14/06/2026
๐ Sharing Happiness and Joy ๐
Good morning everyone!
Here's a thank you & shout out to some of my wonderful inspiring friends (old and new) and challengers ๐:
Nick Wasniewski Art
Honey Bea Moments Photography
Mary Flynn Photography
Michigan Magic Photography
Heather's Haus Florist
Adam Newcomb
Danielle Watsonโs Photography
Stoney Wood River Company
Dad's Holiday Thoughts
Anonymous Generic Mom
South Paw Shots USA
MCP
Sally Halvorsen Photography
Gemma Cole Creative Photography
Trice Photo
Papa Reg Photography
Maryland Ambulance and Undertakers Ltd Owerri.
Susan Cole Thiele Artist
Art by Leopardfly
Art & Moments - Indira
Make sure to check out all these wonderful pages ๐
Feel free to join any of the challenges, whatever works for you
๐ kindly mention me as your nominator ๐
There are many challenges out there:
-Happiness/joy 5 days -1 photo/day what makes you happy
-Happiness/joy 7 days -1 photo/day what makes you happy
-Happiness/joy 30 days- 1 photo/day what makes you happy
-Happiness/joy 365 days - 1 photo/day what makes you happy
-Daily Happiness Challenge - 1 photo/day what makes you happy
-15 days of Happiness Challenge ๐ -1 photo/day what makes you happy
-Friendship & Happiness โค๏ธ Photography Challenge, choose from 7, 10, 15, or 30 day. No pressure at all
-10 day challenge - 10 days, 10 images, 10 nominations, no explanation!
-5 Days of Sunlight Challenge - For 5 days share a photo of sunlight.
-7 Days sharing Everyday Wonders
-Seven Days, Seven Little Joys
-7 Days of wildlife
-30 Days of Black and White
-Add color to the week:
Sunday = Yellow Monday = Orange Tuesday = Pink Wednesday = Red Thursday = Green Friday = Blue Saturday = Purple
-7 day weather challenge - 7 days featuring different weather
**make your own challenge ๐- whatever you want it to be ๐
A way to share some pages and spread some joy, happiness and kindness. ๐
For me, being out in nature; exploring and taking photos makes me happy.
Getting lost in nature is my happy place ๐
Nature feeds and soothes the soul ๐
Yesterday I was able to get out and visit a couple of my favorite places. I started off out by Lake Erie at Tifft Nature Preserve
It was a hot day (for me anyways ๐ซฃ) We were about 80 degrees F. Being out by the water it was supposedly cooler but I'm not sure I felt cooler ๐คฃ There was a nice breeze blowing through so the air wasn't stagnate with the heat. It was bright and sunny with beautiful blue skies and some white wispy clouds!
Prepared with all my heat reducing strategies, backpack and water I headed off into the preserve! The breeze carried the sounds of my surroundings... loved the sounds of the birds high up in the canopies of the trees.. out of sight but not out of hearing. Would catch a flash of color way up there sometimes but mostly enjoyed the sounds till later there were a few flying lower. Even though heat rises, maybe the leaves give them shade and it is cooler up there for them during the heat of the day!
Out on the boardwalk on the marsh I saw many painted turtles. In the past I have mostly seen them sunning themselves. Yesterday was a bit different... many were active!! They were walking on the logs, swimming, diving (well sliding off logs into the water ๐), stretching, balancing, looking around! Here I did have some patience and this one heard me silently calling to it to look my way! How fun is that?!?!?
I was so lost in the moment just watching all the different turtles doing different things. Walking back and forth along the boardwalk. Lost track of time, worries and stress!!! Nature so wonderful!!! Loving the boardwalk that takes me out onto the marsh, so much to see at different times of the day and year!!
Painted Turtle Fun Facts
-During winter, they hibernate at the bottom of ponds. They can go up to five months without taking a breath, surviving by absorbing oxygen through their skin and enduring high levels of lactic acid.
-Like many turtles, the s*x of painted turtle hatchlings depends on the nest's temperature. Warmer temperatures produce females, while cooler temperatures yield males.
-Painted turtles lack tongues that move freely, meaning they must be in the water to eat, using the water to help them swallow their food.
-Their bodies can tolerate freezing weather! They have special substances in their blood similar to antifreeze that prevent their tissues from freezing solid.
-They love to sunbathe to raise their body temperature and rid themselves of leeches. More than 50 turtles have been seen stacked on top of each other on a single log
Thank you for following along on my journey ๐ซถ๐ป appreciate all your support and encouragement. Visit my website (link in bio) for all available photo prints and gifts. Enjoy ๐
๐ Capturing Nature's Beauty One Frame At A Time ๐