On a Hill Far Away

Church Shining Bright

Sweet Pea

See how nature

- trees, flowers, grass -

grows in silence;

see the stars, the moon and the sun,

how they move in silence...

we need silence

to be able to touch souls.

~ Mother Teresa ~

House Finch

Remembering All our American Veterans

Thank you isn't enough

for your sacricfice,

yet I sincerely thank you,

those of you still with us,

those of you who have gone before,

those who have come back,

and those of you who have returned yet

still have your battles to fight.

May God bless you all.

Splendid Silent Sun

Give me the splendid silent sun.

~Walt Whitman~

It Has a Song

A bird does not sing

because it has an answer.

A bird sings because it has a song.

~ Chinese Proverb

Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden is located

along the east side of the river 

on the Des Moines River Walk.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Guess Where?

Yep, this photo was also

taken along the Des Moines river walk

in downtown Des Moines.

So many beautiful things

God gave us can be found along there,

as well as some beautiful man-made structures.

Along the River

Principal Building

A little different view of the

Principal Building in downtown Des Moines,

taken from the Oriental structure

along the east side of the Des Moines river.

Red Bud Trees

 Coming to you from Des Moines, Iowa,

along the Des Moines River Walk,

beautiful red bud trees.

Such an amazing, beautiful city.

Such an amazing, beautiful world.

Crystal Fountain

All of the photos I've posted of flowers

over the last few days

have come from the grounds of the

The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates.

The grounds of this building,

which used to be the Des Moines Public Library,

are gorgeous.

The building is just north of Court Avenue,

along the Des Moines River,

and along the Des Moines River Walk.

The flowers and fountain are on the

west side of the building.

I am thankful it is open to the public.

With this photo,

I used a fast enough shutter speed

to catch the droplets of water.

I think it makes the sprays of water

look like crystals.

Hydrangeas

To see the world in a grain of sand, 

and to see heaven in a wild flower, 

hold infinity in the palm of your hands, 

and eternity in an hour.

William Blake

Still showing off the beauty in downtown Des Moines!

Beauty in Des Moines, Iowa

I took these tulip photos,

as well as the other tulip and lavender shots,

in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

Downtown.

This city is changing.

Or it has changed and I just failed

to notice until now.

There are spots to enjoy nature, 

as well as wonderful architecture.

The Des Moines River Walk is fantastic.

It's a great place to visit.

More shots from Des Moines coming soon.

Lavender Field

Garden of Eden

Dream Big, Little Bird

Aspire To Be More

Fly Away Home

Squirrel Scare

I was just a little too close

to this squirrel when I snapped this photo.

Mr. Squirrel was angry and chattering away.

I believe he was scared,

yet he also scared me. 

I was afraid he was about to leap

onto my head,

which made me scared as well.

My husband laughed when I told him

I hurried to my car and locked the doors.

Yep, I locked the doors.

As if the angry squirrel was going

to chase me down and open my car doors.

Regardless, it ended up being a good shot

of an a  chattering squirrel.

Salvia

I love the way our salvia plants 

attract the butterflies, hummingbirds, 

and fat, friendly bumble bees.

I don't get too shook up about the bees

 as they keep to themsleves 

as long as I keep to myself.

I can be weeding just inches from them,

but they're all full of nectar and 

happy and fat as a plum.

I enjoy my gardening each summer.

I am hoping Iowa will be seeing 

some warmer weather very soon 

so we get some flowers and vegetables

in the ground. 

Enough of winter!

And what's this about a global warming theory?

Sorry, not seeing it folks. 

Archway in the Snow

Fuzzy Little Duckling

Mama Duck