Good evening. ‍🟫‍🟫‍🟫9 May 2026We’d been on the road all day, and now we’re tucked into northern Arkansas, deep in the Ozark Mountains. After we arrived, we went out to dinner with my daughter and granddaughters. Then they headed off to do a little shopping for the upcoming graduation party. I think I mentioned a few days ago that one of my granddaughters is graduating from college this month. She’ll be teaching kindergarten in North Little Rock once she’s officially done.The drive itself was pretty uneventful. Most of it was interstate, and my modern car handled the bulk of the work with its hands‑free driving feature. I still had to sit there and keep an eye on things, of course — take over when the car insisted, tell it when to change lanes, and handle the turns. The thing can be a little sassy. Once we left the interstate, it was back to doing everything myself.Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about how far things have come since I was a young man. My cars back then didn’t have power steering or A/C — unless you count that little triangular vent window you could angle so the wind hit you in the face. And for heaven’s sake, I had to roll the windows up and down with a hand crank. Don’t even get me started on navigation.Anyway, that’s enough for today. Time to kick back.“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” — Anita Desai“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — W.B. Yeats“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” — Mark Black#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #mushroom #graduation #travel #cars #teaching

@arisummerland

Good morning. 5 May 2026Hurray — it’s Cinco de Mayo, the day Mexico commemorates its army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Most of us in the United States don’t study much Mexican history, but we know the 5th of May carries real significance. The battle was part of a larger attempt by Napoleon III to install a European‑style monarchy in Mexico. His first advance failed thanks to the Mexican Army under General Ignacio Zaragoza. But the following year, the French returned with reinforcements, captured Mexico City in 1863, and Napoleon III installed Archduke Maximilian of Austria as Emperor of Mexico.This happened despite the Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Western Hemisphere off‑limits to new European colonization or interference. But in 1863, the United States was consumed by the Civil War (1861–1865) and unable to enforce the doctrine.Even though Maximilian was declared Emperor, Mexico still had a functioning republican government led by President Benito Juárez. He refused to surrender and continued resisting the French occupation. In practice, the French controlled the major cities, but Juárez’s forces controlled much of the countryside through persistent guerrilla warfare.After the American Civil War ended, the United States began supporting Juárez’s government. With renewed strength and U.S. pressure on France, the French withdrew from Mexico. Maximilian was captured soon afterward and later executed by firing squad, bringing an end to the French‑backed empire.“The people who love freedom will in the end be free.” — Benito Juárez“The policy of the United States is to leave the nations of this hemisphere to themselves.” — James Monroe “Puebla is proof that dignity can defeat might.” — Enrique Krauze #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flower #lovebugs #history #Mexico #cincodemayo

Northern Cardinal PairThis captivating photo features a pair of northern cardinals perched on a bare tree branch. The male cardinal stands out with its vibrant red plumage, complete with a black mask around its eyes and beak. In contrast, the female cardinal exhibits a more subdued appearance, primarily in shades of brown with hints of reddish hues on her wings and tail. Both birds face the same direction against a backdrop of green foliage, illuminated by soft natural light.If you’re captivated by northern cardinals and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look:https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #northerncardinal

Little PSA! Did you know I have books and zines of my photography? It's true! If you love my work and would like to have beautiful physical artwork to hold and enjoy, check out my online shop Every purchase supports my work, and makes this girl go all smiles for hours Also prints, calendars, cards and jigsaws!Shop here - https://www.obsidianurbexphotography.com/shop-category/photography-books/#Photographer #ArtForSale #Photography #Travel #Support #ForSale #Photo #Artwork #MastoArt

@apriloq I haven't read any of Dorsey's books, I'll have to give him a try.

Gossamer GuardianThis is a female ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), although, rufus humming bird is a possibility as well. But I know I know that there is a male ruby-throated hummingbird around and it being spring and all, well ...Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #rubythroatedhummingbird

@geonz Yea, tornados aren't good get outside weather.

Good morning. 23 April 2026We’re getting an early start this morning — the HVAC crew is here cleaning our system. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know AC cleaning was a thing. The tech who came out found what he called “biological growth” inside the blower assembly. I’m assuming that means mildew or mold. Nothing dramatic, of course — no tendrils creeping out of the vents or alien spores waiting to transform us. At worst, there might be tiny particles that irritate allergies. The blower assembly wasn’t in terrible shape, but any buildup can interfere with airflow and make the fan work harder. There’s always something, isn’t there.Growing up, we never had air conditioning. We had windows and fans, and in some places those big old water coolers that sat in a window and blew damp air into the room. Some folks called them swamp coolers. I can’t help wondering now what kind of mildew those things must have collected. I remember sitting right in front of one on hot days, hoping for relief — it didn’t do much.I honestly don’t remember the first time I lived in a house with AC. Probably sometime in the 70s. Even after that, I spent a lot of years in places where the heat wasn’t too bad. When we lived in Germany around the turn of the century, we didn’t have AC at all — you just opened a window and that was that.Before I got used to having air conditioning, the weather was simply something you adapted to. But here in Louisiana, where the heat and humidity can be downright suffocating, AC in the summer isn’t a luxury anymore — it’s essential.“Home sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn’t find it here, one doesn’t find it anywhere.” — M.K. Soni “Home is the place we love best and grumble the most.” — Billy Sunday#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #hvac #home

Simplicity in BloomThe image shows a quiet, natural scene: a patch of lush green grass lit by soft daylight. Rising from the blades are small white blossoms of crow poison (Nothoscordum bivalve), their delicate petals standing out against the vivid green. The moment feels simple, understated, and elegant — a reminder of how easily beauty appears in the smallest corners of nature.If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity.https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #flowers

Good morning. 15 April 2026My wife planted these Barbados lilies in two large pots outside our back door nearly twenty years ago, and they still come back every spring. It must be the perfect spot — just the right balance of sun and shade — because they return like clockwork.Thinking about the lilies reminded me of the year a colony of yellow jackets decided to build a nest in one of those same pots. I’m usually a live‑and‑let‑live kind of guy when it comes to wildlife, but that was too close for comfort. They had to go — evicted without prejudice.That brought back another backyard memory from the day I was pressure‑washing the fence. A mud dauber had built a nest on one of the boards, and when I blasted the water across it, the wasp took offense. It came straight at me and stung me on my right ear. After that, we had ourselves a little battle, and the wasp didn’t stand a chance against high‑pressure water. My ear, however, paid the price — swollen and oversized for days.How would I describe the pain of a mud dauber sting? Sharp and hot, like a quick jab of electricity. It doesn’t last long, but the swelling certainly does.I still have the pressure washer, but these days I hire someone else to handle the job. No more backyard duels for me.That said, when I was doing the pressure‑washing myself, half the job was dragging the machine from one section of fence to the next. One guy I hired showed up with a washer and several lengths of hose hooked together. Genius. And for me, a big duh — why hadn’t I thought of that.“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” — Oscar Wilde“If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.” — Erma Bombeck“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” — Robin Williams#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #flowers #lilies #wasps #pressurewashing