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Photos under the Sun bio picture

Well, now that you've arrived, why don't you stay a while!

I am Patricia Downey, owner of Photos under the Sun, a Southwest Florida pet and wildlife photography enterprise.  I am living a lifelong dream by  merging my love of domestic animals and wildlife with my passion for photography.  In my region, we are blessed with an abundance of wildlife.  This is  due to the many wonderful people whose hard work through the decades made this abundance possible.  My immense gratitude goes to them as well as to  those who continue with the preservation of wildlife and the conservation of our environment. 

Here, you'll find images of pets and wildlife as well as musings and glimpses into places I've been and loved.  Now, here's the best part:  select your favourite piece of music - plug in those earpieces and shut out the noise and enjoy... I'd LOVE  to hear from YOU.  Don't be shy, come on - leave a comment in the area below each post. 

Informational and image packed WEBSITE

For information on the services we offer; pets' resources; close encounters with Southwest Florida's fantastic wildlife; slideshows; and more, please visit Photos under the Sun's website by clicking  Web on the menu bar above.

First Love Is Never Easy, Part II ©

Friday, March 5, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

To read Part I, scroll down to February 12th.  Today, we continue with Part II.

To get his mind off Delila and his wounded soul, poor TestaVerde (TV for short) the Roseate Spoonbill visited all his pals near and far.   He took horseshoe crab fishing lessons with Maya the Great Egret.

He dropped in on Julio the Cormorant who was hanging out with his cousins.  He listened for hours and hours to their stories about the wonders they saw under water:

Then he started confiding in others about his fragile amorous state.  His buddy Jestsayin the Roseate Spoonbill gave him his usual retort when baffled by the conundrums of life.  “Get a life and quit worriwartin’ over some fool girl Rosy”  Jestsayin sputtered and TV went on his way.

He spent an evening with Grandebouche the Brown Pelican who wasn’t much help either.  “Ya think ya got problems???  I cain’t git a fish bigger ‘n a shraimp with all tha competition here.”

Of course, it didn’t help matters much when, next morning, Neptune the Osprey started showing off to his latest conquest by screeching out to her while she was taking a dip:

"Whoo hoo Bellezza, doan’t git yer feathers too wet—we’ve been invited to the opening of a fancy Sashimi joint over in Naples”

Bellezza was blindingly beautiful but TV the Roseate Spoonbill could barely see this, so smitten was he with Delila:

"I'm coming, just have to rinse off."

He met up with Rudolph Valentino (RV) the Reddish Egret and complimented him on his dancing and fishing skills.  Now, I don’t know if you remember this but Neptune the Osprey told all who would listen that RV made the avian population swoon at the very sight of him.

Well, TestaVerde had learned this fact through Maya the Great Egret and with a hesitant voice, queried RV if he could learn from him.  “Ah, my friend—it’s my red feathers that sets ‘em off, doncha know.  Maybe if ya dyed your pink feathers a tad red, they’d come running”;  he replied to a disappointed TV.  His heart, with a little toss, confirmed his thoughts that he only wanted one to come running and that ONE was the Divine Delila.

He ran into a Great, great aunt of Celeste, the Tricolor Heron out doing her morning fishing.  She was in a terrible rush and kept on flying. Besides, as she was later overheard to say with a sniff, that she “didn’t have time to stop and chat about the affairs of the heart”:

So on and on he went with no resolution. It was too far to go to see the Shaman on Lake Okeechobee to get his advice.  But like his spirit brothers and sisters, the wolves in Yellowstone, TV had developed a special relationship with the moon over the years.   When it was full and fully risen, he would sit under a lone palm tree and point his beak towards the sky.

What followed, I’m not at liberty to say but Testaverde came back one night with a little skip and hop to his stride.  Everywhere he went after that, the avian and mammal world would sigh with appreciation. Even the humans were stunned by his unique and striking demeanor.

Delila was with her sister Delice when she caught sight of this Adonis and gazed with adoration at him.  Of course, Delice could only laugh at this turn of events.

"MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm"

Now, whenever there was a splash party and Delila caught sight of the “new” TestaVerde, she would let out a little screech and run to his side.

Yooohooooo, TV wait for meeeeee"

What happened that night under the palm tree, you wonder? I often wonder myself (TV only divulged bits and pieces) but if I have to take a guess, I’d bet that TestaVerde came into his own that night. He realized that by being a kind and gentle soul and having so many wonderful friends was more important than being the latest crush at the rookery.

What do YOU think??  I’d love to hear your speculations. Oh, and Basilio the Roseate Spoonbill:  what happened to him?  Well, there’s much, much more to this story and all will be revealed down the road a bit.  First, we must go back to the Great Blue Herons’ tale narrated by our diva, Maya the Great Egret.  So, while you’re speculating on what happened to TV the Rosy that fateful night, why not listen to this love song done by MY biggest crush when I was 13.  Oh, be still, my fluttering heart!!!   Ciao, y’all et á bientôt.   ;D

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Eldorado the Cattle Egret Makes His Debut!

Friday, February 26, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I’m very pleased–albeit a tad harried–to introduce myself.  I’ll be your narrator today.  I’m filling in for Maya the Great Egret who was filling in for Ms P who is…suffice it to say, I’ll do the job.

Eldorado the Cattle Egret

You see, Ms Maya had a meltdown during rehearsals for the upcoming post on Jealously down by the Rookery or some such idiotic title to that effect.  Oh, sorry–I’m Eldorado the Cattle Egret and I’m a very distant cousin of Zinnia the Cattle Egret.  Anyway, here’s a look at the upcoming post (which will appear after the conclusion of Delila the Roseate Spoonbill’s dilemma with Basilio):

Mac and Apple the Great Blue Herons

You really must excuse Ms P for the lame names she has come up with, lately!  (Honestly, Mac and apple–must have a private word with her anon.)  At any rate, the two have a sad tale to tell and I’m rather relieved to report that Maya the Great Egret will, indeed, be doing that narration in a few weeks.  So, I’ll bid you all adieu (I’m off to the Everglades for a long vacation to work out my own dilemma).   I’ll leave you with this music that underlies the sentiments  I feel right now.

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First Love Is Never Easy, Part I ©

Friday, February 12, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

I’m sure that everyone can remember their first love or crush and how deliciously painful it was.  Well, our avian friends go through first love anguish too, as we’ll see.

Delice and Delila are Roseate Spoonbill sisters who both take on life and love with much wisdom whipped up with a dollop of whimsy.  Here they are taking a “walk” in the barrier island neighborhood where they grew up:

They are very much admired and loved by all and have had several beaux throughout the years.  Here is a close up of them:

They often reminisce on the time that Basilio the Roseate Spoonbill was the king of the rookery and strutted (or so everyone thought) around breaking hearts left, right and center.

Delice knew that her sister Delila had a fierce crush on him and went around proclaiming to her girlfriends that she would die of love for him.  But how could they encourage her when they, themselves, were smitten!!  Testaverde (Italian for “green head” – owing no doubt to his rather verdant dome) or TV the Roseate Spoonbill (as most called him) would shake his head at these “foolish gushings” as he called them:

One day after such a pronouncement, Delice realized that Testaverde was carrying a torch for Delila:

When Basilio would appear on the scene, gasps of admiration could be heard all over the pond:

"Elloa, girls, I mean Ladies, i mean women...You arre alle so vurry, vurry beeeeaaaauuutifulle!"

On those occasions, Delila would be overcome with so much emotion that she would paddle furiously in the shallow waters and kick up masses of bubbles:

"My heart, my heart!!! Delice, is he watchin'? No!!! DOANT LOOK!!! But is he watchin'?

But some of those present didn’t share the same amorous feelings about Basilio that Delila and her girlfriends had.  In fact, some were downright clear in their opinions about him and if you listened hard enough you’d hear rumblings of the word “showoff” thrown around.

"Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. Mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble.

Sometimes, even Basilio himself could feel the negative vibe his presence produced among some and would take off for farther waters at the first sign:

Then, Delila would mutter into her feathers that Basoo (a nickname she gave him) probably left because of TV the Roseate Spoonbill and his cronies:

"He's SUCH a jackjackass, such a jackass, that TestaVerde, he is!!!!!"

Testaverde, his heart in smithereens, would approach Delila who had started kicking up bubbles in her dismal and frustrated state:

“Who YOU calling a jackass, now you’ve hurt MY feelings”

Then, Delila would apologize profusely to poor Testaverde. The crack in his heart would only grow bigger with her every word.

"Aw, c'mon, TV, ya know I dinnit mean it. I'ma so in love wif Basoo I ferget ya hev feelins' too."

A little tear would slip down his beak and to cover up his feelings, he would call out to the others to join him in a little swim party.

"Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! Whoohaww!! Yipee yaw! Yay! "

Everyone, especially Delila, enjoyed a Rosy Swim Party and would splash to their heart’s content. They would carry on like this for a good half hour before going to catch a tasty hors d’oeuvres and a drink to quench their mighty thirst.  All would agree that life was, indeed, good despite all the trials and tribulations of first love:

But something strange and wonderful was about to happen. And you’ll hear all about it in a few weeks!!  Before that, Maya the Great Egret will narrate a story about the Great Blue Herons at the rookery and she is losing her feathers with the excitement of talking to you all again.

Meanwhile, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ and beyond and leave you with Dan Hill’s gorgeous song:  “Sometimes When We Touch”.  Enjoy ;D

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Filling in for Ms P

Monday, February 1, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

Hello, y’all. I’m Julio the Cormorant and today I’m fillin’ in fer Ms P.

Ms P is losin’ her mind–her words not mine or Maya the Great Egret’s!!!!  See, Maya the Great Egret is my bestest friend and we hang out on the barrier islands fishin’ and havin’ fun every minute of the day with her bestest friend, Juno the Osprey.  We hadn’t seen ole Ms P fer some time so we did an investigationne and here’s the scoop.  It seems that Basilio the Roseate Spoonbill over on Ding Dee overheard her say:  “OMG, I fergotte ta do the blog on tha rosies”.  OK, so she doant talk like that but ah jest caint git that weird accent a’ hers.  Anyways, heere’s a pic of Basilio, the new crush on the Ding Dee circuit:

Basilio the Roseate Spoonbill

He’s the guy Delila and Delice the Roseate Spoonbills gotte their first ivver crush on…Say what, Ms P????

"Sheesh, Ms P--she look laik a volcano comin' outta her ears!!"

Oh, yeah right–ya didde telle me aright! OK.  Here’s the scoop fer realle:  Ms P has been losin’ her min…say wha??? Ms P is bahaindde on the blog cos she bin bissee with settin’ up her bidness.  Thank yuuu, Ms P.  No prob!!

She says life goes on and on and on at tha rookerie (sp?) and now the Great Egrets (cousins of Maya the Great Egret) are busy gettin’ ready for Valentine’s Day and gathering bookays a flourers:

Speakin’ a’ Valentine’s Day, Baudelaire the Great Blue Heron is back from Paris and is going ’round talkin’ ’bout a new book by Ms P’s sister, Brigitte.  Maya got her beak stuck in thet book every day fer a month now!  Sheesh!  Wish I cudde read human words.  Anyheydadoodle, Ima askke Baudelaire fer some tips on how to romance.  He quite the dude ’round tha rookerie (sp?):

Oooowwww!  That Ms P’s got such a hollerin’ voice!!!!  Nearly broke my sonic nerve there!!!  It seems that Ms P is takin’ over the story ta “clear things up.” Herre she is an’ I’m off ta do what I do best–fishin’ an’ havin’ fun.  Ms P shudde take a lesson.. OOOOOOWWWWW:

Thank you, Julio the Cormorant. I’m very grateful to you for “helping” me out with my apologies to all for the delay in blogging.  Soon, I’ll divulge where I’ll be in SW Florida with my products.  For now, I’m including a sound byte from Julio about Paris is the Pits–a wonderful romantic comedy by Brigitte Downey:  “Maya the Great Egret say she gotte her book at Amazon an’ Baudelaire typed in a link fer it HERE “  And I, Ms P,  will say “Aurevoir et à bientôt” to all with this wonderful song from Adamo who reminds us that “Spring is just under the snow”.  Enjoy and talk to y’all soon!  :D

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