Retired soldier, I spent about 30 years in the military (USMC/Army). Also recently retired computer systems engineer. So, I'm just plain retired. I need something to do so, I decided on photography and bird watching as a hobby. Unless otherwise stated, all photographs I post are my own. I take pictures and want to share them with you, so please follow my blog. #TheScienceofBirds #birds #birdwatching #photography #photographer
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2026-09-09T01:00:48Z Event JSON
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Last Notes npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌴🐚🐬 7 August 2026 My wife and I are heading out for our annual immunizations today. Hmm… that really does sound like something only a senior citizen would say, doesn’t it. Still, it feels like an outing—an adventure, even. We have somewhere to go, something on the calendar, a mission. I haven’t made it down to the senior center yet, though I’ve been thinking about sticking my head in. My wife went once and told me we should go together, but she’s never mentioned it again. Evidently the lady she went with had been banned from the center. I’m not sure what the official charge was, but my wife said it had something to do with her allegedly taking an artificial plant—and apparently she was a repeat offender. The police even showed up while my wife was there. I mean honestly, how do you get banned from a senior center? I don’t think that woman is part of my wife’s gang, the Sew Crazy Quilters—the local quilting guild. They’re a wild bunch, but I haven’t heard of any of them getting kicked out of the senior center. I always picture them in denim vests with a quilted sewing machine on the back and a tiny embroidered “QG” in the corner. Naturally, “Sew Crazy” would be stitched in an arc over the top like a biker patch. Every so often they go on what’s called a shop hop—a list of quilting shops scattered across the region, sometimes pretty far out. The goal is to visit each shop, collect a token, and sign in. I suppose it’s not entirely unlike a bar hop or a poker run that motorcyclists do, just with more fabric and fewer leather vests. And so our day’s big mission comes to a gentle, well‑stitched close. “You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there.” — George Burns Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.” — Maurice Chevalier #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #birds #quilters #seniorcitizens https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/054/407/451/974/899/original/74c3dcabb80ff399.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🌊🌊 22 July 2026 In 1972, I was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines at Bien Hoa Airbase in South Vietnam. I served on an 81mm mortar crew, so what I’m about to relate isn’t firsthand information — it was scuttlebutt, the kind of gossip that drifted through the company like smoke. There was one Marine, a rifleman, who had earned the nickname “Radar.” Yes, Radar — like the character from MASH*. The TV show wouldn’t air for another decade, but the movie had come out a couple of years earlier, so there was nothing supernatural about how he got the handle. Radar was considered an odd duck. Whenever someone pulled duty with him, he showed up carrying a bag full of electrical components and spent the time fiddling with them. Guys said he had a sack of transistors he liked to play with, and that was enough to mark him as different. I was a 19‑year‑old Marine private first class, so naturally I listened to all the scuttlebutt — “scuttlebutt” being the old Marine and Navy term for gossip — and I was dutifully amused by it. But looking back, I think Radar was probably building some kind of electrical device, maybe a ham radio or something similar. Which means he had a hobby, and it also means that Radar — the guy who was the butt of jokes — was probably a lot smarter than the rest of us. In those days, almost half of Marine infantrymen didn’t have a high‑school diploma. Being “different” wasn’t encouraged. In retrospect, I wish I’d had the courage to be an odd duck myself and buck the peer pressure. It would take a few more years before I matured enough to reach that level of contentment. “Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.” — Bertrand Russell “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” — Maya Angelou “Not all who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien #photo #photography #photographer #morning #seascape #Vietnam #conformity #Marines https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/963/750/017/210/716/original/ee9c15036b5a1e9d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Whistler on the Roof This is a pretty good photo of a female northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Her crest is pretty striking. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/963/602/694/168/503/original/7274a45fb4425214.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😂 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😂 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Racoons are the worst. If I leave my bird feeders out, they make a real mess. They've tried but failed to break into the shed where I keep the bird seed. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Monochrome Curiosity Here is a tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) perched on the edge of my birdbath, leaning forward as it looks curiously down toward the ground. I chose to capture the moment in black and white simply because it felt right. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/942/975/612/621/071/original/83f0803bfb4cd637.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Held in the Beak of Morning I liked the profile of this blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) captured here among the forest leaves. It holds something at the tip of its beak — perhaps a small seed — and until you notice it, the beak almost appears to have a tiny hook at the end. If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #bluejay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/942/184/151/849/812/original/cb0f739f49fe0ff4.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs But watching her get her feet under her made me think about the rest of the family too. My daughter’s girls have made good choices, worked hard, and are stepping into lives that will carry them forward. They’re building something solid — you can see the path forming right in front of them. Not everyone gets that kind of beginning. I’ve got nieces and nephews who, for all sorts of reasons — poverty, unstable homes, bad breaks, bad decisions — never got the same launch. When you start with nothing, you stay stuck with nothing. No transportation. No place of your own. No cushion to fall back on. And once you’re behind, every step forward feels like climbing a hill made of loose gravel. It’s a reminder that “getting started” isn’t the same challenge for everyone. Some kids step into adulthood with a foundation. Others step into adulthood with a hole they have to climb out of first. “Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path.” — Paulo Coelho “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” — Ian Maclaren “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle 2/2 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Flight at Dusk A flock of pigeons cuts across a brooding sky, their dark shapes gliding in loose formation while the silhouette of a leafy tree frames the scene on the left. Heavy clouds gather overhead, hinting at an approaching storm and casting the moment in a calm yet quietly somber light. Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #doves #pigeons #rockpigeons #clouds #sky https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/884/343/393/861/963/original/5f92263c6b790b8c.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ 27 June 2026 I’ve been pretty lax when it comes to keeping up with important dates. I suppose I should finally figure out how to set up my phone to remind me of recurring events like birthdays. They start stacking up fast once your grandchildren start having children. I was thinking about that this morning because I’m pretty sure I may have missed a birthday this month. Anyway, macht nichts — it’ll all come out in the wash. Speaking of forgetting things, I think I forgot to feed Charlie yesterday morning. When I went to the refrigerator that afternoon to grab his food, there was no can waiting for me. I usually give him half a can in the morning and half in the afternoon. Fortunately, Charlie is very forgiving. I gave him a full can yesterday afternoon and sang, “Hurray, hurray, it’s a full‑can day,” hoping to fool him into thinking it was something special. I’m not that forgetful of a person, though I do often forget to turn off the water in the kitchen sink. It usually happens when I’m rinsing out the coffee pot — I start multitasking, drift into something else, and since I don’t hear well, I don’t notice the sound of running water. Sometimes it runs for a long time. Most of the time I catch it myself and do a quick look around to make sure nobody saw what happened except me and Charlie. If I don’t catch it, my wife eventually does and asks how long the water has been running. At that point, I just give her the classic deer‑in‑the‑headlights look because I know I’ve done it again. Maybe I’m just getting caught by the doorway effect. “The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.” — Friedrich Nietzsche “I’m not young enough to know everything.” — J.M. Barrie “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” — Abraham Lincoln #photo #photography #wildlife #nature #birds #birdphotography #morning #crow #memory #forgetfullness #silouettes #blackandwhite https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/821/990/997/512/202/original/6d813a622323cdc0.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌅🌤️🌦️ 21 June 2026 I hear the rain a‑coming again this morning, rolling in the same way it did yesterday and the day before. I haven’t seen a proper sunrise in so long it feels like something out of a Johnny Cash song — and yes, I borrowed a few words from Folsom Prison Blues, but the mood fits. Gray skies, steady rain, and that feeling of being stuck in the same weather loop. We had plans to drive down to the Sabine Wildlife Refuge today, but the rain has other ideas. So that trip will have to wait for a clearer morning. In the meantime, I’ll just say “see ya later, alligator,” which is fitting enough since there are plenty of those down there. No crocodiles, though — Louisiana keeps things interesting, but not that interesting. Speaking of crocs, I still don’t understand how those shoes became a fashion statement. I guess they’re no worse than flip‑flops, and people swear they’re comfortable. They do look convenient — slip in, shuffle out — but they seem like the kind of footwear you choose on a day when running is not on the agenda. Definitely not something you’d want to wear while wandering around a bayou. And that brings me to the beach. One of the great things about going is the sand, and one of the worst things about going is… also the sand. Warm sand is wonderful to sink into, but it also finds its way into every pocket, shoe, and crevice you didn’t know you had. Flip‑flops are practically the uniform down there; I wore them myself back in the day. But once sand works its way between your toes and under that little strap, it becomes a slow, gritty torture device. Frequent rinsing becomes part of the journey if you’re walking any distance. So here I am, listening to the rain, thinking about alligators, crocs, flip‑flops, and sand. “I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try.” — J.B. Priestley #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #crocs #flipflops #sunrise #ocean #ramble https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/788/205/366/099/947/original/1fe0ab0138c7a3a3.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yes, it was, but we survived and without helmets. 😂👍 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The Backward Glance A backward glance from this female red‑bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) shows her natural caution as she hangs upside down from the feeder, checking her surroundings before settling in to forage through the bounty below. And if experience is any guide, she’ll find a peanut — they always do. Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/709/683/696/273/035/original/41ee74500252b279.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Indigo Forager Yesterday morning, Charlie and I decided to take my first cup of coffee out on the porch. A bird showed up across the way, and for a moment I almost ignored it in favor of the coffee. But curiosity won out, so I went back inside, grabbed my camera, and returned to stalk the bird. In my excitement, I forgot to check the camera settings and didn’t realize I’d nudged the F‑stop too high, so the originals came out a bit dark. The bird is a Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), and it’s actually the first adult I’ve seen. I have a few cleaner shots, but none with a pose as interesting as this one. It looks like the heron is wading through a pond or a lake, but it’s really just a big puddle that forms after heavy rain. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #littleblueheron https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/698/373/677/154/615/original/43ba44cefbe45a0e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Field‑Brown Pigeon I’ve seen this rock pigeon off and on over the last few years — at least I think it’s the same one. I’ve never seen the group that visits with two brown pigeons, so I’m assuming this is the same bird returning. This is the first time I’ve spotted it in quite a while. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/631/556/727/267/472/original/68254f592c697e58.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🦆🪿🦢 22 May 2026 I had a recurring dream last night. Well, not exactly recurring, but the premise is always the same: I’m still in the Army, and I’ve already turned in my field gear in preparation for a PCS. “Permanent” change of station is a funny term, since nothing in the Army is ever permanent, but we all know it means you’re headed to another unit, usually halfway around the world. In the dream, my gear is turned in, but for some reason I’m stuck — unable to leave, caught in a strange limbo. The details shift, the people around me change, but I’m always waiting for transportation that never quite arrives. Movement is paused for reasons no one can explain. So I carry on with only the odd bits of gear I bought myself over the years. Strange, isn’t it? There’s a bit of trivia I’ve picked up from having served in both the Marine Corps and the Army. In the Marines, we called our field gear 782 gear, named after the form it was issued on: NAVMC Form 782. In the Army, the same basic gear is called TA‑50, after the authorizing publication CTA 50‑500 (CTA meaning Common Table of Allowances). Two services, two cultures, and two sets of terminology for the same things. Think duffel bag vs. sea bag, hat vs. cover, latrine vs. head — the list goes on. On a different note, teachers pour their own money into classrooms because budgets rarely cover what students truly need. They buy supplies, books, and basics so learning doesn’t suffer — a quiet burden they shoulder simply because they care. I mentioned helping my granddaughter’s kindergarten class in my last morning post. I’ll share her classroom registry again during one more two‑day cycle in case anyone wants to help equip her room. https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1DC2KJP067BP1 “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” — William Faulkner #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #ducks #giving #hoodedmergansers #dreams https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/618/251/126/013/454/original/765bcad042111326.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Light on Water Here is a slightly over exposed image of a snowy egret (scientific name that is pleasantly easy on the eyes. I captured the image of this bird at Gulfport, Mississippi late November 2025. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #egret #snowyegret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/597/016/532/307/558/original/57983d4650502a78.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🍵🍵🍵 7 May 2026 While feeding Charlie this morning, I discovered Roomba wedged under the breakfast table. It must have gotten stuck yesterday during its rounds, and I only just noticed — meaning it had been stranded for nearly twenty‑four hours. The suffering it must have endured is unimaginable. The thought of being pinned between a table leg and a chair for that long is simply horrid. Naturally, I blame myself for being so unobservant that I didn’t hear its cries for help. It was neglect on my part, and I feel deep regret. In my defense, the moment I spotted Roomba lying lifeless under the table, I immediately extricated it and rushed it to its base station, where it is now receiving the resuscitating care it deserves. As you can see, the excitement of mornings in this household knows no bounds. Mine begins with the sudden realization that I am, in fact, still here — awake, with ambient light filtering through the curtains. When I say I “discover” I’m still here, it’s because seconds earlier I was somewhere else entirely, in a world that exists only in my mind. Or does it. I get up, stagger into the bathroom, and revive myself with a toothbrush after the night’s sleep. When I open the bedroom door and step into the rest of the house, Charlie is waiting. The moment he sees me, he turns and thunders toward the back door, fully confident that I will follow and let him out. And now, somehow, I’m already out of space this morning, so I’ll have to end it here. That’s all the chaos my morning budget allows. “Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” — Van Gogh “The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” — Yeats “The universe is full of things that are patiently waiting for us to notice them.” — Eden Phillpotts #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #spanishmoss #roomba https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/533/352/408/438/491/original/ec1fa637efcd2f98.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Quiet Firebird This is the third image of a Baltimore Oriole I’ve posted in a week. They’re such striking birds, and their spring stopover here is brief—sometimes they don’t pause at all—so I make the most of every encounter. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #blackbirds #baltimoreOriole https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/522/896/253/138/239/original/083eaba637799494.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Golden Approach Here’s another Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). I caught this one in mid‑flight, wings spread wide. I was a little disappointed that it didn’t fit entirely in the frame, but I still think it makes for a striking image. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/516/210/728/265/756/original/ea6f9a65180ca819.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴⏰☕ 27 April 2026 I really need to get moving, but I’m in a full‑blown Monday‑morning mood. You know the one—when you just sit there staring into space. The truth is, I don’t actually need Monday for that; I can manage it on pretty much any day of the week. I do try to keep my mouth closed during these Monday‑morning trances, because staring off into nothing with your jaw hanging open isn’t a great look. There’s always the risk of a little dribble sneaking out of the corner, too. That’s just… well… yuck. Especially if you’re at work or out in public. Luckily, I don’t go to work anymore, and I’m not out in public much, so most of my staring is done from my recliner. If I kick back, it just looks like I’m resting. And if I close my eyes… well… everyone’s fooled. 💤 When I do lean back with my eyes closed, my dog Charlie usually curls up on the end of the couch and joins me in his own version of the Monday‑morning trance. But if I risk even a tiny glance in his direction, I’ll often catch him staring right at me. I have to be careful with that maneuver, because the slightest eye‑flutter is his signal that it’s time to get up and get moving. The moment he thinks I’m awake, he jumps down and becomes relentless in his campaign to get me on my feet. At that point, he’s ready to go outside. His patience is almost absolute—right up until he notices the smallest twitch. Then it’s time to sound the alarm: Get up, get up, it’s time to go. He says all of that without actual words, of course. Still, I understand him perfectly. 🐶 “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” — Anne Lamott “I like to stare off into space for a while. It helps me forget the world.” — Haruki Murakami “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” — Orhan Pamuk #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flower #rest #trance #dogs #gardenia https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/476/795/134/704/338/original/ee02eb63d4a8e331.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs White Wings Descending I captured this artsy image of a great egret (Ardea alba) drifting down over Albany, Georgia. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #egret #greategret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/455/112/409/413/102/original/e4e6c9c3a15d8dcf.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🌊🌊 17 April 2026 At home, I dress ultra‑casually — gym shorts and a T‑shirt, or, if it’s cooler, old worn‑out jeans with holes and a wrinkled tee. I don’t usually go out in public like that. When I leave the house, I put on clean, ironed clothes. Yes, yes, I know: irons are so 20th century. Be that as it may — and I love saying that because it sounds vaguely gangstery — I go out in public cleaned up and pressed. Still casual, but put together. It’s not what I see when I travel out among the English. (And for the record, “out among the English” is borrowed from the 1985 film Witness, where Harrison Ford plays a detective hiding in an Amish community. An Amish traveler heading to New York is warned, “Be careful out there among the English.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching.) Anyway, when I’m out in public, I often see people dressed in ways that would make me hesitate to step into my own front yard. I’m not criticizing — just observing. In a way, I find it fascinating, maybe even anthropological. Though to be fair, I only ever took the intro course in anthropology back in college. What I’ve come to realize is that everyone’s “normal” isn’t the same. People — even here in Louisiana — live in slightly different subcultures where they fit perfectly and feel not the slightest bit out of place anywhere, they go. And to be sure, I haven’t always been so self‑conscious myself. I’ve gone out in dirty, ripped gym shorts and a sleeveless tee, proudly showing off muscles I didn’t actually have. From whence I come. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” — Oscar Wilde “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” — Charles Addams “Anthropology demands the open‑mindedness with which one must look and listen.” — Margaret Mead #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #cloths #anthropolgy #normal https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/420/104/734/653/810/original/38e4576588774d3f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Ahem ... A male red‑bellied woodpecker stands perched atop a female, his wings lifted in a wide, dramatic spread that suggests either a protective stance or a courtship display. The pair balance together on a slender tree limb, their sharply detailed plumage set against a soft, blurred backdrop of blue sky and natural color, creating a striking contrast between the crisp foreground and the gentle background. If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/381/981/816/368/045/original/23f63e51e16b871d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌹🌹🌹 9 April 2026 I just set out a sprinkler to start watering the lawn. We haven’t had many rainy days lately. I don’t have an irrigation system I can just switch on—I still have to do the whole hose‑drag routine. It’s a little exercise, at least. It takes me three days to cover my whole target area, which still isn’t the entire yard. This morning I noticed that the years‑old hose on the east side of the house has a leak. My reaction was basically … eh. I had to laugh, because not so many years ago my self‑diagnosed OCD would’ve had me freaking out and scrambling for the truck to race to Lowe’s for a replacement. Now? I recognize that the earth isn’t going to stop spinning over a leaky hose. I’ll replace it, of course—just when I get around to it. It’s funny how we tend to overthink our problems and make them seem bigger than they really are. I think that tendency worsens as we age—purely a layman’s opinion—but it is documented that episodes of anxiety increase over time. Some of that is probably chemistry, but I wonder how much comes from simply spending more time ruminating. It helps to compartmentalize, to tuck problems into a drawer until it’s actually time to deal with them, so we can live our lives without carrying them around all day. I think we were better at that when we were young, when something like a traffic ticket barely even registered. We dealt with it and moved on. “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” — William James “Rule number one: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two: It’s all small stuff.” — Richard Carlson “Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec #photo #photography #nature #morning #flower #rose #anxiety https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/375/167/312/391/698/original/ce41042c54eb42c5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Sunbeam at the Feeder “Most of the American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) have already migrated north, but I spotted this little male yesterday still hanging around. Maybe he’s staying for the buffet. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #goldfinch https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/341/474/894/083/762/original/d9dd636b70d0a85d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Killdeer Existential Crisis on Concrete https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/312/733/173/612/166/original/b098ae61087a3b58.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🪸🐚 24 March 2026 We’re going to pile into the car and head south this morning to Lake Charles, Louisiana. It’s just off I‑10 and sits right on the edge of the wetlands—what we call the bayou in Louisiana. But we won’t be going for birding or anything like that. Today it’s the wonderful world of shopping, and of course we’ll stop somewhere for lunch. Where we live, the choices are limited, though we do have a Taco Bell. I’m going to keep it short this morning because I have a feeling the day is about to get moving quickly. I haven’t even grabbed my hearing aids yet. But you know what—sometimes the extra quiet in the morning keeps me more at ease than hearing every little click and crinkle around me. A thing about hearing aids is that even if they don’t help you understand people any better, they definitely pick up all the annoying sounds like knocks and squeaks. That’s enough gibberish for this morning. I hope you have a good day. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” — Lao Tzu “The morning steals upon the night, melting the darkness.” — Shakespeare “I am a little deaf now. Without my hearing aids in, I miss a lot of peripheral sounds.” — Roger Taylor “Wake up and be awesome!” — Code Hostel Edinburgh #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #gulls #morning #travel #hearing https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/284/227/241/900/397/original/e80f34f129ad3895.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Warm‑Light Wanderers https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/273/776/595/161/621/original/c9a8b0fbe3fbc802.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌍🕑🌺 14 March 2026 Oh, gee — it’s Saturday. Once upon a time, Saturday meant something. Back then I spent too many Saturday mornings sleeping in because I’d stayed up until the wee hours doing what passed for fun. 🍺 Saturdays often came with the familiar thought: let’s not do that again. 😩 I probably didn’t waste any more time then than I do now — the difference is that these days I waste it with a clear head. Even so, I still managed to get more done in those years. I bounced back fast and had energy to spare. Now it feels like time itself is shrinking. There’s less of it in each day. It’s not because the Earth is spinning faster or whipping around the Sun like it’s trying to set a new record. That’s not actually happening — though science does show that some days are a hair shorter than others, but only by milliseconds. The real culprit is perception. There are so many things I want to do in a day, and some of those things involve simply sitting still and watching the world turn. Me and Charlie on the porch, watching the wind move through the trees, birds cutting across the yard, the occasional car rolling past the house. Feeling the cool air settle around us. I could be doing something productive, but eh … what’s the worst that can happen. I suppose I should have reached a point by now, other than this: the days, weeks, and months seem to slip by faster than they used to. “Time moves in one direction, memory in another.” — William Gibson “It’s not that we have little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it.” — Seneca “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” — George Bernard Shaw #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #plant #flower #time #perception #aging #saturday https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/227/621/677/656/574/original/fcb1127ee00016ea.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yea, I can see where it might be a challenging puzzle. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Tangled Reflections This is a snapshot of the far shore of a small pond down the road. My dog, Charlie, and I walked over to see if any birds were around—my app picked up an American Coot, and I thought maybe… well, maybe I’d get lucky. Instead, the scene was just a dense tangle of trees and shrubs lining the opposite bank, starting about halfway up the frame. The entire lower half is water, perfectly still, holding an upside‑down reflection of that same tangle of branches and brush. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #landscape #pond #reflections #forest https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/210/703/058/685/905/original/3cfc6589e379f379.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Quiet Watcher Here is a sharp image of a Great Egret (Ardea alba) that I spotted just hanging out atop a wooden structure in Texas. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #egret #greategret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/205/509/725/330/262/original/47d3f713898f6cd5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Greater Yellowlegs Drift https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/183/460/111/759/705/original/55bda69773193105.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs My thought exactly. I was struck by the odd architecture (or lack of) of the two wing add‑ons extending from the back of the house. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Edge of the Perch Here is a sharp image of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). I’m not entirely sure what it was preparing to do, though it likely dropped to the ground a moment later. If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #BlueJay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/132/388/368/545/819/original/094c40f5112eb78d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Feathered Flame Here is a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) looking like a superhero flashing through the branches. If you’re captivated by northern cardinals and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #northerncarindal https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/075/998/802/849/639/original/9b3c1f7159003b95.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. ⏰🥱☕ 10 December 2025 "Every time I think that I'm the only one who's lonely Someone calls on me And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse And curse those faults in me And ... as the punch …" — Tandyn Almer This morning, Along Comes Mary has been bouncing around in my head. It’s a song from the ’60s that some of you might recall, performed by The Association. Not the usual earworm, though—the rapid-fire tumble of lyrics is hard to wrap your head around, yet it flows with a rhythm that feels almost proto-rap. The sound is good, insistent, and somehow it lodged itself in my memory. I didn’t help matters by looking it up online and stumbling across a clip from the Smothers Brothers show—another relic of the ’60s. I hadn’t thought of the song in decades, and then suddenly, boom, there it was. Why now? Perhaps it’s because I read a brief news note about today’s Catholic observance—the Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, commemorating the house in Italy where tradition holds that the Virgin Mary lived at the time of the Annunciation. Of course, the song isn’t about that Mary. Maybe it’s just name association—by The Association. “Music is the shorthand of emotion.” — Leo Tolstoy “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” — Bob Marley #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #music #lyrics #earworm https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/695/473/971/448/080/original/11943eb44de5d9c4.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good afternoon. 🌴🌴🌴 9 December 2025 If I toss my old Visual C++ book, I could free up space for two or three more novels in the bookcase. After all, it’s not like I plan to do any more programming. That chapter has closed. It’s time to let those things go—completely. I know the impulse to hang on “just in case.” But when we don’t release the unused, it accumulates. Slowly, quietly, until we’re buried in stuff. And then we become… hoarders. That’s where I am now—or at least, that’s how it feels. We have a lot of things. Over the years, I built storage into our life to bring order to the chaos. But storage is a trickster: if you build it, you fill it. I told my wife I wanted to rent a dumpster and just start tossing things in. I didn’t get a concurrence. There are boxes we never unpacked after moving here—over twenty years ago. They sit like sealed time capsules in the back of my little work garage. Once, I resolved to do something about it. I grabbed a box, determined to haul it off to Goodwill. But when I opened it, I found my Calvin and Hobbes collection—and just like that, the wind left my sails. Tossing technical manuals is one thing. But Calvin and Hobbes? That’s sacred. Honestly, those books should be classified as academic texts—philosophy in comic form. And even now, as I type this meditation on letting go, I glance toward Ben’s bed, still sitting where it has for over sixteen years. Those who follow my blog know what that means. “Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” — Barbara Hemphill “The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” — Marie Kondo #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #clutter #hoarding #palmtree #abstract https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/691/127/454/534/021/original/ee0bf1f80d2009b8.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Gray Feathered Charm Here’s an image of a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) that I captured recently. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/673/737/013/188/237/original/9f7d7380443d3413.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs I remember that one. 😂 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Favorite Perch I usually spot Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) perched along the powerlines near my home—though elsewhere, they favor fences and fence posts. This particular bluebird is a male, and he sees me coming. I sometimes approach perched birds in stages: snap a photo, take a few steps closer, snap again—rinse and repeat—until I’m close enough, or they decide it’s time to fly. That morning, there were three bluebirds on the line. When I got too close, they didn’t flee outright—just shifted a little farther down the wire, keeping their distance but staying in view. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #thrush #EasternBluebird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/566/930/578/797/775/original/33b1523d7386cc87.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Weathered Witness I’ve got a batch of overexposed Mississippi Kite images—Ictinia mississippiensis, if we’re being formal. I decided to see what I could salvage from one, aiming for a rustic feel. I think I’ve landed there. Birds of prey make it easy; they carry drama even when the lighting doesn’t. Check out breathtaking photos of magnificent birds of prey, visit my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #raptor #birdofprey #MississippiKite https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/504/351/764/745/586/original/da2dfe77cf2ca39e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Skimmer Assembly I wanted to share this glimpse of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) gathered along the beach—especially for those who haven’t seen them before. I know I hadn’t until recently. This photo captures just a fraction of one group, and there were several scattered across the shoreline. I’ve already posted a few images of these striking birds, and I’m sure more will follow. I find them absolutely fascinating. Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/430/345/187/534/646/original/be0b3b487738c2b7.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. ☕💺🪑 16 October 2025 The House That Follows There’s a route I walk on some mornings that leads past an old, abandoned house tucked into the woods. The forest is slowly reclaiming it—vines creeping over the roofline, branches brushing the siding like forgotten memories. I’ve passed it many times, and noticed something peculiar: the door is sometimes open, sometimes closed. That detail unsettles me. Mischievous kids, perhaps—or are other forces at play? The road itself is narrow, flanked by dense forest on both sides. The house sits to my left as I walk. I often glance into the trees, scanning for birds or signs of wildlife. But on the left, deeper in the woods, I keep seeing another house—or the same one—lurking beyond the tree line. It feels as if the abandoned house is following me, shifting just out of reach. Yet when I stop to look directly, there’s nothing there. Only trees. I wonder: is my mind playing tricks on me? That would be the sensible explanation. Or is something more supernatural unfolding here? Does the house beckon, inviting me to step off the road and into the forest? If I did, would it lure me deeper still, until the path behind me vanished? Thankfully, my dog Charlie is always with me. He knows when it’s time to turn around and go home. “One need not be a chamber to be haunted; One need not be a house; The brain has corridors surpassing material place.” — Emily Dickinson “A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises.” — James M. Barrie “Houses are not haunted. We are haunted, and regardless of the architecture with which we surround ourselves, our ghosts stay with us until we ourselves are ghosts.” — Dean Koontz #morning #chair #house #haunt #photo #photography #selectivecolor #forest https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/383/905/183/582/410/original/0abf3a4f77bd3205.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Beakful of Intent This morning, I scattered nuts for the pigeons—no-shows, as it turned out. A Blue Jay claimed the bounty instead, stuffing at least three into its beak like a feathered archivist mid-harvest. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/265/685/318/073/096/original/b3c2c0cc160e2de3.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Flicker on the Limb This Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) lingered through the winter, a speckled presence against bare branches. Unlike most woodpeckers, flickers often forage on the ground, probing for ants with quiet persistence. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/244/058/761/598/813/original/4cbc64d928becdb2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴⏰☕ 16 September 2025 When I was just starting out, I had a '68 Mustang for a while. Cool car. The trouble came not long after I got it in California—I was rear-ended, which left a dent in the back. To complicate things, the driver who hit me was a migrant worker without insurance. This was around ’73 or ’74, during that liminal stretch after I left the Marines but before I joined the Army. The good news? I had full coverage. The bad news? The deductible was $200—a lofty figure back then, when the federal minimum wage was $1.60 an hour. I think I was making $1.75 at the time, which came out to $14 a day, $70 a week, or $280 a month before taxes. And I had other expenses, of course—not least of which was the car payment itself. So I just drove around in my dented Mustang, rear end crumpled like a shrug. C’est la vie. Too often, when we think we can afford something, we forget about the total cost of ownership. Oil changes, tire replacements, the slow creep of maintenance. What good is a fancy car if you can’t afford to fix it? And what good is full coverage insurance if you can’t afford the deductible? 😂 When Charlie and I walk through town, it’s not unusual to see cars with grass growing around them—broken down, abandoned by necessity. The owners can’t afford repairs, can’t even afford to have them moved. It is the way. “Everything breaks. That’s the rule. Everything breaks, and sooner or later, it ends.” — John Green “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” — Cesare Pavese “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” — Henry David Thoreau #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #plants #grass #cars #costs #maintenance https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/213/871/107/913/424/original/8741c4370a78b94d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Threshold of Flight "I caught this female Northern Cardinal just as she lifted off from the grassy ground—wings blurred, body buoyant. She might be a young bird finding her rhythm, or perhaps she's fresh from a molt, her feathers still settling into their new shape. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/197/601/922/051/940/original/1fd0cc17407157d3.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Mockingbird, Morning While Charlie and I were walking yesterday, I photographed what I believed to be a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). But when I looked at the photo later, I wasn’t so sure—something about the raptor-ish gaze and the speckled breast gave me pause. Still, I was right. It’s a mockingbird—a juvenile. Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #NorthernMockingbird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/186/417/465/061/313/original/be9461bfa5b37b72.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs City Royals Here’s one for the pigeon lovers. These two rock pigeons—Columba livia, if you’re feeling scientific—are regulars in my backyard. I call them officers of the pigeon battalion, part of the morning flock that descends on my bird feeders with military precision. If you look closely, you’ll see what I call epaulets on their shoulders—markings that suggest rank, or at least attitude. The pigeon in the foreground is easy to spot. He’s got a grizzle effect in his plumage, a genetic quirk that gives him those distinctive white patches. Like camouflage, but for a bird who doesn’t bother hiding. I used to try discouraging their visits. They’d clean out the seed before the songbirds even got a chance. But nothing worked. So I went with the old saying: If you can’t beat them, join them. Now I just salute and let the battalion do its rounds. If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #dove #pigeon #RockPigeons #RockDoves https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/152/259/504/194/696/original/cbe8f4f1ae4474be.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Reflections at Low Tide Two Forster’s Terns at Holly Beach, Louisiana—standing just so on the Gulf’s wet sand. What caught me wasn’t just the birds, but the way their reflections held steady, like quiet doubles beneath them. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/130/999/288/143/693/original/a2a3ea3e9b7686d6.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Red Brakes at the Edge This image shows a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) just arriving, landing at the edge of the bird feeder in the center of my yard. Its wings are raised and angled back, providing reverse thrust—braking mid-motion to keep from overshooting the edge. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/107/018/336/279/198/original/b780503934a9673e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs How cool is that!? I only see them occasionally; they mostly stick to the forest behind my house. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning, friends. 💮🌺☘️ 19 August 2025 Ever wake from a dream with the emotion still clinging to you—just long enough to disturb the morning peace? I had a dream last night. Strange one. It’s already fading, but here’s what I remember: I traded my truck for a souped-up muscle car. At some point, I needed to move a trailer—but the car didn’t have a hitch. I searched online for a fix, but came up empty. The last bit I recall, I was heading somewhere with a man and a woman I knew well—except I didn’t. We all piled into the car, and I woke up. Weird, huh? I felt a flicker of regret about the truck. What was I thinking? Then again, it was just a dream. “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” — Edgar Allan Poe #morning #dreaming #flowers #plants #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/055/484/648/971/057/original/02cb648fef0fbaf4.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The Titmouse Speaks This is an intriguing image of a tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). I can’t tell if it’s singing or complaining. Then again, if it were complaining, I suppose it would still count as singing. Tufted titmice are a favorite among a select group of bird enthusiasts. To celebrate these charming creatures, I’ve curated a special collection dedicated entirely to them in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #TuftedTitmouse https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/115/050/289/058/877/382/original/0c5fe3e4790bb459.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Peaceful Moment Sometimes the light falls just right. This female ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) appears to pause—if only for a heartbeat—to bask in the sun’s warmth. Of course, it’s likely less a pause than a fleeting moment; these tiny marvels are rarely still for long. While I often photograph hummingbirds near my feeders, I especially treasure chances like this—when I can capture them in more natural surroundings. I took this particular shot some time ago. In addition to sipping nectar, ruby-throated hummingbirds also hunt small insects, adding a dash of protein to their delicate diets. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #RubyThroatedHummingbird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/971/868/386/929/664/original/141e38db6aeaa8db.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Mockingbird Sunset A northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) perches on a powerline, clutching a freshly caught grasshopper in its beak. I captured the moment at dusk, which bathed the scene in a rich orange glow. The bird is nearly silhouetted against the sky—just enough detail remains to hint at its textures and form. I’m pleased with how it turned out; there’s something quietly dramatic about the balance of light, life, and timing. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/915/708/140/181/352/original/970bd04fab47f8f2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning, friends. 🌺💮🌻 25 July 2025 Charlie came in early this morning to badger me about breakfast—still fifteen minutes away. He kept nudging my keyboard with his nose, persistent and focused, while it rested on my lap. I told him to lie down, but had to repeat myself; he was determined to get me moving. When the clock finally ticked over to mealtime, I stood and announced, “Time to eat—go outside,” and he bolted to the door. I almost always let him out while I prepare his food. It’s just part of my morning rhythm at home. When I’m working at my desk, I usually prop my legs on the corner and balance the keyboard in my lap. Maybe it’s not textbook posture for typing, but it feels natural to me. "Typing Great Thoughts and Beautiful Sentences... like iridescent stones that dry into dull gray pebbles." – Michael Dirda #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flowers #dogs #typing #keyboarding https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/913/839/980/060/580/original/30effa117220093b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🛋️🐶🍵 4 July 2025 Well, hey—turns out I didn’t realize it was the 4th of July until just now. 🎇🚒 It’s been dry lately, and there’s a real risk that unsanctioned fireworks could stir up some trouble. Not from me, though—it’s been over fifty years since I got any thrill from making things go bang. Anyway, I’m breaking precedent this morning to talk about the photo. That’s Charlie, sound asleep on the couch. My wife and I have our recliners, so I suppose it’s only fair that Charlie has a spot too. We’ve each staked our claim. When I kick back for a nap, Charlie hops up to his place and settles in for one of his own. There’s something quietly reassuring about knowing he’s okay. Of course, now that mealtime’s creeping up, he’s right here—head wedged between my thigh and the arm of the chair, letting me know it’s time. “Some of the best moments in life are the ones you can’t explain—just a look, a paw, a nudge at your side.” - Unknown #dogs #4thOfJuly #photo #photograph https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/794/841/911/998/721/original/1d231535182ff108.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yep npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Noem, along with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, defended the incident as a security matter, claiming Padilla hadn’t properly identified himself—which is plainly false. The moment was disturbing enough that I immediately wrote to Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, as well as Speaker Mike Johnson, urging them to investigate this egregious and unsettling event. "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." — George Washington 2/2 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yes it is. 👍 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning, friends. 🤔💡☕ 11 June 2025 A few days ago, I spent some time trying to figure out how to make a custom emoji—even considered downloading an app for it. But then it occurred to me that a custom emoji wouldn’t be much use if I were the only one who had it, so that escapade ended there. Strange thoughts happen, don’t they? Once, years ago, during an ice storm, the electricity was out for a week. We had a fireplace but no chainsaw. All the gas-powered ones in stores were sold out, so I came up with what I thought was a clever solution—an electric chainsaw. After all, I had an extension cord. Luckily, my wife put an end to ‘Operation Chainsaw’ before it began. Oh, and in case you're wondering, we didn’t have a generator either. "People come up with stupid ideas all the time. That’s why your detergent tells you not to eat it." — Seanbaby #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flowers #ideas #dumbideas https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/664/480/389/178/769/original/15cc4df99f330d09.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/648/633/953/374/230/original/ea41ce5e271ced6b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Eyes of the Forest Charlie and I returned home from our morning adventure not long ago. During our walk, we spotted the same barred owl (Strix varia) we had seen last week, perched near the same spot along our route. This time, however, the owl was fleeing a group of harassing crows and blue jays. I only saw the crows, but I could hear the unmistakable calls of the blue jays. Just last week, someone mentioned that blue jays and mockingbirds can signal the presence of owls by their behavior. Sure enough, after a brief chase, the owl flew across the road and landed in a tree—just long enough for me to capture this shot. I'm pretty sure the owl spotted us too. ;-) Check out breathtaking photos of magnificent birds of prey, visit my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #BarredOwl https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/586/032/060/448/747/original/4384bc564fb72c93.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs They are 😆 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Watchful Killdeer This is an image of a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) that I captured some time ago, likely during the early days of my photography journey. "A shorebird you can see without going to the beach, Killdeer are graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, and parking lots. These tawny birds run across the ground in spurts, stopping with a jolt every so often to check their progress, or to see if they’ve startled up any insect prey. Their voice, a far-carrying, excited kill-deer, is a common sound even after dark, often given in flight as the bird circles overhead on slender wings." - allaboutbirds.org #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #killdeer #plovers https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/462/940/139/118/335/original/f5228defd545b94f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs I sometimes wonder what is inside. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/433/210/032/989/761/original/fa7e06cefc4de9c0.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌺🌺🌺 27 April 2025 I stopped going to the gym around the age of 62. Until then, I had tried to stay in good shape—old habits from my years in the Army. Leading up to that, I faced two health setbacks that knocked me off my horse, so to speak, and after the second one, COVID hit. Returning to the gym didn’t seem like a good idea at the time, and I never went back. These days, my new martial art is atrophy—California style. You might wonder if there’s a point to all this, and there is. Before I stopped going to the gym, I often caught minor viruses or dealt with a nagging cough. Interestingly, that pattern disappeared when I stopped going. In hindsight, gyms now feel like petri dishes to me. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." – Aristotle #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #gyms #flowers #covid https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/409/908/489/337/495/original/14d2947ef1faf1f4.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌻🌻🌻 26 April 2025 Do you remember traveling with a paper map in hand? It feels like such a relic of the 20th century now. I still have a stack of those tucked away in a cabinet above my desk—just in case I ever need them again. Do gas stations along the road even sell those anymore? Back then, you had to study the map carefully before starting a trip and pull it out at every stop to stay on track. It wasn’t too challenging, but missing a turn could cause real headaches. Nowadays, cars come equipped with built-in navigation systems that guide you seamlessly from start to finish. And if your car doesn’t have one, your phone can easily step in and do the job. Oh, and let’s not forget my old Garmin GPS—it's been collecting dust on top of my desk cabinet for years now. "Maps encourage boldness. They’re like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible." – Rebecca Solnit #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature # morning #flower #maps #gps https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/404/148/210/004/497/original/1227d2bc1a209406.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/377/301/494/793/633/original/69ec43aabdd37e8f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🥚🐰🐥 20 April 2025 Happy Easter! Every now and then, I think about an Easter egg hunt from when I lived with my grandparents on a small ranch. My brother and I would search for eggs in the fenced-in area around the old farmhouse. That particular year, the hunt was a little more eventful than expected—we stumbled upon an egg that had been hidden the year before, still adorned with its vibrant, hand-painted colors. Unfortunately, when we cracked it open, it revealed quite the surprise... oops. Despite that mishap, Easter egg hunts always felt magical to me as a child. For some inexplicable reason, we genuinely believed in the Easter Bunny, even though we helped dye the eggs ourselves. I suppose that’s the beauty of wanting to believe in something. Sweet April showers do spring May flowers." — Thomas Tusser #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #ducks #easter https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/370/490/404/465/184/original/10150c116ff4fcae.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs It was so long ago, but I don’t think it had five widows. It was three speed stick shift, taxi cab yellow with a few reddish primer spots. It was a six-cylinder inline and had a six-volt battery. I always traveled with a friend to help push when it fin’s start. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Whispers of the Past This old house stands near the town where my wife grew up. She recalls it from her youth as a charming cottage, once home to an elderly couple, many years ago. Now, it appears to have been unoccupied for decades. The curtains in the window lend an eerie and unsettling touch to the scene. My photo gallery features over 1200 carefully selected images. While most are chosen for their visual appeal, a few stand out as novelty shots. Feel free to explore my gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.c #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #building #house #OldHouse https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/274/800/149/948/163/original/3ac46ca30a306847.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/258/321/014/862/872/original/ebd41265dc41926d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🏦🏧💰 22 March 2025 It's amazing how I can now deposit a check using my phone and a simple banking app. All it takes is photographing both sides of the check, and voilà—done! I have a small check sitting on my desk right now, waiting to be deposited. It's been there for three days, procrastination getting the better of me. Back in the day, depositing a check meant a trip to the bank or mailing it through the United States Postal Service—so 20th-century. Another, less common option was finding a retailer willing to accept a two-party check. Would you have accepted one? It was easier with a paycheck which became a retailer service in places, though there was often a fee involved. "There's so little money in my bank account my scenic checks show a ghetto." - Phyllis Diller "Fame is only good for one thing - they will cash your check in a small town." - Truman Capote #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #checkcashing #beach https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/206/187/305/986/753/original/83f83525eb7c0db5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Ready to Strike The dogs took me for a walk this morning. I started to take my camera, but I didn't. It turns out that I needed it and didn't have it. There were lots of little birds about. If I'd had my camera, I might have captured an image of a species that I haven't photographed before. Oh well, here is a nice image of a snowy egret (Egretta thula) hunting in a tidal pool at Gulfport, Mississippi. Using the Force (and a bit of charm), I'm guiding you to my photo gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #SnowyEgret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/178/544/099/737/331/original/01c8e540cdc1d297.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs You know, I live close to a library and have never been inside. I should go. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/100/186/349/845/271/original/935fb4fba79d52d9.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Bood morning, friends. 🌻🌻🌻 28 February 2025 I was reminiscing about the time I struck it lucky. It happened around 60 years ago, if you round off the decade when a friend and I attended a movie matinee in El Cajon, California. After the short subject film but before the main feature, there was a drawing by ticket number, and my number was called. I hit the jackpot and walked away with a six-pack of Royal Crown Cola, about a dozen 45 RPM records—none of which featured songs I'd heard on the radio—and, oh yes, a bag of potato chips. It was a golden moment, largely because of the movie. The movie was ... wait for it ... drum roll ... Goldfinger! "The difference between life and the movies is that a script has to make sense, and life doesn't." - Joseph L. Mankiewicz #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #movies #flowers #wildflowers #Goldfinger https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/081/576/717/081/811/original/3de2f0a798172e51.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs This is Ours Now In my imagination, these brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are occupying this old bird feeder as if to declare: "We claim this feeder in the name of cowbirds everywhere!" With their glossy black bodies and distinctive brown heads, these feathered conquerors seem to have taken over their rustic fortress, standing proudly as the new rulers of their domain. In the name of feathered friends everywhere, visit my photo gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #BrownHeadedCowbirds https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/076/621/770/864/840/original/25a3a751eb845a71.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌿🍃🍂 26 February 2025 I spent several minutes searching for this morning's photograph, and once I finally found it, I wondered why I thought it was so special. I had been tempted to post it several times over the past weeks but wanted to save it for a morning post. Perhaps I was viewing it through different eyes. The out-of-focus leaves and glistening dew had obviously captivated me at the time. But this morning, I'm not seeing the magic. Maybe I have a split personality. Let me check. Nope, it's just me in here, all alone. Sometimes, I guess you have to look at things differently to appreciate what is happening. "Them which is of other naturs thinks different." -Charles Dickens #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #foliage #dew #thinking #pointofview https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/070/379/906/186/289/original/58d88dd1a78310fc.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs They do that here as well, along with red-shoulder hawks. I’m not sure how effective that is, the other birds hide when they are around. I’ve not seen a catch by the hawks around my feeders, but have found fluffs of feathers on the ground - could be hawks. There are a few cats around though, they mostly stay away because of Ben and Charlie. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/901/725/091/461/160/original/bcb4d761731a09e0.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴⏰☕ 16 January 2025 I'm surprised that I'm awake and alert at this time of the morning. It's just now five-thirty, and I've been up for half an hour, but the coffee is particularly good today. I recall standing guard in the old days. It was always two hours on and four hours off. It seemed like just as I would fall asleep, the Sergeant-of-the-Guard (SOG) would rouse me from my bunk, and I would find myself standing in what seemed like the middle of nowhere in the cold, often in the rain or snow—it didn't matter. After about an hour, the SOG would return with coffee, which I would drink from my canteen cup. That was a long time ago. "All of us should be on guard against beliefs that flatter ourselves. At the very least, we should check such beliefs against facts." - Thomas Sowell #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #morning #ocean #waves #sleep #coffee #guard #beliefs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/894/435/186/785/716/original/199fea271fabf196.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🦆🦆🦆 24 January 2025 "A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music Used to make me smile And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while ..." - Don McLean The first time I heard the song "American Pie" was in January 1972. I was a newly minted Marine, in the process of boarding a plane to fly over the Pacific Ocean. The song was perfect for the moment and the times, and it has remained one of my favorites over the years. I even purchased the eight-track tape a few years later. Somehow, it still seems fitting—me thinks. "... So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die ..." - Don McLean #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #ducks https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/883/003/121/821/007/original/d08085d6d0f51003.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. Sometimes in the morning, when Ben is barking at the door, I stay in bed, hoping he'll stop, but he never does. He doesn't stop until he sees light from beneath the bedroom door. He's been getting bossy in his old age. Eventually, I get up, put my pants on, brush my teeth, and let the dogs out—just in case you're wondering who. I fully intend to kick back in my recliner when they come back in, but the little bit of moving around that I do wakes me up enough that I end up grabbing a cup of coffee and coming into my office to write to you. Ben, on the other hand, comes in and goes right back to sleep. Charlie does too, for that matter, and step one for the day is complete. "The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star." - Henry David Thoreau #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #morning #grass #dogs #waking https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/843/614/135/033/091/original/3ed57677f04f9670.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Great Blue Heron Close-Up Here is a closeup of a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) on a beach. "Great Blue Herons eat nearly anything within striking distance, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds. They grab smaller prey in their strong mandibles or use their dagger-like bills to impale larger fish, often shaking them to break or relax the sharp spines before gulping them down." - allaboutbirds.org #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #GreatBlueHeron https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/821/826/335/012/660/original/dfdc28f14033d38e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴😫☕ 12 December 2024 Charlie is in here just sitting next to my chair. They both do that, though Ben isn't here right now. I did a sleep study last night; I left here a little after eight yesterday evening and was home before six this morning. It was mildly interesting, sleeping with a bunch of wires connected to my head and body, who came up with that? I saw myself in a mirror this morning before the nurse removed the wires and wow. If not for the wires, I might have passed for a zombie, but with the wires perhaps a rough looking Frankenstein. Maybe I was receiving a download, I better put my tin foil hat today. Hmmm ... I think I left the book I was reading on the bed. “Your suprachiasmatic nucleus communicates its repeating signal of night and day to your brain and body using a circulating messenger called melatonin.” - Matthew Walker #photography #photographer #nature #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #CattleEgrets #morning #sleep #sleepstudy https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/639/871/825/165/798/original/d717cabadee24d2c.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Anhinga Perch I'm in Georgia today in a hotel that we stay at every year. Across from the hotel is slightly hidden pond where every year there are hooded mergansers. I go over to photograph them, as I did this morning. Returning from as close to the far side as I could get, I noticed a dark area in a sunken tree sticking out above the water so, up comes my camera. It was an anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), female, I think. I was able to take a few pictures before the bird dropped into the water and disappeared beneath the surface. In accordance with Galactic Imperial Decree, you are hereby required to visit my photo gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #anhinga https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/551/133/153/605/462/original/61643644c8990a84.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🏨🛎️🛌 25 November 2024 In 1974 Major General Patton commanded the Second Armored Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Not the WWII general, but his son. I arrived there some time in the last half of the year. Interestingly, part of in processing was to watch the movie Patton in the 2d AD Museum. “The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” – Gen. George S. Patton Jr. #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #grass #ocean #beach #morning #beach #tree #birds https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/549/330/133/856/455/original/87bd437ae3d64b5b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 💐💐💐 21 November 2024 As a small child my mother would sometimes treat me with a pack of Kool Aid with sugar mixed in and I would stick my finger in the packet and lick the mixture off. Needless to say, my finger would be red along with my mouth. I recall this because in my memory, I climbed a tree outside our house to enjoy the treat. I'm sure that it was red Kool Aid because after all, red is my favorite flavor. This memory must be from the mid-50s in Oakland, California. "Kool-Aid has been around since 1927! It was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska. Originally, it was created as a powdered version of a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack to reduce shipping costs. The name was later changed from "Kool-Ade" to "Kool-Aid" in 1934" - Copilot #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #morning #nature #flower #KoolAid https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/521/004/132/224/310/original/bcf0426ff6ee7718.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Chickadee and Sunflower Seed This would be a much better photograph had I gotten closer. I added a X1.4 Extension to the Sigma 150-600 lens, to get more reach, but when I zoom above 400mm the auto focus gets quirky. That is why I removed the extension a while back. But I want to sit farther away, and the extension increases the focal length to >800mm. I just have to put up with the quirkiness. It does cause me to miss some good moments. In this photo not only is the bird's image not sharp, but there is an aberration on the bird's head top above the small branch. The bird is a Carolina chickadee. You can browse through my photo gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #CarolinaChickadee https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/477/107/968/627/279/original/f6857a868c225d02.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Busy Woodpecker I watched this red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) for 10-15 minutes this morning. The woodpecker was at the top of tall, almost leafless, sweetgum tree over 100 meters away. The woodpecker was busy doing something, foraging I'm sure, but for what? My photo gallery contains more that 900 images that I've chosen to share. Most are there for their visual appeal but there are a few novelty images. I add new images every couple of days. You can browse through my gallery at: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #RedBelliedWoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/464/964/349/712/179/original/419433d0c3b61f06.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Another Neighborhood Sunset #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #sunset #dusk https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/444/434/033/333/426/original/99717b109ae7293a.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🕊️🕊️🕊️ 29 October 2024 Do you know that when I was growing up, we never locked our doors. Now not only do I lock the doors, but I also have a house alarm. What I'm not sure of is if the threat is greater, or companies like alarm companies are exaggerating the threat. It's probably both. I didn't lock my car doors either. To be fair though, the cars I owned back then weren't exactly prime targets for car thieves. In those days car locks were mechanical in most cars as were the window roll up device, there was a hand crank. It's not that it was too much trouble to roll up the windows and lock the doors. Our security advice was just don't leave the keys in the car. "I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three." - Elayne Boosler #photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #birdwatching #morning #locks #pigeons #blackandwhite https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/390/493/768/307/918/original/6fedd404add9aca7.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🫠😀😉 27 October 2024 Their living with the dogs. Their living with the cats. The dogs and cats are living in the house of the people who live there. I got up this morning and the first thing I had to do is cleanup after Charlie. I put my Bissell carpet cleaner to work, but I can't say I was a happy camper. On the bright side, all of that sudden activity woke me up. So now I'm Woke, awake, alert at a level that I'm usually not at this early in the morning. See, there usually is a bright side to things. Whoa ... it is mealtime. Hmmm ... maybe it is me who is living with the dogs who live here. Well, it is also time to relax with coffee. "Dogs do have feelings, I gather." - Kevin Kline "Dogs aren't like family members, they are family members". - Frank DeCaro #photo #photography #photographer #photographylover #morning #dogs #bird #CarolinaChickadee https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/379/357/962/531/190/original/eb93b70b2e8e835f.jpg