Frozen

Winter Storm Fern has coated our town in inches of sleet, now frozen into glassy ice. With the temperature sitting at 16°F, we ventured out to take it all in… and, of course, to go to Waffle House.

One squirrel watched us like we had lost our minds. I don’t think I’ve ever been judged so harshly by wildlife.

 

Dove

Perched quietly in a tree, nestled among a web of tangled branches, the dove regards me with quiet curiosity. Its steady gaze feels both gentle and inquisitive, as if trying to understand the presence of an unexpected observer in its peaceful world.

Wild Encounter

My work campus is home to some beautiful natural areas, including serene wooded sections and even a creek that winds through the property. With such a scenic setting, it's no surprise that local wildlife occasionally makes an appearance.

The other day, I came across a turtle trying to cross one of the trails. It looked startled and froze up as I approached, so I gently picked it up and placed it safely in the bushes on the side it was headed toward. Hopefully, it continued on its journey without too much stress.

What really caught me off guard was its size—it was nearly a foot long and about seven inches wide. Definitely one of the largest turtles I've encountered here in Texas!

Spider Friend

This impressive wolf spider took up residence in my garage over the winter, patrolling the space like a little guardian. Surprisingly, it was quite friendly—often emerging from its hiding spot as if to say hello whenever I came around. As the seasons changed and spring arrived, I watched it scurry out into the warmth of the world beyond the garage, ready to resume its wild life. I wish it well on its journey and hope it thrives out there, feasting on all the pests it can find. A true unsung hero of the ecosystem.

Eyeshadow

 This little anole has made the aloe plant in my backyard its favorite hangout spot. I often see it lounging there year after year, blending in surprisingly well—except for the vivid colors around its eyes. Those bright markings always catch my attention, like it's wearing a touch of makeup. I can't help but wonder if it's getting ready for a party or showing off for a potential date. Whatever the reason, its bold look adds a splash of unexpected charm to my backyard.

Squirrel!

A cheerful squirrel eyed me with curiosity as it scurried along the ground, searching intently for nuts or any other tasty treasures. Surprisingly, the little creature let me get quite close—close enough to snap a few clear photos. It must be fairly accustomed to people, perhaps a regular visitor to this area.

While squirrels can sometimes be a bit of a nuisance—raiding bird feeders or sneaking into places they don't belong—they're undeniably fascinating animals. Their quick movements, clever problem-solving, and bushy-tailed charm make them fun to observe. Watching this one go about its day was a small, unexpected delight.

 

Neon Skimmer

 A Neon Skimmer once paid me a visit—a first-time encounter that left me in awe of its striking colors. I haven’t seen one since that day, but the memory has stayed with me. Now, I find myself hoping to cross paths with these vibrant creatures more often. 

Side-Eye

The residents of Roatan, Honduras, are incredibly friendly—though they tend to prefer just hanging out and watching you go about your day. They're more than happy to silently judge your choice in swimwear, but don’t expect any advice or suggestions. They keep their opinions to themselves, letting you live in your questionable fashion decisions without a word. It’s like having an audience that’s totally chill... except for the side-eye you might get from time to time.

 

Lizard, Lizard, Lizard

 Coming from Mississippi where the common outdoor lizard was the Carolina Anole; this was a big surprise.   These are the Texas spiny lizard and they do get rather large.   Here where I am they are everywhere: in trees, on the house, fence, and even dangerously basking in the road.  I love seeing them when I do, they are a reminder that no matter where we may live we are still surrounded by wildlife.

Intruder Alert!

The other night my cat, Celeste was acting weird.  She was trying to get under the couch, so we moved the couch and this little guy was there.  We caught him and let him go back outside.  I wish him the best!  

 

Standing Tall

As a social people we tend to have to learn that we often have to stand alone.   It is not an easy lesson to learn, the waves crash around us and it can be scary and sometimes we do slip into the turmoil. When this happens we must flight our way back onto our little island and stand as tall and majestic as we possibly can, and stare down at every wave that comes our way. 

For the Birds

This Egret and many Gulls feed from the waters where the Gulf of Mexico meets Saint Andrews Bay in the waters between Shell Island and Saint Andrews State Park. 

Little Eyes

 

The same is true in Florida as it was in Mississippi and is anywhere on Earth… You are never alone.  Lurking in the trees, brush, and the water are little eyes.  You are always being watched so always be aware of your surroundings.

This Gator was stalking me and other food items at the aptly named “Gator Lake” in Saint Andrews State Park just outside Panama City Beach.  I have seen these magnificent creatures in nature many times in the past; they never cease to demand respect and awe.

Blame

It is time to open our eyes; we have been in the dark too long. We have put the blame of the Deep Horizon oil disaster on BP, the company that commissioned the drilling. We blame them, and spit venomous words in the direction of the company, even to the point of boycotting them. We grow disheartened that the disaster is getting worse, wondering why nothing is being done. The fact is that BP has done more than most companies would have done, they admitted the mistake immediately and have been working to fix the disaster, when was the last time a company did that? The truth is I see the fault not solely on BP, disasters will happen; it could have easily been Exxon, Shell, or any other company and it could have happened at any time.

You see, we don’t want to turn the finger in; each of us shares the blame for this disaster. I’m betting that most of you have forgotten when US gas prices soared to $4.00 a gallon; it seems to me that everyone has forgotten. The call at the time on all political fronts was “more Drilling,” “Reduce the need for foreign oil,” and my personal favorite “Drill baby, drill.” We then went about our merry way in our cars and trucks, drinking from our plastic containers changing nothing. You see, we are a greedy people, possibly more than any other nation on Earth, we like the status quo and we fight change.

Well, now we have an unprecedented disaster on our hands and that very resource we covet is costing lives of our animals and polluting our Gulf. Like I said, we blame this on BP and their inability to fix it, well they will get it fixed and we will clean up, and then like the $4.00 a gallon gas we will forget about it… at least until it happens again.

NO! We can not allow this to happen again, we as people need to turn our fingers inward and realize that we have a hand at this very disaster. It is as much our fault as it is BP’s and we need to do something to keep it from happening again. I will tell you that Boycotting one company will not do it; there are many others in its place. We need to change our ways, we need legislation to force companies to move us to renewable resources, and reduce our need for oil completely. We need to offer tax credits to individuals and companies that utilize green resources such as solar panels and hybrid vehicles, and eventually make it law. We also need to make recycling the law, no longer an option; you see those plastic containers are a product of oil.

The answers are clear, we can not place blame on anyone until we ourselves realize that we have as much fault in this disaster as anyone else. We as a people need to change our ways, or be prepared to accept the consequences of our actions, the time is now before it is too late. Mississippi and the USA need to take a more active role in passing Green Legislation regardless of Big Oil, and we need to shut big oil down completely. We can no longer allow these companies to build wealth by destroying what we hold dear, and only when we stop the demand will the fault no longer lie on us.

Toad

We were walking in the warm spring air, hoping not to get covered in yellow pollen, when we happened upon this toad stalking for his night meal. You could not really see him; all you saw at first were eyes. He was very friendly; he even consented to being petted without hopping away. I love these warm nights, although it is a precursor to the heavy hot summer days, those I am not looking forward to… but they are close.

Finding Yourself

You never expect to play a part, to fall so deep into a role that you lose yourself so completely that you are shocked when you finally recognize yourself in the mirror. As we sit going through the things that we forgot, things that are now so foreign… and yet they are a part of ourselves. And then there are times when you finally realize how unique you really are, and how the beauty slipped through your fingers… and the stars fall from the sky like shimmers of glitter into a sea of black… and you are left with the impression of fleeting loss… and it is hard to explain, and you feel so alone, and it takes a magical moment for the stars to reappear. It is when you can finally see things the way they are, that you can finally feel whole again, finally comfortable in your own skin.

About the Image: A Carolina Anole common to Mississippi is known for its chameleon like camouflage to disappear from predators.

Scarlet's Web

Spiders are fascinating creatures that receive a relatively bad rep, much like snakes, alligators, crocodiles, or pretty much anything else that humans do not deem “warm and fuzzy.” Spiders occupy a special place for me, as do most creepy-crawlies; that does not mean that I like them particularly, but I do hold an intense respect and admiration for the creatures. This may be surprising considering a year ago I was stung by a scorpion that had crawled in my bed, but it was doing what it does. This particular spider is in my back yard, not sure what type it is but it is about an inch long, hairy and grey. In these videos it is having a small feast of Horsefly that had found its way into her web. I have christened her Scarlet… not to be confused with Charlotte.