~Jessica~
Dec 26, 2010
Christmas 2010 Recap
There are a lot of photos so, I am just going to pick out one or two of the best for each of us and call it good. I hope you all got what you wished for and had a good time with your families. The rest of the post is wordless. Enjoy!
~Jessica~
~Jessica~
Dec 25, 2010
Merry Christmas 2010
I know some of my readers do not celebrate Christmas. To those of you who don't, I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
In our family, we celebrate a secular Christmas. So to all my fellow Christmas celebrants, we hope you have a very merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your families. With love, from all of us at The Magical Mundane.
For more Camera Critters, please visit: http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/.
~Jessica~
In our family, we celebrate a secular Christmas. So to all my fellow Christmas celebrants, we hope you have a very merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your families. With love, from all of us at The Magical Mundane.
For more Camera Critters, please visit: http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/.
~Jessica~
Dec 24, 2010
Sky Watch Friday - Beaver Moon
If you are looking for eclipse photos, they are here: Lunar Eclipse 2010. However, I hope you will enjoy these photos of November's full moon.
The November full moon has two names. The first is Beaver moon.
There are two theories that abound regarding this name. The first is that this is the time when the settlers and Native American's started setting their beaver traps so they would have plenty of furs to keep them warm in the winter.
The other possibility is that this is the time when the Beaver's started getting their dams ready for the long winter.
Settlers, Native Americans and Beavers alike, all knew winter was coming soon and were ready to get settled in.
The other name for this moon, is the Frost Moon. You could expect November to be a very frosty month.
For more sky photos visit Sky Watch Friday: http://skyley.blogspot.com/.
~Jessica~
The November full moon has two names. The first is Beaver moon.
There are two theories that abound regarding this name. The first is that this is the time when the settlers and Native American's started setting their beaver traps so they would have plenty of furs to keep them warm in the winter.
The other possibility is that this is the time when the Beaver's started getting their dams ready for the long winter.
Settlers, Native Americans and Beavers alike, all knew winter was coming soon and were ready to get settled in.
The other name for this moon, is the Frost Moon. You could expect November to be a very frosty month.
For more sky photos visit Sky Watch Friday: http://skyley.blogspot.com/.
~Jessica~
Dec 23, 2010
Grass is Greener
We sometimes hear the expression, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." This means that we may think others have a better life, position, or situation but in all reality we may not realize that what we have ourselves may be best for us.
Our property borders an empty property that was an old race track. I believe it was at one point used as a motorbike track. Now it sits empty. If you approach our fence you can start to see glimpses of the beyond.
Do you think we will see anything exciting? Maybe the fair folk will come out to play. Can you see anything yet?
If you click this photo to enlarge, you will see that the property has gone back to nature. A beautiful meadow full of blossoms, light and probably a good amount of creature residents. Who knows, maybe a fairy or two as well.
Now for the moral of the Grass is Greener. While it is beautiful to look at, I won't be traipsing around back there. More than like there are thorns, burrs, snakes, ticks and all manner of critters I don't want to disturb. Right here in the comfort of my yard, I can gaze with wonder over the fence and daydream about what is over there without getting bit, poked or otherwise injured. Thank you Mother Nature for giving me a yard with a view. I am thankful for that.
~Jessica~
Our property borders an empty property that was an old race track. I believe it was at one point used as a motorbike track. Now it sits empty. If you approach our fence you can start to see glimpses of the beyond.
Do you think we will see anything exciting? Maybe the fair folk will come out to play. Can you see anything yet?
If you click this photo to enlarge, you will see that the property has gone back to nature. A beautiful meadow full of blossoms, light and probably a good amount of creature residents. Who knows, maybe a fairy or two as well.
Now for the moral of the Grass is Greener. While it is beautiful to look at, I won't be traipsing around back there. More than like there are thorns, burrs, snakes, ticks and all manner of critters I don't want to disturb. Right here in the comfort of my yard, I can gaze with wonder over the fence and daydream about what is over there without getting bit, poked or otherwise injured. Thank you Mother Nature for giving me a yard with a view. I am thankful for that.
~Jessica~
Dec 22, 2010
Dec 21, 2010
Lunar Eclipse 2010
Today was the Winter Solstice and Mother Nature threw in extra treats this morning, a full moon total lunar eclipse. The last time a total eclipse took place on the solstice was in 1638, over 400 years ago. The next one will not be until 2094. Quite a special event to be a guest, I would say. So for those of you that missed it, here are some photos I took as well as a video. Enjoy!!
I wish you all a wonderful Solstice.
~Jessica~
I wish you all a wonderful Solstice.
~Jessica~
Dec 20, 2010
Macro Monday - Fall Jewels
This is part two of the fall color series. Yesterday's post was part one, Florida Fall Colors.
One of the gems we get here in Florida, are Gulf Fritillary butterflies, Agraulis vanillae. It is in the fall that they emerge from their chrysalis and bless us with their orange jewel tones.
Gulf Fritillaries can be found throughout the southern United States during the fall. They are also found in South America, Central Americas and Mexico. If you are looking to attract them to your yard, try planting Passion Flower vines. This is the only host plant for their caterpillars and also is what their other common name is based on, Passion Butterfly.
After the butterflies emerge, be sure to have these plants in your landscape for nectar. Try Zinnias, Butterfly Bush, Hibiscus, Lantana, and Salvia.
The Gulf Fritillary is named so because of its migration patterns. In the US, the adults overwinter in the peninsula of Florida. With their long wings they have no problem flying over the Gulf of Mexico to get to their winter stomping grounds. During migration, they can be seen flying over the Gulf while out on a boat.
I leave you with this little guy below. This is a Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta. They are in the Brush-footed Butterfly family, like the Gulf Fritillaries, but they are not in the same subfamily. The Red Admiral is a True Brushfoot. The Gulf Fritillary is in the Longwing subfamily.
If you are a fellow Southerner, I do hope you consider encouraging these beauties to come to your yard too.
For more macros, please visit: http://lisaschaos.com/.
~Jessica~
Reference Links for more information are below
Gulf Fritillary:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1664
http://bugguide.net/node/view/567
http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Gulf%20Fritillary/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Fritillary
Red Admiral:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1772
http://bugguide.net/node/view/448
http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Red%20Admiral/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_atalanta_%28Red_Admiral%29
One of the gems we get here in Florida, are Gulf Fritillary butterflies, Agraulis vanillae. It is in the fall that they emerge from their chrysalis and bless us with their orange jewel tones.
Gulf Fritillaries can be found throughout the southern United States during the fall. They are also found in South America, Central Americas and Mexico. If you are looking to attract them to your yard, try planting Passion Flower vines. This is the only host plant for their caterpillars and also is what their other common name is based on, Passion Butterfly.
After the butterflies emerge, be sure to have these plants in your landscape for nectar. Try Zinnias, Butterfly Bush, Hibiscus, Lantana, and Salvia.
The Gulf Fritillary is named so because of its migration patterns. In the US, the adults overwinter in the peninsula of Florida. With their long wings they have no problem flying over the Gulf of Mexico to get to their winter stomping grounds. During migration, they can be seen flying over the Gulf while out on a boat.
I leave you with this little guy below. This is a Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta. They are in the Brush-footed Butterfly family, like the Gulf Fritillaries, but they are not in the same subfamily. The Red Admiral is a True Brushfoot. The Gulf Fritillary is in the Longwing subfamily.
If you are a fellow Southerner, I do hope you consider encouraging these beauties to come to your yard too.
For more macros, please visit: http://lisaschaos.com/.
~Jessica~
Reference Links for more information are below
Gulf Fritillary:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1664
http://bugguide.net/node/view/567
http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Gulf%20Fritillary/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Fritillary
Red Admiral:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1772
http://bugguide.net/node/view/448
http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Red%20Admiral/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_atalanta_%28Red_Admiral%29
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