It´s a bugs life! - up close and personal

We do not often take notice of the small things around us and the world is teeming with them. When we sit on the porch or veranda sipping our tea or coffee, when we take a walk in the woods or into town we are usually so focused on what we are doing that we are oblivious to what may be sitting right next to us. The insects that are the focus of this post may not be something that you find beautiful but they fascinate me. Perhaps you will see them in a different light and come to appreciate them more, who knows. I simply hope that you enjoy them for what they mean to me, a demonstration that life in all of its myriad forms is more complex than we usually see it.

Again, as with flowers, I am ignorant of the names to these wonderful creatures. Any help in identifying them would be deeply appreciated. I will, of course, give credit where credit is due should anyone be able to do so.

Enjoy! (I hope)

 I know this as simply a Damselfly, small but beautiful

 A dragonfly at rest

 And again!

 Not to everyones taste I admit, but I bet you have never seen them this close before!

 .....and from a different angle

 I found this little fellow on the way out of the door......look around you, life is there!

 An ant looking for food on a flower

 I have no idea what this will be, but you have to admit....it´s cute

 Birth of a Mosquito

 Death of a nymph...caught by a spider in its web

 A Wood Louse, rather a large one. I found it looking at a tree for life.

 Ever wondered why the world is not buried in bird poop?.....now you know.

A small spider waiting patiently for lunch to wander by.

A Short Walk Through Lillesand

I thought it about time that I showed you something of, and about, where it is that I live. Lillesand is not only a town of some 9 to 10 thousand people, which blossoms to three times that in the tourist season, but also what is called here in Norway a Kommune. This equates to what my American friends and family know as a County and my friends and family in England would call a Unitary Authority. My walk today takes in only the town itself but I will show you sights from some of the other towns included in the Kommune later.

Lillesand is located along the southern coast in Aust Agder and is basically a harbour town with a rich sailing heritage. The surrounding countryside has many small farms and houses are seemingly fit into whatever space may be available with sometimes confusing results. The primary philosophy of life here is one of "relax, it will happen", which for the first few years of living here was extremely frustrating but now I have come to embrace. This philosophy is summed up in a simple three word phrase not far from peoples lips, "Ting Tar Tid" or in English "Things Take Time" and is the usual response to a question asking when something will happen. But enough of this, if you want to know more on the history of the town and area simply Google "Lillesand", you will probably find out more than I am aware of.

These are my everyday sights and are what I find inspiration from when I take photos. I will say one more thing though. To some, especially the younger folk, Lillesand may not be the greatest place to live but to me it is the greatest place to be alive in. This is my home, I hope that you like it

About 300 meters away from the back of our house is a small lake, a great place to walk and just be quiet.

Fauna & Flora

 A days trip to the Gimle Gård Natural History Museum in Kristiansand and the Ravnedalen Park in Kristiansand produced these shots. It was a warm, sunny day and a joy to be out. I hope you like them.

I am hopeless with identifying flowers, hence the "Unknown Flower". If anyone can put a name to those I would deeply appreciate it. Credit will be given to the identifier.

                                               Close up on a Swans head - from Ravnedalen Park

From the Woods......

                                                        Small stream - long exposure, hand held

Photo Tour in Denmark - May 2013

                                             Bearded Vulture