Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Insect Perspective

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.
Henry David Thoreau 
Ever since last week's full moon, our weather has been unstable, never knowing what it will be like from one minute to the next ... windy, dusty, cloudy, rainy.  Since my senior boy is on spring break, there's been no mad rush out the door in the morning so I have enjoyed these slow days of staying home puttering around.
When the weather cleared some this afternoon, I spent time tidying my balcony garden, watering plants, and taking notice of all the garden visitors.
 
From a bee to a teeny, tiny fly ...
And a hover fly which is like a helicopter the way it moves.
It finally sat still long enough for me to get a good look head on.
Quite a quizzical little expression, I'd say.

This spider seems to have snagged one for lunch.
When I take pictures outside with my iPhone, I never know what I am going to get, so to see the detail on this spider is pretty amazing.  I sure couldn't tell what he looked like ... believe me, my phone got closer than I did.
This gecko was spotted from the kitchen window, while I was inside and he was out.
Jingles loves to go outside but doesn't like me to shut the door on her.  But as long as there are geckos around, the door must remain closed.
I've not walked at all this week so am hoping that tomorrow will be nice enough.  I don't mind a cloudy day, but the dust can certainly stay away.

Best wishes and blessings.

13 comments:

Quinn said...

I love that portrait of Jingles, Maybe she's like her own little door? ;)
Our weather is very up and down too, but rainy or sunny, it's been pretty consistently cold for the past couple of weeks. At this point, the cold is refreshing.
I'm hoping to have a new pair of walking shoes this week. Hating is an unpleasant exercise for me, so I've ordered three pairs online and can send back any unchosen after trying on at home. So exciting!

Lorrie said...

The natural world is so rich and varied, if only we take the time to pay attention, as you have done, and shared with us. Wonderful photos of your world. I hope the dust dissipates so you can get out walking again.

Ana said...

Great pictures Tammy. Weather has been a bit crazy here too...but I guess it's been crazy everywhere. Hope you get better weather soon so you can enjoy your walks again.

Hugs,
❤️Ana

Createology said...

You are much braver than I with those creatures so close. That fuzzy spider looks very scary to me. I am not good with anything that flies, slithers, jumps, crawls or any other method of transport that might make contact with me. It is amazing to see your photos. Stay safe indoors and please let Jingles in.

Betsy said...

Wow! I don't think my iPhone takes nearly as amazing photos as yours. It must be operator error! Ha! Seriously, I do not like insects of any kind, so you wouldn't find me photographing them. It was all I could do to look at yours. They are amazing. The gecko I liked. They were all over our lanai one time on Maui. For some reason they don't seem to bother me at all. Your Jingles reminds me of our late kitty, George. He wanted outside if the door was shut, then when I let him out, he wanted inside when the door was shut again. In and out. Over and over again. I hope your weather clears soon so you can get outside and walk again. I know you must miss that. Have a lovely week.
Blessings,
Betsy

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos, Tammy! While I am not so keen on getting up close and personal with some creatures, photos like yours help me to appreciate their amazing forms, I hope the dust settles soon so that you can be out and about and enjoy some fresh air! xx

Linda said...

Nice photos! I never get good photos like that using my iphone, in fact, my iphone takes pretty bad photos, so I stick to my camera for closeups and for when I want to zoom in on something far away since the phone can never handle those types of photos well without losing resolution.

The bee photos.... when we were hiking along the birding trail on Dauphin Island, there were places where there were many large solitary wasps (normally the type that buss around you, but don't normally sting, because they are cicada killers), that our 2 college age kids were not very happy about. They ran through that area - one of them is allergic to bees and the other just doesn't like them at all.

Hope the dust clears up for you. I've been back to my normal walk/run route this week since I'm back at the office so it means changing into my "P.E. clothes" every day at midday and heading out and changing back because I get so hot from doing it (imagine what I'll be like when it's truly hot out, since right now, it's only in the 60s during the day!) but alas, I'm having to focus on more walking than running for a time I'm afraid as I either pulled something in my right calf or am experiencing spider vein issues after taking on running. A bit of a setback, but then I remind myself that walking in itself at a fast pace is good too. ;)

Have a nice evening,
Linda

~*~Patty S said...

Lovely nature posts Tammy.
Oh the hollyhocks in your post above ♥
I can relate to what you said about taking photos outside and coming in to see what you actually got.
That sure is a hairy spider!
Great shots and quotes as always.
oxo
p.s. I follow you on Bloglovin but for some reason I cannot leave you a comment when I click on your blog from there? Oftentimes I enjoy your posts and then get side tracked before I can find you another way LOL

Quinn said...

Wow, I don't know what happened in my earlier comment!
What I meant was, maybe Jingles would like to have her own little door.
And "shopping" is an unpleasant exercise for me...although "hating" would be even more unpleasant, but not very clearly connected to walking shoes?!
Good gracious. Sorry for the weirdness!

SusanLotus said...

A wonderful visit! Both at home and on the balcony as the seem crawling with life ...
And to chill out around the home is not at all wrong.

I think your phone did get more than close enough... I am afraid of spiders and
snakes. But more afraid of dogs though...

Have wonderful week!
Sussie

Bee Lady said...

Wow I loved your pictures. I find nature very interesting. That was one big spider!

Cindy Bee

Mereknits said...

I am staying away from that spider, it looks very mean! If it makes you feel better I have a lizard running amok in my house, I can't seem to catch it. Last I tried it ran under my refrigerator, lord knows what is under there!
Hugs,
MEredith

Tanya said...

Mighty handy with that cell phone camera, my friend! Incredible photos - you snapped a photo of a spider, when I would have turned and gone the other way!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...