~April in the Countryside~!

Life has been getting in the way of my photography lately. But because I miss shooting so badly, I just had to grab my camera this weekend and head out...anywhere. A side road here, a dirt road there...

A friendly (hungry?) goat here....

A buff Orpington hen there...

And I backed up the street for this one, a fluffy cat sitting on top of a mobile home roof in the sun. Since no one was living here, I'm sure she was the neighborhood queen.

Saucer Magnolias...

Wet duck feathers.  Ducks' feathers repel water and are covered with a protective oil, similar to rose petals. It keeps them warm and allows them to swim in frigid cold waters during the winter months. And just like on roses, I think the droplets make a stunning display of light and texture.

A red-winged blackbird. I came back to this swampy area to see if I would find the hundreds of lovely blackbirds that had been there last week, but all I found was this guy- and lots of 'skeeters. I did, however, get a really neat video clip of him calling and flapping his red wings...wonder who the lucky lady is!

Sigh....more Magnolias...

A swan in the distance of the pond...afternoon sun and a country fence.

I love the textures and lines on the side of this old barn.

New England is usually abloom with pinks and yellows this time of year, but...unfortunately, we experiences two weeks of well-above average temps followed by a few days of freezing cold. Our cherry, magnolia, and pear trees in full blossom have met an untimely demise.  :(  Some of our daffodils, too.  One weekend without my camera and I feel like I missed them all!  I'll have to be at the ready for the next blooms to appear. 

It's not only flowers that are coming to life....I enjoy seeing all the animals grazing on the roadside and the birds flitting around in mating frenzies. I'm keeping my eye out for baby chicks and goslings, too.

Good thing I have lots of photo blogger friends to keep me the cheery flower pics coming.

Have a lovely week friends...

~Mary