I'm thankful....

Thanksgiving traditionally has been a time for football and eating the traditional meal. I wanted to think a little about what I'm thankful for this year.


I'm thankful I live where the cows and horses outnumber the people...



...and thankful for nature because it enriches my life.


Thanks to the uncommon nature finds like this Common Grackle which appeared below the feeders last week or the Golden Crowned Kinglet (a lifer if I kept a life list) I saw on a walk down the driveway today.

Thanks for my family (especially my husband) and my friends and for my health which has held up this year.

I'm also thankful I can share my love of nature with fellow naturalists in the New River Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists and the New River Bird Club.

I'm grateful for my bees who inspire me and my beekeeper mentor who has helped me get through a second year of beekeeping.

Finally, I'm thankful to other bloggers for being a great community. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Red-Tailed Hawk Sighting--Sample Post

Red-Tailed Hawk October 23, 2009

I posted this photo last night as part of my presentation to the New River Bird Club. Now, the back story.....

For several days in late October, a pair of red-tailed hawks have been in our driveway (1/3 mile through a wooded hollow). That's not unusual but I never get a photo because a hawk quickly flies away. This time the hawk did not--he just flew up into a tree and so I was able to get this shot. I think the hawks were on some dead animal but I am not sure what since I didn't see it.

Notes on Posting Photos

Blogger allows quick posting of photos but the resolution is low. So, I clicked on the "Edit Html" tab to find the size: "width: 320px; height: 213px;" Then, I multiplied times 1.3 to get a 416 x 277 resolution and pasted those numbers over the original ones. Once published, a reader also can click on the photo to see the larger resolution (this one is 1687 x 1124 pixels). They have to click back to get to the post (ought to open up in a new window!).

I also feel it is important to post the date your photograph was taken. I know when I see great photos on other blogs, I want to know the story behind them--when and where found, situation, date--maybe even the weather if relevant. That to me is the essence of a nature journal or blog.

Someone came up to me last night and cautioned about indicating the location of rare flowers, butterflies and birds in case someone might be inspired to collect them. I agree. I don't think most bloggers I read post that detailed information. Nevertheless, his caution is worth noting.

Welcome New Bloggers!

I hope some of you who saw my presentation last night might be encouraged to start your own nature blogs. You can get inspired by clicking on some of the blogs in my blog roll. In a few moment's time, you can travel all over exploring nature through the eyes and voice of some very interesting people!

Posting Question

Does anyone know the best way of posting photos to your blog? I downsize my photos to 1024 x 780 approximately so they load faster. Then, I edit the html to make the photos slightly larger than the 320 x 240 size Blogger automatically uses. Even at 480 x 360, the photos are not as sharp as when you click on them and get the full 1024 resolution. This is most apparent with vista views--large landscape. Yet, I have seen photos sharper on other blogs. Is it something I am doing or is it just Blogger?