great blue

i had the best treat yesterday...  i was out at my little lake - yes, i am now claiming it as my own lake, even though i believe it's more of a man made kind of pond-ish type thing versus lake... but whatever.  the point is that i was there wandering around wanting to snap some pictures. 

it was warm, my tootsies were open and free in flip flops - whoo-hoo!  but all was sooooo quiet: no squirrels, the geese were laying on their nests, ducks were lazy in the sun... even the wind had calmed after being so fierce the past several days.  i figured i was done for and began to head out.  i rounded a corner and did a double take... there was what i thought was a great blue heron.  what?  really?  in these parts?  it couldn't be, could it?  i stared at it... it stared back at me...  i crept closer...  it didn't move.  such beauty.  such grace in a bird that god was allowing to stand before me.  internally, i was doing the happy dance... and then i remembered i had my camera.  gentle stalking began.  here is what i captured...

it was an amazing time following the blue.

happy day.....