A Touch Of Nature

 

 

 

Chickadee In A Tree

 

 

 

 

A Black-Capped Chickadee

 

 

 

 

A White Breasted Nuthatch

 

 

 

 

Oh cage me not, lest I become a prisoner of man’s ego.

Deny me not my right to fly in God’s blue sky

And spy upon these mortals there below.

Then when I see a friend, I may desend to serenade.

And when my song is o’er,

away on freedom ‘s wing to soar.

-May Hickman

 

 

 

 

 

 

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

– Shakespear

 

 

 

 

  In Harmony with Nature

Up Close and Personal,

The Look of Trust ,

Eye to  Eye,

It touched my Soul.

Written by - Dianne © dsphotocats

 

 

 

 

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. – John Muir

 

 

 

I Was Looking For Owls

I was looking for Owls, and I found  Chickadees, 

or should I say , “they found me”.

I was looking for Owls, and I found a Nuthatch,

and again, it found me.

If you truly love Nature you will find Beauty wherever you go.

Look! Expecting to find,

Leave your tunnel vision behind.

You may not find what you are looking for,

but treasures you are sure to find,

and you will be touched by nature of some kind.

What a Joy to be in Harmony with the Beauty that surrounds you, whatever that might be.

I believe it is God’s  intended plan for all of humanity,

and  Nature, of His Own  Creativity.

Written by- Dianne © dsphotocats

 

 

It was funny, while driving home on the 401 hwy. I saw a big beautiful owl perched in a tree along side the 4 way hwy. I admired its beauty for a moment, and then shook my head and laughed. It didn’t bother me that I didn’t get a photo with my camera. I treasured the moment with a thankful heart and I had just come from having little Chickadees and a Nuthatch in the palm of my hand. There little talons felt wonderful as I experienced a touch of nature that I will never forget. Now how special is that!!!

Hope to find you all well. Take care and God Bless each and every one who passes by.

ox Dianne :)

Special note: Pictures of me were taken by my hubby. Steve is legally blind but has great insight, and not bad with the camera either. I think he is pretty amazing. I am  Blessed to have him in my life.  :)

 

Hug A Zebra Day

 

 

 

 

Hug A Zebra

 

Did you know

Today is hug a Zebra Day?

You say oh my gosh

I did not know!

So hug your Zebra with all your might.

If you don’t have a Zebra,

Then hug The One your with.

If you are all alone,

then hug the First Person or Zebra you see!

Or give Yourself a big old hug,

and say I love me.

You say oh my gosh

I could never do that.

What would people say?

Can you imagine that?

You could always send a hug,

to all your Blog Friends,

Or go out and find a Zebra.

No matter what you decide to do

or who you hug .

Have a wonderful day!

Poem written  by Dianne dsphotocats

Dianne © dsphotocats

 

 

 

 

These photos were taken a few years ago at the Toronto Zoo. It was a very bright sunny summer day. The sun was harsh in the top photo but the pose was perfect. I just happened to be around at the right time. I will gladly sacrifice perfect lighting for this perfect pose. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the mother zebra put its legs around her baby in the form of a hug. Isn’t nature wonderful! I think it is awesome how God makes even the animals to have such affection towards their own. God uses His Creation to show us His Love. At least that is my experience. God can reveal Himself to anyone who is truly seeking to find Him.

Romans Chapter 1:20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse.

Isaiah 55:6  Seek The Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.

I even think of our dear pets and how they show us so much Love and Affection. What a Blessing they are to us. God can use anything that He created to reveal Himself to us. God is not limited. He is Almighty, and the Author of Love. God is Spirit, and God is  Love in it’s Purest Form.

Although it is not until Feb. 14th, I would like to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day.

Love and Hugs to all my Blogger Friends

Dianne :)

Jelly At The Zoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moon Jellyfish

 

 

When a person goes to the Zoo most people think of Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, Monkeys and such. I decided back in Sept. I would check out a few different species in the Pavilions. I found it challenging due to the lighting in these buildings, and of course the crowds of onlookers, but thought I would give it a try.

I could spend hours at the zoo in awe of all the amazing animals that I see, and want to see. I find it so fascinating. I think I could spend weeks there and not have enough time to spend with all my animal friends. I love animals and so does the One who Created them all. What an imagination our God and Creator has to make such a vast diversity of life on this planet called earth, and we humans haven’t discovered it all yet and probably never will. Scientists are no match for God The Creator of all life, including them. :)

These pictures were taken at the Toronto Zoo which has over 5000 different animal species to see. At some point I will post some of my other zoo pictures.

I will leave information on the Moon Jellyfish at the end of this post for anyone who may be interested in reading it and finding out some fascinating information on this animal. There are plenty of good sites on the internet as well.

I haven’t been out with my camera in quite awhile due to life circumstances. It has been on the shelf for now, but when the time is right I will be back out capturing the beauty that surrounds me each and every day. For now I am just thankful for eyes to see the things around me day by day. I am thankful for many things in my life. Life is precious. I hope to find you all well. Thank you for those of you who remember my mom in your prayers as she suffers from Chronic Kidney Disease. Life is challenging and an uphill battle for her. She is very courageous, and a woman of Faith. I am a much better person because of my mom. She has always been there for me, and I for her.

Hope you all take care and have a wonderful week whatever you do or don’t do.

Until next time and I hope to visit you all soon.

xx’s Dianne :)

 

 

 

Moon jellyfish

 

Location at the Toronto Zoo: Australasia

Region:

Australasia

 

Scientific Name:

Aurelia aurita

Description

: Jellyfish are ancient creatures. Fossils have been found in rocks that are 650 million years old. Today there are more than 2000 species. Jellyfish are 95% water, 3% protein, and 1% mineral. There are four life stages from birth to adult. There is no backbone, brain, or heart. Adults drift with the currents, but can swim horizontally by pulsations of the bell to keep close to the surface. A primitive nerve net controls muscle contractions as it swims. The adult form is a transparent bell shape that ranges between 5 and 40 cm wide. Underneath is a central mouth surrounded by four oral arms that carry the stinging tentacles. From above, four crescent shaped gonads surround the mouth. On the rim of the bell are eight sets of eye spots sensitive to light and eight statocysts that help orient jellyfish when swimming. Jellyfish are primitive organisms with an outer layer (ectoderm) that covers the external surface and an inner layer (endoderm) that lines the gut. Between these is a jelly layer or mesoglea. The simple digestive cavity acts as a gullet, stomach, and intestine. There is one opening between the oral arms that acts as a mouth, anus, and entrance for sperm (in females).

Distribution

: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.

Habitat

: Shallow coastal waters as well `s brackish waters with a salt content as low as 0.6 %. Jellyfish can survive in water from 6 ˚C to 31 ˚C. The optimum temperature is 9 ˚C to 19 ˚C.

Food

: Jellyfish are carnivorous plankton eaters. They feed on fish eggs and larval fish and other plankton, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and copepods etc. Food is collected on the mucus surface of the jellyfish and by the tentacles. Flagellar action of the tentacles passes the food items to the margin of the bell and then up into the mouth and stomach.

Reproduction and Development

: Jellyfish are either male or female. Sexual reproduction begins when a male medusa releases sperm through its mouth. The sperm swim into the mouth of a nearby female where fertilization occurs. Further development into free swimming planula (larval stage) occurs in brood pouches along the oral arms. The planula settle on the ocean floor and attach to the bottom forming the polyp. Polyps bud asexually to produce free swimming larvae known as ephyra, which grow into the adult medusa.

Adaptations

: The transparent body makes a jellyfish less visible to predators. Oral arms have tentacles that carry nematocysts (stinging cells) that stun prey or deter predators. About 70 species are harmful to humans. The medusa can shrink in size when food is scarce and grow when it is abundant. Radial symmetry permits finding food in any direction.

Threats to Survival

: Predators include sea turtles, ocean sunfish, spade fish, tuna, swordfish, and other large fish. Humans, particularly in some Asian countries, capture and eat dried non-venomous jellyfish.

Status

: IUCN: Not Evaluated; CITES: Not Listed.

Zoo Diet

: Cyclopeeze, and live brine shrimp.