Friday Finds - The Late Edition

Squeezing this in...linking up with Kim's Friday Finds!

A walk in the Springfield Bog yesterday awarded me handsomely.

This Northern Bobwhite is a rare sighting in northern Ohio...and when one is suspected, they can be very elusive!  They have a very distinct call, "Bob-bob-white!"  You can hear it here:



Unfortunately their numbers have drastically declined due to loss of habitat.  I'm so thankful that someone did not allow this bog to be developed and it was purchased by our metro park system.

I feel even more blessed to have had such amazing, close ups of this little gem and hearing it call back and forth to a female!

HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK!

A Quickie Post - Textured Tuesday

I have been totally enjoying Becky Higgins' course, Project Real Life...

This week we are to be pondering and photographing our gratitude (which we should be practicing daily)...

Yesterday, I sat on the bed and was so grateful for the birds at my feeders...

I love the softness that comes from having the window screens still in and combining that effect with Kim Klassen's texture "love."

And, of course, Mrs. Cardinal waits her turn...

How grateful I am for the gifts of nature just outside my window.

Homebound Today But Had Visitors!!!!

No church or any activities today outside the house that would keep me too far from the bathroom...prep work for a procedure tomorrow afternoon.  (Sorry for the TMI! )

But God is so good...look at all the visitors He brought my way today at our feeders!!!!

There were more, but photo ops weren't as great.

Those who know me well, know how important birds are to me and how God has used them over and over again in my life.  So I know these were directly from His hand.

What amazing gifts...with feathers EVEN!  By the way, the greatest prize was the Carolina Wren. (tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle)  Do you know which one that is????

Anorexics and Fences

Have I ever showed you my favorite fence photo I ever took for all time?  Joy Dare October is past...a good discipline for me.  Oh...I will continue to focus on God's everyday gifts...but I'm back to mixing it up.

Now Happy Fence Friday is something that is common among those who post on Flickr regularly, but Donna Catterick clued me into a Fence Friday at Life According to Jan and Jer...so this is my pick!



One of those magical times when you see something unusual (I rarely see Turkey Vultures not flying that don't fly away when you try to capture them)...and then you find the PERFECT quote.

I've always loved Erma Bombeck...and miss her wit, wisdom, and self-deprecating humor.  Definitely found another quote I'm going to use soon!

May God give you the gift of laughter for a moment today!

Day 29 ~ Three Gifts On Time

Two days left...

Three gifts on time...does that mean "on time" or "about time?"  I think I will consider both...

Gift #1 ~

Over the past two weeks I have been struggling internally...with something that I knew was clearly not from God and meant only to discourage and defeat me.  God brought a dear friend, LB, my way who opened her heart and her ears to not only listen but also to share...even though she is in Chicago!  We've walked similar paths...and God brought her along my pathway...a gift!

Gift #2 ~

I'm not a big group person...never have been.  I'm not a "the more, the merrier" kind of person.  I like intimacy with people I trust...one-on-one...or a group of four...or me and Edster with another couple.  I work with a lot of extroverted folks...and while I can appear to be somewhat outgoing...I know that I am a deep, thoughtful introvert that requires quiet and solitude...to explore my passions (most of which are solitary), such as:  photography, writing, Bible study, genealogy, birding, solitude, creative expression.  Often quite different pursuits than my counterparts.

But God brought some wonderful women in my life "on time" who share similar passions and similar styles and pursuits, from my some e-courses I took...who expected this???  Bonus...and we fellowship daily and they are all such special gifts to me:  Viv, Sarah, Cathy, Madelin, Sherry, Terri, Stacie, GeetLee, Cheryl1, Cheryl2, Cheryl3, Julie, Elaine, Donna M, Donna C, Laurie, Sherri, Mary (I almost thre up), Helen, Leon, Catherine, Nancy Jean (I love that combo - we appalachians grew up with relatives that all had two names), Karla, Lissa, Martha, Carol, Debbie, Debbie2, Debbie3, Joy, Roxi, Barbara, Lorraine, Diane, Kristina (mustache), Peg, Barbara H., Dotti, Naomi, Kate, Robyn, Justine, Sharon, Jessica (Lensbaby), Lori, Diana, Cindy, Sally (Radish), Lorna, Angela, Connie, RedWillow, Maria, Toni, BD, Kate T, Maggie, Michelle, Susan, Becky, Anne, Olivia (and probably more I missed)...and of course, Kim (I'm not a public speaker) Klassen!

Gift #3 ~

I have been in bed all day...leaving work after getting sick...sleeping off and on...the storm news droning on in the background.  But my Edster brought a gift my way...he filled the bird feeders yesterday, "on time", not knowing I would be home today.  I'm not certain if its the storm coming or what...but it's been birds, birds, birds, birds, birds...flying in and out and finding gems of seed for consumption.  Titmice, northern cardinals, house finches, carolina wren, black-capped chickadees, sparrows, american goldfinches, blue jays...all outside my bedroom window.

Praying for those all in the path of the storm...we will get some of it (mostly wind)...but there are many who are in harm's way.

5 Fact Friday ~ On Friday!

It's that time again...and I'm actually posting it on Friday!



Well, as the summer ebbs away...and the autumn winds seems much more apparent...there's a bittersweet feeling, a touch of melancholy, in my anticipation of the season of colored leaves, the smell of apples, the glory of the mum, and the glow of spiced candles.

So today...my 5 Facts are about what is disappearing by October.

 

1.  One of my favorite things to witness in September is "whirling birdies"...a fun way to say goodbye til spring to these flying cigars.

2.  Bees, bugs, and dragonflies will no longer be found in my favorite bog.

 

3.  The blooming sunny sunflowers are now seeded heads, bowed over with frequent goldfinch visitors or headless, as the squirrels have chewed them off, scurrying off with their spoils, gleaning the seeds as they sit on the backyard fence.

4.  The butterflies are no longer frequenting my frontyard butterfly bush.

5.  I'm no longer hearing the sweet song of the brilliant Indigo Bunting.

But it is as it should be...all things are beautiful in God's time.

 

Gift of Goldfinches on Labor Day

Labor Day 2012...

Hot, humid, and I was working at the table in the air conditioning...lots of computer work today.  I looked out the sliding glass doors viewing the deck.  The sunflowers that were blazing just a week or so ago,  now had their heads bowed as their golden petals withered in the waning summer on its last holiday.

Rather than mourn my loss, I looked for God's gifts...the mercies we fail to see when we are forced to face change.  And with my camera and my 300mm zoom, I saw.  I saw and captured His faithfulness.  My heart repeated Jesus' words in Matthew 6:26 once again, "Look at the birds..."  (If you have read earlier posts, you know that birds hold a special place with me...)

 
These winged marvels reminded me of God's provision and care...how His timing is always perfect (never early/never late)...and how He makes all things beautiful in His time.

These sunflowers were not purposefully planted...they were volunteers from bird feeders filled until early summer.  God wastes nothing.  And uses all for our good.

I finished up  my coursework on the computer...but most of the day I was mesmerized by the gift of the Goldfinches that God sent my way.

With gratitude,