Helen Duerr Hays
@hdr85.bsky.social
Wife, Mom, Grandma. Born in 1939, in rural Arkansas, between the beautiful hills of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. Now living Blue in another Red state, Missouri. Retired Associate Professor of Computer Science. Life-long learner.
May light dispel our darkness this Christmas and throughout the new year.
December 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
May light dispel our darkness this Christmas and throughout the new year.
Beaver moon over the Mississippi. Happily a tugboat passed by as we were packing up to leave the Cape Girardeau, MO overlook.
November 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Beaver moon over the Mississippi. Happily a tugboat passed by as we were packing up to leave the Cape Girardeau, MO overlook.
Freon Smart Feeder: “Hey Mom & Dad, hungry chick here.”
June 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Freon Smart Feeder: “Hey Mom & Dad, hungry chick here.”
For anyone else like me looking for a little geography help today. Arrow points to Strait of Hormuz. Qatar is the small peninsula off the coast of Saudi Arabia into the Persian Gulf.
June 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
For anyone else like me looking for a little geography help today. Arrow points to Strait of Hormuz. Qatar is the small peninsula off the coast of Saudi Arabia into the Persian Gulf.
Here he was at 6 weeks after winning the prize for "best heeler" in obedience school. He soon forgot that when he wanted to chase a car, but luckily he was so little we could pick him up by his halter and keep him out of trouble. ❤️
June 20, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Here he was at 6 weeks after winning the prize for "best heeler" in obedience school. He soon forgot that when he wanted to chase a car, but luckily he was so little we could pick him up by his halter and keep him out of trouble. ❤️
We've all seen the videos of him saying this in his Nevada Primary victory speech. Now we see him as the elected president of the United States, beginning with the most esteemed universities of the country, trying to bring education under his control.
May 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We've all seen the videos of him saying this in his Nevada Primary victory speech. Now we see him as the elected president of the United States, beginning with the most esteemed universities of the country, trying to bring education under his control.
Learning some new birds. First bird is a Carolina Wren with the smooth brown back, distinct white eyebrow and long somewhat erect tail. Not sure about the second bird that lands. Also has a white, less distinct eyebrow, but has a streaked back and shorter tail—chipping sparrow?
May 13, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Learning some new birds. First bird is a Carolina Wren with the smooth brown back, distinct white eyebrow and long somewhat erect tail. Not sure about the second bird that lands. Also has a white, less distinct eyebrow, but has a streaked back and shorter tail—chipping sparrow?
Wow! Finch feeding its chick at smart feeder and teaching it to fend for itself 🤤
May 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Wow! Finch feeding its chick at smart feeder and teaching it to fend for itself 🤤
"Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day." (In Pope Francis final Easter blessing)
April 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day." (In Pope Francis final Easter blessing)
Not too worried about AI taking over the world anytime soon. Our “smart” bird feeder just identified this as a “Green-tailed Trainbearer” (a hummingbird found in South America). Actually a common House Finch standing in front of a bush.
April 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Not too worried about AI taking over the world anytime soon. Our “smart” bird feeder just identified this as a “Green-tailed Trainbearer” (a hummingbird found in South America). Actually a common House Finch standing in front of a bush.
From Facebook Women Hold up Half the Sky:
Good One:
Good One:
March 9, 2025 at 4:31 AM
From Facebook Women Hold up Half the Sky:
Good One:
Good One:
Morning after the winter storm.
February 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Morning after the winter storm.
Some days you have to dig deep to find the sunflower seeds.
February 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Some days you have to dig deep to find the sunflower seeds.
U.S. and Russia meet in Saudi Arabia and talk business.
February 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
U.S. and Russia meet in Saudi Arabia and talk business.
Any ideas on whether this is a male house finch or a red crossbill? Thanks.
January 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Any ideas on whether this is a male house finch or a red crossbill? Thanks.
A “cloud” of starlings was cruising our neighborhood in Southeast Missouri this morning as the winter storm passed through, looking for any bare spots to stop and feed.
January 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
A “cloud” of starlings was cruising our neighborhood in Southeast Missouri this morning as the winter storm passed through, looking for any bare spots to stop and feed.
Icey morning in Southeast Missouri.
January 5, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Icey morning in Southeast Missouri.
This book by Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize winner, broker of peace between Israel and Egypt in 1978, laid out a peace plan for Israel and Palestine in 2006. I remember how eye-opening it was for me as a sensible path to lasting peace back in 2006. Is it too late now in 2024?
December 30, 2024 at 9:16 PM
This book by Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize winner, broker of peace between Israel and Egypt in 1978, laid out a peace plan for Israel and Palestine in 2006. I remember how eye-opening it was for me as a sensible path to lasting peace back in 2006. Is it too late now in 2024?
Next came a pair of cardinals😊😊
December 28, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Next came a pair of cardinals😊😊
Got a smart bird feeder for Christmas. This little wren was the first bird to find it 😊
December 28, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Got a smart bird feeder for Christmas. This little wren was the first bird to find it 😊
Wishing to all, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
December 24, 2024 at 8:11 PM
Wishing to all, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Thanks. I never noticed the females before.
December 14, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Thanks. I never noticed the females before.