Winged Visitors

This time of year is always so crazy that we just simple don;t make the time to sit and enjoy the simple things around us. So today while Mark and Emmy are out shopping and Michael is busy with Mindcraft I have a cup of tea, some chocolates and my camera and we are posted at the kitchen window. The other day Ms Renee gave me some star suet bird feeders. I put them out under the pergola and the birds have loved them. They are almost all gone. These were just some of our visitors this morning. I am sorta bummed that there were no Blue jays. The woods behind Skyler's are full of them. I can see and hear them but I haven't found what will entice them to come to our table for a visit. I'll keep trying.

Does anyone have any idea what this little lovely is?  Kathy tells me that this is a tufted titmouse.

A very regal Morning dove.

Mark's favorite...a Carolina wren

female Cardinal

A very feisty male Cardinal

Another one of those cute little grey birds.

Wren's backside

I think this is some type of finch.

Maybe tomorrow I will put out lots of sunflower seeds and some pieces of apple, the just maybe the Jays will come.

When I think of birds I think of Mr Mockabee from Mt Washington Baptist Church.  He always sang one of my favorite old school hymns, His Eye Is On The Sparrow.  I sure do miss his sweet smile and his joyful voice.  He touched my heart.

Silly Gift

Days have gone by and I see this plant just hanging around.  And then today I don't know why but it feels like such a gift to me. It might be the purple color that reminds me of the drape on the cross at Easter or how the skin of the pod is transparent...kinda like God can see thru our skin into what is important inside.   This vine has come to the end of it's season just like someday we all will come to the end of ours.  I hope that I  will have been able to let others see what is important to me on the inside by letting it grow all around me on the outside.

The Gift of Burnt Biscuits

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... Never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom

apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he

said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he

really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your

Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of

imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything,

and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what

I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults -

and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most

important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today... That you will learn to take the good,

the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God.

Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a

relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal - breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base

of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent - child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

I borrowed this from a friend on FB

Small Wonders...Of Every Kind

I get so excited when kids gets excited!  I love the looks on their faces and I love the tone in their voices.  Yesterday morning Luke came running over on his way to the bus stop to tell us  about the 'poisonous' praying mantis that was in the crack in their sidewalk.  He (the praying mantis) was so small.  I picked him up and moved him to higher ground so he wouldn't get stepped on.  Doodles was fascinated with it.  So much to that we made several trips to Ms Renee's house to check on him to make sure he was okay.  I love it when you learn something new about something you thought you knew  everything about.   I didn't know they could be brown with green legs.  Or that the little spike things are really dangerous because they are so sharp they can cut you.  And they are not poisonous (I already knew that)  But the wonder of little minds and just being able to sit as watch as the wheels turn and their brains are able to come up with the questions..that is what I live for.  I am blessed to be able to have little ones around me daily.  I hope I never get to old to appreciate the wonders of these unbelievable creatures God has put in my path...I mean the two legged ones.

Praying Mantis

A few years ago we ordered some praying mantis eggs.  We waited and waited and waited and finally one day they hatched.  Millions of little brown praying mantis babies hatched  in the window sill.  I have see a few that are brown and about 3 inches long and I am wondering if those could be some of our babies.  The today Doodles got so excited when she saw this green one.  I wold have missed it if not for her pure joy.  The next thing out of her mouth...'Wammy, hurry, go get you camera and take some pictures.'  And so we did.  She even had me catch it so she could touch it.  It's just the little things that make me smile!  I am glad that I can still see things thru the eyes of children.  It is what keeps me young.