jeannieadams

THE MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THE TUFTED TITMOUSE

22 Jan 2015 2 Comments

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Tufted Titmouse

Sassy Look of the Tufted Titmouse

January 22, 2015

If you think birds are simple little animals, let me share some various expressions I captured of the Tufted Titmouse. This little bird is very quick but I recently found some birdseed (Kaytee Songbird Treat Bell) that slowed her down to investigate. Just a tip – you can always double click on any photo for a larger version.

Curious……

Cautious…….

Taking a moment to strike a pose……….

Did I hear something?

Finally enjoying some worthy morsels …..

But still very choosy……

Thanks for reading – Hope you enjoyed my little backyard friend !

BELLEVILLE, IL GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS 2014

19 Dec 2014 2 Comments

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Belleville Christmas Markets, Belleville Gingerbread House Contest

DECEMBER 19, 2014

Hurry! You only have through December 23, 2014 to check out the Belleville, IL Christmas Markets. An enjoyable afternoon can be spent browsing the Christmas Markets in their traditional wooden stalls, visiting Santa and strolling Main Street’s shops. Also on display in many of the shop windows are gingerbread houses that participated in the 25th Annual Gingerbread Contest. Here’s a sampling….

See Main Street in style…

Santa is home for photos and delivering your Christmas list…

Wonderful animated shop window..

Choirs singing….

Old time building murals

3rd place winner!

2nd place winner !

A most unique gingerbread house?

Happy Holidays!! Thanks for reading!

WINTER FEASTING FOR MY BACKYARD BIRDS

18 Dec 2014 1 Comment

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: black capped chickadee, cardinal bird, Feeding my backyard birds, flicker woodpecker, tufted tit mouse

Cardinal dressed up in his Christmas red coat.

December 18, 2014

Yesterday morning, with the snow flakes gently falling, I refilled the winter’s supply of nutrition for my little, but ever so entertaining, backyard birds. Within moments of going back inside, the show began at my kitchen window……..

Black-capped Chickadee

Flicker Woodpecker

Finch, with just a hint of her Christmas colors

Female Cardinal looking a little grumpy but yet her comb all done in an updo for the holidays

My favorite for last – the Tufted Tit Mouse – who are so darn fast I’m always lucky to get one photo, yet today I got three!

Coming in for a landing…..

Hope you enjoyed the show! Thanks for reading!

GARDEN GLOW 2014, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

15 Dec 2014 2 Comments

by jeannieadams in Missouri Botanical Gardens Tags: Garden Glow 2014

December 14, 2014

More than 600,000 colorful lights and several beautiful light exhibits are a must see at the Missouri Botanical Gardens this holiday season. Even Henry Shaw’s home is decorated and open for a walk through. This leisurely stroll through the Garden after dark is a wonderful way to enhance your holiday spirit. Be sure to get your tickets in advance and keep in mind January 3, 2015 is the last day. Bundle up and enjoy!!

Henry Shaw’s kitchen

GARDENLAND EXPRESS FLOWER & TRAIN SHOW, ST. LOUIS, MO

14 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Gardenland Express 2014

December 14, 2014

It’s that time again at the Missouri Botanical Gardens to enjoy the Gardenland Express. Open daily until January 4, 2015, this year’s show will be a lasting favorite for kids of all ages. The detailed and entertaining showcase of miniature Garden buildings are nestled in a setting of beautiful holiday plants with trains galore zipping in and about. It’s a fun display and a nostalgic look back at the Garden that was opened in 1859 by Henry Shaw. Bring the whole family!

PRAYING MANTIS WITH IT’s LUNCH

26 Sep 2014 4 Comments

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Praying Mantis

Sept. 26, 2014

The other day my daughter noticed this Praying Mantis in my Zinnia garden – not a sight that I’ve seen before, I’m sure due to their great camouflage. It was fascinating because it had captured a big bee and was trying to eat it. Except the bee was still alive! In my curiosity about this critter, I discovered they can turn their head a full 180 degrees and the female sometimes will cannibalize her mate. They mostly eat insects ( alive) although have been known to also eat small frogs, birds, snakes and rodents. The females lay hundreds of eggs in a small case, and nymphs hatch looking much like tiny versions of their parents. Is your skin crawling yet????

INDIANAPOLIS WEEKEND – Day 2 – The Children’s Museum

23 Sep 2014 2 Comments

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Chihily glass tower and glass ceiling, China's Terra Cotta Warriors, Indianapolis Children's Museum, Reuben Wells Steam Engine

The outside of Indy’s Children Museum

Our 2^nd day was spent at the Children’s Museum, even though we didn’t have any children with us. What a SUPER place for kids of any age! Our major reason for going was because the Museum has 8 of China’s Terra Cotta Warriors on display. But we also enjoyed the rest of the Museum as well. There was a train, doll house, vintage toy and ship wreck display plus a large display on what’s it’s like to live in China. There was even a glass tower and ceiling by Chihuly and lots, lots more to see !

Two great places to eat in Indy that we discovered was the Mellow Mushroom, a casual pizza place, and Divvy’s, a tad fancier but not stuffy, with great food served in tapas style.

Indy was a fun mini vacation spot!

This is the inside of the museum where the dinosaur is looking in – very clever!

One of China’s Terra Cotta Warriors and his horse. ( There were 8 on display ). Experts believe there are 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses ( plus many more smaller artifacts) in the 5 acre tomb of China’s 1st emperor. They believe it took 700,000 laborers 40 years to create this tomb that would protect the emperor in his after life.

Originally it is thought that the Warriors were all painted bright colors like this example.

The warriors are life size and restored wonderfully.

This is Reuben Well, the 35 foot, 55 ton steam engine that conquered the railroad’s steepest grade in the US in the 1890’s.

Vintage toy exhibit

Chihuly glass tower is made from 3200 pieces of blown glass , is 43 feet tall and weighs 8000 pounds and is beautiful !.

Chihuly glass ceiling is also beautiful and you can sit below it on a revolving circular bench to comfortably lean back and gaze above you to enjoy and study all of the shapes and colors .

Thanks for traveling with me!

INDIANAPOLIS WEEKEND – Day 1, The Art Museum

23 Sep 2014 1 Comment

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Indianapolis Art Museum

Loved the symmetry of this passageway at the IMA.

Next stop after the Zoo was the Indianapolis Museum of Art, or IMA as it is commonly referred to. We only saw about half of it before it closed but what we did see, we loved. Besides the variety of art pieces, the setting is a beautiful building that sits on about 100 acres with a lake and woods and a path of outdoor sculpture pieces. We strolled for a bit outside and enjoyed the serene surrounding and interesting and funny sculptures.

Cute little angel although I’m sure of the condition of the duck….

Beautiful painting by Impressionist Frederick Carl Frieseke called “Afternoon-Yellow Room”

America Cut Glass Bowl – my Mom would have loved this!!

Not the best photo but I had to include this anyway. If you look close ( or enlarge the photo by clicking on it) this glass floor is being held up by millions of very small clay people. The view on the top is the millions of hands supporting the glass. You have to appreciate the imagination of this artist!

Outside sculpture ” Funky Bones”

interesting “live” art seen in the sculpture gardens…

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – A WEEK-END GETAWAY, Day 1 The Zoo

23 Sep 2014 1 Comment

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Indianapolis Zoo, Zoo Aviary

Black Capped Lorie

August, 2014

Recently my daughter and I spent a weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indy was a delightful city with lots to see although we barely scratched the surface. We started with the Zoo. Small, easy to navigate and the animals shows are included in the price of admission. We watched the dog show , with all of the stars being rescues – very impressive and proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Being a bird watcher, I have to say the Bird Aviary was my favorite. I enjoyed observing the beautiful and unusual birds close up. There was even an option to feed some, as food being a handy magnet to get really close.

The Zoo also has a Botanical Gardens of sorts on the grounds and included in the same admission price. The different gardens were set up in separate sections and all enjoyable and peaceful.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Superb Starling

Taveta Golden Weaver

This is the Weavers “nest”. The opening is at the bottom!

I also love Lemurs – you gotta love how they like to cuddle!

Whimsical frogs at the Botanical Garden

Small surprises at the Gardens also.

LEGO ART AT MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDENS

04 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by jeannieadams in Uncategorized Tags: Lego Art at Missouri Botanicals Gardens, Nature Connects, nature Connects with Lego Art Bricks, Sean Kenney

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, 2014 !!!

From now until September 7, 2014, Lego Art “Nature Connects” is on display in the Climatron at Mo Bot. in St. Louis, Missouri. Guaranteed to be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages! There are 12 displays and here are my favorites:

Of course, being a bird watcher, I love this Pileated Woodpecker. It’s made with 4424 Legos.

This is just a partial caption of “Feeding the Birds or the Squirrels?” which took 8586 Legos to make.

Mama and Baby Lego Ducks are so cute !

Now onto the bugs…….. This Monarch Butterfly is feasting on milkweed, a much needed nutritional plant for them to make the long journey to Mexico for the winter. You can help the Monarchs by planting milkweed in your yard. This display used 60,549 Legos.

Did you know that the Praying Mantis can eat frogs, lizards and even hummingbirds? No wonder I didn’t like these creeping looking bugs! 42,167 Legos were used in this display.

This Milk Snake is after it’s favorite mouse snack here. 12,069 Legos used to create this slitherly image that I hope I never see in my garden. : )

This would look great in any garden ! 27,869 Legos were needed to make the Sundial and Bluebird.

Our applause to the artist – Sean Kenney !!!

But Wait! By the time I was finished seeing the Lego Art, it was raining buckets outside!!!! So I photographed some of the plants and flowers that make me smile. Proof that Mother Nature has a sense of humor: