Happy St. Andrew's Day From Dixie With Love -- November 30th

From my little corner of Dixie to all of my friends, family, and readers across the world -- but especially to those in Scotland and those of Scottish and Scotch-Irish descent: Happy Saint Andrew's Day (Latha Naomh Anndra sona dhuibh) today.

"Hail, O Cross, inaugurated by the Body of Christ and adorned with His limbs as though they were precious pearls. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear. Now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as a gift.

Believers know of the great joy that you possess and of the multitude of gifts you have prepared. I come to you, therefore, confident and joyful, so that you too may receive me, exultant as a disciple of the One who was hung upon you…. O blessed Cross, clothed in the majesty and beauty of the Lord’s limbs!

Take me, carry me far from men and restore me to my Teacher, so that, through you, the One who redeemed me by you, may receive me.

Hail, O Cross, yes, hail indeed!"

Monday Meme: How I Feel Most Monday Mornings

Beautiful Female Northern Cardinal

A beautiful grey-brown female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) that has been visiting my backyard and my feeders. This beautiful lady poses really well for the camera. The following photos were taken over three days between November 13th through November 15th of this month.

Songbirds In My Backyard Feeders

Over the last month, I've had the pleasure of photographing several beautiful songbirds native to the Carolinas visiting my backyard bird feeders and socializing together somewhat peacefully. The lovely House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) and Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) are among the most frequent of these songbirds, with the occasional Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). The former two will eat together, though the Titmouse tends to dine alone.

These are the photos I was able to capture of these wonderful little birds throughout the middle to end of the month of October.