These were TOTALLY COOL. They are Broad-tipped Clearwing butterfies, so named because of their virtually clear wings. They are very small (~1.25" high), and didn't seem to move at all. I would have liked them to be on a more interesting background, to better appreciate the clearness of their wings, but like I said, they didn't move. Grand Rapids, MI. 22 April 2007.

Postman butterfly. Frederick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI. 22 April 2007.

Small Postman butterfly. Frederick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI. 22 April 2007.

Another shot of the Hecale Longwing. Frederick Meijer Garden, Grand Rapids, MI. 22 April 2007.

The Sunday School had a field trip to the butterfly exhibit at Frederick Meijer gardens today. We saw at least a dozen different butterflies-- this is a Hecale Longwing. Grand Rapids, MI. 22 April 2007.

This is one of my favorites from my recent trip to New Mexico. It's an alley in Santa Fe. It feels like a "now" and "not yet" statement about spring, with the brightness and the shadow. 27 March 2007.

There were a good number of Canada geese at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert when I was there. Mostly they and the crows hung out near the (rather large) compost pit. This one was near the monastery's cemetary. Near Abiquiu, New Mexico. 24 March 2007.

El Santuario de Chimayó. Chimayó, New Mexico. 25 March 2007.

Tabernacle at Christ in the Desert Monastery, near Abiquiu, NM. 23 March 2007.

Cemetary at Christ in the Desert Monastery, near Abiquiu, NM. 21 March 2007.

It was a very patient bird. My birdwatcher friend, Judy, thinks that it is probably a Cassin's Finch. Near Abiquiu, NM. 21 March 2007.

These deep blue skies are one of the things that I love about the west. Near Abiquiu, NM. 20 March 2007.