Ribbon of Highway

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:

I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

I have sung this song around a hundred, or more, campfires through the years. I thought it would be a good way to get in the mood for the coming holiday weekend. The words and music were written by Woody Guthrie.

Thursdays are filled with fun things to do, like visiting Freda's ThisWay/ThursWay and Hootin' Anni's Thursday Theme Song.

Sunny Blooms

It was a very long but rewarding weekend and today I had time to enjoy the fresh blooms on the Shasta Daisies in my garden.

For more outside fun visit Outdoor Wednesday and Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Sissi Cat's Blog Post

Do you know what this is?

No, no, not me, I'm Sissi Cat. Everybody knows that!
Do you know what I'm looking at? Mommy says I can tell you it is usually found on the beach but it used to be in a big forest.

Mommy was very busy today with the Cat Management Coalition and is working with them again all day tomorrow. So she said I could do the post today. If you want to know about the Cat Management coalition go HERE.

We heard Mommy say she trapped 18 feral kitties today and has more traps to pick up tomorrow morning. Then she and some other folks will be helping the vet spay/neuter a whole bunch of kitties and give them their shots.

Mommy said she will catch up with everyone on Sunday when all her volunteer work is done.

In the meantime she says you can visit Freda's Photo Time (the theme this week is "What is It?") and also check out Camera Critters.

Secret Agent Squirrel

There's a squirrel who leads a life of danger

To everyone he meets he stays a stranger

With every move he makes another chance he takes

Odds are he'll be 'round your feeder tomorrow

Secret agent squirrel, secret agent squirrel
They've given you a number but you've taken away their birdseed

Let's celebrate Thursday with Hootin' Anni's Thursday Theme Song and Freda's ThisWay/ThursWay.

Family Affair

The Nene, or Hawaiian goose, is the state bird of Hawaii. The Hawaiian name Nene comes from its soft call.

Unlike most other waterfowl, the Nene mates on land. Females build a nest and sit on the eggs for about 30 days. The male will act as a sentry and protect the nest. Goslings are able to feed on their own but they remain with their parents until the following breeding season.

Once the little one is hatched Mom & Dad will teach it everything it needs to know to survive.


They will also guard the gosling and protect it from predators. This family of Nene are at our local park aviary. Even though I was behind a fence and across the stream the parents kept a watchful eye on me.

Please visit Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

At The Oasis

The theme for this week's Photo Time is Oasis. When I think of an oasis I think of palm trees and sand.

Okay, so this is not a typical oasis but it does fit the definition. These photos were taken on our last trip to Las Vegas. We were there for the Vegas to Reno road race so we weren't in town long on that trip. We flew in, did the race and flew out. But we did get to see the rising sun light up THE hotel.

For more photos visit Freda's Photo Time and Mellow Yellow Monday.

Hoops

The theme for this month's Brenda Photo Challenge is Playing. These are some photos I took last summer at a downtown hoops event. All ages were taking part but these kids seemed to be having the most fun.

Cool, Cool, Cooler

If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
Lots of those friendly people
And they're showing me ways to go
And I never want to lose their inspiration

It's time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it's time for a cool change

I know I know I know I know
That it's time for a cool change
Yes it is, yes it is yes it is
Time for a cool change...


There is some really cool footage of dolphins in this video.

Are you feeling any cooler yet? Today's post is for all my blogging friends on the East Coast, South, Southwest and anywhere else where there is sweltering heat. If all that water didn't make you cooler try a shady old tree. And while you're sitting under the tree see how many hearts you can find! Then take a trip to visit Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday.

Also join us for Hootin' Anni's Thursday Theme Song and Freda's ThisWay/ThursWay.

Hello World!

Mama said to stay inside the nest and she will be back soon with dinner.
Click on photos to enlarge.

Mama's not here right now. She won't mind if I just take a peek outside to look around.

Oh wow! It's really BIG out here.

Wonder what that is? It's really far away.

Maybe if I take one more step I can see more stuff.

Aw Mom!

Please forgive the quality of these photos, they were taken from a distance through a chainlink fence. I would not have noticed the hole in the tree if I had not seen Mama bird come out of it and fly away. The baby appeared just a few seconds later.

For more photos please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Outdoor Wednesday.

Feathers

This week's theme for Photo Time is Birds so I thought I would show you a few of my favorite bird photos. Of these the last one is my very favorite because of the way he seems to be contemplating the sky.

For more critters visit Freda's Photo Time and also drop by Camera Critters.

Magnificent

Those magnificent men
in their flying machines,
They go up diddley up-up,
they go down diddley down-down!

They entrance all the ladies
and steal all the scenes,
With their up diddley up-up

and their down diddley down-down.

Newton would think he
had made a mistake!
To see those young men
and the chances they take!

Those magnificent men
in their flying machines,
They go up diddley up-up,

they go down diddley down-down!

Up! down! Flying around!
Looping the loop
and defying the ground!

They're all frightfully keen.
Those Magnificent men
in their flying machines!

In case you are wondering, one of our local airports had a fly-in and display of some of the airplanes last weekend. No planes, pilots or bystanders were injured in the taking of these photos.

Do you remember the movie of the same name as the song?

For more photos and music visit Hootin' Anni's Thursday Theme Song. Also check out Freda's ThisWay/ThursWay.

Critters, Critters and More Critters

A collection of critters for you today. We start with sisters, Sissi Cat and Miss Fuzzi. I think Miss Cindi has been giving them lessons on how to avoid Mommy and the evil camera thingy.

Because we are an equal opportunity blog we also have these two cute little pups. They were spotted at our local farmers' market last Saturday.

And of course, this being Through Squirrel Eyes, we have to have our squirrel friends represented.

Let's move on to the waterfowl, Mr. Goosey Gander is always strutting his stuff at the local lake.

The theme for this week's Photo Time is "Front & Center". This young Mallard female was definitely front and center all of a sudden when I took this photo. I think she was asking why I was taking so many photos of the geese and ignoring the ducks. And I thought the geese had an attitude problem, at least until I met her.

For more photos please visit Freda's Photo Time and Camera Critters.