Today I have one of those posts where everything but the kitchen sink is included. Some day I may even include that kitchen sink.

Our first images today were made along the shores of the Mississippi River. They were captured at sunrise from the Iowa Bluffs on the western side of the river.

I have been along both sides of Ole Miss, from the headwaters to St. Louis, multiple times. I have never seen the Mississippi south of there although I have been close including where Texas meets Louisiana.

This grand ole river appeals to me for more than just the critters, which are great, or the landscapes which are very nice, but mostly for the mood and atmosphere. I have tried many times on these pages to describe what I personally mean when I use those terms, and I think I have always failed.

The human history of the river is a part of that mood and atmosphere for sure.

The Luna Moth is a hard to find, and a wonderful to catch (in a photo) creature. The one you see below was perched on the side of a entrance shack to a Wisconsin state park along the river. I was thrilled.

I know the moth is prettier, or at least more delicate and likeable, but even more on that trip I prized getting images of the Seventeen-year Periodical Cicada. I mean, seventeen more years was going to be a long time to wait for my next possibility.

First we have the shed exoskeleton, and then a couple of views of the “finished product” if you will.

Between you and I, the only image of the three that I truly like, is the super closeup. Clean and simple.

Now let us leave the river.

How about a pair of dragonflies keeping their species going. They could have cared less about the presence of my equipment and I. Who can blame them?

Frog close-ups were among my favorite reasons to head out with a camera and tripod, regardless of location.

Now for a few avian friends.

I caught this male Bufflehead Duck revving up his motor and blasting off. If he was on land he would have left tire marks.

They need a new house. When big birds like Great-blue Herons nest, as the babies grow, home seems to become smaller.

A mammal.

This male elk was chowing down in front of me and my pal Ron in Yellowstone N.P. Before this, I had seen dozens of elk in Colorado but I was always driving in a car or at work in a truck.

Sometimes we are blessed. I love turtles and this female Snapping Turtle stared me right in the eyes, and then moved a short ways away to give birth to her babies. I left her alone and moved on so I would not call attention to her.

A pretty face for sure. Really!!

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The question concerning this blog that I might be asked, is where did this “religious” stuff you post come from. Were you always like this?

The answer is no, and I am not always “necessarily” a fan of religion. Sometimes religions bend and twist to become what we (or they) want them to be, rather than what God has called them to be.

Just what do I believe? I believe in the prophecies of the bible, as they are given to us in the bible.

Below you see a poster. Many want to remake Jesus (God) into the left side of this poster. The modern Jesus. Jesus would be a failure if that’s what He did. I mean, it sounds so cozy and wonderful. The belief in the left side of the poster, is why the world is so troubled.

While much of the human race would like to keep and harbor their own sin, and then see Jesus enrich us (like with the “get rich with Jesus” crowd), what he actually does is reinforce the Word of God. The Bible if you will. The real Jesus is God, and He is despised because He tells the truth. He cannot and will not do anything but tell the truth. He offends an offensive world. Just as He should.

There is no greater love than what Christ brings to us. With that said, we can only avail ourselves of that love and power, on His terms which are righteous and beyond a fault.

May God truly bless,
Wayne