“I am the queen of the castle.” Those were some of the words sung by three-year-old Isabel Gerstein of Nashua, N.H., while she twirled and danced in front of a large wall mirror outside her bedroom.

There was a reason the regulars at our bird feeders were away this morning. Outnumbered and outsized, the chick-a -dees, nuthatches and finches had to wait for breakfast until the flock of wild turkeys finished their meal.

Every spring I look forward to the first flowers emerging up through the leaves coating our perennial gardens. This flatbush Crocus plant pierced right through the thick oak leaves covering it - a sign that I better get out there soon and remove the leaves from the bark mulch below.

With a winter like we’ve had this year, who in the world would want to move to New Hampshire?
So, is it true that robins fly south for the winter? Are you sure?

As a photographer, just how far do you travel to take scenic pictures? In 2009, I will be challenging myself to find scenic pictures in my own backyard. The photographs will be published in this blog under the category “Backyard Wonders.” You’ll also be able to view the pictures on my Flickr page.