Renaissance

This past weekend, I did something that I had never done before. I went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival with my daughter, niece and husband. It was something I wanted to do for many years. Even with the temperture feeling over 100 degrees with the humidity, I enjoyed my time.

It was fun seeing the many costumes and performers as we made our way around the castle grounds. Of course, I had to take pictures with the many participants. Out of the four of us, I was the only one in costume myself. How often do you get to pretend you are someone else for a day?

I hope to make this a yearly adventure. It was just too hot to stay the whole day like we had planned. Next year, I will check the forecast and pick a day that is not so unbearable hot. There was so much I wanted to see and experience, but with the sun beating down on us it was just too much.

But, all in all, it was a great day to spend with family, experiencing a new adventure and travel back into time. Next year, I am making my husband dress the part. That will be a first, but worth it all.

Sunflower Attraction

What is it about sunflowers that attracts all kinds of life? The minute I see friends posting sunflower pictures on Facebook, I need to know where they took the picture. The next day I make my way to either Broom's Bloom or the farm off of Hess road.

When I get there, the places are filled with people with the same idea. They want to catch the perfect shot of the sunflower field. Along with all the people, you will find the birds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers as well.

The sunflowers beckons me. I must answer the call. The attraction is too strong. Like the butterfly in the picture, I will go from sunflower to sunflower to take in the sweetness of the nector. This day the sunflower attraction was complete. I was in heaven.

Tearful Leaf

It looks like this leaf is shedding a tear. There are times in life that you can not hold back the tears. Sometimes thay are tears of joy and other times the sadness of life circumstances brings a tear to your eye.

Watching the evening news here lately has brought many a tears to my heart. I almost dread turning on the television. Would it be great if there was a news station that only reported the good that is in the world? The sad thing is so little people would watch, that they would have to cancel the show.

There is a time and a place to cry. Crying helps to release the tension and hopelessness we may feel. Holding all the emotions inside causes all kinds of health problems.

For years I held back the tears because I thought it was a sign of weakness. Not anymore.

Jesus wept. One of the most powerful sentence in the Bible. If He could shed tears, I know I am in good company when I cry for the hurting and sadness I see everytday.

Like this leaf, I shed a tear. I also pray to Jesus everyday and He wipes my tears away.

Peek A Boo Bird

It has been a while since I made my rounds at the Mariner. So, today I left early for work and spent about an hour walking the path. With bird seeds and peanuts in hand, I enticed the chickadees, cardinals, grackles and red-winged black birds to the fence.

While I took many pictures, I notice a small bird in the bushes. He would fly in and out playing peek a boo with me. He flew past me several times, before I realize what kind of bird he was. Staying very still, he peeked out of the bush and I got my shot.

It has been many years since I see a common yellowthroat in the Mariner. That one was a male singing his heart out. It was his song that caught my attention.

It was a nice treat to catch the first year male this time. I hope tomorrow he will play peek a boo with me again.