August 26th, I call critter Monday!

This last Monday, I was finally able to get some photos of one of our sets of twins here at Hardin Ridge. While I did laundry at the park office, I came back and found this little family grazing along a path beside the road. Fortunately, I had my camera this time! I've been trying to get pics of this set of twins for some time now. I even spotted several male turkeys later this day.

These trees have started to change in the last few weeks. Fall is on the way!
 

I love how the afternoon sun shines through the forest...so pretty!

Even spotted a (I think) northern fence lizard...he's just a baby.

 

Wildflowers & Butterflies

A few days ago, I had my camera and decided to walk across from the entrance of the Hardin Ridge Recreation Area. This is the scene I discovered...lots of wildflowers and butterflies everywhere only they didn't seem to show as well here. The back roads and along 446 are dolloped with many varieties of beautiful wildflowers. I've seen a big field of purple along 446 that I believe is lupine maybe or liatris that I am going to have to get some photos at some time while they are in bloom.

In this photo, I added a butterfly overlay freebie from Seasalt Paperie so be sure to download it and the other freebie on her site. The day was overcast which is perfect for taking pics, but it made for a crummy background so I added a cloud overlay also. I added a few more tweaks to brighten and darken in the right places. Gotta love Photoshop!

As soon as I get a few more flower edits done, I'll post them too.

Hoosier Mushrooms

Southern Indiana has seen a lot of rain over the last few months...or as the weather radio has stated "we will have above average amounts of rainfall". As a result of that rainfall, I believe is why we are seeing so many mushrooms pop up on the forest floor. 

While doing our routine site cleaning yesterday after the mass exodus of people from the 4th of July, I came across four different colored mushrooms. I do not know what kind they are, but I do like the different textures and colors they produce. Pretty to look at and most likely not good to eat.
All taken with iPhone 5.

Hoosier Mushroom Society

 

 

Beautiful Hummingbirds

For my birthday last week, I splurged and got a hummingbird feeder. At one time I had one, but it broke from use I believe. Even picked up some vinca plants for some pots I had in storage. I miss having flowers in bloom spring through fall. Having to keep up a landscaped yard was work, but I really enjoyed watching my plants grow each year.

These little Ruby-throated hummingbird females are fun to watch as they fly in and out for some sugar water. Cheap entertainment as we sit on our very quiet long street in the Hoosier National Forest. Quiet at least Monday through Wednesday. lol!

Shot these with my Canon 85mm prime lens. I added two texture layers and a sharpening action.

Some more critters over the last few weeks

Since living in an RV since September, we no longer get to luxury of wi-fi internet and are now relying on our data connections via our phones which was the plan knowing the changes we'd be making back then. Sometimes my laptop syncs up and sometimes not so much. So here are a few photos of some other visitors over the last month.

This is a striped skink we found at the park entrance. So colorful!

A baby painted turtle down at the beach of Lake Monroe here at Hardin Ridge:

This baby skunk that was taken on my phone and would have been closer if I'd had my good camera. Oh, well. He was cute, fast & stinky! We have seen two skunks cross the rode just in front of the gatehouse this week...may need to post a "skunk crossing" sign if this keeps up! lol!

Just a gorgeous pic of the beach here at Hardin Ridge on Lake Monroe. The water was really high at this time and has since gone down so the beach is now accessible to everyone.

Our Regular Woodland Visitors

We have seen many deer in and around the campground over the last month or so, but recently we've seen this trio just outside our RV. They are known to visit in the morning and last evening when it's really dark. There feet can be heard in the distance as they tromp through the leaves as they nibble on low hanging vegetation. The largest female, in bottom center, is always on the lookout for every little noise. Correction...He kept looking my way as I tried to get in for closer pics while the other two continued to munch. When I looked closer at the photo in Photoshop, I noticed he had some antlers forming which explains the big size difference compared to the other two deer. As sure as they sensed or saw me, those tails go straight up in the air with a flash of white they bound away into the woods. I never tire of seeing them as they are so beautiful!

Dogwood in Bloom

For the last two days it's rained in southern Indiana, but I was able to get out and take a few pics between drizzles. The dogwoods are still in bloom and quite lovely mixed in with all the green of the forest background.

For a little something different, I added some textures on all of these photos.

Snow and more snow!

Southern Indiana has been seeing a lot of snow in the last several days...and I love it! So far since Christmas Day we've seen about thirteen inches with more falling today through tomorrow morning. Here are a series of pictures I took on the 29th.

About three weeks back or so, I took this gorgeous sunset photo with my iPhone5. With light like this, you don't waste it as it's gone very quickly...hence the iPhone use instead of my Canon 50D.
Enjoy!