lloydslensphotographyllc

A Blessed Bee

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Hunger 71420” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

“By His Hand We Are All Fed”

The constent chirping of Cardnials can be heard above the whining of the turbines at Kanawha Falls. The birds are continuous contact with their mate as they forage in the Appalachian Forest. Mottled sunlight filters down through the canopy of Elm, Oaks and Sycamore. Most of the insects become little balls of light as they pass through the rays and I’m learning that the flight patterns can give a clue about what type of insects they are. Some float, some zig-zag and others circle. Bees fly in straight lines most of the time. So when I noticed the straight lines near the St. John’s Wort I knew that the bees were at work. I moved forward a bit and focused on the bright yellow flowers and waited for the next bee. It wasn’t long before the little bumblebee accommodated my efforts. They’re not really aggressive but I have learned to stay back a bit in order to catch them behaving naturally. If I get too close they seem to rush through the tasks and then move on. I snapped several shots before moving to the next subject and when I got home I pulled up the file and spotted the little bumblebee approaching the bloom. The first thing that struck me was the effect of the beating wings made it look like the bee was about to break the sound barrier. Then I saw the face. The bee’s tongue is fully extended. She’s so excited about her meal that she’s licking the air! Her world is one of plenty. This part of the forest is rich with nectar and she’s ready to enjoy every drop. I remembered the verse about “consider the lilies” and how God takes care of his creation. Then I remembered that we are also part of that creation and how much God cares about us. It’s comforting To know that there’s blessings for us everywhere if we can just learn to trust and take the time to find them.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

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https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

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Joy On Wings

Forage Friday, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Simple Blessings 80420” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Joy travels on wings of ebony and blue. Nimbly dodging the twigs and thorns she makes her way through the shrubs.

She avoids the silken threads with the greatest skill and with delicate grace rises above her troubles.

Her existence is an aerial dance through the landscape and her ultimate expression of life.

I sometimes wonder what the Lord was thinking at her creation.

It shall be a humble worm.

It shall be regeneration and change.

It shall be rebirth in beautiful living color.

It shall be swift.

It shall be the sweetness on a balmy breeze.

It shall be innocence.

It shall be loved and it shall be an expression of my joy.

Life is meant to be all these things and more. Find your joy and live in it.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #71 Broadleaf Plantain

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Broadleaf Plantain Seeds — Hello Friends! Tonight’s photos were taken especially for Forage Friday. All of the photos found on my blog are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that Forage Friday is only intended to be a conversation starter and all of the information is presented as trivia.
The sachem knelt down in the meadow and studied the strange plant. Many things were changing since he was a boy learning about medicine from his elders. The white men who lived in squares brought with them strange animals and soon after strange plants began to grow. Some of them made war on his people but others were good neighbors and traded well with his family. He carefully dug up the alien lifeforms to learn more about them. He tested one of large leaves and soon learned that it was horribly bitter and astringent. The fibers inside the leaves were strong enough to make cordage but compared with other sources they were weak and short. The strange stock of seeds yielded tiny oily seeds might make good grain. Because the plant was one of the plants his people called White Man’s Footprint he decided to take it down into the valley to his friend Mr. McLaughlin to see if it was useful.

When we think of early American history we have a tendency to think that all of teaching was done by the natives and all of the learning was done by the colonists. And while the establishment tended to clash with the natives history records that there were friendly relationships between some tribes and some colonies even up into the civil war. Broadleaf Plantain is one of those plants that would have brought on a little role reversal in those early days. Not only was it a European native species but it was probably brought here on purpose because of its long history in European herbalism.

You may not think that you’ve ever used this wild plant but if you’ve consumed a product containing psyllium fiber then you’ve consumed the seed husks from a stalk exactly like the one in tonight’s feature image. In fact a quick Google search shows that the seeds and seed husks from Broadleaf Plantain have quite a commercial market. The seeds and seed husks are generally added to a variety of products as the laxative however it also seems to help regulate blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. As a type 2 myself I can say that my numbers are definitely better when I consum psyllium fiber on a regular basis and of course keep an eye on diet and exercise. There’s so many uses for psyllium fiber that I think it’s worth the effort to consider looking over the more than 200 species and farming it on a commercial scale. Because there’s so much information on the internet about psyllium fiber I’m going to move away from seeds and husks and talk about the leaves.

One of first personal experiences I’ve had with Plantago leaves was when I was much younger and working as a janitor. We did a lot of work with concentrated sodium hydroxide (lye) in those days and some still might. During the night one night I managed spill the chemical onto my foot which I didn’t notice at first. By the time I started to feel the discomfort of a chemical burn the skin on the top of my foot had been dissolved a couple of layers deep and a couple of inches across. When I got home I pulled up some of the older leaves and made pultice for the burn. After a a few days my employer forced me to see a doctor and when he saw the wound he said it looked like it had healing for a couple of weeks. The scar from the burn was so light that the only time it can be seen is when I have a dark tan.
In addition to that crushing the leaves between 2 spoons and allowing juice to flow into minor cuts seems to help prevent infection and seal the wound. In an old Apothecary shop one would have found jars full of the dried and powdered leaf. The powder would have been used as a styptic by rubbing it into a wound.

The large oval leaves of Broadleaf Plantain.

A pultice of the leaves would have been recommended to fight cellulitis.

A salve made from the leaves is said to draw out splinters and thorns.

Just crushing the leaves and applying them to bee stings and insect bites provides instant relief.

Broadleaf Plantain leaves are rich in vitamin A which is absorbed through the skin and may help wound repair. It’s also rich in vitamins C and K as well as iron.

If I really sat down and thought about it I suppose that I could go on for several pages. But then, that would rob you of the fun of discovery for yourself.

In closing, I have eaten Broadleaf Plantain as part of cream cheese based spread. It’s not bad at all that way but I suspect the cheff would have cooked the leaves in several changes of water to get rid of the extremely astringent tannic acid found in the leaf. I’ve also chewed up raw leaf to put on a bee sting and can say that it’s probably the worst thing I’ve ever tasted raw.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

https://youtu.be/UPXlC0uaXW4

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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An Angel Story

Color Photography, Fiction Story

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Wishes On Wings 81920” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

“When a butterfly lands on you it’s really an angel come to grant a wish”

-Spoken to me by an elderly man in South Carolina

The sweet aroma of hibiscus filled the late summer air as the angel approached the country home. The modest house was surrounded flower beds and little raised bed gardens here and there. A stone pathway led through a row of fruit trees and to a small pond on the edge of the forest. The angle felt drawn towards the path. Her steps were so light that she barely disturbed the lawn as she made her way onto the path. Being invisible to humans ment that to all but the most observant she appeared to be a stray breeze shaking the grass. As an immortal she was tall. So tall that she had to duck her head beneath the fruit trees. As she neared the pond her heart felt the sorrow of the child before her ears heard the soft sobbing. The small girl was knelt down in the tall grass holding an empty collar. The collar was purple with little bones printed on it and a small bell hung next the tag. The angle knew that this was why she was sent to this place. Then her ears heard the plea. “I wish Cuddles would come home.” The angel smiled as she took the only form that she was visible in. A beautiful butterfly flew in out from where the angle once stood. In her butterfly form the angel flew a few circles around the little girl and landed on her hand as it held the empty collar. The angel fluttered her wings and spoke peace to her heart. Then the breeze picked up a little and the butterfly opened her wings to catch the sky. Higher and higher she flew in widening circles. The little girl watched the butterfly climb until it was a dot way above the trees. She flew over the creek but saw that there were no puppies slashing in the water. She circled the fields but there were no puppies digging holes. The butterfly searched and prayed for guidance. When she opened her eyes she saw a sunbeam shinning down into the forest. Her heart raced as she glided down with her eyes fixed on the spot where the sunbeam landed. There was Cuddles curled up in a little ball asleep in the sunbeam. But now how would she get him back to the little girl? An inspiration hit her and she landed lightly right on the end of Cuddles’ nose and fluttered her butterfly wings which tickled the dog and brought him to full attention. Still in her butterfly form the angel began to flip and circle around enticing Cuddles to play chase. His little tail wagged as he furiously tried to catch the butterfly that teased him.

Meanwhile the little girl stayed near the pond where she had found the empty collar. Her eyes continued to search for the hint of a tail popping up through the tall grass. Suddenly the butterfly glided over her shoulder and disappeared into the cup of a hibiscus flower.

Image Titled “Spicebush Swallowtail Feeding 81920”

Behind her the little girl her heard the familiar yap of Cuddles and spun on her heels as he leapt into her arms and showered her face with kisses. She fixed the purple collar around his neck and scooped him up to carry him home. She hugged him so tight that he grunted a little. As the walked back up the path from the pond to the house Cuddles peeked over his little girl’s shoulder just in time to see the butterfly become an angel once more. Occasionally the little girl would catch Cuddles standing in a room by himself or barking at nothing in the yard. She would look to see what wad going on only to spot a butterfly nearby.

Story inspired by Frances Elaine’s comments on my blog. May your niece’s life be full of angels.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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Thank you again for your support of my page! ❤

Teamwork

Color Photography, wildlife

Many hands make light work

– Richard Bishop

From the depths of the earth they march towards the light. The scouts guide them through the dimly lit jungle past the traps of predators and up the tree a treasure trove of food for the winter. The tiny Pharaoh ants march single file until they reach the work site. Once there they divide up the tasks. Some will gather grains of pollen while others will collect the sweet nectar at the base of the flowers. They’ll have the flower stripped in no time because of their numbers. Nothing deters their work. They hold no debates about who does which job. They simply handle the task in front of them. Each little ant is capable of carrying many times it’s own weight in food but the grains of pollen are small and ants don’t have the structures on their legs like the bees have for packing their food securely for the return trip. And without the bee’s power of flight they will march back with their payload in their jaws. The daunting task for the individual ant but colony moves as one and within a few hours the harvest is complete.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page! ❤