Auto Focus

I always leave the camera on auto focus. It is just easier to take pictures. I do not have to think about what settings the camera is on, because it will automatically set it self.

But there are times when I have to put it on the manual setting. It just will not focus on the subject that I want to take a picture of, like this little bug. He was so small the camera wanted to focus on the leaves instead of it.

I treat God the same way. I get so use to relying on him, that I forget that He want me to do things for myself.

He made me for a reason with talents and gifts. I am to use these to His glory. While I am not to take my focus off God, I am to do things with the gifts He has given me.

Snake Surprise

There are just too cute. A pair of chickadees were taking turns feeding their babies. As I made my way around the post with the nest inside, the chickadee in the tree next to the post was having a fit.

This was kind of unusual. They know me well and always seemed to be okay with me being nearby. It was than when I notice that the chickadee was not looking at me, but next to me.

There only inches away from my foot was this four foot long black snake. If I had taken one more step, I would have stepped right onto the snake.

I am not really afraid of snakes. But I sure do not want to be this close to one. I stayed by the post to discourage the snake from going after the chickadee nest.

So the snake proceeded to go up the tree. I have never seen one climb a tree before. So I stayed and took several pictures as he made his way to the top of the tree.

With in minutes the tree was covered grackles. They were coming from all directions to go after the snake. There must have been a nest there, Even some robins, cardinals and an oriole seemed to get into the act.

This makes me think, this is what it must be like when the devil attacks. With in minutes, Christians comes from all directions and work together to stop the devil. He does not stand a chance when we all, through the power of God, put the devil in his place.

A Butterfly's Heart

When my cousins came to visit, we took them sight seeing around Harford County. We stopped by a mill not far from the Conowingo Dam. Just as we pulled in, a black and white butterfly landed by the car. The first thing I notice was on the back were two red spots in the shape of a heart.

Now, you  know this got me to thinking. Not everything in life is black and white. Life is full of trials and the answers are not always spelled out for us. There are gray areas in which we are not sure in what directions we should be heading.

The good news is that we have a loving God who cares. His heart aches for us to turn to Him. He takes the grey areas of life and shows us the way. His heart is on display for us.

I am so glad that I know my God loves me. His heart is pure and fills my heart to over flowing. I can fly like the butterfly knowing God's heart is right there on me for all to see.

Memorial Day

Today we remember those who have served and gave their lives. My dad was a Marine and served in the Korean War. He received the purple heart for being shot in the leg.

My husband served in the Vietnam War while he was in the Navy. He also serve in the Army National Guards for many years as a helicopter mechanic.

All four of my brothers serve either in the Army or Air force. There sons and grandson are serving now.

Both of my grandfathers served. One in the Canadian military and the other in the Navy and then the Army. Both lied about their ages to get in.

The only relative that die during a war, was my 5 great grandfather who was killed by the Tories and the Indians during the Revolutionary War. He was not even in the military at the time. But he was counted as a patriot.

So today I give thanks for their service. I pray for the safety of those serving now. I will also pray for those who have yet to serve. I am proud of those in my family who served.

Today is Memorial Day. I pray we will always remember all those who are not here with us now.

Butterfly Walk

Today I went to Harford Glen to look for butterflies. I guess you can call it my butterfly walk. I checked on the Baltimore Checker Butterfly. Right now they are in the caterpillar stage. Except for one. It is in his cocoon already. Only yesterday he was just in the beginning stage of encasing himself in the cocoon.

Several others were busy eating off of their host plant, a white turtlehead. You will find many around the Glen in enclosed areas. The hope is to increase the populations of these beautiful small state butterflies.

Last year around June, there were quite a few butterflies flying around. I was fortunate enough to get several pictures. The one thing I am still after, is the egg stage. Maybe this summer.

Until than, I wait in anticipation for the return of the Baltimore checkered butterflies.

This Is A First

I could hear them. I know that they were in the fields by the water. But I never could see them. That is until today. Sitting on a post was a toad.

When I first came across the toad, I thought it was a small rock. I looked through my camera at the rock, the eyes opened and I knew that it was not a rock after all. This was a first for me.

I am not a toad lover, but he was cute. He did not seem to mind me taking many pictures from all sides. He was so content with soaking in the sun, that he was not the least bit afraid of me.

I always see snakes and skinks(a small lizard). Today was the first time I finally got to see a toad.

It took Me A Minute

While looking for signs of the wood duck I saw flying around, It took me a minute to see it on this tree. She blended into the side of the tree, that it took her moving before I could see her.

It is like that a lot for me. The only way I see the birds, bugs and animals is when they move. They blend so well into their surroundings, that it makes it hard to find them.

Yet there are other birds, bugs and animals that stands out with their vibrant colors. They want to be notice. There is no way that they can hide or blend into their surroundings.

I think God wants us to be like that. We need to shine bright with the vibrant colors of God's love. He does not want us to blend in.

It might take me a minute to see His creations, but it only takes a second to see Him.

Something Purple.

I have joined a photo group. Each time we meet, there is an assignment to take pictures of a subject pick by one of the members. This time it was something purple.

So I took my camera everywhere looking. I took all kinds of pictures of purple flowers. But I could not get one that I really liked.

I went on base to see my doctor. There by the steps was this purple flower. It was what I was looking for. The problem. I did not have my camera.

Than I remembered that I do have my phone. I still can take the picture. So I did.

This is my something purple. It was not taken by my camera. Yet, I love it anyway.

Good Catch

Today I got to watch several herons going after fishes at the Mariner. This one did a great job. It was a good catch. He got a nice juicy catfish.

The water was at low tide. So the fishes were easy to catch. Every heron had no problems getting their fill.

God's blessings are like that. When we feel like the tides has gone out in our lives, we just need to wait on God. Before long, the fishes are there for the pickings. We just need to get the good catch.

Box Expection

Each week Ruth checks out the bird boxes and documents the progress of each nesting birds. I got to walk along and learn a little about the different birds in each nest.

Most of the boxes are nested by eastern blue birds, tree swallows and song sparrows. Some of the nest had eggs in them, while other were just in the process of building the nest. Some boxes only had one twig in it.

It was cool watching and learning something new. And of course it reminded me that we are all in different stages of life. Some of us have nests filled with eggs, while others have just put in their first twig.

Sometime the nest falls part and we have to start all over. Other time snakes and other preys goes after the eggs and even the babies, and we have to recover from all the damages.

God cares about each of these birds and He cares about us. He will never gives us more than we can handle. So when our nests are destroyed, He hands over a twig and we start building our lives all over again.

Donkey Goat

Today I went out in search of something new to take pictures of. Well I hit the jackpot. As I enter the small park in the heart of Bel Air I came across a small herd of goats.

The town of Bel Air hired a goat farm called Harmony Herd, to help get rid of the over-grown foliage. It is a safer way of getting rid of the vines that has taken over the trees than using pesticides..

The goat in the picture is named Donkey, because she reminded the owner of the donkey from the movie Shrek.

They had three different types of goat. Alpine, Lamancha and Nubian made up the herd.

Donkey is an alpine with long ears standing straight up, The lamancha goat has stubs for ears. The Nubian had long ears as well but they lay down against the head.

It was a nice fine today and I learned a lot. But Donkey won my heart as she tried her best to reach for the high foliage.

Something Pretty

Today I just want to think pretty thoughts. So when I look at flowers they make me smile. There is something about these plants that brings out the calm in me. These days I need it.

There has been so much bad news on TV, that it is hard to find a reason to hope. Yet I know that God is in control. He reminds me that there are just as much good news out there. I just need to turn my eyes, ears and thoughts towards God goodness.

 So today I went in search of some good. God is good. So all that He is in control of is good. Flowers are good. So I smile and feel good when I see something pretty, like this flower that God created.