Backhoe & Apples for Mellow Yellow Monday & Ruby Tuesday

Backhoe & Apples
OK, it's a SIGN and apples!

See more Mellow Yellow Monday, and more Ruby Tuesday.

Wild Turkeys

Earlier this week Dina posted a picture of a domestic turkey as part of her Thanksgiving post. In the comments, she indicated she wasn't familiar with wild turkeys. Since we see them regularly, I volunteered a  post about them. So for Camera Critters I present Wild Turkeys.
The picture above and the last two were taken last August. The flock is made up of adult birds, probably hens, and half-grown chicks. I don't know if there are any toms here, and I don't have any pictures of the toms showing off for the hens, so you'll have to do without!

This one shows two toms--the ones to the left which have beards! Turkey beards are made of special feathers which look more like hair and hang from the breast. Hens sometimes have beards, but not frequently. This picture was taken in October.

 Turkeys are quite alert. These are carefully watching something...

one of our cats, who is trying very hard to look like he is NOT watching them! Our other cat has twice (that I know of) caught and eaten a turkey about the size of the smaller ones here. 

I learned about wild turkeys at this site:  http://www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkeys/wild_turkey_facts.html . They are interesting birds!

A Three-fer: Bench, Sky, and Reflection

This is my post for Bench of the Week, Skywatch Friday and Looking at the Sky on Friday, and James's Weekend Reflections. Please visit their sites to see lots more of everything!

I was waiting for my husband last Friday. It was time for lunch, and I knew he would not be ready for quite a while, so I went to a nice cafe I knew of which was close by. This cafe has seating in the spacious lobby of a new building in town which also houses a bank branch and several office suites. Here are some things I saw:
The seating surrounds a fountain designed like a pool fed by a mountain stream. I could have chosen to sit with my back to the water, using a bench. I decided to use a chair.

The lobby is well lit by both artificial and natural light. Looking into the pool, I saw a reflection of the skylight.

Here is a self-portrait reflected in a sign. That's the photographer in a pink shirt!

After lunch I went up the glass-enclosed elevator to the mezzanine. In this shot the overcast sky is clearly visible. It's not much to look at, but it is November, after all!

As I was leaving, I noticed the reflection in the glass curtain wall--there's that overcast sky again! This part of the building is not being used yet. If you look at the white spot at the bottom of the window, you will see a stop sign which is on the street corner on the opposite side. Enlarge the picture and look closely, it is there!

Lunch being over, I returned to my waiting. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!