For Cat Lovers

This post is dedicated for cat lovers everywhere.  I know many of my friends have cats.  My previous post was about how to take pictures of pets.  This post will be about how to capture a cat’s personality.

Cats are very interesting creatures.  They are very independent and they usually are masters of the house.  Cats come and go as they please.  But when they come near us, gives us that look and start purring, we can’t help but smile.  Our hearts melt.

Cats may be small, but they have a gigantic personality.  So, how to capture that on camera?  How to take pictures of these elusive beauties?

First, we got to get them used to the camera.  Second, we have to become cats ourselves to be able to sneak up when they do something interesting.  Third, cats love space.  So, it is always better to shoot from a little distance.

Here are some photos I shot of cats at the ranch.  Raj is a sweetheart.  He was left by owners in RV park.  So, he kept waiting and waiting.  People called a cat rescue.  He hated to be in a cat rescue among other cats, so he escaped and came to us.  He adopted us pretty quickly.

Raj loves a loving touch.  This is one of his purring spots.

What do you mean, No.

Raj scouts the area from the porch.

Strong shadow accentuates this shot

Being lazy

What do you mean you did not bring any coffee?

What was that?

Natural scratching post

Boy, I hate Mondays.

On the lookout

Where did that lizard go?

Watching a sunset

Raj was sure the king of the house until Tiger showed up.  The word travels fast, I guess, especially when mentioning a Free kibble.  Tiger is a wild cat, but hangs out around the house and comes for food every day.

Tiger is thirsty

Ah, it is cooler in the shadow.  Here he casually hangs out under the car.

Tiger sleeps in the bushes.

And then came the kitten. Misha was adopted from cat’s rescue.  He is adorable.  At first, he was really afraid.  It took awhile for him to get used to us.  But, with a little coaxing, food and play, he got over his fears.  He is the smallest of the cats, but has the largest personality.  Right now, he pretty much rules the house.

Misha in hiding

Misha is teasing Raj.

A big kiss.

Misha is doing yoga.

What do you mean no chicken?

Just peaking.  Cats LOVE boxes.

Misha is so cute.  Everything fascinates him.  Here is he hugging a peace of grass.

It is all mine!  All mine and nobody can have it.

Life is GOOD!

Wait, there is a bush I can climb.

Hello.

First time in a tree, Misha sees a large screaming hawk

“You know, you are the best buddy in the whole wide world!”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Life is Awesome after getting rid of fears.  You, too, can rule the world, just like Misha!

Also, I was fortunate to capture Savannah cats.  They were so curious and energetic.  Absolutely, loved their personalities!

How come this reflection follows me?

Investigating a cricket

Who are you?

Boy, I am beautiful!

Playing with reflection.

What was that?

Smile for the camera.

Pandora, the adult Savannah cat

Now go capture your cat’s personality.  You never know.  Your cat might teach you something, too.

See Big Cat Love photography here.

Tags: cat lovers, cat photos, cats, fun, humor, inspiration, life, me, personal, philosophy, photo, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photo tips, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, random thoughts, reflections, stories, thoughts, wonderocity

Right Timing

Most photography is all about the right timing.  The captures tell a story.  The action frozen in time leaves us to our imagination to see what is happening and what will happen next.

I find fascinating to watch pelicans and their dive-bombing ability to catch fish.  Like I mentioned previously, to be able to capture a moment, I usually get to know my subjects pretty well.  I used to volunteer at Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary.  Not only I handled them, helped to tube-feed them, fed them with fish, and released them back to the wild, but I found out lots of fascinating things about pelicans.

Here are some photos I captured throughout the years on Siesta Key Beach, FL.

Here goes Peter!

Family outing.  Notice the middle one?  Adult Brown Pelicans are teaching a juvenile how to fish.

Big Splash!

Who’s first?

Pelican the Conductor

Extreme Sport-Fishing.  The guy is oblivious what is behind him.

Why pelicans never drown?  Their bones are hollow; therefore, they are very lightweight.

Bubble Bath

Ok, Guys.  Listen up.  Our fishing quota for today is…  Jack, are you listening?

Among Sea of Stars

One fish for you, one fish for me…  Hey, guys, leave some for me!

Cormorant Kidnapper

He strikes again.

Help!!!  Pelicans falling from the sky!!!

On the count of three. Promise?

Double Splash!

S-c-r-e-e-c-h!  Pelican on breaks.

Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?

Did you catch my fish?  Brown Pelicans can hold up to three gallons of water in their pouch.  They usually drain their beaks, and then put their heads up to swallow the fish.  That’s when sneaky seagulls grab the fish.

What do you mean you did not catch fish yet?  Lazy bastard!

Laughing Seagull is taking Brown Pelican hostage.

Synchronized flying

Brown Pelicans need a warm weather to survive.  Their feet and pouches can get a frost bite if the temperatures stays as low as 32 degrees for more than twelve hours.  Also, in cold temperatures, pelicans cannot find the fish, since fish go deeper.  Pelicans only dive a short distance because of their hollow bones.

Confusing the seagull.

Pelicans have been on Earth for around forty million years.

In the breeding season, Brown Pelicans dress themselves.  Their eyes become brighter.  The yellow head becomes of brighter yellow and their beaks become redder, as if they used a lipstick to make themselves prettier.

Pelican Dangers:

If you and your friends go fishing, please do not leave fish bones around and do not throw them back in the water.  Fish bones get stuck in pelicans’ mouths and throats.

Also, please do not leave fishing line around.  Pelicans get tangled up in it.

Sometimes when pelicans dive for a fish, fisherman’s hook gets caught in pelican’s mouth.  It’s painful and pelican get scared.  When that happens, please DO NOT CUT the line.  If that happens, pelicans get tangled up in fishing line, and can’t fly; therefore, can’t feed themselves and die.  If a pelican does get snagged by fishing hook by accident, very carefully reel him in and gently try to remove the hook.  Their beaks are harmless, just stay away from the pointy sharp hook at the end of the beak.  If you can’t remove the hook, please call nearest wildlife sanctuary or US Fish and Wildlife Services.  In Sarasota, Florida that would be Save Our Seabirds.  In Venice, Florida that would be Wildlife Center of Venice.

By saving and protecting them, we can enjoy these fascinating creatures in the wild.

Tags: brown pelicans, diving pelican pictures, entangled pelican, fishing, fun, funny, humor, inspiration, nature, pelican facts, pelican fun facts, pelican in a fishing line, pelican pictures, pelican with fishing hook in a beak, pelicans, photo, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photo tips, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, saving pelican's life, what to do if you snag a pelican with a fishing hook?, wonderocity

Funny Quotes

Here is something to make you smile   because smile makes the whole world better.  It can even cure Monday-itis, the most stressful day of the week for many.

I got these quotes from Brainy Quote:

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company. – Mark Twain

Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance? – Phyllis Diller

I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people. – Rodney Dangerfield

I have six locks on my door all in a row.  When I go out, I lock every other one.  I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. – Elayne Boosler

My mother was against me being an actress – until I introduced her to Frank Sinatra. – Angie Dickinson

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty.  She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.  – Ellen DeGeneres

Hope this cheered you up. Have a Super Fantastic Day!

Tags: fun, funny, funny quotes, humor, life, links, opinion, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, quotes, ramblings, random thoughts, thoughts, wonderocity

Shall We Dance?

I love photography and the imagination that comes with it.  It is great to capture a bird in action and freeze that frame.  I follow a bird closely and see what it will do next.  It takes patience, but it is well worth it.

Here I created an album of birds that seem like dancing: the elegance, the beauty, the gracefulness.  Birds can awe us and surprise us.

Anhinga is doing a tap dance.

Brown Pelicans dancing Rumba

Ballet dancing lessons

Line dancing

Shall we dance?

Thank you for all the ovations.  You are too kind.

Yoga s-t-r-e-t-c-h

Ballet on the water

Gulls are break-dancing

Dancing with the Stars

Ballet

Acrobat Act

Reddish Egrets are the best dancers.  When they fish, they spread their wings, they jump, they go down, they turn to one side than other.  It is amazing to watch them.  While spreading their wings, they create a shadow to better see fish from the sun’s glare.

World, here I come! Fish beware!

Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”

Cha-Cha-Cha

Bird version of “Dirty Dancing” episode in a lake.

Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery. – Martha Graham

There are shortcuts to happiness and dancing is one of them. – Vicki Baum

Dancing is like dreaming with your feet! – Constanze

The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word. – Mata Hari

To touch, to move, to inspire.  This is the true gift of dance. – Aubrey Lynch

Dance is music made visible – George Balanchine

Dancing is silent poetry – Simonides

To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak – Hopi Indian Saying

You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart – Author Unknown

Tern teasing dance, “I got a fish, come and get it.”

Life is a dance.  Let’s enjoy it.

Dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt.

Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth. – William W. Purkey

See Right Timing photography here

Tags: art, beauty, dance, dancing, dancing birds, fun, humor, inspiration, life, lifestyle, nature, personal, photo, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, quotes, random thoughts, reflections, sayings, thoughts, wonderocity

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, my family and friends!

Wish you a season of plenty, full of joy and laughter.  May your tables be full of goodness, and many leftovers for pets.  May your eyes sparkle with love and passion.  May your hearts be filled with closeness and hugs.  Have the most incredible Thanksgiving ever, my family and friends and Thank You for being Awesome You!

Tags: family, family and friends, food, friends, fun, giving thanks, Happy Thanksgiving, humor, inspiration, life, love, personal, photo, picture, reflections, relationships, thoughts, wishes, wonderocity

Happy Halloween!

Have a fantastic Halloween, filled with lots of candy!

Have fun being dressed in costumes!

Wear something unusual and unique!

Find mystery after sun goes down!

Find magic in unexpected places!

But do not forget to watch for creepy crawlies!

Watch out for mad squirrels!

and just know you are being watched! Really watched…

Happy Halloween, my friends and family!  Have a great, sweet, creative, happy and somewhat scary day!

Tags: art, Dalia Koss Unique Jewelry, family, friends, halloween, happy halloween, http://www.daliakoss.com/, humor, inspiration, photo gallery, photography, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, reflections, thoughts, wishes, wonderocity

How to beat Monday Blues?

Got Monday Blues?

Feel hangover from the weekend?

Feel grumpy and tired?

Well, Don’t be so serious!

It is just a matter of shifting the perspective:

Give a kiss to somebody you love

Have a great conversation with a friend or family

Sharpen your claws if you have to.  Don’t put up with any crap!

If life gives you rain, go splash in the rain puddles!

Show tongue if anyone drives you nuts

Always look up!

Never forget to smile!

And always be ready to play (or cause trouble)

Have a Great Monday, Everyone!  Just look at it as the start of new beginnings!   Attitude is everything!

Tags: animals, comedy, drama, family, friends, fun, funny, health, How to beat Monday's Blues?, humor, inspiration, life, Monday's blues, Monday's Smile, nature, opinion, personal, pets, photo inspiration, photography, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, rablings, random thoughts, rants, reflections, relationships, smile, thoughts, wonderocity

Monday’s Smile

Have a fantastic week, my friends!

Tags: children, deer, doe, fun, funny, humor, kids, nature, photo, photo by Ineta McParland, photo inspiration, photo of doe sticking out a tongue, photography, reflections, sticking out the tongue, wonderocity

Being Free and Trouble-Maker

We have two horses: Princess Adora who is Dutch Warm Blood and Tango who is a Thoroughbred.  Interesting how both of them have different personalities.  Princess Adora is unbroken and wild spirit, but very sweet horse when she wants to be.  Tango is a rescue, retired racing horse.  Princess is super smart and very curious about everything.  Tango loves to eat.  As long as he gets food, he does not care about anything else.  Princess keeps Tango in check.  If she senses it will rain, she nudges him to go under the roof of stalls.  Princess also keeps Tango on his toes.  I swear she can count.  If I give a larger flake of hay to him, she knows it. They both are best friends forever, and I love them so much.

Princess Adora and Tango after the shower

Tango with Rock Star hair

Just after the shower, Princess rolls herself in the sand.  It is a cunning way to get another shower.  She LOVES water!

Princess is looking pretty.  She is the best poser.

Got food?  Just look at those beautiful eyes! Strategy and hay coming up.

Princess doing a hand-stand

Full speed Tango.

Enjoying carrots together

Enjoying summer breeze

Ah, Simple Pleasures in Life!

Have a great day, my friends!

Tags: best friends, Dutch warm blood, friends, fun, funny, horses, humor, journal, life, little pleasures in life, me, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photography, photos, photos of horses, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, ranch life, random thoughts, reflections, smile, stories, thoughts, Thouroughbred, wonderocity

Interesting Ways How to Make Millions

“Paul Hartunian figured out how to make a fortune from selling pieces of the bridge.  This is a true story.  Hartunian was working as paramedic, looking for his lucky break.  One day he was watching a newscast of some work crews repairing parts of the Brooklyn Bridge – taking down old wooden beams and carting them away.  And this idea popped into his head.  He immediately called down to the construction site and asked the project manager if he could buy the old wood.  Of course, the manager thought the wood was worthless so he was happy to get rid of it.

Hartunian took the old beams of lumber and had them sliced into one-inch-square and 1/8-inch-thick pieces of wood and glued them onto an official certificate saying that the holder of the certificate had purchased the Brooklyn Bridge, or a piece thereof.  Then he did something quite remarkable.  He sent a press release to hundreds of media outlets that said, “New Jersey Man Sells the Brooklyn Bridge for $14.95!” His phone rang off the hook!  Literally hundreds of media outlets called him on the phone and wanted to learn more.  He ended up selling thousands of these pieces for $14.95, plus a couple bucks for shipping and handling.  He turned those old, worthless beams into SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.”

“Cindy Cashman took an old idea and added a twist to it and made a fortune in the information business.  Cindy was able to purchase a huge mansion on a lake in Texas, having made over a million dollars from marketing her specialty book, which she published with a partner.  You might have seen her book, Everything Men Know About Women, by Dr. Alan Francis (her pseudonym). But here’s the real amazing part: Cindy’s book is totally blank! There isn’t a single word printed on any of the 128 pages of this paperback! And yet women bought this book by the caseload. A hundred books at a time to give to their friends!  Cindy made enough to retire.”

The One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen.

What great idea lurking in your head? Follow it through.  You never know unless you try it!

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