mind receives knowledge, a closed mind can receive nothing and only transmits evidence of one's own limitation and disablement of understanding.

The world, if you let it in, is fascinating. I believe that photography brings an element of exploration in imagery of this very world.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, new week ahead and so as always, thank you! :)

Glorious Stepney, a woman passer-by scoffed at the subject matter, completely missing the point.

Note the fox weather vane (I didn't notice it at the time).

LR4170 Joe O'Malley 2021

My winter thrush finally arrives at my neighbour's rowan tree, only to find that the blackbirds have already scoffed all the berries. You can almost see this bird's disappointment! (Which was mine too!).

Widespread breeding bird across northern Europe and Asia, migrating south in winter. British birds come from Scandinavia and Iceland, although there is a small breeding population in northern Scotland.

211204 037

Rotdrossel

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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail.

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“I must move away from yesterday, plant my feet firmly in today and lose myself in dreams upon the 'morrow … “ - AP

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXGzblg7Ws

GREEN EYES – KATE WOLF

Do not be so quick to judge

it is not for us to know the Hand of God

all will be revealed in His good time

until such time be patient; humbly nod

and bow your head and raise your hands in prayer

fingers pointing to the Heavenly realm

the Golden gate that stands atop the stairs

where forgiveness lies stand tall and strong as elms

wipe away the self-pitying scalding tears and rise

to high above the mortal world of fears

and know that you will be forgiven

and love immortal will shine brightly through your tears

life is a funny thing there is no doubt

except the seeds of doubt that others sow

and when they harvest even through the drought

of loveless hearts and blackened souls I know

that God is all and all is love; forgiveness

is given those who sin and those who lie

I do not believe in an afterworld of darkness

when the smallest light remains in all who die

for that tiny spark can be fanned back to life

and burn as brightly as any shining star

even those who seem to live in darkness

can find their way back though they must travel far

I am not all sweetness but I am human

and try to do the best in life I can

but still I fall and still I long for wisdom

to be much better and help my fellow man

even when the darkness looms above me

and past mistakes still find me in the dark

I pray and listen to my soul and conscience

I do not pick at scabs like peeling bark

forgive, forget and rise above the trivia

there are bigger and better things that lie afoot

we are just specks and live here but a moment

but our immortal souls live on and tenderfoot

we grow; expand our minds and hearts and souls

in each exciting new and wondrous incarnation

tiny fragments of our previous lives

seep through and waken us with exaltation

it's nice to think that we will never die

although this body will one day cease to be

and some of you may scoff and not believe it

but that is the beautiful challenge that you set me

I try to change your mind in subtle ways

with words and pictures, songs and quotes and then

if still you do not believe my long meanderings

I do not feel defeated but try again …

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful for the very kind comments and faves. Please, if you do not have time to read my poetry I understand and am always grateful for your faves and appreciation of my pictures x

Enjoy a very happy week, dear friends <3

Actually I am very sorry that yesterday I left comments and faves with several friends before I went for my scan and found they had been wiped, so today I try to rectify, but fear I have not redeemed myself entirely! : 0( Today it is still hard to post replies and comments and faves "pop" out. If I notice I will redo! Sometimes I really dislike the technical glitches of Flickr!!!!!

"Do you give the horse his strength?

Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

Do you make him quiver like locusts,

His majestic snorting [spreading] terror?

He paws with force, he runs with vigor,

Charging into battle.

He scoffs at fear; he cannot be frightened;

He does not recoil from the sword.

A quiverful of arrows whizzes by him.

And the flashing spear and the javelin.

Trembling with excitement, he swallows the land;

He does not turn aside at the blast of the trumpet.

As the trumpet sounds, he says, "Aha!"

From afar he smells the battle,

The roaring and shouting of the officers"

IRIDESCENT .. HSOS Theme .... 😀

these pigeons were busy trying to eat all the seed .. sent Meg out to chase them away after they had their share before they scoffed the lot ! .... :-D

Back Church Street

VW shrank in the wash

After scoffing and shutting my folder down from this photoshoot when I saw most of them the focus was blown, I went back and found there were a few that made it. This was taken about a half hour after sunrise when I first started out on this morning at Session's Woods in Burlington CT, a 700-acre nature preserve. So it appears I had not mistakenly hit the IS switch on the lens yet. Phew, maybe I did get a few photos to salvage.

So ok, I can't help myself, I have to ask. Is there some kind of trend among some Flickr folks to only comment or fav on older photos and never comment or fav the photo that was posted on the day, and is this a game to not get competition for Explore? Hmmm I seem to have a handful of people that do this. I don't have the time to figure that game out :P LOL

On a better note, thanks to all my friends that visit and comment on my photo! I truly appreciate it more than I can express that you guys make my day and are the best!

My photography is now available for purchase on my store site at the link attached. If anyone is interested in anything and they don't see it on my site, please contact me here or on my store website email service and I can add it to my store. Thank you for looking!

fineartamerica.com/profiles/linda-rasch

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©Skyelyte Photography™ Copyright, All Rights Reserved

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media or used in any way without my express written permission.

The Fieldfares and Redwings have been here for a week or so now and they're scoffing all the berries :)

Oriole vs Oreo

Oriole vs Oreo—let’s get it straight,

One flies at dawn, the other’s on a plate.

One’s for the eyes and one’s for the belly,

Only one goes well with peanut butter and jelly.

One builds a nest with ribbon and pride,

The other sticks firmly to your backside.

The judge took the bench, the gavel came down,

“This snack-and-song case has amused the whole town.”

He looked at the bird, then down at the treat,

And said, “Frankly, I'd rather have both with my seat.”

“Case dismissed,” he said with a wink,

“Now bring me a cookie and something that sings in the sink.”

The Oreo filed a formal appeal,

Claiming defamation with zest and zeal.

“I may not chirp or soar through the blue,

But people love me—and I come in Double-Stuf too!”

The Oriole scoffed, “Then give me my due—

I want royalties every time someone chews!”

PADDY: *Calls.* "Scout! Algie! Where are you? It's time for afternoon tea!"

SCOUT: "We're over here, Paddy!"

PADDY: *Follows Scout's voice before stopping in alarm.* "Scout! Algie! What are you doing?"

ALGIE: "Oh, just hanging around, Paddy." *Smiles.*

PADDY: "Oh my! How long have you been hanging upside-down like that?"

ALGIE: "A while I think." *Ponders.* "I can't tell the time like you can, but since the big yellow ball in the sky was below us. Now it is to our left..." *Contemplates.* "Or is that our right? Or your right... or left, Paddy?"

SCOUT: "We've been hanging like this for a few hours now, Paddy."

PADDY: *Alarmed.* "Scout! Algie! All your stuffing will rush to your head and give you a headache! if you hang upside-down like that for too long!"

ALGIE: *Chuckles sheepishly.* "Oh I never get a headache hanging upside-down... or is it downside-up? I never can tell. I get confused. Anyway, I don't have much stuffing to fill my head either way, Paddy."

SCOUT: "Algie has a good point, Paddy. We might not be upside-down. You may be the one who is downside-up, and we are the right way around!"

PADDY: *Scoffs.* "Don't be ridiculous, Scout! Of course you are upside-down, and I'm not downside-up, I'm the correct way around!"

SCOUT: "Says who?"

PADDY: "Says anybear, Scout!"

SCOUT: "Well we don't, Paddy. Isn't that right, Algie?"

ALGIE: "Is what, what, Scout?"

SCOUT: "Isn't Paddy downside-up?"

ALGIE: *Considers Paddy thoughtfully.* "Well, he could be upside-down, Scout... or downside-up. He looks a bit downside-up to me. It depends on whether we are downside-up or upside-down."

PADDY: *Rubs forehead with paw.* "All your talk of upside-down and downside up is starting to give me a headache, Algie!"

SCOUT: "Aha!" *Triumphant.* So you are upside-down, Paddy! All the stuffing is rushing to your head and giving you a headache!"

PADDY: "Well, if you are really the right way around, and I am upside-down, how can I go inside and eat afternoon tea, Scout? If I were upside-down, the food would fall out of my paws."

SCOUT: "Hhhhmmm" *Considers.* "That's a valid point, Paddy."

PADDY: "Well, if you're hungry, Daddy is putting out a lovely, freshly baked lemon cheesecake with a biscuit crust served with cream if you want to come down and come inside to our downside-up dining room. Bye-bye!" *Waves, turns and walks away.*

ALGIE: "Baked lemon cheesecake!"

SCOUT: "With a biscuit crust, and served with cream! Grumbly tummy, Algie! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously upside-down.* "We need to get down and get downside-up, Algie. How do we do that?" *Expectant.*

ALGIE: "Oh, I don't know, Scout. I thought it was my job to get us upside-down, and your job to get us downside-up." *Hopeful.*

The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 13th of September is “upside down”, and I immediately thought of my Algie Bear, who was made for me by a very good friend, is a very adventurous little boy: he loves to climb and sit on top of gates, edges of tables and chairs. He adore climbing trees, and will cheekily sit there with crossed legs. He's very friendly and he loves adventures of any kind. Therefore, when the theme was announced, it was Algie whom I immediately thought of! Of course, if there is an adventure to be had in our house, then my little grey woollen knitted bear Scout is usually part of it, so of course he had to get in on the act! Oh and don't worry about Algie and Scout's grumbly tummies! When I head from Paddy that they were stuck, upside-down in a tree, I went and rescued them, so that they both got an extra large slice of baked lemon cheesecake with extra cream! I hope you like my choice of subject for this week's theme, and that it makes you smile!

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

Algie is made by the same friend who made Jago, Daisy-Maud, Orson and Danny Boy, and he comes frpom Junie Bears in Norfolk. He is very floppy with poseable paws, and he is made of sparse English mohair, has paws of ultra suede and eyes of glass. A very adventurous little boy, he loves to climb and sit on top of gates, edges of tables and chairs. He adore climbing trees, and will cheekily sit there with crossed legs. He's very friendly and he loves adventures of any kind.

Our resident, birdseed eating moose is back. After a few weeks of being gone - she strode down our driveway as if she owned the place, plunked down under the birdfeeder, and began scoffing up all of the seed that was tossed out by the woodpeckers. With subzero temperatures, and heavy snow predicted - I expect she will be hanging around for a while. Now Doc and I will have to keep our eyes open when we leave the cabin.

I am a little perplexed though . . . when I originally took photos of this moose and her love of birdseed - there were no buds on her head. Now I can plainly see two prominent bumps where antlers start to form. In the moose family only males sprout antlers, so . . . the question is - bull or cow? Or could this be two different moose with the same affinity to birdseed? Maybe time will tell - or I'll get a peek at the underparts.

After decades of observing wildlife - I don't chalk an animal's behavior up to "instinct," as much as I do to "memory", and yes - a superior intelligence. I know I can't roam through the vast forests of our state for weeks, and then with no navigational aid, find my way right back to one particular spot on the map. But this moose did just that.

Mark 9:22 “The demon has frequently thrown him into the fire, and into the water, to the hazard of his life; if therefore You can do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us!”

Brad Hazzard, the New Wales Minister for Health and Medical Research said, “This is a world pandemic. It’s a one in 100-year event. So you can expect that we will have transmission from time to time, and that’s just the way it is. We’ve got to accept that this is the New World Order.”

Psalm 2:1 “Why do the heathen rage, and the nations plot a vain thing?”

Psalm 2:4 “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”

Until you find it there and lead it back....home

Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

I found dolly-sized grave stones at Target, and scoffed the last one X3

Thursley Common, Surrey. aka Colin - now back for his 9th year, making him the oldest known cuckoo. Had just the one visit though he stopped around for 30 minutes to pose for his audience of around 25 and have a good scoff. Things seem to have moved on for him a bit - only live mealworms now and some real designer perches - hollowed out fencepost tops filled with his favourite grubs. He deserves the best.

Its bark is fire resistant. Its fruit is edible. It scoffs at the driest droughts. It shrugs, and another decade has passed. It is the baobab tree, one of the longest-living, strangest looking plants in the world

They can grow to be nearly 100 feet tall—but it’s the baobab’s bulk and stature that is so astonishing; many have trunks 30 feet in diameter. The Sunland Baobab of South Africa is far bigger still and is reportedly more than 6,000 years old. Its trunk, like those of many old baobabs, is hollow and—as a tourist attraction—even features a small bar inside. Baobab trees are leafless for much of the year and look rather like an oak that has been uprooted and replanted upside down. Numerous legends attempt to explain the bizarre and awesome appearance of the baobab, but if you visit the great Sunland Baobab, just let your jaw drop—and go inside for a drink.

Seen in Taragire National Park, Tanzinia

Well why wouldn't I be? It's National Egg Day! nationaldaycalendar.com/national-egg-day-june-3rd/ These duck eggs were just begging to have their photo taken so I obliged before we scoffed them. Very similar to my photo in the first comment with the addition of smiley sausages 😄

Has to be The Pointer Sisters www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iwBM_YB1sE

falco tinnunculus

After all the wind and rain a worm explosion coinciding with a starving Kestrel. This bird was up and down all morning on the farbank feeding on worms at Highbridge reservoir while i was carp fishing today so i dug a few up and scattered them behind my shelter and waited. not expecting anything to happen but i could she she was watching me. Bingo it paid off when she landed a rod length away and tucked in. I picked up my camera slowly and to my amazement she carried on scoffing the worms while my shutter clicked away

If you have lost a loved one, know that because of the Conservation of Energy, their energy has not died. Remember the First Law of Thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. All their energy, every vibration, every BTU of heat, every wave of every particle that was your loved one remains with you in this world. Know that amid energies of the cosmos, they gave as good as they got.

According to the Law of the Conservation of Energy, not a bit of them is gone; they're just less orderly.

-Adaptation of "Eulogy from a Physicist" by Aaron Freeman

Mood

It's funny how such creatures, simplistic in so many ways, can inhabit personalities more complex and deep by comparison to the shallow, murky waters of the WalMart kiddie pools that some human beings are made of. He was my shadow, my sentinel, my buddy, my pal. Little did I know that this Valentine's Day gift from an ex would lead to a lasting companionship who's absence is felt, even to this day.

Some people would scoff and say "Oh, it's just a cat." As heartless as those people are, he was so much more than the sum of himself. He probably would've followed me through the Gates of Hell and back, if I'd let him... and give them a piece of his mind in the process, since he was a chatterbox.

Where people would often fail, he would succeed.

Rest in peace, buddy.

Photographed on the NE Scotland cliffs amongst the beautiful pinks.

Yesterday Milu had five teeth removed. When I picked her up the vet said she may not feel like eating for a while. Well...........when I got home Phill just happened to be feeding the other cats; Milu shot out of the carrier, pushed Pixie out of the way and proceeded to scoff all of her food - lol. Her recovery was quick to say the least. We do have to have some more bloods done in a couple of weeks to check to see if her thyroid meds need adjusting. But everything seems good at the moment, especially as she is 14 years old

Spurn - Sykes' Field. On a relatively quiet day around Spurn, still a few of these imps around. Took 15 seconds to subdue/tendorise this caterpillar by wacking it on the branch before scoffing it. Light wasn't great.

An 800-to-900-pound cow moose stopped by our cabin this morning in search of food. Obviously, she was very hungry, as she spent a half hour scoffing up the expensive bird seed Doc had just put out for our feathered friends. She tried many times to get her huge face in the tiny birdfeeder.

Since she was only 10 feet from our cabin, Doc had to wait for her to move along before doing any outside chores. With temperatures way below zero, and the tremendous snow depth - it is forcing the wildlife onto our roadways, driveways, and any shoveled path. Since the animals are stressed - it's best to allow a lot of space between you, and them.

Barn Owl and Kestrel squabbling over a vole. Looks like the kestrel has scoffed a mouthful from the talons of the owl. Massive crop, atrocious light meant extensive post-processing just to make this even a slightly presentable image.

This flower reminds me of those fairy tales where the powerful witch dresses up as a pauper and asks a noble for help. When the noble scoffs at her, the witch puts a curse on them as punishment for their arrogance and lack of compassion.

This is the smallest of flowers, about an inch in diameter, that grows like a weed by the side of my driveway. It's only when I take out my macro lens that I see its magnificent beauty. Is it the witch, dressed as a weed, wondering who will notice something so small and insignificant? Or is it the noble, cursed to be the tiny flower of a weed, waiting for someone to set them free?

My macro lens takes me into the land of fairy tales :)

I'm not terribly serious with this frame thing just awfully bored this evening. Besides, I have yet to do justice to this particular image, the light is quite subtle and with every previous attempt so far I've managed to destroy it. In fact it's taken me a while to realise that overuse of the clarity feature on LR is probably the single fastest route to ruin an image. It's like eating a bag of jelly babies right before you go to bed, you decide to eat one and before you come to your senses you've scoffed the lot! So here we are with a glass of mint tea instead.

Please leave your shoes at the door as you enter :)

* * * * *

... But the crows will get it first ;)

Explored September 22, 2023

The hotels Waldorf Astoria (on the left) and Upper West (a Motel One hotel) in Berlin's Charlottenburg district. At a height of 118,8 meters (389,76 feet) each, both buildings are among the highest in Berlin. Not exactly skyscraper dimensions but not to be scoffed at either ;) Both buildings are fairly new, the Waldorf Astoria opened in 2013, and the Upper West in 2017. Side by side in the City West are the luxurious Waldorf Astoria and the way more affordable Motel One. The Waldorf Astoria's building is officially called Zoofenster ("zoo window") because Berlin's Zoological Garden lies right across it.

Photography-wise, the Upper West with its futuristic look and the elegant curves is the more interesting subject, but this view up with both buildings in the frame, taken from the center strip of Kantstrasse, also looked interesting, especially with the cotton candy sky :)

P.S. This was taken with the Laowa C-Dreamer 7.5 mm F/2, not the (equally fantastic) C-Dreamer 6mm (which belongs to my Mom, magrit k.. I forgot to change my camera's lens info settings back to the 7.5 mm lens.