Emerald and gold

A dead beetle we found in the back yard yesterday. 

That vivid green color sparkled in the grass.

I made my husband hold it for me while I took a picture to share.

Lovely May

It's such a beautiful time of year. Just yesterday I was sitting outside after work, drinking in all the loveliness around me and trying to think of how I would describe it to you.

One thousand shades of green. Friendly birds at the feeders; house finches, sparrows, cardinals, mourning doves, wrens, grackles, chickadees and the occasional goldfinch, all calmly eating their fill despite two humans and two canines sitting close by. An American robin hopping in the grass among butter-yellow dandelions. Warm sunshine and blue skies. A clan of unusual red squirrels that live in this part of the neighborhood, chasing each other merrily around the big old oak tree out front. The sound of the children (all new to our street) riding their bikes and playing after school. The frogs and crickets, singing, when the sun starts to set.

I can barely stand to be inside, this time of year.

For your Saturday enjoyment, and in keeping with the theme of appreciating the natural world, here is a beautiful piece of writing I wanted to share with you today.