August 2026

Last month I set a goal, and being one to always push for them; and, sometimes wonder WTH I was thinking when I made them, I feel pretty darn good that I was able to keep this one two months in a row.

I won’t lie though, it wasn’t easy. Until my medical issues get sorted out and dealt with, what used to be easy-peasy for me is now one heck of a painful challenge. I like challenges, but not this kind – who does? Still – when we challenge ourselves with realistic goals instead of goals that were obtainable a year ago, that is when good and memorable things happen.

Living on property where random birds and animals, sunsets or the moon can show up or strike my heart at any given moment I have always just raced into my office, pulled out the appropriate camera and lens, grabbed a tri-pod if it called for one, raced out, set up and began to shoot – no problem. Ha! Not happening right now. I was missing opportunity after opportunity.

I did however have a lot of opportunity to do what I also have always done, sit outside alone and enjoy nature as is. Just listening, observing, breathing it all in and it’s during those times when I can truly clear my mind and let my brain do what’s it’s good at – find a way. I knew my strength, energy and pain tolerance was/is limited so I needed an easy solution to save a bit so I could use it to actually get a few photos.

It was as simple as simple gets, as many solutions tend to be. I cleared the kitchen table, laid a cloth and pulled out my best four combos of cameras and lenses – one for each scenario. Grab and go.

We have Long-eared Owls that come every night and live between our hill and the neighbors hill. Well, really the animal’s hill. They often will sit in the tree, or on the wire right outside our windows, over our porch, on the neighbors property, over the Bunny Barn calling throughout the night and hunting the mice below.

And when in the observatory, I can hear them softly flying over my head along with the many bats. I’ve been trying to capture them as soon as they wake and come down off the hill which is usually just as the light is fading into darkness. I have about a 30 minute window if there are no clouds. But each time, my body moved too slowly, awkwardly, painfully, and it was too late.

But with the cameras ready to go in the kitchen, I was finally able to capture one of them on a wire and I was thrilled. I did however pay for it, but it was worth it to me. Not the greatest photo for sure – but wow did it make me happy!

The month of August also brought visiting butterflies, coyotes, hawks and hummingbirds; and, I got to watch day by day as a young deer lost his spots until I could barely see any by the end of August. And then there is Bug, one of our furry friends who absolutely adores her Frisbee; I couldn’t resist sharing a photo of her also. We just love the animals in our care.