Featured Blogger of the Week at BirdingBlogs.com

Dawn Fine, one of the most energetic and friendly personalities found in the nature blogging community, is also a member of the international blogging team found at BirdingBlogs.com.  When she approached me recently about being featured as the Blogger of the Week for this blog, I was both honored and delighted.

Dawn's post was published today and I am awed with the talent she displays in this beautiful presentation.  The post highlights my art and photography, as well as features some of the important conservation issues that impassion my efforts.  

Visit this informative, internationally authored blog including more than ten expert birders from around the world, with Kenn Kaufman (US); Gunnar Engblom (Peru), Susan Myers (Australia), Dan Forbes (Austria) and Tom McKinney (UK), to name a few.

Thank you, Dawn, for this beautifully presented feature!  Click here to view Dawn's Featured Blogger of the Week at BirdingBlogs.

Thanks also to Dawn's energy, my blog is featured in the Nov. 26th issue of the cyber paper, The birds-and-the-bees Daily.  Scroll down to the section entitled:  "Art and Entertainment".  Did I mention that Dawn is a fun blogging friend to know?  She's full of surprises!

Visit Dawn at Dawn's Bloggy Blog.  For another fun sampling of Dawn's delightful personality and energy, visit her featured blogger interview on the Nature Blog Network's blog.

Friendships and the May 10th Tornado

I joined the blogging community and the Nature Blog Network just two years ago, having no idea how this community and activity would expand my world and bring me into contact with so many new and talented friends.  In the process of visiting other blogs, I discovered the inspiring work of artists and bloggers, Julie Zickefoose and Debbie Kaspari.

In the photo above you see, Julie (right), Mary Moore Ferracci (left) and myself at the 2010 New River Birding and Nature Festival, one of those rare occasions where bloggers meet and enjoy each others' company, putting faces and voices together in the richness of in-person..  The photographer who collected us together for this "Periwinkle Trio" image was fellow blogger, Susan Kailholz-Williams.  

Just twelve days later we all learned about the devastating tornado that destroyed Debbie Kaspari's home in Oklahoma. And today, a month later, I'm joining Julie and the Nature Blog Network community with an invitation to you to visit Julie's blog, meet Debbie and Mike Kaspari's and read the amazing story of their survival of the May 10th Oklahoma tornado.  

I couldn't read this account or the detailed account on Debbie's blog, The Anatomy of a Tornado, without  tears.  Their story is real and terrifying, evoking both fear and gratitude.  On Julie's blog, you will also find easy ways to send financial support.  If you have the means, I hope you will join us in our endeavors to support the Kaspari's recovery.            

The story is presented on Julie Zickefoose's blog in three parts:  

Meet Debbie Kaspari (June 6)

An Oklahoma Eden (June 8)

The May 10 Tornado (June 10).