Things I Love The Most!

Dragonfly
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This article is about the insect. For other uses, see Dragonfly (disambiguation).
Anisoptera redirects here. For the genus of trees see Anisoptera (tree).
Dragonfly

Yellow-winged Darter
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Suborder: Epiprocta

Infraorder: Anisoptera
Selys, 1800

Families
Aeshnidae
Austropetaliidae
Cordulegastridae
Corduliidae
Gomphidae
Libellulidae
Macromiidae
Neopetaliidae
Petaluridae

A dragonfly is a type of insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest.

Dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants and butterflies. They are therefore valued as predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Adult dragonflies do not bite or sting humans, though nymphs are capable of delivering a painful (though otherwise harmless) bite.

Seeing Through The Lenses

Yes, Seeing Through The Lenses is my blog. I am still very new at this and have not developed the followers, but I welcome all to come and visit and I encourage your comments. I want it to be fun and controversal as well. How else can we develop our blogging skills?

I am hoping to break into the affiliate market through article writing.....I have a ways to go but I know I can do it!

These little giants weigh less than 20 grams. Hummingbirds require lots of energy. They have the fastest wing beats of any bird and their hearts beat up to 1,260 beats per minute. Their wings beat approximately 55 times per second during feeding and up to 200 beats per second during maneuvers. A Hummingbird's flight speed can average 25-30 mph, and can dive up to 60 mph.

Hummingbirds must eat more than their weight in food each day, and they fulfill this need by eating often. Because their survival depends critically on eating frequently more than any other animal - they continually face the danger of starving.

Hummingbird are know to consumed a little less than 1/100 of a fluid ounce per feeding. How often hummingbirds eat meals, and the amount they eat in a day, depends on the energy content of food. Hummingbirds feed on a variety of flower nectars with caloric values that may vary from 10 to 82 calories per meal (1/100 fluid ounces).

A hummingbird can rotate each of its wings in a circle, allowing them to be the only bird which can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways or sit in sheer space. To hover, hummingbirds move their wings forward and backward in a repeated figure eight, much like the arms of a swimmer treading water. Hummingbirds can move instantaneously in any direction, start from its perch at full speed, and doesn't necessarily slow up to land. Hummingbirds can even fly short distances upside down, a trick rollover they employ when being attacked by another bird.

There are over 300 different species, native only to the New World. There are 16 species of Hummingbirds in the United States.

DADDY'S GIRL

It was February 7, 2007 you see, that Marissa Lorraine, arrived to be, Daddy's Girl.
His eyes got big when she arrived; could it really be, I am a Daddy?
He was extremely over joyed, yes sirree, and what a pleasant gift from God, is she.
For this baby girl was a miracle for mommy, daddy and family.

And there were medical issues for mommy and baby, but prayers brought them through, as many times prayers do. So mommy got stronger, baby did too. And spring came and baby grew and grew and grew.

Now baby is crawling and moving about; mommy and daddy have no doubt. She is the best little girl that ever could be; she even seems to love the camera, people, and Grammy, that's me.

So, now baby is walking, she is a toddler you see. Speaks occasionally now, however so softly. She is moving about, and doing some talking. Why, mommy and daddy got her doing "signs" and she's communication with her hands all the time.

So, she is no longer a baby, except to Grammy, that's me. She loves to play, look at her books and then flee! She is beautiful you see, and I know it won't be long, she will be three.

So, when it is time for Marissa to say her goodbyes, I love the expression I see in her eyes, when Daddy comes to pickup his little girl. As it is definite you see, she is Daddy's girl, as it was meant to be.

By Sandy "Grammy" Davison
More of Marissa

Daddy now has two Daddy's Girls.

I hate to be prejudicious...but I love California. I am a native of this great state; so is my husband and my son. Where else could you live where, within a two hour drive, you could be at the beach or the mountains or the desert. We have the California Poppy, The Golden Gate Bridge, the General Sherman Tree and Hollywood (ouch!).

ATTENTION you Californias....help save our parks. See my link at the bottom - our parks are in trouble.

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Another one of nature's wonders, the Big Trees. Here are a few quotes regarding trees:

"Trees can reduce the heat of a summer's day, quiet a highway's noise,
feed the hungry, provide shelter from the wind and warmth in the winter. You see, the forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife, but also of the human spirit. And every tree is a compact between generations."
- George Bush, U.S. President, 1989

"A grove of giant redwoods or sequoias should be kept
just as we keep a great or beautiful cathedral."
- Theodore Roosevelt

"Do not be afraid to go out on a limb ... That's where the fruit is."
- Anonymous

"The groves were God's first temples."
- William Cullen Bryant, A Forest Hymn

AND THERE IS THAT WONDERFUL POEM...

Joyce Kilmer. 1886-1918

Trees

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Born in Cologne, Germany, he traveled frequently as a teen, winding up in Boston, where he worked as a bike messenger by day and rocker at night. His classical guitar training began at age twelve and is flavored by jazz and pop influences.

The Band/History
...the Luna Negra touring band is a rubber band...it changes with the seasons, grows bigger and gets smaller...often the touring band does not resemble the group of musicians that makes the recordings...the only constant member since 1989 besides Ottmar is Jon Gagan on bass...
Credit:www.lunanegra.com/www/lnm/band/lnm_band_set-new.html.

SCHEDULE:

Tour

This Slag marble beauty I acquired from an on-line auction. It is signed by the artist, Brian Myers. It is called Ketcup and Mustard. I love the swirl of colors. I have always loved marbles. I find it very relaxing to just hold them and study their colors. I have found that, for a lack of a better way to display them, use glass "frogs", the ones you would use for flower arranging. Most work well.

To see what new is happening in the marble world try my reference link below.

I believe this marble to be a swirl onionskin. I picked it up in a marble sale on E-bay. I was very fasinated by its color arrangement.

Agate is harder than almost all other stone used for marbles, and is much harder than materials such as crockery, clay and glass. Because of the labor intensive method it took to produce which lead to its cost, these marbles became prized possessions. (credit: Antique Marbles - Paul Baumann)

This marble is hand ground. I can count at least 13 different bands of individual colors on this beauty. Its eye is of a very dark brown against white. Agate is very hard, and this one is small. It is mostly solid but has one area that is translucent. This one has a moon (fracture) inside not felt at the surface.

I love this nib. It is a cream white with green swirl. It reminds me of either a golf course (green and sand trap) or a green island on a white background of sand. As I look at it real close, you can also see a faint "halo" of a similar green pattern under the white, as if its shadow is peaking through. I saw a picture of a Navarre swirl, possibly it could be one, however, not enough experience on my end. If anyone know....please comment at the guestbook.

Think marbles are just child's play?
Although the speedy little spheres have been popular toys for thousands of years, today's marble collectors are prepared to lay down some decidedly grown-up quantities of coin for these colorful trinkets.
But what differentiates an everyday glass bauble from a thousand-dollar one-off? Like many collectibles, it's a combination of condition, rarity, demand, and vintage -- but there are five standout classes that consistently draw the big bucks.

continue article Why Some Marbles Are Expensive