Author Archives: Mary Strong-Spaid

About Mary Strong-Spaid

You can find me any time wandering around in my own mind gathering thoughts.

The Little Eyes of Texas

Posted on February 16, 2019

Hiding in plain sight the little eyes of Texas suddenly, I see! When I first moved to San Antonio, I did not realize that I was surrounded by the little eyes of Texas. I actually thought I was alone, until … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Texas Master Naturalist, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 33 Comments

Good Friends and Auld Lang Syne

Posted on January 1, 2019

As this year comes to an end, I look back at years gone by once again. And I remember the house I once had in Virginia, where there was a room that belonged specifically to a baby grand piano. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Happy New Year, New Year, photography | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Pulte New Home Nightmare

Posted on December 26, 2018

Our Pulte built home is less than 3 years old—AND—it has cracked and separated exterior brick/mortar, cracked drywall and floor tiles, doors and windows that are out of square (one window is jammed), diagonal cracks in drywall above door and … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on December 26, 2018 | Tagged , , , | 44 Comments

Labrador Retriever Riding in Style

Posted on July 28, 2018

It wasn’t a dream or a figment of my imagination. I actually saw a goggle-wearing Labrador Retriever sitting proudly in an antique car painted with red flames.  This awesome dog was definitely riding in style and appeared to enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Antique Cars, cars, Pets, photography | Tagged , | 37 Comments

Foster Kitten’s Grateful Prayer

Posted on May 3, 2018

Dear God, I can’t see or walk very good yet and I am too little to take care of myself, so I am grateful that you gave me a foster mom and a safe place to stay. Without her, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, cats, Family, Pets, Photo Essay, photography | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

On the Path of Wind and Water

Posted on February 12, 2018

Sailing on water created by winds of thought, my soul travels on. Many years ago, in the late 1970s, a 29 foot sailboat carried me around the Hawaiian Islands on a path of wind and water. Although the old photos … Continue reading →

Posted in Memories, Nature, ocean, Photo Essay | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

Christmas Cat on Night Patrol

Posted on December 27, 2017

It was the night before Christmas, and the area directly beneath the sparkling tree was under close surveillance by our two stealthy cats. I could tell by the stern looks on their faces that they were not going to let … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Pets, Photo Essay, photography | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments

Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ Christmas Magic

Posted on December 25, 2017

The spirit of Christmas put a warm arm around me and suddenly I believed. This year, the Veteran’s Club in our community coordinated a drive for donations of new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ program. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christmas, Inspiration, Music, Photo Essay, photography | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Butterfly Love on a Leaf

Posted on October 22, 2017

Intriguing orange butterfly love on a leaf— October surprise! From a distance, I first thought I was looking at one large orange butterfly on a wax myrtle tree branch.  But when I came closer with the camera zoom lens, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Nature, photography, Poetry | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Hot Texas Summer Sun

Posted on July 29, 2017

Rocks glowing beneath fire-breathing dragon hot Texas summer sun. The temperature for this area is predicted to reach 105 degrees (Fahrenheit) today, and I can already hear the hot sun hissing on the horizon. Luckily, last winter, we had Emilio Ramirez … Continue reading →

Posted in Haiku, Nature, photography, Poetry, Summer | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

One Pink Wildflower

Posted on April 8, 2017

Surrounded by jealous weeds, a pink wildflower danced in the warm sunlight for one glorious day before vanishing from sight. Unfortunately— in the darkness of the night, ‘something’ ate this flower and the buds below, leaving nothing behind but a … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, photography, Poetry, Spring | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Cat Warmth and Wisdom

Posted on December 9, 2016

Cat wisdom knows exactly where to find warmth and comfort on cold December days. Look! The wise cat knows exactly how to quickly transform an inexpensive insulated shopping bag into a comfortable bed— (just don’t sit on the zipper). Actually— … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Pets, Philosophy, photography, Poetry | Tagged , , | 45 Comments

Autumn Pampas Grass Magic

Posted on October 29, 2016

Summer green has been replaced with Autumn’s sunlit leaves sparkling gold and red colors evoking visions of magic everywhere. Like the changing leaves at the end of October, Halloween celebrations give us the opportunity to boldly imagine and create new … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Nature, Shamanism | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

Grasshopper Camouflage

Posted on July 22, 2016

Standing motionless surrounded by old brown grass baking in the sun, how did you notice me and my perfect grasshopper summer camouflage? ~ms I saw the grasshopper from a distance, in spite of its clever camouflage,  because its long legs … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Nature, Summer | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments

Virginia to Texas through Hail and High Water

Posted on June 12, 2016

Illuminated by lightning striking darkness followed by thunder, Gulf Coast toad shivers drips falling on the threshold of an unknown door. When wild winds blow and rain falls sideways, normal vanishes and new directions appear.   ~ms Considering everything that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Poetry, Storms, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Disco Disaster

Posted on February 15, 2016

Back in 1989, a friend took me to a night club called Studebaker’s, where there was loud music, swirling disco lights, and wandering eyes searching for the perfect date. I didn’t like it there. Two years later, in an English … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternate endings, Creative Writing, Humor, Relationships | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Valentine’s Day Wrapped in Memories

Posted on February 14, 2016

Oh please, don’t be sad! I was thinking about you and I was going to call, but I accidentally spent the entire day wrapped in memories. You see—I was going through boxes of  ‘paper clutter’ and throwing things out, because … Continue reading →

Posted in cats, Memories, Pets, photography | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Winter’s Shroud Descending

Posted on January 24, 2016

Birds quickly flew away through barren earthbound trees, in hopes of escaping the coming winter storm. One crow remained behind like a cold grim reaper staring down from above at foolish souls below. And then the snow appeared carried on … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Poetry, Snow, Storms, Winter | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

WordPress Worldwide Family

Posted on January 1, 2016

At midnight, 2015 faded away as a freshly pressed new year chimed in and took its place. Hard to believe it’s 2016! Unfortunately, during 2015, we all saw a sharp rise in terrorism, violence, and fear in our world. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, New Year, Singing | Tagged , , , , , | 49 Comments

Car Creativity Unleashed

Posted on December 23, 2015

Rather difficult to explain parked on the edge of extreme… car creativity unleashed! In the summer of 2013, I saw this unique vehicle parked in a rest area on I-95 (south of Fredericksburg and north of Richmond, Virginia). I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Humor, Imagination, Photo Essay, photography | Tagged | 35 Comments

My Furry Writer’s Block

Posted on December 8, 2015

Oh no! My ability to type and string words together is currently squished beneath a furry writer’s block. Look! I don’t see any letters and numbers are hidden too, but my little writer’s block is purring warm and happy, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, cats, Computers, photography, Poetry | Tagged , , | 36 Comments

Autumn Leaves Shapeshifting

Posted on October 29, 2015

While I was looking down into water filled with leaves, an old tree with hallowed eyes opened wide its wooden mouth and whispered gently— Why are you so sad? In cyclic transformations nothing ever dies! See the autumn leaves shapeshifting … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall Colors, photography, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Chicken Selfies

Posted on September 25, 2015

If chickens had cell phones with cameras they could take chicken selfies. Wouldn’t that be fun? They could even choose to spend their free time chicken photobombing on the run! But alas! What if some chickens think that others who … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, Children's stories, Nature, photography, Poetry | Tagged , , | 63 Comments

Seasons at Celebrate Virginia – Beautiful Apartments

Posted on September 7, 2015

Years ago, it was hard to find an apartment with a washer and dryer, much less a dishwasher. Constantly collecting quarters and wasting hours at the laundromat was no fun. Thank goodness thing have changed! Now the newer apartments include … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography | Tagged , , , , , | 38 Comments

Early Morning Virginia Beach

Posted on August 27, 2015

Sunrise awakens early morning on Virginia Beach. A beautiful sight! Diamonds of early sunlight drip onto blue water dancing a summer delight. Anticipating a busy summer day— trucks begin raking sand. After the raking, a solitary man walks along the … Continue reading →

Posted in ocean, photography, Summer | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments