Pam J's photos

New Year Blessings May you have a Gentle & Peaceful New Year ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Should auld acquaintance be forgot & never brought to mind ? Should auld aquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne. For old lang syne , my Dear , for auld lang syne , we’ll tak a cup o kindness yet,for old lang syne. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ring out the Old , Ring in the New . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coal that you be Warm . Bread that you may have Food. Silver that you may have riches . (Artwork mostly mine.) EXPLORED !

Yuletide Blessings Hold your Truths in the Light in your Heart Don't let the darkness steal your Hope. We are the Many and will keep the Light Remember that ... EXPLORED !

Yuletide Blessings to All ....and the Hope that the New Year brings better than we fear. Artwork is mostly mine. EXPLORED !

Honey Bee on False Sunflowers #1 EXPLORED !

Today the Stars took back their own Son. Braver than the Brave He knew Humility and Wonder And showed us what we could and can be Rest Peacefully John Glenn ... mine and many others HERO High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo da Vinci EXPLORED !

Andrew Ross - Angus Clark - Asha Melvana - Al Pitrelli (L-R) Went to see TSO last night... BRILLIANT as ever ! This is our Christmas present to ourselves www.trans-siberian.com They give $1 of EVERY ticket sold from EVERY show (150 shows in this tour) to a local to that venue childrens charity. The 2 shows in Oklahoma City (where we went) added up to over $26,000 between 2 charities for childrens education and mental and physical needs Over 21 years of tours .. that has added up to well over $21,000,000 .... These people are THE best. EXPLORED !

Thankful for so many things. EXPLORED !

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) "Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made." ..... Robert Browning EXPLORED !

Armistice Day .... Remembrance Day At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. We will remember them ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Flanders Fields by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918) Canadian Army In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Just trying right now to breathe.. and put one foot in front of the other... we have to get through this nightmare of a result. Just want to say too.. we have a very good support system here in our friendships.... that is going to save us... and feed us and give us the will to get past this and rise above it and come out the other side. Below is excepts from Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" ".... If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same:..." ".... Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;..." "... If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on! ' ..." EXPLORED !

This beautiful Lady came through today. I saw her arrive and feed solidly for 30 minutes and then she was on her way. They started early and are continuing to come through late There is an urgency to them now. Its getting cooler and we are due rain and there is little left for them to feed on and she may be the last I see this year.... maybe... EXPLORED !

I have had other similar Sphinx moths here but this was a first for this species. We were smashed into 7 days ago (25th Oct) whilst stationary, by 2 colliding cars at a T Juction and our car was written off. We are ok.. bumped and bruised and sore but very very lucky. We are still dealing with the Insurance but as the innocent party we are getting things done. We have had to get another car.. and we hope to have the claim settled by the end of the week. I am a bit fragile after this past few months but all will be well. I am a bit slow commenting... but I am loving seeing your photos. This hasnt been an easy year... but we are alive to tell the tale. EXPLORED !

I had not seen anymore Monarchs come through since the 5 on 12th October. We then had a 40° temperature drop with a cold front That then brought high gusting winds and 87°F temps again. Today.. all became calm and a beautiful 84°F and a glorious day. This evening... in a golden cascade of light.... this male Monarch came to feed of the Lantana and False Sunflowers. The Migration is well underway and I wont see many more gems like this. EXPLORED !

Ragged but still huge and still beautiful and a joy to see . Only the second time in 5 years I have seen this Giant Swallowtail here. EXPLORED !

She was ragged but still huge. She is only the second of her kind I have ever seen here.

This beautiful Lady on the "Ham n Eggs" Lantana is like a precious jewel set on jewels. The Monarchs are still coming through my garden but this "Pretty" stole my heart yesterday.

Still getting 1-3 through a day. This will end soon. thought We have tornado weather back and the Monarchs need to be on their way. EXPLORED !