Steven Helmer Publications

Everyone is picking on the poor groundhogs (Jimmy and Phil) because they predicted an early spring and the weather couldn't be more winter-like. Well, I'm going to ask everyone to stop calling them liars. After all, when groundhogs predict an early spring, they don't give an exact date. The official first day of spring isn't until March 20. It's only February still. As long as we get spring-like weather by March 19 at 11:59 p.m., the prediction was accurate. And, honestly, I'll still take their prediction over any meteorologist pretty much any day of the week.

Other than the baby turtle, I was actually a little disappointed in my walk today. I've been in a bit of a batting slump when it comes to photographing birds. Yes, I can get decent shots of larger ones, like herons and pelicans. But, I've been struggling to get a good photo of some of the smaller birds I've seen. Today, for example, I had some beautiful finches hopping around in a tree I walked pass and a hummingbird just a few feet in front of me on one of the paths. But, I just could not get them in focus when I tried to get a shot of them and, more often than not, couldn't even get them in frame. Fortunately, I was able to get a few other photos while I was on my walk. The best of them are below: Yes, he is missing a wing. I'm really not sure what kind of caterpillar this is. If you know, please say so in the comments section. I really wish I had a re-do with this one. If I would have spotted him sooner, I could have gotten closer. I...

The weather has been kind of cruddy today and I wasn't able to go for a walk this morning or at lunch as a result. However, I did manage to duck out of the office for a few minutes so I could at least walk around the building a couple times. As I was walking, I noticed the groundhog that lives in the hill behind the building was out. Unfortunately, it went back in its hole before I could grab my camera out of my car. But, I still managed to get a photo of it sticking its head out.