Canceled Art Show

Tonight we should be up in Baltimore attending an art show for the children of Kennedy Kreiger. Arthur picture from this year was picked again to be in the show. But it is too dangerous to be in Baltimore at night.

He has also be out of school all week as well. Due to the uncertain actions of the protesters, the school system feels it is better to keep the children at home. We just got the call that he will not be going to school tomorrow.

What is happening in Baltimore is affecting not just us and the city, but through out the nation. There is a cry for answers. Yet the answers takes time. All we can do is pray, turn to God and wait.

When this is done, they will reschedule the art show, schools will reopen and we can get our life back to normal. Yet, there will be those who's lives will be changed forever. We must keep them in our prayers.

Right Of Way

Today I witnessed a car hit a young mother with two children. One child was in an umbrella stroller and the other in a carrier.

While waiting at the traffic light, I notice the young lady taking with a friend. I was going to make a right hand turn as well as the person who was in front of me. When the light turned green the car in front took off not noticing the family and slammed into the stroller and mother knocking them down.

This young girl friend came to her rescue and pulled the stroller out from under the car. Many others came to the rescue as well and tended to the young girl and the baby.

It turned out to be an elderly women who was driving the car. She pulled over and was shaken up to the point that she did not believed she hit anyone. I stayed with her and had to keep telling her what had happen. I made her call her family so that someone could be there for her.

In the meantime the fire trucks, ambulance and police cars all arrived.  As they put the young mother and children into the ambulance, we all filled out witness papers. This elderly lady did not know what to write. She still was in denial.

It all came down to who had the right of way. I explain to her that it was the young lady who had the right away. She had problems processing this. I felt sorry for her. She was lost and did not know where to turn. It wasn't until the police officer was done with her that I left her side as she got back into her car.

I can only pray that she got home safe. I prayed for the young mother as her children as well. They had the right of way, and now they are in the hospital. This is a sad story for all involved.

Six not Four

Last Monday I got some pictures of a fox family with four kits. But today there were six. Last week they were all grey. Today you can see more red color in their faces.

If you are having a problem seeing all six, look to the rear of the mother. One kit is busy feeding while the other are milling around the mother.

I also notice that they also have a neighbor. The mound several yards away belongs to a groundhog. I was surprise to see him sitting on his mound so close to the fox.

I hope to visit the fox family many times as they grow. Maybe I will get to know the six kits well. I am sure their personalities will show soon. I can not wait.

Ear's Nest

For the past three years a bird would build a nest in the ear of a tree. I tried my best to catch the culprit. But she would eluded me each year.

Last week I discovered eggs in the nest for the first time. So I knew it was a matter of time that I would know what kind of bird built the nest. I would go each day and wait. Today, she showed herself. I know who made the nest in the ear of the tree. It is a Carolina wren.

So, now I know where a chickadee, a nuthatch and a wren have their nest. I do keep my distant, so that I don't cause undo hardship. But I can not wait to see the babies hatch.

Until than, I will keep up my search for nest of all kind this year. Who knows what I might discover.

Turtle Peril

While heading down rt 40 towards home, I notice something moving on the side of the road. It was coming out of the marsh and trying to make it across the road. I knew that this little turtle would never make it alive. It was a true turtle peril.

So, I pulled my car to the side of the road and got out. Of course, I had to take some pictures first. Than I picked up the baseball size turtle and put him back facing the marsh, hoping he would get the message and head back into the marsh.

I got to wondering how many times God has to pick me up and turn me around. More than I want to admit. But I am glad that He is willing to pull over and save me from a turtle peril.

Goose Nest

For years I have been trying to find and get a pictures of a goose nest. At the marsh I visit everyday, there are many Canada geese nests, but I can never get close enough to get a good shot.

Today I decided to visit a little park in Forest Hill. There is a little island in the middle of the pond. As I walked over the bridge to the island, two Canada geese flew from the opposite side straight for me. I thought that they were flying over for bread or some kind of handout.

To my surprise, they were flying over to protect the nest that I was standing too close to. There inside the nest was an egg. I was so excited.

This year my goal is to try and get pictures of all kinds of nests. I know where a chickadee, nuthatch, osprey and even the great blue heron nests are. Now I just need to catch the babies inside as well.

I did go back to the nest an hour later to discover a second egg. I will check it daily. Maybe there will be more to discover. Until then, I am pleased that I finally got to get my picture of a goose nest.

Cormorant's Convention

Today my husband and I decided to take a trip to the Conowingo Dam. Our desire was to see if we could get some good shots of the eagles. We were not expecting to hundreds of cormorants flying, swimming and standing on all the rocks.

It was a cormorant's convention. They were everywhere. The memo must have gone out to every single cormorant in the state. There was not enough room for any eagles, herons or even buzzards.

It was a blast watching them float down stream only to fly back to the dam. We watched as they dived into the water to come back up with a fish in their bill. Today it was all about the cormorant.

We did see a few eagles, herons and buzzards, but they were lost in the mist of the cormorants. This was their convention and the others just have to wait for their turn.

Bee's Delight

I have an assignment to try and capture the color purple in a photo.

I saw these flowers and started taking pictures. It was than I noticed this one bees flying around the same flowers. He kept poking his head into the petals enjoying the delight of the nectar.

Capturing the color purple seem mute now, I focused my attention on capturing the bee. After taking about twenty pictures, I got the shot that I was after, the bee in flight heading to the flower.

Sometime we focus on things in life and God brings something else into our life to get us to change our focus. When this happens, we find this is what we were after all along, a perfect shot of God's plans.

Today I enjoyed watching the bee delight. I think today God enjoyed giving me my delight as well. Praise God.  

Phone Over Board

Today my friend came along to walk around the Mariner. The place was filled with all kinds of life. Birds, bugs, and snakes were everywhere.

When we got to the last little pier, we decided to sit and watch a pair of blue heron fly around. After a while we got up to continue looking for more life.

Sally forgot she had her phone on her lap. Down it went overboard to the rocks below. All I can say she is a brave woman.

Without fear of the snakes, spiders and whatever else might be lurking under the pier, she rescued her phone.

Of course I stood guard atop of the pier, guiding her. Three cheers for Sally. She is a braver woman than I would be.

Tin Project

Tonight the Fellowship Circle met to fill 30 plus tins full of snacks for the MCC student in collages getting ready for final week. While only an handful was able to make it, we got the tins filled, boxed and ready to be mailed.

With each tin that we mail out we pray for the students that will be receiving them. This is an act of love for our Mountain's children living away from home. I know that they will enjoy the homemade brownies, cookies and the many variety of candies that fill the tins to the brim.

 The final weeks are a hard week for our students. We pray that these tins of goodies brightens up the day and helps to boost their spirit. I know it boost our spirit to be of service.

Bird Bath

My eyes scanned the ground for signs of life. There under the tree in a puddle were two birds enjoying a dip in the water. In fact, they were all out splashing the water in all kinds of direction. They were having an all out bird bath.

Today the birds were flying from tree to tree, limb to limb and through the fences in an all out games of cat and mouse. Many times they flew right past my head. It was as if today was a day for fun. The sun was shining and the weather was great.

We need these kind of days where we can let our guard down and just have fun. Too many times we are rushing around trying to get everything done on our list that we forget to take time to have a splash in the puddles of life.

I enjoy watching these birds. They reminded me to step back every once in a while and take the time to enjoy a bird bath.

Frog Pile

After being inside for the past six days from my knee surgery, I had to get out. So my husband was kind enough to take me to Harford Glen even though the game was on TV.

We spent about an hour walking and taking pictures. Than I notice some commotions in the water. It turned out to be two frogs procreating. Before long, two more frogs made their way to be part of the action. They became a frog pile.

Spring is in the air and it is about time. I love feeling the weather warm up. Even with the frost warning this morning, we ended with a beautiful day.

How I miss getting out and being inspired by God's earth. I am so bless to be able to walk. Getting to see, hear and smell the evidence pile up of spring made my day. Just like seeing the frog pile.

Taking Flight

Today I made my way to the boardwalk in Harve de Grace. The water was rough and the fowls were having a hard time maneuvering the waves. This poor coot was being pushed around something awful. So he decide to take flight.

The problem, He had a hard time getting off the water. So he proceeded to run across the water until he got to shore. It was funny to watch.

How many times I find myself in rough water and try my best to take flight only to fail? I end up racing for the shore to get to solid ground.

I am so glad that my solid ground is God. He leads me to still waters. I will always run to Him.

Finally Sand Hill Cranes

For months now my bird watchers friends would tell me about a place to go to see sand hill cranes. it was on a field off someone farm.  I would go and not find them. When I was told again two days ago, I made it my mission to try again.

When I got to the spot, I was disappointed. There was no birds. Than I went into the farm driveway to turn myself around. Something told me to just go to the end and than turn around. It was a very long driveway.

There at the end was the sand hill cranes. They were just too far back to see them from the road. Even with them in the field, they were too far for me to get the shot I wanted. But I got to see them. That made my day.