Bucket In The Woods

Day 92: I'm venturing outside my customary scope with this shot, but occasionally I happen across something which just begs to be photographed. Such was the case when I found this battered old bucket at the base of a tree on a friend's property. It was well past its prime and its original purpose was unclear, but buckets are meant to contain things, and even overturned, this one's rustic character had neither been spilled nor had it dripped away. What is beauty, anyway, if not that which delights the individual eye? We do not have to agree on the subjects of our admiration and should not allow others to jade us toward their own ideas of perfection.

Feeding Habits Of The Common Crow

Day 91: I would like to take a moment here to explain the feeding habits of the common Crow. Willing to consume almost anything which isn't actually spoiled, crows are frequently described as opportunistic feeders. They are generally wary of things with are unfamiliar, at least at first, but after a few tentative probes of an inquisitive beak to be sure the food won't fight back, a crow will consume practically anything it can find. This is not to say that they do not have discriminating palates; indeed, their favourite foods are much the same as those of humans, i.e., those high in fats and sugars, and they will eat them (as my mother used to say) "until they're fit to bust." At the rate my Park colleagues are throwing parties as their co-workers go into retirement, it's a wonder this Crow can still button her britches.