Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Winning bird picture

Since many of my blogging buddies also follow Joan at The Retirement Chronicles, you might know that I enter her photo contest every month -- unless the month gets away from me and I forget, or unless I simply have nothing worth submitting. A year ago last May I won for "Landscapes" and in July's contest this year, I won bragging rights for this picture, with the theme "Birds," along with a cute little widget to display on my sidebar. And you can check out this link to see all the other July entries.

It actually amazed me how happy I was when Joan told me that I'd won. The thing is, the possibility of winning isn't what motivates me to enter, but to see what other people submit and how my pictures stack up next to others. Usually I can predict the eventual winner and I thought I had a pretty good chance this month. Say hello to my little Rufous hummingbird who enjoys the penstemon in the little flower box on my front porch. I think he's the same one who visits often, but there's no way to know for sure. Only a few times have I had more than one hummer at a time visit the flowers.

I'm deep into Jodi Picoult's book House Rules and stayed up way too late last night reading. If you haven't discovered her yet, she takes a controversial issue and covers it from the point of view of all the characters in the story. This one is about Asperger's Syndrome. It keeps reminding me of a wonderful book I read long ago, written from the point of view of a child with autism, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. I just loved that book, too.

It's early in the morning here on the west coast and I woke up early, even though I went to sleep later than usual, so I am able to get this post done before I leave on the bus for my daily routine. I only have a few more minutes before I dash out the door, and the bus waits for no one. Talk to you soon!
:-)

21 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photo and a winner for sure!
    I also love how Jodi Picoult weaves so many perspectives into her stories. When reading House Rules, I also remembered The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I'm fascinated by Asperger's anyway. I actually enjoy having students with this syndrome. I always learn so much from them, (and so does the class) about ways to treat others respectfully, and allow individual learning styles to be seen as not only acceptable, but as "right".
    I hope your day is spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
  2. nice...love jodi picoult...read all her books except the new one...sing me home, i think...house rules is a great book and i actually have the families that have aspie kids i work with read it as it starts conversation well...

    great job on winning the photo contest too...see you there all the time...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pepper Jax actually wanted to play this morning but we dutifully put his leash on an Patty took him out for one of several walks, before he peed and I still don't think he has done #2.

    We have several ruby-throated hummingbirds around here now. Or at least I see them but I have taken so many pictures of them over the years that I don't even get the camera out when I see them now.

    If you have several thousand photos of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds what is the point of getting another one? LOL

    Anyway, we don't have the Rufous here. It is different looking but still easy to recognize.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I worked with a woman who had three sons, two with aspergers syndrome and one with bi-polar. I read several books on the subject at that time.

    I'm usually interested in anything related to the mind or brain.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have only read one Picoult book "Harvesting the Heart" but it was really good. I just might have to check this new one out. I love that show on TV called Parenthood and how they deal with their son Max who has Asperger's. Nice photo. How do you capture that movement?

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful picture, DJan. I guessed correctly that it was a hummingbird, judging from its long beak. Wish I could see one in person!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is a beautiful photo of a hummingbird hovering. I often watch them at the feeder near my front window but I don't often take the time to try to take pictures. I like seeing them near a flower as your photo shows. Sometimes they hover nearby when I am changing the water in their feeders. It is a such a unique sound.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That hummingbird is a joy and a delight. Congratulations. I agree wholeheartedly with you about the Mark Haddon book. Another you might like to have a look at some time if you haven't already (though it is very confronting) is 'We need to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver - written from the perspective of the mother of a school killer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congrats! I loved this photo and absolutely thought it should win. Hope you had a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful...I see why you won, DJan! I clicked to enlarge to get the full impact of your lovely photo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations on your winning photo. That shot was absolutely breathtaking!!
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your photo is truly amazing. Congratulations on your win.

    I like to read Jodi Picoult. It is impossible to put her books down. I passed "My Sister's Keeper" on to my doctor and we had a very interesting discussion about the book after she read it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful hummer pic!!! Good job!

    I am sad to say that I don't think I have read any of Picoult's work. Shame on me...I have heard of her though...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Ya DJan - Great Photo. We too, have humming birds - planted "Bee Balm" in garden and they just love it and also it is a lovely flower. Rcvd an e-reader(kindle) on my BDay and have not yet downloaded any "Jodi P" books, although have read her books from time to time. Do enjoy her stories.
    Well, the rain has come to an end, the sun is shining and I must take PJ for her POO :)
    Have a good one kiddo
    Lilly

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi DJan, Congrats..I thought you should have won and I am so glad that you did. It is a wonderful photo!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for the shout out regarding the FREE PHOTO CONTEST and the link to my blog, your picture was wonderful and certainly deserved the win...I love that you enter often to the contest and that you were happy you won! I have a good friend who's daughter was dx'd with Asperger's...she has made it into college now but still takes constant supervision because of her impulsiveness and unrealistic outlook on the world, and it has been such a strain on her family. Bless those family members for being so patient with those that suffer this diagnosis. Congrats again on your wonderful entry and win and I hope you keep participating and perhaps a few of your other readers try too!! xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Keep on telling what you like to read. I will have to try these. I've been having a real dry period reading this last while so I need to find something more stimulating. I got about half way through The History of the Atlantic. Interesting but not gripping.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite writers! I've read most of hers but not this one.

    I love the way you and Far Guy met. You all were made for each other!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I agree that this is definitely a winning photo! Wow! It's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congrats on the win DJan, that is a gorgeous photo. I had a hunch the judges wouldn't be able to resist that little fellow.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Good for you, Jan. It's a beauty of a picture and knew it had "winner" on it. Ive just recently discovered Jodi Picoult. I read Picture Perfect. I wasn't overly impressed but neither did I put it down. I suspect she has much better novels and I will try another one or two on your recommendation.

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate your comments! If you see a word verification box here, just ignore it. I don't use the darn thing and Blogger is trying to get us to use it, I guess. Ignore it and your comment will still appear.