Laura Brownlee's Natural Expressions: Beauty in the Aftermath of a Turbulent Week

During a storm last weekend, like so many others, we lost power. A deep and raging overflow of water caused us to lose a lot more--from the earth around our house to some of the belongings within it. After learning of the damages others suffered from this same storm, I realize how our losses pale in comparison. Our electricity came back into service just yesterday--6 3/4 days following the storm. Besides flooded roadways and inland flooding of many of the places I like to spend time, I was also flooded with other issues that arose during last week which prevented me from getting out with my camera. Things quieted down yesterday and I welcomed a weekend with limited physical activity. Not surprisingly, many things presented themselves to me as photo opportunities from various sitting spots around our yard, and once able, more was revealed through my gentle wanderings beyond our property. Here are some of the highlights:

This reflection mirrored an evening sky on a still pond.

A newly-risen sun burns itself through early morning fog and clouds at dawn yesterday:

A butterfly bush was alive with color:

This bird's joyful song was music to my ears!

I happened to catch out of the corner of my eye, a flapping of BIG wings and some kind of bird then settled onto a branch of a tree quite a distance away from where I sat on our front deck. I strained to see what it was. It's pictured below somewhat near the center of the image. I wondered what it was! A golden eagle, perhaps? A large bird of prey?

I zoomed in for a closer look and chuckled when I realized by it's tail feathers that it was a wild turkey!
I know they roost in trees as dusk falls, but I've never seen one during the day, sitting up so high on a branch!

Today, outside one of our windows, I saw this pair of wild turkeys. I wondered if one of them was the same one up in that tree the day before?!

Sitting around a backyard campfire later in the day, I couldn't resist photographing the flames. I just love how fire photographs! It's flames, vivid and hot, dance with molten fluidity. I find them mesmorizing and hypnotic and calmingly theraputic. Each still shot is unique from any else, and provides eerily stirring images that magically appear with each viewing..

As dusk fell, I caught this dragonfly doing swirlygigs above my head.

A beacon drew me in from the boat launch we stopped at while on our way to get a pizza for dinner, and we watched a layer of fog begin to shroud the lake.

And that was just Saturday!

Today, Sunday, I had a little more energy to meander around. I spent time walking along the matted riverbank of our friends' property. You could see how the river reached above it's brim, stretching it's borders, spilling out many feet beyond it's bank by the nap of the grass which was now lying flat in the aftermath. Debris clung to trees above the ground where the crest of the water reached. Heavy benches and fences were pushed over by the force of the river and now layed askew on the ground. A variety of shells scattered themselves amidst the mud and the mingling of stone and leaf, glimmering under the sunlight.

There's a pond on the grounds--a rather enchanting pond! It's a shallow pool that had many big frogssitting along it's bank who let out a squeak-like shriek as they popped up and hopped into the water as I approached. What made this an enchanted scene, I think, was the clarity and the extraordinary color of the water. Turquiose water is not just for the Caribbean! For here, in a wooded lot beside the river, was this cool pool! Reflections were stunning in the stillness of clear water, and, with the ability to see right down to the botton, plants took on a magical quality.

Following the river along it's bends, I paused at bridges and milled about looking at the wildflowers and trees. Here are a few.

It's funny..... Sometimes I can spend a whole hour in just one spot. I might be surrounded by stillness and quiet, but don't let that fool you! The scene is always changing. There's constant sensory motion, whether it be of a buzzing bee zipping past me or the sound of a new bird call that's heard for just a moment or two--never again- as it enters and exits the scene. A small movement will capture my eye or an audible twitter to my ear... or... a few steps in another direction adds a whole new perspective to a flower. I may be photographing an insect and hear a slight sound behind me; I'll turn around to find an animal that wasn't there before, nibbling a leaf or a bird that has been silently watching me who now caught my eye in return. Even the walk back to my car--there's always something different that calls my attention. Retracing my steps is equally rewarding as treading new ground to an otherwise familiar spot.

Walking back to my car I noticed a family of hawks in a distant tree.