No Energy

Yesterday I felt like this squirrel. He seemed to have no energy as he made it from pole to pole. At each stop he would take a breather before making his next move.

I would put a load of laundry in and take a break. Next I got some dishes done than took another break. With each activity I would fine myself with no energy to go the next step. I did not even get outside to do my walking. I just barely made it through work. When I got home I just went to bed. I'll blame it on the rain.

There are days that just seems to drain you. But you muddle through until you get over the hump.
Today I had energy. I finished my laundry, cleaned and sorted through some junk and even walked around the Mariner before work.

When I finish posting I plan on getting a good night rest so that I can hang onto the energy. No more no energy day for me.

Duck Box

The other day I let my curiosity get the best of me and open a nest box to see what was inside. I had not seen any bird flying in or out so I thought it was empty. Out flew a duck and almost knocked me to the ground and flew away.

I felt bad. Since I had already did the damage, I went against my nature to keep a good distant from nesting birds and took the picture of the eggs in a nest. I did not sleep well. I kept thinking about about the duck all night.

Will she come back to the nest? Is she going to be too afraid? I can only hope I did not do unrepairable damage.

How many times in life do we wish we can take back the wrongs we do? We wonder if the damage can ever be repaired.

We have hope. We can pray to a loving God who can repair our mistakes and blunders. So tonight I am praying the the duck is resting on her eggs. This girl has learned her lesson. No more opening boxes.

Caterpillar Nest

I went to check on the praying mantis egg sack hoping to see if they were hatching yet. But before I got to the place they were at I came across what I thought was a spiderweb. I was surprise to see caterpillars on what seem to be their nest. It was cool watching them crawl in and out of the nest.

I have past this spot many times and never notice this sack. Sometime it pays to take my time and look for new things. It is what keeps me going out each day.

Tomorrow I will check on them again. I wonder what kind of butterflies they will become. Time will tell.

Children's Work Day

Today was "Take your child to work day." This is an opportunity to have your child see what you really do all day while they are at school. Being that my children are too old I took my grandson instead.

We spent the morning looking for expired food and relabeling the products that was in the new (POG)  planogram. The girls put out freight and helped out throughout the store.

Afterward we all went to McDonald and Annie's playground. All in all it was a pleasant day.

This is the last year my grandson can come. I am hoping that when my granddaughters get old enough that I will be able to bring one of them along. What child doesn't want to spend a day at Toys R Us?

They Have Arrived

They have arrived, the first geese babies at the marsh in Edgewood. I did not stop by Sunday or Monday so I missed the birth of these precious little ones. But there are still other geese's nests around.

The swans still have yet to have their babies. So now I just need to be more conscious about going everyday if I hope to see them be born.

Going out each day is like a new adventure for me. What new thing will I discover? Will I get to witness some rare event? Will I get to take that once in a life time picture?

I do not have the answers. But I will go out each day searching. You never know.

Happy Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. I thought about what I could do to honor this day. How could I make a different?

I could go around and pick up trash like this crow seemed to be doing. Maybe I could plant a tree. There are many things I could do. So what did I do? Nothing.

But this does not mean I always do nothing about making this earth a better place. Whenever I visit the many places each day I will pick up the trash near the car. I greet each person with a smile and wish them a great day. When I feed the animal I use only natural bird food and peanuts.

So to anyone who read this today. Happy Earth Day. Today is a good day to start making it a better place.

Praying Mantis Egg Case

The other day doing my daily walk at the Mariner I can across what I thought was a butterfly casing. Arthur was with me and of course he had to share our discovery with every unexpected soul who would pass by. Well, I am glad he did.

One of passerby informed us that this was not a butterfly cocoon but a praying mantis egg case. As soon as the weather get warm enough we could see a swam of baby mantises emerging from the case. I hope that I do not miss that. 

I watched a video of the hatching and it was a sight to see. God's world is full of amazing things. I count it a blessing when He allows me the privilege to witness the wonders of His creations. It is always new each day. 

Lesser Yellowlegs

Another unexpected find today. A lesser yellowlegs at Harford Glen. It seemed that this pair may be parent child because a few minutes earlier there were three, two big ones and this little one. I tell you what, they were funny to watch.

Today was the first time I could spend sometime at Harford Glen. I watched a small herd of white tailed deer nearly run into a man out fishing. Several birds of prey were chasing their meals and a pair of king fishers were noisily flying from tree to tree. It was like the whole place came to life this afternoon.

Spring is here and nature is welcoming it with open arms. I will welcome it also with my camera.

23 Years

Tonight we honored a special servant of God who serve twenty three years as a missionary in Indonesia. Lisa (pictured on the left) gave of her time and talent to run one of the schools. Through her love of our Lord she left her mark in the lives of many. Lisa left Indonesia with big shoes to fill.

Through the past several year the Fellowship Circle that I am honored to be a part of has supported her by sending her a care packages each Christmas. Lisa would give us her list of things desired and we would collect the items from each members and her mother (pictured in the right) would mailed them off.

Now that Lisa is home to stay we are honored to have her become a member of Fellowship Circle. We have so much to learn from her.

Thank you for all that you have done and all that I know you have yet to do. You are an inspiration to us all.

Eastern Towhee

This is a new bird for me. The reddish brown on it's side caught my eye. So I took the picture came home and looked it up.The Eastern Towhee is a year around bird for this area yet I only seen it a couple of time. It is a pretty bird.

Someone told me that just in the Mariner along there has been over 100 species of birds documented. Well I guess I got my work cut out for me. I am going to see how many I can come across. As of this time I have documented at least 50.

When I became a bird watcher I do not know. But I love the chase. So birds beware. I am looking for you.

Inspire Someone

The other morning while walking around the Mariner I started talking with a lady who was walking as well. I notice that she was using her hands to view different areas.

It turns out that she was an artist. She was thinking of painting something at the Mariner. But there was a problem. She was nervous about people staring at her while she painted.

I told her don't worry about that. If she wants to paint something there. Just do it.

I went home until late afternoon. It was just to beautiful of a day to stay in the house. So I went back. There she was painting.

I asked her what made her decide to go ahead and paint. She told me that I inspired her to just do it. I am glad I did. She enjoyed talking with the people who stop by to admire her work.

But little did she know that she also inspired me. I love talking to people. I love taking pictures. I believe that God is using me. I am inspired to keep doing what I do no matter who is looking.

Leading Nowhere

Sometime I feel my life is leading nowhere. As I climb the ladder I find that there is nothing left for me. So why try? No matter how tall the ladder goes it will never get me to where I want to be.

Yet God is in control of the ladder. He is able to shorten it, lengthen it or move it around to another destination. I have to be ready to hang on and allow it to direct my path.

Today felt like a bad ladder day. Nothing went right for me. But I am hanging on. Tomorrow will be better. I know that God's ladder is leading me to somewhere. I just need to keep climbing.

It Was Time To Soar

Today was the kite festival in Bel Air. So I got the kite that Arthur had and set off to join in the fun. But Arthur did not want to use the Elmo kite. It was a baby kite. He was too old for it.

Upon entering the park we discover that they were giving out kites for free. Arthur pick a purple one and we flew a kite for the first time.

I decide to go back to the house and get my elephant kite. A dear friend bought it for me years ago. I did not have the heart to take out of the package because I did not want to ruin it. But something told me today was the day that it was time for it to soar. And soar it did.

Many times in life I try to hold onto things or a love one that was intended to soar. I have been afraid to let it go because I was afraid that a love one would get hurt or that I would lose the thing that was important to me. But God had to remind me that He intended them to soar and that I was just in the way.

So today I got out of the way and let my kite soar.

Metal Detector

As I watch this young man search the grounds with his metal detector I couldn't help but wonder what kind of treasures he would find. So I went up and asked.

He was willing to let me take his picture and wait to see what he might find. My thoughts went wild. I imagine all kinds of treasures. Maybe he would find a rare coin, an expensive ring or even a piece of a meteorite.

The metal detector went off. Out came his tool to dig up the spot. There in his hand was something metal. It was too muddy to see what it was. So he rubbed it clean and presented it to me for inspection.

It was a pull tab from an old soda can. It was not any treasure at all.

 Life is like that sometimes. We go out in search of treasures only to find pull tabs.
But if we don't try than we will never find the treasures that God has for us.

I hope that each day we can all treat it as a treasure hunt. And when we find the pull tabs we just laugh and continue the hunt. I know I will.

Tin Time Again

Well it is that time again. Each year the Fellowship Circle fills tins with goodies for the our church students in colleges.  It is filled with our love and prayers as they study for their finals.

We started this several years ago and it has grown into a ministry for these young students as they go onward in their lives.

They look forward to these tins. It is a blessing for us as well.

So I ask for prayers for each student and good grades on their finals. I know that will appreciate it.

A Little Snake

You know it is hot when the snakes come out. It does help to pay attention to the ground so that you don't step on them. If it wasn't for this person walking toward me and spotted the snake I would have been it's demise. The thing was just a little snake. Maybe 12 inches long and the size of a pencil.

The birds were out, the squirrels were running and the Mariner was full of people enjoying the warmth of this fine day. So why not the snake. They have the right to enjoy this day as well.

I enjoy each day the Lord gives me even if it rains are shines. Of course I do prefer the shines. It is hard to take pictures in the rain. I even enjoy taking pictures of this snake. And I am sure he was very grateful that I did not make this his last day on earth.

When I take my walks now I need to look down as well as up. Who knows what I might find.

Last Minute Fox

Today I did my rounds hoping to get more cool pictures. I took my grandson and went to the route 40 pond to check out the odd couple and the shovelers, they were gone. So I went to the marsh to see if anything exciting was going on there, the marsh was dead. Than I went to the Mariner to look for the fox that I had been seeing everyday, not even a sighting. The day was a bust for picture taking. So I went home.

When my daughter came home from work I decided to give the Mariner a second chance. I waited for almost and hour with not even a glimpse. It was time to give up and head to work. As I almost made it out I just happen to catch movement in the bushes. Out came the fox.

I follow the fox and took several pictures. Than I lost it again. So I turn to leave again and out came the fox. This time with something in her mouth. It not like waiting until the last minute to let me get some cool shots. I wanted to stay and keep taking pictures. But work was calling.

I am glad that my last minute fox decide to make a showing. I went to work excited and praising God. All in all today was a good picture taking day.

Wrong Identification

Wrong identification. When I took this picture I thought that these ducks were mergansers. But after checking them out in the big bird book (And I am talking big. This book has every bird listed in the United state along with pictures) I realize that I was wrong. 

These ducks are buffleheads. They are another duck that are in the area during the winter months. But at first glance I mistaken them for the hooded mergansers. I even told a guy who ask what I was taking pictures of that they were merganser.  

How easy it is for me to make the wrong identification. I can be quick to judge and slow to learn. It is when I take the time to research the answers that I can learn from my mistakes and make the needed corrections like putting the right names to the right ducks.

Like the big bird book the Bible helps to identify the needed changes in my life. When I take the time to read the Bible I am less likely to make mistakes. No more wrong identifications.

  

APG's Eagles

Now I understand why there was so many eagles at the marsh today. The bush fires on the Aberdeen Proving Ground was causing the eagles to flee the area. There must have been at least six eagles flying, diving and competing with each other.

One of the thing I took note of was this was not good for the Canada geese. The eagles seemed to be attacking their nests. Of course the geese put up a good fight as shown in this picture of one goose defending her nest.

It will be interesting to see if the eagles try to make the marsh their home. I know that I will be watching for them each day.

Northern Shoveler

Today I had a nice surprise. While checking on the wood duck at one of my favorite ponds I spotted three new ducks. I had to come home check my bird book to find out what they were.

Northern Shoveler. What is kind of funny about seeing these rare duck was that my grandson and I was reading about them yesterday. We were poking fun at how big their beaks were. Never in my wildest dream did I think that the very next day I would get to take pictures of them.

One of the thing that I read was that they were uncommon in the north east. So this make all the more special that I got to see them in action. God is so good.